We visited two olive wood shops that cater to the Mormon student and tourist trade. Omar's designs and carves their pieces outside of Bethlehem. The labor is too expensive in Bethlehem. They often make Mormon pieces - Nephi, Joseph Smith, etc. Jimmy's sells similar pieces. Jimmy goes to Utah each year to sell his olive wood. Jimmy and Omar have children who attended BYU. Omar's brother said when they started catering to the Mormon's, their other business dried up. When the Jerusalem Center was closed for several years, they closed their wood shop and lived on their savings because they were so dependent on Mormons for their sales. He said they buy wood that has been thoroughly dried - otherwise it will crack. He said olive wood is better if the tree grew from rainwater rather than irrigation.
Omar's brother sold Linda a couple of small olive wood coin boxes.
Display of olive wood pieces in Omar's.
Jimmy and Linda in his store.
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