Teaneck’s Ora Assayag, the founder of a large skin-care company, Ora’s Amazing Herbal, was a stay-at-home mother in 2012 when her baby developed eczema. When Ora took her to the doctor, he immediately prescribed a steroid and an antibiotic.
Having attended Bastyr University for a master’s degree in nutrition, Ora had an educational background in herbs. She also had colleagues from graduate school who were naturopathic physicians. Ora decided to call them before applying antibiotics and steroids on her baby, and they advised her as to which herbs would help her daughter more naturally. So Ora created an herbal salve, which became her first product. “I infused the herbs and I made a sort of oil tea from them,” she said. “Then I added some oil and waxes to get the right texture and then used it topically. It worked so well on my daughter that I didn’t have to give her any steroids or antibiotics.”
Ora started making more batches and giving them out as gifts. People asked if they could get more products from her because they were working so well. For example, one friend, who loved to garden in her sandals, suffered from cracked and painful heels. Ora’s salve repaired her heels and enabled her to garden in sandals again. Ora’s Amazing Herbal skin care company began to take shape.
After October 7, Ora created a vanilla chai flavored lip balm that she named “Am Yisrael Chai.” She gives all the profits to Magen David Adom in Israel. “I wanted to help. Everyone helps in their own way. This is what I do, so this is how I can help.”
Ora specifically chose to give her profits to Magen David Adom for two main reasons. “Politically, it’s hard to have a problem with this particular organization. I didn’t want to marginalize anyone or lean in any direction. I just wanted to support Israel’s right to exist and their right to safety. Also, MDA gives medical care to anyone in the country who needs it. That represents who we are. I have seen them in action. They are very compassionate in the way they care for people. I feel proud to give money to them.”
The Am Yisrael Chai lip balm has several benefits. It is made with calendula, used as a healing agent. It also has essential oils to help stimulate circulation. Additionally, it provides a common aromatherapy blend of herbs called “thieves,” said to provide support against colds and sickness. When asked about the blend’s intriguing name, Ora explained the story. During one of history’s great plagues, there existed a group of thieves who snatched jewelry from the dead. Interestingly, the thieves themselves were not catching the plague. The government at the time offered the thieves a pardon in exchange for their secret. The reprobates revealed that they were using this blend of herbs to ward off the illness. Chai tea herbs are similar to “thieves” in this manner.
“It makes a great gift,” said Ora. “People have bought it for bat mitzvahs and graduation gifts. Having a little object that asserts your Judaism in your pocket makes you feel supported and less alone in our unsafe environment. It’s a small way to assert yourself as a Jew.”
For more information, or to purchase, please visit orasamazingherbal.com
