Obama Gives Gifts Created by Reston Native

President Barack Obama is in Israel, where on Wednesday he exchanged gifts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Among the gifts: Sabbath candlesticks for Netanyahu's daughter and a Kiddush (ceremonial wine) goblet for his son created by artist Zachary Oxman.

Oxman, 44, is a native Restonian who now lives and works in Bethesda, Md. He is the sculptor who created the "Bronze Bob" statue of Reston founder Robert E. Simon that sits on a Lake Anne Plaza park bench.

Oxman has created other works for foreign leaders before. Oxman's Judaica collection first came to the attention of the Clinton administration, who asked him to create menorahs. 

For the Obama administration, Oxman has made gifts presented to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Mexican President José Calderón and Israeli president Shimon Peres.

He says the gift exchange process is an involved one - and he works closely with White House and State Department officials during it.

"It is incredibly complex," Oxman said. "There is so much meaning and message in this important tradition."

Oxman's mother, Laney, is also an artist who taught lessons at her home studio near Lake Anne for many years.

"She taught scores of Reston kids while I was growing up," says Oxman, a graduate of South Lakes High School and Carnegie Mellon University. "Including, by osmosis, me."

To learn more about Zachary Oxman, visit his website.