NY Loves Israel!!

As yesterday was the big day to celebrate Israel@60 (it was Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day), the place to be was Washington Square Park for the Cool Israel Party.
Hundreds of people showed up to dance, enjoy Israeli music, and say “Happy Birthday” to an absolutely amazing country.
For more event pictures, see the Consulate on Facebook.

Israel–The People and Places

Thanks to Israel21 for this great tour of Israel and her diverse population (with Yael Naim’s great soundtrack as an added bonus!).

Israel Party in Washington Square Park

Come one, come all to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day!!
Where: Washington Square Park
When: Thursday 08 May 4-7 PM
FREE to all!!

Musical Gala at Radio City Celebrates Israel@60

New York City will celebrate the State of Israel’s 60th Anniversary on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day on Wednesday, May 7th at Radio City Music Hall at 8 PM. The musical gala will feature Yael Naim, (”New Soul,” featured in Apple’s MacBook commercial), reggae superstar Matisyahu, Paul Shaffer of the David Letterman Show, MacArthur “genius” composer/performer John Zorn and four of Israel’s top artists - Idan Raichel, Rami Kleinstein, David Broza and Habanot Nechama.

The evening will also feature remarks from Governor David Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman and Consul General Asaf Sharif.

The historic cultural gathering will be the largest such celebration of its kind, and is supported by over 100 Jewish organizations including the UJA Federation of New York, Consulate General of Israel, Jewish Community Relations Council, Dor Chadash and other key groups representing a majority of the organized American Jewish community.

“An unprecedented number of Jewish organizations have come together for this celebration,” says David Borowich, founder and honorary chairman of Dor Chadash, which is hosting the concert.

“The show will be quite an undertaking,” says producer Michael Dorf of Downtown Arts Development. “Attendees will be participating in a historical moment.”

All net proceeds of the event will benefit three leading Israeli organizations helping children in need—Ahava orphanage in the North, Gvanim in Sderot, and Beit Issie Shapiro in the center of Israel. Information on general and VIP tickets along with associated receptions and parties is available at www.60at60.org

Israel’s Major League Celebration

To celebrate Israel@60, we’re taking the party to the big leagues. The New York Mets are hosting a special evening at Shea Stadium on 29 May that will feature Israeli entertainment, dancing, and other surprises as well as, of course, baseball.

For more information and a ticket order form, click here.

‘One of a Kind’ in New York City

How far would you travel to find your way home?

One of a Kind, by Nephesh Theatre of Israel, is the compelling, true story of ten-year-old AndArgay and his family’s 400-mile journey to freedom. From Ethiopia to a Sudanese refugee camp, then, at last, to Israel, they - along with thousands of other Ethiopian Jews - became the first black Jewish settlers in Israel. Incorporating soulful songs, festive dance and charming animation, One of a Kind is a play about hope, identity, and the meaning of home.

Making its U.S. premiere in conjunction with Israel’s 60th anniversary, Yossi Vassa and Shai Ben Attar’s One of a Kind is the winner of a host of awards, including Best Play at the Haifa International Children’s Theatre Festival, and Israel’s Best Play of the Year 2006.

“From the opening until the play’s end, the audience is invited on an emotional theatrical journey.” (Y-Net)

Now playing at The New Victory Theater in New York from May 2-11, 2008. For tickets or to learn more, click here. See here for the NYT review.

20 Things to do with Matzah

Now that Passover is over, here are 20 things to do with your leftover matzah. Enjoy!

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2008: Bar Refaeli

Israeli model Bar Rafaeli (often spotted around the world with her on-and-off-again boyfriend Leonardo DiCaprio) strikes a pose for this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Check out her video and hear what she has to say about her native Israel!

On the Hummus Hunt in Israel

In this month’s issue of Food & Wine, Philadelphia chef Michael Solomonov explores Israel’s kebabs, eggplant salads, and hummus in search of the best versions to bring back to America:

When I go home to Israel, I’m on a strict five-meal-a-day eating regimen,” says Philadelphia chef Michael Solomonov. “I just can’t get the same flavors here in the States.” Recently, he set out to change that: Solomonov, who spent the past two years as executive chef of Marigold Kitchen, has opened a new restaurant, Zahav, serving the foods of his home country: smooth, nutty hummus; light, chewy Yemenite flatbread; and dozens of variations of eggplant dishes, ranging from a tangy stew to sabich, a fried-eggplant pita sandwich.

To educate and inspire his staff before Zahav’s opening, Solomonov took them on a weeklong tour of the restaurants in Jaffa and Tel Aviv and around Ganei Yehuda, the small Israeli community where he was born. The group set out to hit four kebab shops one day, five hummus parlors the next. A daylong eggplant extravaganza segued into a night of club-hopping and ended with a predawn bureka, a savory breakfast pastry stuffed with tangy Bulgarian feta cheese.

One of Solomonov’s goals was to show his colleagues how different cultures have shaped the food of Israel.

Read the full story by Jen Murphy.

Time Out New York features Etgar Keret

Pick up this week’s issue of Time Out New York magazine, featuring a huge photo on page 2 of Israeli “literary scribe” Etgar Keret. Keret, who co-directed the film Jellyfish with his wife, Shira Geffen, has already received rave reviews and film fest awards around the world.