‘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.

Lil’ Beckham Going to Jewish School

They named their youngest son the Spanish word for “cross,” but that isn’t stopping England’s most famous couple from enrolling their three-year-old, Cruz, in a Jewish nursery school.

Soccer star David Beckham and his Spice Girl wife Victoria met last week with staff at one of Los Angeles’ “best schools for young children,” London tabloid The Sun reported Wednesday. Described in the article as an “exclusive Jewish school,” the facility is “attached to a Jewish temple” in Los Angeles, where David Beckham plays for professional soccer team the Galaxy. Sun reporter Nick Parker wrote that the tabloid “has chosen not to name the school” where the tot will begin his education, and quoted an unnamed source as saying the senior Beckhams have “no plan” for the boy “to be educated in the Jewish faith.”

“It’s just one of the best schools for young children in LA,” the source says.

Read the full story on JPost.com by Nathan Burstein.

The “Faces of Israel” Project

The Consulate General of Israel in New York, in cooperation with the Salute to Israel Parade, has initiated a banner campaign entitled, “Faces of Israel.” Beginning May 4th, in honor of Israel’s 60th birthday, banners will line New York’s Fifth Avenue from 46th to 97th Streets. Each banner will feature the face of an Israeli citizen and be topped with a display of Israeli and American flags.

To view the current Faces of Israel, visit www.60israelis.com.

Want to be one of the 60 Faces of Israel?

Send us a brief biography of yourself, telling us where you were born, what makes you Israeli, and why you should be part of the 60 Faces of Israel.

Please include a photo or a short video of yourself. If you are selected, your bio and photo/video will be featured on our website.

Our special “60 Faces of Israel” committee will choose from the best applicants based on creativity and representation of Israel.

Click here to get started!

Balloon Project in Tel Aviv

A few young Israelis get creative and take to the streets in Tel Aviv for a unique experiment! With dozens of balloons attached, they send a video camera into the sky to take aerial footage of Tel Aviv, then bring it back to earth. Watch this video to see the entire process!

The World of Israeli Cuisine

With many in Israel celebrating Passover with large family gatherings, we thought it a good opportunity to comment on the food some might serve. Fortunately, the Washington Post today posted a story about Israel’s “evolving, composite cuisine” that was too good to pass up.
We’ve come a long way from falafel and hummus. Now, Israelis have embraced new ingredients from overseas and incorporated new touches of their own.
Looks tasty. B’Teavon (Bon apetit)!!

Israel: A Human Mosaic

The State of Israel has taken in more than 3 million people from over 30 countries in the 60 years since independence. They have come together to form a cohesive society with elements representing diverse cultures from the four corners of the globe.
And now, people are beginning to take notice. In this article from Haaretz, the French Minister for Urban Affairs reflects on her experiences in Israel among the multiethnic Israeli population.

The Secret of the Israeli Mosaic

By Alexander Yakobson

Fadela Amara, the French minister for urban affairs, was asked by Haaretz Magazine in an interview, “What did you think of Israel?” Amara, the daughter of Berber immigrants from Algeria and a well-known advocate of women’s and Muslim immigrants’ rights who has come out against radical Islam, said: “I felt very comfortable [in Israel]. I wasn’t the object of special stares, as often happens toward foreigners. I didn’t feel any racism, though I’m certain it exists. You have all the colors there so it’s become almost natural to see white, yellow, brown. … Here in France, I get looks. To the French, I’m not very ‘French.’ We’re living here under a dominant culture. When your name is Francois and you’re white with blue eyes, it’s one thing. But when your name is Fatima and you’ve got a little color, the look you get is different. In Israel, because of the variety of people, I didn’t feel that.”
Continue reading Israel: A Human Mosaic…