Ambivalent on Jerusalem Day

I’m never quite sure what to think of Yom Yerushalayim – Jerusalem Day in English. The day commemorates the reunification of the city following the Six Day War in 1967 – 45 years ago today – and is for some a day of great joy – a miracle even – while for others is alternatively [...]

Nostalgia Sunday – Jerusalem 1967

In 1967, Moshe Lavi was a soldier fighting in the Six Day War. In the days that followed the retaking of Jerusalem, Lavi armed himself with a camera and documented the events unfolding around him. These never before published images are part of the larger historical record but also provide us with a glimpse into [...]

Foto Friday – Flowers of Jerusalem

Sometimes, you just have to stop and smell the roses. That statement is particularly apt for Jerusalem where life is politically charged on both the national and international fronts. The city’s public parks provide a bit of shelter, relieve the tension and offer a break from the heat. � Pes & Lev One such oasis [...]

Celebrities r us in Israel

I’ve been observing that Israelis tend to have an interesting reaction to seeing celebrities. The paparazzi here are among the most aggressive in the world – chasing and hounding famous folk like Leo DiCaprio and Justin Bieber from the moment they arrive until they leave. Who can forget the Kotel dustup between Leo’s bodyguards and [...]

International Writer’s Festival a hit in Jerusalem

The International Writer’s Festival has returned to Jerusalem packing heat. The biennial event, which kicked off on Monday, has nearly as many international writers present as Israelis, many of whom defied pressure back home to steer clear of Israel, according to Uri Dromi, director general of Mishkenot Sha’ananim, the main location of the festival (events [...]

Adi Barkan’s BMI battle

Adi Barkan, a fashion photographer, has been working for years to get the Knesset to outlaw underweight models, following his own exposure to models suffering from anorexia and bulimia. Back in 2007, after the death of former model Hila Elmalich who was 34 and weighed less than sixty pounds, he told me the following for [...]

Cell phone at the supermarket? You can save big

Israelis won’t be saying “hallo” on their cell phones, but that doesn’t mean low prices aren’t coming. A few weeks ago, a much-rumored new discount-priced Israeli cellular phone company called Hallo dropped its plans to launch after it emerged the company didn’t have the contacts in place it needed to operate . The company had [...]

Israel’s shake, rattle and roll

The Grateful Dead used to sing, “If the thunder don’t get you, then the lightning will.” They might have been talking about Israel, where most people would think the existential threats from our neighbors are the thunder and the lightning. But even when it looks like easy street, there is danger at your door. And [...]

Nostalgia Sunday – The Templer German Colonies

The Israel Academy for Film and Television competition for the 2012 Ophir Awards will open on May 13, 2012, and will take place during the months of May, June and July at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque. Winners will be announced at the Ophir Awards Ceremony, which will take place in September 2012. Among the 38 [...]

Israel hosts musical melting pot

It sounds like the beginning of a potentially saucy joke: ‘Three musicians – an Israeli Jew, an Australian Christian and a Turkish Muslim – walk into a room.’ But it was no joke for Ittai Shaked, Andy Bussuttil and Umit Ceyhan who make up The Bridge Project - based in cyberspace but coming down for [...]