Lost islands is one of the best Israeli movies of recent years.
Set in the 80's, the film tells the story of two teen brothers who live in a small Israeli town. The two twins are quite opposite: Erez dreams of becoming a film maker, the other twin, Ofer, the joker of the family and the mother's favorite son, aspires to join an elite commando unit of the Israeli army. As the father gets involved in a car accident, the two brothers find out that sometimes it's very hard and even impossible to follow your dreams.
The writer and director of Lost Islands, Reshef Levy, has told the media that the movie is freely based on his own childhood experiences. This bitter-sweet drama will make you tear and smile at the same time. Highly-recommended!
Today I would like to introduce you to a renowned Israeli Judaica artist who lives and works in Jerusalem. A graduate of Israel's prestigious Academy of Art and Design, Yair has become one of the most successful Israeli Judaica artists in the international market. Yair Emanuel's vivid colors immediately capture the eye and elevate the spirit. Inspired by old traditions, Yair Emanuel mixes ancient with modern elements, while adding his own imagination to create his signature look.
Yair Emanuel's unique Judaica artworks include Shabbat candlesticks, Challah Covers, Hanukkah menorahs, hand-embroidered Tallits and much more. Emanuel's Works make some of the most popular Israeli gifts. What is really captivating in Yair Emanuel's works is the fact that they truly reflect the ancient and holy atmosphere of Jerusalem, which can only be conveyed through art. With Emanuel's magic touch, the sights of Jerusalem magically come to life.
Israeli film, "The Debt"(HaChov), starring Gila Almagor and Neta Garty tells the story of three Mossad agents who are sent to Germany in the 60s to catch the surgeon of Trbllinca - a Nazi war criminal. The mission is to bring him to trial in Israel. In a well-planned operation, the three agents catch the Nazi doctor and hold him captive. The doctor provokes the Israeli agents who are emotionally shaken by the whole thing. Then, he suddenly manages to escape. The three decide to tell that the Nazi has killed himself.
How much longer will the big lie last?
The film constantly shifts from past to present. An article is published in a European newspaper, suggesting that the surgeon is still alive. In the present, one of the agent, Rachel Brener is a successful writer who now publishes a new book. The three agents decide that Rachel is the one who will be sent to complete the mission. Will she able to do it? The two actresses who play young and older Rachel Brener do a fantastic job in this film. Unfortunately, not many Israelis movies have been made in [this genre, but this is definitely a very enjoyable thriller that deals with many issues in the Jewish and Israeli identities. In short, watch it!
I was delighted when I found out that The Idan Raichel Project has made it the Amazon list of the top 100 international music albums of all times. I have always enjoyed the unique sound of Idan Raichel's music. Idan Raichels fuses electronics with ethnic sounds, mainly traditional Ethiopian and Yemenite music.
Born in a Jewish family of Yemenite descendent, Idan's Raichel's music has always taken me back to childhood.
Idan Raichel's last three albums have sold around 300,000 copies in Israel alone. Since the release of the international album a few years ago, Idan Raichel and his talented singers have toured across north America and Europe. This song MiMa'amakim (Out of the Depth) is inspired by the book of Psalms, chapter 130. It well exemplifies the way Idan Raichel's music incorporates traditional sounds and hymns.
Idan Raichel's first two albums are truly a must to every music lover. You can get his albums at Amazon:
Listen to Mima'amkim, I hope you enjoy it aa much as I do.If fou like to read more about the project click on this link, it'll take you to my new website.
I was so happy when I found out that one of my favorite Israeli music bands has signed an album record deal with a major record label –no other than Sony Colombia! (forgive my excitement).
This Israeli rock group that performs in English, Asaf Avidan and The Mojos, now hopes to succeed in the international front. When I first heard this English-language album, I had no idea that the artist is an Israeli! The upcoming album, "Poor Boy/Lucky Man", is due to be released next month.
All the signs have shown that Asaf, a talented Israeli singer, is going to be big. A year ago, Rolling Stone magazine promoted the band as it announced that the Asaf and the Mojos's single "The Reckoning", the highly acclaimed debut album, would be distributed with its next issue in Europe.
The music Asaf and the Mojos brings together many influences: classic rock n' roll, folk and blues. They were even compared to Led Zeppelin.
Many have described Asaf as the male Janis Joplin. Listen to Asaf Avidan and the Mojos – Weak. This song tears me to pieces. Asaf, take another little piece of my heart.
David Gerstein has become known for his three-dimensional modern pop art sculpture. Gerstein's remarkable work commends immediate attention through the use of bright and rich colors. Gerstein's uncompromising aesthetic sculptures manage to capture life little moments of happiness with semi-ironic smile., As a child, David grew up without toys. Throughout his many years of work, his creations have touched the innocent child that remains within us as adults. His art recreates that special playful space that our inner child longs for.
Born and raised in Jerusalem, David Gerstein has studied at the most respected art academies in Israel, London, Paris and New York. This extraordinary artist has long captivated the Israeli audience with his free-spirited, authentic colorful works that often "wink" at the viewer with certain self-irony – a common characteristic in the Jewish culture.
David Gerstein's refreshing and original works have captivated audiences by reflecting the Israeli lively and sensual imagery. Without criticism, Gerstein examines the Israeli scenery as he borrows from the symbolism of the everyday reality.
The sculpure above is called David Gerstein's Armstrong. One of the themes in Gerstein work is the pointless race. This whimsical sculpture is inspired by the great road racing cyclist Lance Armstrong, who has won Tour de France seven consecutive times (while breaking a world record!).
This loving couple does not look at us but at each other. With this simple gesture, David Gerstein celebrates love and intimacy.
Mira Awad has become familiar to the Israeli audience when she collaborated with Achinoam Nini (Noa) in the last Eurovision contest. In the 50 years of the Eurovision Song Contest, Mira is the first Arab chosen to represent Israel. Mira and Achinoam performed a catchy song , "There Must Be Another Way" written in Hebrew, Arabic and English, which led Israel to the finals. At the time, people on both sides were enraged demanding that the Mira and Achinoam withdraw, saying they were given a false impression of coexistence in Israel. As long time peace activists, both Achinoam and Mira expressed their surprise.
From what I've read about Mira Awad, this beautiful woman never rests. Mira is not only a singer, she's a song writer and an accomplished actress. She has played in "Arab Labor" a successful TV show about the life an Israeli Arab family, and its relations with Jewish Israelis (a very good show if you ask me!) and even made a guest appearance in the Israeli TV shopw Hasufim (the best Israeli soap opera to date). Mira also plays in the Israel theater (she's got great reviews for her recent performances), and in cinema: she participated In Eithan Fox's film The Bubble about the life of the gay community in Tel Aviv (Fox is also the creator of Yossi and Jagger and Walk on Water) .
Following the Eurovision contest, Noa and Awad released a collaborative album on May . On June, Mira has released her debut solo album, Bahlawan (circus girl). In the album, Awad combines western influences with classic Arabic music. Even though I don't speak Arabic, Mira's music touches me. I'm curious to see how the Israeli audience responds to these beautiful foreign sounds.
Enjoy this clip, Mira Awad sings as part of the Idan Raichel's Project
A few days ago I watched a very interesting Israeli movie called The Band's Visit (Bikur HaTizmoret), which I highly recommend. I don't need to praise any further that highly acclaimed movie that has already won dozens of international awards.
A small Egyptian police band arrives in Israel to play at an initiation ceremony. To their great dismay, no one is there to welcome them at the airport. The band tries to make their way to the Arab cultural center on their own, only to find themselves in a desolate development town, somewhere in the Israeli desert.
The first encounter between the Egyptian police officer and an Israeli woman introduces us to two opposite types of characters. When the officer asks the Israeli woman where the Arab cultural center is located, she firmly responds: "No Arab culture here, no Israeli culture, no culture at all". The Israeli is portrayed as informal with open in mannerism which may even come across as vulgar. The Arab is portrayed as polite, formal and refrained. The two visibly and drastically different individuals form a very unique friendship in the movie. As you might expect from the title, music as at the heart of the film; with great magic it binds people together. This only goes to show how art can create most unusual of human connections.
The Band's Visit was submitted for the Best Foreign Language Film Category in 2008. However, the films was disqualified by the Oscar committee because its dialogues were mostly in English. The irony is that the English spoken by the characters only further emphasizes how foreign these two cultures are to each other. This movies is another example at the dramatic progress that the Israeli cinema has made in the last decade. I'd definitely give us an Oscar!
Israeli singer Yael Dekelbaum (although I think she spells it Deckelbaum...) has released her debut solo album, Ground Zero. Dekelbaum, one of the most distinctive Israeli singers, performs mostly in English; that's why I thought it would be a great idea to introduce you to her work. Yael, a native English speaker, has told the press that she hopes singing in English will give her access to a wider audience. Yael is part of a trio female band called HaBanot Nechama, one of the most popular Israeli bands made up by three extremely talented singers - MC Karolina, Dana Adini, and Yael. HaBanot Nechama means "Girls of Comfort" in free translation. One of HaBanot Nechama's songs and two of Yael's solo songs were included in the soundtrack of the Showtime hit drama, The L Word . I've read in Israeli newspapers that a few tracks were sent to the creators of the show who immediately fell in love with her.
Listen to these songs, you'll find out why. I think she's amazing!
How does contepmorary Jewish art deals with the memory of the Holocaust?
In a new gallery called "Friday Night", Israeli artist Erez Israeli confronts the memory of the Holocaust in a very unusual way. Erez uses visual art to make a saying about memory, death, perpetuation. In a new exhibition the Israeli artist presents us with a series of disturbing objects: at the center stands a kitchen table with food on it surrounded by death trains. Also a doll, kitchen wear, a collection of yellow badges , which were kept after the Holocaust and sold on Ebay in a few dollars. What does that say about the world that we live in I wonder.
There is also an image that shows a man's chest with a yellow badge painted on it. Erez is known for the way he deconstructs symbols with the same tools that have built them. Click here for pictures from the gallery.
The highly acclaimed Israeli animation video has won a prize in Bublegum festival. The festival, which is held in New York for the second time, has awarded Israeli director with 20,000 Euros. The award was handed to the animator Guy Ben-Shitrit by the famous director, Spike Lee.
The talented creator of the winning animation video "Hey" is a musician and an animator, who made this video as a video clip for his Israeli music band, Eatliz. Click here for Eatliz MySpace page - This might be the coolest MySpace page I've ever seen!
Hi all! This blog will bring you several of the leading Jewish artists that live and work in Israel today. I will discuss culture, literature and art as I see it today in Israel. Son expect a lot of interesting stuff!
