On the eve of Passover 1948, Rabbi Moshe Saks, known as Bud to his family and friends, was stationed in Jerusalem\’s Talpiot neighborhood, trying to figure out how to get Passover supplies and ammunition to the embattled Haganah soldiers in the Makor Haim neighborhood.
In the space of an hour — plus an extra 10 to 15 minutes thrown in for good measure — David Solomon outlines the 4,000 years of Jewish history, from 2000 B.C.E. to the present. Each white paper wall represents 1,000 years, and as Solomon moves from Abraham to the 12 tribes, Moses, the prophets, the First and Second Temples, the Babylonian exile and the \”PR stunt\” of Chanukah, he works the room, swiveling the audience in its seats as he races from one side of the room to another.
\”We\’re missing the MTV Awards for this because we feel it\’s a very important \’cause … this is the Holy Land,\” said Fergie. It was the Black Eyed Peas\’ second concert in Israel, having performed in Tel Aviv last summer. But it was their first time performing in Jerusalem, where they headlined Jerusalem Rocks! a nonprofit international music festival celebrating peace and unity.
With three Israeli films competing at this year\’s 60th Cannes International Film Festival, running May 16-27, as well as several Israeli student films, Israel Film Fund director Katriel Schory credits the country\’s success to the \”strength and power of our stories.\”
Etgar Keret is coming to Los Angeles, but fear not. This brilliant young Israeli writer of his generation, a skillful satirist who seems to have a knack for expressing the emotions, thoughts and language of his peers, has not gone completely Hollywood.
There is a scene in Dina Zvi-Riklis\’ award-winning drama, \”Three Mothers,\” in which Gila Almagor, once a popular singer, stages a comeback concert to raise money for her sister, Yasmin, who needs a kidney transplant. At the start of the concert, she introduces herself as one of three sisters. \”Sixty years ago, my sisters and I were born in Alexandria, in Egypt. We\’re triplets,\” she says, with a coy smile. \”Triplets are like twins, but a lot harder.\”
The group stood in silence, heads bowed. The triumvirate of Catholic, Episcopal and Presbyterian ministers waited for responses within the prayer circle at the Cenacle (the upper room), the traditional site of the Last Supper, on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem.
It took Herb and Barbara Greenberg 10 years to realize their dream of making aliyah so they could live near their children and grandchildren.
It was a day of funerals, as Israel buried 14 victims from Sunday\’s suicide bombing attack in a Haifa restaurant.
It\’s known as the holiday of freedom, but Passover this year in Israel will likely be remembered for its sense of restriction.
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