Nostalgia Sunday – Ephraim Katzir
Filed under: General, History and Culture, Nostalgia Sunday, Politics, Profiles
Professor Ephraim Katzir, fourth President of the State of Israel, scientist and a founder of the Weizmann Institute, passed away yesterday at his home on the Institute grounds at the age of 93. Although perhaps best known abroad as Israel’s fourth president, Katzir’s contribution to the scientific development of this country was immense.
In addition to founding and heading Weizmann’s Biophysics Department, Katzir’s pioneering studies contributed to the deciphering of the genetic code, the production of synthetic antigens and the clarification of the various steps of immune responses. The understanding of polyamino acid properties led, among other things, to Weizmann scientists’ development of Copaxone, a drug manufactured today by Teva and used worldwide for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Another major success was in immobilizing enzymes. Katzir developed a method for binding enzymes, which speed up numerous chemical processes, to a variety of surfaces and molecules. The method laid the foundations for what is now called enzyme engineering, which plays an important part in the food and pharmaceutical industries. For example, it is used to produce fructose-enriched corn syrup and semi-synthetic penicillins.
Along with his scientific research, Katzir was profoundly involved in the social and educational aspects of science. He headed a governmental committee for the formulation of a national scientific policy, trained a generation of younger scientists, translated important material into Hebrew and helped to establish a popular science magazine. He served as Chief Scientist of the Israel Defense Ministry and Chairman of the Society for the Advancement of Science in Israel, the Israel Biochemical Society, the National Council for Research and Development and the Council for the Advancement of Science Education. He headed the National Biotechnology Council, was a member of the Israeli Academy of Sciences and Humanities and of numerous other learned bodies in Israel and abroad.
In 1973, Katzir was elected fourth President of the State of Israel, a position he held until 1978. Upon completing his term of office, he returned to research at the Weizmann Institute and also devoted himself to the promotion of biotechnological research in Israel and founded the Department of Biotechnology at Tel Aviv University.
In the later years of his scientific career, Katzir turned to new areas of research. In one project, he headed a team of Weizmann scientists that won an international contest for computer modeling of proteins. In another study, he was part of an interdisciplinary Institute team that revealed an important aspect of snake venom’s effects on the body.
Katzir’s brother, Aharon was another founding member of the Weizmann Institute, who headed the Polymer Research Department until he was killed in the 1972 attack at Lod Airport (today Ben Gurion Airport) carried out by Japanese terrorists. Today, on the radio, Aharon’s grandson, LA-based filmmaker Dan Katzir, talked about his grand-uncle and his advice as a surrogate grandfather. Despite the extreme family pressure to go into the sciences (his father is pioneering laser technology engineer Dr. Abraham Katzir), Dan said that Ephraim told him to follow his heart’s desire and, whatever he chose to do, to do it well.
Upon viewing Dan Katzir’s film about Yitzhak Rabin, Out For Love, Be Back Soon, his grand-uncle said that he wept not only for Rabin, but for Sadat and all those who wanted — and died — for the cause of peace in this region.
The Weizmann Institute’s press announcement today, (from which I’ve borrowed liberally), cites an Annual Review quote from Katzir: “I have had the opportunity to devote much of my life to science. Yet my participation over the years in activities outside science has taught me there is life beyond the laboratory. I have come to understand that if we hope to build a better world, we must be guided by the universal human values that emphasize the kinship of the human race: the sanctity of human life and freedom, peace between nations, honesty and truthfulness, regard for the rights of others, and love of one’s fellows.”
They just don’t make ‘em like that anymore.
Angels, demons and Israelis
Ayelet Zurer - the Julia Roberts of Israel.
And now Liraz Charhi has been cast in Fair Game, director Doug Liman’s drama about outed CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson. Naomi Watts already has been cast as Plame. Sean Penn plays her husband, ambassador Joseph Wilson.
But she’ll have a hard time achieving the success that Zurer has managed since being cast as Eric Bana’s husband in Steven Spielberg’s Munich four years ago. The Los Angeles Time recently published a flattering profile of Zurer, calling her the Julia Roberts of Israel.
According to director Ron Howard, Zurer beat out eight other actresses who also had screen-tested with Hanks for the role of truth-seeking Italian physicist Vittoria Vetra.
“There’s something very unself-conscious and honest and earthy about Ayelet,” says Howard, “and yet she has the capacity to deal with the scientific jargon in a way that felt honest and she felt comfortable with it.”
The story goes on to describe her upbringing in Israel as the child of a Holocaust survivor.
Despite her lightheartedness, Zurer seems to possess a kind of subtle stoic quality, which might be genetic or simply the product of growing up in the Middle East. She is a child of the Holocaust — her mother, then just a 5-year- old in Czechoslovakia, lived through the war by hiding out in a convent, and later reunited with her family for only a year in the forest. In the ’50s, she immigrated to Israel, and ultimately married Zurer’s father, a government worker who painted on the side.
There were oil paints in Zurer’s Tel Aviv home, and “everybody expected me to do something with painting,” but then genes overtook her, she explains. “What happened was I became this pretty girl from a non-pretty girl and was dragged into doing all kinds of things on stage. I found it to be really fun, but never thought I’d pursue it, because I was too shy.”
She did her required army stint – singing for the troops as part of a special arts division. She admits that whenever she’s asked about her army experience, “I always get this redness in my skin and face. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t carry a gun, thank you very much.”
After her army service, Zurer went on to study acting in New York before ultimately returning to Israel, where she won the 2003 Israeli Oscar equivalent for her performance as a woman who lost her husband in a terrorist attack in the dramedy Nina’s Tragedies and later starred in the TV series “B’Tipul,” the forerunner of HBO’s “In Treatment.”
Then Hollywood beckoned, and a star was born. Let’s see if Liraz Charhi can repeat the feat.
Foto Friday – Pearls of Music at Azrieli contest
Filed under: Foto Friday, General, History and Culture, Pop Culture
With so many top-flight orchestras and musicians, Israeli is a feast for lovers of classical music and folklore That population is well-served by Pninei HaMuzika or Pearls of Music, a non-profit organization dedicated to showcasing Israeli and international artists – in variety of musical styles: baroque, classical music, liturgical music, jazz, Klezmer, Irish, Balkan, gypsy, country and other folk music, flamenco, as well as children plays — through festivals and concert series. Pearls of Music selects unique venues, from Jerusalem’s Ticho House, churches, monasteries, and caves, to, in this case, the stark modernity of the Azrieli Center, which will serve as the backdrop for a unique photo competition.
The contest, which was just announced this week, offers music loving photographers the opportunity to participate in a competition that combines music with the urban landscape of the Azrieli Center Amphitheater, an open-air venue located on the third floor rooftop of the Azrieli Mall, at the base of the Center’s towers.
This year, the Amphitheater will host a series of festive summer concerts, presented by Pearls of Music, kicking off on June 11 with Celtic Fire, a celebration Irish music and dance – yes, that’s them looking like Riverdance — followed on June 20 by the Latino-Argentino Ensemble featuring Natan Formansky who, together with Israeli tenor Yotam Kohen, will perform Latin American songs on acoustic guitars and and exotic instruments. 
“Brazilian Carnival” an evening of Samba, Salsa, Bosa Nova, Lambada and Capoeira, happens on July 4; an evening of Viennese dance music – from the waltz to the polka – with harp, flute and orchestra on July 24; Israeli folklore on August 13; Jazz, Blues & Swing on August 29; and others to be announced. The series of concerts runs from June 11 to September 25, and tickets can be ordered via the Pearls of Music website.
Now, as to the competition. Check out this trippy pic. Clearly there is plenty of room for improvement and I guess Photoshopping is allowed!
It is sponsored by the Geographical Photography College, Azrieli Malls and Pearls of Music. Participating photographers will be allowed to enter eight of the 11 concerts, with entry limited to six photographers per performance, to take pictures before during and after the show. (Two photographers per performance will be GPC students). Photos will be judged for quality and originality, as well as fidelity to the competition theme “Pearls of Music at Azrieli”. The winning photos will go on display in October at the Azrieli Center gallery. Winners will receive a free subscription to the 2010 Pearls of Music summer concert series, and runners up will receive a course in photography at the GPC.
Interested photographers should contact Giora Shalmi of the Geographical Photography College at: giora@gpc.co.il.
CREDITS: The top two photographs come courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The latter two are courtesy of Pearls of Music.
Israeli hasbara, with a tinge of pink
Filed under: A New Reality, coexistence, General, Israeliness, Pop Culture
Pro-Israel groups are getting quite edgy these days in their attempts to show a side of Israel that isn’t generally covered in the world’s media.
Latest example is the organization Stand With Us - which usually works with students galvanizing support for Israel and generally focusing on political issues. Howewer, they’ve realized that not everything is black and white – sometimes it’s also purple.
They’re inviting journalists to visit Israel for the Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade, in a package called ‘iPride Tel Aviv 2009 - Israel’s culture in a GLBT scope.’ In its 11th year, the parade is part of the Tel Aviv 100th anniversary celebrations.
In addition to representing their own countries in the parade on June 12th, the five-day trip includes meetings with the most influential opinion shapers in the Israeli GLBT community, including representatives of the army and Israeli gay cultural icons.
Among the prominent gay Israelis on the agenda are Meretz MK Nitzan Horowitz and Gal Uchovsky, movie producer (along with his partner Eytan Fox of ‘The Bubble’), and Israeli “American Idol” TV show judge.
The group will also meet with an army rep to talk about gays in the IDF, and spend a day in Jerusalmem, where they’ll try to answer the question, ‘Should the Holy City be Proud?’
I know of at least one gay journalist from the US who has never been to Israel who is hoping to be picked by Stand With Us for one of the places on the trip. For him, it will surely provide an inside look into an Israel that is a far cry from the headlines.
Is this a drill?
I don’t know whether to be relieved or worried by the government’s decision to hold a large-scale nationwide drill next Tuesday. Relieved, because the government is clearly preparing us all for missile attacks, which is very responsible and forward thinking; and worried, well because the government is clearly preparing us all for missile attacks.
Sound the alarm and make for a shelter
With the war of words between Israel and Iran heating up, it’s hard not to feel a little jumpy even when you’re an optimistic sort.
The government’s idea is to hold a nationwide civil defense exercise, called Turning Point 3 (I presume we’ve already had Turning Point 1 and 2). During the exercise sirens will go off across the country. And this time, instead of ignoring them, the entire population will have to head for the nearest shelter or protected site.
For my kids it’s a trip to a rather dank and smelly underground shelter at the school. For my husband it’s going to be interesting since the shelters in his high-rise office block are rented out for storage. For me, well with no one around to notice, it’s probably not worth making the effort to amble down the stairs to my son’s bedroom cum shelter. Even though it’s got wireless Internet.
In a meeting at the Knesset, Dep. Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said the exercise was based on the presumption of a missile assault from three or four directions, some with unconventional weapons, synchronized with large-scale terrorist attacks up and down the country.
This, he stressed, was no fantastic scenario made up by Hollywood scriptwriters, but a highly credible development in the event of war. I can’t help but wonder what drill they have planned for us in the event of a nuclear strike.
My village started preparing for the drill last week, when the sirens suddenly went off early in the morning. No one seemed particularly concerned, however, and just went about their business as normal. Finally someone raised their head and said: “Do you think that’s a drill?”
Anyway, good to know we’re prepared. Gas masks to be handed out later this year. Ah, the good life.
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