Flotilla PR

May 31, 2010 by · 3 Comments
Filed under: General, Israeliness, Life, Politics 

It’s a tough day here, as the news keeps filtering in regarding the clashes aboard the Free Gaza aid flotilla in which some 10 activists were killed by IDF soldiers, who were defending themselves against the knives, iron bars and clubs being wielded by the activists aboard the ship.

As the SMSes, emails, news reports and Facebook messages come across various screens, it’s clear that the entire event is immensely unfortunate, from the current results, all the way back to the initial planning and PR surrounding the flotilla.

Here’s a good analysis of the situation from Ha’aretz writer Amos Harel. And read #FreeHasbara about the easy, free, PR efforts launched by the activists to spread their word across the world. Why didn’t Israel do the same?

For now, the other reactions and reports are emerging, including calls for protests at Israeli consulates worldwide, and a plan in Tel Aviv to protest outside the Turkish embassy.

Let’s hope there’s a way to move beyond the event and avoid any further bloodshed.

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A wandering Jew

May 31, 2010 by · 1 Comment
Filed under: Art, Israeliness, Movies 

The just-over-a-minute trailer for “The Wanderer” is gripping in its scenes and silence. Just premiered at the Cannes Festival, this film by unknown Avishai Sivan tells the story of yeshiva student Isaac, a 19-year-old only child of ultra Orthodox parents (the father is played by an Israeli Arab) who is suddenly gripped by severe abdominal pains.

Variety reviewer Alissa Simon wrote that the film is “visually assured but narratively underdeveloped.”

“Independently made, tonally mixed drama, rigorously shot on 35mm with minimal means, reps a peculiar but memorable calling card destined to meander through the fest circuit, likely finding mixed reviews as well as some passionate supporters.”

How did Sivan get to Cannes? Ha’aretz reports that despite many previous rejections for his other films, Sivan was about to spend his life savings on “The Wanderer”, when the Israel Film Fund finally gave him the NIS 200,000 needed to put together a bare-bones production. He didn’t even have enough money to finish the editing process, and sent an unfinished version to Cannes. But they accepted it anyway, and he made it to the red carpet.

Check out the trailer:
YouTube Preview Image

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Walking for Israel

May 31, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: A New Reality, General, History and Culture, Israeliness, Politics, Travel 

Living in Israel, you sometimes develop a feeling of isolation – like you’re alone in the world with everyone else either against you or not understanding the situation.

That’s why every Israeli should spend a couple of days in Toronto. The 200,000 plus Jewish community is extremely cohesive and totally focused on Israel. According to figures presented by the Toronto Jewish Federation, around 75% of the Jews living there have visited Israel, a huge jump over most American Jewish communities.

Those sensibilities permeated the atmosphere at the Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday, when Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu launched the 42nd annual United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto’s Walk for Israel.

‘’The ties between Israel and Canada have never been stronger,” said Netanyahu to thunderous applause from the adoring crowd of around 7,000 people who arrived early in the morning due to security precautions, ahead of the seven kilometer walk which was raising money for Toronto UJA projects to help Ethiopian immigrants in Bat Yam.

There was a festive atmosphere in the auditorium with balloons, and an equal display of Israeli and Canadian flags being waved and worn. And that feeling spread to the walk in the beautifully sunny day in which an estimated 15,000 walkers were out in the joyous procession, replete with plenty strollers, flags and spirited singing.

A random sampling of walkers found unanimous praise for Netanyahu’s speech and for all things Israeli.

Mark Eltis, a 32-year-old native of Montreal who moved to Toronto for college, was participating in his first walk. He said that Netanyahu had “hit the nail on the head” with his speech.

‘It was incredible opportunity to bear witness to the prime minister’s amazing speech, and an opportunity to show him the support that Canada and Toronto have for Israel,” said Robin Kislavsky. “It’s an incredible, cohesive community.”

That cohesiveness was in evidence through its unadulturated love for Israel it displayed on Sunday. Just what the doctor ordered.

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Nostalgia Sunday – Save the Stadium

May 30, 2010 by · 1 Comment
Filed under: Business, design, Environment, General, History and Culture, Life, Nostalgia Sunday, Politics, Social Justice 

“Ramat Gan” means “Garden Height” and, true to the city’s name, its citizens will brook no nonsense when it comes to their green spaces. They pay one the country’s highest municipal taxes and will stand on principle when it comes to preserving a patch of grass – particularly if it is surrounded by stadium seating with bunch of guys on it, running up and down after a ball. But more about that in a moment.

The visionary behind Ramat Gan was its first mayor, Avraham Krinitzi, who contracted Moshe Kavshani, a graduate of the Mikve Yisrael agricultural school, to plan the city’s parks and gardens. Kavshani, according to the Wikipedia (Hebrew) entry about public park Gan Shaul, “as evinced by the municipal records from the late 1930s, was a gardener of great soul, who was very aware of the importance of the connection between people and their environment. Every time a new public park was inaugurated, Kavshani would invite pupils from the local schools to the ceremony, during which he would ‘hand over’ [the garden] to their care. In this way, he created an emotional tie between the children of Ramat Gan and their city’s parks.”

Kavshani designed Gan Shaul to sprawl 25 square kilometers over the city’s hillsides. Popularly known as “Gan Ha-Kofim” or “The Monkey Park”, Gan Shaul was inaugurated in March 1938 at a ceremony presided over by Mandatory Palestine Southern District Commissioner REH Crosbie. The park got its nickname from the cages of monkeys, peacocks, turtles, rabbits and other animals put on display. In 1974, the animals were transferred to more humane surroundings at the newly established Ramat Gan Safari. Gan Shaul didn’t fare as well: its area, already cut to 16 sq km was reduced to a mere 12 sq km and an 11 meter tall water tower was erected on its highest point.

But the real blow came in 2007, when the Ramat Gan municipality announced its intention to construct a public parking lot on the Gan Shaul site. That’s when the neighborhood rallied to save its Monkey Park in a well-publicized battle that garnered popular support from members of the city council, the local Green Party, the Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel (SPNI), the Israel Union for Environmental Defense (Adam Teva v’Din) and the Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites (SPIHS). The municipality caved in 2008, scrapped the parking plan, transferred the NIS 8 million in funding to education and social welfare and invested NIS 300,000 in new playground equipment and greenery. What an amazing city! The Wikipedia entry also notes that closed circuit TV cameras were also installed around the water tower site to stave off vandalism.

Given this proud history, it’s no wonder that Ramat Gan’s citizenry are once again up in arms over the latest plan – this time opposing the Hapoel organization’s plan to sell off the Machtesh Stadium. Although a complete eyesore on the outside, on the inside this unusual field –- built into a steep hillside– is lush and green (and flat). It’s also the historic home of soccer team Hapoel Ramat Gan (now used to train the junior leagues) and you do not mess with their fans. On Thursday, Y-net reported that the police was investigating the possibility of an improper sale of the land to real estate developer Eurocom and the neighbors are planning a public protest this coming Tuesday, June 1. Although motivated less by love of football and more by not wanting a high-rise in their neighborhood (there really is NO parking in Ramat Gan), you’ve got to admire their spirit. Moshe Kavshani would have.

Click here for more about the demonstration. You can also join the Ramat Gan Facebook fan page here.

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Einstein and his Calvins

May 30, 2010 by · 2 Comments
Filed under: education, General, History and Culture, Pop Culture 


Remember how Hebrew U. owns the rights to Albert Einstein? Well, GM, as in General Motors, is now in trouble with the Jerusalem university. The auto company ran a cute ad showing a buff Albert Einstein as a Calvin Klein-like underwear model, and sporting an e=mc2 tattoo. But Hebrew University wasn’t at all amused. In fact, it’s suing GM over the use of Einstein’s image, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The ad ran in People Magazine last fall, picturing the company’s GMC Terrain crossover SUV and copy that read: “Ideas are sexy too … That’s why we gave it more ideas per square inch.”

According to GM, the company thought it had rights to the image; but the university begged to differ. Now the lawyers will have to fight it out.

As for Einstein, he may have died in 1955, but is still a popular figure. In 2008, Forbes magazine ranked Einstein in as the fourth-highest-earning deceased celebrity, earning $18 million annually.

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