Nostalgia Sunday – Old ads are more fun

November 15, 2009 - 6:43 PM by Rachel Neiman · Leave a Comment
Filed under: General, History and Culture, Israeliness, Movies, Music, Nostalgia Sunday, Pop Culture 

tal_manIf we are to learn anything from Mad Men, it’s that advertisements are most fun and best viewed in retrospect. We look back in “What were they thinking?” wonderment at the positioning of certain products. For example, here’s a slideshow of Israeli advertisements from yesteryear – including one for Osem’s Bamba as a crispy late-night party snack – a far cry from it’s primary role today as the ultimate teething toy.


Or this one, for Elite powdered instant coffee. Although it employs a completely archaic production method, “Cafe Ness” is still being consumed happily by millions. Or thousands. Or at least by me.

Here’s something you don’t see every day – an advertisement for cigarettes! With actual smoking!

And to close, an ad featuring the Yarkon Bridge Trio (Shlishiyat Gesher HaYarkon) — Benny Amdursky, Yehoram Gaon and Arik Einstein racing around town and touting the wonders of Tadiran’s new-fangled electronic devices.

As you watch, bear this in mind: TV in Israel was black & white until 1980, broadcasting was limited to one commercial-free station until 1993 and ads were shown only in movie houses.

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LoveBox

September 23, 2009 - 9:59 AM by Jessica · 1 Comment
Filed under: Business, General, Israeliness, design 

loveboxAlong very Israel21c lines, Israeli Roy Shechter was having a hard time dealing with negative images of Israel, so he decided to take action. He teamed up with an American friend to create a website showing the best parts of Israel, as well as a few Israel ‘Loveboxes,’ filled with Israeli items that can be sent to loved ones. The idea being to connect you to Israel even when you’re not here, with things like soup nuts and Bamba. You don’t have to necessarily spend money; there is, of course, a facebook group option, where ‘friends’ such as Zeev Bielski have commented with admiration.

lovebox bambaAccording to Roy, the lovebox concept is simply a way for Jews to feel connected to Judaism and Israel even when they are not in the Holy Land or don’t always feel they can display their Judaism proudly. So take a look at the loveboxes and see what you think. There’s a certain charm to the website and the idea, what with ‘The Gathering of the Tribe Lovebox,’ ‘The Israeli Wannabe Lovebox,’ and ‘The Worried Jewish Mother Lovebox.’ For just $19.90, $29.90 or $39.90, and a collection of kiddush cups, Psalms key chains, Turkish coffee, Bamba, sunflower seeds, Elite instant coffee and instant soup mix (+ soup nuts), you can show your love of Israel.

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