From Vision to Reality

September 21, 2008 - 8:51 AM by · 2 Comments
Filed under: General, Holidays, Movies, Pop Culture 

Here, in Jerusalem’s Old City tourist traps, they sell those T-shirts bearing an image of a fighter jet and the title ‘Don’t Worry America, Israel is behind you’.

I guess they could add a new version now saying ‘Don’t Worry Israel, Hollywood is behind you’.

beatty2.jpgThursday night’s gala celebration of Israel’s 60th birthday – titled marquee style ‘From Vision to Reality’ – which took place at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, brought out a bunch of A-lister, some oddities and some perennial friends of Israel in a show of strength for our humble, little country that could.

Folks from the ‘hood like Warren Beatty and his wife Annette Bening (looking more like Diane Keaton every day, no?), Seal, tennis star Serena Williams, Jason Alexander, and music producer David Foster, mingled with Israeli Consulate officials and helped to honor the evening’s guest of honor (besides Israel), movie producer Arnon Milchan, who received a lifetime achievement award from the Citizens’ Empowerment Center in Israel, a nonprofit that promotes democracy and civic involvement.

According to an AP report, the Israeli-born former fertilizer salesman Milchan, who has produced films like Pretty Woman and LA Confidential, originally declined the offer, then reconsidered.

“I realized for Israel, you can’t say no,” he said.

Milchan brought out Williams during his acceptance speech, a connection evidently forged years ago when the Hollywood mogul helped the young tennis star broker an endorsement deal with Puma.

Adam Sandler, rumored to be a possible MC for the event, was a no-show, but his comedy cohort Howie Mandel sent in a video presentation in which he discussed a recent vacation to Israel. Former Seinfeld star Alexander also praised the country and disclosed that he’ll be making a visit here next June, and for the first time bringing his sons. Fans should look for him registered, of course, as Art Vandelay.

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The party goes on

September 8, 2008 - 1:37 PM by · 2 Comments
Filed under: General, History and Culture, Holidays, Pop Culture 

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Once all the hoopla diminished following the big opening blast in May, Israel’s 60th birthday has taken on a decidedly low-key complexion, at least in Israel.
That’s why it needs a little push from Hollywood. Well, actually, a big red-carpeted, black-limousined push.

According to Yediot Aharonot, Israel’s 60th anniversary will be celebrated in style on September 18th at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

More than 1,000 Americans – either from the film industry or the Jewish community – have been invited to the festivities, which will set them back $1,000. Already confirmed are Kevin Spacey, Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Alexander, Heidi Klum and Oliver Stone along with bigwigs from most of the big Hollywood studios including Warner Bros., Fox, Paramount, and Sony Pictures.

The event’s being produced by the American Friends of the Citizens’ Empowerment Center in Israel, in cooperation with the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles.
The Citizens’ Empowerment Center in Israel was founded by Israeli-American billionaire and Beverly Hills resident Izak Parviz Nazarian, and has been active in advancing democratic initiatives in Israel, including forming a task force which gave recommendations on how to finally write a constitution for Israel.

I’ve met Nazarian a few times, and he’s a very pleasant older man who cares deeply about Israel – and he puts his money where his mouth is. According to the Yediot report, Nazarian and the new Israeli consul-general in Los Angeles Yaakov Dayan have been trying to convince studio officials to send crews to Israel for filming projects.

Adam Sandler, who demonstrated his allegiance with Israel with his latest film Zohan, is being touted as a possible MC for the event, possibly in tandem with Israeli culture personality and author Yair Lapid. Sources could not confirm if hummous would be served.

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