Nostalgia Sunday – Shana Tova postcards
Filed under: General, History and Culture, Holidays, Nostalgia Sunday, Pop Culture
This year, the Israel Postal Company has launched a campaign urging people to send New Year greetings by mail. “Bring back the excitement,” exhorts the leaflet stuffed in our mailbox (inserted by hand and not by mail, I should note). “Facebook, MMS, SMS – they’re not personal. It’s no longer exciting. Now more than ever in the digital age, let’s return to the hand-written postal greeting card. For personal attention and creative expression.”
The brochure comes with a postcard attached and instructions: “Detach this greeting card, write a moving greeting, stick on a stamp and send to your loved ones.” I found the last two steps particularly amusing. Apparently people no longer know how to do this.
The Postal Company has also designed a set of five postcards inspired by the era of good old fashioned snail mail. (Classic examples from previous Israelity postings can be viewed here and here). They’re available for purchase at post offices and agencies in Israel or online through their Hebrew and English-language websites. Each one contains a different New Year’s greeting. For example: May You Be Inscribed and Sealed for A Good New Year:
A Year of Flourishing and Prosperity:
A Good and Sweet New Year!
All of this and more do I wish for Israelity’s readers: a year of happiness, prosperity and above all, good health. Shana Tova!
Foto Friday – Apples & Honey
Filed under: Art, Foto Friday, General, Holidays
One of the more lovely traditions of Rosh Hashana is eating apples dipped honey to symbolize our hopes for a sweet new year. At this season, you start seeing apples and honey everywhere. Body artist Flora certainly does…
Dorit “Dot” Malin, a talented architectural and stage lighting designer, created this lovely image incorporating dance and light.
Israel’s Fruit Production and Marketing Board has chosen to market apples the old-fashioned way…
And there are a slew of apple-themed New Year’s animations on YouTube! A small selection follows. Enjoy! And a healthy, happy and prosperous Shana Tova to all.
Picking apples for New Year at Kibbutz Malkiya
Apples and Honey
Shana Tova – the Apple’s Perspective
Shana Tova – Another Apple
Nostalgia Sunday – Old/New Cards for the New Year
Filed under: Art, General, Nostalgia Sunday, Pop Culture
Israelis love their nostalgia and nowhere is that more evident than the Jewish New Year.
There’s something about starting a new year that brings out the child in us…
Perhaps our wishes for health, prosperity and peace will not be in vain and will this year be granted…
…as we look forward… and never backwards…
…in the hopeful belief that this time, this year, things will be different!
That last image – new and nostalgia-inspired rather than actually old — was created by graphic designer Yael Bar, a member of the Israeli Community of Designers who this past Friday held a New Year’s greeting card event at the Israel Cartoon Museum in Holon. More images from that event — and of their work — can be found here.
A Big Plate of Hummus, Mud Massage and Happy Hour Everyday, it’s Good to be a Tourist in Israel
Filed under: Food, General, History and Culture, Israeliness, Life, Pop Culture, Travel
While it is technically the beginning of the Jewish New Year, it is also the end of the holiday season. And that means it is the end of tourist season. And while I can’t say that I miss the tourists, it does hurt our economy when they’re not around. But not to worry because the Ministry of Tourism has got our back, and they have figured out a way to bring the next batch of picture-taking, money spending, falafel eating, dead sea swimming, tourists to Israel.
Their plan is simple: The World Travel Market Fair. What exactly is this, you ask. Well it’s only the second largest tourism fair in the world being held in London from November 10-14th. Countries are able to set up shop in a booth and try to entice potential travelers to their fantasy vacation. And if they didn’t know it already, their dream destination is Israel.
So how does the Ministry of Tourism make the Israel vacation getaway look like a cup of tea? How about the biggest plate of hummus in the world? That’s right, while we are being sued by Lebanon over who is the baby daddy of hummus (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1027016.html), the ministry is piling it on a plate in the hopes of brining new hungry tourists to the Holy Land.
From hummus to mud, the Israel exhibit will also feature Dead Sea mud treatments and massages for those indecisive (and truly lucky) fair goers. I feel that the potential tourist should be warned; while a trip to the Dead Sea in Israel has no admission fee, there is no such thing as a free mud massage. The closest you’ll get to that is your traveling buddy wiping the real stuff on your tummy while you float on your back and try to capture it in a picture.
If the massages won’t get the tourists here, then how about a free trip to Israel. Yep, the Israel stand will include a Happy Hour every day of the fair where they will raffle off trips to Israel. That’s right; we plan to get these fair goers buzzed on beer in order to get them buzzed on Israel. There will of course be entertainment at the booth, including the Balbalu street theater company operating, “Israel-themed activities relating to, among others, the kibbutz, Eilat, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.” I put that in direct quotes because I still don’t understand what the ministry means. Are the actors going to act out kibbutz life, living in Jerusalem, and clubbing in Tel Aviv?
The Ministry of Tourism has made sure to bring along an additional 50 commercial hotel chains, airline companies and tour operators to close the deal.
Now, I don’t claim to be a tourism expert, but I have a few suggestions of my own. I say instead of actors bring the real people, the real taste of Israel. So, if the Ministry of Tourism is reading this, please feel free to steal my ideas!
People to Bring:
• At least two loud shuk vendors with their fruits and vegetables sans half-dead fish (make sure to sample food)
• Israeli soldiers in uniform (everyone loves a man or woman in uniform. It’s hot. Minus the gun.)
• The Israeli Jewish mama that will sit you down and stuff you until your buttons pop (there’s more than just hummus)
• Tel Aviv clubbers that will help you dance off the calories or just make room for more (you’ll need a lot of energy for this)
Do you have an idea to add to this list? Share them and be heard or at least let the Ministry of Tourism know what else they should put on the plate besides hummus!
Nostalgia Sunday
Filed under: Art, General, Holidays, Israeliness, Pop Culture
I don’t know Hayim Shtayter personally but he is a man after my own heart. Shtayer, a veteran Israeli graphic designer, has an extensive collection of antique and period greeting cards for the Jewish New Year, some of which can be found online.
What is nice about this season is that even today, if you go down to the open market shuk, there are still stands selling this sort of card. Brightly colored, often embossed and/or sprinkled with sparkles, these are hopeful messages for the near future, a mix of national pride, military might and religious symbolism.
And sometimes, with a new house and a new car thrown in for good measure!
The “Shana Tova” (good new year) style – described by graphic designer David Tartakover in a 1978 book as “folk art created by anonymous artists” – was honored by the Israel Postal Service in 2000 and 2001 when it commissioned Shtayer to create a series of stamps using images from Rosh HaShana cards.
If you like the Shana Tova style, there’s still time to send an e-card to friends and family. The one I got was really sweet. In any case, best wishes for a New Year filled with health, happiness and a bit of peace, wherever we can find it! Shana Tova!
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