Liz Taylor, ala ha’shalom

March 29, 2011 - 1:56 PM by · 1 Comment
Filed under: Entertainment, General, History and Culture, Israeliness, Life, Movies, Pop Culture, Religion 

Given all the world strife, haven’t had time to really focus on the death of Elizabeth Taylor, that screen icon who — who knew? — was such a longtime friend of Israel. Here she is in a photo from the Ben Gurion University archives, when she visited in 1983 — she also met with Prime Minister Menachem Begin during that trip.

Turns out, as I learned from Nathan Burstein’s Washington Post op-ed, that Liz converted to Judaism in 1959, supposedly before her wedding to Eddie Fischer but had been considering the move for some time, specifically after her third marriage to Mike Todd, who had been born Avrom Goldbogen.

And once she did convert, following a six-month conversion course with a local L.A. rabbi, she took it seriously, even if she seemed to take her marriages less than seriously. She purchased $100,000 in Israel Bonds in 1959, prompting the United Arab Republic to ban her movies; sang a Hebrew duet in Moscow, and appealed for refusenik Jews in Russia.

Here she is with Richard Burton on their 1975 trip to Israel, a short clip at the Western Wall:

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Foto Friday – Israel’s National Photo Collection

October 24, 2008 - 12:45 AM by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Art, Foto Friday, General, History and Culture, Movies, Pop Culture, Travel 

Ten years ago, at the time of Israel’s jubilee anniversary celebration, the Government Press Office launched a unique website of its images archive. The National Photo Collection is indeed the personal photo album of the State of Israel and it is an amazing if somewhat overlooked trove of treasure for anyone interested in Israeli history – political, social and cultural. Personally, I go for the pop culture, so here are three images from the 60s and 70s of glamorous celebrities visiting and supporting Israel. There are plenty more.

Sophia Loren 1964 - Fritz Cohen
Sophia Loren Arriving at Lod Airport For Filming of the Movie “Judith” In Israel, 1964
Photograph: Fritz Cohen. Israel GPO National Photo Collection

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton at Western Wall - 1975
Film Stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton Visiting Western Wall Plaza In Jerusalem, 1975
Photograph: Sa’ar Ya’acov, Israel GPO National Photo Collection

Diana Ross and Itzhak Rabin - 1976
Hollywood Singer And Actress Diana Ross Making P.M. Itzhak Rabin Join In Her Song During The ‘Salute To Israel’ Gala Dinner In Los Angeles, 1976
Photograph: Sa’ar Ya’acov, Israel GPO National Photo Collection

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