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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