Tag Archive for Israel culture

Compilation of Falafel Stories: Happy ‘World Falafel Day’!

Israel participates in the annual celebration of the most-loved Middle Eastern treat.

In addition to being Philippines Independence Day and the start of the World Cup, June 12 also happens to be World Falafel Day.

Gabai’s famous falafel

Gabai’s famous falafel, located on Bograshov Street in central Tel Aviv – Photo: Rotem Maimon

In honor of the day honoring Israel’s national food, we’ve trawled through our archives and found seven must-read articles to help you mark the occasion.

On World Falafel Day, at least, let’s not argue over the origins of the humble dish. Let’s have a ball.

No matter where it originated, falafel is still Israel’s national food

Preparing falafel balls.
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The Rolling Stones Shake Israel: Truly a natural phenomenon

 

A singular event for the over 50,000 people attending the concert in Tel Aviv’s Park Hayarkon.

 

 

For a group of long-time professionals like the Rolling Stones, their performance Wednesday evening in Tel Aviv was just another night among thousands – but for the 50,000 people attending the concert in Park Hayarkon, it was a singular event.

Mick Jagger in Rolling Stones concert in Tel Aviv, June 4, 2014. - Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Mick Jagger in Rolling Stones concert in Tel Aviv, June 4, 2014. – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

The Stones alluded to the event’s gravity relatively early in their concert, when a video projected on giant screens behind the performers combined archival clips from their concerts in the 1960s with live shots of the Tel Aviv concert audience in 2014. Continue Reading »

The Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood: Dylan said go to Israel

 

Iconic musician, Bob Dylan, suggested that the band make ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ and perform in Israel on the Stone’s European tour this summer.

 

 

Ronnie Wood, guitarist for The Rolling Stones, revealed Monday that Bob Dylan put the idea in the Stones’ circle to include Israel as a tour stop.

Stones Ticket

Ticket to upcoming Stones concert in Tel Aviv – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

In an interview with Channel 2 in response to written questions ahead of the Stones’ Israel debut on June 4, Wood said that one time after seeing Dylan perform, the singer made the suggestion.

He was coming offstage and said “we’re going to Tel Aviv.” Continue Reading »

The Falafel Index: Israel home to the most expensive Falafel in pita

Forbes magazine’s new purchasing index concludes that Israel’s shekel is one of the most overvalued currencies in the region.

 

The Israeli shekel is among the most overvalued currencies in the Middle East and food prices in Israel have increased more than in any other developed country since 2005, according to a new purchasing index from Forbes magazine called the Falafel Index.

The Falafel Index

The Falafel Index is a version of the Economist’s Big Mac Index tailored for the Middle East.

Like its older counterpart, the Falafel Index determines the purchasing power of different currencies – but rather than comparing hamburgers, it compares the prices of falafel across the region. Continue Reading »

Foreign networks buy Israeli TV programs at media fair in Cannes

Canada, Thailand, U.S. & France sign deals with Israeli production companies at French media event.

“The ideas from Israel are very advanced & sophisticated, but execution in the U.S. is more polished, since we have bigger budgets & more experience.” said Sharon Tal Yguado, a Fox executive.

By Noah Smith

 

At this week’s MIPTV Media Market in Cannes, France, which officially kicked off on Sunday, Israeli production companies Armoza Formats and Keshet Media Group have already closed major deals for TV formats to be developed and distributed in the United States, Canada, France and Thailand.
A scene from 'Hostages'

A scene from ‘Hostages’ – Photo: Itiel Zion

From Armoza, “Hostages,” “While You Were Sleeping” and “You, Me and My Ex” will all be developed in Canada while Keshet’s “Boom!”

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Award-winning ‘Son of Hamas’ documentary to be adapted to Hollywood film

 

Based on Israeli director Nadav Schirman’s Sundance-winning documentary ‘The Green Prince’, “Son of Hamas” will be made for the Silver Screen

 

 

The true story of the son of a Hamas leader who turned against his family in the service of the Shin Bet will be adapted for the silver screen.

Still from 'The Green Prince'

Still from ‘The Green Prince’. – Photo Sundance Institute

The feature film will be based on the award-winning Israeli documentary “The Green Prince,” which tells the story of Mosab Hassan Yousef – the son of a top Hamas leader who turned into an Israeli agent. Directed by Nadav Schirman, “The Green Price” clinched the Audience Award for at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

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Israeli Arab finishes victorious in TV reality cooking program ‘Master Chef’

 

‘Master Chef’ winner Nof Atamna-Ismaeel, says she’ll use TV show’s prize money to open Arab-Jewish cooking school.

 

Nof Atamna-Ismaeel won the fourth season of Israeli reality cooking show “Master Chef” on Saturday night.

Noff Otmana Ismail, Israeli Arab winner of 'Master Chef'

Noff Otmana Ismail, Israeli Arab winner of ‘Master Chef’ – Photo: Oded Karni

Atamna-Ismaeel, 32,,  from the Israeli Arab town Baqa al-Gharbiyyewho cooks Arab food with a modern twist. She has a PhD in microbiolog and is  married with three kids.

Upon winning, Atamna-Ismaeel said it was “the most exciting moment in her life,” and said she plans on using the prize money to open an Arab-Jewish cooking school.

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Lars von Trier’s latest film ‘Nymphomaniac’ too racy for Israel

 

The Danish director’s latest film hasn’t been purchased for distribution in Israel. Could that be because of the financial risk, the director’s admiration of Hitler, or simply the explicit sex?

Included: Nymphomaniac – official trailer – Viewer Discretion Advised – Sexual Content

 

The first installment of Lars von Trier’s much talked-about “Nymphomaniac,” starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgård and Shia LeBeouf, premieres in the United States this weekend.

Screenshot from Official Trailer

Screenshot from Official Trailer

In Israel, however, no release date has been announced, and although von Trier’s previous films have received positive welcomes from Israeli critics and audiences alike, it’s not even known whether “Nymphomaniac” was even picked up for distribution.

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25,000 runners to participate Friday in annual Int’l Jerusalem Marathon

The 4th Int’l Jerusalem Marathon is set for this Friday with 25,000 runners from 54 countries are expected to take part in one of several tracks.

The 800-meter social race, the International Jerusalem ”Winner” Marathon, supports the needy.

By Yori Yalon

 

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Rolling Stones to fetch $6.7 million for Israel concert

 

The Rolling Stones are expected to draw a crowd of 70,000 on June at Hayarkon Park, Tel Aviv.

 

“You can’t always get what you want,” goes the classic Rolling Stones song. But when it comes to their June 4 concert in Israel, the British rock legends have certainly come close, with a guarantee of $6.7 million for that one performance.

Stones-IsraelandStuff/PP

Promoter Shuki Weiss, who has reportedly said in the past that he would retire after bringing the Stones to Israel, beat other promoters to the punch by guaranteeing the astronomical sum, according to Israel’s Channel 2.

No matter how many tickets are sold, the Stones will earn $6.7 million for this single appearance at Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv.

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Beauty From Southern Israel Named Miss Israel 2014

 

A high-school arts major & computer graphics student Mor Maman, 18, named Israel’s new Miss Israel in yesterday’s pageant held in Haifa.

The soon-to-be Israeli Air Force soldier is currently managing a Facebook group promoting nutrition among teens.

By Eran Suissa

 

 

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Holy City of Jerusalem Becomes Break-Dancing Mecca

Israel’s style may yet meet the Bronx standards, but Israeli immigrants from the Ukraine, Ethiopia & Russia are putting together their own unique repertoire.

 

They have names like Elastic, G-Rock, Aladdin, Pac Man and Splinter. They sport hoodies, backwards baseball caps and Adidas footwear. They dance in circles, but they don’t do the hora; they’re Israeli b-boys and b-girls, and they have serious flavor.

Break dancing

Action from a Break dancing competition at the Israel Goldstein Youth Village in Jerusalem, February 2014. – Photo: Emil Salman

Israel’s top break dancers took part in the “Prove Yourself B-Boy Jam” on Thursday, competing in head-to-head battles before a transfixed crowd of students and friends at the Israel Goldstein Youth Village in Jerusalem. Continue Reading »

Portman confronts local resistance over filming in Jerusalem

Israeli directorial debut to be shot in Haredi neighborhood of capital, to the chagrin of its residents.

By i24NEWS

 

Ultra-Orthodox residents of Jerusalem are reportedly trying to forestall Hollywood star Natalie Portman from shooting scenes from her upcoming directorial debut in Israel’s capital, increasingly defined by its religious majority.

Natalie Portman – Photo: AFP

According to the Haaretz daily, Portman, is set to film in an ultra-Orthodox part of the Nahlaot neighborhood. While she coordinated the shoot with the Jerusalem Municipality, officials apparently failed to inform the residents, who wrote a letter complaining that the filming will take place near synagogues and yeshivot. Continue Reading »

Israeli documentary wins at Sundance Film Festival

 

“The Green Prince,” garners one of prestigious Utah film festival’s top honors. It tells the story of the son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef, Mosab Hassan Yousef, who spent a decade as an Israeli informer in the West Bank.

Yishai Kichlis and News Agencies

 

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Listen: Israeli song top hit in Yemen

The illegal disk, “Sana’a al-Yemen” blares from stereos & car speakers. “Come with me to Sanaa,” Zion Golan, a religious Jew, sings in Yemeni Arabic.

 

 

A song from an Israeli singer with Yemenite roots – but who has never visited the country – has become a surprise hit in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, the Economist reported on Tuesday.

Zion Golan

Zion Golan – Photo: Moti Milrod

Zion Golan’s song “Sana’a al-Yemen” is frequently heard blaring from stereos and minibus speakers. “Come with me to Sanaa,” Golan sings in Yemeni Arabic. “Sanaa, my home, you’ll like it.”

But although the lyrics refer to Sana’a as home, Golan has never been there. Continue Reading »