Israeli Arts and Culture

Promotional poster for the Netflix show Shtisel

A Bittersweet Reunion with the Shtisel Family

Rabbi Sharon G. Forman

April 13, 2021

Sometimes the acting ends in joy and other times the results are devastating. Ultimately, the writers and actors draw us into their stories so that we cannot deny that art can elicit understanding, peace, and even deep love.

Lynn Cohen with her face in her hands as Golda Meir in a scene from Steven Spielbergs 2005 film Munich

Israeli History

7 Movie Stars Who Have Played Israeli Prime Ministers

Gabe Friedman (JTA)

April 12, 2021

Just a month after it was announced that the Israeli star Shira Haas would portray Meir in a TV series, The Hollywood Reporter revealed this week that Oscar winner Helen Mirren would portray Israel’s only female prime minister in an upcoming biopic.

Professional close up portrait of the author and his wife in the 1970s

Experiencing Israel

A Jerusalem Love Story

Aron Hirt-Manheimer

February 9, 2021

It has been almost 50 years since I met my wife Judy in Jerusalem. She came into my life like the Sabbath queen about to enter the synagogue, with everyone rising and turning toward the door to welcome her in.

Matt Adler smiles at the camera while wearing backpack and taking a selfie in front of an Israeli desert setting

Travel

Building Bridges Through Language and Culture: A Gay Jew Discovers Israel in Arabic

Chaim Ezra Harrison

September 14, 2020

Matt Adler, who speaks eight languages, detailed his experiences living in Israel in his new book. We spoke to him about his life in Israel and how his intersecting identities impacted his time there.

Israel

The Jews are Coming, and Some People Feel Threatened

Rabbi Josh Weinberg

August 25, 2020

Even as Israelis dream of peace and work to realize that dream, culture wars are stirring Israeli society. Enter the sensational, satirical show HaYehudim Ba-im or The Jews are Coming.