“Bridge Over Troubled Water”: A festival of American Jewish culture will take place June 12-14th in Tel Aviv-Jaffa; programming is in Hebrew and includes lectures, panel discussions, comedy, cinema, and live music performances for Israelis.
The impressive list of speakers includes: Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac “Bougie” Herzog, Professor Manuel Trajtenberg, journalists Yoav Limor and Nehemia Shtrasler, among other academics, professionals, and artists. Rabbi Meir Azari, the festival’s initiator and head of the Daniel Centers for Progressive Judaism that is hosting the event explained, “Most of us know Woody Allen, Seinfeld, and Streisand, but there are many facets of American Jewish culture that Israelis aren’t familiar with. Jews have lived in America for over 400 years and have developed a rich and diverse cultural repertoire that has greatly influenced American life, in general. The growing chasm between American and Israeli Jewry necessitates that both sides examine and emphasize our commonalities to confront the crisis. Our plan is to make this festival an annual event as a means of creating and fortifying connections between our people.”
Not only Seinfeld: On June 12-14th, the Daniel Centers for Progressive Judaism, in cooperation with the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality, the World Zionist Organization, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, will host the American Jewish Cultural Festival to shed light on and promote American Jewry’s vibrancy, and its important role in Israel’s national story and Jewish Peoplehood.
“The festival will feature music, cinema, literature, comedy, and visual art, and will examine different aspects of the Jewish and secular lives of American Jews,” added Rabbi Azari. Most of the programming will be held at Beit Daniel in north Tel Aviv, with live music performances each night in Park Hayarkon, a live comedy and jazz performance on the roof of Mishkenot Ruth Daniel in Jaffa, and film screenings at Tel Aviv-Jaffa’s City Hall. The festival will conclude with an American-themed Kabbalat Shabbat service in Park Hayarkon, opposite Beit Daniel.
Although the festival is being held in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, it is open to the public – singles, families, young, and elderly – from all parts of the country, and is free of charge. Rabbi Azari added, “Anyone who has an interest in learning about or celebrating American Jewish culture, and strengthening the bonds between our communities, is welcome.”
Read Rabbi Azari’s piece on Israel-Diaspora Relations in the Jerusalem Post: https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Israel-Diaspora-relations-We-must-build-bridges-over-troubled-water-591859
Some of the highlights of the festival are:
- Us and them: discussing differences, discussing potentials with Isaac Herzog, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel executive committee, Zvika Klein of Makor Rishon/Maariv, and Yuval Karni of Yedioth Ahronoth.
- Dollars on the bridge: the economic ties that bind us. Atila Shumpavelli of YNET hosts Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg of Tel Aviv University, and Nehemia Shtrasler of Ha’aretz.
- A live performance by Bat Ella and accompanying musicians featuring the best of American Jewish music, fused with the rich musical mosaic of contemporary Israel. The song list includes hits by the late Debbie Friedman, a pioneer of American Jewish music.
- American-themed Kabbalat Shabbat in Park Hayarkon including tunes by iconic Jewish American artists.
- Screening of the film “Disappearing” (“Ne’elamim”) and a discussion with the filmmaker and veteran Israeli journalist, Yoav Limor. The film examines intermarriage and assimilation in American Jewish communities.
“Bridge Over Troubled Water”: American Jewish Cultural Festival in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, June 12-14th, Beit Daniel and Park Hayarkon
*Admission is free*
The festival’s program is available (in Hebrew) at https://www.gsharim.org.il/