j. Weekly special section

1b www.jweekly.com | June 1, 2012

Sunday, June 10, 2012

3b Balkan Beat Box Brash Israeli band headlines the show

4b Dream gigLocal band plays backup to Israeli songstress

6b Challenges and opportunitiesConsul general recaps tumultuous year

8b Let’s talkIsraeli hopes to duplicate “Night of 1,000 Tables”

10b Enter the “O-Zone” Energetic DJ connects with teens

12b Shoppin’ the shukArtists breathe life into “Sheinkin Street”

14b Improvise thisLocal troupe acts out on fun “Jewish stuff”

22b Strike the drumsCal marching band, Hadassah team up

15-18b All the details …Event schedule, sponsors, maps and more

8b 12b

3b

contents

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dan pine | j. staff

It’s a rite of spring for the BayArea Jewish community: ComeJune, thousands flock to Israelin the Gardens for a taste ofIsraeli culture and a large doseof blue-and-white pride.It’s almost always something

of a rock concert, with constantentertainment and a headlinerbringing the stage show to acrescendo in the late afternoon.But this year, Yerba BuenaGardens will look a lot more likeWoodstock. Organizers of theJune 10 event — the IsraelCenter of the S.F.-based JewishCommunity Federation andEndowment Fund — havebooked not one or two, butthree major Israeli bands to per-form on the main stage. Headliners Balkan Beat Box

will be joined by Israeli pop starEfrat Gosh (backed by South Bay-based band Peatot),and — direct from Israel — the unique a cappellaensemble Voca People. The performers take the stagebeginning at 2 p.m., and the music goes on until 5 p.m. Live music is always a draw for Israel in the Gardens, and

not just the headliners. As in years past, young talentsfrom local Jewish schools (such as Jewish Community

High School’s Jew Man Group, and Contra Costa JewishDay School’s 99 Llamas) will kick things off on the mainstage at 11 a.m. And a rousing 12:15 p.m. performance bythe Friendship Caravan of Tzofim — the Israeli scouting

movement — is guaranteed toget the crowd moving.But music is only one aspect

of this giant Jewish party. Scores of booths, collective-

ly known as the Tents ofCommunity, will go up, repre-senting a cross-section of theBay Area’s Jewish world. Synagogues, day schools,

camps, Jewish agencies, non-profits, Jewish collegiate groupsand many others will pitchtents to kibbitz, answer ques-tions and get the word outabout the good things they do. Of course, the community’s

unshakable love for the Jewishstate is the unifying force atthis annual event. Israel will bestrongly represented, especial-ly by the soon-to-be-depart-ing consul general of Israel,Akiva Tor, whose four-yearterm expires this summer. He’ll

be there to say his collective farewells. So will a group of Bay Area-based new olim (émigrés to

Israel) who will soon start fresh lives in the Jewish state,but not before they wave goodbye from the main stage.The Israeli-style “shuk” (marketplace) will feature a

broad range of jewelry, crafts, Hebrew books and other � � � DAYLONG, 20b

J. | the Jewish news weekly israel in the gardens supplement 2b

Tribute to the Jewish state plays out at daylong party

photo/amanda pazornik

Yerba Buena Gardens blooms with tents — and thousands of visitors — at Israel inthe Gardens in 2010.

Israel in the Gardens11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 10, Yerba Buena Gardens, 750 Howard St., S.F.

israel in the gardens


dan pine | j. staff

Balkan Beat Box sax man Ori Kaplan says his band has arule of thumb when it comes to songwriting. Bettermake that a rule of toe.“It needs to speak to the feet,” he says of their music.

“That’s the first prerogative: from the feet to the head.When you dance, you’re happy.”Kaplan and his Balkan Beat Box band mates should

encounter around 20,000 happy pairs of feet when theyperform on the main stage at 3 p.m. Ever since their 2003 debut album, the trio — Kaplan,

along with singer Tomer Yosef and drummer/program-mer Tamir Muskat — has been one of the most embracedIsraeli bands worldwide, in part because they sing inEnglish and they don’t sound like any other Israeli band. In fact, with their brash blend of electronica, funk and

Gypsy punk, they don’t much sound like anyone else, period.When it comes to the band’s fifth and latest album,

“Give,” and its cacophony of samples, scratches and syn-thesizer-driven rhythms, the beat is definitely on. ButKaplan hopes BBB fans will take the music a step further.Contrasted with the upbeat spirit, the subject matter

on “Give” is serious stuff. Money, greed, power, violenceand oppression all appear and reappear like darkthreads in an otherwise bright musical weave.Wisps of lyrics (“Everybody wants to be king of the

world/Everybody wants to turn dust into gold”) becomerecurring motifs and rallying cries.

“There is stuff that pisses usoff,” Kaplan says from his homein Vienna, “especially with the cli-mate of last year’s protests andrevolutions. It was in the air.”These uprisings include not onlythe Occupy movement in theUnited States and the revolu-tions in the Arab world, but themassive demonstrations in Israellast summer protesting the glar-ing inequities in Israeli society.The members of Balkan Beat

Box were there, and some of that citizen-fueled anger rubbedoff on the trio as they wrote and recorded their new album.“We always attempted to create our own aesthetic,”

Kaplan adds. ”We see ourselves as a hip, global soundsystem, as art pop. There are many things that are part ofwhat this project is.”In one new BBB song, “Enemy in Economy,” art imitates

life. It retells the true story of wild-eyed, dark-skinnedband member Tomer Yosef fiddling with his new digitalcamera on a commuter flight to Santa Rosa two yearsago, and arousing suspicions that he might be a terrorist.Instead of the usual “buh-byes” from the flight crew,

Yosef was hauled off by federal agents. “There were afew hours of interrogation,” Kaplan recalls. “It was racialprofiling, but it leant itself to song.”Though all three members are Israeli, Balkan Beat Box

formed in New York City and was based there for years. Itallowed the band to branch out into a more global act.Moreover, it opened the door to collaborations with musi-cians from Iran, Syria and other no-fly zones for Israelis.“We met many great musicians,” Kaplan says. “There is a

community of open-mindedmusicians that really thinkbeyond borders. There’s also acuriosity.”The band is more far-flung now, with Kaplan having relo-

cated to Vienna to be closer to his Croatian wife’s family.Yet the band remains Israeli to its core. And now, their

countrymen and women are catching up to the BBB vibe.“Israelis play our songs on the radio there,” says

Kaplan. “They know we’re out there spreading our work.We crossed over a bit, but we are Israelis.” �

Balkan Beat Box bringsbrash style to the masses

photo/courtesy of the fillmore

Tamir Muskat (from left), Tomer Yosef and Ori Kaplan of Balkan Beat Box

Balkan Beat Boxplays 3 p.m. on the main stage

.

dan pine | j. staff

It’s a plum gig for a local band: playing backup for Israelipop star Efrat Gosh at Israel in the Gardens. But to preparefor the concert, members of the South Bay quintet Peatothad to learn her songs, and fast.So they clicked on YouTube and

started cramming.Making their fourth straight

appearance at Israel in the Gardens,Peatot specializes in covers ofIsraeli rock classics from the last 30years. When they heard Goshwould not be bringing her ownband — and were offered theopportunity to accompany her —they jumped on it.“I think she’s a very unique artist,”

says Peatot lead singer YoramZarfaty. “The plan is to do some of her songs, someduets, and then she’s going to join us [on] some covers.”They’re scheduled to play at 2 p.m. on the main stage.Ever since her 2005 self-titled album debut, Gosh

has captivated Israeli music fans with her smoky jazz-based take on contemporary pop, a kind of Lady-Gaga-meets-Nina-Simone. She’s also been cast in a number of Israeli films and

television shows.However, her music has a bit of a down-tempo dark

side, nothing like the nonstop party vibe of Peatot.Neither Gosh nor Peatot worried about the dispari-

ty. “I heard their music and it sounds really good,” says

Gosh, 28, whose Israel in the Gardens gig marks herfirst visit to California. “I told myself, ‘OK, let’s do it.’ ”Gosh forwarded the band links to her YouTube clips,

which Zarfaty and company studied closely. “At the beginning we thought, oh, she’s low key and

not what we do,” he recalled, “butwe chose some songs togetherwith her that sound really good. AtIsrael in the Gardens, you need tocome up with something alive.”That’s something Peatot can do. Formed in 2008 (and named for

the Hebrew plural term for pitabread) Peatot is made up of fiveIsraeli expatriates who work inSilicon Valley. Besides Zarfaty, otherregular band members are RavivMoore on guitar, Guy “L.” on thekeyboard, Tomer Dichterman on

drums and Shay Shmeltzer on bass. Hi-tech is just theirday job. Rock ‘n’ roll is their passion.The members have lived in the region for years, with

some as long as a decade. Playing in Peatot “is comple-menting our being Israelis in Silicon Valley,” Zarfatysays. “We spread the love of Israeli music among theIsraeli and Jewish communities here. I like to see peo-ple dancing to Israeli music and having fun.”Peatot does have an original or two, but mostly

churns out songs made famous by Israeli stalwartssuch as Rami Kleinstein, Machina and Monica Sex.Zarfaty says Peatot has a simple formula for pickingsongs: Make sure at least 90 percent of the Israelis in

the audience knows the tune.Zarfaty and Gosh plan to sing a few duets on stage

at Israel in the Gardens. “It’s exciting to work with newpeople,” Gosh says. Both Gosh and the band will have a chance to move

beyond playing along with YouTube clips. Gosh arrives

in the Bay Area a few days before Israel in the Gardens,allowing for a live rehearsal or two.Though based in the South Bay, Peatot gets around. Last

year the band performed shows as far away as Milwaukeeand Chicago. Peatot recently returned from Las Vegas,where the group played a concert inhonor of Israel’s Independence Day.That’s actually how it all started for

Peatot.“The band was created to play for

a party for Independence Day in 2008,” Zarfaty says. “Itmakes me feel closer to who I am. I’m Israeli. I’m verylucky to have this band.” �


Israeli singer, South Bay band team up via YouTube

Efrat Gosh Peatot


Efrat Goshand Peatotplay 2 p.m. on

the main stage

Beth Jacob Congregation, OaklandCongregation Beth El, Berkeley

Congregation B'nai Shalom, Walnut CreekCongregation B’nai Tikvah, Walnut Creek

Contra Costa Jewish Day School, LafayetteGrand Bakery, Oakland

The Jewish Federation and The Jewish Community Foundation of the East BayJewish Family & Children’s Services, East Bay

Kol Hadash Community for Humanistic Judaism, AlbanyOakland Hebrew Day School, Oakland

Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living, DanvilleShalom Bayit, Ending Domestic Violence in Jewish Homes

Tehiyah Day School, El CerritoTemple Beth Abraham, Oakland

Temple Isaiah, LafayetteTemple Sinai, Oakland

TThhee EEaasstt BBaayy wwiisshheess IIssrraaeell aaHHaappppyy 6644tthh BBiirrtthhddaayy!!

Our hearts are with your people...Our hopes are sent with love...

Our wishes for peace are in abundance.

.

Israel’s geo-strategic condition In the last year, the Arab awakening contin-ued to transform the Middle East by way ofballot, bullet and popular uprising. The finaloutcome of this momentous process remainsunknown, and we cannot yet determinewhen this tectonic political shift will reach

stable form.However, one aspect

of the emergent politi-cal order is alreadyclear. In every parlia-mentary election heldlast year in which Arabsocieties were givenfree voice, the parties ofpolitical Islam emergedas the unambiguous

victors. Such was the case in Morocco, Egyptand even in cosmopolitan Tunisia. This is apolitical fact of the first order which we need to recog-nize and comprehend its implications. Israel will make every effort to reach out to the

leadership of political Islam. We will seek friendshipand cooperation wherever possible, and correct,pacific relations when not, but it remains unclear ifour newly empowered partners are receptive. Theparties of political Islam hold a worldview that hasnot until now recognized the legitimacy and historic-

ity of the Jewish national movement, and its varyingiterations range from Hamas, committed to terrorand Israel’s destruction, to the Egyptian MuslimBrotherhood, whose public pronouncements aremore moderate. The challenge of engaging political Islam is great —

and perhaps insurmountable. But if we succeed evenin part, the opportunity for deepening Israel’s region-al acceptance is profound.

Israel remains committed to achieving apermanent peace with the Palestinian peopleon the basis of two states for two people. Thisis not a mantra, but rather the operative polit-ical principle of a wide and stable Israel gov-ernment coalition. To our regret, the Palestinian leadership

continued this year to avoid a substantivenegotiation and has refused to meet withIsrael on a sustained basis. Hamas remainsensconced in Gaza and is an ongoing threatto Palestinian moderation. Until such time as we achieve a full peace

with our Palestinian neighbors, we will seek toengage them in a manner that allows maxi-mal Palestinian economic growth and politi-cal empowerment which do not hinder oursecurity.The Iranian nuclear weapons program

remains Israel’s greatest strategic challenge.Thankfully, the international community has at longlast recognized that they too are threatened, and putstrong economic sanctions in place. We hope thisstrategy will be pursued with determination and forti-tude until Iran desists entirely from its nuclearweapons ambition.

Israel on the domestic frontIsrael looked at itself in the mirror long and hard in the


Israel at 64 After a tumultuous year, Israel faces new challenges — and opportunities

photo/creative commons-ramy raoof

Egyptian protests in February 2011 led to a sea change inthe government and a presidential election in late May.


The Jim Joseph Foundation, established in 2006 as a private foundation, is committed to a sustained program of grant making in pursuit of a vision that leads

to ever-increasing numbers of young Jewish engaged in ongoing Jewish learning and choosing to live vibrant Jewish lives.

The Jim Joseph Foundation proudly funds Israel education in solidarity with the people and State of Israel. We congratulate the Israel Center and

Bay Area Israel education organizations for makingthis signature celebration of Israel possible.

past year. We saw muscular eco-nomic performance, robustprosperity, high growth and lowunemployment. But we also heard the outcry

of a struggling middle class, andwe saw the deepening of sim-mering tensions between gener-al society and the ultra-Orthodox. Both of these repre-sent cracks in the social fabricthat we must mend, with toler-ance and without demonization,because we are a people and anation-state, and also a family.

Strength of Bay Area Jewish communityIn the last four years it is has been my privilege to rep-resent Israel in the Bay Area. I’ve encountered a Jewishcommunity that is passionate and engaged aboutJudaism and Israel, and that is blessed with a devotedand skilled professional and lay leadership. The synagogues are vibrant, the day schools and

Jewish community high schools are hubs of qualityJewish and secular education, and the Jewish organi-zational framework is constantly seeking ways to bemore relevant and cutting edge. The Jewish communi-ty is far stronger and more united than at times itbelieves of itself. My caveat regards our strategic vision. The core affil-

iated Jewish community is strong and has createdstructures for deepening learning and transmittingJewish identity. But the great mass and majority of Bay Area Jews

live their lives outside of all frameworks of Jewishaffiliation. How shall we engage our brothers and sis-ters living next door to us and invite them intoJewish life?One obvious means is Birthright, the only program

in the toolbox of Jewish identity which is largescaleand capable of reaching everyone. But here, I fear wesuffer an eclipse of judgment.Taglit-Birthright’s free, 10-day trip to Israel is open to

all Jewish young adults, ages 18 to 26, post highschool, who have neither traveled to Israel before on apeer educational trip or study program nor have livedin Israel past the age of 12. Last year, 3,489 young people in the Bay Area

applied to Birthright. But 2,484 of them (62 percent)were not accepted and were deferred to waiting lists.The great majority of these people will not reapply,

and it is unclear when, if ever, we will have the oppor-tunity to engage them again.These are the unaffiliated of whom we speak, and

they are the community’s promise. A young Jew work-ing at a start-up in Mountain View or living in U.C.Berkeley dormitories hears that the Jewish people areoffering them an opportunity to visit to their home-land. They are intrigued and come knocking at ourdoor — and we turn them away. This is a failure of vision whose remedy is well with-

in our community resources, even in a year of sloweconomy. I urge you that we meet this obligation toour future. �

Akiva Tor is completing his four-year term as consul general ofIsrael to the Pacific Northwest, and will return to Israel this summer.


photo/jta-kobi gideon-flash90

Haredi Orthodox men argue with secularIsraelis in Beit Shemesh on Dec. 26,2011. At left, thousands march Aug. 20,during a protest in Tel Aviv against therising cost of living in Israel.photo/ap-oded balilty

.J. | the Jewish news weekly israel in the gardens supplement 8b


dan pine | j. staff

When it comes to dialogue about socialchange, Danny Gal generally prefers totable the discussion. As long as thetable is round and plenty of peopleshow up.

That’s what happened lastSeptember when Gal organized “TheNight of 1,000 Tables” in his hometownof Tel Aviv. Spreading out in the court-yard of the Tel Aviv Museum, the eventdrew 5,000 Israelis for the express pur-pose of sitting together and launchingthat dialogue.

Now, Gal wants to bring a taste of it tothe Bay Area by replicating thoseroundtable discussions at Israel in theGardens. It will involve far fewer than1,000 tables, but he hopes to unleashthe same positive energy.

“The invitation is to come speakabout what it means to belong tothe local Jewish community,” Galsaid by phone from Israel. “We planto have people answer, then switchtables, allowing [them] to meet as

many [people] as pos-sible. That way weaccess the collectivewisdom of the group,to identify the mainissues in the Jewishcommunity.”

The plan is to set up10 tables in Yerba BuenaGardens, and hold three45-minute dialogue ses-sions over the course ofthe afternoon, startingat 12:30 p.m.

Gal hopes as many as150 Bay Area revelerswill take part.

The invite cameabout by happy acci-dent, when IsraelCenter director MichalKohane met Gal a fewmonths ago during hislast swing through the Bay Area. He toldher about his roundtable project, andshe told him about Israel in theGardens. Then a light bulb went off.

“Most pieces of the event were com-ing together beautifully, except one,”she said. “We wanted to hold some formof community dialogue and were not

sure how to do it. That’s when Dannyshowed up.

“We brainstormed the idea of ‘round-table community conversations’ in our

What does it mean to belong to a Jewish community?

Danny Gal hopes to replicate the energy of “Night of 1,000 Tables,” held last Septemberin Tel Aviv, at this year’s Israel in the Gardens — though on a much smaller scale.

�e JCRC proudly supports the Jewish community celebration

of Israel in the Gardens

��

Visitors encouraged to sit downand share thoughts


community. Our federation staff com-mittee approved, and here we are.”An organizational consultant by

trade, Gal said he has employed theroundtable idea before, often in corpo-rate settings. As the point person for theTel Aviv branch of The Hub, a 7-year-oldinternational network of meetingplaces that host lectures, cultural eventsand other events, he is used to bringingmany people together for discussionand interaction.He also has fostered dialogue

between Israelis and Palestinians, work-ing with the Center for an EmergingFuture, an Israeli nonprofit that helpsbuild joint projects between the two

peoples.“It’s a process

of reaching part-nership throughdialogue,” Galsaid. “Trust-build-ing, sharing sto-ries, listening toeach other, andusing the tools ofthe roundtable tobuild communityand listen.”

In the midst of the intense socialprotests that rocked Israel last summer,Gal decided to try his roundtable ideaout on a large scale with the Tel Aviv-based event.With thousands in attendance, he

had each person answer three ques-tions: Why are you here? What are thetop two changes you want to see fromthis? What can you do to help gener-ate those changes, either alone or incommunity?Gal compared the experience to

Moses on Mount Sinai.“Imagine the energy of 5,000 people

sitting around tables in Tel Aviv andanother 500 [tables] around the countryat the same time, all discussing thesame questions.” He added that, defying expectations,

the biggest sound coming out of the1,000 tables was silence.“It was silent because people mostly

listened to each other,” he noted. “It wasa very respectfulenvironment. Forus in the MiddleEast, that wasalmost a miracle.Beyond that, wereally respectedeach other’s diver-

sity, sharing our shared humanity andsolidarity. It was so needed in our coun-try.”Gal believes there have been positive

changes as a result of “The Night of1,000 Tables.”“I see what we did as a plug-in to

Israeli democracy,” he said. “Manymunicipalities are now using the round-table method to discuss issues. Peopleare using the method as a practical toolwhen they want to engage the commu-nity.” �

Danny Gal

Roundtablecommunityconversationstake place 12:30-1:15p.m.; 2-2:45 p.m. and3:30-4:15 p.m. in thegardens.

Besides being top, award-winningIsraeli filmmakers, what do JosephCedar (“Footnote”), Ari Folman (“Waltzwith Bashir”) and Eytan Fox (“Yossi andJagger”) have in common? They are graduates of Tel Aviv

University Film and Television School,

Israel’s oldest and largest film school. Inhonor of the school’s 40th anniversary,the S.F.-based Israel Center and SanFrancisco Jewish Film Festival are pre-senting a loop of short films by youngIsraeli filmmakers on June 10. The narrative and documentary movies

deal with various facets of contemporaryIsraeli experience. Eleven films will run continuously from

noon to 4 p.m. in the theater room at theContemporary Jewish Museum, 736Mission St. (directly across from YerbaBuena Gardens). �

Film loop at CJM showcases up-and-coming Israeli filmmakers



george altshuler | j staff

Aaron David grew up a performer and he grew up busy.He began taking acting and music classes as a young

boy, became a DJ at age 16, and when he was 23, hejoined the Afrodisiacs, a touring ‘80s cover band. Because he was so busy, David, who grew up outside

of Chicago in a Conservative Jewish household, didn’tget a chance to do something he always wanted to do

— he never went toIsrael.But now that he’s

established and inhis late 20s, David,who works as an all-i n -one emcee,dance leader andsinger based inMountain View, wasable to block offthree weeks lastNovember andfinally go to thePromised Land.

His time there didn’t disappoint.“It was a turning point for me internally,” David said

recently, as he described staying with an Israeli familyand traveling throughout the country. “I felt things therethat changed me.”This connection to Israel motivated him to give back to

the Jewish community at home. After volunteering at the2012 Jewish Family and Children’s Gala in March, David

— along with his ensemble of dancers —will donate their time to perform andemcee at the interactive “O-Zone” at Israel inthe Gardens. The action starts at 12:15 p.m.“This will be 100 percent tzedakah,”

David said. “I jumped at the opportunity togive the families and the kids an experi-ence that would reflect even a smallamount of what I felt in Israel.”During his visit to the Jewish state,

David stayed with an Israeli family heknows in Netanya. One night, a group ofveterans from Shayetet 13, the Israeli ver-sion of the Navy Seals, came over to thehouse to watch a documentary on TVabout their unit. Spending time withthese men and hearing their stories had a profoundeffect on David. “It wasn’t that Israel grew around them; these men

were part of history,” he said. “It really put things in per-spective and it makes being able to go to Israel and trav-el around in a free Jewish country hit home.”Back in the Bay Area, David owns and operates Aaron

David Productions, a group of interactive entertainersthat perform what David describes as “hip-hop meets‘Glee’ meets camp counselors meets break dancers.” Hisproduction company specializes in b’nai mitzvah partiesand also performs at corporate and charity events,including recent performances for the ContemporaryJewish Museum in San Francisco and the S.F.-basedJewish Community Federation. David describes this type of show, which breaks down

walls between performers and the audience, as beingmore fulfilling for him than traditional performances. “You can begin to form relationships with the crowd

with this type of performance,” he said. “[These relation-ships] do a lot more for both the people being enter-tained and for the entertainers.” David is also used to breaking down the traditional

barrier between singing and acting. At age 23, he became lead singer of the Spazmatics,

a touring ’80s cover band in which each member per-formed as a nerdy character. David took on the per-sona of one Irving “Earnest” Smorgasborgnine III, aplay on the actor Ernest Borgnine and cybernetic“borg” organisms from “Star Trek.” “We always performed in character, wearing

� � � DJ, 27b

DJ brings his show to all-new ‘O-Zone’

Aaron David aka Irving‘Earnest’ SmorgasborgnineIII (left), as lead singer forthe Spazmatics

photo/richard mayer photography

Now a DJ in Mountain View, Aaron David entertainsthe b’nai mitzvah crowd.


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Nina Bonos

Fair Trade Judaica


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Yom Huledet Samaech!

The Jewish Day Schools of the South Bay and the Peninsulaproudly salute Israel on her 64th Birthday.

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Elissa Wellikson tallit

Mendy MarksGila Sagy

Looking for a beautiful piece of Judaica to grace your home, a hand-painted tallit for a gift or a one-of-a-kind pair of earrings?Chances are you’ll find something to like at the “shuk” — an Israeli-

style marketplace that springs to life annually at Israel in the Gardens. Among the 20-some vendors selected to participate this year are a

few new faces: One of them is custom jeweler Mendy Marks of SanFrancisco.Though you’ll typically find her at work in her Inner Sunset studio,

Marks eagerly accepted an invitation to set up shop at the shuk. Aveteran of the former To Life! Jewish Cultural Street Festival in PaloAlto (which was replaced last year with a Sukkot harvest festival atthe Oshman Family JCC), Marks said she always enjoyed the Jewishvibe at the South Bay community’s annual event.Marks, a former member of Congregation Beth Sholom in San

Francisco, fashions colorful, contemporary-style earrrings, pendantsand other jewelry out of mixed metals.She will join Israel in the Gardens veterans such as Elissa Wellikson,

a South Bay resident who hand-paints silk scarves, tallits, challah cov-ers and other “wearable art”; Santa Rosa artist Nina Bonos, whose lushwatercolors and collages can be found on everything from Judaicanote cards to Torah mantles; and Gila Sagy of Concord, who specilizesin fused glass art, including mezuzahs for doorways.Also on board again this year: Fair Trade Judaica, an East Bay non-

profit that will bring merchandise from around the world.Look for the art vendors’ colorful booths along “Sheinkin Street” at

Yerba Buena Gardens. — liz harris �

Jewish artisans bringcrafts to bustling‘Sheinkin Street’ shuk

.

emma silvers | j. staff

There will be plenty of opportunitiesto sit back and be entertained at Israelin the Gardens — but Debra Schifrinand the Improv Artists have somethinga little more interactive in mind.“A big part of what we love about

improv is that it’s really collaborative,very playful,” explains Schifrin, the pro-ducer and artistic director of theseven-person troupe, which will beperforming at Israel in the Gardens.“When the audience is involved in cre-ating a scene they become that muchmore connected to the action. It’sexhilarating.”The Improv Artists will be the

keynote performers in Israel in theGardens’ first-ever “Theater Zone,”from 12:30 til 1:45 p.m. Schifrin formed the troupe in 2009,

when curators at the ContemporaryJewish Museum in San Francisco want-ed a live theatrical program to go withtheir “Chagall and the Artists of theRussian-Jewish Theater” exhibit.(Schifrin’s brother, Dan, is the directorof public programs at the CJM, and

asked for Debra’s help.)Drawing on actors she knew

from her longstanding involve-ment with San Francisco’simprov community — peopleshe’d met while working withtroupes such as Bay AreaTheater Sports (BATS) and theUnscripted Theater Company— Schifrin pulled together anensemble for a unique show atthe museum. The actors projected images

from the exhibit onto a screenand asked audience membersto call out words and settingsthe art brought to mind, and theimprov players used them as a jump-ing-off point for crafting comedicscenes. “Sometimes just saying ‘What do you

see in this piece? What characterstands out to you, or what’s a relation-ship you see here?’ can yield some real-ly interesting results,” says Schifrin.“The thing with improv is to alwaysfocus on questions.”That show was such a success that

the CJM asked them to prepare ver-

sions of it for two more shows, a fall2009 exhibit on the art of MauriceSendak, and a 2010 exhibition of NewYorker covers by artist Maira Kalman.This will be the troupe’s first appear-

ance at Israel in the Gardens, whereSchifrin says instead of art, the audi-ence will be asked questions about“fun cultural Jewish stuff” so improvactors can riff on their responses. Theperformance is appropriate for allages.In her non-theater life, Schifrin

works as a researcher at the StanfordGraduate School of Business. Sheturns to improv as a creative outlet,she says.“The fact of the ensemble coming

together to create something, and thefact that it’s new every time is reallywhat makes improv magical,” she says.“We’re just excited to share that with asmany people as possible.” �

Improv Artists perform 12:30 p.m. in theTheater Zone.


Don’t sit back and relax at improv: Engage

Improv artists (from left) Patricia Pearson, Pamela Hawley, Debra Schifrinand Channing Clarkson do their shtick.


��3��2��11:00 Young Bay Area Talent Brandeis SF and Marin bands,

JCHS Jew Man Group, CCJDS 99 Llamas & rock band

12:15 TzoHm Friendship Caravan Energetic Israeli musicalentertainment with the Israeli Scouts

1:00 Walk honoring Hadassah’s Centennial Bay AreaHadassah, the Women’s Organization of America & Cal Marching Band

Main Ceremony JCF and Israeli Consulate leaders, new olim and Cantor Sharon Bernstein

1:45 Voca People Israeli-initiated sensational ensemble of snow-white aliens with perfect harmonyCourtesy of Marines’ Memorial Theatre

2:00 Efrat Gosh and the Peatot Israel’s hot female vocalistwith popular Bay Area-based band

2:45 Cal Marching Band UC Berkeley’s 100 year-old bandrocks the gardens

3:00 Balkan Beat Box Internationally-acclaimed Israeliband, fusing rock, Mediterranean & world music

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12:00 Tikvah Dancers Folk, Russian & contemporary dancefrom JCCSF’s Tikvah School, Folk, Russian, Israeli

12:30 The Improv Artists1:00 The Improv Artists1:30 The Improv Artists

1:50 Continuum: Dance

�(��&��23"323� *��!��)12:15 DJ Aaron David Fun activities and dancing

with entertainer, singer, DJ and emcee12:45 Israeli Folk Dancing with Café Shalom

Way beyond the Hora! All levels welcome 1:15 DJ Aaron David2:00 African Drum Circle with Rhythm Village

Drum circle and dance workshops. Everyone can participate Sponsored by Be’chol Lashon

2:30 DJ Aaron David3:30 Israeli Folk Dancing

�311��23"323� �-�2��(��Popular scavenger hunt is back, as well as new exciting games.Play to win prizes! An ongoing reDection program for people of all ages: Create a drawing that reDects your own values

��1�� 3� �*��31%��&� �� African Drum Circle with Rhythm Village Drum circle and dance workshops. Everyone can participate Capoeira Sul da Bahia 400-year-old martial art that blends music, dance, singing, and acrobatics Circus School Students perform and showcase juggling, gymnastic & tumbling skills

��1�� 3� �*��31%��&��2 �*��2 Havdalah Besamim Create potpourri sachets with exotic spicesFirst Fruit Block Prints Craft block prints of bikurim (springharvest) from Israel and ChinaPortrait Magnets Make a magnet with your photo and wordsin Hebrew, Spanish & UgandanMexican Folk Art Create bright paper Dowers from papel deChina and papel picadoMake Your Hair Bloom Make Dowers from pipe cleaners, ribbon and beadsMake your Tzedakah Box Peace services in the Jewish tradition of giving with the Jews of Uganda to their Christian and Muslim neighbors

��2��31� ��2�2��2��%��$3 ��! �!�12:00–4:00 Short Clms from Tel Aviv University Film School,celebrating its 40th anniversary. Stories about childhood, Russian immigrants, Israeli Arabs, soldiers & loveCo-presented with the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

Open outdoor roundtable conversations led by Tel Aviv Hub co-founder, Danny Gal. What does being part of the local Jewish community mean to you? Join in to talk, listen,argue and learn about a variety of issuesRoundtable Zone: lawn behind Kids’ zone, 3rd St.

Interactive sessions of a new type of musical and comedic storytelling

Dancers/choreographers Troy Macklin & Cat Kamrath

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5:30–9:30 Schmooze, Dance & Make New Friends!Presented by Tzavta, the Israel Center’s Young Adult Division (supported by Helen Diller Family Foundation). Co-sponsors: JCF’s YAD, Birthright Israel Next & the CellarGet a Free 1st Drink ticket @ the Fed Café & Roundtable, Israel in the Gardens!

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ORGANIZATIONS - BOOTHS1 JFCS, Jewish Family and Childrens Services2 J. Weekly3 JCRC, Jewish Community Relations Council4 AIPAC, American Israel

Public ABairs Committee5 FIDF, Friends of The Israel Defence Forces6 StandWithUs7 Consulate General of Israel8 AJC, American Jewish Committee9 J Street10 Chabad of the Bay Area11 Sinai Memorial Chapel12 Jewish Home of San Francisco13 American Friends of Rambam Center14 Hadassah, Women's Zionist Org of America15 Hillel, Foundation for Jewish Campus Life16 JCHS, Jewish Community High School17 Camp Tawonga18 URJ Camp Newman19 CJM, Contemporary Jewish Museum20 UpStart Bay Area21 NBN, Nefesh B’Nefesh22 JCC, Jewish Community Centers

of the Bay Area23 Yerba Buena Gardens24 Yelp25 ELAL Airlines

ROUND TABLE CONVERSATIONSRT Roundtable Community Conversations

THEATER ZONETZ Theater Zone: Yoga, Dance, Improv

ORGANIZATIONS - ZONE AA Jewish Partisan Educational FoundationA VITAS Hospice CareA A Wider Bridge and KeshetA Hazon Jewish Inspiration,

Sustainable CommunitiesA Hebrew Free LoanA JVS (Jewish Vocational Service)A ZOA, Zionist Organization of AmericaA American Friends of Tel Aviv University

ORGANIZATIONS - ZONE BB BJE, Bureau of Jewish EducationB Jewish Study NetworkB San Francisco Jewish Film FestivalB ORT AmericaB JIMENA, Jews Indigenous to the

Middle East & North AfricaB AEPi, Alpha Epsilon Pi FraternityB BBYO, B’nai B’rith Youth OrganizationB Brandeis Hillel Day SchoolB Habonim Dror Camp Gilboa

and World Zionist OrganizationB Hanukkah HoopsB NAALE High School Program, IsraelB Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day SchoolB ZBT, Zeta Beta Tau FraternityB Graduate Theological Union,

Center for Jewish StudiesB TzoCm, Friends of Israel Scouts

ORGANIZATIONS - ZONE CC ADL, Anti-Defamation LeagueC BlueStar PRC JNF, Jewish National FundC NIF, New Israel FundC Republican Jewish CoalitionC Volunteers for IsraelC G&S Travel

CHILDREN’S AREACH Be’chol Lashon - Kids’ Zone

O-ZONE - TEENSOZ Diller Teens, DJ Aaron David

Snap Fiesta Photobooth

ART VENDORS26-27 Kova Caps28 Tali Grinshpan - Glass Creations29 David Casella - Metal Arts30 Amina Harris31 Friedman Designs32-33 Gila Sagy Fused Glass Art34 Ceramics by Marcelle35 Peace in Mind36 Scarves By Elissa37 Nina Bonos - Joyous Judaica38 Aimee Golant39 Joyce Steinfeld

- Homegrown Judaica40-41 Rimonim42 The Matzah Baller43-46 SABRA Collection MO Judaica47 Fair Trade Judaica48 Bareket Fine Jewelry49 Mendy Marks

- Fine Hand Made Jewelery50 Carrie Zeidman Fine Art51 Sabra Jewelery Design52 Tzomet Sfarim

FOOD VENDORSFF Flying FalafelGFM Gluten Free GroceryKA Kosher ABairsICE Rainbow Italian Ice

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Honorary Chairs, Israel in the GardensBarbara & Ron Kaufman

The Jewish Community Celebration: Israel in the Gardens is brought to you by the San Francisco based Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund

Nancy Grand President, JCFJennifer Gorovitz CEO, JCFJim OGel COO, JCFMichael Futterman Chair, Israel CenterMichal Kohane Director, Israel CenterDonny Inbar Arts & Culture Director, Israel CenterAmit Caspi Project Director, Israel in the Gardens Suzy Drell Producer, Israel in the GardensMark Bethel Stage Manager, Israel in the Gardens

Israel Center TeamAmit Caspi, Donny Inbar, Michal Kohane, Irin Kutman-Levy, Barak Loozon, Nathan Pam, Judith Ramirez, Danna Rubin, Dana Shmueli

Special Thanks toLiki Abrams, Absolutely Music, Accurate Staging, Ariel ChasnoB, Steve Cho, Nora Contini, Delicate Productions,George Edwards, Slava Finkelstein, Dalit Gilberg, Nancy Grand,Andy Greenberg, Harriett Hardy, Luis Ibarra, Angela Ingel, Island Creative Management, Liz Harris, Doug Kahn, the Kohane-Taylor kids, Allan Lavigne, Steve Leibman, Linda Lucero, Gideon Lustig, Cathleen Maclearie, Ran Malool,Segev Malool, Mary McCue & MJM Management, Liza Meckler, Reymond Mesias, Jean Marie Mink, Amor Ordonez, Judith Ramirez, Matthew ReiB, Glen So, Jayne Sorenson, Stuart Rental Company, Katherine Tick, Talia Turkenitz, Lori Warren, Rhoda Wolfe

A Special Thank You to the Following Individuals for their Generous SupportLiki and Joseph Abrams, Anne Bear, Riva & David Berlson, Karen Robbins & Max Bernstein,David Blumberg & Michel Armand, Avi Caspi,Debbie & Barry Cohn, Adele & William Corvin,Amy & Mort Friedkin, Janie & Don Friend,Dr. Sam & Carmela Gill, Nancy & Stephen Grand,Barbara & Ron Kaufman, Robert Kaufman,Yael & Amnon Landan, Susan & Moses Libitzky, Marilyn & Lawrence McClaskey, Bernard Osher Jewish Philanthropies Foundation,Aliza & Raanan Peleg, Barbara & Richard (Dick) Rosenberg,Carol & Harry Saal, Scott Seligman, Roselyne Swig, Rivka Barlev & Jacob Tal, Valli Benesch Tandler & Bob Tandler,Dana Corvin & Harris Weinberg, Rhoda & Sheldon Wolfe

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Major Event Sponsors

Media Sponsor

ADL, Anti-Defamation LeagueAEPi FraternityAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv UniversityBank Leumi USABBYO, Bnai Brith Youth OrganziationBlueStarBrandeis Hillel Day SchoolBJE, Bureau of Jewish EducationG&S TravelGTU, Graduate Theological Union, Center for Jewish Studies

Habonim Dror, Camp Gilboa and

WZO, World Zionist OrganizationHanukkah HoopsHazonHebrew Free LoanJewish National FundJewish Partisan Educational FoundationJewish Study NetworkJewish Vocational ServiceJIMENAKeshet & A Wider BridgeMASANAALE

NIF, New Israel FundORT AmericaRepublican Jewish CoalitionRonald C. Wornick Jewish Day SchoolTzoCm, Friends of Israel ScoutsSan Francisco Jewish Film FestivalVITAS Hospice CareVolunteers for IsraelWIZO, Women’s International Zionist OrganizationZBT FraternityZionist Organization of America

Event Sponsors

Suppor ter s

The Theater Zone will hosta range of performances. As a warmup to the

Improv Artists’ set at 12:30p.m., there will be a yogademonstration at 11:30a.m., and at noon Russianfolk dancing with TikvahMusic and Dance Schoolstudents from the JCC ofSan Francisco. Following the improv, at

1:50 p.m. contemporarydancers Troy Macklin andCatherine Kamrath willperform a duet they chore-ographed just for Israel inthe Gardens. Macklin, an alumnus of

the Juilliard School in NewYork City, described theduet as “quite intense” andsaid that he and Kamrathscripted the choreographyfirst through improvisa-tion. “In creating this duet we

decided to create a move-ment dialogue,” he said.“One of us would start with a move-ment and the other one wouldrespond. We were constantly trying tofind what level the other person wason, to match that, and go beyond.”The dance will be set to “At the Door,”

a piece by composer David Karagianisthat has a steady tempo and uses bothclassical and contemporary instru-ments.Macklin has taught for the past six

years at the San Ramon Valley DanceAcademy, where he took lessons as a

child; Kamrath was his first studentwhen he began teaching. Macklin believes modern dance

should be “open and free to interpreta-tion” and he hopes that audience mem-bers come to their own understandingsof the performance. “The most important thing is for

people to foster their own artisticexpression,” he said. “People can createtheir own expression within other peo-ple’s physical expression.” — georgealtshuler �

‘Theater Zone’ to showcasedancers, movers, shakers



Troy Macklin

.

� � � from 2bproducts designed to stir the Jewish heart.For the young ones, the S.F.-based nonprofit Be’chol

Lashon will once again sponsor the Kid Zone, with artsand crafts, acrobats from the Circus School and anAfrican drumming circle, among other activities. Teens will have their own corner of the gardens,

with activities organized by such community organ-izations as the Diller Teens, Kehillah Jewish HighSchool, and the BBYO Central Region West.Oh, and bring your appetite. The food vendors this

year promise to deliver exceptionally succulenttreats, from Middle Eastern falafel to Italian ice.While most of the action takes place in Yerba

Buena Gardens, organizers hope folks also will hoofit directly across Mission Street to the ContemporaryJewish Museum for part of the day.There, patrons can get two-for-one admission tickets

simply by mentioning the secret password (hint: try “Israel

in the Gardens”). In concert with the event, the museum willhost an Israeli film loop, a drop-in stained-glass crafts work-shop for families, and for the linguistically adventurous, anarchitectural tour of the museum conducted in Hebrew.

As for night owls, there’s always the after-party, tobe held at The Cellar on Sutter Street (not far fromUnion Square).With activities planned from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at

Yerba Buena Gardens, the after-party, and even theJCF annual board meeting starting at 9:30 a.m.(nearby at the Metron), it’s tough to pick out onehighlight of the day. Some features are new this year,while others come back year after year.But Israel in the Gardens wouldn’t be such a huge

hit year after year without the thousands of Bay AreaJews who unfailingly turn out in force to show theirsupport for Israel. Some things change. Facebook went from fun to

boring. “House” is in its final season on TV. MarianoRivera may never pitch again.But Israel in the Gardens will always be the Bay Area

Jewish community’s biggest party — and tribute to theJewish state. �

Daylong party is Bay Area’s tribute to the Jewish stateisrael in the gardens


Festivalgoers picnic and enjoy live music.


Nowhere is the Israeli passionfor life more pronounced thanin kitchens, markets andrestaurants. Despite Israel’sprecarious circumstances,daily life goes on, never skip-ping a beat.Cafés are always full, new

restaurants open daily, andstreet food can be found onalmost every corner. Gorgeous,world-class shuks are an integral part ofIsraeli life. In fact, one could call theseoutdoor markets giant salad bars. OnThursdays and Friday mornings, they areteeming with people getting ready forShabbat meals.The food sold comes directly from

the fields, bypassing wholesalers,which provides the consumer with thebest and freshest produce, herbs and

spices. Add to this the seduc-tive aromas, vibrant colorsand personalities of the ven-dors, and the whole experi-ence becomes a feast for thesenses.I am always envious of the

shoppers loading their bas-kets with breads, produceand a dozen types of olivesand hummus. As a tourist, I

can’t partake in that pleasure, but I dobring back the dried herbs and spicesthat make Israeli cuisine unique.Lemony sumac and the pungent blendof spices called zatar are my favorites.I also make a beeline for the Falafel

King, the Hummus King, the fresh warmpita bakery and Halvah King for snack-ing as I walk through this wonderlandof food.

Fatoush (Middle Eastern Bread Salad)Serves 6-8

3 (6-inch) pitas, lightly toasted, torn into bite-size pieces

1⁄2 cup fresh lemon juice1 English (hothouse) cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced

4 scallions, thinly sliced1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced

4 ripe medium-size tomatoes, diced

1 cup cooked garbanzo beans (chickpeas)

1⁄4 cup chopped fresh parsley6 fresh mint leaves, chopped2 cloves garlic, minced1⁄2 tsp. ground cumin seed1⁄2 cup olive oilsalt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 Tbs. zatar

Parsley SaladServes 4-6

2 large bunches parsley, stems removed

2 jalapeño peppers, seeded andminced

2 tomatoes, seeded and coarsely chopped

1 Tbs. sumac2 cloves garlic, mincedjuice of 1 lemon3–4 Tbs. olive oilsalt and peppersumac for sprinkling

Chop parsley, combine with remaining ingredients and sprinkle lightly with sumac.

Salmon with SumacServes 4

4 salmon fillets, about 6 oz. each

2 tsp. sumac

2 Tbs. balsamic vinegarolive oillemon wedges

Sprinkle sumac over the fleshy sides of the salmon (not the skin part). Pour balsam-ic vinegar on top. Marinate in refrigerator 30 minutes to 2 hours. Just before cook-ing, drizzle or spray a light coating of olive oil on the fish to keep it from sticking.Pan fry, broil or grill until done. Serve with lemon wedges.

Louise Fiszer is a Palo Alto cooking teacher, author and the co-author of “Jewish HolidayCooking.” Her columns alternate with those of Faith Kramer. Questions and recipe ideas can be sent to j.or to [email protected].

cookIsraeli market is beehive of activity, feast for the senses

Grilled Chicken with ZatarServes 4

2 heads of garlic, top third cut off

6 Tbs. olive oil, divided3- to 4-lb. chicken, cut in half lengthwise, backbone removed

4 Tbs. zatar11⁄2 tsp. lemon zest and 3 Tbs.

fresh lemon juice1 Tbs. chopped fresh rosemary1 small serrano chile, seeded and minced (optional)

2 tsp. dried marjoramkosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Put garlic on a large sheet of foil. Drizzle with 1 Tbs.oil and wrap tightly with foil. Roast until tender and golden brown, 45–50 minutes.Let cool.Place chicken in a 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle 21⁄2 Tbs. zatar over

chicken. Squeeze roasted garlic cloves out of skins and into a small bowl; mash intoa paste with the back of a fork. Add 4 Tbs. oil, lemon zest and juice, rosemary, chilesand marjoram; whisk to blend. Pour over chicken; turn to coat. Cover and chillovernight.Season chicken with salt and pepper; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, build a medium fire in a charcoal grill, or heat a gas grill to medium-high. Brush grill rack with remaining 1 Tbs. oil. Grill chicken, turning occasionally,about 35 minutes until skin is crisp and browned and an instant-read thermome-ter inserted into the deepest part of the thigh without touching bone reads 160 degrees. Transfer chicken to a cutting board, sprinkle with remaining 11⁄2 Tbs.zatar, and let rest 10 minutes. �

In a large bowl, moisten pita with 3 Tbs. lemon juice. Add cucumber, scallions, pep-per, tomatoes, beans, parsley and mint. Toss again. In a small bowl whisk togetherremaining lemon juice, garlic, cumin and olive oil. Toss with salad and add salt andpepper. Sprinkle with zatar.


While an impressive lineup of musicianswill take the stage at Israel in theGardens, one musical act in particularwill keep festivalgoers tapping their toes. The U.C. Berkeley Marching Band, one

of the oldest college marching bandson the West Coast (it began in 1891) willbe on hand to provide the fanfare forHadassah’s centennial celebration, lead-ing members of the women’s organiza-tion from throughout the Bay Area in aprocession around the perimeter ofYerba Buena Gardens.“We love participating in events that

expose us to different communities,” saidColin Kealey, the band’s student director(and a trumpet player). Cal’s marchingband played at the opening ceremony of

Berkeley’s Magnes museum inJanuary of this year, and Israel CenterDirector Michal Kohane approachedthe musicians afterward to ask ifthey’d be interested in joining Israel inthe Gardens. Kealey said they didn’t have to

think twice. “We’re always open to thissort of thing,” he added. “It’s fun.”While the full band includes more

than 200 musicians, roughly 30 willbe taking part in the June 10 per-formance, according to Kealey. Theband will also be included in theevent’s main ceremony, said organ-izers, playing both “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Hatikvah.” —emma silvers �

photo/courtesy of jody hauser

Marching band members ham it up.

Pomp and ceremony mark Hadassah’s centennial celebration


rahel musleahj. correspondent

Israel is famously known as a land ofmilk and honey, but it is hardly onethat is flowing with water. For Israeliscientists today, maximizing water useis a key focus for research and innova-tion.It may also be key to avoiding the

regional war everyone says must hap-pen some day — a war for water.For the scientists, though, the main

goal is finding ways to grow plentifulamounts of food in arid lands.In the midst of harsh desert condi-

tions in the Negev and the Arava,Israel’s long, eastern valley, Israeliresearchers and farmers have created aflourishing network of high-tech agri-culture. Tomatoes, peppers, olives,cheeses, and grapes emerge from thearid land despite the fact that annualrainfall totals are measured in mereinches and the proximity to the DeadSea produces groundwater that ishighly saline.Naftali Lazarovitch, a specialist in irri-

gation at the Jacob Blaustein Institutesfor Desert Research of Ben-GurionUniversity of the Negev (BGU), doesmuch of his experimentation at theZohar Research Station near the DeadSea, where greenhouses that resemblewhite plastic caterpillars serve asindoor fields as well as laboratories.Before Lazarovitch explains the tech-nology that allows crops to grow withsaline irrigation water, he offers visitorsthe fruit of his research — literally: agorgeous array of orange, purple, yel-low, and red bell peppers packed withcrispness, crunch and flavor. The pep-pers, which are exported to globalmarkets, grow in small containers ofperlite, a soil-less culture made of amixture of stones, coconut powderand crushed building material.The Israeli-pioneered method of

subsurface drip irrigation — whichallows water to trickle slowly to theroots of plants — nourishes fat redtomatoes planted in soil, agriculturalguinea pigs of sorts for experiments onwater use, evaporation, irrigation andsalinity levels. Melons and sweet basilgrow in nethouses.The main idea, Lazarovitch explains,

“is how to make crops with less drops.”The area is disconnected from the

country’s main water supply, anddesalinated water is available only bypipe when municipalities and factorieshave an overage, so farmers havelearned to use the saline water below

the soil. Sometimes, the unforgivingconditions that Negev scientists tendto call “stress” create good things inplants: more antioxidants, better color.The yield, however, is reduced.On the road south from Beersheva, a

grove of 250 olive trees newly plantedat the experimental Wadi MashashFarm has sprouted almost miraculouslyin seemingly parched sand. PedroBerliner, director of the BlausteinInstitutes, explains that modern agro-forestry is reclaiming ancient Nabatean

methods of water harvesting, a cheap,robust and efficient system. Theamount of rainfall in the area is onlyfour inches, he says, but there are a few“high intensity events.” Instead of

being absorbed immediately into theground, the heavy rains flow to low-lying areas and pool in previously pre-pared plots surrounded by dikes. The

� � � CROPS, 30b

University scientists team upwith growers to ‘make cropswith less drops’


photo/courtesy of bgu

Students at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev get a first-hand lookat the harshness of the desert, and the challenges it poses.

.

Throngs of families fill Yerba BuenaGardens for Israel’s day to shine inSan Francisco. From infants instrollers, to toddlers, to school-ageyoung children, all should findsomething (even if it’s giant bub-bles floating in the air) to keepthem happy and engaged forhours.

Be’chol Lashon (In Every Tongue),the S.F.-based organization thatadvocates for the growth anddiversity of the Jewish people, isonce again organizing the “kidsand family zone,” with performanc-es and ongoing arts and craftsactivities.

Drum circles and dance work-shops led by Rhythm Village areslated for 1:15, 2:45 and 4:15 p.m.

Several hands-on projects thatkids can work on and take homewill continue through the after-noon. They include making pot-pourri sachets, crafting block printsof bikurim (spring harvest) in Israeland China, fashioning Mexican folkart paper flowers, creating tzedakahboxes and more. �


Drum circles, arts and craftsgeared for the younger set


Gabriel Harris of Rhythm Villageperforms on the drums.


The stage was set in Vilnius, Lithuania, in1905: Young Jews eager to explore theirlost identity and culture foundedHabima (The Stage), the first-everHebrew-language theater. It was a hugemilestone. The theater company thenmoved to Moscow and faced continualpersecution from successive govern-ments. Over the years, Habima went through

various incarnations, and by the late1920s, the troupe moved to Israel andfinally settled in Tel Aviv. Now it has an even grander home,

thanks to a $26-million renovationalong with new public space. The TelAviv-Jaffa municipality contributed

$15 million toward the five-year refur-bishing project.Habima was Israel’s first theater to

adopt the revived language unitingimmigrants from across the diaspora.“It is the center of culture in Israel,”

says Habima spokesperson OsnatChen. “It is the national theater of Israel,and it is also the first Hebrew theaterfor artists, even the foundation for thebeginning of the Hebrew language.”About 80 actors and 120 staff mem-

bers work to support Habima’s ongoingproductions, which are open to thepublic, including schoolchildren fromthe central and peripheral regions ofIsrael. — israel 21c �

$26 million face-lift adds grandeur

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The new Habima Theater opened with fanfare earlier this year.



Dozens of organizations that serve thecommunity will be on hand at Israel in theGardens to spread the good word aboutwhat they do.Some are flying in just for the occasion.

Among first-timers: American Friends ofRambam (from New York City), the U.S.fundraising arm of the Rambam MedicalCenter in Haifa, Israel. Also making debut appearances are two

Jewish fraternal organizations: Zeta BetaTau, which bills itself as the “world’s firstJewish fraternity,” founded in 1898 to serveNew York City university students; andAlpha Epsilon Pi, which got its start at NewYork University in 1912. Both have Bay Areachapters.Another newcomer is VITAS Innovative

Hospice Care. “Since its founding in 1978,VITAS and its staff have worked diligentlyto expand hospice access for all ethnicand diverse populations who can benefitfrom hospice and palliative medicine,”said Jeff Rosenberg, Bay Area communityliaison. VITAS began serving patients withlife-limiting illnesses and their families inthe East Bay in 2004 and the South Bay in2007. On a lighter note, there will be groups

that serve happy, healthy children andadults, including URJ Camp Newman andCamp Tawonga, and the Bureau of JewishEducation. �

Groups spread wordabout worthy causes

DJ brings hisshow to ‘O-Zone’� � � from 10bcostumes,” said David. “We got really intoit — everyone started calling me Irvingbackstage and on tour. It was great.”A few years later, he moved on to the

Afrodisiacs, an offshoot of the Spazmat-ics that had members around the coun-try, some of whom performed at theStanley Cup Finals and for PresidentGeorge W. Bush at the White House.David himself performed for the popstar Jessica Simpson and guitarist JoeSatriani.After David and his ensemble com-

plete their first act in the O-Zone, theIsraeli folk dance group Café Shalom willlead dancing at 12:45 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

At 2 p.m. Be’cholLashon, an S.F.-based nonprofit thataims to foster under-

standing and opportunities for Jews ofcolor, will sponsor an African drum circlewith Rhythm Village.David will emcee and provide enter-

tainment between acts, with performanc-es slated at 1:15 and 2:30 p.m. Diller Teen Fellows will also run activi-

ties in the O-Zone, including their popularannual Israel in the Gardens scavengerhunt. �

Aaron Davidkicks off action in theO-Zone at 12:15 p.m.

.

faye bittker | special to j.

Tell your friends that you are traveling tosouthern Israel to tour some of the newboutique wineries that have opened inthe Negev, and most of them will thinkyou have already had too much to drink.The Negev, a semi-arid region that con-tains more than 60 percent of Israel’sland mass but less than 10 percent of itspopulation, is a vast desert region thatmost tourists simply ignore. But no more.On Route 40, which runs from Mitzpe

Ramon in the south up to Beersheva(informally called the “Wine Route”),travelers can stop at more than 20“ranches” that dot the region, includinga number of exceptional small wineries,delicious goat cheese farms and historicsites that offer a glimpse of the greatNabatean cities that once followed theancient spice route. One of the wineries is run by former

Bay Area resident Zvi Remak. You canfind him at Kibbutz Sde Boker, whichalso houses the modest retirementhome of Israel’s first prime minister,David Ben-Gurion, and a small muse-um.Those who want to enjoy a glass of

wine only have to stop by the visitors’center at the entrance to the Ben-Gurion Museum, where winemakerRemak will happily offer tastes of one ofhis vintages, grown and fermented onthe kibbutz.

Born in San Francisco, where his fami-ly belonged to Congregation BethSholom, Remak later moved to MarinCounty with his family, and attended CalPoly Pomona. “I worked and studied atall of the great wineries in Napa Valley,learning about the business of wine-making,” he said. Remak moved to Israelin 1980 and now manages all aspects ofthe Sde Boker winery. With less than eight inches of annual

rainfall, farmers long thought that theregion was too dry to sustain agricul-ture. But the altitude of the highlandscreates a nearly perfect situation of hot,sunny days and cool, dry nights,explained Moshe Zohar of Nahal BokerFarm winery, just north of Sde Boker.“And the inhospitable weather meansthat the vines don’t suffer from themold diseases or other insects,” headded. Like most of the farmers in the region,

Zohar uses state-of-the-art technolo-gies while planting his vineyardsbetween the ancient terraces that traprunoff water from winter rains. In addi-tion to his winery, Zohar and his wife,Hilda, operate a bed and breakfast andhope to open a Negev wine cellar in thefall. “The wineries in the Negev are all

spread out. We want to give people achance to taste the different wines inone central location,” he said. Located next to the ruins of an ancient

farm from the Middle Bronze period, the


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�� Negev desert blooms with

boutique wineries, farmsteadcheeses, posh hotel


Kornmehl Goat Cheese Farm sits high ona hill with a 360-degree view across thedesert. Anat and Daniel Kornmehlopened it in 1997 and maintain a herd of100 goats, producing a variety of Frenchgourmet kosher cheeses. They also oper-ate a small dairy restaurant (not kosher)open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdaythrough Sunday. “We were the first people to answer

the call to create cottage industries inthe Negev,” said Anat as she offeredtastings of their eight different cheeses.“We picked this spot because it wasclear that the area once sustained afarm and that it was a thriving area.” Hannah and Eyal Izrael opened

Carmey Avdat farm and winery in 1998,only a few miles away from AvdatNational Park, a UNESCO World Heritagesite that includes an original Byzantinewine press and remnants of a large,prosperous Nabatean city. The coupleplanted their modern vineyards along anatural wadi, a riverbed that is dry formost of the year. The verdant greenpath of the wadi flows up to a smallcomplex of rustic buildings that includethe winery, a gift shop selling localproducts and six cabins, each with its

own small pool. “If you take a room of Israeli wine

experts and give them a blind taste test,”Hannah Izrael said, “they will always beable to identify the wines from theNegev. They have a very distinctive, fruitytaste that sets them apart.” Others in the area agree. “I was always

a farmer but I had to learn to growgrapes in the desert,” said Erez Rota ofRota Winery, noting that the extremesin temperature provide the wine withits own personality. An environmentalartist who has exhibited his worksaround the country, Rota has turned hisfarm into a personal “installation,” juxta-posing eclectic sculptures with nativedesert plants. Beyond the quality wines, Isrotel’s

new spa hotel in Mitzpe Ramon allowstravelers to take their time exploringIsrael’s last frontier. The Beresheet(“Genesis” or “The Beginning”) hotel isgiving the entire region a boost.Located on a cliff overlooking one of

the Negev’s three spectacular naturalerosion craters, the hotel was built as a“destination” resort and has been oper-ating at capacity since it opened inApril 2011. �


Grapes growing in a wadi (dry river bed) create a verdant green pathat Carmey Avdat farm and winery.

Avdat National Park www.parks.org.il/BuildaGate5/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~25~~397886454Beresheet Hotel www.isrotelexclusivecollection.com/beresheetCarmey Avdat farm www.carmeyavdat.com

Kornmehl Goat Cheese Farm http://kornmehlfarm.ramon.gonegev.co.il/english.aspNahal Boker Farmwww.israeldesertlodge.com/Rota Winery www.rotawinery.co.il/(Hebrew only)Sde Boker Winerywww.sde-boker.org.il/winery/

Resources:

After partying at Israel in the Gardens allday, there’s no reason to stop the fun at5 p.m. Young adults are invited to con-tinue the merriment at an after party justa few blocks away, near Union Square. Tzavta, the Israel Center’s young

adult division, is once again organizingthe evening event for ages 21 andabove. It runs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at

The Cellar, 685 Sutter St., in SanFrancisco. Co-sponsors include theS.F.-based Jewish Community Federa-ton YAD, Birthright Next and The Cellar.(Partygoers can pick up a free first-

drink ticket at the fed café and round-table at Israel in the Gardens.)Fo r more in fo rmat ion , v i s i t

www.jewishfed.org. �


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Leonard W. Williams, CPAElaine H. Raitt, CPA • Bruce M. Pajak, CPA

Brenda L. George, EA • T. Patricia Cohen, EAMary King, EA • Mary Koeppen, EA

Happy 64th Birthday from

� � � from 23bsoil slowly absorbs andstores the water so crops cangrow throughout the sum-mer.Using the same technolo-

gy, an adjacent acacia forestprovides firewood and fod-der for animals; corn will beplanted in between thetrees. The techniques devel-oped at Wadi Mashash arehelping Third World coun-tries combat desertification,the further degradation ofarid lands.Three dozen ranches in the

Negev specialize in olives,goat cheese, and fish, and adozen different vineyardsproduce anywhere from1,000 to 150,000 bottles ayear. At Kish Farm, Daniel Kish, a

sculptor, has turned hisartistry to the creation ofboutique organic wines. BGUresearcher Aaron Fait workswith Kish to test the impactof intense light, temperature,and mild drought conditions on thegrapes, and to determine how thosevariables affect the quality of the wineand the presence of anti-inflammatorycompounds like Resveratrol. The low humidity prevents fungi and

bacteria, so pesticides are unnecessary.Birds are the biggest nuisance. “If youare the only wet and colorful thing in adesert, you will be eaten,” jokes Fait.In fact, the combination of technolo-

gy and agriculture has created quite alot to eat in the desert. Many of the arti-sanal foods are served at the luxuriousnew Beresheet Hotel, built on high cliffsthat look down into the panorama of

Makhtesh Ramon, often called Israel’sGrand Canyon. The hotels’ pan-Mediterranean restaurant purchasesingredients from local kibbutzes, farmsand wineries. The hotel only has to satis-fy the appetites of its hungry guests, butmultiplied exponentially, the scientificand agricultural advances in the Negevhave vast potential. As Lazarovitch says,“If we figure out how to solve the com-bined stresses of drought and salinity,we could feed the world.” �

Rahel Musleah is a New York-based journalist who took part in the AABGU 7th AnnualMurray Fromson Media Mission.

Crops with ‘less drops’

photo/rahel musleah

Winemaker Daniel Kish

Young adults can party on into the night



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Many seasoned travelers are so over theone-week all-inclusive vacation pack-ages to Cancun. New values havestreamed into our consciousness: val-ues like environmental awareness,keeping fit and getting in touch withthe local culture and surroundings. Looking to fill the niche market of

cycling holidays, the HooHa CyclistsHouse is the first cyclists’ hotel in Israel.Established six years ago in northernIsrael, the hotel offers single rooms anddorms to accommodate up to 30 peoplelooking to bike around Israel’s scenicMount Tabor and Lower Galilee region.

HooHa caters to amateur and procyclists as well as teams.

Dror Nevo and his wife, Hadas, openedHooHa in the village of Kfar Tabor, but notbecause they were lacking work. The par-ents of two both had lucrative careers: heas a vice president in a high-tech softwarecompany, she as a veterinarian.

However, after a three-month cyclingvacation in New Zealand seven yearsago, they decided to turn their dreaminto reality: They would open a cyclisthotel. They scouted around, found a loca-tion, and a year later the doors were open

and the wheels were rolling. About 85 percent of their guests are

Israelis, Dror surmises, about 60 percentof them cyclists, the rest just visitors whoenjoy the location and ambience.

Dror has launched a marketing cam-paign to attract tourists, and already hasa dream itinerary for a three-day ride.

“Of course it depends if they are moun-tain bikers or road bikers,” he explains.“Most of the people would like the BeitKeshet single track, a trail we establishedwith the Jewish National Fund. And all thearea of the Tabor River. We could end thetrip in the area of the Jordan River or theKinneret [Sea of Galilee].”

HooHa offers a range of room rates —the least expensive is comparable to a hos-tel, while the most expensive is more like athree-star hotel. Cycling equipment can berented as part of a package, and it’s alsopossible to hire Dror as a guide.

He believes that bicycling is becom-ing a way of life for some Israelis, espe-cially on the weekends: “It’s become likea culture and I hope it’s here to stay.”

The entrepreneur is already planning acycling hotel network throughout Israel,linking it to Europe. — israel 21c �

Hooha! Israel’s first hotel for bikers up and running

The staff and board of Shalom Bayit congratulate

on winning the 2012 “Informal Education”Helen Diller Award for Excellence in Jewish Education

We are delighted to see Zephira recognized for her extraordinary workthese past 7 years with Love Shouldn’t Hurt, educating children

and teens about healthy friendships and relationships. She is helping to bring about a safer, violence-free future for us all –and we know how much teens love her! We couldn’t be prouder.

Zephira Derblich-Milea


JUDITHBRICKMANCRS, SRES, e-PRO

(925) 876-1669Rossmoorfact.com

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