Jerusalem Post, Metro; December 8, 2006
Click here for original
Magicians and mind readers gathered at the recent Magic at the Red Sea convention to share some of the tricks of their trade. Mentalism is becoming a national craze and a fast-developing entertainment genre
About 100 magicians and mentalists (aka mind readers) waited to watch Gregory Wilson, one of the world's top performers of magic, enact a close-up of his famous sleight-of-hand and card sharping. The charismatic and comedic Wilson was the headliner at last month's Magic at the Red Sea (MARS) convention and festival, which brought Israeli magicians and mentalists together in Eilat to share some tricks of the trade.
As Wilson set up his act for the show - open exclusively to convention participants - members of the audience became antsy, so a few pulled out decks of cards (which they carry around like wallets) and began to do tricks on one another.
An aspiring teenage magician sitting next to me told me to pick a card and remember it. I happily and curiously obliged. While the teenager tried to guess, an older and more experienced mentalist sitting one seat over gave a self-assured nod, wrote down an "8" and diamond symbol, and snuck the card to me before the teenager could respond.
He was right. Indeed, the card I chose was the eight of diamonds. I had not even exchanged one word with him until then.
This was just one of many breathtaking encounters that took place throughout the weekend. They were enough to make even a skeptic like me think again.
Soon enough I revealed that I was a journalist, and a small panic spread through the crowd - not only because in such intimate company the presenters are allowed to mess up (which some did) but because during the convention they shared secrets and techniques with one another, and I never signed the magician's oath.
Not only that, but several of the people in the audience - including the one who had read my mind - are contestants on national television's latest blockbuster The Heir, a televised contest in which sensationalized and controversial Israeli mentalist Uri Geller seeks his successor. The contestants have signed contracts strictly prohibiting them from speaking with the press.
These overnight celebrities were relative unknowns outside their field until The Heir premiered on Channel 2 on November 18 to record-breaking ratings (one third of Israel tuned in). They were the main attraction at the Isrotel King Solomon hotel, which sponsored and hosted the MARS convention and accompanying public festival.
They freely roamed the halls, getting stopped by kids and adults alike who recognized them from television, showing that mentalism is becoming a national craze and a fast- developing entertainment genre.
Mentalist Nimrod Harel, star of his own weekly reality show Bilti Nitpas (Incomprehensible) on Channel 10, gave his own stage show in which he not only read minds but boggled them. He effortlessly bent a few spoons (a feat made famous by Geller), inserted thoughts into other people's heads, and dramatically revealed the childhood trauma of a middle-aged woman who once forgot her daughter in Ashdod. He determined the memory right down to the city and even made her cry.
But the man who stole the show was the American star Gregory Wilson, who led a workshop on impromptu magic and performed at the festival's gala. He, too, couldn't walk a few feet without kids, adults and convention participants begging him for attention. A former professional con artist turned professional entertainer, Wilson now uses his skills and Hollywood star quality to entertain audiences, magically turnings dollar bills into hundred dollar bills and stealthily slipping watches off people's wrists. He employs both mentalism and magic, as well as quick-witted improvisational humor into his performances.
"I've come to experience that Israeli magicians and mentalists are not afraid of hard work and diligent practice," Wilson said in an interview with Metro of his new colleagues and students, some of whom own his instructional videos. "They're remarkably good thinkers, and they specialize in mentalism probably because of Uri Geller, who kick-started the whole phenomenon."
On the Saturday night after the convention, his new friends took him to see The Heir. filmed live in Herzliya studios, which he enjoyed thoroughly. "I thought it was brilliantly conceived and constructed, professional in every way," he said.
But the mentalist who most impressed him wasn't an Heir contestant. At the risk of alienating and offending the other mentalists, Wilson confided that if Nimrod Harel had entered the contest, Harel would have received his vote. During the convention they spoke at length privately, sharing techniques and ideas.
"Nimrod has multiple layers of deception that make him clearly better than even the best mentalists. He has such a commanding presence that I could tell - even when I didn't understand his language - how the audience was rapt with attention. The finale to his show was evocative and emotional enough to bring a lady on stage to tears."
The MARS convention was like a rite of passage for the participants and, along with the new reality shows, a testament to Israel's leadership in the mentalism field.
"In the area of mentalism and psychic entertainment, Israeli mentalists have a high profile in the UK and US," said Quentin Reynolds, a British mentalist who lectured and performed at MARS. "Israeli mentalists I have met perform at a very high standard and frequently come up with new ideas that are fresh and novel."
The convention's timing couldn't have been more fortuitous - it took place only a few days after the The Heir premiered.
Roei Zaltsman, organizer of the convention and also a contestant on The Heir, says the timing was coincidental, but one can't help but suspect that he had subconsciously influenced the minds of the show's producers months before to bring attention to his bold and successful initiative.
"I saw other conventions throughout the world, and I said we have to do something on an equally high level in Israel," Zaltsman said.
He explained that magic and telepathy were combined at the convention because both involve creative thinking as well as performance, although some mentalists are wary of being associated with magicians because they want to be perceived as possessing special, even supernatural powers.
Wilson elaborated on the difference. "Magic is sleight of hand, mentalism is sleight of mind. Physical versus psychological."
I admit that after hanging around the magicians and mentalists for the entire weekend, I managed to glean a few subtle secrets. But I'm still completely stumped as to how that man knew I was thinking of the eight of diamonds.
Friday, December 8, 2006
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
A classical concert seven decades in the making
Jerusalem Post, Daily; December 6, 2006
Founded in 1936 by refugees from Hitler's Europe, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra will mark its 70th season with a series of celebratory concerts
As the playful shrill of a flute sounds out against the bombast of a trombone, the soothing moans of the violin and the soft banging of the timpani create a sense of drama in Tel Aviv's Mann Auditorium. This unconventional cacophony isn't characteristic of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, but it's Monday morning, and most of the musicians are on a break from rehearsal, with just a few continuing to practice alone on stage for their evening performance of Schoenberg and Brahms.
Sounds like these have accompanied Zeev Dorman, a bassoonist and the current chairman of the IPO's board of managers, for the past 37 years. Now a veteran member of the orchestra, Dorman recalls the musical monopoly the IPO held when he first joined the orchestra in 1969.
"We were the only show in town," Dorman says, speaking to The Jerusalem Post at the Mann Auditorium, the IPO's home since 1957.
The creation of new listening media, diminished interest in classical music among younger music fans and a growth in the number of orchestras and ensembles in Israel have continually pushed the IPO to renew and reinvigorate itself, Dorman says. "The orchestra has to be better and the impact has to be much stronger" than in the past, he says.
The IPO's 70th anniversary is being used to demonstrate to local and world audiences that although the IPO may no longer be the only show in town, it will continue to be among the most relevant, active and celebrated.
"The first [priority] is to keep up the standards of the orchestra," says IPO musical director Zubin Mehta, who was honored at the White House and received a lifetime achievement award Sunday at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. "I believe we've not only succeeded in doing this, but also in raising the standards of the orchestra through the years."
The orchestra's 70th birthday will be marked with a series of 12 concerts held between December 17 and 31. Headlining the concerts will be world-renowned soloists and conductors who have accompanied the IPO throughout the years, among them Daniel Barenboim, Lorin Maazel, Valery Gergiev, Kurt Masur, Gustavo Dudamel and Yefim Bronfman.
"We want to create a feeling of internationalism," Zubin said. At the same time, the lighting of a hanukkia during the first week of the concerts will add a uniquely Israeli tone to the festivities.
Mehta, who turned 70 earlier this year, is as old as the orchestra, and his career at the IPO spans four decades. The IPO's 70th birthday celebrations will demonstrate Israel's continued cultural vibrancy despite the summer's war and the fighting of the last six years, he hopes.
Established in 1936 as the Palestine Philharmonic Orchestra, the IPO was founded by Polish-born violinist Bronislaw Huberman as a performance vehicle for Jewish musicians fleeing Europe. The celebrated Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini oversaw the orchestra's first concert in 1936, telling audience members he was "doing it for humanity."
Since Israel's founding, the IPO has represented the country at a range of international festivals, recorded with world-renowned musicians and played for soldiers during Israel's wars. Among the orchestra's most symbolic performances outside Israel have been shows held in Germany, Poland and the former Soviet Union.
Baruch Gross, an IPO cellist and member of the board, joined the orchestra in 1974, a year after immigrating to Israel from the USSR. He considers the influx of immigrants from the former Soviet Union a milestone in the IPO's development.
"In the late 1980s, when many musicians from the previous generation retired, we were worried about the future, because the young generation hadn't produced many players of string instruments. Then a miracle occurred, and the immigration from Russia in the 1990s filled the rows."
Today, musicians from the former Soviet bloc make up about 40 percent of the orchestra.
Gross says the IPO's audience has also changed considerably.
"The audience was different [when I first joined the IPO]," he says. "People would come to the concerts with the scores. It was an audience that came from central Europe with extensive musical training."
The number of IPO subscriptions now stands at approximately 26,000, as opposed to 30,000 in 1974. Gross attributes this drop, in part, to what he sees as the neglect of musical education among younger people.
To counter this decline, the IPO has instituted several programs to raise interest among teenagers and those in their 20s. Five Thursday evenings a year, an "IPO in Jeans" program hosts celebrities who present classical works, then offers young listeners a post-concert party with a DJ, dancing and beer. To groom an even younger generation of potential concertgoers, the IPO also sends its members to perform and speak in front of elementary school students, who later attend IPO concerts.
The orchestra's 70th birthday has attracted attention outside Israel, with the European television network ARTE scheduled to broadcast a celebratory concert featuring Barenboim and violinist Pinchas Zukerman.
A video exhibition about the history of the IPO will be shown on six plasma screens each night of the 12-concert series, and will also travel with the IPO to European festivals next summer.
Locally, Helicon Records has produced a special 12-set CD of the IPO's most noteworthy performances, and Channel 1 will broadcast the opening concert of the anniversary series on December 17. Conducted by Mehta, the concert will feature works by Mozart, Schumann and Brahms, with special guest performers to include pianist Evgeny Kissin, violinist Julian Rachlin and cellist Mischa Maisky.
The IPO has marked each decade of its existence with gala concerts, and members say the orchestra's sound has only improved with time. "Maturity in music is always good," Gross says.
Founded in 1936 by refugees from Hitler's Europe, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra will mark its 70th season with a series of celebratory concerts
As the playful shrill of a flute sounds out against the bombast of a trombone, the soothing moans of the violin and the soft banging of the timpani create a sense of drama in Tel Aviv's Mann Auditorium. This unconventional cacophony isn't characteristic of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, but it's Monday morning, and most of the musicians are on a break from rehearsal, with just a few continuing to practice alone on stage for their evening performance of Schoenberg and Brahms.
Sounds like these have accompanied Zeev Dorman, a bassoonist and the current chairman of the IPO's board of managers, for the past 37 years. Now a veteran member of the orchestra, Dorman recalls the musical monopoly the IPO held when he first joined the orchestra in 1969.
"We were the only show in town," Dorman says, speaking to The Jerusalem Post at the Mann Auditorium, the IPO's home since 1957.
The creation of new listening media, diminished interest in classical music among younger music fans and a growth in the number of orchestras and ensembles in Israel have continually pushed the IPO to renew and reinvigorate itself, Dorman says. "The orchestra has to be better and the impact has to be much stronger" than in the past, he says.
The IPO's 70th anniversary is being used to demonstrate to local and world audiences that although the IPO may no longer be the only show in town, it will continue to be among the most relevant, active and celebrated.
"The first [priority] is to keep up the standards of the orchestra," says IPO musical director Zubin Mehta, who was honored at the White House and received a lifetime achievement award Sunday at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. "I believe we've not only succeeded in doing this, but also in raising the standards of the orchestra through the years."
The orchestra's 70th birthday will be marked with a series of 12 concerts held between December 17 and 31. Headlining the concerts will be world-renowned soloists and conductors who have accompanied the IPO throughout the years, among them Daniel Barenboim, Lorin Maazel, Valery Gergiev, Kurt Masur, Gustavo Dudamel and Yefim Bronfman.
"We want to create a feeling of internationalism," Zubin said. At the same time, the lighting of a hanukkia during the first week of the concerts will add a uniquely Israeli tone to the festivities.
Mehta, who turned 70 earlier this year, is as old as the orchestra, and his career at the IPO spans four decades. The IPO's 70th birthday celebrations will demonstrate Israel's continued cultural vibrancy despite the summer's war and the fighting of the last six years, he hopes.
Established in 1936 as the Palestine Philharmonic Orchestra, the IPO was founded by Polish-born violinist Bronislaw Huberman as a performance vehicle for Jewish musicians fleeing Europe. The celebrated Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini oversaw the orchestra's first concert in 1936, telling audience members he was "doing it for humanity."
Since Israel's founding, the IPO has represented the country at a range of international festivals, recorded with world-renowned musicians and played for soldiers during Israel's wars. Among the orchestra's most symbolic performances outside Israel have been shows held in Germany, Poland and the former Soviet Union.
Baruch Gross, an IPO cellist and member of the board, joined the orchestra in 1974, a year after immigrating to Israel from the USSR. He considers the influx of immigrants from the former Soviet Union a milestone in the IPO's development.
"In the late 1980s, when many musicians from the previous generation retired, we were worried about the future, because the young generation hadn't produced many players of string instruments. Then a miracle occurred, and the immigration from Russia in the 1990s filled the rows."
Today, musicians from the former Soviet bloc make up about 40 percent of the orchestra.
Gross says the IPO's audience has also changed considerably.
"The audience was different [when I first joined the IPO]," he says. "People would come to the concerts with the scores. It was an audience that came from central Europe with extensive musical training."
The number of IPO subscriptions now stands at approximately 26,000, as opposed to 30,000 in 1974. Gross attributes this drop, in part, to what he sees as the neglect of musical education among younger people.
To counter this decline, the IPO has instituted several programs to raise interest among teenagers and those in their 20s. Five Thursday evenings a year, an "IPO in Jeans" program hosts celebrities who present classical works, then offers young listeners a post-concert party with a DJ, dancing and beer. To groom an even younger generation of potential concertgoers, the IPO also sends its members to perform and speak in front of elementary school students, who later attend IPO concerts.
The orchestra's 70th birthday has attracted attention outside Israel, with the European television network ARTE scheduled to broadcast a celebratory concert featuring Barenboim and violinist Pinchas Zukerman.
A video exhibition about the history of the IPO will be shown on six plasma screens each night of the 12-concert series, and will also travel with the IPO to European festivals next summer.
Locally, Helicon Records has produced a special 12-set CD of the IPO's most noteworthy performances, and Channel 1 will broadcast the opening concert of the anniversary series on December 17. Conducted by Mehta, the concert will feature works by Mozart, Schumann and Brahms, with special guest performers to include pianist Evgeny Kissin, violinist Julian Rachlin and cellist Mischa Maisky.
The IPO has marked each decade of its existence with gala concerts, and members say the orchestra's sound has only improved with time. "Maturity in music is always good," Gross says.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
A less demanding daughter (restaurant review)
Jerusalem Post, Billbaord; September 29, 2006
Inspired by his travels in San Francisco, whose ports are characterized by numbered piers, Israeli entrepreneur Ben Maharovsky has embarked on a venture to raise the international standards of Tel Aviv's northern port: Pier 23. Pier 23 certainly adds a fresh seashore feel to the port, which is developing more and more into an outdoor, seaside restaurant mall.
Pier 23 bills itself as a "bar on the beach," but don't get confused. Instead of a well-stocked liquor bar, you'll find a clean white serving counter in front of a transparent kitchen. Pier 23's "bar" is simply a long table made of raw deck wood where diners can eat "gourmet fast food" while perching on bright orange stools.
Next to this bar are a few round wooden tables for those who prefer not to sit cafeteria style.
"Everything on the port is very committal," explains Yaron Mizrahi, Pier 23's manager. "You need a hostess, server - there's no fast food that takes simple things and makes them 'wow.'"
Pier 23 is a huge contrast from its father restaurant, Mul Yam, ranked as one of the best in the world, and certainly one of Tel Aviv's most exclusive. Owned by Ben Maharavsky's father, Shalom, this seafood institution is probably the most "committal" on the port, and an entree costs an average of NIS 200.
"All major restaurants in the world open a daughter restaurant nearby so you can bypass their exclusivity," says Maharovsky. As an example he cites Nobu New York, the chic Japanese restaurant co-owned by Robert De Niro that opened Nobu Next Door for a less expensive, less committal Nobu experience.
You couldn't tell Pier 23 is related to Mul Yam just by looking at it, but you can rest assured that the seafood comes from the same source. The fish, shrimp and calamari hail from the Maharovsky seafood importing and distribution company next door, making this corner on the port a small family seafood empire. So even if there's a slow night at Pier 23, the sea fare is fresh.
The international array of dishes includes crispy calamari (NIS 26); entrecote or chicken tortilla (NIS 24 & 22); shrimp on a stick (NIS 29); Belgian fries, and fish & chips made with cod fresh from Holland (NIS 36). Salads are available for those watching their diet or craving something a little lighter. Liquor prices are well below average, with margaritas going for NIS 23 and Red Bull and vodka going for NIS 28.
If you're not a big fan of seafood, it's still worth eating at Pier 23 just for the presentation. The branding of Pier 23 seems to be more invested than the size of the menu, which features 13 dishes. Food is served on surf-and- turf style round wicker trays, while fish & chips comes with wooden cutlery imported from Germany.
Finger foods come in ingenious, patent-pending containers invented by Maharovsky's father especially for Pier 23. Tentatively called "kangaroos," these cardboard boxes are designed with two pullouts for sauces and condiments. Even Maharovsky admits that if Pier 23 fails to take off as he hopes (he dreams of chains throughout Israel's major ports), he won't give up quickly, turning to international distribution and marketing of this fast food invention.
It's too the bad the place is not open late at night. It would make a great after-party sport for bar and nightclub goers. To add a little more night-time fun to the corner, Pier 23 has launched Cool Thursdays, featuring a DJ spinning chill-out music every Thursday through September.
Tel: (03) 546-9937
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 12:30 p.m. - 12-ish a.m.; Fri-Sat: 11 a.m. - 12-ish a.m.
Inspired by his travels in San Francisco, whose ports are characterized by numbered piers, Israeli entrepreneur Ben Maharovsky has embarked on a venture to raise the international standards of Tel Aviv's northern port: Pier 23. Pier 23 certainly adds a fresh seashore feel to the port, which is developing more and more into an outdoor, seaside restaurant mall.
Pier 23 bills itself as a "bar on the beach," but don't get confused. Instead of a well-stocked liquor bar, you'll find a clean white serving counter in front of a transparent kitchen. Pier 23's "bar" is simply a long table made of raw deck wood where diners can eat "gourmet fast food" while perching on bright orange stools.
Next to this bar are a few round wooden tables for those who prefer not to sit cafeteria style.
"Everything on the port is very committal," explains Yaron Mizrahi, Pier 23's manager. "You need a hostess, server - there's no fast food that takes simple things and makes them 'wow.'"
Pier 23 is a huge contrast from its father restaurant, Mul Yam, ranked as one of the best in the world, and certainly one of Tel Aviv's most exclusive. Owned by Ben Maharavsky's father, Shalom, this seafood institution is probably the most "committal" on the port, and an entree costs an average of NIS 200.
"All major restaurants in the world open a daughter restaurant nearby so you can bypass their exclusivity," says Maharovsky. As an example he cites Nobu New York, the chic Japanese restaurant co-owned by Robert De Niro that opened Nobu Next Door for a less expensive, less committal Nobu experience.
You couldn't tell Pier 23 is related to Mul Yam just by looking at it, but you can rest assured that the seafood comes from the same source. The fish, shrimp and calamari hail from the Maharovsky seafood importing and distribution company next door, making this corner on the port a small family seafood empire. So even if there's a slow night at Pier 23, the sea fare is fresh.
The international array of dishes includes crispy calamari (NIS 26); entrecote or chicken tortilla (NIS 24 & 22); shrimp on a stick (NIS 29); Belgian fries, and fish & chips made with cod fresh from Holland (NIS 36). Salads are available for those watching their diet or craving something a little lighter. Liquor prices are well below average, with margaritas going for NIS 23 and Red Bull and vodka going for NIS 28.
If you're not a big fan of seafood, it's still worth eating at Pier 23 just for the presentation. The branding of Pier 23 seems to be more invested than the size of the menu, which features 13 dishes. Food is served on surf-and- turf style round wicker trays, while fish & chips comes with wooden cutlery imported from Germany.
Finger foods come in ingenious, patent-pending containers invented by Maharovsky's father especially for Pier 23. Tentatively called "kangaroos," these cardboard boxes are designed with two pullouts for sauces and condiments. Even Maharovsky admits that if Pier 23 fails to take off as he hopes (he dreams of chains throughout Israel's major ports), he won't give up quickly, turning to international distribution and marketing of this fast food invention.
It's too the bad the place is not open late at night. It would make a great after-party sport for bar and nightclub goers. To add a little more night-time fun to the corner, Pier 23 has launched Cool Thursdays, featuring a DJ spinning chill-out music every Thursday through September.
Tel: (03) 546-9937
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 12:30 p.m. - 12-ish a.m.; Fri-Sat: 11 a.m. - 12-ish a.m.
Friday, November 24, 2006
The secrets of a successful bar
Jerusalem Post, Metro; November 24, 2006
Click here for original
Owners reveal some of the principles of popularity. 'There are no miracles in this business.'
In the past four years, bars in Tel Aviv have been popping up like mushrooms after rain, with an estimated four or five bars, dance bars, resto-bars and/or mega bars opening monthly. Some of them close at a loss after a few months; some of them close after two years after raking in a nice profit; while others become nightlife institutions.
The bar business is a tough business, and if nightlife entrepreneurs aren't prepared for hard work, chances are their ventures will fail.
While standing behind one's own bar may seem fun and glamorous, bar owners must to be prepared to mix their cocktails with sweat and tears. Metro visited several successful bars in the city to find out from their owners and staffers the secret of a successful bar - it turns out, the secret isn't so sexy.
Sound planning
It's not enough to design the structure, order liquor from suppliers, hire bartenders and start mixing drinks. A bar is a small business, and opening one involves preparing detailed budgets, dealing with countless suppliers, understanding and adhering to municipal laws, and overseeing day-to-day maintenance.
'Most people don't know what they're getting into when they start,' says Gidon Marco, owner of Temptation on Rehov Allenby which is in its fourth year - quite an achievement for a Tel Aviv bar. A former bartender, Marco researched the field for five years before opening Temptation.
'People come at night and they see everything working - the fun, the magic, the good times, friends - but someone has to change the lightbulbs, take care of the police, go to the bank... It's a hard business because you're leading two lives: You have to play hard at night and work hard by day.'
Husband and wife team Haya and Zvika Shichor didn't come from the nightlife field but dedicated themselves to researching and navigating the nightlife business before opening the funky Florentine bistro bar Bugsy. Recently, they opened up its baby brother, a heavily invested, stylish, sophisticated bistro bar called Benjamin Siegel in the Opera Towers on Allenby.
Prior to their nightlife ventures, Haya worked as VP of operations at a textile company; Zvika, a former aeronautics engineer, ran his own water conservation company. They do not view their experience in the corporate world as a contradiction to their experience in the nightlife world. According to Haya, a nightlife establishment can make it only 'if you do things seriously and have business sense. It's a business in every sense of the word.'
As with any business, a sound and conservative business plan is a must.
Says Temptation's Marco, 'You have to take into account 100% more than what you think you need. A lot of businesses close down because they don't have enough capital. People go in very optimistic, but places in Tel Aviv that are now nightlife cornerstones wouldn't be around today if they didn't have enough capital to last two to three years.'
Plenty of cash has to be stored for a rainy day, as many unforeseen circumstances can affect any nightlife establishment, especially in Israel. A war can break out and tourism drops, or the city decides to renovate the street and close the walkways. Furthermore, the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality has many strict guidelines relating to health, sanitation, safety and security. They could demand that a bar install fire sprinklers or improve ventilation, and costs can add up tremendously.
Know-how
The major mistakes starters make is lack of professionalism. 'There are no miracles in this business,' explains Haya. 'You have to do the work as it's supposed to be done.'
Before opening Bugsy, she tested the nightlife waters by first opening Carmina, a small cafe off Ibn Gvirol. Only after she saw that they were equipped to handle the business did she and her husband expand their endeavors to Bugsy.
Haya and Zvika split their responsibilities. Zvika takes charge of operations and logistics, while Haya serves as the creative overseer. On any given night at Benjamin Siegel, she can be seen standing by the counter, examining each dish as it comes out of the kitchen.
Running a successful nightlife establishment requires expertise in an array of fields such as music, sound, lighting, management, design, service and liquor. 'If you don't have all the know-how, you have to hire a know-how team,' says Marco.
Concept
Any bar, dance bar, resto-bar, or pub has to have an identity. Nightlife entrepreneurs must know what kind of place they want to open: a sleazy dance bar, raunchy pick-up bar, friendly neighborhood pub or sophisticated lounge. 'When you walk into a bar, you should be able to know within five to 30 seconds what kind of place it is,' says Marco. 'Then you decide if it's right for you.'
Omer Gershon is director of marketing and PR for Whiskey A Go Go, Rivendell, and Shalvata, all of which are frequented by attractive Tel Aviv yuppies and celebs. Active as a publicist and promoter in the Tel Aviv nightlife scene for more than a decade, he says it is imperative to understand the clientele in advance. 'Before you build a place, you have to think which kind of crowd you want: rich kids, artsy, celebrities, hip-hop, suburbia. You have to decide beforehand, [because] you can never bring everyone.'
Often, to preserve a certain clientele, several nightlife establishments enforce strict selection, based on age, looks or energy. Selection, while technically illegal, can be crucial to maintaining the concept and clientele.
Location, location, location
Whiskey A Go Go, Rivendell, Shalvata and TLV are all located at the burgeoning Tel Aviv port, which is easily accessible by the northern Tel Avivians, often considered an elite, educated crowd. Bar owners must take into account issues such as parking, neighborhood and accessibility. Bar compounds such as those around Rehov Lilienblum or Yad Harutzim offer a steady flow of bar-hopping traffic.
Haya, however, disagrees on the importance of location. 'When I opened Bugsy, people asked, 'Why Florentine?' I think if the place is good, people will come.'
For this reason, she named her bistro bars after Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel, the mobster credited with founding Las Vegas. 'Bugsy was the type of guy who went to the desert and said, 'I want to build something here.''
Design
One of the most important aspects of a nightlife establishment is design, as it reflects the concept of the place. Roy Roth of Roth-Tevet Experience Design has designed some of the most successful nightlife joints in the city, such as the lounge bar Lima Lima on Lilienblum and Saluna in Jaffa.
'Sometimes you have to create an alternative world - so when they're outside, they don't think about it; and when they are inside, they forget about the outside. It's a lot about escapism,' he explains.
Lighting is especially important for a bar. Roth likens a bar to a stage, where a sense of drama is created by carefully placed spotlights. 'It's a lot about being sexy. Not to reveal a lot. In retail you shine light on a product to show it off; in a bar, you have to show off people, so the light has to be dim. You want to see the people and illuminate them nicely to make them look good.'
No matter if the design is classic, themed, eclectic, sexy, warm or white cold, the place has to be workable as well as conform to city standards. That is why interior designers should ideally have experience in the nightlife field.
Music
'Music has crucial influence on the success of a bar. Music takes you through the night, providing the main ambience,' says Gershon.
The type of music and the DJ can stamp the atmosphere and character on a place. For some nightlife revelers, the motto is 'God is a DJ.' The Shichors have placed the DJ on a platform above their customers at both Bugsy and Benjamin Siegel.
Oded Adam, who now spins and books DJs for Helena, a New York-style bar in Tel Aviv, thinks music serves as a natural selection device. 'There are two kinds of music for bars: one is the more intelligent and soothing, and the other is more commercial and communicative. If you play jazzy stuff, as opposed to something that just passes through your ears like Britney Spears or hip-hop, a certain kind of crowd will come.'
When Adam spins, he likes to create an experience for the bargoers - to hold their interest with music that develops over the night rather than play loud radio versions of popular hits. The latter are more suited for raunchy pick-up bars or dance bars, which get people to loosen up and dance. Electronic genres, on the other hand, provide ambience and more subtle sexiness. 'For me, the music is a very big part of a night's success. Music can make the evening last longer,' he says.
Yuval Dor, a DJ producer who has spun at the artsy Abraxas bar on Lilienblum and the Jewish Princess on Yehuda Halevi, believes that the music is a reflection of the owners.
'Music with a good sound system says something about the person who stands behind the bar. If they just put on regular music, it says something about them. If they're really into the music, it shows that they're more interesting and that there's more to look for.'
Publicity
'You need hype; you need someone who knows how to make a buzz,' says Gershon. 'You need a person who will adjust a crowd to the place.'
To create a buzz, bar owners need to know a lot of people, or they have to hire promoters and publicists who do. Generally, people who come from the field, such as managers, bartenders and DJs, have already built a reputation and will attract a pre-established following.
It always helps to appear in gossip columns. 'If you want a place to be hip, you need many items in newspapers,' says Gershon.
However, hype may only sustain a place for so long. Haya prefers to keep the hype on a low. 'You can make a buzz, then a lot of people come - and then it falls. It's better without the hoopla.'
As with any business, word of mouth is the best publicity. 'Once the place is good, celebrities will come,' she says.
Bartenders/staff
Bartenders do more than just pour drinks - they gauge bar-goers' wants, needs and desires. He or she should know what kind of mood the customer is in and if he/she wants to talk, be entertained or left alone. 'A bartender is like a psychologist,' says Marco.
It's not enough that bartenders graduate a bartending course. They have to excel in interpersonal relations, a skill that cannot easily be taught.
'If your staff is good and they know what they're doing, customers will come back,' says Gidon. 'It's easy to bring people in the first time and harder to bring them back the second.'
Gershon agrees: 'You have to make people feel at home and welcome. Taking care of regulars - that's very important.'
Haya instructs her bartenders that 'the bar is a stage.' She interviews each bartender to make sure they are professionals who can contribute to the energy and atmosphere of the place.
There's another important criteria for hiring bartenders: looks. 'It's very important for bartenders to look good,' she says. 'The men don't have to be muscular, but they should be fun and pleasant.'
Attention to detail
'If you're not willing to go into the small details, it won't work,' warns Marco.
Bar owners should understand that the smallest glitch in service or operation may affect the customer's willingness to return. If the lighting is too bright, the air conditioning too strong, the music too loud, the beer poured sloppily or the mojito not mixed right, customers will notice, even at the subconscious level. This means that bar owners or managers cannot spend the night sitting at the bar chatting with friends. They have to be behind the scenes, paying careful attention to staff and customers and making sure that everything runs smoothly.
The Shichors believe that for a bar to have a long shelf life rather than close after two years, it must offer an added value, something unique. When they opened Bugsy, they decided to offer a rich food menu open to customers at all hours. The owners of Temptation, who also see the importance of added value, offer homemade cocktails.
Heart and soul
Only someone who loves the business will survive the initial, difficult stages. If a place has a heart, it's because heart went into it.
'I see places in Tel Aviv that have a great location, music and look, yet they fail,' says Gershon. 'Then I see places that put in little money but have a lot of spirit. Spirit counts for a lot.'
Owning a bar, in any of its variations, is a 24-hour job. 'You have to dedicate yourself to it,' says Haya. 'It has to be your life.' Marco thinks luck wouldn't hurt, either. 'You need a little of it with everything in your life.'
(BOX #1) How to pass selection
Several bars and dance bars enforce strict selection, and rightly so. Often, people go to bars because they want to feel beautiful - or go home with someone beautiful. If sloppily dressed stragglers, youngsters or 'Mafia' types are allowed in, the atmosphere and mood can be killed in an instant. So while selection may seem like an annoyance, better not to fight it and learn to work with it - and eventually appreciate it.
Omer Gershon, director of marketing and PR at some of the hottest bars in the city, reveals the secrets of passing selection:
* Be as attractive as possible (especially women)
* Be a celebrity
* Be rich
* Dress really well
* Know the owners or managers
If you lack the above, the following might help:
* Always be polite to the selector and say 'Thank you.'
* Get noticed inside the bar for next time. Be nice to
bartenders and tip well.
How not to pass selection
* Argue with a selector
* As a guy, come with a group of guys. It reminds the selectors too much of the army.
* Say to the selector, 'Don't you know who I am?'
* Say to the selector, 'This is the last time you work in this town.'
Click here for original
Owners reveal some of the principles of popularity. 'There are no miracles in this business.'
In the past four years, bars in Tel Aviv have been popping up like mushrooms after rain, with an estimated four or five bars, dance bars, resto-bars and/or mega bars opening monthly. Some of them close at a loss after a few months; some of them close after two years after raking in a nice profit; while others become nightlife institutions.
The bar business is a tough business, and if nightlife entrepreneurs aren't prepared for hard work, chances are their ventures will fail.
While standing behind one's own bar may seem fun and glamorous, bar owners must to be prepared to mix their cocktails with sweat and tears. Metro visited several successful bars in the city to find out from their owners and staffers the secret of a successful bar - it turns out, the secret isn't so sexy.
Sound planning
It's not enough to design the structure, order liquor from suppliers, hire bartenders and start mixing drinks. A bar is a small business, and opening one involves preparing detailed budgets, dealing with countless suppliers, understanding and adhering to municipal laws, and overseeing day-to-day maintenance.
'Most people don't know what they're getting into when they start,' says Gidon Marco, owner of Temptation on Rehov Allenby which is in its fourth year - quite an achievement for a Tel Aviv bar. A former bartender, Marco researched the field for five years before opening Temptation.
'People come at night and they see everything working - the fun, the magic, the good times, friends - but someone has to change the lightbulbs, take care of the police, go to the bank... It's a hard business because you're leading two lives: You have to play hard at night and work hard by day.'
Husband and wife team Haya and Zvika Shichor didn't come from the nightlife field but dedicated themselves to researching and navigating the nightlife business before opening the funky Florentine bistro bar Bugsy. Recently, they opened up its baby brother, a heavily invested, stylish, sophisticated bistro bar called Benjamin Siegel in the Opera Towers on Allenby.
Prior to their nightlife ventures, Haya worked as VP of operations at a textile company; Zvika, a former aeronautics engineer, ran his own water conservation company. They do not view their experience in the corporate world as a contradiction to their experience in the nightlife world. According to Haya, a nightlife establishment can make it only 'if you do things seriously and have business sense. It's a business in every sense of the word.'
As with any business, a sound and conservative business plan is a must.
Says Temptation's Marco, 'You have to take into account 100% more than what you think you need. A lot of businesses close down because they don't have enough capital. People go in very optimistic, but places in Tel Aviv that are now nightlife cornerstones wouldn't be around today if they didn't have enough capital to last two to three years.'
Plenty of cash has to be stored for a rainy day, as many unforeseen circumstances can affect any nightlife establishment, especially in Israel. A war can break out and tourism drops, or the city decides to renovate the street and close the walkways. Furthermore, the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality has many strict guidelines relating to health, sanitation, safety and security. They could demand that a bar install fire sprinklers or improve ventilation, and costs can add up tremendously.
Know-how
The major mistakes starters make is lack of professionalism. 'There are no miracles in this business,' explains Haya. 'You have to do the work as it's supposed to be done.'
Before opening Bugsy, she tested the nightlife waters by first opening Carmina, a small cafe off Ibn Gvirol. Only after she saw that they were equipped to handle the business did she and her husband expand their endeavors to Bugsy.
Haya and Zvika split their responsibilities. Zvika takes charge of operations and logistics, while Haya serves as the creative overseer. On any given night at Benjamin Siegel, she can be seen standing by the counter, examining each dish as it comes out of the kitchen.
Running a successful nightlife establishment requires expertise in an array of fields such as music, sound, lighting, management, design, service and liquor. 'If you don't have all the know-how, you have to hire a know-how team,' says Marco.
Concept
Any bar, dance bar, resto-bar, or pub has to have an identity. Nightlife entrepreneurs must know what kind of place they want to open: a sleazy dance bar, raunchy pick-up bar, friendly neighborhood pub or sophisticated lounge. 'When you walk into a bar, you should be able to know within five to 30 seconds what kind of place it is,' says Marco. 'Then you decide if it's right for you.'
Omer Gershon is director of marketing and PR for Whiskey A Go Go, Rivendell, and Shalvata, all of which are frequented by attractive Tel Aviv yuppies and celebs. Active as a publicist and promoter in the Tel Aviv nightlife scene for more than a decade, he says it is imperative to understand the clientele in advance. 'Before you build a place, you have to think which kind of crowd you want: rich kids, artsy, celebrities, hip-hop, suburbia. You have to decide beforehand, [because] you can never bring everyone.'
Often, to preserve a certain clientele, several nightlife establishments enforce strict selection, based on age, looks or energy. Selection, while technically illegal, can be crucial to maintaining the concept and clientele.
Location, location, location
Whiskey A Go Go, Rivendell, Shalvata and TLV are all located at the burgeoning Tel Aviv port, which is easily accessible by the northern Tel Avivians, often considered an elite, educated crowd. Bar owners must take into account issues such as parking, neighborhood and accessibility. Bar compounds such as those around Rehov Lilienblum or Yad Harutzim offer a steady flow of bar-hopping traffic.
Haya, however, disagrees on the importance of location. 'When I opened Bugsy, people asked, 'Why Florentine?' I think if the place is good, people will come.'
For this reason, she named her bistro bars after Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel, the mobster credited with founding Las Vegas. 'Bugsy was the type of guy who went to the desert and said, 'I want to build something here.''
Design
One of the most important aspects of a nightlife establishment is design, as it reflects the concept of the place. Roy Roth of Roth-Tevet Experience Design has designed some of the most successful nightlife joints in the city, such as the lounge bar Lima Lima on Lilienblum and Saluna in Jaffa.
'Sometimes you have to create an alternative world - so when they're outside, they don't think about it; and when they are inside, they forget about the outside. It's a lot about escapism,' he explains.
Lighting is especially important for a bar. Roth likens a bar to a stage, where a sense of drama is created by carefully placed spotlights. 'It's a lot about being sexy. Not to reveal a lot. In retail you shine light on a product to show it off; in a bar, you have to show off people, so the light has to be dim. You want to see the people and illuminate them nicely to make them look good.'
No matter if the design is classic, themed, eclectic, sexy, warm or white cold, the place has to be workable as well as conform to city standards. That is why interior designers should ideally have experience in the nightlife field.
Music
'Music has crucial influence on the success of a bar. Music takes you through the night, providing the main ambience,' says Gershon.
The type of music and the DJ can stamp the atmosphere and character on a place. For some nightlife revelers, the motto is 'God is a DJ.' The Shichors have placed the DJ on a platform above their customers at both Bugsy and Benjamin Siegel.
Oded Adam, who now spins and books DJs for Helena, a New York-style bar in Tel Aviv, thinks music serves as a natural selection device. 'There are two kinds of music for bars: one is the more intelligent and soothing, and the other is more commercial and communicative. If you play jazzy stuff, as opposed to something that just passes through your ears like Britney Spears or hip-hop, a certain kind of crowd will come.'
When Adam spins, he likes to create an experience for the bargoers - to hold their interest with music that develops over the night rather than play loud radio versions of popular hits. The latter are more suited for raunchy pick-up bars or dance bars, which get people to loosen up and dance. Electronic genres, on the other hand, provide ambience and more subtle sexiness. 'For me, the music is a very big part of a night's success. Music can make the evening last longer,' he says.
Yuval Dor, a DJ producer who has spun at the artsy Abraxas bar on Lilienblum and the Jewish Princess on Yehuda Halevi, believes that the music is a reflection of the owners.
'Music with a good sound system says something about the person who stands behind the bar. If they just put on regular music, it says something about them. If they're really into the music, it shows that they're more interesting and that there's more to look for.'
Publicity
'You need hype; you need someone who knows how to make a buzz,' says Gershon. 'You need a person who will adjust a crowd to the place.'
To create a buzz, bar owners need to know a lot of people, or they have to hire promoters and publicists who do. Generally, people who come from the field, such as managers, bartenders and DJs, have already built a reputation and will attract a pre-established following.
It always helps to appear in gossip columns. 'If you want a place to be hip, you need many items in newspapers,' says Gershon.
However, hype may only sustain a place for so long. Haya prefers to keep the hype on a low. 'You can make a buzz, then a lot of people come - and then it falls. It's better without the hoopla.'
As with any business, word of mouth is the best publicity. 'Once the place is good, celebrities will come,' she says.
Bartenders/staff
Bartenders do more than just pour drinks - they gauge bar-goers' wants, needs and desires. He or she should know what kind of mood the customer is in and if he/she wants to talk, be entertained or left alone. 'A bartender is like a psychologist,' says Marco.
It's not enough that bartenders graduate a bartending course. They have to excel in interpersonal relations, a skill that cannot easily be taught.
'If your staff is good and they know what they're doing, customers will come back,' says Gidon. 'It's easy to bring people in the first time and harder to bring them back the second.'
Gershon agrees: 'You have to make people feel at home and welcome. Taking care of regulars - that's very important.'
Haya instructs her bartenders that 'the bar is a stage.' She interviews each bartender to make sure they are professionals who can contribute to the energy and atmosphere of the place.
There's another important criteria for hiring bartenders: looks. 'It's very important for bartenders to look good,' she says. 'The men don't have to be muscular, but they should be fun and pleasant.'
Attention to detail
'If you're not willing to go into the small details, it won't work,' warns Marco.
Bar owners should understand that the smallest glitch in service or operation may affect the customer's willingness to return. If the lighting is too bright, the air conditioning too strong, the music too loud, the beer poured sloppily or the mojito not mixed right, customers will notice, even at the subconscious level. This means that bar owners or managers cannot spend the night sitting at the bar chatting with friends. They have to be behind the scenes, paying careful attention to staff and customers and making sure that everything runs smoothly.
The Shichors believe that for a bar to have a long shelf life rather than close after two years, it must offer an added value, something unique. When they opened Bugsy, they decided to offer a rich food menu open to customers at all hours. The owners of Temptation, who also see the importance of added value, offer homemade cocktails.
Heart and soul
Only someone who loves the business will survive the initial, difficult stages. If a place has a heart, it's because heart went into it.
'I see places in Tel Aviv that have a great location, music and look, yet they fail,' says Gershon. 'Then I see places that put in little money but have a lot of spirit. Spirit counts for a lot.'
Owning a bar, in any of its variations, is a 24-hour job. 'You have to dedicate yourself to it,' says Haya. 'It has to be your life.' Marco thinks luck wouldn't hurt, either. 'You need a little of it with everything in your life.'
(BOX #1) How to pass selection
Several bars and dance bars enforce strict selection, and rightly so. Often, people go to bars because they want to feel beautiful - or go home with someone beautiful. If sloppily dressed stragglers, youngsters or 'Mafia' types are allowed in, the atmosphere and mood can be killed in an instant. So while selection may seem like an annoyance, better not to fight it and learn to work with it - and eventually appreciate it.
Omer Gershon, director of marketing and PR at some of the hottest bars in the city, reveals the secrets of passing selection:
* Be as attractive as possible (especially women)
* Be a celebrity
* Be rich
* Dress really well
* Know the owners or managers
If you lack the above, the following might help:
* Always be polite to the selector and say 'Thank you.'
* Get noticed inside the bar for next time. Be nice to
bartenders and tip well.
How not to pass selection
* Argue with a selector
* As a guy, come with a group of guys. It reminds the selectors too much of the army.
* Say to the selector, 'Don't you know who I am?'
* Say to the selector, 'This is the last time you work in this town.'
Friday, November 3, 2006
Herzliya nights (listing)
Jerusalem Post, Billboard; November 3, 2006
The city which arguably comes second after Tel Aviv as a center for Israeli nightlife is Herzliya. In the past decade, Herzliya has grown to boast not only some of the best restaurants in the country, but also some of the most happening resto-bars, bar lounges, pubs and dance bars. On weekends the Herzliya industrial zone and its yacht marina is mobbed by partyers of all ages looking to eat, dance, and drink in this bar-hoppers paradise.
Below is a selection of recommended hot spots:
Douglas A new, crowded, and happening nightlife playground built with many corners and pathways. A huge bar goes the length of the club, surrounded by little lounge areas, tables, and lots of careless bouncing and grinding in the aisle. There are several VIP rooms for special parties. These are equipped with entertainment systems.Rehov Hasadnaot 4 (09) 950-6660
Dublin The Herzliya branch of this Irish pub chain attracts a mixed crowd - singles, students, families, groups of all ages - seeking an Irish, fun-loving party atmosphere. The design of this large space is impressive, with stain-glassed windows, rugs and chandeliers imported from the Emerald Isle. Rehov Shenkar 4, (09) 954-4889
Hattori Hanzo Named after the sword in Kill Bill, Hittori Hanzo is a fun-loving dance and pick-up bar designed in classic red and black leather, for ages 23 and up. Rehov Sapir 1, (09) 951-4045.
Inga One of the more sane alternatives in Herzliya, Inga is one of the pioneering bars there, having been founded over seven years ago. Nowadays it serves as a quiet, neighborhood pub for people over 25. Soft rock plays in the background to allow for intimate conversation, a quiet drink, and a break from the craziness of the Herzliya bustle. Rehov Galgaley HaPlada 16, (09) 951-1429.
John Gotti A modest bar designed in black and named after the 80s mobster, John Gotti attracts a younger crowd on weekdays and a student crowd on weekends. For those who want to feel like a teenager again.
Karpel A New York-style dance bar whose large center bar, shaped like an "S," is surrounded by partyers looking to get lucky. The steamy, pick-up vibe has made this a popular hangout for singles over 24. Rehov HaMenufim 9, (09) 954-1128.
Kuwan One of the more popular, Tel Aviv-style bars in the Herzliya industrial zone, Kuwan attracts an older, professional crowd. The design is classic and dark, with an upstairs gallery for groups and lounge areas around the main bar. Rehov Shenkar 16, (09) 955-1451.
Kyoto A favorite among the branja - celebrities, soccer players, and nouveau riche - looking to sip sake and munch on what is arguably the best sushi in Israel. It's designed by the famous Gadi Halperin to evoke a cross between a high-powered New York restaurant and a Japanese sushi bar.
Lavan Modeled after the Supper Bar of Amsterdam, this very chic and high-class-chef restaurant/lounge is the place for a romantic, chill night out with gourmet food and drink. The second floor features square, mattress lounge areas where couples and groups can recline, feel rich, and enjoy the attention of professional masseurs. Rehov Abba Eban 27, (09) 958-6080.
Murphy's Irish Public House Another invested Irish pub, this one located at the marina across from the yachts, it has a large outdoor terrace in the summer. Its relaxed and chill Irish atmosphere makes it a popular, clean-cut hangout for families, tourists, groups and couples. There's live music weekly. Rehov HaShunit 4, (09) 956- 9495.
Rio One of the most popular, stylish and exclusive dance bars in the area. Located off the marina, Rio is frequented by local celebrities, lots of pretty girls, and students from IDC. On any given night there is sure to be a lot of wild dancing, pumping music, playful flirting, and careless drinking. Arena Mall, (050) 725-0343.
Temple Bar Located in the Cinema City mall, Temple Bar is an ideal place to hang out after watching a movie. A sports bar-style outer corridor leads to a full-fledged Irish pub designed very neatly and carefully with imported Irish decor, secluded lounge areas and a VIP room. Live bands perform weekly, and lectures on liquor are given monthly. Cinema City, Glilot, (03) 699-5536.
The city which arguably comes second after Tel Aviv as a center for Israeli nightlife is Herzliya. In the past decade, Herzliya has grown to boast not only some of the best restaurants in the country, but also some of the most happening resto-bars, bar lounges, pubs and dance bars. On weekends the Herzliya industrial zone and its yacht marina is mobbed by partyers of all ages looking to eat, dance, and drink in this bar-hoppers paradise.
Below is a selection of recommended hot spots:
Douglas A new, crowded, and happening nightlife playground built with many corners and pathways. A huge bar goes the length of the club, surrounded by little lounge areas, tables, and lots of careless bouncing and grinding in the aisle. There are several VIP rooms for special parties. These are equipped with entertainment systems.Rehov Hasadnaot 4 (09) 950-6660
Dublin The Herzliya branch of this Irish pub chain attracts a mixed crowd - singles, students, families, groups of all ages - seeking an Irish, fun-loving party atmosphere. The design of this large space is impressive, with stain-glassed windows, rugs and chandeliers imported from the Emerald Isle. Rehov Shenkar 4, (09) 954-4889
Hattori Hanzo Named after the sword in Kill Bill, Hittori Hanzo is a fun-loving dance and pick-up bar designed in classic red and black leather, for ages 23 and up. Rehov Sapir 1, (09) 951-4045.
Inga One of the more sane alternatives in Herzliya, Inga is one of the pioneering bars there, having been founded over seven years ago. Nowadays it serves as a quiet, neighborhood pub for people over 25. Soft rock plays in the background to allow for intimate conversation, a quiet drink, and a break from the craziness of the Herzliya bustle. Rehov Galgaley HaPlada 16, (09) 951-1429.
John Gotti A modest bar designed in black and named after the 80s mobster, John Gotti attracts a younger crowd on weekdays and a student crowd on weekends. For those who want to feel like a teenager again.
Karpel A New York-style dance bar whose large center bar, shaped like an "S," is surrounded by partyers looking to get lucky. The steamy, pick-up vibe has made this a popular hangout for singles over 24. Rehov HaMenufim 9, (09) 954-1128.
Kuwan One of the more popular, Tel Aviv-style bars in the Herzliya industrial zone, Kuwan attracts an older, professional crowd. The design is classic and dark, with an upstairs gallery for groups and lounge areas around the main bar. Rehov Shenkar 16, (09) 955-1451.
Kyoto A favorite among the branja - celebrities, soccer players, and nouveau riche - looking to sip sake and munch on what is arguably the best sushi in Israel. It's designed by the famous Gadi Halperin to evoke a cross between a high-powered New York restaurant and a Japanese sushi bar.
Lavan Modeled after the Supper Bar of Amsterdam, this very chic and high-class-chef restaurant/lounge is the place for a romantic, chill night out with gourmet food and drink. The second floor features square, mattress lounge areas where couples and groups can recline, feel rich, and enjoy the attention of professional masseurs. Rehov Abba Eban 27, (09) 958-6080.
Murphy's Irish Public House Another invested Irish pub, this one located at the marina across from the yachts, it has a large outdoor terrace in the summer. Its relaxed and chill Irish atmosphere makes it a popular, clean-cut hangout for families, tourists, groups and couples. There's live music weekly. Rehov HaShunit 4, (09) 956- 9495.
Rio One of the most popular, stylish and exclusive dance bars in the area. Located off the marina, Rio is frequented by local celebrities, lots of pretty girls, and students from IDC. On any given night there is sure to be a lot of wild dancing, pumping music, playful flirting, and careless drinking. Arena Mall, (050) 725-0343.
Temple Bar Located in the Cinema City mall, Temple Bar is an ideal place to hang out after watching a movie. A sports bar-style outer corridor leads to a full-fledged Irish pub designed very neatly and carefully with imported Irish decor, secluded lounge areas and a VIP room. Live bands perform weekly, and lectures on liquor are given monthly. Cinema City, Glilot, (03) 699-5536.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Basketball as metaphor for disengagement
Jerusalem Post, Daily; October 24, 2006
In the new documentary 'Home Game,' Gush Katif's teenage athletes recall an unlikely basketball tournament staged in the final days before Israel's pullout from Gaza.
Elidad Schneid usually got nervous before major games of the Gush Katif inter-settlement basketball league. As a member of the Netzer Hazani team, the winner of most of the league's championship trophies, he should have been particularly nervous hours before the tournament final against Neve Dekalim. But he wasn't. He was too busy planning for another battle scheduled for the same day: the battle over his home.
Schneid is one of the few basketball players interviewed in Home Game, a new documentary following the struggle of the Netzer Hazani community to hold on to its Gaza Strip homes in the days before the fateful August 2005 implementation of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan.
"During summer vacation in Netzer, we [usually] only talked about basketball and the tournament," he explains in the film, looking back more than half a year after the disengagement. "Last [summer] was a totally different story. Basketball was much less on our minds."
At the time, however, the 19-year-old basketball player and his teammates decided to go on with the championship, seeing the tournament as one of their final anti-disengagement protests.
The film begins with uniformed Gush Katif teenagers bopping down the court with crowds of kids cheering them on. While the scene may strike some as an oddly cheerful opening for a film on such a controversial subject, the championship is ultimately used as a metaphor to examine the feelings of the teenagers as they battle - physically and spiritually - to preserve the community where many of them grew up. Home Game seeks to show that just as the Netzer Hazani basketball team played on the court, so they "played" in the struggle over their settlement: with tenacity, hope and determination.
"Everyone can understand sports - the desire to struggle, win and fight until the end, both on the player level and team level," explains Avi Abelow, the producer of the film.
He and the director, Yaron Shane, thought that focusing on basketball would draw viewers of a variety of political and religious shades into the human story of the settlers' drive to overturn the disengagement plan. "Many people around the world and in Israel, in part because of their political or religious orientations, did now allow themselves to empathize with what these people went through and experienced," Abelow said.
Abelow developed the idea for the film after taking a leave from his Tel Aviv consulting job to support the Gush Katif settlers. After infiltrating Netzer Hazani two weeks before the disengagement began, he used his digital camera to document what he hoped would not be the Gaza settlements' final days. Despite having no previous experience in the film industry, he assembled his footage to create a short film to help raise money for Gush Katif residents after their evacuation, offering donors a longer version as a bonus. This longer film eventually evolved into a full-fledged documentary.
Shane, an experienced director and producer with his own editing and film services company, didn't think Abelow had enough footage for a full feature, so he and the first-time director collected footage taken by Netzer Hazani families themselves.
The bulk of their filmmaking, he says, was actually done largely in post- production. The final product has been extracted from over 80 hours of film. Some of the included footage retains a home-made feel, but overall the filmmakers' editing gives Home Game a professional look.
"I said to myself, 'This is footage that everyone must see to get [the settlers'] story, their perspective of what they went through," says Abelow. "If viewers are allowed to focus on the people and human story, they could come out of the experience feeling a closer connection to the people and to understand their tragedy, regardless of whether they supported the disengagement plan or not. The film is about creating a connection and empathy for fellow Jews who feel forgotten by their people, not about changing their political opinion."
Home Game's insider footage includes teenagers painting the settlement in orange, the color associated with the anti- disengagement movement; a near violent encounter between young settlers and border police; the settlers' return of their weaponry to the IDF; emotional meetings in which settlers discuss painful decisions about how to prepare for their evacuation; the heart-wrenching day of the evacuation itself; and, of course, the final home game.
One of the central figures in the film, 19-year-old Einat Yefet, filmed her final days at Netzer Hazani as part of a deal with Channel 10. Scenes from her cinematic journal feature prominently in the movie. "It was important for me to document our struggle - what we've done, all of our creation," she explains in the film. "We feel that no one understands what we are going through."
When Yefet and her fellow residents were approached by Abelow and Shane to assist them with the film, she hesitated. But she ultimately decided to participate, she said, not only to influence others, but to begin a process of healing. She describes working on the film as a type of therapy.
"After the expulsion we tried to escape," she said. "Not only did you lose your home, but you feel scattered and confused. We had no direction, support or help. For youth who didn't know anything aside from Gush Katif, coping with it was very difficult. We went through a process of repression."
Working on the film wasn't easy, she says, with the project forcing her to confront difficult memories she had tried to block. But she persisted. "The first weeks of working on the film were terrible for me, and I cried all the time," she said. "It was like a very difficult surgery, but if I didn't perform it, it would have been very hard to continue."
Next month she'll embark on a trip to American Jewish communities to screen the film and raise funds for the Gush Katif community, many of whose members remain unemployed more than a year after the disengagement.
Shane, the film's director, says he feels confident that Home Game's youthful subjects are satisfied with the way their story is told. "The fact that they see the film as something that is their own is a compliment," he said.
Home Game has screened in more than 50 communities across Israel over the last few months, as well as in several cities abroad. The audiences are usually sympathetic to the Gaza settlers, but Gush Katif documentaries can be a tough sell - particularly to disengagement supporters and those not generally interested Israeli politics.
The film was shown to the mainstream Israeli press at a Tel Aviv screening last week. Abelow is working on getting the film shown at the country's cinematheques and film festivals, and says his ultimate goal is to get it shown on a major Israeli television network.
Home Game will next screen for high school and youth groups in Israel on November 5, a date chosen for its proximity to the anniversary of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. The hope, filmmakers says, is that the film will create tolerance between different sectors of Israel's population.
In the new documentary 'Home Game,' Gush Katif's teenage athletes recall an unlikely basketball tournament staged in the final days before Israel's pullout from Gaza.
Elidad Schneid usually got nervous before major games of the Gush Katif inter-settlement basketball league. As a member of the Netzer Hazani team, the winner of most of the league's championship trophies, he should have been particularly nervous hours before the tournament final against Neve Dekalim. But he wasn't. He was too busy planning for another battle scheduled for the same day: the battle over his home.
Schneid is one of the few basketball players interviewed in Home Game, a new documentary following the struggle of the Netzer Hazani community to hold on to its Gaza Strip homes in the days before the fateful August 2005 implementation of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan.
"During summer vacation in Netzer, we [usually] only talked about basketball and the tournament," he explains in the film, looking back more than half a year after the disengagement. "Last [summer] was a totally different story. Basketball was much less on our minds."
At the time, however, the 19-year-old basketball player and his teammates decided to go on with the championship, seeing the tournament as one of their final anti-disengagement protests.
The film begins with uniformed Gush Katif teenagers bopping down the court with crowds of kids cheering them on. While the scene may strike some as an oddly cheerful opening for a film on such a controversial subject, the championship is ultimately used as a metaphor to examine the feelings of the teenagers as they battle - physically and spiritually - to preserve the community where many of them grew up. Home Game seeks to show that just as the Netzer Hazani basketball team played on the court, so they "played" in the struggle over their settlement: with tenacity, hope and determination.
"Everyone can understand sports - the desire to struggle, win and fight until the end, both on the player level and team level," explains Avi Abelow, the producer of the film.
He and the director, Yaron Shane, thought that focusing on basketball would draw viewers of a variety of political and religious shades into the human story of the settlers' drive to overturn the disengagement plan. "Many people around the world and in Israel, in part because of their political or religious orientations, did now allow themselves to empathize with what these people went through and experienced," Abelow said.
Abelow developed the idea for the film after taking a leave from his Tel Aviv consulting job to support the Gush Katif settlers. After infiltrating Netzer Hazani two weeks before the disengagement began, he used his digital camera to document what he hoped would not be the Gaza settlements' final days. Despite having no previous experience in the film industry, he assembled his footage to create a short film to help raise money for Gush Katif residents after their evacuation, offering donors a longer version as a bonus. This longer film eventually evolved into a full-fledged documentary.
Shane, an experienced director and producer with his own editing and film services company, didn't think Abelow had enough footage for a full feature, so he and the first-time director collected footage taken by Netzer Hazani families themselves.
The bulk of their filmmaking, he says, was actually done largely in post- production. The final product has been extracted from over 80 hours of film. Some of the included footage retains a home-made feel, but overall the filmmakers' editing gives Home Game a professional look.
"I said to myself, 'This is footage that everyone must see to get [the settlers'] story, their perspective of what they went through," says Abelow. "If viewers are allowed to focus on the people and human story, they could come out of the experience feeling a closer connection to the people and to understand their tragedy, regardless of whether they supported the disengagement plan or not. The film is about creating a connection and empathy for fellow Jews who feel forgotten by their people, not about changing their political opinion."
Home Game's insider footage includes teenagers painting the settlement in orange, the color associated with the anti- disengagement movement; a near violent encounter between young settlers and border police; the settlers' return of their weaponry to the IDF; emotional meetings in which settlers discuss painful decisions about how to prepare for their evacuation; the heart-wrenching day of the evacuation itself; and, of course, the final home game.
One of the central figures in the film, 19-year-old Einat Yefet, filmed her final days at Netzer Hazani as part of a deal with Channel 10. Scenes from her cinematic journal feature prominently in the movie. "It was important for me to document our struggle - what we've done, all of our creation," she explains in the film. "We feel that no one understands what we are going through."
When Yefet and her fellow residents were approached by Abelow and Shane to assist them with the film, she hesitated. But she ultimately decided to participate, she said, not only to influence others, but to begin a process of healing. She describes working on the film as a type of therapy.
"After the expulsion we tried to escape," she said. "Not only did you lose your home, but you feel scattered and confused. We had no direction, support or help. For youth who didn't know anything aside from Gush Katif, coping with it was very difficult. We went through a process of repression."
Working on the film wasn't easy, she says, with the project forcing her to confront difficult memories she had tried to block. But she persisted. "The first weeks of working on the film were terrible for me, and I cried all the time," she said. "It was like a very difficult surgery, but if I didn't perform it, it would have been very hard to continue."
Next month she'll embark on a trip to American Jewish communities to screen the film and raise funds for the Gush Katif community, many of whose members remain unemployed more than a year after the disengagement.
Shane, the film's director, says he feels confident that Home Game's youthful subjects are satisfied with the way their story is told. "The fact that they see the film as something that is their own is a compliment," he said.
Home Game has screened in more than 50 communities across Israel over the last few months, as well as in several cities abroad. The audiences are usually sympathetic to the Gaza settlers, but Gush Katif documentaries can be a tough sell - particularly to disengagement supporters and those not generally interested Israeli politics.
The film was shown to the mainstream Israeli press at a Tel Aviv screening last week. Abelow is working on getting the film shown at the country's cinematheques and film festivals, and says his ultimate goal is to get it shown on a major Israeli television network.
Home Game will next screen for high school and youth groups in Israel on November 5, a date chosen for its proximity to the anniversary of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. The hope, filmmakers says, is that the film will create tolerance between different sectors of Israel's population.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Party in the valley (listing)
Jerusalem Post, Billboard; October 20, 2006
During the past year Emek Hefer, the rural valley sandwiched between Netanya and Hadera, has planted the seeds for a steadily growing nightlife. It used to be that residents of villages, farms and kibbutzim in the area had to travel to Herzliya or Tel Aviv to experience the glamorous pubs and dance bars. Not anymore.
The sprouting nightlife reflects a changing demographic profile in Emek Hefer, which is slowly becoming a nouveau college town. The villages have become attractive places to live for many students and young professionals. Colleges in the area, such as Ruppin College and Netanya College, have created a market of potential partyers seeking quality nightlife establishments rather than kibbutz cafes or pubs.
The following is a partial listing for adventurers who want to break out of Tel Aviv and see how Sabras party in the little cities.
Ha'ogen Under the slogan "Because every Friday you need to fall apart!" Alcoholic productions presents a happening party every Friday for students over 23. Music: hip-hop. Dance: Israeli. Kibbutz Ha'ogen, Info: 0523-753800
Inigo Montoya When Inigo Montoya opened last year, a nightlife monsoon hit the valley. Inigo's pumping music, well-dressed folk, exclusivity and hot bartenders make it the most Tel Aviv-style dance bar in the valley. It's not the place to go for a quiet night but to party with the "in" crowd. Em Haderech Mall; Yonnai Junction; open daily from 9 p.m.; Tel: 0528-697824
Lechet A pioneering nightlife institution in Emek Hefer, Lechet is one of the most popular weekend spots for soldiers. It's in Kfar Vitkin and is open Friday and Saturday nights. Music: hip-hop, alternative, mainstream. Tel: 0543-955539
Muze The first mega-bar in the area, Muze is probably the most ambitious. Half a million dollars was invested to turn this former hangar in Emek Hefer into a world-class establishment. With 90 stools, it's arguably one of the largest bars in Israel, maybe even larger than Tel Aviv's Lanski, although it has yet to reach the prestigious Tel Aviv club's status. Emek Hefer Industrial Zone, Tuesday- Saturday from 9 p.m.; Tel: 0509-339879
Natasha Once busy as a weekend dance bar for students and soldiers, Natasha is now the prime locale for "organic" parties. Among the more "natural" and "rustic" of all the nightlife options, these parties are "non-toxic." No smoking is allowed on the dance floor, and tea and natural foods are served on the patio. People of all ages can "come as you are" to dance to world music and golden oldies. It's at the entrance to Kfar Haim and opens every other Saturday night. Tel: 0507-958676
Selfa As one of the first dance bars in Emek Hefer, Selfa was among those that started the pub disco ball rolling. Located right next to Muze in a secluded industrial zone, Selfa consists of a rectangular bar and lounge area with leather sofas. Despite its classic design, Selfa still has a village appeal. On almost any given night, locals 23 and over are likely to bump into old friends. Emek Hefer Industrial Zone; Tuesday-Saturday from 9 p.m. Tel: 0525-400482
Vasco Only a few months old, Vasco is a little darker and more subdued than some other establishments, although the design is standard, with a rectangular bar and a wall lined with sofas. What distinguishes it is an outdoor patio overlooking the valley. Its location, deep within a small mall in Emek Hefer, means that only people "in the know" go there, usually students and an older, professional crowd. Ha'ogen Junction. Open daily from 9 p.m. Tel: 0544-84564
Valery Located across the way from Inigo Montoya, Valery is arguably the most elegant restaurant/bar in the area. The place feels like a bistro during the day and a dance bar at night, when it gets busy with younger folk. It gets really busy on weekends, with DJs spinning freestyle, and is a convenient alternative for those who can't get into Inigo Montoya. Emek Haderech Mall; Yonnai Junction. Open daily from 12 p.m. Tel: (09) 866-6720
Zuf "on the water" is a unique outdoor club near a stream and forest in Kfar Vitkin, equipped with swimming pools and a small camping site (for late-night, drunk revelers). Geared mostly for soldiers, Zuf is popular nationwide, particularly for its warm, personal treatment. The catchy website says it all: www.zuf.co.il
During the past year Emek Hefer, the rural valley sandwiched between Netanya and Hadera, has planted the seeds for a steadily growing nightlife. It used to be that residents of villages, farms and kibbutzim in the area had to travel to Herzliya or Tel Aviv to experience the glamorous pubs and dance bars. Not anymore.
The sprouting nightlife reflects a changing demographic profile in Emek Hefer, which is slowly becoming a nouveau college town. The villages have become attractive places to live for many students and young professionals. Colleges in the area, such as Ruppin College and Netanya College, have created a market of potential partyers seeking quality nightlife establishments rather than kibbutz cafes or pubs.
The following is a partial listing for adventurers who want to break out of Tel Aviv and see how Sabras party in the little cities.
Ha'ogen Under the slogan "Because every Friday you need to fall apart!" Alcoholic productions presents a happening party every Friday for students over 23. Music: hip-hop. Dance: Israeli. Kibbutz Ha'ogen, Info: 0523-753800
Inigo Montoya When Inigo Montoya opened last year, a nightlife monsoon hit the valley. Inigo's pumping music, well-dressed folk, exclusivity and hot bartenders make it the most Tel Aviv-style dance bar in the valley. It's not the place to go for a quiet night but to party with the "in" crowd. Em Haderech Mall; Yonnai Junction; open daily from 9 p.m.; Tel: 0528-697824
Lechet A pioneering nightlife institution in Emek Hefer, Lechet is one of the most popular weekend spots for soldiers. It's in Kfar Vitkin and is open Friday and Saturday nights. Music: hip-hop, alternative, mainstream. Tel: 0543-955539
Muze The first mega-bar in the area, Muze is probably the most ambitious. Half a million dollars was invested to turn this former hangar in Emek Hefer into a world-class establishment. With 90 stools, it's arguably one of the largest bars in Israel, maybe even larger than Tel Aviv's Lanski, although it has yet to reach the prestigious Tel Aviv club's status. Emek Hefer Industrial Zone, Tuesday- Saturday from 9 p.m.; Tel: 0509-339879
Natasha Once busy as a weekend dance bar for students and soldiers, Natasha is now the prime locale for "organic" parties. Among the more "natural" and "rustic" of all the nightlife options, these parties are "non-toxic." No smoking is allowed on the dance floor, and tea and natural foods are served on the patio. People of all ages can "come as you are" to dance to world music and golden oldies. It's at the entrance to Kfar Haim and opens every other Saturday night. Tel: 0507-958676
Selfa As one of the first dance bars in Emek Hefer, Selfa was among those that started the pub disco ball rolling. Located right next to Muze in a secluded industrial zone, Selfa consists of a rectangular bar and lounge area with leather sofas. Despite its classic design, Selfa still has a village appeal. On almost any given night, locals 23 and over are likely to bump into old friends. Emek Hefer Industrial Zone; Tuesday-Saturday from 9 p.m. Tel: 0525-400482
Vasco Only a few months old, Vasco is a little darker and more subdued than some other establishments, although the design is standard, with a rectangular bar and a wall lined with sofas. What distinguishes it is an outdoor patio overlooking the valley. Its location, deep within a small mall in Emek Hefer, means that only people "in the know" go there, usually students and an older, professional crowd. Ha'ogen Junction. Open daily from 9 p.m. Tel: 0544-84564
Valery Located across the way from Inigo Montoya, Valery is arguably the most elegant restaurant/bar in the area. The place feels like a bistro during the day and a dance bar at night, when it gets busy with younger folk. It gets really busy on weekends, with DJs spinning freestyle, and is a convenient alternative for those who can't get into Inigo Montoya. Emek Haderech Mall; Yonnai Junction. Open daily from 12 p.m. Tel: (09) 866-6720
Zuf "on the water" is a unique outdoor club near a stream and forest in Kfar Vitkin, equipped with swimming pools and a small camping site (for late-night, drunk revelers). Geared mostly for soldiers, Zuf is popular nationwide, particularly for its warm, personal treatment. The catchy website says it all: www.zuf.co.il
Jewish learning on the rise in Tel Aviv
Jerusalem Post, Metro; October 20, 2006
Over the last decade, centers for Jewish study have been growing and thriving.
A day before Succot, a bunch of 18-year-old girls and boys sat on a lawn under the trees in south Tel Aviv to study Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), the book traditionally read on Succot. They had started the class inside a makeshift classroom at the Shapira community center, the temporary campus of the new Secular Yeshiva in Tel Aviv but moved outside to enjoy the inspiration of the fresh air.
The teacher was commenting on the nature of happiness as described in Ecclesiastes through a look at excerpts from such thinkers as John Stuart Mill and Ahad Ha'am. Students were engaged in unraveling the wisdom wedded in the Jewish canon.
The idyllic scene of Israelis studying Torah may seem out of place in Tel Aviv. The urban center of Israel is known more for its industry, entertainment, culture, bars and restaurants than for its yeshivas and synagogues. But in the last decade, centers for Jewish learning have been growing and thriving in Tel Aviv. That Tel Aviv is one of the most secular cities in Israel has actually made it an experimental and fertile ground for Jewish outreach and education.
"I think Tel Aviv is the capital of secularism because it's also juxtaposed against Jerusalem," explains Benjy Maor, director of resource and development of the Secular Yeshiva. "We decided to establish a secular yeshiva in Tel Aviv for that reason. If you create a framework that's relevant for secular Israelis, you have to do it in the heart of where it is."
The Secular Yeshiva, a project of the Bina Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture, aims to give young secular Israelis the opportunity to study Jewish texts from a humanistic perspective. Many of the participants, who come from all over Israel, weave their yeshiva studies into their pre-army or post-army track. The curriculum combines community service in the Shapira community, among the poorer in Tel Aviv, as part of the program's emphasis on social action.
Maor, who made aliya 23 years ago from Los Angeles, has observed how young secular Israelis are often alienated from Jewish sources. He attributes this, in part, to their inability to see Judaism's relevance to their lives and values. Many of the students come into the secular yeshiva program associating Judaism with stringent Orthodox practice or politicized religion, with a general aversion to both.
Maor notices an upward trend in pluralistic Jewish learning throughout Tel Aviv. "Relative to 10 years ago, there's no question that if you look across Tel Aviv from south to north, Jewish pluralism is on the map. There are activities of all kinds."
The Secular Yeshiva is refurbishing its new campus in a building donated by the city, which has expressed support for the project. The city subsidizes its own center for Jewish culture at a state-of-the-art building located off Ibn Gabirol on Zeitlin Street. The Brodt Center, built three years ago, conducts programs, activities and courses for non-affiliated Tel Avivians. Its goal is to connect Tel Aviv residents to their heritage and roots through contemporary Jewish culture. The city's active involvement in Jewish learning reflects the growth of interest in the city, says Shira Sivan, director of the center.
"When you do things that are fitting for a young, non-religious crowd, there is demand."
One of the pioneers of the revival of interest in Jewish sources among secular Tel Avivians is Ruth Calderon. While she bears no formal affiliation to the Secular Yeshiva, she regards it as a welcome participant in the same endeavor as the educational institute, Alma, which she founded 10 years ago. Alma is a "center for Hebrew culture" where "Hebrew" does not refer to the language but to the integration of Judaism and modernity.
"I think we should redefine 'secular,'" says Calderon, an active figure in Jewish education throughout Israel. "Tel Aviv non-rabbinic Jews respect culture very much; when we offer them an entrance into Judaism as scholarship or classic narrative culture instead of halacha, it is surprising how much hunger and openness you can find in Tel Aviv."
Calderon grew up in a "very Jewish" secular home, but when she sought to study classic Jewish texts and spirituality, she had trouble finding a non-affiliated educational framework in Tel Aviv. Alma is the culmination of her vision to create what she felt was missing in the city.
"Alma was founded in the hopes of building a home for Hebrew culture - a center of study, ritual, celebration of the Jewish calendar for the non-affiliated majority in Israel and the world."
Located just off Sderot Rothschild, Alma has expanded its activities to include Haifa and has established Alma New York. Alma Tel Aviv offers full and part-time tracks that combine the study of Bible and Talmud with literature, poetry, philosophy and the arts.
Calderon believes the time is ripe for Tel Aviv to live up to its potential as the "Hebrew city" envisioned by Tel Aviv's cultural founding fathers, Ahad Ha'am, Joseph Haim Brenner, and Chaim Nachman Bialik. While Judaism is often not expressed through halachic observance in Tel Aviv, Shabbat and holidays remain "different" from the rest of the week, and the special Je wish atmosphere is present in the many expressions of Hebrew culture in the city. True Hebrew culture, however, co mes from the meeting bet ween the creative arts and Jewish sources.
"Our vision at Alma is to become a meeting place between the talented creators of culture in Israel and the wonderful heritage that belongs to them, to which they were never really introduced." To facilitate this meeting, Alma has tailored a beit midrash program for television script writers and musicians.
While institutes such as Alma and the Secular Yeshiva are providing Jewish learning pathways for secular Israelis who would automatically reject Jewish learning in an Orthodox framework, Jewish learning from a traditional and halachic perspective has also been making headway in the city.
Rosh Yehudi, whose headquarters is off Rehov Bogroshav, is geared toward individual secular Tel Avivians seeking meaningful spiritual outlets. Its sign reads "Center for Self-Awareness."
"I couldn't stand the idea that in the center of culture in Israel there didn't exist the most 'banal,' true, simple alternative, which is the true culture of Am Israel, the culture of the Torah: Judaism," explains Israel Zeira, who founded Rosh Yehudi 10 years ago. "In Tel Aviv we have all the cultures, all the avodot zorot (idolatries) in the world - everything you want, but no Judaism."
Like Calderon, Zeira is concerned that gatekeepers of culture are often disconnected from their Jewish identity and texts. "When you go to Tel Aviv you see that all creative Israeliness happens here - journalism, communications, television. It's amazing that the city that creates Israeli culture lacks Jewish identity."
In its early days, Rosh Yehudi's staff had to stand outside and recruit passers-by for a minyan or weekly class. Today, the classroom is packed every week with men and women ranging from ages 20-50, wearing shorts, jeans and tank tops, who come to listen to the weekly Torah portion, biblical commentary and traditional Jewish sources on happiness and the meaning of life. While its orientation is Orthodox, there is no political agenda or religious coercion. People are encouraged to come, wearing and asking whatever they want.
"It's clear that no one likes to be forced into something they don't understand. Man is a free person, and freedom is a very important virtue in the Torah," says Zeira.
Rosh Yehudi recently expanded and refurbished an old synagogue on Bar Kochva. The synagogue had not been used for years, but a crew of volunteers worked hard to get it cleaned up in time for the High Holidays. All its seats were filled on Yom Kippur.
The growth of traffic in the classroom and synagogue rivals the growth of interest on the Internet. In the "Ask the rabbi" section, more and more people turn to Jewish wisdom on a variety of topics. But Zeira sees this growing interest as an outgrowth of increasing dissatisfaction with nihilist or hedonistic secular culture.
"In the past few years there has been more interest perhaps because the public is coming to the conclusion that there are no real answers to life and that life has lost its zohar and beauty. People are looking for hope, light, direction. And there is no direction."
Community-geared yeshivas with a religious Zionist orientation have sprung up across the city to heal the divide between Judaism and mainstream secular Israelis. Their approach is to situate themselves within a certain community and create a significant, traditional Jewish presence.
Across the street from the temporary grounds of the Secular Yeshiva (which is building its permanent home nearby) is Yeshivat Orot Aviv. Founded six years ago in the Shapira community, it has a non-secular orientation, teaching Torah Judaism not as Hebrew culture but as an integral way of life. Identified with the religious Zionist camp, it combines full-time traditional yeshiva learning and community programs. "Seed families" with husbands who study there, live among the residents to infuse traditional Jewish life into south Tel Aviv.
"It's important for them that there are religious families in Tel Aviv," says Merav Monsonego, who runs the office.
The yeshiva is situated in an old synagogue that used to serve a once-active Jewish community in the area. During Succot, the yeshiva organized events for kids in and around the succa. On Simchat Torah they walked around the entire city with a Sefer Torah to raise the holiday spirits of the secular city. During the week they run weekly classes for women, as well as bar-mitzva training for boys.
"We try to make an atmosphere of Judaism in the community," says Monsonego. "Ha'rav Mishael Cohen, the rosh yeshiva, conceived of this idea. He understood that for Am Yisrael to be connected to Torah, the religious communities can't live isolated from the rest of Israel. Tel Aviv is the heart of Israel."
Yeshivat Ma'ale Eliyahu, located behind Ichilov Hospital, is a yeshiva of higher learning also affiliated with the religious Zionist community. It runs programs and events open to the public to infuse Jewish learning and identity into the city through an approach that applauds and adheres to Jewish law.
Rav Uri Sherki, who teaches Bible at Rosh Yehudi, has high hopes for Tel Aviv: "It is the most spiritual of cities because here they are searching. They could reach a great high or low - but they are in a search. The search is always a safe ground for spiritual ascension."
(BOX #1) How Jewish are they at Jewish Princess?
In Israel, only a bar in Tel Aviv would have a wall relief designed with laser cutouts of Kama Sutra positions. Only a bar in Tel Aviv with such a wall relief would call itself "Jewish Princess."
While not necessarily the intention of the owners, the satirical name represents the playful disdain often associated with Tel Aviv and Judaism. To discover whether or not this stereotypical aversion to Judaism exists in Tel Aviv, Metro met with a few bargoers at Jewish Princess on a busy Thursday night to find out the extent of their connection to Judaism.
Limor, 32, embraced her Jewish identity more in the US than she did in Tel Aviv. "In New York they respect it more. Here it's taken for granted, and you don't have to deal with questions about Jewish identity."
Assaf, 32 from Givatayim, was proud to say, "I'm a Jew." Barak, having a beer next to him, was much more positive toward Judaism and religious people. "When I'm around religious people, I respect them as I do all religions." He argues that Tel Aviv is more religiously tolerant than people give it credit for - it goes along with the do-whatever-makes-you-happy ethos.
Hadas, 31, who lives in Tel Aviv, finds value in Judaism, although she doesn't actively practice. "I'm a Jew and I believe in God. It expresses itself in everything I do. I always ask if what I do is okay." But she doesn't see any proclivity of Tel Avivians to Judaism. In fact, she sees the opposite - a mocking, purposeful desecration - that's what Tel Aviv is for, she says.
Yair, the son of parents who left the haredi fold, represents one of the more extreme anti-Jewish attitudes. "Judaism is not relevant," he says. "I'm a human being. In the Diaspora, Judaism has a different meaning. Here we are the Jewish state. I don't feel a need to be Jewish."
Among those interviewed, there was one woman studying Judaism at the Kabbalah Center, attracted to the mixture of Judaism and mysticism. "It's in my language," she said. She thinks more Tel Avivians should embrace Judaism as a path to spirituality.
Guy, her friend, said, "I fought in Lebanon. That's the most Jewish I can get."
(BOX #2) Where to go
The following is a partial list of institutions with non- academic Jewish education programs and activities in the Tel Aviv area:
Alma College
4 Bezalel Yafe
(03) 566-3031
www.alma.org.il
Beit Daniel, the Center for Progressive Judaism
Bnei Dan St.
(03) 544-2740
Bina Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture
1 Hayasmin, Ramat Efal
(03) 534-2513/2997
www.bina.org.il
Brodt Center for Jewish Heritage Studies
22 Zeitlin
(03) 695-4522
The Kabbalah Center
14 Ben-Ami
(03) 526-6800
www.kabbalah.co.il
Machon Shorashim
(haredi)
13 Feierberg
(03) 560-3243
Midreshet Aviv
(for women)
(03) 609-2229
www.midreshetaviv.co.il
Rosh Yehudi
45 Bograshov
Tel/Fax: (03) 525-5355
www.rosh-yehudi.co.il
Yeshivat Aviv Hatorah
1 Binyamini
(Nahlat Yitzhak)
(050) 8736454
Yeshivat Ma'ale Eliyahu
(03) 695-9917
www.yeshivatelaviv.org.il
Yeshivat Orot Aviv
23 Rabbi Yisrael Misalant, Shapira
(03) 697-8936
(050) 8822088
orotaviv@gmail.com
Over the last decade, centers for Jewish study have been growing and thriving.
A day before Succot, a bunch of 18-year-old girls and boys sat on a lawn under the trees in south Tel Aviv to study Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), the book traditionally read on Succot. They had started the class inside a makeshift classroom at the Shapira community center, the temporary campus of the new Secular Yeshiva in Tel Aviv but moved outside to enjoy the inspiration of the fresh air.
The teacher was commenting on the nature of happiness as described in Ecclesiastes through a look at excerpts from such thinkers as John Stuart Mill and Ahad Ha'am. Students were engaged in unraveling the wisdom wedded in the Jewish canon.
The idyllic scene of Israelis studying Torah may seem out of place in Tel Aviv. The urban center of Israel is known more for its industry, entertainment, culture, bars and restaurants than for its yeshivas and synagogues. But in the last decade, centers for Jewish learning have been growing and thriving in Tel Aviv. That Tel Aviv is one of the most secular cities in Israel has actually made it an experimental and fertile ground for Jewish outreach and education.
"I think Tel Aviv is the capital of secularism because it's also juxtaposed against Jerusalem," explains Benjy Maor, director of resource and development of the Secular Yeshiva. "We decided to establish a secular yeshiva in Tel Aviv for that reason. If you create a framework that's relevant for secular Israelis, you have to do it in the heart of where it is."
The Secular Yeshiva, a project of the Bina Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture, aims to give young secular Israelis the opportunity to study Jewish texts from a humanistic perspective. Many of the participants, who come from all over Israel, weave their yeshiva studies into their pre-army or post-army track. The curriculum combines community service in the Shapira community, among the poorer in Tel Aviv, as part of the program's emphasis on social action.
Maor, who made aliya 23 years ago from Los Angeles, has observed how young secular Israelis are often alienated from Jewish sources. He attributes this, in part, to their inability to see Judaism's relevance to their lives and values. Many of the students come into the secular yeshiva program associating Judaism with stringent Orthodox practice or politicized religion, with a general aversion to both.
Maor notices an upward trend in pluralistic Jewish learning throughout Tel Aviv. "Relative to 10 years ago, there's no question that if you look across Tel Aviv from south to north, Jewish pluralism is on the map. There are activities of all kinds."
The Secular Yeshiva is refurbishing its new campus in a building donated by the city, which has expressed support for the project. The city subsidizes its own center for Jewish culture at a state-of-the-art building located off Ibn Gabirol on Zeitlin Street. The Brodt Center, built three years ago, conducts programs, activities and courses for non-affiliated Tel Avivians. Its goal is to connect Tel Aviv residents to their heritage and roots through contemporary Jewish culture. The city's active involvement in Jewish learning reflects the growth of interest in the city, says Shira Sivan, director of the center.
"When you do things that are fitting for a young, non-religious crowd, there is demand."
One of the pioneers of the revival of interest in Jewish sources among secular Tel Avivians is Ruth Calderon. While she bears no formal affiliation to the Secular Yeshiva, she regards it as a welcome participant in the same endeavor as the educational institute, Alma, which she founded 10 years ago. Alma is a "center for Hebrew culture" where "Hebrew" does not refer to the language but to the integration of Judaism and modernity.
"I think we should redefine 'secular,'" says Calderon, an active figure in Jewish education throughout Israel. "Tel Aviv non-rabbinic Jews respect culture very much; when we offer them an entrance into Judaism as scholarship or classic narrative culture instead of halacha, it is surprising how much hunger and openness you can find in Tel Aviv."
Calderon grew up in a "very Jewish" secular home, but when she sought to study classic Jewish texts and spirituality, she had trouble finding a non-affiliated educational framework in Tel Aviv. Alma is the culmination of her vision to create what she felt was missing in the city.
"Alma was founded in the hopes of building a home for Hebrew culture - a center of study, ritual, celebration of the Jewish calendar for the non-affiliated majority in Israel and the world."
Located just off Sderot Rothschild, Alma has expanded its activities to include Haifa and has established Alma New York. Alma Tel Aviv offers full and part-time tracks that combine the study of Bible and Talmud with literature, poetry, philosophy and the arts.
Calderon believes the time is ripe for Tel Aviv to live up to its potential as the "Hebrew city" envisioned by Tel Aviv's cultural founding fathers, Ahad Ha'am, Joseph Haim Brenner, and Chaim Nachman Bialik. While Judaism is often not expressed through halachic observance in Tel Aviv, Shabbat and holidays remain "different" from the rest of the week, and the special Je wish atmosphere is present in the many expressions of Hebrew culture in the city. True Hebrew culture, however, co mes from the meeting bet ween the creative arts and Jewish sources.
"Our vision at Alma is to become a meeting place between the talented creators of culture in Israel and the wonderful heritage that belongs to them, to which they were never really introduced." To facilitate this meeting, Alma has tailored a beit midrash program for television script writers and musicians.
While institutes such as Alma and the Secular Yeshiva are providing Jewish learning pathways for secular Israelis who would automatically reject Jewish learning in an Orthodox framework, Jewish learning from a traditional and halachic perspective has also been making headway in the city.
Rosh Yehudi, whose headquarters is off Rehov Bogroshav, is geared toward individual secular Tel Avivians seeking meaningful spiritual outlets. Its sign reads "Center for Self-Awareness."
"I couldn't stand the idea that in the center of culture in Israel there didn't exist the most 'banal,' true, simple alternative, which is the true culture of Am Israel, the culture of the Torah: Judaism," explains Israel Zeira, who founded Rosh Yehudi 10 years ago. "In Tel Aviv we have all the cultures, all the avodot zorot (idolatries) in the world - everything you want, but no Judaism."
Like Calderon, Zeira is concerned that gatekeepers of culture are often disconnected from their Jewish identity and texts. "When you go to Tel Aviv you see that all creative Israeliness happens here - journalism, communications, television. It's amazing that the city that creates Israeli culture lacks Jewish identity."
In its early days, Rosh Yehudi's staff had to stand outside and recruit passers-by for a minyan or weekly class. Today, the classroom is packed every week with men and women ranging from ages 20-50, wearing shorts, jeans and tank tops, who come to listen to the weekly Torah portion, biblical commentary and traditional Jewish sources on happiness and the meaning of life. While its orientation is Orthodox, there is no political agenda or religious coercion. People are encouraged to come, wearing and asking whatever they want.
"It's clear that no one likes to be forced into something they don't understand. Man is a free person, and freedom is a very important virtue in the Torah," says Zeira.
Rosh Yehudi recently expanded and refurbished an old synagogue on Bar Kochva. The synagogue had not been used for years, but a crew of volunteers worked hard to get it cleaned up in time for the High Holidays. All its seats were filled on Yom Kippur.
The growth of traffic in the classroom and synagogue rivals the growth of interest on the Internet. In the "Ask the rabbi" section, more and more people turn to Jewish wisdom on a variety of topics. But Zeira sees this growing interest as an outgrowth of increasing dissatisfaction with nihilist or hedonistic secular culture.
"In the past few years there has been more interest perhaps because the public is coming to the conclusion that there are no real answers to life and that life has lost its zohar and beauty. People are looking for hope, light, direction. And there is no direction."
Community-geared yeshivas with a religious Zionist orientation have sprung up across the city to heal the divide between Judaism and mainstream secular Israelis. Their approach is to situate themselves within a certain community and create a significant, traditional Jewish presence.
Across the street from the temporary grounds of the Secular Yeshiva (which is building its permanent home nearby) is Yeshivat Orot Aviv. Founded six years ago in the Shapira community, it has a non-secular orientation, teaching Torah Judaism not as Hebrew culture but as an integral way of life. Identified with the religious Zionist camp, it combines full-time traditional yeshiva learning and community programs. "Seed families" with husbands who study there, live among the residents to infuse traditional Jewish life into south Tel Aviv.
"It's important for them that there are religious families in Tel Aviv," says Merav Monsonego, who runs the office.
The yeshiva is situated in an old synagogue that used to serve a once-active Jewish community in the area. During Succot, the yeshiva organized events for kids in and around the succa. On Simchat Torah they walked around the entire city with a Sefer Torah to raise the holiday spirits of the secular city. During the week they run weekly classes for women, as well as bar-mitzva training for boys.
"We try to make an atmosphere of Judaism in the community," says Monsonego. "Ha'rav Mishael Cohen, the rosh yeshiva, conceived of this idea. He understood that for Am Yisrael to be connected to Torah, the religious communities can't live isolated from the rest of Israel. Tel Aviv is the heart of Israel."
Yeshivat Ma'ale Eliyahu, located behind Ichilov Hospital, is a yeshiva of higher learning also affiliated with the religious Zionist community. It runs programs and events open to the public to infuse Jewish learning and identity into the city through an approach that applauds and adheres to Jewish law.
Rav Uri Sherki, who teaches Bible at Rosh Yehudi, has high hopes for Tel Aviv: "It is the most spiritual of cities because here they are searching. They could reach a great high or low - but they are in a search. The search is always a safe ground for spiritual ascension."
(BOX #1) How Jewish are they at Jewish Princess?
In Israel, only a bar in Tel Aviv would have a wall relief designed with laser cutouts of Kama Sutra positions. Only a bar in Tel Aviv with such a wall relief would call itself "Jewish Princess."
While not necessarily the intention of the owners, the satirical name represents the playful disdain often associated with Tel Aviv and Judaism. To discover whether or not this stereotypical aversion to Judaism exists in Tel Aviv, Metro met with a few bargoers at Jewish Princess on a busy Thursday night to find out the extent of their connection to Judaism.
Limor, 32, embraced her Jewish identity more in the US than she did in Tel Aviv. "In New York they respect it more. Here it's taken for granted, and you don't have to deal with questions about Jewish identity."
Assaf, 32 from Givatayim, was proud to say, "I'm a Jew." Barak, having a beer next to him, was much more positive toward Judaism and religious people. "When I'm around religious people, I respect them as I do all religions." He argues that Tel Aviv is more religiously tolerant than people give it credit for - it goes along with the do-whatever-makes-you-happy ethos.
Hadas, 31, who lives in Tel Aviv, finds value in Judaism, although she doesn't actively practice. "I'm a Jew and I believe in God. It expresses itself in everything I do. I always ask if what I do is okay." But she doesn't see any proclivity of Tel Avivians to Judaism. In fact, she sees the opposite - a mocking, purposeful desecration - that's what Tel Aviv is for, she says.
Yair, the son of parents who left the haredi fold, represents one of the more extreme anti-Jewish attitudes. "Judaism is not relevant," he says. "I'm a human being. In the Diaspora, Judaism has a different meaning. Here we are the Jewish state. I don't feel a need to be Jewish."
Among those interviewed, there was one woman studying Judaism at the Kabbalah Center, attracted to the mixture of Judaism and mysticism. "It's in my language," she said. She thinks more Tel Avivians should embrace Judaism as a path to spirituality.
Guy, her friend, said, "I fought in Lebanon. That's the most Jewish I can get."
(BOX #2) Where to go
The following is a partial list of institutions with non- academic Jewish education programs and activities in the Tel Aviv area:
Alma College
4 Bezalel Yafe
(03) 566-3031
www.alma.org.il
Beit Daniel, the Center for Progressive Judaism
Bnei Dan St.
(03) 544-2740
Bina Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture
1 Hayasmin, Ramat Efal
(03) 534-2513/2997
www.bina.org.il
Brodt Center for Jewish Heritage Studies
22 Zeitlin
(03) 695-4522
The Kabbalah Center
14 Ben-Ami
(03) 526-6800
www.kabbalah.co.il
Machon Shorashim
(haredi)
13 Feierberg
(03) 560-3243
Midreshet Aviv
(for women)
(03) 609-2229
www.midreshetaviv.co.il
Rosh Yehudi
45 Bograshov
Tel/Fax: (03) 525-5355
www.rosh-yehudi.co.il
Yeshivat Aviv Hatorah
1 Binyamini
(Nahlat Yitzhak)
(050) 8736454
Yeshivat Ma'ale Eliyahu
(03) 695-9917
www.yeshivatelaviv.org.il
Yeshivat Orot Aviv
23 Rabbi Yisrael Misalant, Shapira
(03) 697-8936
(050) 8822088
orotaviv@gmail.com
Friday, October 13, 2006
Where the guys go
Jerusalem Post, Billboard; Friday, October 13, 2006
Even the name of this new mega-bar in the Yad Harutzim bar compound of Tel Aviv evokes machismo and self-indulgence. That the Ego Bar was founded by Israeli hoopster Moshe Mizrahi together with the Israeli television channel for men, EGO, only strengthens the impression that the bar is a men's club.
While metrosexuals and straight gals who don't mind a little chauvinism seem like its natural clientele, it remains to be seen what kind of people this athletic, male-themed bar will attract. Ego Bar opened last week (September 29) with a loud party attended by many tall men (fellow basketball players), Mizrachi's friends and guests of both sexes. Mizrahi insists that Ego Bar is a place where all genders should feel comfortable.
'If you see the decor, it's not really a man's bar,' he asserts. Built on the grounds of Escobar, there are no loud masculine motifs, even though there was an erotic dancer at the opening party. The colors of the bar match the EGO channel logo: red, yellow, and orange, adding warmth to the impressive space. The DJ booth, shaped like a jail cell, spins a different genre of music every night over a commendable sound system. Some of the decor is a little flamboyant, particularly the red-leathered lounge areas with their funky chandeliers, but the main bar is generally user friendly.
Mizrahi got the idea for the bar 'on the spur of the moment,' following conversations with friends.
But yet another athlete opening a bar? Makes one wonder if the whole endeavor isn't just an ego trip.
Rehov Shevach, Tel Aviv
(03) 639-1551
Hours: From 9 p.m.
Even the name of this new mega-bar in the Yad Harutzim bar compound of Tel Aviv evokes machismo and self-indulgence. That the Ego Bar was founded by Israeli hoopster Moshe Mizrahi together with the Israeli television channel for men, EGO, only strengthens the impression that the bar is a men's club.
While metrosexuals and straight gals who don't mind a little chauvinism seem like its natural clientele, it remains to be seen what kind of people this athletic, male-themed bar will attract. Ego Bar opened last week (September 29) with a loud party attended by many tall men (fellow basketball players), Mizrachi's friends and guests of both sexes. Mizrahi insists that Ego Bar is a place where all genders should feel comfortable.
'If you see the decor, it's not really a man's bar,' he asserts. Built on the grounds of Escobar, there are no loud masculine motifs, even though there was an erotic dancer at the opening party. The colors of the bar match the EGO channel logo: red, yellow, and orange, adding warmth to the impressive space. The DJ booth, shaped like a jail cell, spins a different genre of music every night over a commendable sound system. Some of the decor is a little flamboyant, particularly the red-leathered lounge areas with their funky chandeliers, but the main bar is generally user friendly.
Mizrahi got the idea for the bar 'on the spur of the moment,' following conversations with friends.
But yet another athlete opening a bar? Makes one wonder if the whole endeavor isn't just an ego trip.
Rehov Shevach, Tel Aviv
(03) 639-1551
Hours: From 9 p.m.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Mea Gulpa (bar review)
Jerusalem Post, Billboard; October 12, 2006
Click here for original
Modern rabbinic lore has it that even though Tel Aviv is the secular capital of Israel it is one of its holiest cities, since no church has been built there. Well, at least not until a few months ago.
The newest "church" in Tel Aviv, Griffin, combines the best of two "evils": Christian iconography and steamy Tel Aviv nightlife.
Griffin, whose name is taken from an early symbol describing Jesus, is a happening, well-stocked lounge bar whose interior is designed to resemble an imposing cathedral.
"This is a dream I had for years," explained Yossi Sher, one of the owners. The idea for this house of liquor worship came when he was partying at an Amsterdam club built inside a former church. He was intrigued by the many common motifs: high ceilings to make a man feel like he is part of something greater, and romantic lighting and art for a feeling of mystic exaltation.
While studying architecture at Tel Aviv University, Sher worked at various TA pubs. As a student, he had already begun to create a model of his bar/church using 3D digital imaging.
The final result is impressive. The lighting, pillars, craftsmanship, embroidery and high ceilings all add to a sense of grandeur. The nave consists of a long, rectangular bar with 60 "pews" leading up to the priest's podium (aka the DJ booth). Above the booth is a stained-glass window with images the pope might find illuminating. The bar is flanked by two lounge areas so people can observe the procession of fellow sinners... err, congregants. The bathrooms resemble confessionals and are perfectly suited for the activities common in pick-up bars - things that would require confession.
Sher and his partner Yuval Barashi, an interior designer, were able to create exactly what they envisioned; it's as if Sher's education was all filtered into the project. Griffin is the only structure Sher has ever built as a graduate of architecture school.
This shrine to Tel Aviv nightlife is intended to attract those who are pious about their nightlife priorities: looking good, smoking premium cigarettes, nursing quality drinks, and picking up classy members of the opposite sex. Almost since its opening two months ago, it has been a hot spot for an attractive professional crowd.
Griffin definitely has an aura of Tel Aviv nightlife sanctity, assisted by devout attention to detail in food, d cor and service. It is located right under the Levenstein business towers. Ironically, prior to construction, the empty site had been used as a makeshift synagogue by the religious Israelis who worked there. But Sher didn't seriously consider combining a shul and a bar.
"Synagogues are much less impressive than churches," he explains.
Rehov Menachem Begin 23, Tel Aviv; (03) 560-0001; hours: from 8 p.m.
Click here for original
Modern rabbinic lore has it that even though Tel Aviv is the secular capital of Israel it is one of its holiest cities, since no church has been built there. Well, at least not until a few months ago.
The newest "church" in Tel Aviv, Griffin, combines the best of two "evils": Christian iconography and steamy Tel Aviv nightlife.
Griffin, whose name is taken from an early symbol describing Jesus, is a happening, well-stocked lounge bar whose interior is designed to resemble an imposing cathedral.
"This is a dream I had for years," explained Yossi Sher, one of the owners. The idea for this house of liquor worship came when he was partying at an Amsterdam club built inside a former church. He was intrigued by the many common motifs: high ceilings to make a man feel like he is part of something greater, and romantic lighting and art for a feeling of mystic exaltation.
While studying architecture at Tel Aviv University, Sher worked at various TA pubs. As a student, he had already begun to create a model of his bar/church using 3D digital imaging.
The final result is impressive. The lighting, pillars, craftsmanship, embroidery and high ceilings all add to a sense of grandeur. The nave consists of a long, rectangular bar with 60 "pews" leading up to the priest's podium (aka the DJ booth). Above the booth is a stained-glass window with images the pope might find illuminating. The bar is flanked by two lounge areas so people can observe the procession of fellow sinners... err, congregants. The bathrooms resemble confessionals and are perfectly suited for the activities common in pick-up bars - things that would require confession.
Sher and his partner Yuval Barashi, an interior designer, were able to create exactly what they envisioned; it's as if Sher's education was all filtered into the project. Griffin is the only structure Sher has ever built as a graduate of architecture school.
This shrine to Tel Aviv nightlife is intended to attract those who are pious about their nightlife priorities: looking good, smoking premium cigarettes, nursing quality drinks, and picking up classy members of the opposite sex. Almost since its opening two months ago, it has been a hot spot for an attractive professional crowd.
Griffin definitely has an aura of Tel Aviv nightlife sanctity, assisted by devout attention to detail in food, d cor and service. It is located right under the Levenstein business towers. Ironically, prior to construction, the empty site had been used as a makeshift synagogue by the religious Israelis who worked there. But Sher didn't seriously consider combining a shul and a bar.
"Synagogues are much less impressive than churches," he explains.
Rehov Menachem Begin 23, Tel Aviv; (03) 560-0001; hours: from 8 p.m.
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