Yoram is entirely lacking in any artistic talent. A dreadful singer, and even worse painter, he cannot dance and his acting skills are non-existent. Not only have his books never been published, they haven’t been written either. No wonder he became Israel’s Cultural Attache to Rome and then to New York. Yoram currently sits in the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, working on cultural ties and branding for Western Europe. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, where his cultural recommendations are updated constantly. Every friend of Makom is a friend of his…

Music

Rona Keynan and Omer Klein
I first saw Rona Keynan 12 years ago, on stage with Eran Tzur in a wonderful show “You (m) my girlfriend” – songs of the poet Yona Vollach. I met Omer in New York when he’d only just arrived with his then girlfriend, now wife, Alma Moshonov, an extraordinary opera singer. Now Rona and Omer are together performing in the Piano Festival. On stage you can really see the sparks of genius in their eyes. If they don’t stay performing together after the festival ends, look out for them individually.
 

Dance

Ensemble Tel Aviv and Michael Miller
Fantastic opportunity to get to know two representatives of “Israeli Contemporary Dance – the next generation”. Ensemble Tel Aviv in a creation of Yaara Dolev and the young and extremely talented Michael Miller Group.

Film

Ajami
Who would have thought it was possible to make a film like this in Israel. The storyline – excellent. Direction – extraordinary. The script is simply genius, and the acting convincing and moving. It’s the first film by the young directors Shani and Kofti. On the other hand, you could have asked the same question of Waltz with Bashir, Lebanon, Jellyfish, and many more wonderful films that have emerged over the last few years. Good times for Israeli cinema. Who would have thought…

Books

Meir Shalev
His last book, “HaDavar Haya Kacha” (It was like this), was number one in the Israeli best sellers list from the moment it was published. Shalev returns to the village life of his childhood and family, and this time the story is more autobiographical than ever. The translation to English will have to wait of course, but in the meantime one can indulge in his earlier novels, Pigeon and a Boy, and Blue Mountain.

 

Visual Arts

Leon Constantiner at the Tel Aviv Museum and Rivka Saker at the Helena Rubinstein. No, we’re not talking about two young promising artists, but two to whom Israeli art owes a substantial debt. To Constantiner because of the prize for young photographers and for his less well-known support for Israeli art in general, and to Rivka Saker for “Artis” and for her involvement in pretty much every important event that exposes Israeli art to international eyes. ArTLV, for example. The winners of the Constantiner prize are exhibited at the Museum itself, and the work connected to the Rivka Saker Fund and Uzi Zucker are showing at Helena Rubinstein. And if you’re at the museum, don’t miss the wonderful paintings of Elie Shamir and Aram Gershuni. Only after all of these are you permitted to take a peek at the work of Calder… 

One Abroad

“Tel Aviv – the Paradox” Israeli film retrospective in Paris
About 100 Israeli films are being screened as part of “Forum Des Images”. France, who through the Co-Production Agreement with Israel is responsible to a great extent for the flowering of Israeli film, doesn’t stop screening her films all over. This time -  a large and special retrospective. From the early days of cinema at the end of the 19th century to the present day. The opening film has already been screened (Ajami), but many good films are awaiting their turn. Recommended to turn up equipped with good French or Hebrew (the subtitles…)