A Bit of Culture

KZAT TARBUT

Our new series, Ktzat Tarbut (קצת תרבות, “A Bit of Culture”), offers entry points for exploring the exciting and vibrant world of Israeli arts and culture. Each issue considers a new theme and modality.

“Today’s Israel is a vibrant kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, tastes, ideas, people, and cultures. Often when teaching Israel, we focus on facts and events, ignoring the dynamic and intense life that is lived. By engaging with the world of arts and culture, however, we are presented with an ideal vehicle for exploring a vibrant vision of Israel.”

– The Aleph Bet of Israel Education

Jerusalem’s buildings and homes harbor thousands of years of history, mystique, and hidden stories. The annual “Open House Jerusalem” festival invites the public into more than 130 of these fascinating historical sites around the city.

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Once upon a time, there were very limited choices for coffee in Israel. Since then it has developed a world-class coffee scene thanks to the many cultures that make up Israeli society.

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The high holidays are a time to stop, reflect, and examine our relationship with God and our fellow humans. Israeli artists provide a unique lens through which to examine these relationships, combining the traditional and the unconventional.

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Last year, the annual Jerusalem Design Week was supposed to highlight the topic of escapism. Postponed by the pandemic, it was restaged this summer, infused with new relevance and meaning.

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As a food-loving nation, Israel has come a long way from relying on its famed hummus and falafel. A number of Israeli chefs have been awarded a Michelin star, one of the greatest forms of culinary recognition. The latest Israeli recipient is chef Assaf Granit, hailed for bringing Jerusalem-style Israeli food into his world-class cuisine.

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While Pride Month is celebrated around most of the world, Israel can be especially proud to be a favorite international destination for its Pride Parades in Tel Aviv and other cities.

These resources can help introduce the topic of gender identity and its challenges.

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Contemporary Israeli fashion came a long way since the image of the quintessential Sabra of yore, in khaki shorts, sandals and a kova tembel (dunce hat). Today, Israeli fashion is innovative, exciting, and striving to be more environmentally- and body image-minded. At its best, Israeli fashion is a metaphor for the fabric of society, and a mirror of the historic, political, and social changes.

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Nitzan Mintz and Dede Bandaid are considered to be “the power couple of street art” in Tel Aviv. Recently they completed a project, several months in the making, that presented them with the biggest, most surprising, and challenging canvas on which to work their magic.

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The recent violence in Israel and the region consists of many elements that we have seen before. Perhaps the most jarring, this time around, are images of communal violence inside Israel. The delicate balance of Arab/Jewish coexistence that so many have been working hard to maintain, on both sides, has been tested. But amidst it all, we are witnessing some rays of light.

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For a year during the COVID-19 pandemic, the music industry in Israel was at a standstill. So it came as a surprise to many when in December 2020 a new album was released by two prominent Israeli rock musicians. Their critically acclaimed album focuses on seeking answers in desperate times.

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In this issue, we explore the poetry of Ronny Someck. Like President Biden and Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, Someck overcame stuttering...

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A Bit of Culture

KZAT TARBUT

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