Fun, sun and something more at this year’s ‘Gardens’

The gloves are coming off at "Israel in the Gardens."

And so are the flannel shirts, long pants and wool caps many Bay Area denizens wear almost year-round.

If all goes right on Sunday, June 4, the fog will lift and the heat will rise for San Francisco's annual celebration of all things Israel. Jews from across the region will gather at Yerba Buena Gardens for the big event, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"Israel in the Gardens" is presented by the Israel Center of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Israel. And like last year, the Jewish Community Federations of the East Bay, San Jose and Sacramento are also on board, making this a true day of unity for Northern California Jews.

"Israel in the Gardens" 2006 will feature the same nonstop arts, crafts, Israeli gift items, entertainment, kids' activities and scrumptious food as usual. But organizers always like to throw something new into the mix.

"I hope to build on what was already structured and make it stronger," says Ronit Jacobs, the new director of "Israel in the Gardens." "I didn't have to fix anything. I just enjoy finding new avenues of Israeli culture we can bring here."

This year's most dramatic innovation is, well, dramatic: a multicultural, multilingual theatrical presentation starring renowned Israeli stage performers.

Yossi Vassa will offer his comic monologue "It Sounds Better In Amharic," which recounts his journey from an Ethiopian refugee camp to Israel.

British-born Robbie Gringras performs his show "Why Am I (Still) Here," his personal story of aliyah, and comedian Vladimir Fridman will perform, speaking Russian. There's more, all day in the Metreon next door to Yerba Buena.

That's on the small stage. Headlining the big stage smack in the middle of Yerba Buena Gardens will be the pairing of one new and one established Israeli music star.

Singer/songwriter Rami Kleinstein (the Elton John of Israel, according to leading publicists) will team up with Shiri Maimon, winner of "Kochav Nolad" (Israel's equivalent of "American Idol"). Adding a little cross-cultural spice will be the Glide Memorial Church Ensemble singing a mix of jazz, blues and spirituals at 1 p.m.

Returning for an encore is the Israeli fashion show, by far one of last year's most popular events. Top Israeli designers Kedem Sason, Yael Orgad and Sigal Dekel provide the threads while Jewish community leaders serve as models. It will probably be the only time in his life that federation CEO/supermodel Tom Dine will hear cries of "Work it!"

Also on the main stage Israeli percussionist Chen Zimbalista will perform with a group of children from local Jewish day schools, then lead them on a parade around the Gardens.

Speaking of kids, there's plenty for them to do, including a backgammon tournament (top prize: two tickets to "Beach Blanket Babylon"), a crafts tent, music and storytelling.

"The theme for the kids' area this year is peace," says Jacobs. "At the entrance we have a white dove for kids to write their messages on. Once it's finished, we will have it go to from school to school."

Back at the Metreon, an Israeli film festival screens throughout the day. On the bill, excerpts from "K'tzarim" (Israel's top sketch-comedy show), student films from the Ma'ale School, animation from the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design and more.

For young adults, "Israel in the Gardens" is always a blast. New this year, the first annual Jewish scavenger hunt.

Putting the event together requires more than 24 hours a day, eight days a week, but Jacobs, a longtime "Israel in the Gardens" fan, is having a ball.

"I love it because it shows all the positive things about Israel," she says. "No politics, no religion. Just fashion, music, film, everything I enjoy about Israel.

"It's a wonderful community builder," she adds, "that portrays the wonderful things Israel is all about. This is a day when you can be proud to be Jewish, proud to be Israeli and proud to be part of this event."