OK, so you love Israel, Israeli people and Israeli culture. You also love green grass, sunshine and the divine aroma of kebabs on the grill.
There’s only one thing for you to do: Get thee to Israel in the Gardens.
This year, the Bay Area’s annual, free celebration of Israel, set for June 7 at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco, promises to be better than ever.
This year’s headliner, Ivri Lider, is one of the biggest pop stars in Israel. And with his upcoming all-English album, he’s sure to make more fans in America.
The opening acts were selected from among experienced, semi-professional Jewish teen musicians and local choirs. Then, for any budding Adam Lamberts out there, the first annual Jews Got Talent competition finds the best and the brightest amateur performers from among local college campuses. Six finalists will battle it out live on the main stage.
If flicks are your shtick, the mini–film festival this year features 30 shorts, all of them saluting Tel Aviv, in honor of that city’s centennial year. Best of all, the film festival (which runs continuously throughout the day) screens at the new Contemporary Jewish Museum located right across the street from the Gardens.
The Tel Aviv birthday party continues with the “Tel Aviv Jaffa Orange” project, open to anyone with an eye for art and access to a navel orange. The goal is to paint, sculpt, dress or otherwise decorate said orange in an original and beautiful way. All entries will be on display in the plaza in front of the Contemporary Jewish Museum.
As for Bay Area Jewish communal agencies, they will be out in force manning their booths. Federations, summer camps, social service organizations, synagogues and pro-Israel activists, among others, will be there to meet the public.
And all that feed the hungry, clothe the naked stuff in our sacred texts? There will be no shortage of delicious Israeli foods available, both kosher and non-kosher, as well as crafts, Judaica, books, clothing and jewelry for sale.
For kids, arts and crafts rule the day, with tzedakah box–making, block printing and magnet-making among the activities.
Then there’s that legendary after-party, set to begin around 5 p.m. at Mezzanine, a nearby club.
But by far the biggest attraction at Israel in the Gardens is you, and 20,000 pro-Israel, pro-Jewish, pro-fun people like you. The real headliner of Israel in the Gardens is the crowd that turns out every year to proudly wave the blue-and-white Israeli flag.
Are you in?