TAMUZ: The David H. Sonabend Center for Israel Quarterly Magazine

TAMUZ

THE DAVID H. SONABEND CENTER FOR ISRAEL | WINTER 2022

THE DAVID H SONABE CENTER FOR ISRAEL 2

H. END

TAMUZ The David H. Sonabend Center for Israel Quarterly Magazine | Winter 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome 4 Opinion 8 Israel’s Response to the Global Climate Crisis People + Planethood Feature 18 Give Bees a Chance Artists 24 Reinventing the Wheel: A New Wave of Israeli Ceramics Cuisine 28 Baking with BenGingi Face the Music 32 with Elai Botner Inspirational Israeli 34 10 Questions for Sivan Ya'ari Coming Up at the J 36

WELCOME

With the start of 2022, my mind has been focused on what we consider new. This year brings with it a lot of “new.” First and foremost for me is my new job! I am thrilled to serve as CEO of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan on the Upper West Side, and I look forward to meeting so many new people. The role means that I have a new office, a new location, and a new group of new colleagues and community members. For this reason, I find myself connecting deeply to the holiday of Tu B’Shevat, the “birthday of the trees,” which celebrates new blooms and new fruits. I am sure that I am not alone in reveling in the possibility of renewal. As we hopefully emerge from two years of a global pandemic, it is crucial to sow new seeds, new ideas, and new places to grow and learn. As we imagine the future, what flowers do we want to make bloom, both literally and figuratively? What can we plant for ourselves, and what can we ensure will blossom for future generations? The Talmud tells the story of Honi the Wise One and the man planting the carob tree: One day, [Honi the Wise One] was walking along the road when he saw a certain man planting a carob tree. Honi said to him: This tree, after how many years will it bear fruit? The man said to him: It will not produce fruit until seventy years have passed. Honi said to him: Is it obvious to you that you will live seventy years, that you expect to benefit from this tree? He said to him: That man himself found a world full of carob trees. Just as my ancestors planted for me, I too am planting for my descendants. (Babylonian Talmud, Ta’anit 23a, Sefaria translation)

This story teaches us that our present actions have the opportunity to create the future we wish for. As we come to Tu B’Shevat, we must plant and sow seeds not just in the 4

metaphorical sense, but quite literally. With the increasing threat of climate change, we must recognize the extent to which our own actions play a role in our current reality, and what actions are necessary to make specific change. Like the man who planted the carob tree, we must utilize our resources and skills for future generations. In our communities, we must also think about what we can do to improve our environment. We should start to think about planting flowers, especially local varieties that bloom throughout the growing season, spring to fall. This is one small step we can take to assist our bees and mitigate the decline in their population, which is detrimental to our own agricultural system (see “Give Bees a Chance,” page 18). At the JCC, we have the opportunity to build the kind of world in which we would like to live—a world of compassion, energy, generosity, and love. We can work together to build community, and to shine light amidst the darkness. Here too, we can craft our Jewish lives in creative ways. We can celebrate Shabbat and holidays here, and we can take activities not typically associated with Jewish ritual life and explicitly inform them with Jewish values, like planting flowers and reducing our carbon footprints. In this way, we act like the wise man in the story, seeing how each one of us is responsible for the future. I welcome you to join us at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan to share your ideas, your perspectives, and your experiences. Join me in this effort toward growth and renewal, to take action to better our environment, and to help us plant the seeds of continued community based on our shared Jewish values. Yours,

Rabbi Joanna Samuels CEO, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR This past summer, I was honored to become Director of The David H. Sonabend Center for Israel and The Lambert Center for Arts + Ideas at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. Today, I’m excited to share with you the first issue of TAMUZ, the Sonabend Center’s virtual magazine. It was actually this past Tamuz (a Hebrew month, usually around July) when we started talking about creating a virtual magazine about Israel, and the name Tamuz sounded perfect. Tamuz is the best representation of Israel, and of Israelis. It’s hot and warm; it’s edgy, but also soothing. Just like Israel. And just like Israel, it’s a blend of cultures, tastes, colors, smells, and languages. Speaking of languages, we’d like our Israeli friends who live in both Israel and the United States to feel part of our community, and for those Israelis that are part of this community to feel more in tune with it. That is why parts of this magazine will be in Hebrew as well as English. We are in this together! I can’t wait for you to read everything we have created for you in our first issue, which focuses on climate change. I was thinking a lot about the word “new” while working on this issue and it led me to think about our environment. About the place in which we live. It also made me think about what we, the JCC community, can do for our environment. That is why this issue is dedicated to climate, and to the relationship between the JCC, Israel, and the environment. We have an unbelievable story of what innovative Israeli researchers are doing to save the planet, with the help of bees. We interviewed Sivan Ya'ari, our Inspirational Israeli, about her work with Innovation: Africa. You will meet three unbelievable Israeli potters, whose works are breathtaking. We also have a delicious recipe by baking sensation BenGingi, Israeli music, and more. Please let me know what you think and what you would like to read in our future issues here. Yours,

Udi Urman Director, The David H. Sonabend Center for Israel

‫שלום חברים‪,‬‬ ‫תענוג גדול לפגוש אתכם‪ ,‬לפחות וירטואלית לבינתיים‪ ,‬ושמח שבחרתם לקרוא את הגיליון הראשון של תמוז‪ .‬בחודשי‬ ‫הקיץ התחלתי בתפקידי החדש כמנהל מרכז למברט לאמנות ורעיונות ושל המרכז לישראל של ה ג'יי סי סי בניו יורק‪ .‬זה‬ ‫היה חודש תמוז שהתחלנו לדון על התוכנית להקים מגזין אינטרנטי שיציג את ישראל הכי יומיומית שאפשר‪ .‬וכבר אז‬ ‫הבנתי שאין חודש המייצג את ישראל יותר מתמוז‪ .‬החום הזה הוא כל כך ישראלי‪ ,‬הוא כל כך המזג של הישראלים‪ .‬חום‬ ‫לוהט ומלא ניגודים‪ ,‬ממש כמו ישראל‪.‬‬ ‫היה חשוב לי לפנות אליכם הישראלים שקוראים עברית‪ ,‬ולהגיד שאני כאן‪ ,‬רואה אתכם שומע ושמח לפתוח בדיאלוג‪.‬‬ ‫השנה אנחנו מתכננים לעבוד במרץ ולהביא יותר ארועים בעברית ל ‪.JCC‬‬ ‫אנחנו עובדים על תכנית ראיונות‪ ,‬פאנלים ואפילו שיעורי מדיטציה ומסיבות גג‪ .‬לאורך השנה נפרסם באתר האינטרנט‬ ‫שלנו ובניוזלטרים עוד ועוד מידע על האירועים (כך שאם אתם עדיין לא ברשימת התפוצה שלנו אז הקליקו כאן)‪.‬‬ ‫בינתיים‪ ,‬אני מזמין אתכם לעבור לעמוד המוזיקה שלנו‪ ,‬מחכה לכם שם הודעה מיוחדת מעילי בוטנר‪ .‬אני ועילי נשב‬ ‫לשיחת זום על כל השירים‪ ,‬על מאחורי הקלעים ועל עוד הרבה נושאים ב ‪ 13‬בפברואר‪ ,‬מקווה שתצטרפו אלינו‪ .‬השיחה‪,‬‬ ‫היא בעברית אז בואו ותשאלו שאלות גם אתם‪.‬‬ ‫חוץ מעילי תוכלו למצוא החודש בתמוז גם מתכון של בן ג'ינג'י הנהדר‪ ,‬כתבה על כיצד מחקרים ישראלים פורצי דרך‬ ‫מצילים את עולם הדבורים הבינלאומי‪ ,‬ועוד מאמרים בנשאי אקלים של חבר הכנסת אלון טל ושל‪ .‬תוכלו לקרוא את‬ ‫השאלון שלנו עם הישראלית מעוררת ההשראה סיון יערי ועבודתה עם ארגון ‪ Innovation: Africa‬בנוסף‪ ,‬כתבה גם על‬ ‫הקרמיקאים הכי הכי לוהטים בסצינת הכדרות הישראלית‪.‬‬ ‫כמו שרובכם מכירים מעולמנו כאן‪ ,‬עברית ואנגלית מתערבבים תמיד בחן ששמור רק לנו‪.‬‬ ‫מוזמנים להיות בקשר תמיד כאן‪.‬‬

‫שלכם‪ ,‬אודי‬ ‫‪Udi‬‬

‫‪7‬‬

OPINION The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan is proud to host regular forums for ideas that allow for open conversation and dialogue on topics related to Israel and the world. We present the following op-ed section in a similar vein: in the hope that open, honest dialogue will take root, and that we may participate in that dialogue with you, our community. To reach us with your thoughts, email Rebecca Grossman at rgrossman@mmjccm.org.

ISRAEL’S RESPONSE TO THE GLOBAL CLIMATE CRISIS By Minister of the Knesset Alon Tal The dust has settled now, after the build-up and then the two-week deliberations at the recent COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. All agree that in contrast to the high expectations, world leaders did not take the dramatic actions needed to significantly reduce global warming. Nonetheless, the event was not devoid of disparate agreements that can certainly be categorized as progress. The United States, once again, assumed a leadership role; after four years of despondence following President Trump’s denial of the crisis, the international community is again focused on finding solutions.

A bold commitment that by the year 2050, Israel would have “net zero” emissions of greenhouse gases The debate as to whether Glasgow was a reasonable success or a resounding failure 8

resonates among environmental circles within Israel as well. As a member of Israel’s Knesset who spent his career as an environmental activist and researcher, I surely have an opinion. Charles Dickens might call Israel’s present climate crisis response “the worst of times” and “the best of times.” Glasgow provided the stimulus for a meaningful upgrade in Israel’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gases. Two important cabinet decisions for the first time set quantifiable objectives for a range of relevant parameters, such as renewable energy targets, electric vehicle promotion, solid waste/methane management, and energy efficiency. Most importantly, just prior to leaving for the gathering, Prime Minister Naftali Bennet made a bold commitment that by the year 2050, Israel would have “net zero” emissions of greenhouse gases. In doing so, the country joins a growing number of

nations who have decided that in the longterm, the planet must stop releasing carbon into the atmosphere. Until Israel’s new “Government of Change” made these important decisions, the country’s climate policy was positively pitiful. At the 2015 Paris climate summit, we were among the only developed countries whose “targets” actually implied a significant increase in emissions. That’s because we framed our objectives in “per capita” reductions in the country’s carbon footprint. With our population growing by 2% annually, in practice this meant that Israel would be increasing its annual release

of greenhouse gasses at precisely the time when scientists explained that we needed to eliminate them. So I surely see Israel’s new policies as meaningful progress. It would not have happened without the international pressure surrounding Glasgow and the associated expectations that all countries who care about their children’s future need to “get with the program.” So much for the good news. There is also, of course, room for disappointment. Take for example, Israel’s short-term objectives for renewable energy. In a country with well over 300

PHOTO: FLICKR/NICK HUMPHRIES

days a year of sunshine, our renewable energy goals for 2030 are only 30%. When this rate is compared to President Biden’s 100% renewables by 2035, it is hard to deny the modesty of Israel’s aspirations. Energy efficiency objectives are also woefully inadequate. Paragraph 22 of the Glasgow agreement states that countries are expected to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030. Israel’s present commitment

is to reduce it by 27%. We do well to deconstruct that number in order to understand the real reasons behind Israel’s tepid climate policies. Over the next nine years, Israel’s population is expected to increase by 20%. Naturally, every child is born with the right to have a carbon footprint—be it due to an air conditioner or an occasional airplane flight. Assuming that Israel actually achieves its reduction target, with a stable population, we would show an impressive 47% reduction. The situation

If Israel actually achieves its target, we would show an impressive 47% reduction in emissions.

Women world leaders at the CPO26 10

is analogous to a person on a treadmill; though we run faster, we don’t get very far. Of course, there is much more that Israel can and should do: our level of recycling is still extremely low; only 5% of vehicles sold are electric (compared to 90% in Norway); all sorts of bureaucratic and economic obstacles slow down the public’s adoption of solar panels and storage on their roofs. Better public policies can change that. The Knesset has an important role to play. To begin with, we need to provide the

oversight and pressure to expedite better climate performance. We need to work with the public, including Jewish communities around the world, to increase awareness and the association between Jewish values, such as the Biblical injunction “Baal tashchit” (“do not destroy”) and reduced consumption. And we need to start talking about the sustainability of Israel’s present policies, which are so zealous in encouraging large families. We can do more. I believe that working together, we will.

OPINION

PEOPLEHOOD + PLANETHOOD A Jewish Rallying Cry for the Climate Crisis By Jakir Manela, CEO, Hazon and Pearlstone Climate change will have a decisive impact on all areas of life in Israel...Anticipated rainfall reduction could decrease the flow of the Jordan River by 22%, imperiling the region’s freshwater. The agricultural sector will be damaged, as will livestock and fishing. Rising sea levels will impact Israel’s coastline, potentially leading to saltwater infiltration of aquifers and degrading coastal cliffs, displacing residences, hotels, heritage sites, factories, and more. —Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection, 2020 The American Jewish community must confront the climate crisis, both globally and as a threat multiplier that exacerbates existing tensions across the Middle East. Everyone who cares about Israel—from AIPAC and Friends of the IDF to JStreet and Americans for Peace Now— must confront the climate crisis for the sake of the country, the planet, and our future. Hazon, the Jewish Lab for Sustainability, and the Pearlstone retreat center and outdoor education campus have led the way on this issue for the past 20 years, weaving sustainability into the fabric of Jewish life. 12

Each year, we impact over 50,000 participants through immersive retreats, transformative experiences in Jewish Outdoor Food Farming & Environmental Education (JOFEE), Jewish institutional greening projects, strategic partnerships, and community-building initiatives across North America, Israel, and the Jewish world. In my new role as Hazon’s CEO, I recently traveled to Scotland to bring a Jewish voice to United Nations Climate Change Conference. Being there with activists, negotiators, and faith leaders from all over the world was a profound experience—and meeting the Israelis there was especially meaningful. I learned so much through our recording of several podcasts from Glasgow, including fascinating conversations with Mariana Bergovoy, deputy head of department, senior audit manager for the State Comptroller of Israel, and co-author of a recent audit report on climate action taken by the Israeli government, and with Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed, executive director of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, which is dedicated to preparing future leaders from Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and around the world to

We went out into the streets to march with 100,000 people... a global tapestry of voices calling for a new path forward.

cooperatively solve the regional and global challenges of our time. Amidst the backdrop of COP26, Hazon was proud to bring together a global network of Jewish climate leaders for Shabbat at Glasgow’s Garnethill Synagogue. It was a beautiful evening, and after dinner we shared our perspectives on the crisis—as Scots and Brits, Americans and Israelis. There was a poignant feeling of Jewish peoplehood that night—a deep sense of connection, and a shared commitment to justice, peace, and sustainability. Then, on Shabbat morning, we went out into the streets to march with 100,000 people—young and old, religious and secular, a global tapestry of voices calling for a new path forward. We marched for five hours in the cold, wind, and rain. We marched with drums and dance, with songs and laughter, with chants and demands for climate action now. I probably burst into tears four times that day, overcome with grief and awe, inspiration and love. I now understand what Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel meant when he described the religious experience of the historic 1965 civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery: For many of us the march...was about protest and prayer. Legs are not lips and walking is not kneeling. And yet our legs uttered songs. Even without words, our march was worship. I felt my legs were praying.

It was an honor to march alongside Israeli allies, and I brought home from Glasgow a 14

deeper sense of what we can do—what we must do—to confront this crisis together as a Jewish people. Luckily, we are not starting from scratch. Every fall, Hazon partners with the Arava Institute for the Israel Ride, bringing hundreds of people together to bike from Jerusalem to Eilat. It is a one-of-a-kind Israel experience, supporting cross-border environmental cooperation and peace-building initiatives. At Pearlstone, we host shlichim—educators infusing Israeli culture into our programs—and we hope to bring more of them to JOFEE impact hubs nationwide. Most impactfully, Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs has partnered with us to build Hakhel, a global network of innovative Jewish intentional communities, sparking a sustainability movement for over 15,000 people through over 130 initiatives in 30 countries all over the world! Yet we must do more, all of us, together. So please help us green Jewish institutions everywhere through the Hazon Seal of Sustainability. This step-by-step program has helped more than 200 North American Jewish organizations reduce their carbon footprint over the past five years. Moving forward, Hazon will work in partnership with major Jewish organizations—including those focused on Israel—to elevate the climate crisis and mobilize Jewish communities worldwide toward action. Jewish leaders are rising to meet this challenge, and we encourage everyone to participate. The Jewish people must unite in order to build a sustainable future—for our children, for Israel, and for the world. We can do this, together. 15

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BEES A CHANCE 18

FEATURE

Important players are disappearing from our ecosystem—Israeli innovations are making a difference By Rebecca Grossman, Program Director, The David H. Sonabend Center for Israel

If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would only have four years left to live.

—(attributed to) Albert Einstein

While it may not be quite as dire as Einstein suggested, the existence and decline of bees in our ecosystem is one factor that is becoming increasingly important in the search for agricultural and environmental sustainability.

Why bees? Bees are our most important pollinators of fruits and vegetables, with more than one third of the world’s crop production depending on bee pollination. There are over 20,000 species of bees in the world. Honey bee hives, occupied by 40,000– 50,000 bee organisms, act like one superorganism, with individuals recruiting their nest mates using a dance to pollinate a fruitful crop. The honey these bees make provides us with natural medicines, holding

antibacterial and antifungal properties, providing antioxidants, treating wounds, and healing the common sore throat. Bigger, fuzzier bumblebees also collect pollen, working even in cold, cloudy, and rainy conditions. Their colonies are much smaller, temporal, and do not store honey, but unlike honey bees they are capable of pollination in greenhouses and net structures.

So what's the problem? In the U.S. alone, an average of 25% of all bee hives are lost every winter and a similar amount is lost in summer; 20 years ago that figure was 15%. Luckily, beekeepers are able to divide their colonies to recoup their losses a bit, but we are at a precipitous point in the agricultural ecosystem. 19

Why is this happening? Population growth leads to greater demand for crops and the need for more bees. Worldwide, there has been a 300% increase in crop production requiring bee pollination. However, with the expanding population and increasing monocultural farming areas, there is less and less space for bees, with swaths of flowerless landscapes. We stopped planting cover crops after World War II and started using synthetic fertilizers. In order to keep our food looking good and bug free, we have used more and more pesticides, which are harming and ultimately killing bees and other beneficial insects. For example, if bees ingest a large dose of neonicotinoid pesticides, which attack the nervous system, they will twitch and die. If the dose is smaller, as it should be with the normal application of the pesticide to the seed rather than in the ground, the bee gets intoxicated and disoriented and may not find her way home. These multiple interacting causes mean that we cannot leave the bees alone and are required to “grow” them in order to ensure their survival as well as our own. Israel has an even greater problem. Being a small and partly desert country, there is limited space for bees to live, as well as less resources and funds to protect them. The Volcani Institute, located in Rishon LeZion, is a research 20

arm of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that plans, organizes, and implements agricultural policy, and assists Israeli farmers in solving a variety of problems. Victoria Soroker, Ph.D., a researcher in the institute’s Department of Entomology and Plant Protection, leads a team that monitors colony losses every year, in order to understand the problems they are facing, as well as what the beekeepers actually do. As the main research institute in the geographical area focusing on this problem, they hope to assist their neighbors in understanding how bees can cope with the climate and environmental changes in this specific region. In the long run, the Institute hopes to find better methods to interfere with mites, which can transmit viruses to bee colonies— another cause of collapse. By focusing on the physiology, structure, and function of mites and the way they interact with bees, the researchers hope to discover ways to intervene and protect colonies from this threat. In the short run, the Institute is focusing on particular honey bees that are better at detecting mites and removing them. These hygienic bees are able to locate and weed out sick individuals to keep the colony healthy. Researchers are focusing on how hygienic bees are able to carry out these functions, whether they have specific mechanisms to avoid infection and prevent its spread, and whether their immune systems are able to deactivate the infection.

Research of this nature is very far removed from dayto-day life for most of us.

What, if anything, can individuals do to effect change? First, we need to think globally, about what we need, where it is grown, and how it is grown. In our farming techniques, we should diversify crops. We should plant flowering borders and hedgerows to attract pollinators. The Israeli company BioBee has pioneered the use of beneficial insects and mites in agriculture for almost 40 years. They aim to reduce the use of harsh chemicals, creating a healthy and effective agriculture that is better for the environment, the grower, and the consumer. Their biologically based Integrated Pest Management system (IPM) reduces the quantity of chemicals used and the number of applications during the season, assisting farmers while also reducing pest resistance to chemical pesticides. They focus on prevention by introducing natural enemies and quality insect feed into fields, so crops are better able to resist the pests that do attack. BioBee also supplies top quality bumblebees and hives, offering professional and experienced technical advice for natural pollination. Benefits include increased yield, improved quality, pollination in adverse

weather conditions, and pollination in protected as well as open-field crops. This is only one example of a company that assists farmers in the endeavor to be more ecologically sustainable in their practices. When we go shopping, we should look at labels and support growers who take the environment into account. We should think about how people and farmers treat the land, and opt for greenhouse vegetables or washing our produce rather than buying anything that uses heavy pesticides. So, too, can we treat our personal gardens with care, forgoing the sprays and chemicals and opting for netting or simply allowing nature to take its course. Furthermore, we can plant bee-friendly flowers, local varieties that last for the entire growing season, spring to fall. We should refrain from using insecticides on these, and welcome the bees into our gardens. Taking some sort of action is key. As Victoria Soroker says, “There is no silver bullet today for anything. Everyone needs to take responsibility.”

ARTISTS

REINVENTING THE WHEEL— A NEW WAVE OF ISRAELI CERAMICS

In recent years Israel has become a center for contemporary unique potters. Their work is bold, different, and makes you think. Each piece is one of a kind and can take your imagination on a journey of patterns and vibes. No wonder so many art collectors are now buying pottery as part of their collection. Here are three of the most unique potters currently working in Israel.

24 TEXTURAL CERAMICS AND PHOTO BY MAIYAN BEN YONA

Gur Inbar A graduate of the Bezalel Academy for Art and Design and former resident of the Benyamini Center of Contemporary Ceramics, Gur Inbar first studied at the feet of his great aunt. Dexterous and focused, she knitted patterns and garments with the attentive skill of an artisan. The shapes she conjured out of string, needle, and air influenced his young world—the land and culture on a kibbutz—and inspired a lifelong curiosity in the interplay between art and form and meaning. Every object bears a story that can never be finally, permanently forgotten. The Samaritan lamps, intricate coffins, and coins of empires unearthed throughout his homeland captivate Gur’s mind and imagination: What was their creator’s intention, and how did they influence their old world and culture? Local archaeology and traditional crafts appear throughout his work in the figures, strokes, and colors that reach back to something original. Gur draws from ancient techniques and objects to bring new shapes into his craft and world. His work absorbs both the past and the habits, art, and frenetic energies of the contemporary reality before him. Gur works primarily with porcelain and stoneware, and mostly on the wheel. He finds inspiration in everything and adopts new techniques and materials into his process. He lives and works in Tel Aviv. Check out his website: gurinbar.com 25 PHOTO: DAN PEREZ AND NURIT KARIV

Maiyan Ben Yona Maiyan Ben Yona was born in Israel and grew up in the Galilee in the northern part of the country, surrounded by nature’s green tranquility. Later in life, she moved to the desert in the south, a life of serenity surrounded by endless spaces. Today she lives in Jaffa and works in her studio in the south Tel Aviv industrial area. In the beginning of her professional career, she discovered Moroccan ceramics.She traveled to Morocco, saw up close how the magic happens, and discovered how it’s made. Right there, she knew that this was what she wanted to specialize in. After graduating from Bezalel Academy for Art and Design, Maiyan opened her studio in Tel Aviv. She specializes in porcelain work, creating both decorative and practical ceramicware. The products are hand-decorated with a range of patterns and designs inspired by different cultures; together they create a new language. The colors and patterns are painted on a series of products characterized by clean and precise lines, blending in with each other and providing a stage for the colors and patterns. Together they create a collection of endless combinations and options. Check out her website: maiyanceramic.com

26 PHOTO: MAIYAN BEN YONA

Guy Jana Guy Jana is a ceramic artist based in Tel Aviv. He knew that ceramics was his calling more than 20 years ago, back in high school. He started to take pottery classes as a teenager and continued all the way to Bezalel Academy for Art and Design. In his work, Guy explores the contemporary, collective, and subjective ideal of the beautiful and the fantastic. His works are characterized by a rough outer layer in a pattern of painting and engraving that will not be repeated. The works combine traditional techniques with a modern look, challenging the eye and the sense of touch with bright colors, rough textures, and a unique personal style. Check out his website: guyjanaceramics.com

27 PHOTO: AYA WIND

CUISINE

BAKING WITH BENGINGI Ben Siman-Tov, best known as BenGingi, the “YASSS” man on social media, has brought a baking revolution to the digital world with his legendary 60-second recipe recap videos. Selftaught and well-traveled, this native Israeli baker has taken on the challenge of showing home bakers how even the most complex pastry can be made at home. Using the highest quality ingredients, Siman-Tov prides himself on finding and producing the most eclectic treats from all over the world. His slogan? “We Are All Bread.” In his eyes, bread is not only a life-saving meditation, but also a global peacemaker. For more info and recipes, visit bengingi.com.

MATBUCHA-FILLED PITA Ingredients

For the pita

For the matbucha

500 gr (3 cups + 2 tbsp) flour (half white flour, half whole wheat)

1 kg (2 lb) tomatoes 1 head of garlic 1 green chili 20 gr (1 tbsp) salt 42 gr (3 tbsp) olive oil

10 gr (2 tsp) dry yeast 25 gr (2 tbsp) sugar 300 ml (1 ¼ cups) lukewarm water 10 gr (2 tsp) salt

Preparation

Mix the pita

Start with the matbucha

In a bowl, combine the flour with sugar and yeast. Mix well. Add the water and mix all ingredients until there is almost no flour remaining in the bowl. Add salt.

Bring a pot of water to boil. Score an X-shape at the bottom of each tomato. Boil the tomatoes, a few at a time, for 10 seconds. Remove from the water. Peel the head of garlic and slice the cloves as thin as you can. Slice the chili thin. Peel the tomatoes. Heat up a pan with the olive oil; add the garlic and the chili. After about 2 minutes, add the tomatoes and salt. Cook the sauce until it gets thick, stirring constantly. Set aside to cool down before filling the pita.

Optional: BenGigi says: I like to add some canned fish, capers, or olives to the filled pita. My favorite combo would be matbucha and sardines, which gives me the filling of a Chraimeh sauce.

Move the dough to a work surface and knead by hand for about 7 to 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic. If the dough is dry, wet your hands and the flour will absorb easily. Form the dough into a round and place in a bowl. Cover with a towel and let the dough rest until nearly double in volume. Divide the dough into eight pieces; roll each out to ½-inch thickness. Place a tablespoon or two of matbucha filling in the center of one pita and cover with another pita. Seal the edges. Heat a large, heavy pan over medium heat for 3–5 minutes. Cook each pita for about 1–2 minutes, until golden brown, turning occasionally. Remove cooked pitas and place in a basket or bowl covered with a towel to keep them from drying out. 29

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EVENTS BY KARIE For those special milestones in your lives, Events by Karie will create a beautiful and elegant event for you without the stress. Just relax and enjoy that special moment! Specializing in the Tri-State area and Washington, D.C. For a free 30-minute consultation, please call 212-731-4146. Contact: Karen L. Eisner 212.731.4146 | eventsbykarie@yahoo.com See my work and inspirations on Instagram at Events by Karie 31

‫‪FACE THE MUSIC‬‬ ‫‪Please welcome to our TAMUZ stage:‬‬

‫‪ELAI BOTNER‬‬ ‫תמוז גאים להציג בפניכם בכל גיליון מוזיקאי ישראלי‬ ‫מהשורה הראשונה‪ .‬אך אנחנו לא מפסיקים לשיר רק‬ ‫במגזין ‪ -‬כולכם מוזמנים לשיחת זום אינטימית עם היוצר‬ ‫בעברית והפעם ‪ -‬קבלו לבמה המרכזית את עילי בוטנר‪.‬‬

‫‪TAMUZ is proud to present some of the‬‬ ‫‪top Israeli musicians in each issue. But the‬‬ ‫‪music doesn’t end here. Every featured‬‬ ‫‪musician will join us for an exclusive virtual‬‬ ‫‪conversation in Hebrew.‬‬

‫הצטרפו אלינו לשיחת זום מיוחדת ואינטימית עם עילי‪.‬‬ ‫‪ 13‬לפברואר‪ 12 ,‬בצהריים‪ .‬נשוחח עם עילי על השירים‪,‬‬ ‫על המילים‪ ,‬ונשיר קצת כמובן‪ .‬מחכים לכם‪ .‬להרשמה לחצו כאן‬

‫‪32‬‬

Elai is an Israeli composer, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He currently fronts the rock group Elai Botner & The Outside Kids. From his teenage years, Elai has played for Israel’s best musicians, such as Rita, Ivri Lider, Riki Gal, and more. In 2007 he released his first album with another Israeli music sensation, Ran Danker. The album, Shavim, became an instant hit and Elai has since gone on to multi-platinum success. He has led the group Elai Botner & The Outside Kids since 2011, and they have had countless radio hits and performed on Israel’s largest and most prestigious stages. Click on the video box to the left for a special message from Elai, and below for a clip from one of his energetic live shows.

‫ יוצר ומנהיג להקת עילי‬,‫ זמר‬,‫ כותב‬,‫עילי בוטנר מלחין‬ ‫ עילי‬,‫ עוד טרם השירות הצבאי שלו‬.‫בוטנר וילדי החוץ‬ ,‫כבר ניגן עם מיטב האמנים בארץ בינהם עברי לידר‬ ‫ הוא הוציא את האלבום‬2007 ‫ בשנת‬.‫ ריטה ועוד‬,‫ריקי גל‬ .‫ רן דנקר‬,‫הראשון שלו יחד עם מוזיקאי נהדר נוסף‬ ‫האלבום "שווים" הפך להצלחה מסחררת בין לילה וסלל‬ ‫ מאז‬.‫לשניים את הדרך לקריירה עשירה ומשגשגת‬ ‫ חורש עילי בוטנר עם להקת ילדי החוץ את‬2011 ‫שנת‬ ‫ יחד הם הוציאו מספר אלבומים‬.‫הארץ לרוחבה ולאורכה‬ .‫ועשרות להיטים‬

INSPIRATIONAL ISRAELI

SIVAN YA’ARI Sivan Ya’ari is the founder and CEO of Innovation: Africa, a nonprofit that brings Israeli solar, agricultural, and water technologies to African villages. She was born in Israel, raised in France, and educated in the United States, earning a degree in finance from Pace University and a master’s in international energy management and policy from Columbia University. Sivan has worked in Africa for over 20 years,

and over the past decade, using Israeli technologies, has brought clean water and light to over 3 million people across 10 African countries. She and her organization, Innovation: Africa, have received multiple awards, including the Intercultural Innovation Award from the United Nations. She has been recognized as one of the most Inspiring

Israelis this decade by From the Grapevine, one of 50 Most Influential Women in Israel by Forbes, one of the Top 10 Most Influential Israelis in International Business, Science, and Culture by NoCamels, and one of the Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life by Algemeiner Journal. Sivan lives in Tel Aviv with her husband and three children.

10 QUESTIONS What is your favorite part of the day?

Who is an inspiration for you?

Before sunrise.

My team of over 100 managers and engineers who work tirelessly to achieve our mission to bring light and clean water to communities across Africa. It is not an easy task, but one that my team takes great pride in, and I am truly grateful for their commitment to our work.

If you could meet with any famous figure, living or dead, who would it be? Golda Meir What has been the most challenging time in your life? Growing up in Israel, in what was then considered a poor family. What is one of your proudest moments? Each time I am able to open the taps of clean water in a village that previously did not have it. What is your favorite Israeli dish? Shakshuka What is your favorite location within Israel? Kibbutz Kalia

What advice would you give a young person who wants to change the world? Do it village by village. Don’t start with a big vision. What is your biggest fear? Losing my kids. If you could change one thing about Israel what would it be? Increase the tolerance for each other across the country. 35

COMING UP AT THE J

FLOATING WALLS GALLERY EXHIBIT Through Feb 28 | In Person Floating Walls presents a multidisciplinary survey of works by seven Israeli artists based in New York. The exhibition, in the JCC’s Laurie M. Tisch Gallery, incorporates site-specific installation, video, painting, and sculpture. By using a variety of materials across media, the artists explore and reimagine the walls that surround them as both material and metaphor. Group exhibition by Dana Levy, Gal Cohen, Lee Tal, Michal Geva, Naomi Safran-Hon, Noa Charuvi, Zac Hacmon. Curated by Aya Goshen. Click here for more information 36

ALEX TUBIS Jan 30 | Virtual Meet the incredible artist behind the paintings of Shtisel. In this virtual event, Ronnit Vasserman, founder of Art Connect Group, will talk to Israeli painter Alex Tubis about the artworks he created for the hit Netflix show Shitsel, about fictional realist painter Akiva Shitsel. Alex is the real artist responsible for the masterpieces that were central to the plot of this addictive series. We will talk to Alex via Zoom about his artistic approach, go behind the scenes, and hear what’s next for Akiva Shtisel. Click here to purchase tickets

PHOTO: FLICKR/NICK HUMPHRIES

PHOTO: BARTZI

BEHIND THE SONGS WITH ELAI BOTNER

CLIMATE CHANGE: THE IMPACT + FUTURE FOR ISRAEL

Feb 13 | Virtual ‫מוזמנים להצטרף אלינו לשיחת זום עם אחד היוצרים‬ ‫ יחד עם עילי‬.‫הבולטים במוזיקה הישראלית עילי בוטנר‬ ‫ על מאחורי הקלעים על התהילה וגם‬,‫נשוחח על השירים‬ .‫נשיר קצת יחד‬ ‫זו הזדמנות נדירה לשאול את האמן שאתם אוהבים‬ .‫ אל תפספסו‬- ‫שאלות‬

Join us for a special virtual conversation, in Hebrew, with one of Israel’s leading musicians. We will talk with Elai about his lyrics and behind-the-scenes fame, and sing with him. Don't miss this rare opportunity to ask your favorite musician some questions. Free

Feb 17 | Virtual Join an engaging discussion with Amir Tibon, U.S. news editor at Haaretz Newspaper, and Jakir Manela, CEO of Hazon and Pearlstone, on the COP26 United Nations Climate Conference, climate change, its impact on Israel, and ways to unite for a sustainable future. Free Click here to register

Click here to register 37

E L E M E N TA RY S C H O O L S E RV I C E S • • • • • • • •

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M I D D L E S C H O O L S E RV I C E S • • • • • • • •

Enrichment in all academic subjects Strengthening in studying/testing skills Homework planning & time management skills Foreign languages: Spanish, French, Mandarin SHSAT test prep SSAT/ISEE test prep NYS ELA/MATH test prep Computer programming

H I G H S C H O O L S E RV I C E S • • • • • • • • •

Enrichment in all academic subjects Advanced Math & Sciences AP prep Regents prep SAT, SAT II & ACT prep College essay support Computer programming Foreign languages: Spanish, French, Mandarin IB prep

www.beetutored.com | learn@beetutored.com | 917.482.4880 38

CREDITS Rabbi Joanna Samuels Chief Executive Officer Megan Whitman Chief Program Officer Eric Winick Chief Marketing Officer Udi Urman Director The David H. Sonabend Center for Israel Rebecca Grossman Program Director The David H. Sonabend Center for Israel Bari Lovi Major Gifts Officer The David H. Sonabend Center for Israel Rebecca Winzenried Editorial Director Amanda Schechter Director, Program Marketing Peter Hines Senior Director of Creative Services Jessica Epstein Senior Director of Marketing Operations Gwynn Galitzer Senior Art Director Lawrence Quigley Senior Web Manager 39

CONGRATULATIONS On behalf of the Advisory Council, we are delighted to welcome the new team leading The David H. Sonabend Center for Israel— Udi Urman, Rebecca Grossman, and Bari Lovi. We congratulate you on the inaugural issue of TAMUZ, our online quarterly magazine featuring a rich and varied array of articles about Israel. With all the best wishes for its success, Sheila Lambert, Chair of Development, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan Erica Frederick, Chair, Center for Israel Advisory Council

SHEILA LAMBERT ERICA FREDERICK 40

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to the Center for Israel at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan for introducing a new resource to enhance our community’s connection to the State of Israel and Welcome to Rabbi Joanna Samuels, the JCC’s new CEO and visionary leader. With warm regards, Elizabeth H. Scheuer + Peter Joseph

ELIZABETH H. SCHEUER + PETER JOSEPH

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to The David H. Sonabend Center for Israel on launching a new digital magazine about Israel. We look forward to reading it! Yasher Ko’ach! Yael + Bradley Cohen

YAEL + BRADLEY COHEN 42

To place an ad in the next issue of TAMUZ, please email israel@mmjccm.org

TAMUZ: The David H. Sonabend Center for Israel Quarterly Magazine | Winter 2022

Articles inside

Inspirational Israeli

Face the Music

Opinion

Artists

Feature

Welcome

Cuisine