Friday, December 19, 2014

The annual Yair Shapira Dance festival

The annual Yair Shapira Dance festival

By: Matan Bouter
In 2014 the Yair Shapira festival is marking 39 years. This year I missed it. I was in Greenwich in December.

Yair was born and raised in Kibbutz Givat-Oz, the kibbutz I was born and raised in. He was a dancer. He served in the IDF Golani Brigade, participated in the Yom Kippur War, and fell in battle on Mount Hermon. He was 21 years old when he died.

Over the years, the festival has become a celebration in memory of Yair’s life. The participants are 14 to 18 year old dance students from the twelfth regional dance studios.

The festival which takes place each year in Beit Shean, a city in the north of Israel, strengthens the connection between dance students from peripheral areas kibbutzim and Moshavim, and raises the level of professionalism in various aspects in the field of dance. Among other things, students or teachers who have contributed their part to dance are awarded.

Different technique workshops are held, together with meetings with young Israeli artists. “Bat Sheva” Dance troupe and Kibbutz Contemporary Dance troupe, show their repertoire, and students and adult dancers perform on site.

Yair Shapira grew up with my aunt, and his loss is still greatly felt in our kibbutz.   I, as a member of the Kibbutz, with my family, come to this festival every year to see the memory of Yair creating this amazing union between the Israeli dance communities.

Yair Shapira


Monday, November 10, 2014

Shalom Haver שלום חבר

This month we chose to mark the Israeli remembrance day of Yitzhak Rabin who was assassinated by Yigal Amir on November 4th 1995.
Rabin - the Chief of staff of the IDF, a Kneset member, the defense minister, party leader, diplomat, Prime Minister of Israel, Family person, and a Man of peace.

19 years have passed.
We are the first generation born after the murder . We do not have the remembrance of where we were when Rabin was murdered and do not have the deep emotional connection our parents have. Still; as young adults we went every year to a rally held at the square where Rabin was murdered- Yitzhak Rabin square in Tel Aviv. It is an event featuring thousands of people from all over the country who come to share painful national memory. Past and present members of the Government of Israel and many Israeli musicians come to take part in the event.
Memorial observance, Rabin Square, Tel Aviv
The purpose of carrying the memory of what happened on November 4th 1995 is to condemn any kind of violence within our community while remembering a dramatic breaking point in the history of the state of Israel and also a dramatic moment in the history of modern Jewish life.
One Jew, who lived in a democratic country and did not agree with the opinion of another Jew, chose the path of violence in an attempt to shape the future of a society.

We, as Emissaries of Israel in your community, in the USA, see the importance to remember this event, not just because a political leader was murdered, but because his murder was in complete contrast to what the democratic, Jewish state stands for

Watch Bill Clinton say the Kadish at Rabin's funeral


Friday, November 7, 2014

WORDMICS #1 - A Cold Car

Shalom Greenwich,
As part of our effort to teach you Hebrew we bring you this year the Wordmics - a comics that teach you a new hebrow word everytime.
We are proud to present you our first copy, enjoy it!




Friday, October 3, 2014

Israel Through Our Eyes - Blog No.1

Israel Through Our Eyes - Blog No.1

Hi Greenwich,
We are your new Israeli Emissaries - Itamar and Matan. We decide this year to write a blog for the community. Here we will share items from Israel through our point of view as youth who just graduated high school, as adults who are going to serve in the IDF next year, and as emissaries for Israel to your great community.

Tzuk Eitan

On Thursday October 2, Israel marked a month from the end of the last operation in Gaza, "Tzuk Eitan" – "Protective Edge". We want to expose you to two problems that have not been in the world media: the need to rehabilitate the fields and villages around Gaza strip quickly,and to help the young kids of the area to go back to normal life.

The IDF vehicles and tents, which stayed by the Gaza strip all summer, damaged the fields and farms, and the “open areas”. In addition, rockets from Gaza strip fell on some farms, and sometimes caused huge fires. It has affectedIsrael in many ways. For example, because of damage to the fields, the prices of fruits and vegetables became much higher which caused huge damage to the economy.

After a long time under fire, communities are trying to return to normal life; and kids all around the area, in villages, Kibbutzim and cities had a hard time adjusting back to normal after a long time away from home.

Teens go south

To help with both situations volunteers - in a year of service “Shnat Sherut”  decided to contribute. One of the groups from"Mechinat Rabin"- chose to volunteer at the Gaza border for three weeks. They helped with agricultural work – plowing and planting fields, and helped educational institutes, schools, and preschools by restorating and renovating damaged houses, and opening the school year as normally as possible.

Remember the Victims: "This Is Our Tune"
To commemorate, October 2, a month after the last Israeli soldier left the Gaza strip, “Galatz”, the Army Radio, one of the most popular radio stations in Israel, held a tribute called "This Is Our Tune" in honor and memory of the 72 victims of the operation in Gaza, "Tzuk Eitan.” Abroadcast that aired throughout the day and mentioned each victim through the music theyloved, and through words of their family and friends.
The broadcast is available on "Galatz" website, where you will find a photo of each victim with a few minutes that their family and friends talk about them, then below is the song they chose to remember them by. You can find, also, the whole 10 hours broadcast on the botton of the page. Some of the songs are in English and some are in Hebrew. We think it could be a good way to honor those that are not with us anymore. It was their tune, and for now, this is our tune.

- Itamar & Matan

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Hi Greenwich!

We are your new Israeli Emissaries - Itamar and Matan. You welcome to watch our video and to to know us better:


We decide this year to write a blog for the community. Here we will share items from Israel through our point of view as youth who just graduated high school, as adults who are going to serve in the IDF next year, and as emissaries for Israel to your great community.
Also we will share hear our work in your great and colorful community:)


Have a Shana Tova !




- Itamar & Matan