The Greater Hartford community’s first Israel Festival will be held from April 19-28, 2015, with many events in West Hartford.

Submitted by Larah Winn, Mandell JCC

Israel is known for its blend of old and new, holy and secular, history and technology and, arts and culture. This year, the Mandell JCC and 20 community partners invite the Greater Hartford Community to experience its first Israel Festival, April 19-28, 2015.

Highlights of the festival include; a discussion with best-selling Israeli author, screenwriter and producer of Prisoners of War, the Israeli series that SHOWTIMES’ Homeland is based on, CAPA’IM, a live Israeli music experience and a Jewish Book Festival signature event, The Bus on Jaffa Road, with critically acclaimed author, Mike Kelly and more. Events will take place at six different locations in Greater Hartford throughout the festival.

The beginning of the festival will honor tradition with the Yom Hashoah Community Holocaust Commemoration of the Martyred Six Million, Sunday, April 29 at 7 p.m followed by the Yom Hazikaron Ceremony, honoring the fallen victims of wars in Israel and acts of terror on Tuesday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Beth El’s Women’s Network hosts An Evening with Anita Diamant on Monday, April 20, featuring author of The Red Tent and The Boston Girl. An Israeli dessert reception featuring influential women in Israel will follow.

Wednesday, April 22, offers two insightful programs. El Al and Beyond Brunch & Learn from noon-1:15 p.m.brings a diverse group of El Al Airlines flight ambassadors about their unique experiences on and off duty with a behind the scenes look at Israel’s National Airline.

Israel – Off the Page & On Screen, at 7:30 p.m. will feature Ron Leshem, best-selling Israeli Author and screenwriter for his novel Beaufort. The novel, which became a major motion picture, received critical acclaim, including a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Leshem, who co-directed the film, has also produced Prisoners of War, the Israeli series that SHOWTIMES’s Homeland is based on. A book selling and signing will follow the discussion.

The festival continues Thursday, April 23 with an Afternoon at the Museum of Jewish Civilization from noon-2 p.m., a rare opportunity to engage in a myriad of archeological- based activities.

Moishe House Hartford and the Young Adult Division of Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford hosts an exclusive pre-concert dinner at 5:30 p.m. with ambassadors of from El Al Airlines with Israel – In the Air and On Your Plate.  

At the heart of the festival, Thursday, April 23, at 7:30 is CAPA’IM, an Israeli Music Experience. Attendees can celebrate and sing their way through Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, with CAPA’IM, an authentic and refreshing musical experience with a variety of the biggest hits of Israeli and Jewish culture. They feature beloved songs by Israeli artists such Kaveret, Arik Einstein, Mosh Ben Ari, Eyal Golan, Yehudit Ravitz, Ariel Zilber, Shlomo Artzi and others, alongside popular Jewish songs such as Hava Nagila, Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, Haleluya, Oseh Shalom and many more. Following the concert, there is a free Hora Dance Party hosted by Israeli dance instructor Marla Cohen.

Continuing on through the weekend, families can welcome in Shabbat with an Israeli Twist, Friday, April 24 from 6:30-8:15 p.m. The program will include candle lighting, songs, an Egalitarian Service in the sanctuary and a Traditional Service in the chapel, followed by an authentic, family-friendly Israeli dinner.

After dinner, children will be treated to a special Blue & White make-your-own sundae bar and a PJ Library activity with Young Israeli Emissaries. This event is open to community and co-sponsored with Beth David Synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel, Beth Hillel Synagogue, PJ Library, and Congregation Beth Ahm.

Young Adults looking to take part in the Israel Festival can enjoy an Israeli DJ Dance Party, Saturday, April 25 from 9 p.m. to midnight. Featuring an Israeli DJ at the Tavern Downtown in Hartford with an open bar from 9-10:30 p.m. and an appetizer buffet. Co-sponsored by the Young Adult Division of the Jewish Federation, Moishe House Hartford and the Mandell JCC.

Sunday, April 26 from 10:30 a.m.-noon, teens can take part in a workshop sponsored by JTConnect and Stand With Us, an international organization dedicated to informing the public about Israel and combating anti-Semitism, come together for this special event.

Also taking place on Sunday, is the Jewish Book Festival signature event with Mike Kelly author of The Bus on Jaffa Road at 7 p.m. Mike Kelly is an award-winning columnist for The (Bergen) Record of New Jersey and critically acclaimed author of The Bus on Jaffa Road.  His book chronicles a single act of terrorism that rocked a family, this community, and the world. Jaffa tells the story of the 1996 terrorist attack that took the lives of West Hartford native, and rabbinical student Mathew Eisenfeld (z”l) and his fiancée Sara Duker (z”l).

Rounding out the film festival are two free film screenings, Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. is Shores of Light, an untold story of warmth and compassion after a terrible war. Thousands of Jewish survivors landed in Southern Italy after WWII on their way to Israel. To their surprise the locals welcomed them. Shores of Light follows three Israeli women who were born in Santa-Marcia-di-Leuca and weaves rare historical footage with current testimonials capturing rays of light after darkness.

Tuesday, April 28 at 7:15 p.m. is a free screening of the powerful film, Body and Soul-The State of a Jewish Nation, a comprehensive examination of the broad and deep connections between the Jewish people and the land of Israel. Following the screening there will be a discussion with the film’s producer/director, Gloria Z. Greenfield.

Prices, dates and locations vary; please visit www.mandelljcc.org for the complete Israel Festival Brochure.Tickets are on sale in person or online at the Mandell JCC Box Office, 860-231-6316, [email protected]. For more information contact Raz Newman, 860-231-6333, [email protected] or contact the Member Services Center, 860-236-4571.

The Mandell Jewish Community Center is open to everyone and supported by funds raised by the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, a recipient of funding from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, a member of the JCC Association of North America. Programs subject to change. For updates, follow the Mandell JCC on Facebook, Twitter and www.mandelljcc.org.