Improv Comedy in Jerusalem, for your viewing pleasure
Wonder if the Improv troop actually performed at the Merkaz Hamagshimim on Dec. 5 during Hanukah or whether it was a bogus plug. Well you need not wonder any longer.
For those of you who missed out, they fortunately film their shows for all their die-hard fans and we have asked to have the honor of linking the show clips to our blog!
After fighting about copyright, residuals and if they are even that funny- we have managed to gain access to the clips for our 10 readers.
The clips are divided into games and run about 4 to 6 minutes long. Watch them for a good time and check out live Improv at a Jerusalem near you!
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Manicures and Pedicures in Jerusalem, secrets revealed
Don’t be upset, boys. I know this blog can get a little girly at times due to the fact that we are, in fact, girls. But I’ll tell you this, mention the juicy details in this post to a lady friend, and you will be guaranteed a 10.5 second hug, perhaps even a high five. So, it’s up to you to continue reading.
I decided it was time to grow up and stop taking out boredom or nervousness on my poor fingers. So, I set out on treating myself to a manicure and did what any good Jerusalem Anglo would do, check Janglo before venturing out of my home. I called a few places but found the prices to be at least 60 shekels. Alas, I found an ad posted from Ester, who would come to my house and give me a manicure for 50 shekels. I thought this service was reserved for the wealthy with butlers, a summer home in the Hamptons, and a 3 car garage.
So, in this strange land of Israel, you can enjoy in-home manicures or a stick of deodorant for roughly the same price. So make your choice wisely. You could be stinky or have some nice lookin’ nails. I went for the nails. Ester’s number is 0544 99 5067.
In other extremity news, my graphic design teacher showed us how to shorten toes in Photoshop but he kept referring to them as fingers. Not the Hebrew word for fingers, the English word itself. Should I have said something? Probably. Did I? No. This way, every time I mess up in Hebrew, I can think back to all the Israelis I’ve met who think they jump in puddles, ride their bike, and step in dog poop with their “fingers” and have a good giggle.
Tel Aviv and the Party Factor
It’s true that Tel Aviv is only a 45 minute bus ride away, but lets face it I never go there. But that doesn’t mean I won’t go to Tel Aviv it just means I need a good reason. And the Free Birthright Alumni party was all the incentive this girl needed to get out of Jerusalem for a Saturday night.Yes indeed, Tel Aviv is party central and not just compared to Jerusalem, but a friend recently told me that Tel Aviv has more bars per area then any other city in the world. And while I didn’t check out every bar or club in Tel Aviv I still managed to find where the party was at!
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Sheruts are definitely the way to go, running 24 hours
I went to Tel Aviv the other night for the first time in a very very very long time. Despite the fact that Tel Aviv is technically pretty close, all that traveling on busses is enough to keep me away. I believe the last time was for WordCamp and iDrink. This time it was for a birthright israel party. An open bar birthright party, I might add. But Rebecca, you didn’t go on birthright, did you? No, I couldn’t since I had already been to Israel on organized tours. But luckily, Molly did, and she was able to get me in somehow. Here’s the crazy part.. Ivri Lider was invited to light the chanukah candles which was pretty surreal. The truth is, it could’ve been any Israeli- looking guy and I would’ve believed it was him (a little tip for the next celebrity planned at these events). And then he just stuck around like he wanted to be there. It felt good to feel young, get a little tipsy, and dance until 2am.
But I digress. I wanted to mention some tips I learned from my travels to that far off land of TA (Have it stand for what you will).
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And you thought Italian was a pretty language
The most beautiful word in the Hebrew language is mos’ definitely Chaki, accent on the first syllable, rhymes with cocky, with that extra special chhhh sound that lets me clear my throat guilt-free. This is not to be confused with a similar word meaning to wait. No, this is the word for what in English is known as the color khaki. The not so pretty color apparently has its own not so pretty version in Hebrew.
Lately I’ve been experiencing major writers block. I knew I couldn’t write until I felt passionately about something. Thankfully, hearing this word Chaki over and over in my graphic design class made me realize just how beautiful this Hebrew language truly is. In 3 years of living in Israel, and only now am I treated to some of the more rare and beautiful words. Try it for yourself. Say it as your walk down the street, pick out your outfit for the day, as you’re about to eat- this delectable word is bound to drum up an appetite. I’ll take 2 Chakis, please. Hold the loogie.
Hanukah is about Oil and Oil is about Fat
Americans like to think that Thanksgiving is a holiday filled with lots of food. Forget counting calories, it is more about counting serving after serving. It is a holiday where you know to wear pants that give a little or at least ones that you can unbutton after you stuffed yourself to the maximum potential of stuffing (with stuffing- good one).But as part of the transition to life in Israel, you give up Thanksgiving just not the fat part. Hanukah is a time of cheer, candling lighting fun and fat fatty fat. Yes, it appears that since the candles were lit with oil, we Jews have figured out a way to take the oil from the candles and literally spread it on our food for eight days.
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New Chanukah video [funny]
As promised, a funny video for each holiday! For those of you searching for a funny Chanukah video, here’s Light My Candles a Hanukah Parody of “Rent” The Musical made by the big felafel’s very own Molly.
Improv in Jerusalem, Laugh it up
I need a good laugh. In fact, the last time I think I had one was at an improv night over a year ago. Actually, this video makes me laugh quite a bit – well, more the version that Molly does of it.
Thank G-d for Chanukah, Wednesday nights, the Merkaz, and funny people. Put it all together and you’ve figured out this cryptic note.
Improv night
Wednesday night, December 5, Merkaz Hamagshimim
7a Dor Vdorshav, German Colony | 8:30pm | 35 shekels, unlimited drinks
Here are some videos of the improv group:
I’d like to think maybe I had a tiny hand in producing my own entertainment, by putting some members in touch with each other and telling them they should really do it! What I don’t get is how these people are so hysterical on the spot.. do they have super fast brains? I’m really in awe, in case you can’t tell. See you there!
A Subtle difference: Ties
Many new immigrants from North America have big-time cultural shock when they move to Israel. There are new standards for everything from bank hours to shorter weekends- but the subtle changes take you longer to notice.I knew I was no longer in America after I stood in line at the post office for a package that took two months to get here- did I mention it was shipped overnight express? Things like post offices, doctors and customer service are evident changes in our daily lives in the holy land, but it took me three years to realize that work attire is totally backwards here.
After working in several offices I now know that jeans are acceptable office casual and even formal with the right boots. After a tour of the Supreme Court in Jerusalem I learned that Judges are wearing t-shirts under their robes.
And of course I know that people do not wear ties at weddings, but what I didn’t know was that the ties are being worn by bus drives all over Israel. What a funny little society we are- I mean bus drivers with ties but Knesset members in jeans?
So while the cultural shock is almost all but lifted, I continue to notice the subtle changes in my new world: Every elevator in Israel has a mirror and parking on the sidewalk is completely normal.
You don’t make friends with salad
I am the kinda person who likes to eat a good Shabbat meal. You’re probably like that too. I really enjoy when the challah is warm off the hot plate and table is filled with lots of different salatim, inviting you in for the warm feast that will stretch your stomach to new limits.One of my favorite parts of Israel is the food and more specifically the salatim- matbuha (the red stuff that looks like salsa), eggplant made in every color and flavor, hummus, techina, hilbe (Yemenite) and whatever else you got.
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