Rutgers Hillel Israeli festival set for Nov. 11
By Cheryl Orson
Nov. 9, 2007
Rutgers Hillel will hold its fourth annual Israeli Cultural Festival on Nov. 11 in the College Avenue gym.
"The festival is being held to introduce the campus community to all the great things Israel has to offer," said Rabbi Esther Reed, Associate Director for Jewish Campus Life.
Festival-goers will in fact be able to totally immerse themselves in all things Israeli.
"You'll feel just like you're in Israel," said student Festival Director Eytan Morganstern stating the idea is to reach out to students not integrated into the Israeli culture.
The various goods and services that will be available in the gym that day will include Israeli jewelry, clothing, beauty products as well as Jewish organizations offering student trips to Israel. There will also be a demonstration of Israeli marshal arts by the Krav Maga group, performances by Israeli folk dancing groups and an Israeli drum circle.
Highlighting the festival, however, will be a performance by mega Israeli-Ethiopian fusion rock star Idan Raichel about whose latest release The New York Times said "was a huge hit in Israel for good reason: it envisions a modern, multicultural nation where voices of young and old, Ethiopian and Yemenite, are all heard in songs devoted to love and tolerance," while Billboard Magazine Review concurred "Israeli keyboardist/composer Idan Raichel, who has become quite an item among Israel's and Ethiopia's music fans, collaborates here with Ethiopian immigrants in Israel…[and that] Raichel's U.S. debut is a multi-ethnic tour de force."
Rabbi Reed echoed these sentiments stating Raichel is sure to be a big draw for both college students and young rock listeners in general.
"He's widely popular. The students love him," said Reed who expects over 1,000 adoring fans to pack the gym for his 8:15 p.m. performance.
"We're hoping the music will help to bridge the gap," added Morganstern stating he hopes while students will come for the music, they'll stay for the Israeli culture.
Adding to the celebratory mood this year, the festival will also mark Israel's 60th statehood anniversary. Reed said this momentous occasion will be evident throughout all the different elements of the festival including the use of a special Israeli logo on all festival material.
Tickets for the festival are $5 for Rutgers students in advance, $10 at the door; $25 for non-Rutgers students in advance, $30 at the door; and $30 for non-student general community admission in advance, $35 at the door. Partial proceeds will be donated to Save a Child's Heart, an Israeli charitable organization providing pediatric cardiac care to children from third world nations.
For more information on the Rutgers Israeli Cultural Festival visit www.rutgershillel.org or www.icfest.com.