Fishka: Projects

Jewish multicultural musical project

LIMONCHIKI is a series of events combining interviews and discussions with artists and musicians, with live performances. The purpose is to explore the processes of which modern music culture creation is comprised, and to dig into cross-cultural influences and traditional ethnic expressions. Artists and musicians from different countries meet on stage with their Israeli colleagues, exposing Israeli public to a moment of creation of a new musical language and the influence of cross-cultural experiences on modern Jewish culture in general.

Project participants: Alec Kopyt from Amsterdam Klezmer band with Jerusalem drunk&brass Doolee Band; Psoy Korolenko (Moscow), Daniel Kahn (Berlin) & Oy-Division (Tel-Aviv) with joint project "The Unternationale 2"; the kibbutz movement historian Miki Tzur and the famous kabbalah teacher & translator Menahem Yaglom, the journalist and hostess Asya Istoshina; Jewlia Eisenberg (San-Francisco) and her Israeli “Bowls Project” that deals with the history of female mystics during the period of Babylon exile, and many others.

Project Partners: Auris Media, Beit Avi Chai

Teatralka

Theater experimental workshop

As kids, many of us dreamed of becoming an actor. For those who made this dream come true, and for those who didn’t - Theatralka is a unique opportunity to participate in a community live theater performance. This is a special workshop where audience, authors and actors switch their roles and create a one of a kind common show.

Some of the meetings are created on the basis of the theater history; from Ancient Greece to Comedia del Arte and Shakespeare. Others deal with Israeli holidays, traditional texts and even social relationships.

Through an informal and creative process participants also gain an alternative experience of team work. Theatralka provides a stage for a unique form of expression while offering an opportunity for artistic development as well as a social-emotional experience.

Theatralka started three years ago, as one of the first Fishka’s projects. In time, it became an enriching community for Russian speaking adults, who are interested in the performing arts. These people also attend theater performances as a group and discuss Israeli and international culture over a beer.

Many of Theatralka members are active volunteers in Fishka's projects and have in the past taken part in community productions such as: "Purimshpil” and a "Chaos or Vanity". These productions are some of Fishka's partnerships with other organizations, including BINA, Hillel Tel Aviv and HIDA creating opportunities for theater collaborations between Russian speaking and native Israeli young people.

http://news.israelinfo.ru/tribune/34257

Art of Time

Art Of Time is bringing together young community leaders and Israeli senior citizens in South Tel Aviv. The program encourages volunteering among young people by training them to conduct art workshops of wood carving.

Throughout the year, the group of young & elderly people works in Southern Tel Aviv- Jaffa.

Together, they prepare an art exhibition displaying their works and sharing their personal stories, showing how mutual understanding has become deepened through the process of carving wood together.The vocational treatment, artistic work, and the intensity of the interpersonal bonds improve the cognitive and emotional performance of the senior citizens, encouraging them to share their life stories, and support them in day-to-day routine of activities.

"My lessons are a dialogue between the artist and people standing in the “Clearing of Being" (M. Heidegger). Тhe artist can transfer his vision of the world to people who survived Holocaust, as well as they have an enormous impact on the artist's work", - said Alexander Galitsky. According to him, the aim of the

View videos:

http://youtu.be/F12cB-2XBrg

http://youtu.be/y31vSWWYO6Q

Not my Grandma's cooking

Young Russian-speakers research different ethnic and ancestral traditions of people living in Israel

The theme is explored through one of the most basic elements of culture - food. The project takes its members through the trio of: theoretical studies of the history of these communities, the creation of their culinary traditions, and the combination of this study with the real cooking process of traditional Shabbat and holiday meals. Participants enrich their personal experience through shared dinners filled with stories and socializing with each other and other program guests.

Cinema Club

Fishka’s Cinema Club is a series of intimate, themed evenings, where guests gather to watch Israeli and foreign films, from classics to modern indie films. These evenings also include fervent discussions, meetings with film directors, writers, actors and other people involved in film production. The Film Club particularly focuses on creating a link between young Russian-speaking people and the Jewish and Israeli culture.

The Cinema Club was founded in 2008 and it has since grown to become one of the most important components of the cultural life of Fishka’s regular “cinema-activists” and many other visitors.

Not long ago the Club expanded and began showing a number of recent popular Russian films, made available by the company YES.

It’s more enjoyable to watch a movie with a group of friends and a cup of tea, rather than by yourself, and especially to participate in discussions, to consider the art of cinema, the cinematic language of the director, to study the tricks of the trade and the connection between films and important life events. These are the guiding principles for film selection at Fishka’s Cinema Club.

It’s interesting to note the following movies, shown previously:

- The film “Everything is Illuminated” – a path to oneself, using the secrets of Road Movies from Fishka’s movie expert.

- The Israeli film “Policeman” and a meeting with the director.

- “Soviet new year films as a unique cultural phenomenon” – a lecture and discussion, accompanied by relevant movie fragments.

- “Blue Velvet” by David Lynch, with music by Angelo Badalamenti.

- “Waltz with Bashir” – an evening dedicated to the national memory and forgetfulness.

- “The Bubble” – a discussion about life in central Tel Aviv and searching for oneself in this city.

- “Wristcutters: A Love Story” – the script was written by the Israeli writer Edgar Keret. Keret met with audience after the film viewing

Chronicus

Chronicus is planned as a series of meetings with outstanding personalities in the fields of literature and arts, and will also include guided tours to cultural sights in Tel Aviv, such as the Bialik House, the Rokah House, Neve Sheanan neighbourhood and more.

Chronicus’ purpose is to introduce young Russian-speaking israelis to Jewish and Israeli culture in the perspective of the last century and guide them through the places where people who created the contemporary "Hebrew Culture" lived.

This project also gives an opportunity for new immigrants to learn more about Israeli culture, it’s contemporary tendencies and development, while allowing Russian speakers, who have been living in Israel for a long time learn about the cultural life in the former Soviet Union.

Chronicus is a bilingual program - some events will be held in Russian, and others in Hebrew. This, also, exemplifies our aspirations to create a framework for a cross-cultural dialogue.

Mamas & Papas

A group of young Russian-speaking parents are looking for a unique way of creating an Israeli home, with a connection to their cultural heritage and family history.

The program is an opportunity to explore different aspects of parenthood through the multicultural eyes of Russian and Hebrew speaking families in Israel.

Parents are welcome to look together for a right approach to their bilingual children.

Participants develop a constructive educational framework and become part of a supportive young community with similar needs and questions. During the program gatherings, parents will participate in discussion groups, celebrate holidays and Shabbats with their children and share experiences in joint seminars.

Project leaders are young parents themselves, who cope with similar issues in their everyday lives and would like to establish a supportive community.

Hebrew Poetry Workshop

The Hebrew Poetry Workshop does not aim at teaching a person HOW to write and rhyme. Classical approach to poetry is rarely used in contemporary Hebrew literature and our poetry workshop meetings are conducted solely in Hebrew.

The purpose of the project is rather in creating a special atmosphere that will awaken the muse, napping in our souls and inspire us to express ourselves on paper. Workshop themes derive their inspiration from various sources, such as lives of famous poets, ancient Slavic traditions, bible parables, newspaper articles...

This year we will also host Israeli poets and writers, who will share their literary vision and experience with us.

Hebrew Poetry Workshop is open for all, regardless of the person's previous experience in literature. It will give an opportunity to not only gain a writing experience but also to meet interesting people and share writings with them.

It is worth mentioning that this is a joint project of Fishka and the Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture “Bina”. The Poetry Workshop is a meeting place of Hebrew native speakers and those for whom Hebrew will always remain a secondary language.

Tu b'Av Festival

The “Tu B'Av” festival originates from Biblical times. The tradition tells that as a result of the tribal conflicts, the people of Israel vowed not to give their daughters to the tribe of Benjamin. The banned tribe almost perished and so the people of Israel rushed to save it by permitting young Benjamin men to arrive once a year on the day of Tu B'Av to the Shilo vineyards to “kidnap” brides. Girls came to the vineyards wearing white clothes in the light of the full moon, excited to meet their lovers.

Over generations, these ancient vows lost their significance and when the eyes of two lovers, it no longer matters to which tribe they each belong. These days, while mixing vodka with Redbull and gobbling humus with chips, we tend to concentrate on what we have in common and try to bridge the differences.

Could it be however, that just as we decide to start a family and to create a home on the land of our ancestors, we suddenly dive back to the days of the Bible, to the frustration of the tribe of Benjamin? The State of Israel, despite being free, democratic and the world's most technologically advanced country, is also one of the few countries where the only legal way to marry is according to the most stringent religious - Orthodox Jewish law.

More than 300 thousand men and women, mostly immigrants from the FSU cannot marry in the state of Israel. They are forced to go through endless rabbinical bureaucracy, that places many obstacles on their way to legal Jewish wedding.

Together with our partners, “Havaya- Israeli Ceremony” and “The New Israel Fund” we have created a festival of love, marriage, Judaism and the freedom of choice. The festival takes place in the center of Tel-Aviv, on the Tu B'Av day, for the third year in a row. Our goals are to raise awareness to necessity for legislation of civil marriage and to increase exposure for marriage alternatives in Israel today.

With the blessings of the deputy mayor, the support of the audience and guests cheer, young couples get the legitimacy to have Jewish wedding they desire, according to their personal beliefs.

Event minisite : http://www.tubav.info/

Yellow House

The name Yellow-house in Russian culture is a common name for a madhouse. We have adopted this name for two main reasons:

First, there is a perception that artistic talent is similar to madness.

Secondly, the house where the meetings are held, is painted yellow.

So, our host is a “madhouse”, the performers are the “Patients”, the audience is the “Visitors”, and of course there is the “Medical Staff”, who monitor the late night show inside the yellow walls. Yellow House has brought together representatives of modern music, contemporary art and literary community. From beginners to professionals, from traditional approaches to the avant-garde. To those who present their work to the public for the first time, Yellow House gives a unique opportunity to meet their first audience face-to-face.

The first phase of the project was completed with an almanac that included the works of poets, artists and musicians that took part in the Yellow House meetings.

Community Life

Besides projects in various fields of study and its social activities, Fishka also holds joint celebrations of holidays and Shabbat, hosts groups from friendly associations from other countries and organizes themed meetings, master-classes and large events.

Stay tuned!

Cherdak

“Cherdak” is a club founded by young people, who love photography and see it as part of their lives. Any photo-enthusiast is a potential “Cherdak” member.

The club is named after an attic in Tel Aviv, where it all started several years ago. Whether the interest is a hobby or a profession, it is a personal way to express a unique vision of life.

“Cherdak” encourages its members to progress in any photography genre they choose. The process of mutual learning and skill development is held in informal settings, by means of sharing experiences with fellow members of the club, visiting exhibitions and participating in lectures and master classes conducted by guest professionals.

“Cherdak” works towards creating and finding opportunities for its members to participate in exhibitions, performances, and other kinds of activities.

Every year the club produces an annual exhibition of its members’ works.

This year the exhibition was conducted with the collaboration of the Youth Department of the Tel-Aviv Municipality.

Last year “Cherdak” photographers participated in the photoshoot of the “Bina” project - the book that tells the story of South Tel Aviv’s Shapiro neighborhood.

LABORATORIA

Fishka is constantly seeking entrepreneurs and new ideas. Our LABORATORIA is designed to provide a platform for trying, learning and developing new projects. We introduce new leaders to Fishka’s project development model and help them make their dreams come true.

LABORATORIA is open for any fresh content and innovative ideas which may have an impact on Israeli society, culture or community life.

The pilots, once started in the LABORATORIA, become an integral part of FISHKA's community, provided with all the organizational support they need.

If you have an IDEA for a new social or cultural initiative, please contact: Labs@fishka.org.il

Radical Jews

The idea behind the project is to introduce the audience to the artistic and philosophical heritage of the most radical Jewish authors.

Why have we chosen Radicalism as a subject?

This is because we are extremely intrigued and interested to trace how culturally and traditionally similar environments could "produce" authors, so remotely different in their vision from one another. Furthemore, it is interesting to explore the authors' relationship with their Jewish roots and tradition - how some of them embraced it, while others denied. Indeed, when we antagonize something fiercely - don't we reveal it's actual importance to us?..

On our meetings, we will talk about avantgard musicians, Beat poets, revolutionary painters, controversial cinematographers, anarchists, extreme revolutionists and many more.

The first part of the meetings will be devoted to a lecture, accompanied by music and/or visual imagery. The second part will include a DJ set, with a semantic or conceptual bond to the subject of the meeting. Lectures will be given by both projects' leaders and guest speakers.

Dance Theater - Dance and Movement Studio

Dance and Movement Studio doors are open to all those who

want to express themselves through movement
have always dreamed of learning to dance, but didn't believe they had enough talent
want to become stronger, more flexible, more self-confident and more open people
are interested in learning dance techniques or improvisation
wish to develop their creativeness
want to communicate without words
are ready to hear stories told by our bodies
wish to see their souls dance
want to make a movement and a human touch part of their lives

No previous dance experience required!

During our classes we work on techniques as well as on improvisation, learn about different kinds of dance and movement, discover and explore ourselves and others in movement. We dance in the studio, on the streets, on stage. We run, we jump, we lie, we fly and float, we sit, fall down, we dance and we stand still.

Come to our studio and you'll get to know that in dancing, the sky is the limit.

Classes take place in Fishka's House, every Sun, 7 pm.

For details:

972-54-4834727 Elena

helena.kovalsky@gmail.com

Project leader: Elena Kovalsky

Urban Hafla

Urban Ethnic Celebration

Urban-Hafla offers a creative platform that will allow the residents of multicultural neighborhoods to get to know each other and to recreate the tradition of hospitality and sharing.

Through our cooperation with community centers, we encourage local artists and craftsmen to work together to create an Urban Hafla festival. The event is accompanied by live folk music, traditional dances and homemade food. Alongside the professional artists, the residents of the neighborhood take an active part in the event and display their talents in various creative fields.