Ralph Benmergui: My Israel

Archive for the ‘the wall’ Category

Ralph Benmergui: My Israel - ON AIR

May 7th, 2008

Well, I have to tell you, the response to ‘My Israel‘ has been fantastic. People e-mailing and calling to tell us that they feel like they are seeing the real Israel. We had an edited showing that I screened for people in Montreal and at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival and we’re hoping more groups want to see it and talk afterwards. If you know of any just let us know at ralph@myisraelshow.com

Episode five is airing tonight on Vision TV at 9PM.

Thank you,

Tags: jewish, middle east, middle east crisis, My Israel, palestinian, Ralph Benmergui
Posted in Episode Scenes, Israeli, Mizrachi, My Israel, OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, Ralph Benmergui, hamas, intifadah, israeli conflict, jerusalem, jewishist, middle east, muslim arabs, palestinian, radio, television in israel, the wall, vision tv | No Comments »

Ralph Benmergui: My Israel - Episode Five Trailer

May 6th, 2008

Tags: arab, Israel, Israeli settlements, jewish, Mizrachi, Morocco, Muslim, Palestine, Ralph Benmergui, vision tv
Posted in Allan Novak, Conflict, Episode Scenes, Israeli, Mizrachi, My Israel, OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, Ralph Benmergui, Trailers, arabic, hamas, intifadah, israeli conflict, jerusalem, jewishist, middle east, muslim arabs, palestinian, television in israel, the wall, video blog, vision tv | No Comments »

Ralph Benmergui: My Israel - Words from the Director

May 4th, 2008

Tonight’s the night we screen the show for the Toronto Jewish film Festival. I anticipate a sell-out and a good reception. Ralph has been busy all weekend after his personal appearance in Montreal Saturday night and then at the Bloor JCC this afternoon. People are responding very positively to the show and at 53 minutes for the entire journey it flies by. The series will unfold in a different manner… Over three nights starting tomorrow, Monday at 9PM Eastern on Vision TV (Channel 60 in Toronto). My Winnipeg family will be watching it at 8PM and I have no idea what time it’s on in Newfoundland.

Allan Novak

Tags: Allan Novak, Israel, ISRAELS 6OTH ANNIVERSARY, middle east conflict, My Israel, Palestine, Ralph Benmergui, vision tv
Posted in Allan Novak, Conflict, Israeli, Mizrachi, My Israel, OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, Ralph Benmergui, israeli conflict, jerusalem, jewishist, middle east, muslim arabs, palestinian, television in israel, the wall, vision tv | No Comments »

Ralph Benmergui: My Israel - Scenes from Episode One

April 30th, 2008

Well things are heating up as we get ready to premiere the show. There will be articles in the Globe and Mail and a cover of the Starweek Magazine in the Toronto Star as well as some radio and the Canadian Jewish News. On Saturday I’m off to Montreal to talk a group at the Segal Centre. If you live in Montreal I hope you come out, it’s at 9:00 pm.
I’ve already presented the 50 minute version of the show in Toronto and will be back on Sunday to Premiere it at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival at 6:00 pm at the Al Green Theatre.
I hope to be able to go to even more venues both Jewish and not in the future because the conversation is just starting as far as I’m concerned. If you know of anyone who would like to hear more tell me about it.

Here are scenes from episode one, airing Monday the 5th on Vision TV at 9PM.

Shalom
rb

Tags: hamas, ISRAELS 6OTH ANNIVERSARY, jewishist, Mizrachi, My Israel, Palestine, palestinian, Ralph Benmergui, Sephardim, television in israel, vision tv
Posted in Conflict, Episode Scenes, Israeli, Mizrachi, My Israel, OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, Ralph Benmergui, Test Posts, arabic, hamas, intifadah, israeli conflict, jerusalem, jewishist, middle east, muslim arabs, palestinian, radio, television in israel, the wall | 1 Comment »

Ralph Benmergui: My Israel - Opening

April 29th, 2008

Tags: education, ISRAELS 6OTH ANNIVERSARY, middle east crisis, Mizrachi, My Israel, Ralph Benmergui, Sephardim, vision tv
Posted in Conflict, Israeli, Mizrachi, My Israel, OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, Ralph Benmergui, Trailers, arabic, hamas, intifadah, israeli conflict, jerusalem, jewishist, middle east, muslim arabs, palestinian, radio, television in israel, the wall, video blog, vision tv | No Comments »

My Event at Temple Sinai

April 28th, 2008

We had our first public showing of a condensed version of the show in front of an audience at Temple Sinai, a reform(liberal) synagogue in Toronto.

They seemed enthusiastic even though the material challenged some of their assumptions. We had a Q and A after , some wanted to set me straight and paint a picture in which the traditional positions were fleshed out again. Others wanted to know more about the issues of race and class and security over all other considerations among other topics.

I challenged them to look beyond simple notions of good guys and bad guys and Israel right or wrong because I believe that so many people in the middle east want and need to be seen not as the enemy but as human. I have been attacked at times for being naive. I am not. I am a student of the situation and a believer in the Jewish values of loving the stranger and standing for social justice, not just for the other but for so many in Israel who live in poverty and suffer systemic prejudice. My people Sephardim (arab land Jews for the most part). People were animated and the organizers thanked me even though they were nervous that I would offend some.

All in all a good night.

Tags: Israeli, ISRAELS 6OTH ANNIVERSARY, jewishist, Mizrachi, My Israel, orthodox, Ralph Benmergui, Sephardim, synagogue, Temple Sinai, Toronto, vision tv
Posted in Conflict, Episode Scenes, Israeli, Mizrachi, My Israel, OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, Ralph Benmergui, Trailers, arabic, hamas, intifadah, israeli conflict, jerusalem, jewishist, middle east, muslim arabs, palestinian, radio, television in israel, the wall, video blog, vision tv | No Comments »