Unlike their predecessors, the immigrants ("olim") from the relics of the former Soviet Union, are not forced to join and blend in the Israeli melting pot. The reason for that is their huge number, but also the process of privatization and de-collectiveness which the maturing Israel is going through. How does the fact that they are no longer required to give up their "Russianess" affect their Israeli identity? How does it affect the "Israeliness" of us all? Does the Russian culture influence the old Israeli society? This fascinating interaction is examined here through several main characters, which represent different aspects of the jigsaw puzzle of this enormous immigration wave – approx. 1, 200, 000 people who made "alia" to Israel throughout the nineties.


"Israel – our home?"

50 min, color, 2006

Hosts: Dr. Oren Harman & Dr. Yanay Ofran
Director: Ido Bahat
Editor in Chief: Aliza Ziegler
Producer: Shula Spiegel – Spiegel Productions Ltd.
Sponsored by: 8th Channel, Israel and Avi Chai Foundation, Gesher Multicultural Film Fund, Israel
Language: Hebrew with English subtitles

DVD - For Home Use Only :
$29.90

Synopsis


Unlike their predecessors, the immigrants ("olim") from the relics of the former Soviet Union, are not forced to join and blend in the Israeli melting pot. The reason for that is their huge number, but also the process of privatization and de-collectiveness which the maturing Israel is going through. How does the fact that they are no longer required to give up their "Russianess" affect their Israeli identity? How does it affect the "Israeliness" of us all? Does the Russian culture influence the old Israeli society? This fascinating interaction is examined here through several main characters, which represent different...

Festivals

  • Camp Ramah, NY, USA, 2008
  • Warsaw Jewish Motifs Film Festival, Poland, 2008
  • Jewish Federation of of Metrowest, USA, 2007
  • Israfest New York, USA, 2007

Press & Links:

  • Asaf Schneider- Maariv
    "It is worth watching “ Did Herzl Really Say That" . The captivating personalities of Harman and Ofran- wise and knowledgeable, yet still down to earth and straight shooting is one side of the story. The other is the age of the duo, which turns "Did Herzl Really Say That?" into a series for the 30-something generation. This is seen in both their interview technique and also in the visuals, in the shared experiences which hint of this the most. And this is how the journey of Harman and Ofran differentiates from the norm: It isn't yet another fruitless search for "roots"- rather an honest self-evaluation full of good intentions to make peace with the here and now somehow, for the generation who will soon be drawn into involvement with the majority of facets of life in the State of Israel."

    Ehud Asheri- Haaretz
    "This was one of the most outstanding and entertaining journeys to reach my screen of late.
    Their way of debating is via dialogue which freely skips between the personal, cultural and theological, and through encounters with equally smart people.
    Through their lighthearted and friendly approach, the pair succeed in avoiding the trap of didactic pseudo-intellectualism, and yet still challenge the viewer on a level that would condemn them had this been shown on Channel 2- but on Channel 8, two stars were born last night."

    Oren Persico- Globes
    "These two talents, who joined our screens yesterday having won no reality competitions, nevertheless manages to provide verbal expression for their spirituality and that of their conversation partners, or at least for the doubts"
    "That everyone has about their spirituality, and all this without going off base even once. In their warmth, their erudition, and their deep understanding, Ofran and Harman embarked upon a journey on the blurred border between secularism and faith in Israel, and returned with 50 minutes of pure championship, showing great promise with regard to coming episodes, and proving that television, as well as the corridors of power, requires decent academics prepared to give their time and talents for the good of us all."

    Second Authority "Daily Display" Ran Bin-Nun
    "Harman and Ofran have brought things up we hadn't yet heard, and even if we had heard them before, never in such a manner. Without a doubt, Herzl would be stroking his beard and maybe even unfolding his map of Uganda once again."

    Raanan Shaked- Yediot Aharonot
    "Did Herzl Really Say That?" is an excellent example of why, even though it may be far from home, you must all pack a toothbrush and get yourselves over to Channel 8 pronto."
    "The blurring of boundaries in Israeli society captivates "Did Herzl Really Say That?" which itself stands upon a blurred boundary, without defining itself as to what it is really getting at, yet spreading magic and originality from almost every issue it touches upon. This is just the sort of original documentary that Channel 2 needs to bring out in order to stop embarrassing itself and we the viewers.

    Lilach Wallach- Nana
    "Do the names not mean anything to you? Great- that's in fact just what we needed. Not another churned-out celebrity with questionable personality who will charm us into helping them get to the top… we are talking about two young educated men, with impressive lineage… Ofran and Harman have more charisma than all those wimps, signed by the Children's Channel prior to becoming sex symbols, put together. And they have a mission, a difficult but ambitious one- to crack the code of "Israeliness"

    "From the lukewarm swamp of today's Israeli television, which bows down to the red carpet of puppet celebrity, it is so very calming to know that somewhere, on Channel 8, a new type of celebrity is emerging, one that is even based upon intelligence and education.”

Festivals

  • Camp Ramah, NY, USA, 2008
  • Warsaw Jewish Motifs Film Festival, Poland, 2008
  • Jewish Federation of of Metrowest, USA, 2007
  • Israfest New York, USA, 2007
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, USA, 2007
  • Vienna Israeli Film Days, Austria, 2007
  • Broward County Jewish Federation, USA, 2007
  • YIVO – Institute for Jewish Research New York, 2007
  • Middle Eastern Conference – Maryland University, 2006
  • Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival, Israel, 2006

Educational

  • Haifa University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Yale University, USA
  • Harvard University, USA
  • University of Miami, USA
  • Rutgers University, USA
  • University of Atlantic Florida, USA
  • Akiva High School, USA
  • Hebrew University, Israel