Happy 60th

Star-studded Hallelujah finale at the Radio City Music Hall

Last night I attended the Yom Ha'atzmaut Israel's 60th Anniversary Celebration at the Radio City Music Hall with my friends (thanks, Lindsay!). It was my first time in Radio City, and the show was really spectacular. An impressive lineup of Jewish and Israeli musicians, including Matisyahu, Idan Raichel, David Broza, Rami Kleinstein, John Zorn, and my favorite acts of the evening, Habanot Nechama and Yael Naim who performed her hit, "New Soul", made popular in the Apple MacBook Air commercials, as well as her cover of Brittany Spears' "Toxic". In addition to these wonderful musical acts, we were treated to special appearances by guest hosts Natalie Portman, Governor (and genetically Jewish!) of New York David Paterson, Paul Schaffer and Richard Belzer.

Alicia Post and Lindsay Litowitz share post-show shots

Esther K. and Doree Lewak descend at Radio City Music Hall

Steven I. Weiss finds his audience for The Jewish Channel in front of Radio City Music Hall

After the show, which ran past midnight, many of us ended up at Tavern on the Green for the Dor Chadash Yom Ha'atzmaut bash. I think every young Jew in New York was there, it was an impressive party!

Jewish Robot flanked by his Israel Girls, Lindsay and Sydney

More photos on Facebook

Let My People Vote

Back in January you may have seen the promotional video I did for Taglit Birthright Israel's "Let My Parents Go" video contest, in which the winners' parents get a trip to Israel. Now the finalists have been chosen, and you can vote on your favorite videos to help decide whose parents win the trip.

So take a look at these great videos and vote today!

Let Their Parents Go!

Last month I produced a promotional video for Taglit-Birthright Israel's Let My Parents Go contest, in which past participants submit their own videos explaining why their parents should win a trip to Israel. Here are some of the latest entries:

Emily Shelton clowns around with her family.

Rivka and Mati, full of Jewish guilt

Jessica and Hollie put on a Miss Jewmerica pageant.

The Brooke Schneider Chronicles

Good luck to all participants!

Let My Parents Go!

Attention Birthright Israel alumni: Do you wish your parents could experience Israel the way you did? Now is your chance. Enter the Taglit-Birthright Israel "Let My Parents Go" video contest, and your parents might win a free trip to Israel!

This is the promotional video I produced for Taglit-Birthright Israel, to encourage Birthright alumni to participate in the contest. It was by far the most fun project I've worked on so far, having my friends with me in front of and behind the camera. I even rented a green screen and professional lighting to make the Israel scenes possible.

Cast and Crew in front of the green screen: "Daddy-O" Meir Taub, "Ema" Esther Kustanowitz, and camerawoman Lindsay Litowitz

When I wasn't in front of the camera, I was playing the role of teleprompter.

Cast:
Josh - William Levin
Mom - Esther Kustanowitz
Dad - Meir Taub
Nice Jewish Girl - Michelle Citrin
Dog - Cooper

Camerawork by Lindsay Litowitz
Edited by Simon Weaver at Snip-Snip

Written and directed by William Levin

"Home" by Shi 360
other music by William Levin

Special thanks to Paul Barnett for the use of his apartment, and Ariel Beery for Israel background video footage.

Produced by JewishRobot

OneVoice is One Word

OneVoice President Daniel Lubetzky
Last night I attended the OneVoice Blogger Meet-Up at Think Tank 3 in Manhattan. From their website,

On October 18, 2007, the Israeli and Palestinian peoples will say "enough!" - enough stalemated negotiations, enough violence and chaos, enough setbacks and excuses.
Through unprecedented, massive parallel summits in Tel Aviv and Jericho satellite-linked to locations worldwide, and supportive events in London , Washington , D.C., and Ottawa , the moderate majority will take a stand.

After an introduction by Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, and Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post, OneVoice President Daniel Lubetzky explained that, while traditional media has failed in spreading the word in their stand for peace in the Middle East, there is still hope with the new media reporters, like us bloggers. So far, over half a million Israelis and Palestinians have pledged their support in the One Million Voices campaign to end the conflict. We bloggers were invited to help spread their word.

Jewschool.com founder Daniel Sieradski compares notes with Craigslist founder Craig Newmark
Aryeh Goldsmith of the Jewish blog aggregator Jrants.com, Leah Jones of Accidentally Jewish, and ever present Esther K.
Heeb's Adam Baruchowitz and Etty Beke for NuYorker
Etty told me that if we took this photo, she would be the envy of all her friends in Venezuela, who happen to be Shabot 6000 fans. As opposed as I am to befriending tall, young Venezuelan Jewish girls, I reluctantly agreed to pose with her.

See more photos by Dan Sieradski

Salute to Israel Parade

Last week was the Salute to Israel Parade on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The event was well attended, and offered a chance to meet up randomly with all the people I've gotten to know in the active Jewish community over the last year.

Newly engaged Seth Galena of BangItOut.com and Hindy "sister of ROI120's Existential Rabbi Avi" Poupko pass out "Kiss Me if You Love Israel" stickers
Leading Up North participants Melissa Frank, Esther K., and National Alumni Coordinator for birthright israel Sydney Henning reunite.
JTA staff writer Jacbo Berkman and Nice Jewish Girl Gone Bad musician Michelle Citrin, exhibit a sign of change: "COME TO ISRAEL ... NO ONE BELONGS HERE"

Happy Birthday, Motherland and Sister Sandy

Israel turns 59 today. My sister Sandy turns ... well, significantly younger than Israel.

Happy birthday, Israel and Sandy!

Teh History of Israel

Please join me in wishing Israel a happy birthday! "Teh History of Israel", is a new cartoon I produced for birthright israel in celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut, or Israel Independence Day.

(Oddly, YouTube happened to chose the most boring frame of the entire cartoon as the preview screen.) The style of pictorial animation I used for this cartoon was inspired by Brad Neely's excellent Professor Brothers series.

Feel free to share with your friends, and have a wonderful celebration!

This cartoon is a product of JewishRobot!

I Heart Israel

Inspired by my recent trip to Israel, I am please to announce a new cartoon I produced for Taglit-birthright israel, appropriately named I Heart Israel. When you love Israel so much, what is the next step? Aliyah? Sure, you can move in with each other, but what if you want to show an even greater commitment? This cartoon takes a relationship with Israel to an even higher level.

You can also watch and share the YouTube video version on the birthright israel site.

Diasporrhea

PresenTense Israel and the Diaspora Salon participants (and non-participants) ck, Mystery Girl, Lindsay, Aryeh G, Laya M, Esther K, Josh Frankel, and me
You may have noticed a missing comic strip and lack of blog posts in the last few days. That's because I'm finally back in Brooklyn, and after three weeks abroad, I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. Aside from taking a lot of photographs and fond memories back with me, I also brought along something else: a fantastic case of TD. I'm not sure when I contracted the bug, or which microorganism is suddenly making life in the bathroom such a colorful experience, but after a feverish 12-hour ride home and six days in the can, it became serious enough to visit the doctor, who, after providing a very thorough examination, has put me on two powerful antibiotics. They seem to be doing the job, as I am able to type this post in one sitting.

During my last few days in Jerusalem, I had the pleasure of attending a PresenTense Magazine salon about Israel and the Diaspora. Believe it or not, we finally came up with definitive, absolute answers to all the big questions, such as "Who is a Jew?", and "What is the Diaspora's role concerning Israel?" But the fellow who took all the notes for the discussion got drunk on pomegranate wine, stumbled into the Christian Quarter of the Old City, and was never to be seen again.

Speaking of the Old City, I also got a wonderful tour of the Muslim Quarter by my knowledgable friend, Aharaon Horwitz, who knew all the nooks and crannies of that daunting neighborhood.

Aharon, my guy did tour
On my last night in Jerusalem Aryeh and I met up with notorious Mobius for dinner. I had the Jerusalem Mix, which, after having been introduced to Jerusalem life, may have been the point when Jersualem life was literally introduced into me.

Jewish Robot, Mobius, and Aryeh in Jerusalem
Israel was the trip of my life, but I'm happy to be back, and looking forward to getting back into business and making this the Year of the Cartoon.

Coming soon, cartoons!

Tzfat Chance

The city of Tzfat
When I was in Israel in the summer, we missed out on going to Tzfat, as the city was being hit by Katyusha rockets while we were driving there! So it was a fortuitous occasion when Lindsay invited me and my freewheeling ROI120 friend, Aaron Small, to come up with her to the Livnot campus in Tzfat for a night. We took the bus up from Jerusalem for a beautiful scenic drive, and got to hang out with the young Livnot participants for the next twenty-four hours. They were an enthusiastic bunch who treated us like one of the family. Our temporary home was The Cave, and there we dwelled as cavemen, awaiting our hiking adventure and other cave-manly things.

Wipe that graffiti of the Moshiach NOW!
Ghostly tree in the Tzfat cemetery
Picking fresh oranges is no Small task
After our overnight stay in Tzfat, we hitched a ride with the Livnot group back to Jerusalem. Along the way we stopped at a kibbutz where we were treated to fresh dates and raisins, and a sunset view that was simply breathtaking. I would like to thank Lindsay and the entire Livnot 184 group for making us feel so welcome, and feeding us, and housing us, and chafufeuring us, and massaging us, and cleaning our socks and underwear.

The kibbutz on the way home
Guitarist Pesach sings to the Livnot group at sunset

Aryeh: A Lesson

K'far Giladi Guest House roomies Aryeh, Elias #2, and the Jewish Robot
Leading Up North is also the second trip that I roomed with J-webmaster extraordinaire, Aryeh Goldsmith, known for his J-domain domination, matched only by his prowess with the J-ladies.

At times it felt like Aryeh and I were a real-life enactment of my Shabot 6000 series: two blokes with different Jewish upbringings and levels of observance, living together as roommates and somehow finding a harmonious balance of spirituality and religion. If you are familiar with my characters, Shabot and Moti (yes, he has a name!), then you know their dynamic involves a recurring role-reversal in which irreverant robot and pious man exhibit each other's expected behavior. Such has been the case with me and Aryeh, an experience which has already served fodder for many a future Shabot comic strip.

Mr. and Mrs. Goldsmith, you've raised a fine boy!

Leaving Up North

A picturesque Metula (photo by Elias #2)
January 4, 2007 was the tenth and last day of our Leading Up North trip. As we left the K'far Giladi Guest House for the last time, some of us heading back home, others staying in Israel for more traveling, I reflected on my personal experience over the last 10 days, and came to a simple conclusion: Leading Up North was the best trip I have ever been on! Every detail, from our balcony view of our hotel (pictured left) to the new friends I got to know and the old friends I got to know better, fills me with happiness.

JR flanked by NYC friends Esther K. and Michelle Citrin
Handywomen Sarah and Melissa of JCS
When I came to Israel in the summer of 2006 for the ROI120 conference, I didn't have a chance to visit the north because the sky was falling. So for me, LUN marks the continuation of a journey that was cut short by unfortunate circumstances. It is ironic that those unfortunate circumstances were the very reason I was able to return to this wonderful country. But I'm not complaining.

I'd like to thank Lynn Schusterman of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation for making Leading Up North possible. They gave us the greatest gift ever, which is the ability to give a gift to someone else.

Coming soon, my impromptu trip to Tzfat with Livnot Lindsay and Urban Eskimo Aaron Small

Tzfat travel partner Aaron "Flicker" Small

Festival B'Shekel

Pro stilt walker and juggler rides his baby elephant
January 3, 2007: After a day of celebration and seed sowing, we stopped back at the school where we had learned our street performance skills to entertain the children. I dressed as a gypsy snake charmer (pictured left) and played my recorder flute as Citrin popped out of her Basket of Mystery, catching passers-by off guard to give the kids a thrill. Instead of a snake, we improvised with a plush puppy doll. You'd think that wouldn't be scary, but you'd be surprised to see how many kids crapped their pants when Michelle jumped out and shouted, "Boker Tov!"

If more clowns were like JCS's Sarah G., I'd surely overcome my coulrophobia
After enough kids had crapped their pants, we headed over to the hanger for the Festival B'Shekel. The empty hanger offered the perfect venue, accommodating a few thousand audience members, street performers (including my roommie Aryeh, who I've nicknamed "Boycan" ... as in "Boycan Juggle", see photo left), food vendors, merchants, and a large stage for the musical performances. Participating in the festival was a wonderful way to end our ten-day Leading Up North experience.

Michelle Citrin takes to the stage like a [insert witty analogy here ... I'm too tired to think right now]
Either the band was singing about shoes, or this is the Israeli equivalent of concert-goers holding up lighters aflame

Sow what?

Saucy Aussie Dave B. shows his J-pride

On January 3, 2007, we started our last day of Leading Up North with a convergence of all 500 white sweatshirted LUN participants, including Hillel, JCS, and ROI/Kivun/Charlies, filling an auditorium with cheer and enthusiasm (and one exhausted Jewish Robot). After the celebration, we were all bussed to Qiryat Shemona where we queued in droves to plant saplings on the mountainside. The celebration continued with speeches from the mayor, thanks from LUN sponser Lynn Schusterman, music and dancing.

The most LUN-impressive queue of participants ascend the mountainside
Treesome Sarah and Melissa of JCS and the Jewish Robot came down the hill, taking a break from sowing seed for the Jewish cause
I found this soft plump beetle in the pre-dug hole I planted my tree in. Can anyone identify it?
Coming next, Festival B'Shekel ...

Carnies in Training

Nothing sadder than an unshaven Jewish Robot clown
After cutting down some charred conifers on our second to last day Up North, our ROI/Kivun/Charlie LUN group were taken to an elementary school where we were met by a team of professional clowns (really, they were quite serious) who trained us in the art of street performance so we could participate in the Festival B'Shekel concert. We were divided into groups of stilt-walkers and jugglers (see Aryeh's amazing juggling video, pictured left), street mimes, drummers, costume designers, and set designers. I took to the stilts like a short jew in the ultimate platform shoes, but after considering the likelihood of rambunctions Israeli kids trying to knock me down to their level, I went with the clowning.

Michelle in the can (photo by Esther K.)
Beery appears to be using a small child's head as a drum (another photo from Esther K.)
After a day of carnival training, we went to dinner for a round of rousing, self-congratulatory speeches. We left full of food, beer, and ourselves.

Jewster webmaster Aryeh demonstrates how the bottom feeders feed ... and I'm not talking about his prolific j-cybersquatting

If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a difference?

No bush is safe in the path of young Aussie trailblazer Dave Burnett
After bird watching in the morning, we headed to an area of woodland where the trees had been burned by Katyusha rockets during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict. Our job was to cut down all the charred pine trees, which are not native to the area, so that the hillside could be cleared and prepared for forestation. We were all given small hacksaws, fine for the small brush, but hardly adequate for the larger trees. It took me, Loren, and Aryeh about a half hour to cut down one tree with a mere six-inch diamter! Looking back on this service, I realize just how impractical it was to do the job without a chainsaw, but as with most of the Leading Up North initiative, our show of support counted more than any quantifiable result. I think it took our team of 40 about two hours to cut down a dozen small trees. Hardly a dent in the forest, our blood, sweat and tears (I cried when Aryeh continuously demonstrated the "effect of wind on trees") will clear the way for saplings of emotional and spiritual support from the diaspora.

We came, we sawed, we conquered. (L to R) Loren, JR, and Aryeh
Proof that tree nymphs do exist! Photo of Citrin by Esther K.
Anyone else think Saratovsky, a.k.a. Elias #2, is a dead ringer for Jimmy Fallon?
TREES DOWN!

Later this day, we become carnies! ...

Heron Now

WTF (What The Flock)!? Heron migrate by the thousands to Huleh Valley
After a late night of celebration with the Leading Up North team, we eased into the New Year with a tour of Hulah Valley, an agricultural region in northern Israel known for its wetlands and nature reserve where a bounty of bird species can be observed. Our friendly tour guide (pictured left) took us on a relaxing caravan ride through the swamps, where we witnessed the migration of thousands upon thousands of crane. It is hard to tell from the photo, but it really was an amazing sight, as these birds with six-foot wingspans flocked around us, taking off in massive waves of grey as they became startled.

It reminds me of a movie about birds by Alfred Hitchcock, but I can't remember the name. (Photo by Elias #2)
When I think of Israel, I usually think "desert". Swampland was quite unexpected.
JR, Ariel, and Dave B. throw rocks at the heron. They're easy to hit, they're so big! (Photo by Esther K.)
The coypu, or nutria, is a native rodent species found in the wetlands
We never let our guard join in any crane-peer games
Later this day, LUN cuts down burned trees ...

Leading in the New Year

Right back at you, youngest ROI120 LUN participant, Aussie Dave Burnett
The K'far Giladi Guest House were kind enough to host a New Year's Eve party for the ROI/Kivun/Charlie and JCS LUN gang right in the hotel. Drinks flowed, the DJ spun all the popular tunes the kids like these days, and everyone had a great time. It may sound strange, but this may be the first New Year's Eve party I've ever been to where everyone was happy! There were no fights, no out-of-control drunks, no one getting sick, and no inappropriately excessive public displays of affection on the dance floor. Everyone in our group was partying not just for the New Year, but for a sense of accomplishment we all shared just six days into our Leading Up North initiative. I am fortunate to have been a part of this wonderful experience.

Where was I for this sweet group photo? I spy Beery, Joel, Aryeh, Dave B, EV, Caroline, Joelle, Gal, Esther K, Alon, Michelle Citrin, Kronick, and Sydney (photo by Elias #2)
The Jewish Robot, Michelle Citrin, and Ariel Beery boogie until the break of dawn (well, more like 1AM IST for the Bot, I was so tired)
Aussie Dave is quite used to women converging on his position (photo by Elias #2)
My K'far Giladi roommate and stealth funnyman, Elias #2, and fellow Park Sloper Michelle Citrin
Wishing you all peace and prosperity in 2007!

-- The Jewish Robot

Last Call for Paint-a-Wall

Kivun participant Joelle's ladybugs say "Follow me" to my tempted turtle
Sunday December 31 was our third and last day for painting bomb shelters. Here are some of my team's creations.

LUN organizer Gabby's cute caterpillar represents the metamorphosis of these bomb shelters, transforming drab larva-like dungeons into beautiful butterfly-like bungalows. Or moth-like.
Team member Sam Chester suggested we try a Super Mario World theme. No one else stuck to the plan, including Sam, but I figured it would be cool to portray a Super Mario-esque brick portal into another dimension. The peeking frog was an afterthought.

It's my brick ... house
The purple door on the left slides over the brick painting to reveal the bathroom, so hopefully it will be a fun surprise during the next deadly attack on the city.

The quick brown fox surrounded by lazy, hungry dogs
Photos from New Year's Eve 2007 at K'far Giladi coming soon ...

Tiberias and Elias

(L to R) Coby, Jason, Jewish Robot, Noah, and Isaac at a waterfront bar in Tiberias
After shabbat (December 30th), the Leading Up North group spent an evening in Tiberias. The last time I was in Tiberias in the summer, they were hit with Katyushas the next day, so it was good to return to this lively city under safer circumstances.

On the bus ride to Tiberias, our LUN group leader and ROI120 participant, Elias Parker, played a CD compilation of inspirational songs that we submitted before the trip. We were asked to come to the front of the bus when our song was played so we could introduce the music and explain why we found it inspirational. When it came to my song, "Hero" by Chad Kroeger, Elias announced a disclaimer stating that he hated the song and he wished it was not on the CD, and that he was embarrassed that Kroeger was a fellow Canadian. I couldn't bring myself to claim the song as my inspirational choice after an introduction like that, so I just sat quietly. When we got off the bus, Elias grinned sheepishly and apologized for having trashed my song. I told him not to worry, and that the reason I had chosen Hero was because it was the favorite song of my younger firefighter brother who perished in the September 11 attack on New York City. I could see Elias starting to sweat, so I didn't let him suffer too long before I confessed I was just bullshitting him.

This story does have a happy ending: To make it up to me, Elias treated us to an exclusive airing of Hero on our bus ride to the airport the following week. And everyone on board sang along.

Daniel jumps, despite the skull and crossbones warning him not to.
Back at the hotel, the Jewish Robot conspires with Isaac "BangItOut" Galena

ShaBot Shalom!

Me and my Shabbos Bread Baby ... But who is the mother?
Not only does today mark the birth of my sweet Bread Baby, but I was also able to conceive my first ShaBot comic strip made in Israel. More photos from the Leading Up North trip coming soon.

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem!

— The Jewish Robot

Photo by surrogate father Aryeh Goldsmith

South of the Border

Security fence at the Lebanon border of Metula
After painting bomb shelters on LUN Day 3, we were taken to the Lebanon border to get an idea of how close Metula was to the action. Really just a stone's throw away.

Me and LUN photojournalist EV at the border
Our ruggedly handsome security guard keeping himself occupied by kicking pebbles

Shelter Life

Bomb shelters, unwelcoming on the outside
Day 2 of our Leading Up North community service was all about painting more bomb shelters. After breakfast, we divided into new teams on the bus and got dropped off at various locations to do our work. This time we were all feeling more confident with the job, so many people abanonded their generic stencil templates to paint their own visions. Here are a few from my shelter:

Sam and his unusual but festive creation, (I think it is an alligator wearing yellow sunglasses, and vomiting)
My dragon-gator asks, "Who wants a hug?" as he points to the closest bunk bed
Fellow paint crew members were concerned that a rat would be too scary for children who might use the bomb shelter, but I proved them wrong ... I hope.
This was the darkest and scariest alcove in the shelfter, just below the staircase. It needed some love, so I painted a teddy bear. Gal gave him balloons.

Little fellows I painted at the heads of two bunk beds
Tzvi and his bee
After a few hours of painting, we converged in a great lawn for lunch, and to meet Andy, the woman who conceived of the bomb shelter painting program. She came up with the idea during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, when she found herself and her children in depressing surroundings as they waited out the war in a shelter. After seeking government assistance with a painting program, but to no avail, the artist took it upon herself to paint shelters with her kids. Just a few colors and designs made a world of difference ... Her kids couldn't wait to go back into the shelters to play!

Painting the bomb shelters was Andy's idea

We Paint

Super Aryeo Bros (Aryeh Goldsmith, Ariel Beery, and Aaron Small)
Day 2 of our Leading Up North trip started at the crack of dawn with breakfast at the K'far Giladi Guest House (a surprisingly lavish hotel with all the amenities including an olympic size pool, sauna, table tennis, massage therapy, health and fitness spa, and conference rooms, not at all what I expected from a kibbutz), and then off to meet with the Mayor of Metula for an overview of the history of the beautiful northern village. After a bus tour of the area, we stopped by the community center to prepare for our first day of painting bomb shelters. Enrobed in our LUN-supplied Super Mario Bros-esque overalls, we split into small groups and headed out to do our community service.