Israel’s News Blog Magazine: Daily Stories Video and Photos

Bill Clinton, Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres are only some of the bronze portraits found in Razia Gershon’s private collection now available on her recently launched website. The veteran Israeli sculptress showcases some of her historic pieces as well as the figurative and animal bronze sculptures that have made her creations so unique and have attracted an international following.

One can not ignore the letters from collectors and dignitaries that have sent personal notes to the sculptress over the years. Letters from Bill Clinton, Shimon Peres and King Hussein are just a few of the names you will find in the Impressions section on the site.

Razia displays two primary collections. Her figurative bronze sculptures collection is inspired by her history as a classic dancer and physical education instructor. As a young woman in the early years of Israel’s formation she was a member of the Lechi, getting arrested and escaping twice in her lifetime. One of her first bronze portraits was one of the then leader of the Lechi, Yair Stern. Notable pieces include Fetus, Shopping, Sky is the Limit and her Peace bronze sculpture that is presented to foreign dignitaries visiting Israel and has won international acclaim.

Her animal bronze collection is a humoristic interpretation of some of the common wildlife in Israel, in particular the bronze sheep that are scattered around her garden in various poses. The rooster and the deer are also part of the life size garden sculpture collection she presents.

Her collection was professionally photographed by Leonid Padrul of the Museum of Eretz Israel in Tel Aviv, one of the top art photographers in Israel.

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I met Leonid Padrul during a project I was working on. A quiet, soft spoken man with a great deal of passion for photography. He has spent a great deal of time studying in pictures the Dead Sea and some of his images are available here.

Born in 1950, Leonid moved to Israel in 1994, in the years that followed he continued his career as a professional photographer. In the years 1986 – 2004 he participated in over 250 exhibitions, both in Israel and around the world. During his career he won gold, silver and bronze medals for selected works, as well as prizes of FIAP, the International Federation of the Art of Photography, acknowledged by U.N.E.S.C.O (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). He is currently the chief photographer for the Erez Israel Museum in Tel Aviv, Israel.
All rights are reserved.

You can purchase his prints online.
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Omri Sharon managed his father Ariel Sharon’s campaign in 1999. He was charged in 2001 following an article in Yediot Ahronot newspaper. He was accused of using fictitious companies to disburse NIS 6 million ($1.3 Million) for his father’s campaign breaking the Party Rules that controls the amount of money used for political campaigns from a single source.

After countless hours and 3 years of investigating Omri agreed to plead guilty to providing false testimony and falsifying documents and is now facing sentencing. Omri is 41, a single father of 3 and a member of the Israeli Parliament. His father has always denied any knowledge of his son’s actions. Sentencing has been postponed for a later unspecified date.

Great! I guess leading by example is out of the question…

Amir Peretz won a stunning victory over his opponent Shimon Peres in the race to lead Israel’s Labor party-a vote that will most probably bring down Prime Minister Sharon’s shaky coalition, resulting in early elections.

The dramatic upset changed Israel’s political landscape, with Peretz, a Moroccan immigrant whose father worked in a Kibbutz factory, taking over the Labor, a fortress of Israel’s Eastern European elite. “This is the moment we bury the ethnic demon in Israel” Peretz declared in his victory speech. Peres led the Labor party into the Government this year to build the support for Sharon’s Gaza withdrawal, the pullout divided Sharon’s Likud party, and without Labor’s support, the plan could not have been carried out. (more…)

The last few days were dedicated to Yitzhak Rabin and his assassination on November 4th, 1995. Ten years after the murder the country paused to remember the event and the fallen leader. All week television broadcast various documentaries and articles about the man, the final days and the Israel he left behind. Rabin’s death symbolized the end of a particular brand of Israelis for many people, the loss of innocence in a way and a departure from the “brutal honesty” that was so much a part of Yitzhak Rabin’s legacy.

The memorial in Tel Aviv Sunday, the official remembrance ceremony at the gravesite in Mount Herzel in Jerusalem and finally the official launch of the Yitzhak Rabin Center for Israel Studies last night were just some of the main events held.

Notable speeches where given by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who recalled the friendship and personal history they shared. He remembered their differences and the respect he always felt for the man. In September and October 1995, Sharon was one of several political leaders that preached against Rabin’s way and wasn’t addressing any of the hateful posters in the crowed showing Rabin in an SS uniform or wearing the Palestinian headdress. Moral responsibility is not big for today’s political leaders in Israel.

The Clintons were very much an important part of these events and in particular Bill Clinton was notable. The man loved Rabin and his words touched people. It seems like his appearance as an independent non political figure allowed him to speak from the heart and in people responded. He spoke of Rabin’s legacy, the dream of peace they both shared and his personal memories in warm, personal tones. In his speech Clinton spoke to Israeli politics in general as well, he spoke of our ability to accept the possibility that we may be wrong, as a crucial step in holding any meaningful debate. True to so many of the political life in Israel and the Middle East, the conviction and belief in a cause does not cancel out the validity of opposing points of view.

Hillary Clinton speaking at the dinner right after her husband was also remembering the times with Rabin and especially her experiences with Lea. She commended Lea as a wife of a military leader, statesman and politician, acknowledging with a nudge to Bill that it was very hard work. The crowed laughed. At that moment one could understand what made the Clintons so likeable in Israel. The awareness that they were as human as anyone else and that despite their personal issues they continued together has made them a very strong couple and one that can withstand future political challenges.

After Ariel Sharon made his speech he was rushed off by security. Broadcasts were paused to allow him the time to leave and it made me realize what a profound effect Rabin’s murder had. This event, the most heavily secured in the country’s history, was still not safe enough for the Prime Minister.

In a time where corruption lies and deception are rampant in Israeli politics, people like Yitzhak Rabin would have no room. In his final days Rabin was physically attacked and warnings by the security services were shrugged by him regularly. He refused to use the bullet proof Cadillac because he hated the symbol on the hood. He turned red in anger at protestors and yelled back at the crowds when he was hackled in speaking engagements. Never hiding behind heavy security and never shying away from an opportunity to speak to his people. The nation of Israel was his to argue with, fight for and lead and he did it in the most personal way he could, with as little barriers as possible. That was his way, for better or worse.

On the way to the Peace Rally in Tel Aviv on that fateful night security services warned of a definite threat on his life. He leaned over to Lea and asked her if she was afraid. She was but true to her Israeli nature answered no. He smiled and said well I guess we’re going then. He wouldn’t have it any other way and anyone who knew anything about the man would know that.

This is a classic video. Click to play.

A tooth that was pulled from Napoleon Bonaparte’s pie hole will go up for auction next week at the Dominic Winter Auction House in Swindon, England. Its expected to go for $ 7,000 to $ 9,000 from the auction catalogue. An upper right permanent canine tooth, believed to have been extracted from Napoleon’s mouth by his St. Helen physician Barry O’meara, 1817, the tooth well worn, cracked and brown stained to the root, glued to a piece of card with a biro inscription ( in Cecilia Laura Whites hand ) loosely contained in a small old glazed casket with a gilt trim.

Together with a soiled card written by Cecilia Whites mother Cecilia Montagu, plus an engraved brass name plaque of Francesco Macroni, a note written by Dr. Alexander Baxter, deputy inspector of hospitals on St. Helena island recording this extraction in a letter of 17th November 1817:

I have the honor to inform your Excellency that Napoleon Bonaparte suffered a good deal from toothack, and in consequence was induced to permit Mr. O’meara to extract the dent. This is the first surgical operation that has ever been performed upon his body. The tooth was carious in two places.

Yitzhak Rabin (Pronounced: Rabeen) was born in Jerusalem on March 1st 1922 to Nehemia and Rosa Cohen. His parents were active members of Achdut Haavoda, a Labour movement, his father an employee of the Israel Electric Company and his mother a member of the Hagana Organization and a City Council Member in Tel-Aviv.

Most of Yitzhak Rabin’s childhood years were spent in Tel-Aviv, first in a southern part of town bordering Jaffa and later in the town center. His primary school years were spent together with the children of the Labour party activists, he later enrolled at Givat Hashlosha High School when a short time later his mother became very ill, and the young student was transferred to Kaduri boarding school in northern Israel.

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I saw this great site and following yesterday’s post I had to add this site. Matthew Mahon is a professional photographer originally from New Jersey currently living in Texas. He is a great photographer that has taken pictures for People’s, Time Magazine and other publications. What is unique about this site is that it provides some personal commentaries narrated by the photographer in a way that provides some insight about him.

To get the full effect load the site and then click on the photos to see them in full size. In some photographs there will be at the bottom right hand an arrow allowing to flip over the image and read about the situation in which it was taken. Other photos will have an icon that initiates the commentary, when clicked, the photographer will appear in the photo with Hodgie, his assistant and talk about the image. If you look carefully in the photos below you’ll see them. This is a great site that offers not just an impressive portfolio but also a personal view of the artist.

All rights reserved to Matthew Mahon - Visit the site

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You asked for her, you got her. Kimba is the latest edition to the family. She is 31/2 months old and takes advantage of that fact daily.

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