In addition to this exclusive Israeli art exhibition, a variety of special art-oriented or Israeli-cultural programs have been planned at Congregation Beth Am during the run of the show.  Programming includes the following events:

Sat., March 24 at 6:30 pm – Gala Preview Reception. Patrons of the preview will have the first opportunity to view and purchase the artwork, enjoy wine and cheese, and mingle with artists.  Seating is limited; reservations are encouraged. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door.  To order Gala tickets, click here. 

Sun., March 25 at 9:15 am – Major Assour, Israeli sculptor and curator of the EXPRESSIONS collection, will lead “The Curator’s Tour of EXPRESSIONS Showcase of Israeli Art.” Due to parking space limitations, this event is open only to participants in Beth Am's Sunday School Program.

Sun., March 25 – Donna Rosenthal, an award winning journalist and author of the book The Israelis: Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Land will give two talks.  One geared for middle school – college students, and one for adults.
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STUDENT DISCUSSION at 4:30pm, Conference Room- They sing hip-hop in Hebrew, watch more MTV than anyone else; and most are drafted after high school ... “So what's it like being an Israeli teenager?”  (Designed for middle school/college students, as well as young adults. Parents welcome.)

ADULT DISCUSSION at 7:00pm, Sanctuary- It looks like one country on CNN, a different one on al-Jazeera. The BBC and The New York Times each have their own versions. ”But how does Israel look... to Israelis?”

Books will be available for purchase, and Donna has agreed to autograph them.  For more information, www.donnarosenthal.com

Mon., March 26 at noon, Conference Room - Alan Breus, Art Collector and Qualified Independent Appraiser, will speak about “Buying and Selecting Art: for Novice and Sophisticated Private Collectors.”  Alan has collected art seriously for over 40 years, and is a trained artist/engraver of prints. With his main business focus in the area of financial planning, Alan often advises the purchase of fine art as an investment option.

 Tues., March 27 at noon Conference Room – Michal Gavish, Israeli artist recently exhibiting at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Contemporary Israeli Art –A Lecture by Michal Gavish
The unique Art that has developed in Israel contains a fascinating combination of influences. It is a reflection of modern Western life with undercurrents of the Bible, of its European heritage and the present Middle Eastern culture and politics.

Michal Gavish is a Israeli artist who lives in Palo Alto for the last seven years. She worked as a PhD research scientist before she began to work as an artist. She has a degree in fine arts from the San Francisco Art Institute, in addition to a PhD in Physical Chemistry. Her work has been displaying at various solo and group exhibitions in Israel and in the US. Her most recent exhibition was in December 2006 at the Artists Gallery of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Michal has lectures regularly on contemporary issues in fine art in her bimonthly Gallery tours in San Francisco.

 Tues., March 27 at 7:30 pm, Room Aleph– Jonathan Carey, founder of BlueStar PR, will talk about “The Art of Persuasion: The Real Problem with PR for Israel.”  He will show ‘conversation starter’ images, spurring new perspectives on the state and people of Israel.  This talk is perfect for parents and older children who struggle with how to talk about Israel.  BlueStarPR produces visual media that strengthens existing efforts to gain popular support and interest for Israel and Judaism www.bluestarpr.com . Posters of the most popular images will be available for purchase, at cost, at the Showcase of Israeli Art.  
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Wed., March 28 at 6:00 pm Conference Room–Alan Breus, Art Collector and Qualified Independent Appraiser, will speak about “Buying and Selecting Art: for Novice and Sophisticated Private Collectors.”

Thurs., March 29 at 4:15pm Room Aleph – Major Assour, Israeli sculptor and curator of the EXPRESSIONS collection, will lead “The Curator’s Tour of EXPRESSIONS Showcase of Israeli Art.”

Thurs., March 29, at 7 pm - There will be a raffle drawing. Here's your opportunity to win one of three pieces of art (a framed print, piece of jewelry, silver Judaica). Prize values range between $200 - $500. Raffle tickets cost $10 each, or 5 tickets for $45. This art has been generously donated by EXPRESSIONS to Congregation Beth Am; therefore, 100% of the proceeds go directly to Congregation Beth Am. Winner need not be present.

Thurs., March 29, at 7:30 pm - HaShirim Performance. Come enjoy Jewish songs, many in Hebrew, as a wonderful way to celebrate the Showcase's last evening in the Bay Area. Ha Sharim is a volunteer choral group that performs throughout the Bay Area. More information at www.hashirim.org.

To buy raffle tickets, or get more information, contact
rho@restorationstudio.com