HamanSong Purim rap
Matt Bar, Haman/Himself
Matt Bar is the founder of The Bible Raps Project a holistic educational venture centered on rap music, aimed at creating a sense of wonder and appreciation for Biblical Jewish texts and Midrash. The album, due out this summer, will include 12-14 original tracks accompanied by an interactive and comprehensive on-line curriculum.
Matt is currently in Israel, learning at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies, developing the album, and team teaching shiurim to a variety of visitors to Israel, including Birthright Israel groups.
Update! Matt Bar is developing a tour of summer camps in the U.S. Visit www.bibleraps.com to sample tracks, learn more about the project & to find out about bringing Matt to your tour group or camp!
Romi Shamai, Magician
Romi has been practicing magic since he was 5 years old, when his grandpa bought him a magic box for finding the afikomen on Passover. At the age of 12, Romi won first place in a young magicians' contest in Netanya; he has been performing for children and at special events ever since. While not working his magic, Romi works as a research student at the applied physics department of the Hebrew University.
Mel Alexenberg, Himself
Mel Alexenberg is an artist and former professor at Columbia University, Bar Ilan University, and Ariel University Center, head of the art department at Pratt Institute, research fellow at MIT’s Center for Advanced Visual Studies, and dean at New World School of the Arts in Miami. His artworks exploring digital technologies and Jewish thought are in the collections of more than forty museums worldwide. He is author of The Future of Art in a Digital Age: From Hellenistic to Hebraic Consciousness and editor of Educating Artists for the Future: Learning at the Intersections of Art, Science, Technology, and Culture (Intellect Books/Universtiy of Chicago Press). He blogs at
www.artistory.com
www.aestheticpeace.com www.futureholocaustmemorials.org; and www.photographgod.com.
Doctor Jazz
The Doctor Jazz Dixieland band was founded in Jerusalem in 2001 by Elazar Brandt and Shimi Gilad. We aspire to be like the New Orleans street bands of the early 20th Century, playing portable, acoustic instruments, so we can travel around Jerusalem and all of Israel, making happy music and committing senseless acts of simchah.
For more info:
www.israel.net/ministry-of-jazz
www.myspace.com/doctorjazzdixielandband
Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield,
King Ahashverosh
Rabbi Hirschfield holds a MA from Harvard University in Medieval and Modern Jewish Thought, and has studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel. He was the director of Judaica at the JCC of Cleveland, and an instructor at the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies for many years. He teaches talmud at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and serves as the director of education for the Nesiya Institute.
Sharon Millendorf, Queen Esther
Sharon dressed up as Queen Esther for 8 consecutive Purims in her home town of River the Dale, NY. Having earned her B.A. in social work from Bar Ilan University, Sharon now works for Nefesh B'Nefesh as the Students and Young Professionals Program Coordinator. Her conscientious concern and active care for the Jewish world --not to mention her lifelong Queen Esther proficiency--made this literally a walk-on role for Ms. Millendorf.
Efraim Flashner, Mordechai
Efraim Flashner currently learns in Yeshivat Hamivtar-Torat Yosef and practices bird calls in his free time. "When they come for me, the bird calls will throw them off." This is his first video appearance since he was edited out of The Great Escape, Ramah Style, whose producer was last seen fleeing to Savannah, Georgia. Efraim can often be found dressed in the traditional garments of his native land, Hawaii, and has a pet rock named Happy.