Media and Theater

Digital media

As of the end of March 2020 (with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic), Be’er-Sheva has its own local, Hebrew YouTube channel featuring local celebrities & VIPs, which provides: exercise classes, community sing-alongs, dance music, special tips & various forms of entertainment. Sign up and enjoy!

Asi Harazi (b.1972-, in Be’er-Sheva), known as the drummer of rock band “Carte Blanche,“ founded a nostalgic Hebrew Facebook discussion group in 2018 called —-“זכרונות ילדות באר-שבע” that has taken off like wildfire.

Radio

In 1994, Gary Valodovsky wrote the electro-pop song “Ya’akov” (“Jacob”), played on the radio and broadcast as a videoclip sung by “Laladin” (Limor ‘Ezra; Limor ‘Ofer; and Dinah Abarjil) with a rap section spoken by Ya’ir Sadeh; Shay Avivi stars in the clip. The text mentions Be’er-Sheva several times.

Radio Darom (lit., south radio) was established in 1997 and may be heard at 95.8 FM, 97 FM & 101.5 FM and online – “That at-home sound.” It’s the only local and regional radio station in southern Israel and has ca.420,000 listeners. The most famous radio host on Radio Darom is Didi Harari (b.1956-). In 2010, the station won a prize for having the best current-affairs programming in Israel – http://www.radiodarom.co.il. He’s likely to host his own TV program in 2018.

Television & Digital Media

In 1994, Gary Valodovsky wrote the electro-pop song “Ya’akov” (“Jacob”), played on the radio and broadcast as a videoclip sung by “Laladin” (Limor ‘Ezra; Limor ‘Ofer; and Dinah Abarjil) with a rap section spoken by Ya’ir Sadeh; Shay Avivi stars in the clip. The text mentions Be’er-Sheva several times.

Negev Community Television is an NPO founded in 2012 and based in Be’er-Sheva. It frequently films and airs Hebrew programs about significant things going on in the Negev’s capital. The video photographers, producers, actors, etc. are all volunteers. The broadcasts appear on satellite channel 98 under the title: “Southern exposure” – Ora Levin – 08-6424865.

The local news channel “Mi-Kan” (lit., from here) is sponsored by “Kivunim”, a municipal corporation that provides recreational, cultural, and community services, such as clubs, extracurricular classes and activities in the Be’er-Sheva community centers.

Some prominent radio and television personalities from/in Be’er-Sheva are: Newscasters –  Rina Matsli’ah (b.1956-), Danny Kushmaro (b.1968-), Gal Gabai (1970-), Amir Ivgi (b.1976-) & Almog Boker (b.1979-); weatherman – Danny Doitch; sportscasters – Moshe Nir, Shlomi Daniel, Sharon Nissim & Ron Kaplan; and our local ha-Po’el Be’er-Sheva sportscaster – Mati Ben-David.

The Hebrew Israeli TV series “Zaguri Empire” created by Be’ershevan Maor Zaguri (b.1981-, in Be’er-Sheva) ran for two seasons (2014-2015), a total of 51 episodes, and was filmed entirely in Be’er-Sheva. It won an Israel TV Academy Prize. Tom Cohen (b.1983-, in Be’er-Sheva), an internationally acclaimed musician and music producer, wrote the series’ theme song.

The 23rd chapter of the 5th season (2016) of the popular Israeli, Hebrew TV series “Shemesh,” starring Be’er-Sheva-born celebrity Zvika Hadar was a parody on the fans of the Be’er-Sheva soccer team – ha-Po’el Be’er-Sheva.

Amir Abu (b.1994-) is a Be’er-Sheva-born Muslim-Arab resident, who participated in the musical reality show “The Four” on Israel Channel 13 in 2018. He sings covers in Hebrew and Arabic. In 2020, during the Corona pandemic, he released his first single: Balagan.” 

Born and raised in Be’er-Sheva, fashion model May Almakaies (b.2000-), previously known for her pastry baking skills, has appeared in a music videoclip with Eli’ad and on the cover of the American digital Facebook magazine “Olivier.”  She has  walked the catwalk during Israel Fashion Week. She also appears in an American movie entitled: “I love us.”

Orit Azriav (b.1990, born & raised in Be’er-Sheva) is a singer/songwriter with at least 3 Hebrew songs to her credit since 2016; she’s also an accomplished stage and TV actress, having appeared in numerous plays, TV commercials and programs. In 2020, she wrote and is filming an autobiographical TV series about 4 lower-class families living in the same building in Shekhunah Daled, to be called “The Block.”

A very successful, Be’er-Sheva-born comedian & actress is Orna Banai (b.1966-, sister of singers Meir & Eviatar Banai). She began as a stand-up comedian in a number of clubs, began acting in films from 1994 and on television from 1997. Her most popular comic character is “Limor.” In 2011, she outed herself as a lesbian and, in 2012, she returned to doing stand-up comedy shows. She has always been an outspoken animal-rights activist. In Dec. 2021, she’ s appearing in her latest comedy show “Bedikat Homarim” (lit., checking out the material). 

El’ad Biton (b.1982-) & Guy Balilah (1983-2021), both born in Be’er-Sheva, created a successful TV crime series (8 episodes)  entitled: “Sons of Light” (aired in 2021), based on true events that had occurred in the city in 2001. 

Almog Boker (b.1979-, in Be’er-Sheva), a veteran local writer and newscaster for Israeli Channel 10, is also commonly referred to as: “Our Journalist in the South.” As of 2017, he is also the Channel 10 presenter of the Friday evening series: “Ototo Shabbat”  (lit., it’s almost the Sabbath).

Be’er-Sheva-born singer, Adi Cohen (b.1980-) was discovered on the 2nd season of the TV show: “A star is born” (2004). In 2006, she performed on U.S. stages in a Hebrew musical show called: “Like a movie,” consisting of covers of songs from Israeli films. In 2013, she acted in an Israeli movie entitled: “Snails in the rain.” 

Maya Cohen (b.2002-) from Be’er-Sheva reached the final round (Sept. 2019) in the 5th season of the Israeli version of  “The Voice.”  

Assaf Day (b.1980- and raised in Be’er-Sheva) is one of the 5 finalists in the 9th season (2021) of the reality cooking TV show “Master Chef“ on Israel’s channel 12.

Anna Fatahov, an actress born in Be’er-Sheva (b.1999?), who has appeared on stage in more than 11 theatrical productions, has also written and created a 2021  TV series about students studying in Be’er-Sheva during an I.D.F. military action, entitled: “Merhav Mugan” (“Protected Area”). She wants to promote a new, positive image for Be’er-Sheva.

Gal Gabai (b.1970-, in Be’er-Sheva) is a well-known Israel TV presenter, journalist, mandolinist & a social activist, who says: “Whenever I come back to Be’er-Sheva, my heart-beat changes. The food tastes better, the wind’s more pleasant, something inside me relaxes and is reconnected. This city taught me about diversity, about wisdom, about love, and about simplicity.”

Shahar Hayyun (b.2000-) is a model who has appeared in a number of commercial advertising campaigns, such as: Aphrodite, Gong, and Opticana, and loves her home in Be’er-Sheva.

Rina Matsliah (b.1956-) from Be’er-Sheva, a journalist and radio/TV news & political commentator, who covered the major peace talks and agreements, was presented with the 2017 “Roaring Lion” Lifetime Achievement Award by the Israel Association of Media Consultants and Public Relations (ISPRA), especially for her work uncovering the saga of the kidnapping of Yemenite babies and children. She is widely recognized as the hostess of the ongoing (2013-), Channel 12 TV news program, the Israeli “Meet the press.”

Ya’ir Nitsani (b.1958- in Be’er-Sheva) is a singer, comedian, song & script writer, TV & radio host, and has starred in a number of Israeli comic & satirical TV shows. He first became famous as a singer in the “Tislam” Rock Band (1980-1983), especially for his solo as Hashem. Since 1985, he has also acted in a number of Israeli movies.

Hip-hop backup dancers, Bar Rolov (b.1988-) and Danielle Paz (b.2003-), both of whom studied at Dan Odiz Studio in Be’er-Sheva,  appear in  videoclips with singers, such as: Nasrin Kadri, Ella-Lee [Lahav] and [Jonathan] Mergui. 

Zion Rubin is a prolific, multi-tasking, TV personage: photographer, writer, editor, director, etc. from Be’er-Sheva. He created the highly-rated Hebrew “Combat medics” (Heb. “Taagad”) TV series first aired in 2016 on Israel’s “Yes” Channel. In the summer of 2017, Rubin filmed for an upcoming movie in the Gimel neighborhood, where he grew up. He claims he’s considering returning to Be’er-Sheva to pass on his expertise by teaching the television and film-making arts.

Dorel Saadon (b.2000-) represented Be’er-Sheva in the 7th season of the Israeli reality show “Rising Star for the Eurovision” (2019-2020), though, sadly, the “65th Eurovision Song Contest” meant to be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands in May 2020 was cancelled due to the dreadful international Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Bat-Hen Sabag (b.1984-, in Be’er-Sheva) created the Israeli Hebrew TV series “Metumtemet” (lit., stupid woman) that has had 2 seasons since 2016, with an upcoming 3rd season slated for 2018.

Oshrit Sarussi (b.1990-) is an Be’ershevan actress/comedian and script-writer, known from her role in the cult sitcom “Zot ve-zoti” on Israel Channel 13 in 2019/2020.

Yule Shenhar (b.2006-) from Be’er-Sheva is a young actress appearing in her first role on the Israeli Children’s Channel (BIGI) in the Hebrew  TV series: “The boys and the girls of 2021.”

Sivan Talmor (b.1986-, in Be’er-Sheva) is a singer/songwriter who released 3 original English-language albums between 2016-2019. She gives live performances and has a personal music website at sivantalmor.com. In  2012 , she appeared on Israel TV in the 1st season of Israel’s “The Voice.”

Films

In 2022, two seniors from Be’er-Sheva‘s multidisciplinary “Amal Ramot” High-School, Shahar Maniv (b.2004-) and Dvir Zaneba (b.2004-), took 1st place in a regional film-making competition “The Best Creation”, with their original short, animated film,entitled: “Escape control.” 

On the night of May 25, 2017, starting from 20:00, Be’er-Sheva held its first free, public alternative Short-Film Festival in the Old City; a variety of short Israeli films were screened at different venues, including pubs and other popular night-spots, with some of the film-makers in attendance. Afterwards, the public was able to react to the films and to interact directly with their creators. It is hoped that this will become an annual event.  

“Forty-thousand horsemen” (1940) is an Australian film (100 min.) about the last horse-ridden charge in modern warfare, when, against all odds, on October 31st, 1917, Australian, New Zealander & Commonwealth (ANZAC) mounted riflemen (not cavalry) charged and conquered the Ottoman-Turkish city of Be’er-Sheva, effectively marking the beginning of the end of WWI.

“The Lighthorsemen” (1987) is an Australian feature film (131 min.) about the WWI horse-ridden charge on Be’er-Sheva and its liberation from the Ottoman-Turkish Empire on October 31st, 1917 by ANZAC forces. This charge will be re-enacted in Be’er-Sheva, on the centenary of this astounding charge on October 31st, 2017, as the culmination of the ANZAC Trail  – www.kkl-jnf.org/people-and-environment/kkl-jnf-projects-partners/dfu-2012/anzac-trail.

“Vassermil” (2007) was written and directed by a native-born Be’er-Shevan, Mushon Salmonah, and tells the story of three Be’er-Sheva youths, each from a different cultural background, each striving to succeed as a soccer player, and how their friendship evolves. This movie won the 2007 Judges’ Prize at the Jerusalem Film Festival and represented Israel in the 2007 International Film Competition in Salonici, Greece. {The Arthur Vassermil Stadium was Be’er-Sheva‘s first stadium, originally built in 1959, named “Vassermil” in 1989 in memory of the 6-yr. old child–Arthur Vassermil–who was murdered in the Holocaust. This stadium was renovated in 1990, decommissioned in 2016, replaced by Toto Terner Stadium (dedicated in 2015), and finally torn-down as of 26/6/2019 to make room for a number of residential towers.} 

Theater

In 2023, Be’er-Sheva’s Fringe Theater  produced a rendition of Tennessee William’s famous play: “The Glass Menagerie” entitled: “Menagerie 7”–a new, localized version of the drama.

As of 2022, independent artists in all the Arts (visual and performing) are invited to join a new creative, multidisciplinary project called “Off the Record” based in the Youth Center in the Old City, run by Bouras-House of Independent Artists – contact: 054-982-7936, art.bouras@gmail.com.

The Be’er-Sheva Theater (founded 1973) produces at least 5 new plays in Hebrew each season and employs ca.50 professional actors/actresses. In 2010, it got a record number of 9 nominations for the Israel Theater Prize mostly for the play “The Count of Monte Christo.” The Be’er-Sheva Theater was awarded Israel Theater Prizes for one or two of its productions in: 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 & 2016, and counting. In conjunction with the Municipal Welfare Dept., a Theater for Children & Youth was founded in 2015 – 08-6209259, and another for senior citizens (08-6463901). The Be’er-Sheva Theater – 08-6266442, www.b7t.co.il.

The Larry & Lillian Goodman Acting School of the Negev (founded 2005) is located in the Gimel neighborhood near City Hall. The current manager, Idan Avisar (b.1981-) is a former Goodman student – 08-6464940, 08-6658080, www.act-b7.co.il.

The Youth Center in the Old City has an Acting Studio for young people aged 10-17 (founded 2016); its students put on an end-of-the-year performance annually – 08-6783890/1. The City also sponsors  the Be’er-Sheva Children and Youth Theater. In fact, in 2022, an original Hebrew play entitled: “To the Moon and back,” written and directed by Tal Ben-Binah, starring  Ro’i Gur and Ta’ir Shmu’elov, was chosen from among 2,000  international children’s plays, to be among the 9 plays performed at the International Children’s Plays  Festival,  held in Macedonia from August 5-7, 2022.

LOGON – The Light Opera of the Negev (founded 1981) puts on a semi-professional production of a different operetta or musical each year in English (with Hebrew translation). The players, singers & dancers are volunteer amateurs of all ages and from diverse backgrounds. LOGON is always on the lookout for new talent.

The Be’er-Sheva “MiKan” (lit., from here) Fringe Theater was founded in 2010 by Idan Avisar and is located in a cheerful blue building in the Old City at 15 Mordekhai Anilevitch St. It promotes ‘fringe’ art, music, drama & dance, and holds all manner of open public events, including special events and activities for children and an annual International Fringe Festival (IFF) – http://www.iffb7.com, 08-6466657. In 2019, the original play “Bipolar,” by the local Ayit Ensemble, took 1st place at the IFF held in Milano, Italy and will be performed in Italy in 2020/21 (God-willing, after the Corona pandemic ends).

Those who enjoy fresh stand-up comedy can check out Pub “The Doctor” located in Merkaz ha-Negev at 6 Derekh Metsadah after 20:00 – for details: 054-3479772. 

“Shlofta” (founded 2012, in Be’er-Sheva) – a genuine, live comic show performed by an improvization ensemble with audience interaction. In 2013, “Shlofta” won the “ImproLeague Competition” sponsored by the Israel Improvization League. They also give improvization workshops. If you’ve got an audience–they’ll gladly provide you with a one-of-a-kind, very funny show – 050-8655402; 054-2622167.

The Be’er-Sheva “Playback” Theater (founded 1995) began on the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Campus and later moved to the Old City, where performances are held at the “Ayalim Village” at he-Halutz 33 in the Old City – 054-5718893.

At BGU, the Community Action Department sponsors the “Barvaz” Theater (founded 2001), as a part of the University’s “Community Outreach Program.” Highschool children (in 7th-12th grades)

Some Beershevan  children’s entertainers are:  Yoram Alkayam (b.1947-), a.k.a.  “Bambi the Clown”; Ro’i Gur (b.1981-), a kids’ comedian;  Didi Biton (1987-), a.k.a. “Didi Dimyoni” [“Imaginary Didi”], a comic puppeteer; and  Omri Biton (1997-), a kids’ magician and balloon artist. 

Children’s drama clubs are also given in the “Kivunim” community centers –  08-6290060, http://www.kivunim7.co.il/hugim, and by the Be’er-Sheva Center for Excellence in Theater (founded 2010) that gives drama classes in the schools – 08-6266485, he-il.facebook.com.

There are psychodrama groups for adults – 08-6469602, 052-4223878 and such groups specifically for mothers of teenagers – 050-6223812.

And there are even seniors’ drama clubs at some of the elder hostels and homes, such as the Yona Nursing Home, where they performed an original play in 2009 entitled Grandma’s stories – http://www.myparents.co.il.

People in Be’er-Sheva theater

Native Be’er-Shevan Gilad Kalifa (b.1989-), despite his severe dyslexia, not only acted, sang & danced in many plays and musicals, but has become a successful playwright and theater director, who has even directed musical theater in New York City and at Jewish summer-camps in the U.S. Moreover, he is a multi-talented musician and owns a recording studio.

Ex-Be’er-Sheva resident, comedian and actor David Kigler (b.1965-) still enjoys kidding about Be’er-Sheva in his stand-up routines.