Apples and Honey in the Land of Milk and Honey

...I wonder if a Marine will learn the meaning of Chanukah while stationed in Lebanon...

...It tells the story of an American Jewish sailor from the Sixth Fleet who spends an unexpected holiday in Israel when his ship is delayed because of engine trouble...

...The tour ends with a surprise Rosh Hashanah dinner when Yaacov and Larry eat with members of the Israeli navy, who break into a rousing version of 'Bashanah Haba'ah'after the evening meal...

...The biblical scene of the ram caught in the bushes segues into a flock of rams crossing the path of the Israel tour, providing an opportunity for Yaacov to explain why the ram's horn, the shofar, is blown on Rosh Hashanah...

...for example...

...The first is about an American Immigrant David Leichman, a member of Kibbutz Gazer who shares his thoughts and feelings about his life before and after making ahyah Larry and Yaacov make their way to Jerusalem, "the city with a soul" where they visit the Hotel (Western Wall...

...Mactiarwh Yehuda Ian open-air market), and the pedestrian mall on Rechov Ben Yehuda The journey to Jerusalem is interrupted by a dramatization—a dream sequence— of the story of the Akedah (the Binding of Isaac...

...how can anyone come to Israel and not spend even a few hours in beautiful downtown Tel Aviv...

...It presents a nice taste of the sights and sounds of Israel without too much sugar-coating and a good overview of the holiday to those not versed in its customs and rituals (particularly an adult audience...

...At the Kofe( Larry meets Simcha, who explains the significance of the Akedah, and why...

...I would fault the video on a few minor points...

...Or maybe an Air force pilot will celebrate Passover in the Sinai — Sandra B Esk.n is a legislative representative lor the Consumer Federation of America She spent many years in Hebrew school and ¦ total of 12 months in Israel on three separate visits She also spends many hours watching movies on her VCft...

...Like any other visitor to Israel...

...Larry doesn't just see the sights: he gets an education as well—about Zionism, the Bible, and the meaning of Rosh Hashanah...

...New Year's Leave has sparked my curiosity enough to want to view the other videos in the series...

...on Rosh Hashanah, Jews engage in cheshbon banetesh, taking stock of our lives...

...Mi -666 Reviewed by Sandra EsAin The people ol the book are quickly becoming the people of the video New Year's Leave fflfcsh Hashanah) is a good example of how a movie can entertain while educating its audience...

...New Year's Leave is an enjoyable video While at times it was predictably corny—I wonder if Israeli sailors often sing folk songs after dinner—still, it achieved the proper balance between Israel travelogue and Hebrew school lesson...

...Overall...

...Integrated into Yaaco/s itinerary and the Israeli scenery are a number of short subplots...

...I wasn't sure what to expect from this plot especially when the video opened with rousing renditions of "The Marines' Hymn" and "Yankee Doodle Dandy" However, my concern quickly subsided when Selati (formerly the Diaspora Yeshiva Band) began playing their unique blend of ktezmer and rock music The sailor, Larry Schwartz (played by Aaron Kaplan), hooks up with Yaacov (played by Hanan Goldb-latt), an entrepreneurial sabra who takes Larry on hts 'Rosh Hashanah Speciar tour of Israel The duo first head to Kibbutz Gazer, where Larry gets a taste of kibbutz life and makes Rosh Hashanah cards with the children in the Sef Ye/ad/m (children's house...