Grover has been getting to know Israel.
The furry, blue “Sesame Street” character visited the Dead Sea, Caesarea, the Western Wall and even Jerusalem’s shuk (to sample the produce).
But Grover wasn’t in the Holy Land on pleasure. It was more of a business trip. He was “working” to complete a new Sesame Workshop production called “Shalom Sesame.”
The 12-part series — geared toward North American Jewish children and their families — aims to forge a sense of Jewish identity by providing a taste of Israel, Jewish traditions and culture. The first two titles were released two months ago: “Welcome to Israel” and “Chanukah: The Missing Menorah,” with more episodes scheduled to start coming out in January.
The series includes celebrity appearances by Jake Gyllenhaal, Debra Messing, Christina Applegate, Greg Kinnear and others, and one of the main characters is Anneliese van de Pol of the Disney Channel’s “That’s So Raven” and Broadway’s “Beauty and the Beast.”
In the first episode, van der Pol is introduced as a Jewish American actress who was named after Anne Frank, and she is seen on an airplane flying to Israel for her first visit.
On the plane, Grover, cast as a flight attendant, shouts out “Kosher meal! Aisle 10!” and strikes up a friendship with van der Pol. They decide to travel together throughout Israel. Throughout the series, the pair remains in Israel — a device that lets children see various landscapes, meet Israeli children and even learn a little Hebrew.
A 1988 production of the same name sold 1 million copies and is considered the top-selling Jewish educational title of all time.
More than 20 years later, it was time to update and overhaul the content.
“The needs of the Jewish community have changed,” said Danny Labin, the project’s executive director, speaking last year at a studio outside of Tel Aviv where segments were being filmed.
Labin noted shifting demographic realities in Israel, such as intermarriage and large immigrant populations from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia. Two of the new human characters in the DVD series reflect this diversity in Israel: One is an Ethiopian Israeli woman, the other a Russian immigrant.
Scripts and concepts were reviewed with the help of a team of senior experts in Jewish education representing the religious streams and a range of backgrounds, from Reform to Chabad.
“We [wanted] to make something that is accessible to those not ensconced in a formal Jewish framework to help parents feel more comfortable and get them interested in a search for identity themselves,” Labin said.
And as with all Sesame Workshop series, “Shalom Sesame” is not just for TV or the DVD player. A website tailored for use at home and in school (www.shalomsesame.org) was launched in conjunction with the DVD. It includes activities, games, videos and caregiver tips.
Episodes will touch on Jewish holidays, mitzvah themes (such as loving animals and treating others kindly) and other Jewish values. Children are introduced to Hebrew letters and words, and there are also animation segments and interviews. The third DVD in the series, “Shabbat Shalom, Grover” will be released in early January.
In “Chanukah: The Missing Menorah,” Grover is getting the latkes ready and all seems OK until van der Pol gets caught in a game of tag and loses her menorah, just as Chanukah is about to begin. The episode will feature a visit with a family whose menorah has remained in the family for generations.
The Rosh Hashanah episode opens with a discussion about new beginnings as the audience sees an Israeli girl start her first day at school and her brother learn how to sound a shofar.
In an exclusive interview with JTA, Grover discussed why he was excited about the project.
“My home is ‘Sesame Street,’ but I love meeting people from all over the world, and one of those places is Israel, where I have been able to make new friends and learn,” he said in his trademark high-pitched tone.
“I have learned a few words in Hebrew, like ‘toda’ [thank you] and ‘boker tov’ [good morning], and that pretty much gets me by.”
Eric Jacobson, the puppeteer who assumed the voice and actions of Grover 11 years ago after the legendary Frank Oz retired, said Grover seems to connect with audiences young and old both in Israel and around the world.
“Let’s start with that Grover is blue,” Jacobson said last year during a break from filming. “No one I know is blue, and therefore he can be anybody.”
Three other puppets join Grover in the cast, including a floppy-haired Arab Israeli named Mahboub.
Shahar Sorek plays a human character, an archaeologist who is religiously observant and wears a kippah. Often he is the one to explain some of the Jewish rituals and Bible stories.
“I think it’s important to protect and present our Jewish heritage, and this is a tool for helping to do that,” Sorek said.
The Sesame Workshop has co-productions with some 18 countries, including an Israeli version called “Rechov Sumsum” and a Palestinian version called “Shara’a Simsim.”
“Shalom Sesame” is the first series intended to reach out specifically to an American diaspora audience, but similar programs are planned for children of Arab Americans and of Indian Americans based on “Sesame Street”–style programs in Egypt and India.
In a scene from the final episode of “Shalom Sesame,” at a farewell party for Grover and van der Pol, a wistful van der Pol looks around at her new friends and says, “I can’t believe my Israel adventure is over. It’s been the most amazing experience of my life — the friends, the fun …”
“The falafel!” pipes in Grover, prompting a round of laughs.
Shoshana, who plays an Israeli family friend of van der Pol’s character, turns to her and says, “You will always have a home here. You are our mishpocha now, part of our family.”
“Shalom Sesame” is a 12-DVD series. Releases so far are “Welcome to Israel” and “Chanukah: The Missing Menorah.” Each is 30 minutes, with 30 minutes of bonus material. More titles to come. $14.95. Information: www.sesameworkshop.org/aroundtheworld/israel.
Characters go Yiddish on T-shirts, bibs
In collaboration with the Sesame Workshop, a Southern California company called Rabbi’s Daughters has produced a line of kids’ apparel featuring some of the most popular “Sesame Street” characters with Yiddish expressions.
The launch of the clothing line coincided with the release of “Shalom Sesame.”
Rabbi’s Daughters designs include Grover as a “Mini Mensch” and “Super Mensch.” There are also images featuring Grouch and “Oy Vey” and Cookie Monster noshing on rugelach.
In addition to children’s shirts and bibs, there are also select designs for adults.
Rabbi’s Daughters, established in 2003, offers an array of Yiddish-infused products. Owner Daniella Zax described her company’s various offerings as “a mix of the old shul with the new school.”
For more information, visit www.rabbisdaughters.com.