JCC Events

Israel Festival

Date: May 4, 2025

Join us for a joyful celebration of Israeli culture, creativity, and community! Enjoy hands-on activities, incredible stories, food, music, and unique Israeli shopping experiences for all ages.

Free and open to all

Registration Required www.mandelljcc.org/tix

Event Highlights

ESEK Shuk: Something Special from Israel

11:00am-4:00pm | Chase Family Gallery
Shop handcrafted Israeli goods—from jewelry and Judaica to household items and accessories—each with a powerful story.

Meet the Makers:

10:45am - Ofek Moscovick, co-founder of ESEK– Hebrew for “business” – a socially driven company that connects Israeli artisans with customers worldwide. Ofek will speak about how the Israeli economy, and artisans in particularly, were impacted by October 7th and how ESEK helps them regain stability in the face of adversity.
12:00pm - Hillel Mor, IDF veteran & co-founder of Mor Sinai Leather. Hillel, a proud IDF veteran who fought after October 7, will tell about his war time experience and how going into the leather business with Nadav Sinai, his best friend and fellow IDF soldier, has helped them cope and find their creative outlet.
1:00pm - Making Bath Salts Workshop with Yonat. Yonat Mordoch is the founder of Yonat Midbar, a small business crafting natural soaps and personal care products inspired by the Negev Desert. Embracing nature and her learning from Bedouin healers and a Tibetan medicine practitioner, she creates sustainable products and teaches workshops.

ESEK is more than just a marketplace—it’s a movement to support Israeli artisans and share their resilience and creativity with the world. Watch their story

Lunch

11:30am-2:30pm | Innovation Center
Purchase delicious Israeli-style lunch and treats!

Lunch cooked and provided by Aramark – Kosher Kitchen at the University of Hartford

Navad Bakery is returning with their challah, babka, rugelach, pretzels and bourekas. Located in the Café. (Certification of Kosher Supervision)

Family Activities

1:00-4:00pm

Family Self-Portraits in the Style of Hanoch Piven

Location: Study | Brought to you by The Family Room and PJ Library
Create your own whimsical portrait using loose parts, inspired by Israeli artist Hanoch Piven.
Take your portrait home with you!

Desert in a Bottle: Israeli Sand Art

Location: Breakout Room | Brought to you by Camp Shalom & JCC Camps
Design your own “desert in a bottle” using colorful Israeli sand. Learn about the vibrant sands of the Negev and create a souvenir filled with meaning.

Face Painting

Location: Innovation Center

Get into the spirit with festive face painting, free for attendees!

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