Today we received a new comment from Michal:
Hi,
Following remarks from this blog – The israel ministry of tourism have produced a new version to the clip – one that is not offensive in any manner to any crowd.
you may view the new clip here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n…h? v=nD1gzmzINOA
Shana tova,
And – sorry for the hassle, I guess you can call it “cultural differences” between Israelis and… the rest of the world
Michal
The Tourism Ministry awaits our critique. I think sweaty people will be offended. . . .
better, but still strange
With all J’lem has to offer, this is the best they can come up with to promote it???
I’m with Rafi…. they could have done so much more to make it an authentic display of all J-m has to offer, and exciting / enticing to newcomers and return visitors alike.
We have a LOT of talented people in this country… maybe they should work harder to locate and hire some of them.
Agreed – leaves me perplexed that being closest to G-d somehow implies having a cool date – I actually liked it when the beauty left the table – ok, I have a warped sense of humor.
hmm, she calls this Israeli culture??
maybe we really are in trouble!!
Klara
So it not being a miracle when the attractive woman leaves and he learns his date is overweight is an Israeli thing? Seemed a bit juvenile. The new one…meh. I guess for some people it will be cute.
I found this rather strange, too. I didn’t see the original one to compare. But the only points I thought that worked to convey Jerusalem as a place people would want to visit was the scenery one could see as he runs with the old city and the familiar dome in the background and the ethnic chic of the shuk he runs through. But being practically mowed down by kids on scooters (Segways?) does not exactly add to the attraction of the city.
Yes, I really wanted to know what he’s shouting.
have we worked out yet what he shouted?
Well, it is clearer than the older one, and probably would appeal to Americans who don’t realize that there is a lot more here. From a tourist point of view (not my religious one), it is probasbly pretty good.
According to Michal, he’s not shouting anything in particular.
OK, so this version is not misogynistic, or anti-fat ladies, or whatever else was wrong with the first one. It still looks like a deoderant commercial.
Also, about the music…. I don’t get the African-style thing going on during the shuk section. What about some Middle Eastern music.? I could imagine Bustan Avraham or some similar Jewish-Muslim synergy.
I agree with Fili about the editing job. And the Segways? That might be the most realistic element, a warning about the drivers you will encounter, if you dare to drive on our roads… or even walk on our sidewalks!
Chanie – No way are you the only one. You have to admit that If the audience they’re trying to appeal to is a male one, then they are on the right track with their methodology, even if it is misogynistic, etc.
The concept of having a prayer answered immediately is, of course, not really a religious concept… just look at all the talk about Srugim #13.
The Segways are avialable for rent at the City of David or some such thing.
To me, this is an ad for JDate, not J’lem. I fail to see what it has to do with enticing people to want to come and visit the city.
am i the only one who still thinks this is misogynistic/sexist/whatever word we want to use? it is still geared towards male viewers only, still using a woman as an object and male as subject.
as for the ‘religious’ angle, having your ‘prayer’ immediately and bizzarly answered seems pretty religious to me.
but maybe i’m too critical. definitely better than the first one though.
That’s the best they can come up with?
Makes you wonder how qualified our Foreign Minister really is (this is how we’re selling Israel?)
Get a bunch of bloggers together and I’m sure we could come up with something far more positive…and entertaining đŸ˜‰
I have to agree that this is pretty lame as a tourist ad.
We have a lot to “sell” in our city, but it seems like the Ministry of Tourism doesn’t really believe in our product.
It’s like the presentation at the Jbloggers conference — I wonder where the Jewish content is…
What makes people come to Jerusalem? The holiness of the city.
People who are uncomfortable about religion will have a hard time selling it.
agree with everyone
very little content about jerusalem, and although the first one was totaly offensive, this version is just lacking. kind of like trying to tell a censored dirty joke to a child. but if the point is to sell jerusalem – they should show their product more. and he isnt praying, hes just a yuppie with poor planning habits yelling at gd.
but it really made me nostalgic for a summer storm, which doesnt really happen in this country so the whole thing is a bit ironic. rain is jerusalem, while a bracha, is cold and damp.
kind of feel sorry for michal, she seems nice.
As an American who has only been to Israel for a (year long) visit, I understood what they were trying to convey. So many people think of Jerusalem as camels and dusty roads and people wearing robes. I’m serious! You don’t expect there to be anything metropolitan about it. So, it is combining the ethnic charm with very modern attractions (segways are a symbol of the fun, forward-thinking cities of the world), and showing that you can have the best of both worlds. Then adding the answered prayer as a nod to the religious heritage of the Holy Land. I got it. They could have just as well made it a girl trying to get to her date on time. I liked it better without the fat girl at the end, though.
Tasha, you are probably more typical of the target audience than many of my readers. And not just because you are not Jewish, but because your impression of Israel was initially based on the media. At the NBN Conference, Zavi Apfelbaum showed us the typical impression of Israel–a dark, colorless jail with no women.