1. Israel Pub Quiz - Leader's Guide
Supplies Necessary:
• A screen and speaker system of sufficient size so that everyone in your
audience can properly watch and hear the media portion of the program
• A DVD player or computer and corresponding projector
• The "Israel Pub Quiz" program DVD
• Printed version of the Program "Leader's Guide" (file on program DVD)
• Printed trivia questions for each participant (file on program DVD) and an
answer key for the judges
• Pens or pencils
• Prizes (try to have something that can be divided amongst team
members)
• iPod with Israeli music (optional)
Program Goals:
The main goal of the program is to provide deep insight into Israeli society
through the use of pop culture media, such as commercials and video.
The Israel Pub Quiz aims to educate participants about Israel in a way that is
both organic and fun. It does this by infusing an Israeli atmosphere, accompanied
by trivia, into a bar night. Participants will learn about Israel and gain
appreciation for issues that are at the forefront of Israeli life.
Location:
The ideal location is a pub/bar with a private or semi‐private room, though any
gathering place will suffice so long as there is a screen/TV to display video and a
sufficient sound system.
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2. Participants:
Good for any number of participants of drinking age, though it is recommended
to have at least 20 participants so as to create an atmosphere of group
competition.
The event can be modified using non‐alcoholic beverages for those that are
underage.
Duration:
2 hours total. Programmed time (from initial announcement to final
announcement) is 1 hour.
Program Breakdown:
1) Mingling – 30 Min
2) Intro and Explanation – 10 Min
3) Videos and Quiz – 30 Min
4) Grading – 10 Min
5) Conclusion – 10 Min
6) Additional Mingling – 30 Min
• Part One: Mingling
This is a pub quiz, emphasis on the pub. Let your guests mingle and enjoy
themselves before starting up the festivities. You may want to hand out
quiz cards to people as they enter the premises. Israeli music in the
background can really enhance the feel of this program.
• Part Two: Intro and Explanation
Your crowd is now at full schmooze. Take a few minutes to get them all
quiet and (possibly) seated. If you haven’t already handed out the quiz
cards to everyone, do so now. Introduce yourself and the organization.
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3. Take a few minutes to explain the goal of the night and, most importantly,
the rules.
Here is a basic rundown of the rules for the night:
1. Each groups receive a Pub Quiz Card. Participants should self‐
divide into teams of 2‐5 per Quiz Card.
2. The Quiz Card has 28 questions on it. 18 questions are general
Israel trivia and 10 questions are linked to the videos on the DVD.
3. Ten video clips will be screened. Each clip is around 30 to 60
seconds long. Clips will be screened in succession, twice through.
Participants should fill out their cards as the clips are screened.
4. After the screening is over, participants will turn in their cards to
be graded by the judges, based on the answer key. The judges will
grant prizes to the teams with the highest scores.
• Part Three: Videos and Quiz
This section will contain instructions on the phase, then breakdowns of
each clip you will show. Use the information on each clip as you see fit. It
would likely be best to give some background to the crowd to establish a
logical setting and also to infuse some cultural knowledge. Without some
sort of background, chances are the crowd will miss the deeper elements
of each clip.
Phase Instructions:
This is the heart of the event. Ten video clips will be screened in
succession. Each clip is 30 to 60 seconds long and each should be
screened twice to be sure that everyone saw all the info. Clips can be
screened additional times at the request of the audience, or to fill some
time. Screening time of all 10 of the clips should be approximately 20
minutes. During this time participants should fill out their Quiz Cards as
each clip has a corresponding question.
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4.
Clip Breakdowns:
• McDonalds:
Original Air Date: 2008
Company: McDonalds Israel
Background: This commercial aired in 2008 as the world was preparing for the
Beijing Olympics and the State of Israel was celebrating its 60th year of
independence. US president George W Bush visited Israel twice in that year. His
first visit stirred unprecedented commotion and excitement on the Israeli streets
due both to the image of Bush as a relatively pro‐Israel president, and also to the
disruption to daily life surrounding the security protocols of the visit. During the
days of his visit, life in Jerusalem slowed to a crawl due to disruptions in the
transportation systems.
Through this commercial we learn about the prominent place of US‐Israel
diplomatic relations in the public consciousness of Israelis, and it plays on the
cultural differences between America and Israel by highlighting different accents
and the seriousness of the Americans.
In reality, the US has very close relations with Israel, both on the international
political and diplomatic level, through the Jewish connection (the US was the
first country to recognize Israel’s independence in 1948) and through projects
like Taglit‐Birthright which expose young Americans to Israeli culture firsthand.
Discussion Questions (Optional)
- What do you make of the fact that this is a commercial in English on
Israeli TV? It is also based on the US President? Is there too much
American influence in Israel?
- Do you think similarities to American culture benefit Israel, and if so is it
worth giving up some of their own identity? Is the relationship mutually
exclusive?
• Exodus:
Original Air Date: 2007
Company: Ituran GPS
Background: This commercial for a GPS navigation device utilizes the well‐
known biblical story of the Exodus from Egypt. It plays off the old joke that the
Israelites wandered in the Sinai desert for 40 years due to Moses being lost.
Through this commercial we learn about the place of Jewish identity and the
Jewish narrative in the Israeli way of life. Daily life in Israel is deeply influenced
by our Jewish heritage – Shabbat is the official day of rest, vacations are planned
around Jewish holidays, the Hebrew calendar is used, and daily life is conducted
in Hebrew. Culture and humor in Israel are equally influenced – jokes, slang,
plays and films are rife with Jewish references.
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5.
Discussion Questions (Optional)
- Do you think that a commercial like this would work somewhere other
than Israel?
- Is this commercial too influenced by religious themes? What do you
think the secular population of Israel thinks of it?
- This commercial plays off the Jewish culture of Israel. Where else do you
see such influence in Israeli society? Is this a good or bad thing?
• El Al Hatikva:
Original Air Date: 2008
Company: El Al Israel Airlines
Background: This commercial aired in 2008 as the State of Israel was celebrating
its 60th year of independence. This commercial, which doesn’t showcase a
specific product, is designed to build the El Al brand as part of the Israeli
landscape and the Zionist enterprise. Through El Al’s marketing gimmick we can
see the standing of national pride in Israeli society – by shedding a spotlight on
Olim (immigrants) from all over the world, the company shows its substantial
contribution to Israeli nation‐building, and the fulfillment of the Zionist dream.
From the establishment of the state in 1948 until 2005 El Al, Israel’s flag carrier
airline, was a government‐owned company. Since then and through today, El Al’s
planes prominently display an Israeli flag, don’t fly on Shabbat, and food service
onboard is fully Kosher. Through the years, El Al has participated in flying Olim
to Israel, including a dramatic airlift in 1991, known as Operation Solomon, in
which a total of 14,500 Ethiopian Jews were flown to Israel in less than 37 hours.
Discussion Questions (Optional)
- Should El Al fly on Shabbat and holidays? Why or why not?
- Is it important for a private business to reflect the morals of a society? If
so, why?
- Are Olim as important to the country today as they were in the previous
generation? Should Aliyah be one of the issues at the forefront of Israeli
society?
• Israel is [Not] a Dangerous Place:
Original Air Date: 2005
Company: One Heart – Developed as part of an Israeli reality TV show called
“The Ambassador”.
Background: This commercial, which cleverly displays a humoristic approach to
marketing Israel, was created in 2005, approximately four years after the
outbreak of the Second Intifada. In the wake of the events of September 2000
and the subsequent ongoing violence, Israel suffered a blow to its image around
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6. the world. Through this commercial we learn about the important place that
public relations and advocacy around the world play in the Israeli mentality. The
premise of the popular reality TV show “The Ambassador” was a competition to
select the ‘Star of Israeli PR’. This commercial is an excellent example of how to
showcase Israel as a safe, attractive, and normal place.
Discussion Questions (Optional)
- What do you tell someone who thinks Israel is a constant war zone?
- Do you think Israel will ever be a tourist destination for non‐religious
reasons? Will non‐Jews ever flock simply for the beaches and nightlife?
- Does this commercial send a message that you agree with?
• Yes Haredim:
Original Air Date: 2007
Company: Yes Satellite TV
Background: This commercial is one of a popular series of commercials for
Israel’s only satellite television network – Yes – which is known for its glitzy and
expensive commercials. Using a faux Haredi (Ultra Orthodox) neighborhood as
the backdrop, the characters bemoan the impending arrival of HD quality
broadcasts. The premise relies on the Israeli public’s stereotypical view of the
Haredi world as a closed, modest, and television‐free society. Haredi is a general
term referring to a diverse population, constructed of various (and at times
rival) streams of Ultra Orthodox Judaism, united by a lifestyle modeled on strict
adherence to Jewish Law.
Despite the longstanding internal tension between the mainstream Israeli public
and Haredi society, specifically surrounding issues of religion and state, the
commercial successfully plays off this topic using humor to showcase a
commercial product.
Discussion Questions (Optional)
- Do you think it’s OK to laugh at a commercial like this or do you think it
furthers the divide between religious and secular Jews or Israelis?
- How do you think the majority of Israel views the Haredi community?
How do you?
• LGBT
Original Air Date: 2006
Company: Israel as a destination for gay tourism
Background: This ad came out in 2006 as the world prepared for the World Cup
(soccer) in Germany. This is one in a series of commercials aimed at marketing
tourism to Israel, with a particular focus on Israel as a destination for the gay
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7. community. The commercial takes place on a beach in Tel‐Aviv where we are
exposed to the beauty of Israeli women and a humorous explanation as to why
Israel failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Israel is considered one of the most gay‐friendly countries in the world, and is
undoubtedly the most open in the Middle East. The city of Tel‐Aviv is considered
to be the most popular destination for gay tourism within the country.
Discussion Questions (Optional)
- How do you think the world’s LGBT community views Israel?
- Is this an appropriate strategy for Israel to take to cue others in on the
human liberties the country grants?
- The acceptance of homosexuality varies greatly by geography (think of
the different reactions to pride parades in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv). How
does this remind you of your home country? Discuss the dichotomy
between the rights granted in your county and Israel.
• Elite (Brand) Coffee (#1)
Original Air Date: 2007
Company: Elite
Background: This extremely popular commercial succeeded in re‐branding the
Elite Turkish Coffee product line and spawned a future series of ads. The
commercial depicts an Israeli airline pilot ordering coffee in a large American
city. The scene gives us a taste of the Israeli chutzpah (rough edge). While that
chutzpah can sometimes come off as rude, it is also the source of the renowned
Israeli ambition that pushes the country forward.
• Elite (Brand) Coffee (#2)
Original Air Date: 2008
Company: Elite
Background: This is the second in a series of commercials (following the
previous Elite Coffee commercial) involving an Israeli pilot ordering coffee. Once
again we encounter the Israeli chutzpah (rough edge), however this time the
pilot becomes humorously entangled in a wide scale misunderstanding with
Russian national security.
A state built upon immigration, Israeli culture is extremely diverse, as it is
influenced by each new wave of immigrants. This includes immigrants from the
Former Soviet Union, who became especially well‐represented following the
collapse of the USSR. Through this commercial we get a small glimpse at the
strong influence of that wave of immigration on Israeli society, politics, culture,
athletics, and more.
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8.
Discussion Questions (Optional)
- Do you think this commercial actually appealed to customers from the
Former Soviet Union? Why or why not?
- How do we see the typical Israeli chutzpah in the two Elite ads? Is this
necessarily a bad thing?
- Are Israelis really rude or just more direct? Perhaps a combination of
both? Would you consider this to be a negative or positive aspect of
Israeli society?
• Parking:
Original Air Date: 2006
Company: Nirlat Paint
Background: This commercial takes a look at the Israeli public, with a nod to the
"entertaining" nature of Israeli driving culture and the utter lack of parking that
exists in every major city (though especially in Tel‐Aviv). Nonetheless, the
driver's solution to the problem comically shows how Israel truly is the "Startup
Nation." In Israel, hardship doesn’t lead to despair, but rather motivation,
innovation and invention.
Discussion Questions (Optional)
- Why do you think Israel has become a hub for innovation? Where does
this stem from?
- How many technological inventions/innovations have you heard of that
come from Israel?
• Tzav Piyus:
Original Air Date: 2007
Company: Tzav Piyus
Background: This commercial was made by a non‐profit organization called Tzav
Piyus. A play on the term Tzav Giyus (meaning military call‐up order), Tzav Piyus
means Reconciliation Order. Founded in the wake of a difficult moment in
history that fractured Israeli society ‐ the assassination of Yitzchak Rabin
(Israel’s Prime Minister, in 1995) – the organization's purpose is to foster
dialogue and mend rifts between different elements of society. As we all know,
Israel has its fair share of internal controversy, be it in the realm of politics,
religion, or even social class, however this ad serves as a reminder that despite
all this, there is no place else we would rather call home. As the popular term in
Hebrew states: "Ein Li Eretz Acheret" which roughly translates to "This is the
only place for me."
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9.
Discussion Questions (Optional)
- Israeli society is so diverse. What is it that binds them?
- Should we take Israeli Arabs into account when discussing a unified
society and dialogue? Do you think they identify at all with commercials
like this and its slogan?
• Part Four: Grading
Gather all the quiz cards and have the judges grade them. This should take
about 10 minutes. You may decide to give two points to every DVD‐based
question, and one point to every general trivia question. If you have too
many teams with the same score, increase the amount of points you
award to specific questions so that there is a clear winner. Tally up all the
scores and pick the winning team.
• Part Five: Conclusion
Make an announcement to declare the winning team/s and distribute the
prizes. Make sure to thank everyone for coming, thank your sponsors,
take a bow, and wish everyone a good night. Let them know that they
have additional time to mingle (if scheduled).
• Part Six: Additional Mingling
The game is over but the night isn’t! Let everyone enjoy the social scene
as the night winds down.
Questions? Comments? Feedback?
We would love to hear from you: usd@hagshama.org
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