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Israel Disney

The Walt Disney Company and an Israeli movie-theater chain announced plans last week to build a Disney theme park in Haifa. An artist imagines what it will look like.

By Steve Brodner|January 12, 2011 9:30 AM|28comments
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“The Holy Land is set to become an even more magical place. Disney has announced that it is to open a theme park in Israel. The Walt Disney Company, which has amusement parks in the US, France and Hong Kong, is planning to open another in Haifa in 2013.”

—The Jewish Chronicle, January 5

Disney Haifa illustrated by Steve Brodner


Steve Brodner is an illustrator, journalist, and filmmaker living in New York. A regular contributor to The New Yorker since 1993, he also makes films for the PBS news magazine, Need to Know. He blogs at Brodnersbicycle.com.

Steve Brodner is an illustrator, journalist, and filmmaker living in New York. He blogs at Brodnersbicycle.com.
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  • Steph F.

    These are pretty funny (esp. the Hall of Prime Ministers), but I don’t get the one about Tzipi. Can somebody elucidate? What’s the connection between Tzipi and honey? Something to do with corruption and nepotisim in her party, perhaps?

  • Michael

    Good idea poor execution. Also should have held this till April 1st.

  • Don Russell

    I love it when we poke fun at ourselves. As a professional joke writer, the possibilities seem endless.

    1. “Not Just Cinderella’s Castle” — All girls who enter are Princesses.
    2. “The Haunted Mansion” — The ghost of Arafat at every turn.
    3. “Beauty and the Beast” – Good looking Jewish men with wealthy Shiksa wives.
    4.”Mickey Mousekowitz” — What his life was like before he changed his name.
    5. “Space Mount Sinai”– Everyone is commanded to ride this one.

  • Yehudit

    By the way, the quote from the Jewish Chronicle is repeated in at least one other article–I don’t remember which was the original, but what we seem to have here is a rumor being repeated from site to site.

    YHC

  • J Carpenter

    Art Spiegelman’s work came to mind—Mickey Maus, Mausketeers . . . .

    Will concessions be both kosher and non-kosher?

    Imagine the lines—kinda like checkpoints . . . .

    Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride—on camels . . . .

  • Chana Batya

    How about the World of Tomorrow: Peace in the land and region?

  • jay

    Let’s just hope there’s no fireworks in the evening.

  • georgianna

    Mr Russell, I might comment further on #3, but I will only say that the word Shiksa is extremely offensive. If you consider its root, I would almost put it on a par with the N-word.

  • http://brodnersbicycle.com Steve Brodner

    I love these comments. Everybody kicking in ideas; makes this project much better. Oiy, so funny, Russell et al. Tablet’s readers: not a sad world here.
    Gratefully,
    Steve
    PS: Tzipi and honey cake; no literal connection. She’s just cuddly like the bear, but not kicking anybody’s toosh. Which is too bad, but, well, funny, kind of.

  • http://amoslassen.wordpress.com/ Amos Lassen

    very clever and all too true

  • http://www.tabletmag.com/author/mingall/ marjorie

    brill.

  • J. E. Weisberg

    Dear Mr. Russell, Thank you. I needed a good laugh! I agree, laughter is the best medicine. For all the tears,blood & loss, a single peal of laughter is the truest sign-We live. I teach my son to remember. And always remember to laugh.
    Sincerely, Janine

  • http://Coreyfischer.com Corey

    What is the (Hebrew?) root of shiksa? Clearly, it’s used perjoratively and xenophobically and almost always in the context of stigmatizing intermarriage, but though I’ve known the word since childhood, never knew the etymology. I love Steve Brodner’s work which I’m familiar with from The New Yorker. Hope he become a regular here.

  • http://www.guitargirlsdigitaldiary.blogspot.com Lynda Kraar

    Three ideas for rides:

    - The Lost Temple of Ikea (bumper cars at a tiny replica of the Ra’anana tzomet)
    - Angel v. Abulafia (a pillow fight with pitas)
    - Survivor (visit the Haifa replica of the Azrieli Shopping Center with your kids).

  • Yehudit

    Interesting. I submitted a long comment with a corporate Disney employee as a source, that disproved the direct Disney connection, and New Lineo as connected to Disney, and which included several links (including one to Fast Company, and one to a Wikipedia article about Shamrock). I waited over a day for my comment to be moderated, and I note now that it did not pass. As my Disney friend noted, apparently, fact-checking is no longer necessary in journalism.

  • Yehudit

    I apologize; after 30+ hours, my original comment is, in fact, still waiting for moderation.

  • Natey

    While we are at it. What is the etymology of Shaigitz.

  • Hosshi

    shikse and the male term, shegetz (Yiddish sheygets), are derived from Hebrew šeqeṣ, meaning blemish.

  • eli

    sheigetz, shiksa have nothing to do with “blemish” [i have no idea where you came up with this one] but the following [your choice] – abhorrent,abominable, loathsome or repulsive. in the torah, had to do with unclean or unkosher creatures. in isaiah 86, 17 it is mantioned next to the pig to be loathsome. of course, nowadays, it does not carry the same negative way among most jewish groups.

  • http://www.winnlederer.com Ilene Winn-Lederer

    Steve, these are simply brilliant! Couldn’t resist this goofy ride idea:

    Red(Reed)Sea Marathon: Olympic-size wave pool with wave machine under the middle lane so water splits apart at random intervals. The object is to get to the other side before water returns. (Swimsuit required)
    Winner gets a box of matzo.

  • georgianna

    re: Shiksa. I can’t get my hands on my gemara but I believe in Bava Metzia Chapter 2, somewhere around 21b there’s a discussion about whether the owner of a fig tree should expect figs that have fallen on the ground to be returned. Dates and olives are also discussed but figs, once on the ground are very much susceptible to “becoming soiled” or “filthy”. The verb has to do with things that creep on the ground. Their coming in contact with the figs making them filthy. That verb is the root of the noun shiksa. So in other words, it means vermin. Shiksa might be commonly used, but in some circles, so is the N-word.

  • http://RebeccaReeder.com Rebecca

    I’m enjoying all of the comments and ideas for take off on Disney rides and attractions. How about making Disney’s “Innoventions” into a place where future pilot and flight attendant crew members of El AL practice security techniques; Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes could be King David’s Explorer Club (check out what you can find from your rooftop), and then the Mad Tea Party ride… lots of possibilities which my father never would have imagined as he spun that inner wheel as fast as he could decades ago to make it a fun, dizzying ride for his me.

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  • Alisa Anthony

    There is a Document about Walt Disney company and Israel Relations in wikizionism.org.
    Chek: http://wikizionism.org/AddanArticletoWikizionism/tabid/147/Page/Walt-Disney/Default.aspx

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Israel Disney

The Walt Disney Company and an Israeli movie-theater chain announced plans last week to build a Disney theme park in Haifa. An artist imagines what it will look like.