Actress Lea Koenig awarded Emet Prize
The Emet Prize for culture and arts for 2012 was awarded to actress Lea Koenig. Koenig, who was born in the Polish city of Lodz in 1929, has been called the First Lady of Israeli theater. After World War II she and her family moved to Romania, where she began acting career in the Yiddish theater. Within a year after moving to Israel, in 1961, she was cast in Hebrew-speaking parts at Habima National Theater, in Tel Aviv. The AMN Foundation for the Advancement of Science, Art and Culture, which confers the Emet Prize each year in a number of fields, called Koenig the "uncompromising artistic face of Israeli theater." (Haaretz Staff )
Union asks court to bar Maariv from firing news staff
The National Association of Journalists has filed a request for a restraining order against the management of the Maariv newspaper, seeking to bar the layoffs of journalists. The request, filed in the Tel Aviv Labor Court, follows the dismissal of about 10 journalists at Maariv. The petition contends that the layoffs run counter to a collective labor agreement. It also seeks to have the newspaper's management disclose details of plans for cutbacks at the Hebrew daily. Plans for staff reductions are expected to affect journalists covering news, sports and business. (Emilie Grunzweig )
Poet wins tweeting competition
The Mifal Hapayis lottery commission has announced that the poet Shai Arie Mizrachi won first place in the lottery's tweeting competition, in which contestants had to write a concise letter limited to 140 characters of text. An English rendering of the winning Hebrew entry reads in part: "Dear. Hello. I would like to discuss. I should note that I-." The jury in the competition said the letter "gave effective expression to the weakness of the individual vis-a-vis the social systems and the establishment." Mizrachi will get $15,000 for his prize tweet - more than $100 per character. (Maya Sela )
New Arabic language station Hala is launched
A new Arabic language station called Hala, broadcasting on Channel 30 on both HOT and Yes, had its launch on Tuesday following several months of trial broadcasts. Hala is also available through Amos satellite broadcasts and in the future may be accessible via Idan Plus, which provides a number of stations by way of converter box. Hala is owned by a number of partners, including Channel 2 franchisee Reshet, Bassam Jabber of the Panorama group and Ziad Omari, who is also chairman of the station. The delay in broadcasting was due in part to differences among the station's owners. (Emilie Grunzweig )
Jefferson Starship to land at Tel Aviv Port
Jefferson Starship will be in Israel for one performance on September 4 at Reading 3 at the Tel Aviv Port. The group got its start in California in the 1970, founded by some of the members of Jefferson Airplane, which broke up at the time. Two of the original performers from the Airplane, Paul Kantner and David Freiberg, are still with the successor band, while vocalist Grace Slick left 20 years ago. Her place in the band is now being filled by Cathy Richardson, who was a Grammy nominee for her role in the musical "Love, Janis" about Janis Joplin. (Uri Zer Aviv )
Artzi and Golan headline Briza fest
The 21st annual Briza Festival, which will be held in Ashkelon from August 19 to 23, will feature a top lineup of performers including Shlomo Artzi, Eyal Golan and Amir Benayoun. The festival will open with a performance by singer Karolina, followed the next day by an event marking 20 years since the founding of the group Knesiat Hasechel. (Uri Zer Aviv )
