Grapevine: Exiled?

SIGNING OFF from his early morning broadcast last Sunday, veteran Reshet Bet current affairs anchorman Aryeh Golan lamented that he was still stuck in Modi’in. “Not yet Jerusalem,” he sighed.

Aryeh Golan in his radio studio at Kan Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation; ‘I call this being in the cockpit’ (photo credit: RAFI DELUYA)
Aryeh Golan in his radio studio at Kan Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation; ‘I call this being in the cockpit’
(photo credit: RAFI DELUYA)
■ SIGNING OFF from his early morning broadcast last Sunday, veteran Reshet Bet current affairs anchorman Aryeh Golan lamented that he was still stuck in Modi’in. “Not yet Jerusalem,” he sighed.
 In August 2016, the Knesset stipulated that the majority of employees of Kan (the brand name for the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation, meaning “Here” in Hebrew) would be broadcasting from Jerusalem as of July 1, 2018, with the exception of those employed in branches outside the capital. The fine the Finance Minister was entitled to impose on IPBC for every month of delay in operating from Jerusalem would be NIS 2 m. in the first month increasing by NIS 2 m. every following month to a ceiling of NIS 10 m. per month.
In May 2017, Golan told The Jerusalem Post that the Jerusalem premises that Kan had acquired in Givat Shaul’s main drag of Kanfei Nesharim St. were in the process of being completed. He anticipated that they would be ready for occupation within two to three months.
 At the time, Interior Minister Arye Deri objected to the location of the studios because Kanfei Nesharim leads to the religious neighborhood of Har Nof where Deri lives. The functioning of the studios 24/7 includes Sabbath desecration, which would offend locals.
The fact is that the only outward sign of desecration would be the arrival and departure of Kan staff who would be driving their cars. But other cars go through Kanfei Nesharim on Friday nights and Saturdays, so this would not really make any difference.
The powers-that-be at Kan have circumvented the Public Broadcasting Law by broadcasting news bulletins from Jerusalem, but continue to essentially operate from Modi’in
■ AT ‘OVERALL,’ the fashion fiesta hosted last week by the Tower of David, Ilanit Melchior, director of tourism at the Jerusalem Development Authority, an event co-sponsor, participated in some of the festival's seminars and get-togethers. She couldn't stop gloating that Jerusalem was listed by Travel and Leisure Magazine as the second best city in Africa and the Middle East, sandwiched in the rankings between Capetown, South Africa and Marrakesh, Morocco. Melchior related that TLM had listed among the reasons for Jerusalem being a top-notch travel destination, that it was interesting and exciting with vibrant night life and friendly people.
■ FOR ALL its good points, Jerusalem still has to make sure that its cab drivers do not take tourists for a ride in the negative sense. Celebrity hairdresser Marcel Reboh, who together with his siblings made a big name for the family beauty business in their various branches in Canada and the US, is hopping mad at Israeli taxi drivers who overcharge tourists. Reboh, who together with his brother Gabriel returned to Israel seven years ago after a long stint in North America, operates hairdressing salons in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Gabriel is in charge of the Tel Aviv salon and Marcel the Jerusalem salon in Ben Sira St., within easy walking distance of more than half a dozen hotels.
In the US, his clients included Paris Hilton, Jennifer Lopez, Sophia Loren, Uma Thurman, Claudia Schffer, Sharon Stone and Ivana Trump (the US president’s first wife), to name but a few. He has photographs to prove his claims. When Stone was in Israel in 2013, she called on Marcel Reboh to style her hair. Many American tourists, especially those who remember him from Miami, when they come to Jerusalem, want to have him style their hair, rather than the hotel hairdresser. Because they’re not familiar with Jerusalem’s geography, they usually take a cab to his salon, and he waits for them in the street outside. Last week, someone who came from around the corner in a cab was charged NIS 100. Reboh argued with the cab driver to no avail, so he photographed the license plate on the car with the intention of sending it to the Ministries of Tourism and Transportation.
Reboh struck it lucky with his location. Just two doors down is cosmetician Devorah Wolf, who creates cosmetics from Israeli products, and who has devised personal magnetized makeup kits so that her clients get only what they actually use – the particular eye-shadow, blush, and/or base colors. Too often, brand-name kits are loaded with color palettes that purchasers don’t need. When one of the palettes in Wolf’s box is used up, it can easily be replaced without having to buy a whole new set. Although she and Reboh are not in partnership, they refer clients to each other. Wolf also works with of not-for-profit groups, giving free spa treatments to male and female lone soldiers, providing make-up workshops that teach how to properly apply makeup and generally giving people a positive sense of self-image.