Rechov Sumsum

Lore & Background

The idea for Sesame Street in Israel dates to 1971, when black-and-white English episodes briefly aired but were deemed insufficiently educational. The first Rechov Sumsum series ran from 1983 to 1986, producing 195 episodes. It featured local human characters and original Muppets: Kippi Ben Kippod (a porcupine parallel to Big Bird) and Moishe Oofnik (a grouch parallel to Oscar). Puppet segments from the American show were dubbed in Hebrew, while all other content was locally produced, including segments where Israeli children shared their lives. The show's curriculum emphasized mutual respect, child development, and cognitive skills, with mutual respect a priority due to 'profound political tension in the region.'

Reader's Guide

Rechov Sumsum's significance lies in its pioneering role as a co-production that adapted Sesame Street's educational model to Israeli society while addressing sectarian conflict. The 1998–2000 joint Israeli-Palestinian series, Rechov Sumsum/Shara'a Simsim, was a landmark effort to promote coexistence, featuring both Israeli and Arab Muppets and avoiding political symbols. This production attracted academic attention and was viewed as a model for anti-sectarian television. The original series also spawned a popular merchandise line, including 'Kipi shoes,' and its characters appeared in international specials. The show's legacy includes demonstrating how children's media can navigate cultural and political divides.

Did You Know?

• The original Rechov Sumsum series had a parallel character to Big Bird named Kippi Ben Kippod, a large porcupine.
• Moishe Oofnik, the Israeli counterpart to Oscar the Grouch, was a punk who complained but befriended neighborhood children.
• The 1998–2000 joint Israeli-Palestinian co-production included new Muppets: Dafi (purple monster) and Hanin (orange monster); Kareem (green rooster) was a character from the Palestinian version 'Shara'a Simsim.'
• The show's curriculum made mutual respect a major focus, building on the original American Sesame Street's longstanding emphasis on mutual respect and diversity since its inception in 1969.

Origins and the Road to a Hebrew Adaptation

The concept of bringing Sesame Street to Israeli screens traces back to 1971, when black-and-white English-language episodes briefly appeared on domestic television. The Ministry of Education found the program enjoyable but insufficiently educational for young viewers, and it was promptly withdrawn. Decades later, a full Hebrew adaptation materialized through a partnership between the Israeli Educational Television and Sesame Workshop, the American non-profit that has co-produced the original series since 1969. The first three seasons were produced jointly under this arrangement. Over the years, the franchise expanded to encompass five main television series and one short-lived spin-off, spanning from the landmark 1983 debut through Shalom Sesame in 2009. Each iteration was tailored specifically for Israeli audiences, with storylines and casts reflecting local life, while puppet segments from the American original were consistently dubbed into Hebrew across every version of the show.

The Neighborhood and Its Beloved Characters

The 1983–1997 run of Rechov Sumsum became the most beloved iteration, with 195 episodes broadcast between 1983 and 1986. Set in a vivid Israeli neighborhood, the show featured a big porcupine named Kippi as the local equivalent of Big Bird, and Moishe Oofnik, a grumbling punk who annoyed his neighbors yet won the children's affection, standing in for Oscar the Grouch. The street was populated by a rich ensemble: Avner and Hanna ran a coffee shop near Kippi's burrow before being succeeded by Gabi Amrani's establishment; Miki Kam and Nathan Dattner lived opposite the café; veteran actress Yona Atari played an elderly resident; and Shmuel Shilo ran an appliance-repair shop where Miki worked as an assistant. A French-accented visitor, Albert Iluz, dropped by for consultations with Kippi, while Salim Dau taught children Arabic vocabulary. Guest appearances by HaDodaim, Haim Moshe, Gidi Gov, and Rotem Abuhab added star power. The opening theme, written by Eli Mohar and composed by Yoni Rechter, was performed by Rechter alongside Gidi Gov, Mazi Cohen, Dafna Armoni, and the Tzadikov children's choir.

Shalom Sesame: A Cross-Border Co-Production

Shalom Sesame (1989–1991) represented a bold Israeli-American co-production that merged Hollywood talent with the original Israeli cast. American actors including Sarah Jessica Parker, Bonnie Franklin, Anne Meara, Mary Tyler Moore, and Jerry Stiller appeared alongside the familiar Rechov Sumsum regulars, while celebrated violinist Yitzhak Perlman participated in a recurring capacity. The series was originally intended for American broadcast and therefore recorded entirely in English; it was only later dubbed into Hebrew for Israeli audiences, though the Shalom Sesame logo still appeared at the top of each episode. During the massive wave of Russian immigration to Israel in those years, a Russian-language dub was also produced to reach the new arrivals. Three seasons were filmed in 1989, 1990, and 1991, with Israeli broadcast occurring in 1989 and 1990. In 2006, the complete series was released on DVD in the United States, presenting all episodes in their original English audio without the Hebrew track.

Educational Mission and Cultural Footprint

Beyond entertainment, the original Rechov Sumsum carried a deliberately structured curriculum covering mutual respect, the child's world, reading and mathematics, and cognitive organization. What distinguished this production was elevating mutual respect—human diversity and tolerance—to a primary educational pillar, a first among all Sesame Street adaptations. This emphasis was driven by the profound political tension in the region, and the series has since been regarded as a model for using television to deliver anti-sectarian messaging. The show's cultural footprint extended well beyond the screen: records of its songs and sketches, Kippi dolls, school supplies, clothing, and bedding flooded the market. A particular fashion trend emerged—the "Kipi shoes," plaided slippers in brown and black that predated the show but surged in popularity because of it. Kippi and Moishe Oofnik also crossed international borders, appearing in the 1993 special Sesame Street Stays Up Late! alongside characters from other countries. When the co-production agreement expired, Hebrew-dubbed segments moved to the private HOP! Channel, and the series continued in reruns until 1996.