Rechov Sumsum

Did You Know?

• The idea for Sesame Street in Israel dates to 1971, when black-and-white episodes in English were briefly shown on Israeli television but taken off air because the Ministry of Education found them not educational enough.
• The spin-off Sippuray Sumsum (2002–2006) was broadcast on the HOP! Channel and occasionally on Channel 33 with Arabic dubbing; it was largely funded by the European Union.

Rechov Sumsum (1983–1997)

This original version of the series was the most popular. It produced 195 episodes broadcast between 1983 and 1986 on the Israeli Educational Television. Puppet segments were taken from the American series and dubbed in Hebrew, while all other aspects were local. The program took place in an Israeli neighborhood where children and adults played together, with original connecting segments showing Israeli children sharing views of their lives. The series featured a parallel character to Big Bird named Kippi, a large porcupine, and a parallel to Oscar the Grouch named Moishe Oofnik, a punk who complained and bothered residents but became friends with the children. Residents included Avner and Hanna, owners of a coffee shop near Kippi's burrow; after they moved, Gabi Amrani took over. Other residents were Miki Kam and Nathan Dattner, Yona Atari, and Shmuel Shilo, who ran an electricity appliance repair shop where Miki worked as his assistant. Albert Iluz occasionally visited, a peculiar character with a French accent whom Kippi consulted. Salim Dau explained Arabic words to the children. Guest stars included HaDodaim, Haim Moshe, Gidi Gov, and Rotem Abuhab. The opening theme was written by Eli Mohar, composed by Yoni Rechter, and performed by Rechter, Gidi Gov, Mazi Cohen, Dafna Armoni, and the Tzadikov choir. Kippi and Moishe Oofnik appeared in the 1993 special Sesame Street Stays Up Late! alongside other international Sesame Street characters.

Rechov Sumsum (aka. Rechov Sumsum/[[Shara'a Simsim]]) (1998–2000)

In 1994, the Children's Television Workshop proposed a joint Israeli-Palestinian Sesame Street co-production. Production began in 1995 with separate Israeli and Palestinian teams based in Tel Aviv and Ramallah, each signing a separate deal with the Workshop. The series cost $4 million, financed by Israel Educational Television, Al-Quds Educational Television, and foreign donors. The show was nearly canceled due to pressures from both sides against cooperation; several Palestinian team members left in May 1996 after Benjamin Netanyahu was elected. Both teams agreed the show would not cover political issues or include imagery of soldiers, flags, other nationalist symbols, or religious locations and holidays. This was tested when a script featured a Palestinian Olympic runner, Majed Abu Marajil, saying he represented the "Palestinian state"; the segment was never filmed because Marajil could not come to Tel Aviv in 1997. The combined production included Israeli-Jews and Israeli-Arabs to promote coexistence. Al-Quds University's Institute of Modern Media co-produced the series. It premiered on April 1, 1998 and ran until the end of 2002. The 70 episodes featured new characters alongside Kipi and Oofnik: an Israeli Muppet named Dafi (a purple monster), and two Arab muppets named Hanin (an orange monster) and Kareem (a green rooster). A new stage included a garden, promenade, bookstore, and ice cream store; Moishe Oofnik's old car was stuck in the center. Due to disintegration of the original Kippi muppet and rights issues, Kippi was redesigned with a more muppet-like look and given a more masculine voice by Guy Friedman. The opening theme was composed by Shlomo Gronich and included sentences in Arabic. The closing theme was instrumental, with Dafi and the human cast waving goodbye.

The fourth series – Rechov Sumsum (2006–present)

In 2006, the show returned to the name Rechov Sumsum on the HOP! Channel, mixing the Sippuray Sumsum cast, new characters, and returning Moishe Oofnik. Mahboub was controversial as a muppet of Arab origin. The opening theme was the original by Yoni Rechter, sung by a children's band called Sharonit. The show included a campaign against violence. The fourth series had 40 episodes; the closing theme was instrumental as the cast waved goodbye. In December 2009, a new season featured Avigail, Brosh, Mahboub, Moishe Oofnik, new neighbor Sivan (a Muppet in a wheelchair), and Sesame Street's Grover (Kruvi in Hebrew). In February 2012, another season featured Avigail, Mahboub, Sivan, Moishe Oofnik, and Elmo. In March 2015, a season focused on science and curiosity featured Avigail, Mahboub, Sivan, and Elmo; Shani Cohen, Avigail's former puppeteer, returned as a human character named Ayelet, a museum tour guide. The closing theme was instrumental, with Oofnik making cameo appearances.

Original [[Muppet]] characters

In the original Rechov Sumsum and the second series Shalom Sesame, Kippi Ben Kippod (performed by Sarai Tzuriel) was a porcupine equivalent of Big Bird. Moishe Oofnik (Gilles Ben David) was a brown grouch similar to Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch, living in a broken car. In the third series Rechov Sumsum/Shara'a Simsim, Kippi Ben Kippod (Guy Friedman) had a new design; Moishe Oofnik (Gilles Ben David) continued. New characters included Dafi (Irit Shilo), a happy purple monster and Haneen's best friend; Haneen, a happy orange monster living on Shara'a Simsim with Karim; and Karim, built by Paul Andrejco of Puppet Heap. In the spin-off Sippurei Sumsum, Noah (Gilles Ben David) and Brosh (Avi Yakir) appeared. In the fourth and fifth series of Rechov Sumsum, Moishe Oofnik (Gilles Ben David) lived in a green recycling bin; Noah (Gilles Ben David) was a curious red monster and Mahboub's best friend; Brosh (Avi Yakir) was an orange monster who liked cleaning; Mahboub (Yousef Sweid) was a blue monster speaking Hebrew and Arabic; Avigail (Shani Cohen and Guni Paz) was a purple monster speaking in third person; Sivan (Efrat Gonan) was a purple Muppet in a wheelchair; Grover (Gilles Ben David and Yoav Heyman) and Elmo (Ariel Doron speaking, Zvika Fohrman singing) appeared from Sesame Street. In Tochnit Ha'Eiruach Shel Elmo, Moishe Oofnik lived in a green recycling bin and Elmo (Efrat Gonan) was a late show monster host.