“What makes Israel so special is a question I have been asked in a number of tones by a number of people. As the years slip by, hopefully with the wisdom of age, I become more and more assured that the answer is its people. What has made and makes this country special in a positive manner is the determination of Israelis themselves and also the efforts of those who love and believe in the existence of this feisty and resolute little country. One of the joys of writing articles here is that one is never stuck for subjects – each social gathering can bring us in contact with a subject or a person who has a story to tell, and thus I met Avishai Kfir who specializes in the production of documentary films.

Avishai's story started like that of many young Israelis – finish army service, save up to travel and set off to taste the world. His travels took him to Europe and then America where he was immediately captivated by the wonders of television. He also discovered that he possessed an ability to work with people. Meantime his fascination for television got him hooked on Walter Cronkyte's reporting skills and he knew in what direction he wanted to go – and that was to television, then still in its infancy in Israel. He went for this goal in America, majoring in television, broadcasting and journalism with a minor in film directing, eventually completing his studies there at the City University of New York.

Upon finishing his degree he was offered a post with "20/20", the popular ABC news program. However he turned it down, knowing that he wanted to return to Israel with the aim of seeing his name posted in Hebrew for the credits in television productions. His first success was in the popular science program on Channel 1 – "Observation" (in Hebrew תצפית). He now looks upon those days as his period of incubation. Over the following decades he formed his own production company together with his partner Yitzchak Rubin; they specialized in promotional videos for Israeli companies, academic institutions, Hi-Tech and the Defense Industry. Another goal presented itself to Avishay as the world entered the 21^st century and that was to initiate an Israeli Global History Channel which would broadcast worldwide programs. Initially the feedbacks were positive. However, 2001 saw the start of a slump in investment possibilities for national television programs. One of Avishai's frustrations is that Aljezeira then succeeded in doing it for the Arab world.

Amos Horev, with whom Avishai had worked on documentaries made for the Technion and the defense industry, was appointed to the board of directors for the proposed channel. Amos told him about some amazing and highly suitable film footage he had once seen and which had been filmed over the course of a number of decades by a great supporter of the State of Israel – Fred (Ephraim) Monosson. Avishai's curiosity led him to contact Fred's son, Sonny, in America. “Yes indeed,” Sonny conceded, “there were reels of film which the family was considering getting rid of as they were just lying dormant in the basement in Brookline, Boston for over 40 years”. The family had no further use for them – but Avishai had - and so he journeyed to Boston to meet the Monossons and view the footage. To his amazement, Fred Monosson had instigated filmed highlights of the Jewish/Israeli story in color as far back as the mid- 40’s with one of the first portable colored moving cameras, and to his delight he was able to come to an arrangement regarding obtaining possession of the reels for his use.

And so came about "I was There in Color" which is a 55 minute documentary based on the footage taken over the years 1945 – 1969 by Fred Monosson, and which is fascinating viewing. The man himself was quite a star and when he appears on screen he is always in suit, shirt and tie, no matter what the place, the weather or the temperature. He presents the image of the perfect businessman who purchased the then ultra-modern 16mm portable camera to have a true record made of the happenings that were unfolding around him, first in Europe where he visited and filmed the survivors of the Nazi horrors. He followed them to Palestine, to the detention camps of Cyprus and then back, to capture shots of the dreams and hopes of the pre -1948 Israel – new agricultural settlements, the bustling city life of Tel Aviv even then and the ancient and troubled corners of Jerusalem and what came after.

More I shall not tell you as you too can venture into this fascinating world, meet Fred, see what he saw and experienced by going on line to have a look on        http://www.buildyourfilmsite.com/monosson/

Presently Avishai is putting his energies into a new documentary which is entitled "Blood, Sweat and Hi-Tech"; after hearing about his frustrations over the History Channel this title certainly brought a smile to my lips.   

The documentary "Israel in Color" composed from excerpts of Fred Monosson's reels of film by Avishay has just been selected by the Boston Jewish Community to be shown at their film festival in November.