Category: Entertainment News

The Jerusalem Film Festival this year will also be the place where The Jewish Martha Stewart, Jamie Geller, is launching her new culinary web series, Joy of Israel, as well as releasing her new cookbook that was already released in the U.S., last week.

Ron Jacobsohn, JN1 Correspondent:
We are at the Jerusalem Film Festival where The Jewish Martha Stewart, Jamie Geller, is premiering her new culinary web series, Joy of Israel, as well as launching her new cookbook that was released in the US just last week.

The Food Critic of Ha’aretz in English, Judy Maltz, admits she has not seen a new immigrant to Israel becoming so famous inso little time as Jamie Geller.

Judy Maltz, Food Critic, Ha’aretz:
As you can see, she’s wildly popular; she’s got a whole following here. She is probably one of the most famous, if not the most famous immigrant to move to Israel from United States in recent years and she does live in Beit-Shemesh, which has a very large Anglo-Saxon population, so she had a built-in following as soon as she set foot in the country. I actually spent a day with her in her first week here last year and you know, the neighbors were just coming over every night, bringing her food, they all knew her or of her from America so she’s certainly not a stranger to Israel.

Neil Gellar, Jamie’s husband, is probably her biggest fan in the whole wide world, as he has been by her side from the beginning of her very successful career.

Neil Gellar, Jamie’s Husband:
I knew I was marrying a star but we didn’t know it was going in the food direction. Sometimes, you know, we walk around, it’s hard really to go anywhere and not you know, someone doesn’t stop us to say hello or you know, ask for an e-mail address or twitter account so it’s nice, it’s great to be married to someone who is always happy with what they’re doing, what they do for a living, their profession. A happy wife is a happy husband.

Hundreds of Jamie’s fans showed up for the premiere party of The Joy of Kosher and Jamie, being the most down to earth celebrity, gave everyone the attention they deserved.

Jamie Gellar, Author, The Joy of Kosher:
It’s amazing, it’s the most warmest reception and I remember when we announced the New York book party and everyone in Israel said well what about us and the Cinemateque decided to screen the film and gave us a wonderful opportunity to have a book party here as well, so I’m just so happy to give back and meet everyone and hear, because I love Israel so much, it’s wonderful to celebrate here as well. I love it, usually when I’m cooking; it’s like no make-up, you know, like walking around the house like same stresses as a normal mom, when you forget like, you’re working so hard at what you do all for, the best part is to hug everyone and to meet everyone and see that they receive the book so well.

Ron Jacobsohn, JN1 Correspondent:
Jamie is undoubtedly a perfect example of someone who decided to move to Israel and didn’t have to give-up her US career as a result.
For JN1 I am Ron Jacobsohn at the Jerusalem Cinemateque.