Sesame Workshop revives Israeli shows

US non-profit organisation Sesame Workshop is bringing back Shalom Sesame and Rechov Sumsum, the Israeli versions of Sesame Street, in partnership with a local network.

Preschool channel Hop! will team up with Sesame Workshop to produce 40 new episodes of Rechov Sumsum, which will debut on the basic cable network in December, and 12 of Shalom Sesame, which is designed for international distribution and will be available in 2010.

Shalom Sesame will be an adaptation of the original series aimed at Jewish youngsters outside Israel, featuring Muppets interacting with humans and familiar segments including the teaching of Hebrew letters and words. The series will teach young viewers about sites of interest in Israel and about Jewish holidays over the course of the year.

Local celebrities and Jewish stars from the US will make guest appearances on Shalom Sesame, with Jake Gyllenhaal, Debra Messing, Christina Applegate and Greg Kinnear already signed on.

Rechov Sumsum, meanwhile, will be an educational programme in Hebrew and Arabic teaching children about personal identity and the value of social diversity.

Both series will be supported by multi-platform material including an interactive Shalom Sesame website for preschoolers and merchandising designed to foster connections between Jewish American and Israeli children and their families, schools and broader communities.

“Nothing speaks to children and families better than Sesame Street, so the new production of Shalom Sesame is bound to make a real impact on understanding and connection for the newest generation of Israeli and North American Jews,” said Danny Labin, executive sirector for both projects. “The project is a platform for children, parents and educators to explore their Jewish identity, culture and traditions.”

Rechov Sumsum was the first Israeli adaptation of Sesame Street and has aired on and off in various forms since 1983. The last series, which ran over 2006 and 2007, was aired on Hop!

Shalom Sesame has been produced in 1986 and 1990 for public stations in the US.