Shalom "Shuli" Rand (also spelled Shuly; Hebrew: שולי רנד) is an Israeli film actor and singer. He is a Haredi Jew and is best known in the English-speaking world for his role as the protagonist in Ushpizin (2004).
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Personal history
Rand was born and raised in Bnei Brak, Israel in a religious-zionist family and attended the Or Etzion yeshiva until age 18. After compulsory army service, Rand embarked on a career in theater where he relinquished Orthodoxy. He attended the exclusive Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Tel Aviv and became a successful theatrical actor. He rose to fame at age 26 after playing the lead role in Andzei Vida's famous play The Dybbuk at the Habima theater. Rand was chosen Israel’s Theater Actor of the Year several times.[1]
In 1996, he returned to Judaism,[2] joining the Breslover Hasidic movement, and moved to Jerusalem. He is a student of Rabbi Shalom Arush.[1] Rand withdrew from acting in order to realize his religious aspirations, but after an eight-year hiatus managed to return to the screen with Ushpizin.
The movie was produced in accordance with Halakha and rabbincal consultation, which allowed the Rands to participate. Rand's wife, Michal Batsheva Rand, who had no previous acting experience, acted alongside Rand as the protagonist's wife in Ushpizin. Michal Rand is also a baalas teshuva.[3]
Shuli Rand and his wife have seven children.[1]
Acting career
Rand received the Ofir Prize (Award of the Israeli Film Academy) twice, in 1993 for Life According to Agfa (Best Supporting Actor) and in 2004 for Ushpizin (Best Actor).
In 2004 Shuli and Michal Batsheva Rand founded the Jewish Theatre of Jerusalem.
Singing career
In 2008, Rand released his first album, Good Point (נקודה טובה) with 11 songs, which he wrote himself based on Rebbe Nachman’s teachings. Over 30,000 copies of the self-released CD were sold, and it was awarded a gold album in Israel[4].
References
- ^ a b c "From Lead Role to Torah Scroll", World of Breslov, February, 2008.
- ^ LA Times review
- ^ http://www.ou.org/pdf/ja/5767/fall67/44-49.pdf
- ^ אלבום זהב לשולי רנד, Maariv-nrg, August 25, 2008
External links
- Shuli Rand at the Internet Movie Database
- Shuli Rand at MOOMA (Hebrew)
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