Preparations continue for Barack Obama’s first visit to Israel as president. The U.S. embassy in Israel, through its American Center in Jerusalem, is planning “the Obama-ba Festival,” which will run all this week, preceding the president’s visit later this month.
The festival includes various activities, such as an informal coffee with an embassy diplomat, two rock concerts, and a special theater group presentation for children on the prevention of violence. The rock bands participating are a Jerusalem rock group called “Even Yerushalmi” and a “high energy Tel Aviv rock group, the Heeby Gee Bees.” The children’s presentation is described as:
Also in advance of the visit, the U.S. embassy is holding a contest that will award 20 tickets to President Obama’s speech.
The name of the Obama-ba Festival is apparently a play on the name of a popular snack food in Israel, Bamba. Wikipedia describes the snack:
Although the president may be flattered by the comparison as a commentary on his popularity in Israel and his support for the U.S. ally, Michelle Obama, well known for her emphasis on healthy eating, might take exception to the high fat, salt, and calorie content. Mrs. Obama is not expected to accompany her husband on this trip.
