Shuli Rand

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Shalom "Shuli" Rand (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).

1 Personal history
2 Acting career
3 Singing career
4 References
5 External links

[edit] 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 Nisan Ativ 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 Dibbuk 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.

Shuli and Michal Rand examining an Etrog in a scene from 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.^{[citation needed]}

Shuli Rand and his wife have seven children.^[1]

[edit] 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.