| Shuli Rand | |
|---|---|
Rand during a performance in Haifa, May 2011 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Shalom Rand |
| Born | February 8, 1962 Bnei Brak, Israel |
| Occupations | Singer, Actor |
Shalom "Shuli" Rand (also spelled Shuly; Hebrew: שולי רנד) is an Israeli film actor, writer, and singer. He is a Haredi Jew and is best known in the English-speaking world for his acting his role as the protagonist in Ushpizin (2005) as well as being the writer of the movie.
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Rand was born Shalom Rand (February 8, 1962) 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]
Shuli Rand and his wife have seven children [1] and live in the Ramot suburb of Jerusalem.[2]
In 1996, he returned to observant Judaism,[3] 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 Rand wrote, and starred in the movie Ushpizin.[4] The movie was produced in accordance with Halakha and rabbinical 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.[5]
Shuli Rand has acted in Hameuad, Eddie King, Life According to Agfa, New Land, as well as Ushpizin.[6] In 2004 Shuli and Michal Batsheva Rand founded the Jewish Theatre of Jerusalem.
Rand received the Ophir Award (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 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.[7]