Theater and Entertainment Personalities – Channa Marron, Sefi Rivlin
December 2015

Channa Marron and Sefi Rivlin were two of the most prominent and iconic artists of the Israeli stage. Channa Marron, who was born in Berlin, was known mainly for classic theater while Sefi Rivlin, a native-born Israeli, was renowned for his comedic abilities. Each of these artists earned a place in the pantheon of Israeli culture.

Channa Marron 1923 – 2014
Channa Marron, née Mayerzak, known as the first lady of Israeli theater, began her acting career at the age of four in her native Berlin. Hanne’le Mayerzak starred in over twenty plays (including the first theater production of Pünktchen und Anton by Erich Kästner), seven films (including M – the first sound film by Fritz Lang) and numerous radio plays. In 1933 she had to leave Germany. After two years in Paris, where she portrayed leading roles in a number of plays, Mayerzak-Marron finally settled in Tel-Aviv and was soon integrated into the local Hebrew-speaking theater.

Channa Marron studied at Habima acting studio until, in 1941, she left to join the British Army. Following two years of service in Cairo, she was recruited by ENSA into the Jewish Brigade’s entertainment troupe, in which she played a key and memorable role.

After WWII Ms. Marron joined the founders of the Cameri Theater and took part in the formation of the theater’s distinctive character. Marron performed in dozens of Cameri productions, and is especially remembered for her portrayal of key roles in classic dramatic plays first translated or performed in Hebrew (including major works by Shakespeare, Schiller, Ibsen, Chekhov, Seneca, Wilde, Bernard Shaw, Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Jean Anouilh, Beckett and Pinter) as well as classic plays by Israeli playwrights from Shamir, Alterman and Goldberg to Shulamit Lapid and finally Hanoch Levin.

In February 1970, while starring in a musical stage production of Hello Dolly, Marron was severely injured in a terrorist attack at Munich Airport. Her left leg was amputated in order to save her life. A mere one year later, Marron was back on the Cameri Theater stage as Medea in the play by Seneca. From the early 1980’s she began performing in other theaters, including Habima and Beer Sheva and also starred in the well known television series Krovim Krovim (Close Relatives). In addition to the many theater productions in which she took part, Marron also participated in seven Israeli films (directed by Avraham Hefner, Amos Gitai, Moshe Mizrahi), she was versed and involved in Hebrew poetry and devoted to its reading, and taught and directed at Beit Zvi School of Performing Arts and at Tel Aviv University. In 2000, Channa Marron was among the founders of the Herzliya Ensemble theater company, where she performed and also directed. Marron was active in political and civil organizations and initiatives promoting peace and coexistence in the region.

Channa Marron received many awards for her work in the theater and cinema, as well as her artistic endeavors, including the Israel Prize in 1973.

Thanks to Dr. Ofra Rechter, daughter of Channa Marron and Dor Wertheimer, Channa Marron Archive.

Sefi Rivlin 1947 – 2013
Yosef (Sefi) Rivlin was a versatile, respected and beloved actor and comedian, a virtuoso and one of Israel’s premier artists.

His diverse career spanned a wide range of roles in the theater, film, festivals, musicals, one-man shows, television series and more.

He was awarded the Israeli Television Academy Award and a Golden Mask Prize for lifetime achievement.

Sefi Rivlin studied acting at the Beit Zvi School for Performing Arts and belonged to the original Khan Theater troupe when it was founded in 1973. His first starring role was in Servant of Two Masters, for which he was nominated for a Kinor David Award.

He participated in many televisions series, first as a cast member on the satirical show Nikui Rosh and later Rega im Dodley, BaBayit shel Fistuk, HaTizmoret, Itche and more. Rivlin portrayed numerous film roles, including the leading role in HaShiga’on HaGadol.

Alongside his artistic success, Sefi volunteered for many years in his city of Rishon LeZion and was recognized by the city as an honored citizen. A social activist, he served on the city council and as a cultural advisor to the mayor. He worked to encourage reading, founded a club that conducted classes for adults and youths, volunteered with medical organizations and promoted the establishment of centers for art and the Hebrew language.

Sefi Rivlin was a bold comedic actor, exuding a charming and captivating kind of madness.

Gidi Marinsky, Israel Philatelic Service

Description of the Stamps and the First Day Covers:

Channa Marron
The stamp features a photographed portrait by Israel Haramaty and a photograph from the television series Krovim Krovim, courtesy of Israel Educational Television. The First Day Cover features a caricature by Zeev (Yaakov Farkash) from the Zeev Collection, the Israeli Cartoon Museum, Holon courtesy of his daughters Naomi Farkash- Fink and Dorit Farkash-Shuki.

Sefi Rivlin
The stamp features a photographed portrait by Raphael Ben Dor.

The stamp and tab feature photographs from the television series BaBayit shel Fistuk. The FDC bears an illustration by Zina Roitman of Sefi Rivlin based on a photograph of a scene from BaBayit shel Fistuk.

Photographs: courtesy of Israel Educational Television.