Rechov Sumsum

Rechov Sumsum was the first Israeli co-production of Sesame Street. The brianchild of Dr. Lewis Bernstein, who first pitched the idea in 1979, the first episodes debuted over ETV in June 1982, with the full season beginning in September 1983. 195 episodes were produced over several years, and remained popular in re-runs.

The series starred porcupine Kippi Ben Kippod, and Moishe Oofnik, the Israeli counterparts, respectively, to Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.

The set of Rechov Sumsum was the central location for Shalom Sesame, a co-production between the series and its American counterpart, shown to American audiences.

Rechov Sumsum paved the way for the Israeli/Palestinian co-production, Rechov Sumsum/Shara'a Simsim, and its spin-off, Sippuray Sumsum.

Hebrew names for Sesame Street characters

 * Ernie: Arik
 * Bert: Bentz
 * Cookie Monster: Oogi, Oogi ha-Mifletzet or Oogifletzet
 * Grover: Kruvi (most likely "small cabbage", although possibly "little angel", "cherub")
 * Super Grover: Kruvi Ahuvi ("ahuvi" literally meaning "beloved")
 * Oscar the Grouch: Mar Ashpach ("Mr. Trashcan")
 * Count von Count: Mar S'for
 * Herry Monster: Shraga
 * Beautiful Day Monster: Ezra
 * Prairie Dawn: Miri
 * The Amazing Mumford: Malkush ha-Kosem ha-Gadol ("Malkush the Great Wizard")
 * Betty Lou: Chaftzi-Bah ("my delight is in her")
 * Don Music: Gali Musikali
 * Lefty: Mar Karkumi
 * Farley: Pupik ("belly button")
 * Mr. Hooper: Mar Kuper
 * Roosevelt Franklin: Binyamin Ze'ev Weitzman
 * Guy Smiley: Mumu Talpaz (a play on the name of Israeli talk show host Dudu Topaz)
 * Biff: Beni
 * Sully: Sami

Puppeteers

 * Sarai Tzuriel as Kippi Ben Kipod
 * Gilles Ben-David as Moishe Oofnik

Human Cast

 * Yona Atari as Grandma Yona
 * Nathan Dattner as Nathan
 * Miki Kam as Miki
 * Gabi Amrani as Gabi
 * Hana Rot as Hana
 * Albert Iluz as Albert
 * Makram Khuri as Makram

Voices

 * Dov Reiser as Cookie Monster
 * Eyal Bartonov as Kermit
 * Yosef Shiloah as Ernie
 * Shlomo Baraba as Bert
 * Israel Gurion as Grover
 * Albert Cohen as Count Von Count
 * Gidi Gov as Herry Monster