Yossi Vassa is an expert in storytelling. With a career spanning theater, television, film, and literature, he’s earned prestigious awards and performed across the world, including Broadway. In 2018, he won an International Emmy Award for his sitcom Nevsu, which he created, wrote, and starred in, while making audiences laugh on Hamisrad, the Israeli version of The Office. Now, Yossi invites us alongside him on this journey in his autobiographical graphic novel, The Last Day to Dress Up (in English), and to attend a visual book talk hosted by Be’chol Lashon in collaboration with the Marlene Meyerson JCC in Manhattan on May 13.
For Yossi, his story of immigrating from Ethiopia to Israel with his family at age ten was a story that needed to be told, and its success has surpassed his expectations. “I wrote this story as an adult, looking back at my childhood,” Yossi shared. “It’s about a memory that stayed deep inside me for many years, until one day I said: ‘That’s it — I have to let it out. At first, I wrote this story just for myself. I never even thought it would get published.”
The Last Day to Dress Up offers a universal immigration story about the desire to belong in a new environment, and has already received the prestigious Devora Omer Literature Award, and was selected to Israel’s Ministry of Education’s Book Parade and the Illustration Library at the Israel Museum.
The illustrations, like the writing, are done with sensitivity and humor. Yarden Vassa, a visual artist and graphic novelist, thoughtfully illustrated Yossi’s story. “Yossi’s story really hit home for me,” Yarden explained. “Much because of my immigration experiences. I was born in Israel but started 1st grade in South Africa and graduated 12th grade in California.”
Yarden honed her artistic skills as a merit scholar of The San Francisco Art Institute and exhibited and sold independent comics in the US and Israel before The Last Day to Dress Up. Working on the graphic novel offered Yarden a unique artistic opportunity. She shared how, “as a visual artist, I was drawn to and fascinated by the myriad social and geographical landscapes Yossi depicts in his story, as well as his time-travel storytelling across memories. To me, Yossi’s story felt like a classic real-life superhero tale – perfect for a graphic novel.”
Together, on May 13 at 6:30pm at the Marlene Meyerson JCC in Manhattan, Yossi and Yarden will host a unique and creative visual book talk, where they will share their experience of bringing to life the story of 10-year-old Yossi and his immigration story from Ethiopia to Israel. Using animation, a live painting performance, and readings with illustrated slides, they will showcase how art and storytelling merge in a graphic novel and how a personal immigration journey transforms into a superhero comic book.
Ethiopian Israeli and NYC locals Haftam Yitzhak Heathwood and Batya Eyob-Serette can’t wait to attend an event with the Yossi Vassa who inspired them on their screens.
“I’ve followed Yossi’s work since his early days in Israel and have always admired his rare gift for turning real-life experiences into stories that are funny, moving, and unforgettable. Through his art, he sheds light on the immigration experience of Ethiopian Jews in Israel, using humor and storytelling to bridge cultures and spark connection. From “It Sounds Better in Amharic” to “Nebsu,” he’s proven himself as a master storyteller who brings humor, heart, and honesty to the stage. I’m certain his new show will be just as powerful and I can’t wait to experience it.” -Batya Eyob Serette
“I grew up in Israel watching Yossi Vassa on Am Yisrael Live, and his storytelling and performances always captivated me. He inspired me to want more for myself than what life presented to me. Even after moving to New York, I continued to follow his work, especially through his show Nevsu, which brightened my days and reminded me of home. Yossi’s deep commitment to the Ethiopian Jewish community and his constant efforts to give back have only deepened my admiration for him.”-Haftam Yitzhak Heathwood
We hope that anyone in the NYC area is able to join us at what is sure to be a memorable, engaging, and inspiring event.
