Shuli Rand

Shalom "Shuli" Rand (also spelled Shuly ; ; born 6 February 1962) is an Israeli film actor, writer, and singer. He is a Breslover Hasid and is best known in the English-speaking world for his role as the protagonist in Ushpizin, for which he wrote the screenplay.

Biography Shalom Rand was born to a Religious Zionist family in Bnei Brak. His father, Professor Yaakov Rand, a winner of the Israel Prize for his contribution to special education, is a chazzan. He attended the Or Etzion yeshiva until age 18. After compulsory army service, Rand attended the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Tel Aviv and became an actor, abandoning Orthodox practice.

In 1996, he returned to observant Judaism. He later joined the Breslov Hasidic movement and moved to Jerusalem. He is a student of Rabbi Shalom Arush. He then married TV presenter Tzufit Grant.

Acting and film career Rand rose to stardom at age 26 after playing the lead role in Andrzej Wajda's play The Dybbuk at Habima theater. Rand was chosen Israel's Theater Actor of the Year several times. In 2004 Rand wrote, directed, and starred in the film Ushpizin.

Rand has also acted in Hameuad, Eddie King (1992), Life According to Agfa (1992), and New Land (1994). In 2018 he appeared in the dystopian drama miniseries, Autonomies.

Rand co-wrote the animated drama film Legend of Destruction (2021) with Gidi Dar. He also voiced one of the lead roles in the film.

Singing career

After Ushpizin, Rand embarked on a music career, performing mostly for secular audiences.

Awards and recognition Rand won the Ophir Award given by the Israel Film Academy twice. He was named Best Supporting Actor in 1993 for Life According to Agfa, and Best Actor in 2004 for Ushpizin.

Discography (2008) Shuli Rand Live (2010) Back and Forth (2018) Shuli Sings Benayoun (2022)