Today, New York was treated to another round of Israeli films, and the festival-goers were treated to lines around the block, some waiting up to an hour and a half just to buy tickets.

My advice to the huddled masses: wear a warm jacket, and get to Clearview Cinemas early. It’s worth it.

If you were one of the lucky few, however, buying tickets online, or waiting long enough in person at the 62nd St. box office, you got to see some amazing films. My official film recommendation from the day’s listings: Sweet Mud, Israel’s entry for the 2007 Oscar, and winner of the 2007 Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.

If you weren’t able to catch the film’s NYC premier—Sweet Mud sold out early in the week—look for it again on Thursday, November 1st and Tuesday, November 6th, showing at 7:30 p.m. on both days. Buy tickets early as the lines are nothing to fool with, and the theater accommodates less than three-hundred persons.

But who’s kidding whom here? There was a rock star in town! And any New York Israelite worth her salt knew whom she was in line to see. I, being a fake Jew and a fake New Yorker, did not, and so I was briefed while waiting in line to see the Kibbutz-family-tragedy that is Israel’s four-time Oscar winning production Sweet Mud. Idan Raichel is here and he’s performing.

Now, for those of you, like myself: a little slow, interminably un-hip where the Israeli pop scene is concerned, Idan Raichel is a big deal. Any screaming tween this side of the Middle East conflict knows the close-fitted eyes and wrapped head of hair, bursting with braids like a celebration of youthful resistance—this guy is hot, and it doesn’t take a twelve-year-old to see it.

Following the NYC premier of his film Black Over White Idan Raichel—who was variously described to me as the New Wave 50 Cent of Israel and Israel’s biggest pop star—held a performance to commemorate the release of his film to New York audiences and the Israeli women that followed him over here. Lucky for me—I have relapse pangs from my own screaming tween days—the show was overbooked by forty seats, leaving me and my press pass to wait for tomorrow’s final performance at The French Institute’s Florence Gould Hall on E. 59th St.

Tomorrow promises a rich and diverse day for the Israel Film Festival, highlighting Jewish Identity throughout the day’s films and performances. Not only will Raichel be performing in his last—and hopefully, for me—most exuberant performance, but there will also be a panel discussion following his film’s 7 p.m. showing.

Beyond Raichel there are four films exploring the day’s theme, and, most assuredly, lines around the block. So bring your winter coat and an appetite for pop corn-pop stars: it’s going to be good.