Muppets Celebrate Israel's 60th Birthday in D.C.

On June 1, Moshe Oofnik from Israel's locally produced version of Sesame Street, Rechov Sumsum, joined Oscar the Grouch in Washington, D.C. The two grouchy cousins were actually celebrating a happy occasion -- Israel's 60th birthday.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington hosted the event, which also featured Israeli rock band Mashina, actor Mandy Patinkin, and singer Regina Spektor. Cookie Monster also joined the party, walking around and interacting with the crowd.  

Many Israelis have fond childhood memories of the beloved Moshe Oofnik, who appeared on the original Rechov Sumsum in 1983, the bilingual version, Shalom Sumsum, the Israeli-Palestinian co-production Rechov Sumsum/Shara'a Simsim. He returned in 2006 for the new version of Rechov Sumsum.