Toy Innovator of the year
Israel’s Yair Shilo was voted Toy Innovator of the Year 2024 at the 17th annual Toy & Game Innovation Excellence Awards, in, Illinois USA. Power Saber, from Goliath Games and Nextoy, is the world’s first automatic retractable and extendable Star Wars light saber. It earlier won a Kidult award.
Golden young windsurfers
At the 2024 World Youth Windsurfing Championship in Spain, Israel’s Alba Klein won the Under 17 women category as did Itamar Levi in the Under 17 men’s. Also in the men’s category, David Aleshko won bronze. Both Alba and Itamar were designated world champions.
World champion fencer
Israel’s Yuval Freilich (see previously) won the Gold medal in the individual senior men's epee event at the 2024 Grade A World Cup in Vancouver, Canada.
Other jiu-jitsu world champions
In World jiu-jitsu championship where Israel’s Daniel Boaron won the U14, U48kg event (see previously) there were Israeli wins in the women’s events. Maya Behar (U63kg), May Daniel (U57 kg), Michal Baly (U52kg). In the Under 16 division, both Zohar Sela and Lia Shalev won gold.
Kevin Spacey visits Israel
US actor Kevin Spacey recently made a surprise trip to Israel. He visited the Gaza border communities, spoke to lone soldiers, and held a two-hour acting masterclass in Tel Aviv. He also met Knesset speaker Amir Ohana and visited wounded Israeli soldiers at Sheba Medical Center.
Neflix buys “Six Zeros”
Netflix has purchased the award-winning Israeli comedy series “Six Zeros,” the first season of which aired in 2023 on Israel’s public broadcasting network, Kan 11. The TV show explores what happens when people win millions in a lottery and how it changes their life.
Tehran series 3
The 3rd season of the award-winning Israeli spy thriller “Tehran” premiers on Dec 9 on Apple TV+ and Israel’s Kan public broadcaster. British actor Hugh Laurie (ex-House) joins the cast, as the series continues to explore the complex personal journey of Tamar Rabinyan, an Iranian-Jewish Mossad agent.
Chinese pottery mystery
A 16th century (Ming Dynasty) bowl has been unearthed in an archeological dig on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. It contains the earliest Chinese inscription found in Israel. It translates as “Forever we will guard the eternal spring” and probably was brought from China by the Ottomans.
Druze artist’s video goes viral
Sam Halaby, a young Israeli Druze artist from Daliyat al-Karmel, has stunned the art world with The House of Colors, a multidimensional art project transforming his childhood home into a living masterpiece. The video of his vibrantly colored house has had 90 million views.
Two-star chef again
Israeli chef (and former IDF officer) Gilad Peled has just received a second Michelin star for his Colonnade restaurant at Switzerland’s Mandarin Oriental hotel. Gilad previously ran Gordon Ramsay's Le Pressoir d'Argent restaurant in Bordeaux, where he also won two Michelin stars.