Israel Active

Israeli organization Tarbut Movement comprises young artists and educators from across Israel. They promote cultural activities for 2,500 children and teens, plus art groups for adults and seniors in the social and geographical periphery of Israel. It also operates in eight Arab-Israeli towns.

Israel’s Kan TV channel has revealed Israel’s own mini version of Arizona Grand Canyon. Like many things in Israel, it was formed in just a few decades as brine from the Dead Sea works in Israel and Joran flows from one part of the Dead Sea to the other, cutting into the Arava mud. (Commentary in Hebrew only, but great photography.)

A fanciful suggestion by David that Uri Fink’s legendary Hebrew comic-book superhero Sabraman could come out of retirement to rid us of coronavirus.  Halevai! (If only).

Israel is home to over 60 world-renowned chocolatiers. On World Chocolate Day (July 7) Israelis enjoyed candy bars, truffles and even an Israeli chocolate kebab!

The longest day of the year (Jun 21st) is designated World Giraffe Day. This year it coincided with the birth of a 50kg, 1.5m baby female giraffe at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. The South African giraffe is a vulnerable species. Her parents, Maya and Roi, were also born in the zoo.

Dane Helen Mirren hosted a wonderful on-line concert featuring musicians from the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. Stars included Zubin Mehta, Pinchas Zukerman & Amanda Forsyth, Itzhak Perlman, Khatia Buniatishvili, Sir András Schiff, Gil Shaham, Adèle Anthony and many more.

As reported here previously, the Tower of David Museum in Jerusalem has re-opened. Its first exhibition is called “Banai: A Musical Journey from Persia to Jerusalem.”. It focuses on modern-day Israel, on the well-known Banai family and their influence on the music of a rich and ancient city.

Israel’s Daniel Cukierman is currently the top-ranked US men’s college tennis player. The Israeli Davis Cup player is officially No. 1 in the 2019-20 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division I Men’s Individual National Rankings. He is studying at the University of Southern California.

As reported previously, Israeli basketball teen star Deni Avdija is to play in the US NBA league for the coming season. This new video highlights Deni’s background. Born on a kibbutz, the son of a Jewish athlete mother and a Serbian Muslim professional hoops father, Deni wants to do Israel proud.

Three 100-year-old anchors have been discovered in land exposed by the receding Dead Sea. Their pattern identifies them as belonging to a sailboat from the 1920s.