Israel Active

Food giant McDonalds in Israel is giving away free reading books to children when they or their parents buy Happy Meals. “The Everforest Twins: Adventures in the Wild World”, are written by the children's author Cressida Cowell and have been translated into Hebrew and Arabic.

Israeli judokas Ori Sasson and Peter Paltchik took home two gold medals at the Tel Aviv Grand Prix, winning the over-100kg and under-100kg categories, respectively.  They spoke afterwards about how their success inspires Israeli children.

Israel has approved seven new nature reserves in Judea & Samaria - the first since the 1990s. In addition, 12 existing reserves will be expanded. The new sites are at the Ariel Cave, Wadi Og, Wadi Malha, the Southern Jordan River, Bitronot Creek, Nahal Tirza, and Rotem-Maskiot.

Israel Cycling Academy (now re-named Israel Start-Up Nation) will use computer vision and AI technologies from Israel’s Physimax to create personalized training programs for the 2020 Tour de France. The cyclists will also wear the vital signs monitoring device from Israel’s Biobeat.

Israel’s Yuri Forman held the World Boxing Association’s super welterweight title from 2009 to 2010. In 2014 he ordained as an orthodox Rabbi. He is currently giving self-defense classes in Brooklyn for members of vulnerable Jewish communities.

The latest release of La Liste - “the world’s best restaurant selection” - includes 13 Israel venues. The top Israeli restaurant is Meir Adoni’s Lumina, who “blends casual fine dining with a kosher Mediterranean spin”. His Blue Sky restaurant at Tel Aviv’s Carlton Hotel also made the list.

At the 16th annual Taste of the Valleys (Te’amim Ba’amakim) Festival, (Feb 2 – 22)) families can enjoy breathtaking landscapes, hiking trails, quality restaurants and great concerts. It connects local restaurants, wineries and farms and brings guests to KKL-JNF nature trails and Kishon River.

Center Stage - Israel’s permanent English language theatre in Ra’anana - is holding performances of the Pulitzer Prize finalist “Rapture, Blister, Burn”, written by Gina Gionfriddo.

96-year-old Walter Bingham is in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest living radio talk-show host. Last year, the star of “The Walter Bingham Show” on Israel News Talk Radio became the oldest Israeli skydiver. Ex-Kindertransport, he took part in WWII’s Normandy landings.

When Farah Raslan fled from Lebanon to Israel, she did not speak a word of Hebrew. She now has a Masters’ degree in biotechnology. She has also reached the finals of Israel's Master Chef by preparing authentic Lebanese cuisine.  (Make sure you turn Captions on for the subtitles)