Israel Active

Pop legend Lionel Richie is coming to Israel for a performance on Sep 12th in Live Park Rishon Lezion. He has rejected BDS boycott calls, indicating that he is “Stuck On You” Israelis. With such an “Endless Love”, he could be singing “All Night Long”!

Six Israeli restaurants won awards at the World Luxury Restaurants Awards in St. Petersburg, Russia, voted by 100,000 guests, travelers and industry professionals. Aria won 3 awards. The other winners were Milgo, Milbar, Herbert Samuel, Chloelys, Hola, and Nomi.

Jerusaem’s Hutzot HaYotzer festival (until 24th Aug) features 150 artists from Israel and 30 countries. Artisans showcase their creations and sell their crafts, from watches to hammocks to paintings. Events include live concerts, dance performances and workshops.

“Measure for Measure: In Motion” by the Theater in the Rough group is being performed until 27th Aug in the Bloomfield Gardens Jerusalem. Entrance is free of charge.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical, Phantom of the Opera, currently at the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv, is a smash hit with Israeli audiences. Already, 37,000 tickets have been sold for its 32 performances, running until the first week in September.

Israel's unique and breathtaking subterranean scenery is attracting a growing number of cavers. Around three years ago, Yoav Negev founded the Israel Cave Explorers Club and, more recently, a rescue unit that is now part of the European Cave Rescue Association.

Omri Caspi was the first Israeli to play in the National Basketball Association league. He has now returned to Israel, having signed a 3-year contract to play for Maccabi Tel Aviv. He said he was “proud and excited to be wearing the Maccabi jersey with the star of David on the back”.

Jennifer Lopez’s “It’s My Party” concert to celebrate her 50th birthday in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park was acclaimed as one of the best ever. The singer/dancer brought a 100-person crew, including dancers, musicians and 45 tons of equipment for the 90-minute show in front of 57,000 fans.

For the fourth time this year, the largest species of fish – a whale shark – has been tracked swimming up the Gulf of Eilat. Israel is a haven for this endangered species, due to warm waters and the absence of shark fishing. (N.B. the only reported shark attack in Israeli waters was in 1974.)

Two recent emotional encounters in Jerusalem included  ex-Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau and the son of the chaplain of the US Army unit that liberated him from Buchenwald. Also, President Rivlin greeting Dr Ruth Westheimer at the Jerusalem Film Festival’s documentary of her life.