Israel Active

Billed as Israel’s largest art event, the Fresh Paint art fair had exhibitions throughout Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Expo Tel Aviv hosted the Independent Artists’ Greenhouse, Fresh Design Complex, New Media and Video Area. Ten museums, hotels, boutiques and restaurants hosted events in Tel Aviv & Jaffa.

This RJS article “Jerusalem Day, What Next” incorporates recent and upcoming events, including a memorial to Ethiopian Jews, the re-opening of the Sifting Project, Iftar, the Israel Festival, Islamic Jewelry exhibition, Beat/Second, Nabucco (Jun 20), White Night and more.

Heavy metal group 'Disturbed' prioritized their upcoming European tour around their 2nd July Rishon LeZion concert. Front man, David Draiman sits on the advisory body of Creative Community for Peace. Please see the video of his unexpectedly fascinating interview and his wise words against BDS.

The Caesarea Development Corporation has launched an innovative NIS 150 million visitor center in Caesarea harbor funded by the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation.  A dramatic video and archaeology introduce visitors to Herod the King of Judea, and his founding of Caesarea.

The Gvaot winery, at Givat Harel in the Samaria hills, won a gold medal at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards in London. Its Gofna Cabernet Sauvignon was hailed as a “brilliant warm-climate Cabernet.”

Many people have commented that the best parts of the Eurovision Song Contest were the “Postcard” introductions broadcast before each act. They showed the performers dancing and enjoying themselves all over Israel. This video just contains the postcards.

The 58th annual Israel Festival in Jerusalem (until 15th Jun) showcases a rich, varied and multidisciplinary artistic program from Israel and around the world. More than 30,000 visitors are enjoying dance, music, theater, performance art, video art and instillations from leading international artists.

Jerusalem’s Israel Museum ends its exhibition of illuminated manuscripts of Maimonides (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon) on 10th Jun. It reflects the legacy of Maimonides (died 1204) who was uniquely a writer, halakhic authority, philosopher, scientist, physician and Jewish leader.

Israel’s Kimmel Eshkolot Architects has received awards in China and the UK for the Memorial Hall of Israel’s Fallen on Mount Herzl. It also won Shenzhen China’s Global Nomination Award for Tel Aviv’s Steinhardt Museum of Natural History.

Tiny Israel showed that it could host the largest music competition in the world. It put on a slick, polished, dynamic production on a fabulous stage. Tel Aviv’s Eurovision Village was a hive of activity all week and the positivity of the event resounded throughout Israel.