Israel Active

For the third time in a decade, The Orchestra returned to Israel to perform hits from the zenith days of 'Electric Light Orchestra' (ELO). They performed two concerts at Tel Aviv's Heichal HaTarbut. (Note, when “Telephone Line” was a hit, telephones had cords, not just chords!)

Israel's new reality show 2025 premiered on Keshet Channel 12 TV. Twelve contestants live with six robot residents in a futuristic mini city, built on the outskirts of Yavne. The most successful contestant will win an apartment worth NIS 1.4 million.

Jerusalem municipality is building balloon roofs for five sports fields to provide all-year-round facilities. These include the Teddy Stadium, the Hall Pais Arena, and the Malcha, Liberty Park and Neve Yaakov basketball courts. More are expected.

Chana and Shmuel from Villa Rimona are pleased to report that this year’s winter rains have turned the Galilee a glorious green.  And the rainfall means that waterfalls in the Galilee are currently some of Israel’s most attractive natural sites to visit.

Israel’s first-ever Bridal Fashion Week has just taken place at Ronit Farm. Designers included Dany Mizrachi and Inbal Dror plus up-and-coming youngsters who gave inspiration to many of those celebrating one of the 40,000 weddings that take place in Israel every year.

For Facebook users who are interested in Israeli culture (music, art, films etc.), here is the link to CultureBuzzIsrael.

The National Library of Israel, together with the Ministry of Culture and Sport, and the Digital Finjan project, have released Shiri (“my song”), a mobile phone app for listening to some 40,000 classic Israeli songs.  Available for download from the Android Play Store or the Apple Store.  

Israeli Paralympic swimmer Mark Malyar, 19, has set a new world record for 1,500 meters Paralympic swimming.  Malyar, who has cerebral palsy, competed in the Wingate open competition and improved the previous record set in 2011 by almost 23 seconds.

Culinary entrepreneur Herb Karlitz has brought a delegation of senior US chefs, food critics, stars of popular dining programs in America, and owners of well-known restaurants to explore Israel’s food experiences.

The video of Israeli Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai’s new song “Bassa Sababa” had received over 1.8 million views just three days after its release on 31st Jan.  As of 13 Feb, this had soared to over 6 million hits.