Israel Active

I don’t want you to get too excited, but there are currently still three Israeli soccer teams competing in the finals of European Cup qualifying rounds. Bnei Yehuda have a difficult tie, but Maccabi Tel Aviv and Beersheba both have good chances of reaching the group stages.

Israel’s Under-20 basketball team reached the European final in Greece.  Although underdogs, they beat France 74-52 in the semi-final, losing to their Greek hosts 65-56 in the final.

Radiohead showed their loyalty to 47,000 Israeli fans in Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park with their longest concert in 11 years.  The band’s first international success was in Tel Aviv in 1993.

Rotem Rabi, a native of Jerusalem, has been crowned the new Miss Israel. Rabi served as a medic in the Israel Air Force, and although currently working as a model, she hopes soon to join the Israel Police investigative division. Rabi will represent Israel at December’s Miss World in China.

On July 28, athletes can take part in the second annual Mount Hermon Run – the ascent of Israel’s tallest mountain, in Northern Israel. There are three race categories: Nordic walking, running and extreme mountain running. The race begins at an altitude of 1,600 meters and finishes at 2040 meters.

The Jerusalem municipality has invested tens of millions of shekels to establish and upgrade sports facilities across the capital for the Maccabiah Games and afterwards to serve the wider public. New facilitates support ice hockey and track and field competitions for the first time.

International supermodel Bar Refaeli was the MC for the closing ceremony of the 20th Maccabiah Games - entitled “Higher. Better. Together.” When Natan Sharansky told the audience passionately, “We all will build our home together,” the crowd began to chant “Am Yisrael Chai!”

Known as the Princess of the Galilee, Rosh Pina is home to a mix of natural, cultural, historic and entertainment hotspots. A beautifully restored, northern village, Rosh Pina is just the place for a leisurely and relaxing vacation.

For the first time, Israel joined America’s celebration of Ice Cream Day on 16th July. Buza and Iceberg chains promoted black coconut ice cream. Iceberg also sold flower-flavored ice cream and Vaniglia offered malabi with rose water. The Anita chain even gave a free ‘Doggy Cream’ sorbet to any visiting canines.

At this year’s Jerusalem Wine Festival (Aug 7 – 10) you can  learn about Israel's best and most interesting wineries, and drink a lot of great wine in the Israel museum's beautiful gardens. Tickets include unlimited tastings. On Tue and Wed, tickets include entrance to the museum.