Israel Active

Students at UC San Diego will celebrate Israel Week in May as part of Jewish Heritage Month. It includes an Israeli shuk with booths offering Israeli food, samples of Israeli culture, and Israeli music. The Hillel center sponsors four student trips to Israel each year.

Israel had a few wet days at the beginning of March. If you are quick, you can visit the resulting waterfalls at Ein Gedi, the Banias, Ayit (Golan), the Ayun (and others - Upper Galilee) the Jalaboun (Golan) the Sa’ar (Golan/Hermon valley) the Ein Avdat (Negev) and the Dragot (by the Dead Sea).

Researchers have analyzed archaeological remains from Nesher Ramla, a site near Tel Aviv dating back to the Middle Paleolithic period. It shows ancient humans hunted few animal species, mainly aurochs, a wild bovine species, likely ancestors of today’s cattle.

New research by Israeli and European scholars on prehistoric artifacts discovered in a Lower Galilee cave in the 1970s, proves that abstract artistic expression began much earlier than previously thought. A 100,000-year-old grave contained decorated engravings on stone tools.

Some 45,000 people took part in the Tel Aviv Marathon, the first since 2023. It included a special 3km run for soldiers wounded in the war and disabled veterans. Yellow balloons were released to symbolize the 59 hostages still being held in Gaza.

Israel’s Deni Avdija posted 30 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for Portland Trail Blazers against the Cleveland Cavaliers - the first Israeli NBA player to achieve a triple-double. A double is where a player scores a double-digit number of points, rebounds, assists, steals or blocked shots.

Romania’s Ionut Pascu is back Israel - his 35th visit to Israel (five since Oct 7 2023.)  He plays Iago in Verdi’s ‘Otello’ with the staging moved to post-Ottoman Cyprus. In previous  productions he changed Italian words, and used “habibi “and “hamudi” to make audiences laugh.

Despite the major turmoil caused by the war, migrating birds are relatively unflappable. Key areas in Israel  are being built up, restored, enlarged and/or rewilded such as the Kebara swamplands and the Kfar Ruppin birding park and wetland reserve, so that migrating birds have a place to stop and refuel.

Israel’s Baseline Vision is transforming net sports, starting with tennis, by redefining how players, coaches, and academies approach training and competition. Its functions include performance tracking and accurate line calling, Baseline’s camera is installed on the net, and records all events.

The Israeli city of Pardes Hanna-Karkur is undergoing gentrification. Proud resident Zachy Hennessey recommends local sites to visit include the Wadi, Blue Bus (for hummus), the Artist Stables, Sabba Yosi’s Farmer’s Market, Café Noyland, and Tzomet Karkur.