Israel Active

Israel’s Kobi Oren runs ultra-marathons – races that last many days. His latest run in Italy covered 3,417 miles (5,500 km) and took 54 days, averaging 20 hours a day. He was the only one to complete the race. Not only that, he had completed a 3,100 mile race in New York in August.

In October and November, Florida Atlantic University presented four performances of the Jerusalem Ballet. They performed “Houdini – the Other Side” and “Memento”, twice each on separate evenings.

Featuring on the Real Jerusalem Streets last week included a production of “Heroines! Songs & Soliloquies for the Soul” at the Raise Your Spirits Theatre. Then Nefesh b’Nefesh hosted the 4th Jerusalem Business Conference. Finally, Sigd - now an annual Israeli Jewish festival.

Israeli extreme motorsport enthusiast Alona Ben Natan finished first in the 2025 FIM Bajas World Cup’s female category after finishing 2nd in Dubai. She is the first Israeli woman to race in Dubai, Jordan and Morocco and aims for the 2027 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.

At the European Ninja Championships held in Poland, Israelis May Yahalom, Hila Gilboa & Darian Toren won Gold, silver & bronze medals respectively in the Elite women category (see facebook video). Israel also won many events, plus the Team competition (watch youtube video at 6hrs 4mins).

Israelis Tomer Margalit and Orel Chalaf (see previously) won the gold cup at the 2025 Para Dance Sport World Championships in Kosice, Slovakia. Their victory culminated with Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah,” playing during the medal ceremony.

Israeli dancer Yuval Cohen’s performance in a featured role of “Carmen” with the Philadelphia Ballet on Oct. 9 was a full-circle moment. He performed the same ballet in his first featured role with the company two years ago. He keeps in contact with his brothers in the IDF and raises money for Israel.

Israeli-owned Breads Bakery has six sites and a kiosk in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Its founder, Gadi Peleg, has introduced two new babka pies for Thanksgiving: blueberry and cherry cheesecake. Pumpkin pie and apple pie are also available.

Tel Aviv has welcomed a new destination for contemporary art with the opening of The L Gallery on Ahad Ha’Am Street. The inaugural exhibition, “Unfolded,” presents a show by Israeli artist Evgeny Merman, on view through 15 Dec. The L Gallery also has galleries in Monaco, London and New York.

Music fans from 50 countries, including UAE, Morocco, New Zealand, Senegal, US, France, Germany, the UK, Canada, India, South Korea, Taiwan and China, are coming to Israel for the 6-day 2025 Israel Music Showcase Festival. They will enjoy jazz, rock, pop, electronic, and more.