Telling Israel’s Story
Israeli filmmaker Eyal Resh produced this 4-minute film for a gala event hosted by the Times of Israel online news outlet. It seemingly begins as a promotional tourism video, but quickly evolves to offer a multilayered perspective.
Baby whale visits Israel
In a rare event, what is believed to be a 10-meter baby fin whale has been spotted just 20 meters off the Israeli coast near Caesarea.
The secret fortress
The mountaintop Belvoir Fortress, a 13th-century Crusader stronghold near the Sea of Galilee, is the best-preserved Crusader fortress in Israel. Belvoir is based on the same concentric castle layout as the Tower of London. But unlike in London, you won’t need to fight through the crowds.
The new Jerusalem aquarium
The Sea Israel: Gottesman Aquarium at Jerusalem’s Biblical Zoo is due to open in 2016. It focuses on Israel’s four large water bodies - Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Galilee and Dead Sea. The environmentally-friendly building will also feature many environmental topics.
If you don’t know Simply Red by now
Videos of the Tel Aviv concert by top band Simply Red. In contrast, Rock icon Alice Cooper attempted to “raise the dead!”
World’s best cookbooks
Israeli cookbook authors won four awards at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2016 including top prize, Best in the World Wines & Drinks book. Mira Eitan’s Bar Stories and Cocktail Recipes book (in Hebrew) won the Drinks category.
Silver at Euro swimming championships
Israeli swimmer Gal Nevo took home the silver medal at the European Championships in London. He completed the 200-meter individual medley in 1:59.69 minutes. Nevo and five other Israeli swimmers have already qualified for the Rio Olympic Games.
Israeli wins French Open tennis title
Did newsletter readers spot that one of the winners of the Boys Doubles at the French Open tennis championships at Roland-Garros was Israel’s Yshai Oliel. The 16-year-old left-hander and his Czech partner Patrik Rikl beat their opponents 6-3, 6-4 in the final.
Hebrew Book Week for the People of the Book
Israel’s National Hebrew Book Week every June features large outdoor book fairs, special Book Week sales at bookstores all around the country, and a variety of events such as music, performances, children's events, workshops, and storytelling.
Jerusalem Opera Festival
Jun 20-25 is when Verdi’s Rigoletto is being staged at the grand Sultan’s Pool, against the backdrop of Jerusalem’s iconic Old City walls.