Israel Active

Superstar Elton John rocked 40,000 ecstatic fans at Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park.  He semi-dedicated his first hit, “Your Song,” to Israel and told the crowd there could have been “no nicer place” for him to open his eight-week European tour.  He took no breaks during the two-hour-plus show.

Or Sinai, graduate of the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School in Jerusalem, won first place in the student short film category in Cannes for her short film “Anna”.  She beat 2,350 other student films from 277 film schools from around the world.

Spread over 3000 acres in the southern Israel's Arava desert, the unique Hai Bar wildlife nature reserve is home to endangered animal species, some of them already mentioned in the Bible.  Enjoy the beautiful photography.

Geek PicNic Jerusalem is a three-day outdoor science and technology fair that was exported from Russia for the first time in its five-year history. It featured a massive Russian-made metal dragon robot and a US-made “Hand of Man” robotic glove that crushed cars.

Brazilian Bossa Nova artist Sergio Mendes will perform two concerts in Israel in June. The musician is one of the most important names in Brazilian music, with over 55 releases.  See him at the Caesarea Amphitheater on June 23, or at the Zappa Club in Tel Aviv on June 24.

Multiple Grammy award-winning American musician Pharrell Williams, who shot to global superstardom with his hit "Happy" in 2014, is going to appear on July 21 at Live Park in Rishon Letzion.

The latest issue of beautiful Israeli stamps includes Markets (Jerusalem, Acre and Jaffa); the Knesset Building; Israel Memorial Day; Israel-Spain: 30 Years of diplomatic relations; Bridge of Strings Jerusalem; Israeli achievements (Digital prepress & printing); Seasons – Spring.

Two Israeli divers have uncovered a treasure trove of ancient artifacts that made their way to the sea bed when a merchant ship sank off the coast of Caesarea some 1600-years ago.  Many Roman bronzes in perfect condition were described as of great historical importance.

The video promotion for the track “Up & Up” from Coldplay’s new album “A Head Full of Dreams”, was directed by Israelis Vania Heymann and Gal Muggia.  Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin raved about the two Israelis on Beats 1 radio, saying, “it's one of the best videos people have made.”

The Society (Council) for the Preservation (Conservation) of Heritage Sites in Israel invites all to celebrate Israel's "Heritage Week" from May 20th-28th by joining tours and events from the Upper Galilee, to Tel Aviv and Beer Sheva.