Israel Active

Following the article from Sharon , here is a video of Jerusalem’s Winter Noise Festival, in which you can hear the exciting events.

A new book “Israel’s Edge: The Story of the IDF’s Most Elite Unit – Talpiot”, features the elite soldiers who are taught not just how to fight, but also how to think.  Talpiot’s graduates have created cutting-edge businesses including Check Point, Compugen, Anobit (bought by Apple) and XIV (bought by IBM).

Israeli women won two gold medals at the World Ju-Jitsu Under 21 Championship in Spain. Rony Nisimian won gold for 62 Kg, Meshi Rosenfeld the gold for 70 Kg.  Ma’ayan Diamond, won a bronze medal for 55 Kg.  The men’s team won three silver medals and three bronze.

A new book “Unexpected Israel” written by Ruth Corman is worth reading

High peaks, rivers and streams, breathtaking landscapes and evergreen forests make the Upper Galilee particularly attractive to hikers. No wonder it has been nicknamed The Israeli Tuscany.

Forty-six players from 10 countries took part in the 2016 Israeli Open Scrabble Tournament in Tiberias.  The top prize was $3000.  Israel - though not an English-speaking country - hosts the largest regular Scrabble gathering in the world, in Jerusalem.

Israeli fencer Yuval Freilich overcame the Olympic gold medalist and two former world champions to win the bronze medal in the epee competition at the Peter Bakonyi World Cup event in Vancouver, Canada.

Israeli rhythmic gymnasts won a gold and two silver medals in the first World Cup Series competition of 2016 in Finland. They won one silver in the group all-around final and another in the ribbons before winning a gold in the hoops and clubs final.

French-born, Israeli singer Amir Haddad will represent France at the Eurovision song contest this May in Stockholm, Sweden. Haddad made Aliyah with his family at the age of 8. In 2014, Hadad came 3rd in France's version of "The Voice,” and has since become popular in France.

All was quiet in the City of Peace whilst Jews, Moslems and Christians enjoyed the Winter Noise festival. On four Mondays nights in February, residents and visitors enjoy colorful street performers, lectures, music and food and some even “flew” on a magic carpet.