Israel Active

During the 50th year of Jerusalem’s Israel Museum it is also recognizing 50 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany. Its “Twilight Over Berlin” exhibit is a collection of 50 artworks that were considered “degenerate art” and banned by the Nazis.  

Contestants and spectators enjoyed uninterrupted sunshine during the first-ever European Beach Tennis Championships to be held in Eilat. 15 international teams competed. The video shows the Dutch team enjoying the tournament, venue and nightlife.  

Actor Morgan Freeman, who had the “supreme” role in the movie “Bruce Almighty” visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem and met with the Kotel Rabbi, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz. Also, actor Sean Penn is arriving in November as the guest of the Israeli humanitarian aid organization IsraAID.  

This week’s Kol Cambridge playlist from DJ Antithesis on Tel Aviv’s Radio TLV1 contains some stimulating Israeli music. It includes new releases from Lior Narkis, Moshik Afia, The Revivo Project, Idan Raichel, and Zion Golan.  

Superstar comedian Jerry Seinfeld is to make his first standup performance at Tel Aviv’s Menora Mitvachim on Dec 19. Seinfeld last visited Israel in 2007 when he was promoting “The Bee Movie.” As a teenager, he did a stint as a kibbutz volunteer.  

A new documentary is to be shown on PBS stations across the United States beginning early 2016. “Medical Miracles from Israel” will tell the remarkable story of the medical device industry in Israel today and will list the life-saving tools that Israel has provided the world.  

Ben-Gurion University’s student Formula One racing team, is the first ever Israeli team to place in the top 10 at the Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) competition. Students worldwide compete in Formula SAE to design and build the best racecar.  

During October, Beersheba’s Sinfonietta orchestra joins with Germany’s Philharmonic of Nations to play at Germany’s Bundestag Parliament building in a series of concerts to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel.  

Renowned Israeli violinist Itzhak Perlman has revealed that he is the incognito musician playing on Billy Joel’s album “Storm Front”. Perlman also makes occasional surprise appearances at Joel’s stage shows. Joel also supports the Perlman Music Institute.  

Jon Bon Jovi kicked off his band’s first-ever performance in Israel by telling 50,000 cheering Israelis “I’ve waited a long time for this!” He said that his new hit “We Don’t Run”, “should be the fight song for Tel Aviv.” Its lyrics include “Fire in the sky and thunder on the mountain”. Bon Jovi finished the 18-song set with “Living on a Prayer”.