Israel Active

Bon Jovi, one of the most successful bands to ever emerge from the US, is to perform in Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park, on October 3. It will be Bon Jovi’s first performance in the Jewish State.

Legendary singer Art Garfunkel made a unique addition to Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Water” as he woo’d the Bloomfield Stadium audience with his ephemeral voice. When he put on a kippa to bless the event, it was as if “Heaven holds a place”.

British crooner Engelbert Humperdinck performed another sell-out concert in Tel Aviv. He sang all the old favorites, from “Love Story” to “The Last Waltz”.

Some memorable moments from Jacob Richman’s visit to see Jerusalem’s Festival of light.

Idan Raviv, 24, of Holon, finished first in a 2015 World Series of Poker tournament at the Rio casino in Las Vegas. Raviv, an IT professional, defeated a field of 1,650 to take the $457,007 top prize in the $1,500 buy-in event.

The hectic May itinerary for Israel’s mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital included concerts in California, several German cities, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Salisbury (UK) and Lancut (Poland). In 2010 he was the first-ever solo mandolin player to be nominated for a Grammy award.

The first ever Tel Aviv Blues Festival from July 3-6 takes place in 20 different venues and features 40 concerts.

Thirty boats competed in the third annual Dragon Boat Israel Festival on the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). The joint Israeli-Canadian project raised thousands of dollars for research into diseases by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The Chinese Ambassador to Israel, Zhan Yongxin, opened the event.

Just a few miles up the road from Netanya is the Alexander River. It’s a great spot to watch the sea turtles from, and maybe an occasional mongoose.

The American group One Republic made their first-ever visit to Israel, appearing at Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv in front of 20,000 fans as part of their “Native” world tour.