Gal Gadot’s surgery
Last week’s newsletter featured Moriel Indek who had a tumor removed from her brain while she was pregnant (see previously). Israeli actress Gal Gadot has just revealed that she had brain surgery to remove a blood clot in February when she was eight months pregnant with her fourth daughter.
European Hotelier of the Year
David Fattal, founder and CEO of the Fattal Group, is the first Israeli to win a Grand Prix award in the European Hotelier of the Year category at the 2024 Hospitality Awards in Paris. Fattal owns the Fattal and Leonardo hotel chains. The French Minister of Tourism presented the award.
Colors and candles in Jerusalem
Chanukah lights brightened Jerusalem streets, to end 2024.
10 Commandments tablet fetches $5 million
A tablet purporting to date from 300 - 800 CE and containing the Samaritan version of the biblical Ten Commandments, sold for $5.04 million at a Sotheby's auction. The buyer is anonymous and the tablet will be housed in an Israeli museum.
Israeli art exhibited in Miami
An exhibition in Miami titled HOME | LAND features works from 40-plus classic and contemporary Israeli artists. 120+ pieces in a mix of media, including paintings, sculptures, prints, textiles, digital art and photography provide a multifaceted view of the landscape of the Jewish state.
Winter Dreams
The world's largest light sculpture exhibition is in Israel for the first time. An event of lights, nature and culinary delights at the Jerusalem Botanical Garden. The world's largest light sculptures, up to 5 meters, illuminated by nearly a million colored LED lights. Special events till Jan 2nd. Exhibits till Feb 1st.
Using humor as a PR tool
23-year-old Yechiel Jacobs is a rising Instagram star who uses humor to discredit Israel-bashers. “People aren’t interested when they see a video about Israel, but I’m reaching a different group with videos that are funny - and everybody wants to laugh.” His videos also educate.
Poker tournament raises funds
Israeli-American Robbie Strazynski, founder of Cardplayer Lifestyle, hosted a $10,000 buy-in poker tournament that raised $140,000 for IDF widows and orphans. The event was spearheaded by the Shalem Fund, founded by tournament finalists Ory Weihs and Anna Meissner.
1,200 Jerusalem Street posts
Each week the Real Jerusalem Streets show what is happening in Jerusalem, Israel’s capital. There is much more than the conflict and protests that Mainstream media reports.
Exhibition of far-from-home cooking
Matan Choufan, of the Asif Culinary Institute of Israel (see ) is curator of Tel Aviv exhibition “The Open Kitchen: Memories From a Home Left Behind.”. It features stories and artifacts from Oct 7 2023 evacuees who continue to cook despite being displaced.