Israel Active

(Thanks to Israel21c) This year’s International Hot Air Balloon Festival began near Mount Gilboa in the Galilee and finished at Park Eshkol in the Negev, watched by over 10,000 spectators. 16 balloons traversed the country, including from the US, Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

(Thanks to Hazel and Israel21c) Drinks International magazine listed Tel Aviv’s Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar as the best bar in Africa and the Middle East.  Outside of Israel, however, the choice must have been somewhat limited!

Tourists to the Jewish State during the festival of Tabernacles included a school of 10 dolphins that entertained the survey team from the Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center.

Netanya hosted the 9th International Guitar festival, featuring concerts, master classes, competitions, flamenco dancers and even a guitar tour of Netanya.   

Six Israelis have entered the Guinness Book of Records with the open water relay record by swimming the 236 miles (380km) from Cyprus to Tel Aviv.  Last year’s attempt had failed – but Israelis never give up! They also raised awareness for protecting the environment of the Mediterranean.

Ferraris, Audis and Porsche racecars roared up to 240km per hour around the walls of the Old City as part of the second annual Jerusalem Formula road show.  The event drew hundreds of thousands of onlookers along the route from the First Station to the Karta parking lot near Mamilla.

This video gives a brief overview of some of the thoughtful films being produced by Jerusalem’s Maaleh School of Television, Film and the Arts.

Israel’s rhythmic gymnastics team won the silver medal in the clubs exercise at the World Championships in Izmir, Turkey - the country’s best showing ever in the sport.

Hundreds of unique Jerusalem sites were opened to the public as part of “Open House Jerusalem” week.  They included free tours of apartments, hotels, synagogues, churches, hospitals, museums, excavation sites, tunnels, gardens and much more.  Be sure to check out this event next year.

The Israeli Antiquities Authority said it "uncovered a large and impressive compound dating to the Byzantine period in Ramat Bet Shemesh." It included near-perfectly preserved artifacts offering a rare glimpse into the daily lives of the inhabitants some 1000 years ago.