Israel Active

Israel’s Lior Sofer won the men's division at the 8th Cable Wakeboard World Championships held in Norway. With around 200 competitors from 25 countries, Lior crashed on his first run but scored 94 points on his second attempt - nine ahead of his nearest rival.

Donald Sanford made history when he became the first Israeli to win a medal in a sprint event at the European Championships, finishing the 400-meter final in third place in Zurich, Switzerland. Sanford broke the Israeli record with 45.27 seconds.

Israel progressed to a 12th consecutive EuroBasket tournament in impressive style, crushing the Netherlands 83-60 in Nicosia, Cyprus to win qualifying Group B with a game to spare. Israel finishes its qualifying campaign in first place for the first time since 2001.

Being in Israel at Chanukah time is special. Here are some ideas for things to do and see.

The Beach Boys are coming to Israel in 2015. “America’s Rock Band” has produced a record thirty-six US Top 40 hits, selling over 100 million records worldwide. Rolling Stone Magazine ranks the Beach Boys as the 12th greatest artist of all time.

UNESCO's World Heritage Committee added Israel’s 2,000-year-old Beit Guvrin-Maresha caves to its prestigious list, during its annual meeting in Qatar. The bell caves consist of thousands of chambers and networks. Israel now has a total of eight World Heritage sites.

After a 60-year musical career, Tony Bennett is finally coming to Israel. The 88-year-old American singer, known for his deep baritone voice, will perform at Tel Aviv's Charles Bronfman Auditorium on September 14.

David Blatt has accepted an offer to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers. Blatt, who steered Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Euroleague basketball championship this season, is the first Israeli head coach to make it to America’s NBA.

(Thanks to Jacob Richman) The Ein Prat Fountainheads were top of the entertainment at the recent “Salute to Olim” Festival in Jerusalem. The featured video is “Yom Yavo” (a day will come).

(Thanks to Steve of www.IsraelSeen.com) The Migdal Gallery at the Land of the Israel Museum in Tel Aviv has an exhibit of illustrations in a wide spectrum of techniques created over the past five years by the best Israeli illustrators.