Israel Active

The annual Light in Jerusalem Festival Jun 11-19 is free to the public. Highlights for 2014 include four light trails to follow; Light body designers and amazing street performers; 17-meter high light towers. The two videos below are of last year’s event.

(Thanks to www.Janglo.net) The Israel Festival (May 29 - Jun 20) is hosting free jazz and street theatre performances at the First (railway) Station in Jerusalem. Events also take place at Sultan’s Pool, the Israel Museum, the Jerusalem Theater and the Convention Center.

Top musicians in Israel this summer include Justin Timberlake, The Prodigy, The Rolling Stones, Passenger, Pixies & The Hives, Neil Young, Backstreet Boys, America and Lana Del Rey.

What was deemed as impossible just a few months ago became a reality on Sunday night, with Maccabi Tel Aviv recording a stunning 98-86 overtime victory over Real Madrid in Milan to claim a sixth European basketball championship title in club history.

One of the most successful pop/ rock bands of the 1970s – America – is going to make its Israel debut on August 7 at the Ra’anana Amphipark. Original members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell still perform their hit “Horse with No Name” and in 2007 made a new album “Here and Now”.

Basketball star Amar’e Stoudemire is hosting a sports camp in Israel this summer. Stoudemire reconnected with his Jewish roots in recent years. He has married under a chuppah, made pilgrimage to Israel, met Shimon Peres, and applied for dual Israeli citizenship.

Unusual for the UK’s Daily Mirror - a very positive article recommending Israel. Its mixture of ancient and modern; Tel Aviv’s trendy bars; 300 sunshine days; fine hotels; plus, “a brilliant country that embraces its past and also looks ahead to the future with a bright smile.”

A rare balanced BBC interview with popular singer Ester Rada - born in Israel of Ethiopian parents who (along with 8000 others) were airlifted to Israel from Sudan in 1984. During her IDF service, Ester sang in a military band, and toured the world. Her 2013 EP is “Life Happens”.

The best-selling boy-band in history, the Backstreet Boys, with sales of over 130 million records worldwide, are expected to give a concert at the Raanana amphitheatre, in July.

(Thanks to Israel21c) Viewers of the popular TV show Greys Anatomy saw actress Sandra Oh (who plays Dr Cristina Yang) encounter Israel’s RealView Imaging. In real life, RealView’s three-dimensional holography helps surgeons plan the steps of delicate, complex procedures.