Israel Active

eal A new docu-reality series, by Tel Aviv University students, shows the real side of the lives of 4 diverse citizens of the Jewish State. See this video or go to the site to meet Savannah, Shay, Yair and Ayman.

The Israeli Network (TIN) exports Israel and the feeling of belonging to it, around the world. Watch Israeli TV with English subtitles; hear and learn the Hebrew language; see news as it happens from the Israeli point of view, rather than how foreign news channels often portray Israel.

(Thanks to Israel21c) The Israeli Opera is to perform Giuseppe Verdi’s much-loved opera, La traviata, at the Masada International Opera Festival in June 2014. It will be the 4th annual open-air opera season at the venue, following previous stagings of Nabucco, Aida and Carmen.

Israel’s Gal Nevo claimed his sixth career medal at the European Short Course Swimming Championships on Friday, winning a silver medal in the 400-meters individual medley final in Herning, Denmark. He missed becoming the first Israeli gold medallist by two one-hundredths of a sec.

More than 1,600 visitors crowded Mount Hermon to enjoy the snow after the ski site opened on Monday. The snow depth at the site ranged from 24 inches in the lower areas to more than 40 inches in the higher ones. One visitor said, “It feels like Switzerland.”

Evgeny Kissin, generally regarded as one of the world’s greatest living pianists, has taken Israeli citizenship. Kissin, who was born in Russia, said “Israel is the only state on our planet which I want to represent with my art and all my public activities, no matter where I live.”

Canada’s Cirque du Soleil enchanted Israelis last summer with its show "Alegria". It returns to Tel Aviv’s Nokia Arena between 6th and 16th Aug 2014 with ten performances of the award-winning production "Quidam," seen already by more than 10 million viewers worldwide.

Israel-born actress Gal Gadot is set to star as Wonder Woman in a Warner Bros superhero film featuring Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman. Director Zac Snyder said that Gadot “has that magical quality that makes her perfect for the role."

Israel’s original hit series “Hostages” will be broadcast on BBC Four in Hebrew with English sub-titles. It is the first time that the BBC has shown an Israeli series. Meanwhile, Channel Four will show the US remake in which the family of a woman surgeon is taken hostage in order to coerce her into killing the US President.

The International Winter Soccer Tournament for Youths will be held at Netanya’s new 13,800-capacity stadium. Teams from Serbia, Germany, Moldova and (of course) Israel will participate and entrance is free of charge.