Israel Active

The two-day Jerusalem Beer Festival starts pulling pints on 7th August in Independence Park. 120 beers, street shows, live bands and other great attractions. From 6pm till 11pm on both days.

The 19th Maccabiah Games will be the largest sports event in the world after the Olympics and the FIFA soccer world cup. 9,000 athletes from 72 countries will compete in Israel from July 18-30.

Gal Mekel is set to become the second Israeli to play in the National Basketball Association after agreeing to a three-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks. Omri Caspi, who in 2009 became the first Israeli in the NBA, recently signed with the Houston Rockets.

Israel’s Tommy Arshansky won gold in the under 60kg category at the European Cup. Meanwhile, Yarden Gerbi won gold in the under 57 kg event at the Moscow Grand Slam. Israelis also won bronze medals at both events.

Before David Cohen demolished his house, his daughter invited 85 Israeli artists to transform it, and raise money for children’s charities.

For the first time, the Israeli Opera is hosting the Bolshoi Opera House from Moscow, one of the world's leading opera houses and the biggest in Russia. It will be performing Tchaikovsky's masterpiece, "Yevgeny Onegin," perhaps the most "Russian" opera of all times.

Filmmakers from Jerusalem’s Ma’aleh School of Television, Film & the Arts won 4 prizes at the International Student Film Festival in Tel Aviv.

(Thanks to Israel21c) Tel Aviv’s 10th annual White Night featured theater, dance, public sing-alongs, operatic arias, classical music, jazz, rock, alternative music, video displays, artists, art sales, storytellers, literature, philosophy, beach volleyball, yoga, folk dancing, ballroom dancing, fashion events, an accessories fair, shopping, street parades, club parties and tours. What, you wanted more?

Israeli chess grandmaster Boris Gelfand took first place in the Tal Memorial international competition in Moscow. Gelfand was undefeated on six points, ahead of the current World Number 1 Magnus Carlsen. The current world champion, Viswanathan Anand came ninth.

The 15th International Student Film Festival, sponsored by Tel Aviv University, is presenting 250 movies at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque and other venues around the city.