Israel Active

New Israeli postage stamps have been issued featuring the festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles) – etrog (citron), lulav (palm branch), hadasim (myrtle), aravot (willow); Ramat Gan Safari; Murals; YAMAM (National Counter-terror Unit); Paralympic Games; Animals from the Bible.

Israel’s Eden Golan, who came fifth singing “Hurricane” in May’s Eurovision Song Contest, has just had her summons to enlist in the IDF. She is likely to serve as a performer, showcasing her musical abilities for fellow soldiers as part of the military’s cadre of exceptional artists.

Six new exhibits opened on 1st Aug in the Haifa Museum of Art, all solo affairs featuring works by female artists. Meanwhile, Haifa’s Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art hosted a traveling exhibit and local presentations including one on the art of rolling sushi for soldiers on the frontlines.

Thanks to the Hecht Museum in Haifa. After 4-year-old Ariel Geller accidentally knocked over a 3,500-year-old Bronze Age jar, the museum invited him back to witness its restoration process firsthand. The jar was repaired using advanced 3D technology and high-resolution videos. Ariel even crafted a clay jar of his own.

Israelis have won another three gold medals, a silver and two bronze at the Paris Paralympic Games. Swimmer Ami Dadaon (watch ) won three medals (gold 100m freestyle, silver 150m medley, gold 200m freestyle). Moran Samuel won the women’s 2,000-meter PR1 rowing gold.

Amit Elor, born to Israeli parents, won the gold medal in the Women’s freestyle wrestling 68 kg category at the Paris Olympics. Her mother tongue is Hebrew and all her five siblings live in Israel. She expressed her hope that her victory represented a small ray of light for Israelis.

Israel’s President Herzog hosted the Israeli athletes returning from Paris after Israel’s most successful ever Olympic Games.

A team of international researchers, led by University of Haifa’s Dr. Aviad Scheinin, has documented the longest journey of a sperm whale to date. The researchers provided evidence of at least one immature male whale swimming eastward, some 2,800km (1,740 miles) of the Mediterranean Sea.

The KKL-JNF Hula Valley Reserve is currently aflutter with the arrival of thousands of swallowtail butterflies, one of a number of migratory species that graces the area each summer (see previously).

Two ancient tombs dating back at least 1,700 years ago featuring restored wall paintings of Greek mythological characters, people, plants and animals are to go on display in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon. The Roman-era site has been turned into a public garden.