Israel Active

Over 120 pieces of sculpture by 60 different artists are being exhibited for free viewing outdoors in Jerusalem’s Mamilla Avenue. This is the Alrov Mamilla Avenue management’s fourth annual exhibition under the open sky. This year's chosen theme was music and was named "Muse".

23 year-old pole-vaulter Jillian Schwartz immigrated to Israel in 2009 and has just qualified to represent the Jewish State in the 2012 London Olympics. Having represented the USA in the 2004 Athens Olympics she said, “This is the greatest moment in my career."

Top non-Jewish American artists have donated nearly three-dozen paintings for a February 21 auction at New York’s Steven Harvey Fine Arts Projects. Many non-Jewish buyers have come to support the Jerusalem Studio School an art school in Jerusalem that teaches young Israelis how to be great artists.

(Recommended by Barry) This museum, in Ma’aleh Adumim, has the benefit of being beautiful looking inside and also looking out. The location is magnificent.

EPOS, the International art film festival, is the first film festival to be held in Israel that will be dedicated to encounters between the arts and cinema. The EPOS Festival will be based in Tel Aviv, at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, however, will see films simultaneously shown across the country

The Fed Cup Women's Tennis Games will be held at Red Sea Tennis Centre in Eilat, which was built especially for the games. Israel, which hosted the games in 2011, is the first country to host the European-African zone group for two years in a row.

The nomination marks the 10th time an Israeli film has been up for Best Foreign Language Film. Director Joseph Cedar said, “We were aware that initial screenings had been warmly received, but still we were very surprised." Also good article on the powerhouse of Israeli cinema.

Habima, the national theatre of Israel, has officially reopened its doors, five years after stage performances were relocated for renovations. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra played Beethoven's "Consecration of the House," the same piece played at the original opening in 1945.

Israeli pop-dance group, “The Young Professionals” have signed a three-album deal with Universal Records. Ivri Lider and Jonny Goldstein’s single, D.I.S.C.O., has already received 600,000 hits on YouTube since its release last June and it is now a regular on DJs' playlists around Europe.

To coincide with the winter bird migration season, please read this lovely article describing the unique qualities of the Hula Valley and the rest of the Upper Galilee as a tourist destination.