Israel Active

The first 10km Jerusalem Night Run took place on 12th December. The 1000 competitors included Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and his wife. The run was advertised to be a warm up to the Jerusalem Marathon in March.

Now in its 13th year, the festival, which runs at the Jerusalem Cinematheque from December 17-23, features a wide variety of feature films, documentaries and short films from Israel and abroad.

The top American rock band is to perform at Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park on September 10, 2012. It promises to be one of the greatest musical evenings ever seen in Israel.

Internationally renowned circus, Cirque du Soleil will be coming to Israel in August 2012 for their first ever performances in the country. Performing their show, Alegria, the group will bring their amazing magical acrobatics to the Nokia Arena, Tel Aviv, with a cast of 55 artists.

Barbra Streisand is set to headline a star-studded gala for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces in Los Angeles on December 8. Organizers consider this a coup, given that the singer rarely agrees to sing at such events.

Last day for the annual Jazz Globus Festival is Mon 5th Dec. One hundred leading musicians participate in five concerts.

The Ministry of Culture and Sport is sponsoring Chanuka happenings throughout the country. A new initiative is being undertaken to make 100 plays in more than 100 locations free for children, including Pippi Longstocking, Pinocchio, Aladdin, and more.

American rock legend Bruce Springsteen is set to give a concert in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv in June 2012. It will be his first concert in the Jewish State.

Israeli computer game company Funtactix has been chosen by Paramount Pictures to develop an official Facebook game to accompany the fourth movie in the Mission Impossible series, "The Ghost Protocol".