Israel Active

Romania’s Ionut Pascu is back Israel - his 35th visit to Israel (five since Oct 7 2023.)  He plays Iago in Verdi’s ‘Otello’ with the staging moved to post-Ottoman Cyprus. In previous  productions he changed Italian words, and used “habibi “and “hamudi” to make audiences laugh.

Despite the major turmoil caused by the war, migrating birds are relatively unflappable. Key areas in Israel  are being built up, restored, enlarged and/or rewilded such as the Kebara swamplands and the Kfar Ruppin birding park and wetland reserve, so that migrating birds have a place to stop and refuel.

Israel’s Baseline Vision is transforming net sports, starting with tennis, by redefining how players, coaches, and academies approach training and competition. Its functions include performance tracking and accurate line calling, Baseline’s camera is installed on the net, and records all events.

The Israeli city of Pardes Hanna-Karkur is undergoing gentrification. Proud resident Zachy Hennessey recommends local sites to visit include the Wadi, Blue Bus (for hummus), the Artist Stables, Sabba Yosi’s Farmer’s Market, Café Noyland, and Tzomet Karkur.

The Israel Antiquities Authority has uncovered an ancient tomb in Southern Israel containing merchant caravan wares and dozens of human burials. Jewelry, arrowheads, incense burner, all are dated to between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE. Attacks on traders would have been common.

In a dramatic 3-2 overtime win against Estonia, Israel’s women’s national ice hockey team secured a medal at the IIHF World Championships in Sarajevo. “This is a huge step forward for women’s hockey in Israel,” said head coach Melissa Wronzberg. Hear the National Anthem.

To celebrate the Jewish holiday of Tu Bishvat, the National Library of Israel conducted four sustainability tours (in Hebrew) all week of the museum’s “green” design. Highlights included the Rock Store’s 270,000 stones that store cool air at night, and the museum’s Mediterranean gardens.

Israeli musician Dan Pugach won a Grammy award in the category of Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album with his compilation title “Bianca Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence.”

The song that all Israel is singing.  Tamid Ohev Oti (Od Yoter Tov).  

Major feature article about Israel’s Tomer Margalit (see previously) who didn’t let paralysis prevent her from becoming a world class dancer.