Jerusalem’s Armenian Museum
The Mardigian Armenian Museum is housed in a 19th century building in Jerusalem’s Old City and has just reopened after a 5-year renovation. Jerusalem is home to a community of some 6,000 Armenians and the museum is preserving their history and culture.
Running in Antarctica for Israeli education
Israel’s Eyal Shimoni ran the Antarctica leg of the Racing the Planet 4 Deserts Ultramarathon. He raised funds for Israeli NGO Yadid Lachinuch, with 2,800 retired Israeli volunteers helping teachers in over 490 Israeli schools. Eyal is now training to run in Chile.
Take a walk on Jerusalem’s streets
Israel’s capital is full of traffic, tourist buses, international conferences, and (of course) construction.
The world’s ugliest building
The Nachum Tower in Tel Aviv has been voted by users of social media site Reddit as the world's ugliest building. Built in the “brutalist” style during the post-1948 demand for high-rise buildings, it now is enjoying fame as a tourist attraction for its “beauty in the beast”.
Jerusalem orchestra in London
The Jerusalem Orchestra East West featuring Mehdi Nassouli & Koyos is performing at 7.30pm on Sunday 5 Feb at the Barbican in London.
Comedy for Koby
The comedians that perform Comedy for Koby raise money for the Koby Mandell Foundation which helps bereaved mothers, fathers, widows, orphans and siblings to rebuild their lives. Their winter tour from Jan 17 to 23 visits Beit Shemesh, Raanana, Jerusalem, Gush Etzion, Modiin and Tel Aviv.
See the desert bloom
We may think of the desert as barren, but from the fall to early spring the Negev turns into an unexpected haven for winter daffodils, irises, squill, cyclamens, anemones and more.
IAC Summit
A reminder about the IAC (Israeli American Council)’s 8th Annual Summit in Austin Texas from Jan 19-21.
“An Ethiopian queen in Tel Aviv”
Last week I met Israeli writer Albert Russo who was visiting Netanya. Albert has written several books including this novel featuring Ziva, a young Ethiopian Israeli who runs a shelter in Tel Aviv for at-risk teenagers. Based on a true story. See also relevant articles in the 2nd link.
A Virtual Tour of Tel Aviv Graffiti
Eviatar Gover of BE Tel Aviv Tours will give a Zoom tour of the graffiti in the alleyways of Florentine, Tel Aviv. On Weds 25 Jan (7:30pm Israel, 5:30pm UK or 12.30pm Eastern). Register for this ESRA presentation here.