Israel Active

At the European Traditional Karate Federation Championship in Macedonia, Israelis won a total of 11 Gold medals, 3 Silver medals and 2 bronze medals.

(From Feb 2024) Israeli Druze Yosef Takatuk (a.k.a Tktok) from Kfar Yarka won first place at the European Cup kickboxing competition (over 91kg) in Zagreb.  

Oscar-nominated writer and comedian Lee Kern announced he will be moving to the Jewish State. He said, “Rationally she doesn't stand a chance. But she's also the world's only Jewish country. And I'm a Jew.” Kern added that he was happy to make Aliyah, "Because I back winners."

Israel’s Yarin Shriki, a Nova music festival survivor, won gold at the Paris Jiu Jitsu 2024 Grand Prix in the under-69kg Gi category. He dedicated the win to his best friend, Yohai Ben Zechariah, killed on Oct 7.  Yarin also won gold at the European Championships in Nov (see ).

Israel’s Raz Hershko won her first European Championships judoka gold medal in Zagreb. Israel also won 3 bronze medals. Raz dedicated her medal in the +78kg category to Yonatan Goutin, “without whom the victory is not whole,” Yonatan was killed in Kibbutz Be’eri on Oct 7.  .

Israel’s Ariel Elkin (17 – see previously) won first place in the second round of the Formula 4 USF Juniors Championship held in Alabama. Ariel studies at the Reali School in Haifa. He has been competing in karting since the age of five.

On May 12 and 13 the annual IDF Memorial Day (Yom Ha’Zikaron) and Independence Day (Yom Ha’Atzmaut events will take place all over Israel.  Here are two examples.

The Open House Jerusalem festival that was postponed from Oct, is now back on.  152 locations will open their doors to the public, including historical sites, private houses, bridges, & hospitals. Also, a theater, where the architects who participated in building the sites will interact with visitors.

Israel’s Nili Block (see previously) just won her seventh martial arts World title (61kg Muay Thai and Kickboxing) in Paris. She entered the ring to the music “Am Yisrael Chai”. She took the gold medal, draped in the Israeli flag as images of the hostages held by Hamas flashed behind her.

Rhythmic gymnast Daniela Munits won a gold medal with her routine with the ball at the World Cup in Greece. Shelly Bobritsky and Ariel Nassee won a gold medal at the Artistic Swimming World Cup in Beijing.