Israel Active

A good (JNS) article and an I24 interview that emphasizes that sporting success was only one aspect of the recent Maccabiah Games in Israel.  It was an opportunity for thousands of Jewish athletes to connect and celebrate with their peers from all over the world.

Israeli film students Shulamit Lifshitz and Oriel Berkovits from the Ma’aleh School in Jerusalem won a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) student award. Their film “Girl No. 60427” features a young girl who discovers her survivor grandmother’s Holocaust diary.

Střelecký Island, in the heart of Prague, recently became an island of Israeli culture in a unique open-air festival organized by the Israeli Embassy. Some 15,000 people enjoyed Israeli bands, soloists, folk-dancing, Krav Maga (self-defense), pita baking, poetry, children’s activities and more.

This year’s JAZZ IM festival in Barcelona was dedicated to Israel. The Israeli embassy supported two Israeli jazz ensembles in the festival - the Tal Gamlieli Trio, and the Guy Mintos Trio. The organizers streamed the shows since all their concerts were sold out.

Three previously unknown (and unfinished) sketches by celebrated 20th-century artist Amadeo Modigliani were discovered at the University of Haifa’s Hecht Museum, hidden beneath the surface of one of his paintings. His works were X-rayed prior to an upcoming exhibit in Philadelphia.

Recent Israeli events featuring Adam’s Ale include the 7th annual Tekoa beer festival, which attracted nearly 3,000 people. Meanwhile, our local Netanya AACI hosted a lecture and tasting from Israel’s Jem’s Beer Factory based in Petah Tikva. And finally, Israel21c issued a guide to the many Israeli micro-brewing startups.

Israeli Jiu-Jitsu athletes won two gold medals, one silver and two bronze at the World Games in Birmingham Alabama. Nimrod Ryeder won the men’s 77kg Ne-Waza. Meshy Rosenfeld won the women’s 57kg. Israel finished 11th overall, with seven gold medals, ahead of the UK and Spain.

Israel - Premier Tech cyclist Hugo Houle described his win on Stage 16 of the Tour de France as “unbelievable”. He had previously finished third on Stage 13 and when the pack let him go ahead on the final climb, he said he “just went all in, full gas”.

Kenyan-born Israeli Lonah Chemtai Salpeter won the bronze medal in the women’s marathon at the World Athletic Championships in Eugene, Oregon. She is only the third Israeli in history to win a medal at the competition.

Sharon captured the excitement of the Maccabiah Games opening ceremony and the Jerusalem streets in advance of the US President’s visit to Israel.