Israel Active

Professional ballet dancer, Isaac Akiva embraced orthodox Judaism while recovering after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament at the Boston Opera House. He subsequently founded the American-Israeli Ballet Association “to put the Jewish State on the international ballet map”.

Israeli megastar Gal Gadot is to have her name etched in in a star on Los Angeles’ best-known sidewalk, known as the Walk of Fame. Hollywood Boulevard’s 1.3 miles of sidewalk currently has nearly 2,800 stars. The only other Israeli star is for media producer Haim Saban.

Israeli athletes won nine golds, eight silvers and eight bronze medals at the Special Olympics in Berlin. The 25 medals beat the 19 they won at the 2019 event. The second link is to an individual article about Israel’s Mir Segel who won the 100-meter freestyle swimming gold medal.

Israel’s under-21 soccer team drew 1-1 with reigning champions Germany in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament in Georgia. They lost to England but then beat Czech Republic to knock out Germany and reach the quarterfinals.

Israel won its first-ever gold medal at the European Artistic Swimming Championships in the Team Free Routine Combination event in Krakow, Poland. (Hebrew site)

14-year-old Gili Kuritzky won a senior fencing bronze medal at the European Games in Krakow-Malopolska Poland. Ranked only 250th in the world senior ranking, she eliminated far more established fencers on her way to her first ever medal at the senior level.

Israeli and international researchers have reported that rare prehistorical objects found in Israel’s Hula Valley, were crafted 12,000 years ago, and functioned as miniature flutes. They imitate bird song and could have been used for hunting, music, or some form of communication with the birds.

Mojo’s non-dairy pizzeria in Jerusalem serves some exciting kosher meat pizzas. They include vegan cheese, BĀ-KEN (with an upside-down “e”), short ribs with kimchi and truffle mayo, and chicken confit with pesto cream and balsamic reduction. Non-pizza eaters are also well catered for.

Israel’s Avi Jorisch wrote Though Shalt Innovate, How Israeli Ingenuity Repairs the World” (see previously). His latest book is “Next: A Brief History of the Future”, featuring 13 “game-changing innovations” that are significantly impacting human history. It includes Israel’s Innovation: Africa (see previously).

The world's largest vegan festival, Vegan Fest, is taking place in Tel Aviv with over 100,000 participants. It features over 100 food stalls, lectures, health booths, activities for children, cooking workshops, and live performances. It even hosts a speed-dating event for vegans looking for love.