Israel Active

Great opportunity to hear a presentation by Israeli Aramaic Maronite Christian Shadi Khalloul. IDF Captain (reserves) and former IDF Spokesman of 160,000 Israeli Christian soldiers integrated into Israeli society. Mon 21st Feb @ 12:30pm ET; 17:30 UK; 19:30 Israel.

See what activities are available for English-speaking immigrants by viewing the Nefesh b’Nefesh Events Calendar. It provides information on virtual and in-person programs, including Hebrew lessons, lectures, performances, tiyulim (tours), job fairs, social and financial advice, and much more.

Beverly Barkat has opened her solo Earth Poetica exhibition at the Israel Aquarium in Jerusalem. It centers around a huge colorful sphere made from plastic waste, to increase awareness of the damage it causes to the marine environment. Beverly’s husband is former Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.

Aslan Karatsev, won the Sydney Classic tennis tournament, beating UK’s Andy Murray in the final with a near flawless performance. Karatsev plays for the Russian national side but grew up and trained in Israel and speaks fluent Hebrew.

1,700 athletes from 12 countries participated in the annual Israman triathlon events inside and around the Israel’s Red Sea resort city of Eilat. Israelis won both the men’s and women’s triathlons -  3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, and a full marathon 42.2km run. They won prizes worth NIS 10,000 each.

Thanks to the Abraham Accords, Israeli restaurants are now included in the prestigious Abu Dhabi-sponsored "50 best in the Middle East" ranking. Tel Aviv’s was third on the list. (9), (14), (17), Ashdod (kosher) (24) and (40).

Hilla Ben Ari’s art installation at Jerusalem’s Ticho House echoes the work of 1930’s artist Moshe Reifer, who lived in Kibbutz Yagur, where Hilla grew up. In Hilla’s six nearly full-size video works, 3 dancers hold their bodies in almost impossible poses while using white paper to display shapes and shadows.

Jacob Richman has added several Hebrew songs to his valuable website. I especially enjoyed – Israel’s runner-up at the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest sung by Ofra Haza. Jacob has also added whole new sections on Israel Museums, Parks and Natural Reserves, Zoos and Aquariums.    

Israeli billion-dollar companies Gong.io and monday.com will advertise during the NFL Super Bowl LV1 2022 on Sun Feb 13. Each ad costs an estimated $5 million to create and broadcast. Let’s hope they get seen - the event will broadcast some 80-90 commercials during the breaks.

Jerusalem was recently transformed from Spring to Winter and then back to Spring. Two weeks ago, its almond trees (the symbol of Tu Bishvat - the Jewish New Year for Trees) were in full bloom. Then for less than a day, they were covered in deep snow. “Bless my homeland forever”.