Israel Active

At 18,500 sq meters, Jerusalem’s Israel Museum has been listed by Newsweek as the world’s 17th largest museum. It contains 500,000 pieces of art, plus massive collections of archaeology and Jewish ritual objects. In comparison, the Paris Louvre’s 72,735 sq meters contains just 38,000 art pieces.

Israel’s team won the silver medal in European Baseball Championships in Torino (Turin) Italy – Israel’s first ever podium finish in the event. Although they lost to 2019 champions Netherlands in the final, they beat hosts Italy in the semi-finals plus Czech Republic, UK, France and Russia previously.

The walls of Jaffa’s Sharabiya house were littered in trash - millions of pieces of microplastic, shapeshifted into coral reefs, sea creatures, photography, and more. The 3-day exhibit entitled “Love, Death, and Plastic” was created by sustainable artist Evelyn Anca - co-founder of Plastic Free Israel.

17-year-old Israeli pianist Yoav Levanon has just signed an exclusive contract with Warner Classics. Yoav was featured in 2013 when aged 8 he opened the International Summer Jewish Festival in Budapest. Prior to that, he won Israel’s National Piano Competition at age five.

Israel’s Aron Lazarus is the inventor of The Genius Star - named “Best Puzzle/ Brainteaser Game” by the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association in 2020. Players roll dice to collect the 48 triangular pieces required to cover their personal six-pointed star-shaped board.

“The Collective” is a new Israeli drama series from “Fauda” producer Maria Feldman and writer / director Dror Shaul. It centers on an American who moves to a kibbutz and becomes its leader in defending Israel’s borders. Shaul was born and raised in Kibbutz Kissufim, near the Gaza Strip.

Tamir Greenberg won Israel’s “The Next Star” talent contest. The Jerusalem Post wrote he won NIS 1 million following his rendition of “Crazy in Love”. But according to his America-Israel Cultural Foundation sponsor, he performed his original song “Tell me where the light goes” (see video). Anyway, enjoy!

The latest issue of beautiful Israeli stamps include three Ecclesiastes verses, three Israeli astronomical observatories, Rabbi Yitzhak Nissin, SY Agnon, IDF Home Front Command Search & Rescue Brigade, and Israel Police Volunteer Rescue Team.

Hear the rich and inspiring sounds of the rebirth of Israel with the “I am Israel” original motion picture soundtrack. Featuring the powerful orchestral score, along with excerpts of dialog from narrator John Rhys-Davies and the Israeli cast. Music by award-winning composer Bob Farnsworth.

New exhibitions at Jerusalem’s Israel Museum include “Hear, O Israel” (The Magic of the Shema); “How Long Is Now?” (New in Contemporary Art); “Satirist Supreme: Honoré Daumier and 19th-Century Paris”; a special display about 9/11; plus, many current exhibits.