The 18th Maccabiah Games aka The Jewish Olympics

There are still tickets available to the opening ceremony (July 13th in Ramat Gan) of the 18th Maccabiah Games. These games promise to be the largest Jewish sporting event in history with more than 5,000 athletes from around the world joining more than 2,000 athletes from Israel.

JOVELLA 2009

Israeli jewelry designers have become quite well known in the U.S. and in Europe. Designers such as Michal Negrin, Aya Azrielant, Michal Golan, and Ayala Bar have each made a name for themselves in the overseas markets.

On July 7th and 8th, JOVELLA the leading event for the Israeli jewelry industry will take place at Ganei Ta’aruach in Tel Aviv. Established and new jewelry designers will showcase their creations to manufacturers and marketers from Israel and abroad. The general public is invited to attend on Wednesday the 8th only from 16:00-20:00. (entrance fee is 50 NIS)

Arik Einstein (maybe) in Park Hayarkon

Some of Israel’s most popular singers will perform covers of Arik Einstein’s songs at a concert in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park this Thursday, July 2nd at 19:00. The concert will benefit the Laga’at Ba’ofek (Touch the Horizon) center of youth at risk. The charity was chosen by Einstein himself who is celebrating his 70th birthday this year. The concert is being called You, Me and the Park after Einstein’s hit song “Ani V’Ata”.

Scheduled performers include Sarit Hadad, Berry Sakharof, Ivri Lider, Hadag Nahash, Yonit Rechter, Ninet and OTHERS to numerous to name!!!
In a radio interview this week Einstein hinted that he too might show up at the concert. Tickets are priced between 95 – 240 shekels depending where you sit or stand.

Open Bus Tour of Tel Aviv

The Dan Bus line and the Tel Aviv Municipality have teamed up to provide an open air bus tour of the City of Tel Aviv. A recorded tour in numerous languages is piped in via earphones. T in Tel Aviv recommends this for a first look at the city. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and if you buy the 65 shekel open day ticket you can get on and off the bus at various stops along the way. The 45 shekel gives you the tour only. T in Tel Aviv would suggest picking up the bus in front of the Hilton Hotel and taking the tour to the Eretz Yisrael Museum or Palmach Museum in Ramat Aviv. (Visits to the Palmach Museum MUST be arranged in advance and last about 90 minutes) Lunch or a snack might be in order before or after entering the museums. Try the Anina Café, 2 Chaim Levanon St (at the entrance to the Eretz Yisrael Museum) for sandwiches, salads, pasta, and quiche. Tel: 03-6412288 Open from 8:30 a.m. –midnight.

A few hours later you can pick up the bus in front of either museum and continue on for the rest of the tour. The 9:00 a.m. bus stops in front of the Hilton at 9:07 a.m. and arrives at the museums at 10:36ish.

Gilad Shalit was kidnapped 3 years ago today!!!

Children from around the world have come together in order to bring attention to the third anniversary of the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped on Thursday, June 25, 2006 and has not been seen since. The New York Israel Consulate highlights the universality of this human-rights issue by engaging a worldwide audience with a children's story written by Shalit when he was in 5th grade. "When the Shark and the Fish First Met," is about two sea animals that were raised to hate and fear one another but then realized that everyone would be happier by making peace. This beautiful story of friendship between unlikely beings is read in the video by children and adults in multiple languages. Click below to watch the video.

La Scala in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park – Thursday, July 16, 2009

Teatro Alla Scala is coming to Tel Aviv as part of the Tel Aviv Centennial celebrations. A number of performances of Aida conducted by Daniel Barenboim are scheduled (and sold out) for mid-July at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.

Not to worry, you will still have a chance to see the famed Milanese opera company in a one time performance of Verdi’s Requiem on Thursday, July 16th at 21:00. The concert will feature 300 musicians and four of the leading soloists of La Scala: Adriana Damato, Sonia Ganassi, Giuseppe Fillianoti and Rena Pape. Daniel Bareboim will conduct.

VIP tickets including a buffet before the performance and reception with Barenboim and company are available for 1500 NIS, seating on chairs near the stage are available for 660 NIS and “B” category seats (you get a chair to sit on) are on sale for 520 NIS. These tickets are available through the Israeli Opera box office at 03-692-2777 or through Hadran.

Free seating on the lawn is available for the general public.

Paint a Bench in Tel Aviv to Support Kids with Cancer

Established in 1990, Zichron Menachem (ZM) is named in memory of Menachem Ehrental, an Israeli boy who battled cancer for over 14 years - from age 18 months until his young death. Drawing on their vast experience as parents of a cancer-stricken child, Menachem's parents, together with family and friends, founded ZM as a non-profit organization aimed at easing the suffering of young cancer patients and their families.

This Friday, June 19th from 10:00-17:00 everyone is invited to the Tel Aviv Port to join in the fun by putting their own artistic fingerprints on benches that will sold/auctioned to raise funds for Zichron Menachem. All ZM programs, activities and facilities are offered completely free-of-charge to all Israeli children stricken with cancer, and their families, regardless of their religion, ethnic origin or socio-economic status.