THE RED SEA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Jerusalem, 3 December 2009

THE RED SEA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
WITH MAESTRO VALERY GERGIEV
WILL TAKE PLACE IN EILAT 14-16 JANUARY 2010


Eilat, Israel's southernmost resort, will host for the ninth consecutive year, the highly popular Red Sea International Music Festival from 14-16 January 2010. Maestro Valery Gergiev, one of the world’s leading conductors, will return to the festival as the artistic director, conducting 250 musicians and soloists from the Mariinsky Choir, the Children’s Choir and the orchestra of the Mariinsky Opera Company (Kirov) from St. Petersburg in three concerts.

For the first time, the opening concert on 14 January - Verdi’s La Traviata - featuring the orchestra, choir and soloists of the Mariinsky Opera (Kirov) will be conducted by Israeli conductor Dan Ettinger

Gergiev will conduct the other concerts: three works by Stravinsky including Les Noces (15 January) and Berlioz’s Les Troyens on 16 January, with the first part offered as a matinee (13:00) and the second performance in the evening at 21:00.

The concerts will take place in a specially-built pavilion in the Eilat Port, and chamber music concerts will also take place at the theater in the Isrotel Royal Garden Hotel.

The festival, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Eilat Municipality, Eilat Hotels Association, Ministry of Culture and the Negev Development Authority, attracts music lovers from around the world who enjoy the unique combination of the finest classical music performed by international musicians and the warm winter sunshine of Eilat. http://www.redseaclassicalfestival.com/

DAN EILAT VOTED AS ONE OF TOP TEN HOLIDAY RESORTS

1 December 2009

DAN EILAT VOTED AS ONE OF TOP TEN HOLIDAY RESORTS
IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA BY CONDE NAST


The Dan Eilat hotel, situated on the north beach of Eilat Bay has been selected by readers of Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top ten holiday resorts in the Middle East and Africa. Placed seventh, in between the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, and Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, Muscat, Oman the Dan Eilat hotel attained a score of 79.3 and was the only Israeli hotel to be included in the list.

Conde Nast, a well known and popular magazine in the tourism industry published the list in their November edition after carrying out a survey in dozens of countries throughout the world, involving 700 hotels., When it was opened at the end of 1995, the Dan Eilat hotel was heralded as setting a new standard for Israel’s resort hotels, with unique interiors and furnishings, high levels of service and excellent facilities.

Eilat, situated at Israel's southernmost tip where the Red Sea meets the Eilat desert mountains, is Israel's premier vacation resort, with year-round sunshine, an array of water sports, desert activities, unique tourist attractions and lively night life. Tourists fly directly to Ovda (40 minutes from Eilat) on charter flights from East and West European and Scandinavian cities in the fall and winter seasons, often using Eilat as a base to visit Masada, the Dead Sea, Jerusalem and beyond.

COINS FROM THE TEMPLE MOUNT A NEW EXHIBITION OPENS IN THE DAVIDSON CENTER, JERUSALEM

25 November 2009

COINS FROM THE TEMPLE MOUNT
A NEW EXHIBITION OPENS IN THE DAVIDSON CENTER, JERUSALEM

Visitors to the Davidson Center in the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden, near the Western Wall, can now visit an exhibition of the different kinds of coins uncovered in Israel Antiquities Authority excavations at the foot of the Temple Mount – the most ancient of which are more than 2,000 years old.

The coins are a living tangible testimony of Jerusalem’s rich history and the city as a focus of pilgrimage for thousands of years. Among the many artifacts on display are a rare collection of 2,000 year old coins that were burnt during the Great Revolt by the Jews (in which the Second Temple was destroyed), unique coins minted in Jerusalem during this period, as well as those that were found in different excavations in the region and have a wide geographic provenance (from Persia, via North Africa and as far as France) - attesting to the centrality of Jerusalem for pilgrims.

Unlike pagan coins, Jewish coins portray a variety of inanimate symbols, such as a wreath, scepter and helmet, rather than the rulers that appear on pagan coins. This is due to the Jewish abstention from portraying images (“You shall not make for yourself a graven image or likeness of anything…”).

In addition, a fragment of a large sarcophagus lid, engraved with an inscription in square script that is characteristic of the Second Temple period, is on display for the first time in the Davidson Center. The lid is meticulously fashioned and the carved inscription on it reads: “…Ben HaCohen HaGadol…” (son of the high priest), probably one of the priests who officiated there between the years 30 and 70 CE.

Entrance to the exhibit, which will be open until at least mid 2010, is included in the cost of the admission ticket to the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden – Davidson Center (located between Dung Gate and the Western Wall plaza).

http://www.archpark.org.il/

16th FESTIVAL OF FESTIVALS IN HAIFA

16 November 2009

16th FESTIVAL OF FESTIVALS IN HAIFA
THE COLORFUL FESTIVAL, WHICH PROMOTES COEXISTENCE AND PEACE, CELEBRATES THE
DECEMBER FESTIVALS OF THE THREE MONOTHEISTIC RELIGIONS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF
CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC EVENTS
5, 12, 19 AND 26 DECEMBER

The colorful Festival of Festivals, now in its 16th year, takes place every weekend in December in Haifa's mixed Arab-Jewish Wadi Nisnas neighborhood. The festival promotes good neighborly relations, with cultural and artistic events that celebrate the three main religious festivals that fall in December - Chanuka, Christmas and Eid al-Adha. Entrance to all the events is free (except for concerts, exhibition and Haifa Museum).

This year, the festival includes an art exhibition featuring the works of 50 Jewish and Arab artists in Wadi Nisnas; an art trail and an exhibition of paper cuts by international artist Tzipora Neeman with the cooperation of Jewish and Arab women; photography and video exhibits; an antiques fair that opens on 28 November and runs for five weekends at Beit Hagefen; arts and crafts fair; a children’s art exhibition; folklore concerts by the Romanian gypsy band Fanfara Shavale and others; music concerts in Haifa's churches and concert halls that combine liturgy, Arab and Israeli music (for a fee); street activities and free shows for adults and children; art activities and creative workshops for children; ethnic food stalls; coexistence routes of song and literature in Wadi Nisnas, marked by posters lining the streets; processions, carnivals, folklore dancing and more.

The festival, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year, is produced by the Municipality of Haifa and Gefen House (a Jewish-Arab center in Haifa), in cooperation with residents of the Wadi Nisnas neighborhood. Further information on the festival in English will be available on http://www.haifahag.co.il/ or from the Haifa Tourist Board,
tel.: 972 4 8535606 or http://www.tour-haifa.co.il/.

'HAMSHUSHALAYIM' 2009

15 November 2009

'HAMSHUSHALAYIM' 2009
THREE WINTER WEEKENDS OF TOURISM, CULTURE, FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT IN JERUSALEM
26-28 November; 3-5 and 10-12 December 2009

Jerusalem will once again host its main cultural city-wide event during the last weekend in November (Thursday through Saturday) and the first two weekends in December. The event is known as 'Hamshushalayim' - Hamshush is Hebrew slang for the long Israeli weekend of Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Tourists and visitors to Jerusalem will enjoy free entry (or for a nominal amount) to tens of tourist and cultural attractions in the city, including, among many others, the Israel Museum, the Science Museum, the Bible Lands Museum, the Museum of Italian Jewry, the Museum of Islamic Art, the Tower of David Museum, the City of David, the Davidson Center and the Old City Walls Promenade. Free entry to the museums available from 21:00 – 02:00. Many of the sites will host live performances, attractions and special activities that are unique to the Hamshushalayim event, such as the a-capella concert in the Shrine of the Book, live jazz at the Davidson Center, opera at the Museum of Italian Jewish Art, ethnic music at the Museum of Islamic Art and special street performances at the Mamilla Boulevard.

Many sites, museums and places of entertainment will remain open on Thursday nights till the early hours of the morning. In addition, there will be hundreds of special guided walking tours, many free of charge, and some in English. Tours on Saturday are suitable for the Sabbath-observant. Hamshushalayim 2009 also includes a giant culinary festival, organized in conjunction with http://www.2eat.co.il/, with tens of the city's leading restaurants, cafes and pubs offering fixed price menus for 78 NIS per person, as well as Happy Hour on Saturday evenings. Other gourmet events will also take place throughout the capital.

With this year’s accent on the youth, there are special accommodation packages available for youth and activities that include student discounts at 30 city center pubs (some with live performances); a young designers’ fair at the Ma’abada and other musical events.

Detailed information on the Hamshushalayim 2009 program available from http://www.jerusalem.muni.il/Humshsh/eng/all.htm and the Tourism Ministry's Tourist Information Office inside the Jaffa gate (tel: 972 2 6280403). In addition to the regular office hours (Sun-Thurs 08:30 – 17:00), the office will remain open on Fridays till 22:00 during the three weekends of Hamshushalayim.

Hamshushalayim 2009 is an initiative of the Jerusalem Municipality's Tourism Authority, in cooperation with the Tourism Ministry, the Jerusalem Development Authority, the Jerusalem Hotels Association and the various cultural and tourist sites in the capital, produced by the Ariel Corporation.

TWO SPORTING EVENTS AT THE DEAD SEA

15 November 2009

TWO SPORTING EVENTS AT THE DEAD SEA
TOUR DE DEAD SEA 28 NOVEMBER 2009
VEOLIA DESERT CHALLENGE 5 DECEMBER 2009

The annual Tour de Dead Sea, a cycle race along the contours of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, will take place on Saturday 28 November during a weekend of activities for the cyclists and their families. The cycle race, which is organized by the Tamar and Megillot Regional Councils, is designed to raise awareness about the Dead Sea and its unique environment. Cyclists can choose between three different routes, all of which promise spectacular desert scenery:

· A 12 kilometer family route suitable for children aged 6 and over on a flat route along the promenade liking the hotels in the Ein Bokek area.
· A 60 kilometer route for road and off-road cyclists with police escort, refreshment stops and rescue vehicles.
· A 100 kilometer route for experienced cyclists including steep climbs up Metzoke Dragot.

The races begin from the solarium in the Ein Bokek hotel areas in the southern part of the Dead Sea, with a free family happening that includes ecological activities related to the Dead Sea, arts and crafts corners, refreshments, music and more.

The annual Veolia Desert Challenge will take place on Saturday 5 December 2009, with several challenging events.
· a night race through the desert scenery lit by the full moon on the night between 4 and 5 December(choose between a 12,20 or 30 kilometer course)
· a mountain bike race (27,40 or 75 kilometer course)
· The Ultimate Challenge; the longest and most challenging duathlon in Israel (running and cycling)
· Challenge Cycle Race – a non-competitive 24 kilometer course through Nahal Pratzim and Sodom
· A sporting festival for all the family from 09:30 at the Ein Bokek solarium with free activities, exhibitions etc. Free entrance

Registration for the above is available online at http://www.ezharim.co.il/ (Hebrew only) or on the day of the race itself.

The Dead Sea is one of 28 finalists (selected from over 400 candidates) for the online competition, New 7 Wonders of Nature. The lowest place on earth will compete through 2011 for the hearts and votes of over a billion people from around the world, against 27 other sites including, among others, the River Amazon, the Galapagos Islands, the Grand Canyon and the Maldives. Vote for the Dead Sea as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature at http://www.new7wonders.com/

MUSICAL WINTER CONCERTS IN ABU GHOSH,SATURDAYS AT NOON FROM NOVEMBER – MARCH

November 16, 2009

MUSICAL WINTER CONCERTS IN ABU GHOSH,
SATURDAYS AT NOON FROM NOVEMBER – MARCH

The enchanting hillside village of Abu Ghosh, a short ride from Jerusalem, is known for its Vocal Music Festival held every Succot. The perfect acoustics in the village churches will once again come to the fore with the annual Musical Winter concert series.

This series presents seven concerts featuring works by, among others, Bach, Purcell and Schubert, as well as a homage to 1960s protest singers Pete Seeger and Joan Baez. such as the series of Bach Cantatas performed by the Israeli Bach Soloists. The concerts all take place at noon on a Saturday at the Kiryat Ye'arim Church overlooking the picturesque village.

The opening concert of the series, which takes place at noon on Saturday, 28.11.09, is a homage to the 1960s protest singers Pete Seeger and Joan Baez. Other concerts are as follows:
19.12.09: Handel's Messiah
26.12.09: Good Tidings – a special Christmas concert featuring works by Purcell and Bach
2.1.10: Schubert, Mendelssohn, Rossini and Christmas Songs with Bells
30.1.10: Fountain of Joy" - featuring cantatas by J.S. Bach and the Motet "Jesu meine Freude"
27.2.10: Schubert: Mass in G major and Saint-Saens: Christmas Oratorio
20.3.10: The Crying Mother - an Easter program featuring Bach's Cantata 166 and Stabat Mater by Pergolesi

Advance ticket purchase: 972 3-6045000 or 972 2 -6237000/6222333

The village of Abu Ghosh has important Christian connections. Beginning in the twelfth century, Christians began to identify Abu Ghosh as Emmaus, where Jesus appeared after the Resurrection (Luke 24:12-31). They imagined an old caravansary they found by the village spring as the destination of the disciples as they walked along the road “about seven miles from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:13). The village’s impressive Crusader church, in a tranquil garden setting, is built over that spring. Its walls are adorned with paintings of New Testament figures – some of the oldest medieval frescos in the world. Abu Ghosh has also been identified as Kiriath Jearim, where the Ark of the Covenant was brought after Philistine captivity (1 Sam. 6:21); a church on the hill with a panoramic view marks that spot.