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.

350 RARE PIECES OF MARBLE FROM THE CRUSADER PERIOD (13TH CENTURY) UNCOVERED IN ACRE

3 November 2009

350 RARE PIECES OF MARBLE FROM THE CRUSADER PERIOD (13TH CENTURY) UNCOVERED IN ACRE


In an excavation recently conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) 100 meters north of the Old City wall of Acre, a unique find was discovered from the Crusader period (the thirteenth century CE) – a hoard of 350 marble items that had been collected from destroyed buildings.

According to Dr. Edna Stern, excavation director on behalf of the IAA, “We have here a unique find, the likes of which have never been discovered in the Kingdom of Jerusalem in the Crusader period (the capital of which was Acre). During the archaeological excavations, we came upon a cellar that was sealed by collapse comprised of building stones and charred beams. Beneath the cellar floor a hoard of about 350 marble items and colored stones was discovered, including two broken marble tombstones with Latin inscriptions, flat marble slabs and marble tiles of various sizes and colors, as well as a large stone cross and a large fragment of porphyry (a rare precious purple stone, which has been the color of royalty from Roman times). The quality of the marble is excellent and it was undoubtedly imported from abroad.”

Dr. Stern added, “Everyone knows that Crusader Acre was an important center for international trade and the marble hoard reflects the magnificent buildings that were erected here but have not survived, as well as also the commerce and the wealth of its residents. Just as there is a trend today to incorporate wooden doors from India or roof tiles from old buildings in Italy in modern villas, at that time they used to integrate ancient architectural items from the Roman and Byzantine periods in their construction. And just like today, people at that time also yearned for the classic and the exotic. We know from written sources that they bought and sold such stones, which were exceptionally valuable, to be reused in buildings. We can assume that the owner of the hoard, whether he was a merchant or he collected the stones for his own construction, was aware of impending danger and therefore buried the valuable stones until such time as the tension abated.”

According to Stern, it can be reasonably assumed that the collapse that was found above the hoard is evidence of the building’s destruction in 1291 CE, when Crusader Acre was conquered and devastated by the Mamluks. The marble hoard was removed from the field and transferred to the Israel Antiquities Authority for further study.
Visitors to Acre, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, can visit the excavated underground buildings from the Crusader and Ottoman periods, including the Al Jazar Mosque, the buildings of the Order of Saint John, Khan Al Omdan, the Turkish Baths, the Bahai Temple and much more, as well as enjoy the cultural meeting point of East and West in the old city’s market and alleyways.

Imax 3D in Eilat

Shalom to all,

Imax 3D in Eilat translated the movie “Hunted Castle” to English.

You can watch the movie every day at 22:00 (except Fridays).

JAZZ GLOBUS 2009 The 6th International Jazz Festival in Jerusalem,

November 4, 2009


JAZZ GLOBUS 2009
The 6th International Jazz Festival in Jerusalem,
25 November – 2 December


The sixth Jazz Globus Festival 2009 will take place from November 25 through December 2 in Jerusalem, with more than 120 musicians and 22 ensembles from Israel and overseas participating in the festival's seven concerts. Concerts will take place at the Harmony Hall in the Jerusalem Cultural Center, located in the center of the city, near the pedestrian area of Nahalat Shiva Street.

International jazz musicians playing at the festival alongside Israeli musicians include the legendary Russian jazz guitarist Alexei Kuznetsov; a duet from the Czech Republic named DoMa; Russian jazz German trumpeter Igor Shirokov; the renowned Russian jazz ensemble Round Band led by saxophonist Alexei Kruglov and celebrated Italian pianist Tony Pancello who will appear for the first time in the Jazz Globus festival.

Many of the Israeli musicians participating in the festival are well-known on the international jazz scene, including Michal Cohen, Robert Anchipolovsky, Yuval Tabachnik, Ivri Boruchov and Dmitry Grodsky.

Further information on the program: http://www.jazzglobus.com/.
Tickets available before the concerts at the venue, price 60 NIS.

THE JERUSALEM INTERNATIONAL OUD FESTIVAL

18 October 2009

THE JERUSALEM INTERNATIONAL OUD FESTIVAL
CELEBRATES A DECADE
12-26 NOVEMBER 2009

The Jerusalem International Oud Festival, organized by the city’s Confederation House under the artistic direction of Effie Benaya, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, with performances taking place in Jerusalem from 12-26 November and in Nazareth from 24-27 November. The festival draws artists and composers from all musical genres from Israel and overseas, making the distinct Mediterranean sounds of the oud accessible to a wide audience. Stars of Israeli, Jewish and Arab ethnic music appear alongside guest musicians from India, France and Mediterranean countries presenting a variety of musical heritages: religious and secular, Armenian and Byzantine, Gypsy and Babylonian, ancient and modern.
The festival continues the tradition of musical tributes to the poets of the Golden Age of Spain and the great artists of the Arab world, as well as presenting, for the first time, a unique aspect of Syrian musical tradition, alongside Greek, Turkish and other musical styles. Musical instruments featured in the concerts include the oud, zurna, duduk, trumpet, bass, violins, viola, cello, jumbush, clarinet, recorder, dahul, nai and energetic percussion.

The festival opens with a world premier entitled Who Knows One performed by the band Tractor’s Revenge in a tribute to the Spanish poet and Rabbi Yehuda Moshe Ibn Ezra, regarded as one of the literary giants of the Golden Age in Spain. Other concerts include Sounds from Syria, a tribute to Sabah Fakhri, performed by the Tarshiha Orchestra for Arabic Music; This Was What He Originally Intended..., unknown Piyyutim of Hebrew poet Rabbi Israel Najara; Debka Fantasy, an Israeli musical fantasy of the early days of Jewish settlement blending Eastern and Western music; Ad Adei Ad, a work composed specially for the festival based upon texts from Sefer ha-Yetzira, one of the foundations of Kabbalistic thought; a unique Encounter between Three Oud Players, Taiseer Elias, Ara Dinkjian and Yurdal Tokcan; and Iraq'n'Roll, which brings together two Israeli artists Yair Dalal and Dudu Tasa. There will be a concert by an Indian vocalist, Sudha Ragunathan, and another in tribute to three great Arab vocalists

The concert venues include the Confederation House, the Jerusalem Theater, the Gerard Behar Center, Beit Avihai and the Shimson Center-Beit Shmuel in Jerusalem and four concerts in Nazareth.

Information in English about the concerts and ticket sales: http://www.confederationhouse.org/

GUITAR GEMS 2009

22 October 2009


GUITAR GEMS 2009
4TH INTERNATIONAL CLASSICAL GUITAR FESTIVAL AND COMPETITION, NETANYA 25-29.10.09

Guitar Gems 2009, the 4th International Classical Guitar Festival and Competition, will take place this year in Netanya from 25-29 October 2009. The festival, organized by the Netanya Municipality and the city’s concert hall under the artistic direction of renowned classical guitarist Alexei Belousov, hosts leading classical guitarists from Israel and around the world.

The opening concert, which will take place in the Netanya Concert Hall on Sunday 25 October at 20:00, with four guitar concertos played domino style – from one soloist to four – and the backing of the Beer Sheba Symphony Orchestra. The evening will feature the world premiere of a guitar concerto composed by Israeli guitarist Daniel Akiva.

The festival will also include other guitar concerts, a flamenco concert complete with the Remangar flamenco dancers, master classes etc. Rare and priceless guitars will be on display, including 27 string guitars from the Renaissance period.

The closing concert, on 29 October at 20:00, features the Israeli gypsy jazz trio Swing de Gitanes and Hunarian guitarist Antal Pusztai.

In addition, an international and a youth international guitar competition will take place during the festival.

Tickets to the concerts available from the Netanya Concert Hall (Heichal Hatarbut) at 972 9 8308811.

http://www.guitar-gems.co.il/

THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL TEL AVIV DANCE FESTIVAL

13 October 2009

THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL TEL AVIV DANCE FESTIVAL
16 OCTOBER – 13 NOVEMBER 2009

The 2009 International Tel Aviv Dance Festival will take place for the third consecutive year in the city from 16 October – 13 November 2009. The city of Tel Aviv, now at the end of the centennial year celebrations, is renowned for its rich cultural scene, especially in the world of dance. The festival will showcase over 200 dancers in 34 different productions ranging from ethnic and modern to classic and flamenco. The 16 participating dance companies come from Israel, USA, Spain, Holland, China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Australia.

Within the framework of The Chinese Experience, a month long tribute to Chinese culture in Israel on the occasion of 60 years of the Chinese Republic and Tel Aviv’s centennial, several Far Eastern dance companies will perform: the 100 strong China Disabled People’s Performing Arts Troupe (17-18 October), the Beijing Modern Dance Company (22-23 October in Tel Aviv; 24 Oct in Haifa) and Shang Chi-Sun from Taiwan in a dance duet (24-25 Oct).

Ohad Naharin, the internationally-acclaimed Artistic Director of the Tel-Aviv based Batsheva Dance Company, will stage two productions: Hora, with eleven dancers always on stage (27 Oct) and Mamootot, one of Batsheva;s most unique and ground-breaking pieces first created in 2003 (31 Oct and 1-4 Nov). Following the success of his premier Monger at last year’s Tel Aviv Dance, choreographer Barak Marshall will premier his dance-theater piece for 12 dancers entitled Rooster at the Suzanne Dellal Center on 12-13 November.

The Ballet Nacional de Espana will perform La Leyanda/Aires de Villa Y Corte – a homage to Spain’s rich dance and musical heritage – on 3-7 November. Japan, Israel and Spain come together on stage in a joint production on 7 November premiere. The Hubbard Street Dance Chicago company, one of the most original forces in American contemporary dance, will perform a production with 22 dancers (28,29,31 Oct).

The full production list appears on the websites: http://www.suzannedellal.org.il/ and http://www.israel-opera.co.il/

The festival, a joint initiative of the Suzanne Dellal Center, the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center and the Tel Aviv Municipality, also includes dance workshops and master classes under the direction of visiting artistes and dancers and with the participation of dancers from dance schools around the country. The performances will be concentrated in two cultural venues in Tel Aviv-Jaffa: the Suzanne Dellal Center in Tel Aviv's Neve Tzedek neighborhood and the Opera House – Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, and two venues in Haifa: Rappaport House and the Krieger Center.

THE 11TH YOAV YEHUDA WINE FESTIVAL

15 October 2009

THE 11TH YOAV YEHUDA WINE FESTIVAL
16 -30 OCTOBER 2009

The 11th Yoav Yehuda Wine Festival takes place this year from 16-30 October, with a full program of events and tastings in the area’s 27 wineries, including the main event at Ein Hemed National Park, just outside Jerusalem, on Thursday and Friday, 29 and 30 October 2009. The region, which has been renowned for wine-making for some 3000 years, is made up of several different wine-growing areas. The Yoav Yehuda Wine Route includes all the area's wineries, including many that have sprung up in the area in the past decade and produce some of the country's finest wines, many of them with kosher certification.

The main event of the festival, which will take place in the Ein Hemed National Park on Thursday, 29 October (from 19:00) and Friday 30 October (from 10:00 – 16:00), will include the opportunity to sample the wines of 25 participating wineries, meet the wine-makers, enjoy local arts and crafts, a food fair and enjoy South American-inspired music. Wineries participating in the festival include, among others, Clos de Gat, Castel, Sorek, Ella Valley, Flam, Tzuba, Tzora, Teperberg, Sea Horse, Latrun, Nachshon and Hamasrek. The 60 NIS entrance fee includes a glass for the tastings.

The first Wine Run will take place on 30 October, taking participants on a 18k run in the Ayalon Valley past vineyards, almond tree orchards and the Nachshon, Clos de Gat and Latrun wineries. The event will commence from the entrance to Kibbutz Nachshon, near Latrun, at 08:00. Participants can also choose shorter routes of 3 and 5 kms. Prizes will be awarded for the two longer runs. Registration (for a fee) at www.shvoong.co.il or tel 972 52 7250865.

Throughout the festival, the wineries of the Yoav Yehuda wine route will be open to the public, each one offering tastings, tours, wine launches and the possibility to meet the people behind the wines.

The public is also invited to visit the studios of the many artists and craftsmen working in the Ella Valley region and participate in workshops (advance reservation necessary) – everything from jewelry and ceramics to shoe-making and sculpture. Many of the villages in the Wine Route are offering concerts and musical events from 17-31 October. Two- hour free guided hikes are also available on Fridays and Saturdays (10:00 and 14:00), with advance registration from the KKL (1-800-350-550).

Yoav Yehuda Tourism Authority: www.touryoav.org.il

LARGEST-EVER COLLECTION OF COINS FROM BAR-KOKHBA

LARGEST-EVER COLLECTION OF COINS FROM BAR-KOKHBA
REVOLT FOUND BY CAVE RESEARCHERS IN JUDEAN HILLS

The largest cache of rare coins ever found in a scientific excavation from the period of the Bar-Kokhba revolt of the Jews against the Romans has been discovered in a cave by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Bar-Ilan University. The treasure, discovered in three batches in a deep cavern located in a nature reserve in the Judean hills, includes gold, silver and bronze coins, as well as some pottery and weapons.

The discovery was made in the framework of a comprehensive cave research and mapping project being carried out by Boaz Langford and Prof. Amos Frumkin of the Cave Research Unit in the Department of Geography at the Hebrew University, along with Dr. Boaz Zissu and Prof. Hanan Eshel of the Martin (Szusz) Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University, and with the support of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

About 120 coins were discovered within a cave to which access is possible only via a narrow opening that was uncovered many years ago by Dr. Gideon Mann, one of the early cave explorers in modern Israel. The opening led to a small chamber which in turn opens into a hall that served as a hiding place for the Jewish fighters of Bar-Kokhba.

Most of the discovered coins are in excellent condition and were overstruck as rebels' coins on top of Roman coins. The new imprints show Jewish images and words (for example: the facade of the Temple in Jerusalem and the slogan For the freedom of Jerusalem). Original gold, silver and bronze Roman coins of the period minted elsewhere in the Roman Empire or in the Land of Israel were also found.

Bar-Kokhba coins of this quality and quantity have never before been discovered in one location by researchers in the Land of Israel, although over the years antiquities looters have found and sold large numbers of coins from this period. Prof. Frumkin points out the significance of this particular cave, owing to its size, its proximity to Betar, and the large collection of coins found there. Ancient Betar was the site of the “last stand” of the rebels led by Bar-Kokhba in their struggle against Roman rule in Judea from 132-35 CE.

“This discovery verifies the assumption that the refugees of the revolt fled to caves in the center of a populated area in addition to the caves found in more isolated areas of the Judean Desert,” said Prof. Frumkin. He also noted that the discovery adds significantly to our knowledge of the Bar-Kokhba revolt, about which there is not a great deal of historical information.

Dr. Zissu points out that one of the fascinating aspects of the Bar-Kokhba revolt is the intensive use of the rebels and Jewish refugees of natural and man-made caves as hiding and refuge places in the face of extensive Roman search-and-destroy missions. Those who fled to the caves took with them food, weapons, drinks, coins and various documents. Sometimes they even took with them the keys to their houses that they abandoned in the hope that one day they would be able to return to them.

Apparently, the people who left behind the cache of coins that has now been found did so during the period of the revolt, following their flight from their homes or from battle with the Romans; however they were unable to return to their hiding place to recover their valuables.

ABOUT 8000 CHRISTIAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES IN JERUSALEM

1 October 2009

ABOUT 8000 CHRISTIAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES IN JERUSALEM

About 8000 Christian friends of Israel from about 100 countries around the world, including the heads of Evangelical Christian communities, will participate in the Christian Feast of Tabernacle, 2-8 October 2009. The festival, which this year carries the slogan “The Tabernacle of David” and is celebrating its 30th anniversary, is sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem with assistance from the Ministry of Tourism.

Thousands of pilgrims will visit Israel from 2-8 October for the Feast of Tabernacles celebration in Jerusalem, a week long program of seminars and teaching. Participants come from tens of countries including Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Austria, India, Italy, Nigeria and more. Large groups of pilgrims will arrive from Brazil (more than 1000), Finland and Norway.

In addition to visiting sites around the country, the participants will join in the traditional and colorful Jerusalem March on 6 October, in which thousands of Israelis join the visiting tourists and pilgrims as they march through the Jerusalem countryside and streets.

The thousands of pilgrims that will stay for over a week in Israel are expected to contribute about 56,000 tourist nights in hotels around the country and the overall income will be between $16-18 million.

Three Border Marathon 2009

Three Border Marathon 2009

The municipality of Eilat, Eilot Regional Council and Hapoel are glad to invite you to take part in the Three Border Marathon, 10 km race, 3 km race and 5 km popular parade.

The race will start at "BIG" Commercial center.
Arrival from the north, via road no. 90 – Arava road: Take a right to Sheshet Hayamim blvd. and to Hasavar st. Arrival from the south – through the city of Eilat – Arava road: Take a left to Sheshet Hayamim blvd, and to Hasavar st.

Parking available at the BIG parking lot, free of charge!

Early distribution of participation kits and late registration for the races at Sport Hotel, Eilat on Thursday, 15/10/09, 10:00 – 19:00.
Distribution of participants kits on the morning of the race at the Big center, starting at 05:30. Distribution point will close at 06:45.
NO REGISTRATION ON THE DAY OF THE RACE!!
Track map enclosed!

TIME TABLE
Thursday 15/10/09
20:30 – 23:00: Gala reception and Pasta dinner (70 nis p.p.)
Friday 16/10/09
05:30 – 06:45: Distribution of participation kits, BIG center, Eilat
07:00 – start of Marathon
07:15 – start of "Dekel Hatom" 10 km race
07:45 – start of 3 km race and 5 km parade
10:30 – awards ceremony

PARTICIPATION AND TIME LIMIT
- - All participants in marathon, 10km and 3km races must sign a health waiver upon registration
- - Runners under 18 must have a parent's signature
- - Runners of the marathon must have a personal accident insurance (Due to the sports law)
- - Runners of the marathon must have a valid argometric health test.(Due to the sports law). Tests will be conducted in Eilat on 15/10/09. PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCE via registration office. Cost: 100 nis.
- - Measured 3km race is open to ages 14 and up. Popular 3km race: age 10 and up.
- - The marathon track will close after 4 hours.












EVENTS
- Various activities and attractions for children will take place at BIG center
- Expo and stands of sports equipment at BIG center
- Demonstration of sports activities and dancing at BIG center
the races - Entertainment and shows during
- Pasta dinner for race participants (70 nis p.p) –


AWARDS
- Each runner will receive a Three Border Marathon t-shirt

- - Each runner will receive a souvenir medal
-
- Money prize for the marathon winner! -

- Electronic certificate + a picture can be downloaded at: www.4sport.co.il

: AGE CATEGORIES


Women
Men

Women
Men
10km,3km
14-19
14-19
Marathon

Women-General
Men-General
10km,3km
Women-General
Men-General
Marathon
women 35-44
Men 40-44
10km,3km
women 35-44
Men 40-44
Marathon
women 45-54
Men 45-49
10km,3km
women 45-54
Men 45-49
Marathon
women 55-59
Men 50-54
10km,3km
women 55-59
Men 50-54
Marathon
women over 60
Men 55-59
10km,3km
women over 60
Men 55-59
Marathon

Men 60-64
10km,3km

Men 60-64
Marathon

Men 65-69
10km,3km

Men 65-69
Marathon

Men over 70
10km,3km

Men over 70















REMARKS
The 3 first finishers in all categories will be awarded with medals. (One category only p.p.).

Note – awards will be handled only to categories includes at least 3 runners.
The steering committee can unite or separate age categories for men / women.

ISRAEL TOURISM VETERAN, ELIEZER HOD, APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF ISRAEL GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE, WESTERN USA

PRESS RELEASE
ISRAEL TOURISM VETERAN, ELIEZER HOD, APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF ISRAEL GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE, WESTERN USA
New York - September 30, 2009: One of Israel's most seasoned tourism professionals has been appointed Director of the Israel Government Tourist Office (IGTO) in the Western USA, says Arie Sommer, Israel Tourism Commissioner, North America. "I am delighted to welcome Eliezer back to the U.S.," commented Sommer, "and I know he will do a super job in this vital region of the country, not only with the traditional sources of travelers, but particularly in the Hispanic and Christian markets." The appointment to Los Angeles is Eliezer Hod's fourth overseas posting. From 1979 to 1984, he served in Paris as director of the IGTO for France, Spain and Belgium. From 1989 to 1993, he was based in Atlanta as director of the IGTO in the Southern USA, and from 1995 to 1999, he served in London as the director of the IGTO in the UK and Ireland. Born in Spanish Morocco, Eliezer Hod immigrated to Israel at the age of 15. He earned his B.A. degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, majoring in world history and the history of Islamic countries. He joined the Ministry of Tourism in 1972. Prior to his most recent appointment, he was based at the headquarters of the Ministry in Jerusalem where in the post of Director of Product Development, Mr. Hod was in charge of the ministry's publications and its involvement in international travel trade exhibitions in Israel and around the world. Married with three children, Eliezer Hod has received multiple awards in Israel and internationally in the field of tourism, and he is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Hebrew. "In 2008, more Americans than ever before visited Israel, and despite the global economic downturn, travel to Israel has been only marginally impacted," says Hod. "I am excited to be charged with increasing even further the number of residents of the western states who come to Israel."For more information, visit www.goisrael.com.
`
Media contacts:
Mark Liebermann at WEILL Gail Barzilay at the Israel Ministry of TourismE-mail: mliebermann@geoffreyweill.com E-mail: gailbarzilay@imot.org
Tel: 1-866-PR-WEILL Tel: 212-499-5647Joe Diaz Julie Cooper Israel Ministry of Tourism - Southern Region Israel Ministry of Tourism - Midwest RegionE-mail: joediaz@imot.org E-mail: juliec@imot.orgTel: 404-541-2770 Tel: 312-803-7077Dan ManorIsrael Ministry of Tourism - Western RegionE-mail: danm@imot.orgTel: 323-658-7463
ISRAEL GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICES ◦ NORTH AMERICA New York ◦ Director: Michal Itzik◦ 212-499-5651Atlanta ◦ Director: Joe Diaz ◦ 404-541-2770Chicago ◦ Director: Uri Steinberg ◦ 312-803-7080Los Angeles ◦ Director: Eliezer Hod ◦ 323-658-7463Canada ◦ Director: Oded Grofman ◦ 416-964-3784
Geoffrey Weill AssociatesInformational material is disseminated on behalf of the Israel Ministry of Tourism. Additional information available at the Department of Justice

IMAGES 2009 COMPETITION

30 September 2009


DIVERS WORLDWIDE CHOOSE THE FISH OF THE YEAR
IN THE EPSON RED SEA WORLD OF UNDERWATER IMAGES 2009 COMPETITION

In advance of the Epson Red Sea 2009 Eilat Shoot Out competition, which will be held in Eilat on the Red Sea from 9-14 November 2009, divers worldwide are invited to vote online for the Fish of the Year of Epson Red Sea 2009 on the competition website (http://www.eilatredsea.com/)

Five fish will feature on the website as nominees, along with professional credentials delivered by an expert team that consists of 5 marine biology professors, each representing a different fish-nominee. Voting will begin on 1 November.

During the three days of the Epson Red Sea 2009 World of Underwater Images competition, the selected Fish of the Year will serve as a “case study” for all photographers participating in the “Winning & Donating” category, representing different websites and magazines from all over the world. The winner will be the one who submits the most creative, original, professional and diverse portfolio of the Fish of the Year .

The competition is broken down into seven categories, with prizes starting at $10,000 plus a three week diving trip for two to Papua New Guinea for the winner of the Best Five Images. Accomodation packages are available for competitors and a program of events includes parties, film screenings and more.

Eilat on the Red Sea, Israel's southernmost resort, enjoys year round sunshine and offers the visitor unique natural attractions, including the Coral Reef Nature Reserve, one of the world's finest diving spots. Other tourist attractions include the Underwater Observatory and the Dolphin Reef, watersports, desert safaris and attractions, the nearby Timna Park and Hai Bar Nature Reserve, as well as excellent shopping, entertainment and restaurants.

Further information and registration relating to the competition can be accessed at http://www.eilatredsea.com/ .

ENORMOUS 3,700 YEAR OLD FORTIFICATION EXPOSED IN THE CITY OF DAVID

ENORMOUS 3,700 YEAR OLD FORTIFICATION
EXPOSED IN THE CITY OF DAVID

A huge fortification more than 3,700 years old, which is ascribed to the Canaanites (Middle Bronze Age 2), was uncovered in archaeological excavations the Israel Antiquities Authority is currently conducting in the Walls Around Jerusalem National Park in the City of David, with funding provided by the Ir David Foundation.

According to the excavation directors, Professor Ronny Reich of the University of Haifa and Eli Shukron on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, this is the first discovery in Jerusalem of such a massive construction that predates the Herodian period: “This is the most massive wall that has ever been uncovered in the City of David, and it rises to a height of 8 meters. The walls appear to be a protected, well-fortified passage that descends to the spring tower from some sort of fortress that stood at the top of the hill. The construction of a protected passage such as this is a plausible solution that explains the innate contradiction of the situation whereby the spring – which is a source of life from the standpoint of the fortress’ inhabitants in time of emergency – is located in the weakest and most vulnerable place in the area.”

During this period Jerusalem and the fields around it were an independent political entity with self-rule, similar to its neighbors Shechem to the north and Jericho to the east. Massive walls resembling the one that was just exposed in Jerusalem are known from Canaanite Hebron (Tel Rumeida), Shechem (Tell Balata) and Gezer.

The known section of the fortification is 24 meters long; however, it is thought the fortification is much longer because it continues west beyond the part that was exposed, at the top of the hillside. Professor Reich adds, “The new discovery shows that the picture regarding Jerusalem’s eastern defenses and the ancient water system in the Middle Bronze Age 2 is still far from clear. Despite the fact that so many have excavated on this hill, there is a very good chance that extremely large and well-preserved architectural elements are still hidden in it and waiting to be uncovered”.