Gotta love New York. The never-ending nightlife, the great food, the rich cultural diversity, and the green puddles on the street corners.
Wait…what?
You know you’ve seen them. Probably stepped into them accidentally, much to your own chagrin. Wouldn’t it be nice to get rid of those things?

Much has been made of the issue of environmental protection of late. We talk all the time now about global warming, hybrid cars, alternative sources of energy, and all of that. With gas prices fluctuating and in the aftermath of events like Hurricane Katrina, the environment is definitely a more central issue than ever before. That said, the question remains: how do we get people to care and actually do something different, instead of just talking? How do we make environmental protection something people actually care about and do something about?

We are all waiting for Beit HaBubot USA tour during winter 2007.

Beit HaBubot is one of the most popular new bands in Israeli today, Beit HaBubot, which translates as ‘The Dollhouse’, owe their success to an unconventional route towards popularity. Amir Atias and Itay Shiff, the heart of ‘Beit Habubot’, met during high school. After their military service they recorded a few demos and went on a 3 month trip in South America. They packed 2 CDs with the demos and took the guitars with them.

During their travels they played their songs to other Israelis they met along the way, who immediately asked for copies of the CD. In no time dozens of CD were passed to other travelers, making them the first fans of Beit Habubot. These CDs made their way to Brazil, India, Australia, Japan, Argentina and other places Itay and Amir have never been to.

“Omanut” in hebrew means “Art”, and it is Israeli works which are being displayed and utilized in Israel Art & Life 1906-2006 a new project in Italy, which intends to realize the widest Israeli art exhibition ever organized, on the occasion of the celebration of its birth centenary. The exhibition includes 100 years of Israeli art and culture - since 1906, date of the opening of the Bezalel Academy of Art in Jerusalem - till the contemporary art of the young generations.

As their website says:

Like every important artistic expression is a witness of the time, the place and the society, Israeli art as well is radically connected with the existential situation of the country and its people, and with its creation and development. Therefore it is possible to define Israeli art as an existential art.

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Ziv Eitan is an Israeli marimba and percussion soloist. In the clip above he leads the performance “A Journey Into the Rhythm” . He is an exceptionally talented Israeli musician and a virtuoso without limits. Yoad Nir, the accomplished cellist, and Yoni Givoni, the percussionist, play together with him.

The performance consists of international pieces that were written by prominent Israeli composers (Gil Shohat, Josef Bardanashvili, Ronen Shapira, Ronen Hoffman, Tzach Drory, et al.) – alongside pieces written by Japanese, European and American composers (Bach, Rimsky-Korsakov, Minoro Miki, et al.),

I believe it is quite safe to say that there is no other nation that takes absolute pride in her language and wines than the French. French is a sophisticated language, the language of diplomacy for centuries and yes, southern France, in particular, has some of the best wineries in the world. But over the last few decades, other countries, Israel being among them, are mastering the art of winery and doing a rather good job at it. Israeli wines have been welcomed in the US, in Canada, in European countries.

But lately, I have been very pleasantly surprised by the fact that more and more Israeli wines and finding their way into the fancy and elaborate wine lists of high end French restaurants…

Coming live to the Harris Theater at Millennium Park, Chicago November 24th and 25th is the Israeli group, SHEKETAK. A combo of dance, body percussion, tap, hip-hop, live music and a new universe of sites and sounds that has gained worldwide praise.

SHEKETAK, often referred to as Israel’s answer to STOMP, is going to Chicago as part of Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Global Rhythms 2, an event that focuses on our similarities rather than our differences through the basic human impulse of rhythmic movement.

Got to love this story we found in Ynet about American Idol’s Paula Abdul, and how she gushed over Israel’s tourist minister when he suggested a trip to Israel with the possibility of finding her a nice Jewish man whilst she is there…

Israeli minister offers Paula Abdul trip to Israel, and husband while she is at it.

Abdul ready for a nice Jewish ’shidduch’ as suggested by Tourist Minister Isaac Herzog who appeared with her on American Idol

The well known singer and dancer Paula Abdul, who recently revealed that she is Jewish, will be coming to Israel during the Hanukkah festival as the guest of Tourist Minister Isaac Herzog. Abdul’s host also offered to make a “shidduch” for her during her visit.

Stephen Hawking, I dare say, the most renowned physicist alive and author of the best selling book “A Brief History of Time, Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays” that brought physics close to the masses, is going to visit Israel in December.

In an initiative put together by the British Embassy, according to the Yediot Ahronot newspaper, Hawking is scheduled to meet with top Israeli scientists as well as Israeli youth interested in studying physics in an effort to encourage greater cooperation between Israelis and British scientists and researchers. Upon arrival, Hawking will also meet with the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Every year around this time, when the seasons begin to change, or stagnate due to global warming, I begin to reminisce about the surf in Israel.

This video was shot in Haifa, and as you can see, the surf’s not huge but these guys ride it hard. Ahhh, there’s nothing like home.

The Govenator bestowed the Media Access Award to the director and producers of Israeli documentary 39 Pounds of Love last month. We know that we’re a bit late with this news, but whatever, it’s still cool.

Below is the press release from the guys at 39, and if you want to know more about the film, and Ami’s inspirational story click here.

Release

39 Pounds of Love has received a double honor from Hollywood. On October 11, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences screened the film as part of its annual series saluting their choice of outstanding documentaries from the previous year. And on October 15, 39 Pounds of Love was presented with a Media Access Award.