Pesach Holidays

Do you think a life time is passing too slowly? Time like a watch is always too fast or too slow. But as to me, now I think the time life is passing too fast. Therefore one should try to make the most of today, gets interested in something he loves, shakes himself awake, developing a hobby, meeting with friends, traveling at last, letting the winds of enthusiasm sweep through.

Pesach is coming. This year, the most important Jewish holidays begin at sundown on Wednesday April 8 and ends at nightfall on Thursday April Wednesday April 15. Many people, young especially, try to use the seven days for vacations and Cuba Holidays is a winner on the way. No wonder that spending Pesach in Cuba hotels has become more and more popular in Israel. This small Caribbean country offers a wide range of services suited to any tastes and interests including cigar and golf tours, salsa trips, fly fishing, diving, birdwatching and more providing kosher restaurants, synagogues and kosher hotels to spend your holyday with a great comfort.

Best Cultural Events October 2008 in Israel

1. Hafia – International movie festival 14-21 -
haifaff.co.il/index.php

2. The Date festival (Not dating, dates-those you eat) 15-18 – deadsea.co.il

3. Dancesport festival – dancing 24-25 – maltar.org.il

4. The Acco Festival Of Alternative Israeli Theatre 15-19/10/2008 – accofestival.co.il/

5. Olives and olive oil, from 30 October for 3 weeks -galil.gov.il

6. Annual Taybeh Oktober Fest – 11th-12th October. This is a Christian Palestinian village just a twenty minute drive from Jerusalem also you can test there a truly gourmet beer. Anyway great beer is available at wonderful wine stores, pubs also in Israel of course.

7. Opera’s greatest hits (Aida, Tosca, La boheme, Carmen) side by side with the Israeli premiere of The Cunning Little Vixen (Janacek) and Mefistofele (Boito). A festve season for the 100th anniversary of Tel Aviv!

8. Daniel Ezralow Dance Company. The newest opus of Israeli choreographer Daniel Ezralow is a portrayal of ourselves

9. World of Classics Festival returns to the Opera House in October
A Weekend of Music with artists from Slovenia, Spain and Austria
and more and more…

He has got it!

Israeli sportsman Shahar Tzuberi wins his first Olympic medal in Beijing Olimpic Games after ranking third in men’s RS:X windsurfing sail. He won an Olympic bronze medal Wednesday, after finishing his 10th RS:X windsurfing sail at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in third place. Olympic RS:X gold went to New Zealand’s Tom Ashley, with France taking the silver.

The 19-year-old surfer from Eilat was considered one of the Israeli Olympic team’s best hopes for a medal, Israel News reports. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was among the first to congratulate Tzuberi after his triumph. “You have no idea how excited we all are for you,” he told the 19-year-old.

This is Israel’s third Olympic sailing medal. Israeli sailor Gal Fridman won the bronze medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the gold at the 2004 Athens Games.
Tzuberi’s teammate Maayan Davidovitz finished her 10th and last RS:X windsurfing sail in the sixth place, ranking 10th overall.

Happy Hanukkah!

Jewish holiday Hanukkah is also called Festival of Lights. The festive occasion have began at sundown last night, and we’d like to wish our Jewish friends a very Happy Hanukkah.

Hanukkah’s a happy time,
Its candles burning bright,
Its dreidels spinning,laughter, singing,
Gifts that bring delight.
Hanukkah’s a special time,
For loving wishes too,
For all the good and happy things
That mean the most to you.

Splendid Canaries.

There is no secret that Israelis love to travel very much. Every Israeli wants to travel. And it does not matter for how long three days or three years: all they want to be out. Young people, upon release from the army and before returning to study in the university, prefer to get typical Israeli travels to Thailand or India or South America, wearing long hair or Indian shawl pants or various other foreign accessories. Older generations are infected with the travel bug too and their typical travel is Scotland, North America, Spain and of course Canaries Islands. And there is no wonder because beautiful Canaries mountains and volcanoes, beaches and forests, a tropical rainforest, tiny villages and breathtaking views there is much to see and to rest among beauty and peace in this splendid place, to say nothing of such great fun as Fiesta del Carmen, the celebrations that you will never forget.

The atmosphere of warm hospitality accompanies you through the trip. A couple days ago, I called some close family friends and spoke to Miriam, the mother:
“I haven’t talked to you in a couple of weeks—how are you?” I ask.
“Fine,” she responds.
“What’s news?”
Miriam replies, “We have just came back from a week in Canaries, it was wonderful!”

That is deal!

Jewish Wedding Rings

Since we’ve started to talk about Jewish wedding it would be advisable to tell you about wedding rings as well. I remember that in one of my most favorite movie “Fiddler on the Roof” the older women have their rings on their right ring finger. But when the oldest daughter gets married, the ring is put on her index finger. Did you notice it? When Jewish men marry, they truly place the ring on the index finger of the right hand. Afterwards, most women move it to the customary “ring finger” of the left hand.

What is the ulterior meaning of the ritual? The answer goes back into the time of the Talmud and the differences in beliefs at that time about which finger is closer or more direct to the heart: Christianity taught the ring finger but Judaism taught the index finger. Of course the heart like the truth is essentially in the middle anyway.
What about message and word jewelry this is not prohibited at all because names, words, messages, and dates are part of every couple’s romantic life, and some are simply too important to be forgotten. So one can use any message he wants from words of divine till words of love and warm wishes.

Jewish wedding

A traditional Jewish wedding as any other ceremony that celebrated the beginning of a marriage is full of meaningful rituals, symbolizing the beauty of the relationship of husband and wife, as well as their obligations to each other and to the Jewish people.
The following guide explains the beauty and joy of these the Jewish wedding traditions.

In Jewish tradition the wedding day is the happiest and holiest day, the tradition likens the couple to a queen and king. This day of Wedding is considered a personal Yom Kippur for the chatan (Hebrew for groom) and kallah (bride), for on this day all their past mistakes are forgiven as they merge into a new, complete soul.

As on Yom Kippur, both the chatan and kallah fast (in this case, from dawn until after the completion of the marriage ceremony). And at the ceremony, the chatan wears a kittel, the traditional white robe worn on Yom Kippur.

It is customary for the chatan and kallah not to see each other for one week preceding the wedding. This increases the anticipation and excitement of the event. Therefore, prior to the wedding ceremony, the chatan and kallah greet guests separately. This is called “Kabbalat Panim.”

The kallah will be seated on a “throne” to receive her guests, while the chatan is surrounded by guests who sing and toast him.

Rosh haShana. Hag Sameah!

The Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah is coming. The celebration takes place in the month of Tishri and commemorates the anniversary of Creation. It is on this day that G-d opens the Book of Life and observes his creatures, deciding their fate for the coming year. The Jewish New Year is a time for reflection, repentence and judgement commemorating the anniversary of Creation.
Here is Rosh Hashanah original postcard with a best wishes happy new year to all of you.

Tel Aviv’s “White Night”

There are a lot of events in Tel Aviv now. One can really feel the taste of summer. The legendary French singer Juliette Greco will give a single concert in frame of international festival “White Night” in Tel Aviv.

The seven Vivanco brothers – Elias, Judah, Israel, Aaron, Josua, Cristo and Josua – will go on atage at the Israel Festival with flamenco.
“Nights of whote satin” following UNESCO’s declaration of our city as a world Heritage Site, the “White Nights” tradition underway. The annual event started as an all-right celebration of Tel Aviv’s international Style architecture and include films, music, talks, walks and what not.