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- Written by Silvia Golan & Stephen Abrahams
Following Argentinian President's visit in June 2024 to Israel, Marcos Ayala the world's greatest Tango virtuoso and choreographer will host 13 concerts in Israel entitled "De Tango y Sombras".
Marcos decided to visit Israel moved by his deep love, support and commitment for Israel.
His new production "De Tango y Sombras" transcends the boundaries of classical Tango and incorporates theatrical elements aimed catering for the general public seeking an extraordinary, immersive and profound cultural experience with a difference.
From the 24th of November till the 7th of December 2025, P.K.G. Productions will host 13 performances of De Tango y Sombras at the Tel Aviv Opera and at other cultural centres throughout the country.
Tango is an art form that reconnects the audience with emotion, warmth and passion with its unique sound, choreography and rhythm awakening the heart of every spectator in the audience with a feeling of melancholic nostalgia, and hope. The production has been considered by critics as one of the most powerful and exciting Tango shows produced for the stage. The theatrical and immersive staging of this production combines virtuosity, a fascinating love story, dramatic lighting and moving music promising to keep the audience on edge with an open heart.
A poetic journey between light and darkness inspired by the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone who are central figures depicting the change of seasons in which strong characters, inner worlds and emotional struggles intertwine.
Tango in all its shades serves as the stage from the sensual to the melancholic and the choreography depicts a human story of longing, devotion, limits and the soul. The dancers, soloists and musicians create a moving visual spectacle in which every step and movement conveys meaning.
Today Marcos Ayala is considered as the a leader in the world of tango both as a dancer, choreographer, and artistic director. In 2006 he won the World Tango Championship in Japan, two Latin ACE awards in New York where he lives and works and was invited to create Cirque du Soleil, a stunning show of acromagic and visuals that explore the imagination. He is acclaimed by critics and audiences throughout the world as the best in Tango.
Shows will take place at The Meir Nazan Centre for Culture and Arts in Rishon LeZion, The Netanya Centre for Culture, The Rappaport Centre in Haifa, The Beersheva Performing Arts Centre, The Karmiel Centre for Culture, The Beit Ha'am Municipal Centre in Rehovot, The Ashdod Centre for Culture, The Tel Aviv Opera, The Modi'in Maccabim Reut Centre, The Kiryat Motzkin Theatre Centre, The Jerusalem Theatre and the Petach Tikva Centre for Culture.
Tickets cost between 195 - 345 Shekels for the 1 hour and 40 minutes production and can be purchased on Bravo. לרכישה בקופת בראבו >> *3221
Click on the following link for a snippet of the production. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Photos Diego S. Nucera
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- Written by Silvia Golan & Stephen Abrahams
On Thursday afternoon, 31 July 2025 a meeting of the Jewish Women's Initiative Project, a gathering was hosted at the Museum of Tolerance.
The Women's Leaders Forum was established with a clear vision to create a community of groundbreaking women serving as a beacon of inspiration and action in Israeli society. The belief in the ability and power of women to lead change, influence and create a better reality for everyone. The organisation's core values are innovation, solidarity, social responsibility and the inspiration of leadership. Through relentless action the organisation strives in its mission and this is exactly the spirit that motivates and drives it.
At the Jewish Women's Unity Initiative launch held last Thursday a tour was conducted of the "6.29 Exhibition" focusing and depicting the tragedy that occured on the 7th of October 2023 providing thought and encouraging discussion. After the exhibition's tour the delegates had a discussion in various groups with the intention of connecting, learning and deepening ties while promoting a discourse of unity and tolerance, a core value of their forum.
The guest of honour, Prof. Dr. Rene Hanania Levy ,a professor of Neuroscience at the University of Seattle accompanied by his glamorous wife launched his latest book entitled "In An Age Of Sinat Chinam".
Present were Tali Dvir Livnat, founder of the Women Leadership Forum who is also a fine artist having exhibited internationally. She also campaigns vigorously for the release of hostages held in Gaza. Dr. Aliza Lavie, a former member of Israel's parliament, a lecturer at Bar Ilan University teaching "Women in Judaism" and author of five books, a social activist and founder of "120 Women Leadership" which she founded four years ago during the social unrest which was prevalent then in Israeli society.
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Photos credit Silvia G. Golan
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On the 26th of October 2025 till the 30th of October 2025 after a two year hiatus, the Tel Aviv Fashion Week will take place featuring 28 spectacular shows of Israeli designers disseminating the latest and trendiest Israeli fashions, culture and creativity injecting inspiration and dynamism to Israel's Fashion world.
Participants include Victor Vivi Bellaish, Alon Livne, Alembika, Tovale, Yanky and Nantaf, Shai Shalom, Shahar Avnet, David Wexler, Mother of All, Gloan Taub, Noa Pasternak, Shenkar School of Fashion and Design, Aharon Ganish, Shani Shemer and Kian Frankfurt. Upcoming and emerging designers who will participate for the first time are Mirza, Liel Yamin, Yaron Minkowski, Idan Laros and many more new trendsetting designers.
Motty Reif, Tel Aviv Fashion Week's founder and executive producer stated "I am proud and excited to bring back Fashion Week now, at a time when we all need hope, culture and vision. After two challenging years, the power of blue and white creations are evident to us - not only aesthetically but humanely and socially. Fashion Week has always represented an idea more than clothes itself, it infuses life, gives hope and connects communities, hearts and dreams".
He added that "Israeli Design is synonymous to a beating heart defining us as a society, culture and creative force. I consider this task as a mission and a moral obligation to provide designers the appropriate stage to present, influence and lead. As a society, this week is our opportunity to pause and celebrate the genepool of local talent existing in Israel. I consider fashion to be manifested in all sizes, and ages and do not want the same models as there are different sizes for different women".
Tel Aviv Fashion Week promises to be an interesting event not to be missed.
Photography: Haydon Perrior – Runway Photography / Eran Levy – Model Photography by Vivi Blaish / Lens Productions / Silvia Golan
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KKL-JNF Opens New Visitor Center and Café at Sataf Forest in the Jerusalem Hills
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) has inaugurated the new Sataf Visitor Center, a leading educational and tourism attraction in the Jerusalem Hills. The site features an advanced information center, a scenic observation deck, outdoor classrooms, and a boutique French-style bakery and patisserie, “The Sataf.”
The hub was designed to make the historical and agricultural heritage of Sataf accessible to visitors, while offering a unique leisure and culinary experience amid the breathtaking landscapes of the Jerusalem mountains.
Inside the center, visitors will find visually engaging information panels along the corridor leading to the observation deck. These panels present details about KKL-JNF’s work, the uniqueness of the site, its ancient agricultural terraces, traditional crops, and hiking trail maps. All information is provided in Hebrew, Arabic, and English. An open-air classroom overlooking the panoramic view allows groups to gather for briefings before heading out on the trails. The entire site is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities.
Adjacent to the center is “The Sataf,” an artisan bakery-patisserie offering French pastries, local wines, and countryside-inspired dishes. Guests can enjoy seating with spectacular views or take a picnic basket to-go. From the bakery, a short walking trail winds through natural woodland, ancient terraces, and orchards, leading to Ein Bikura, a historic spring where visitors can wade through clear waters and walk inside a carved tunnel dating back to the Roman period - an immersive experience blending nature, history, and refreshment.
The Sataf Forest Hub was built following principles of local and ecological architecture, incorporating sustainable elements such as an integrated solar roof connected to the national grid, a green roof for improved thermal insulation without irrigation, and underground drainage systems to manage runoff and enrich the soil. These features minimize environmental impact and ensure the hub blends naturally into the mountainous landscape.
The Sataf site, covering approximately 1,000 dunams (250 acres), preserves the traditional agricultural landscape of the Jerusalem Hills, including two natural springs - Ein Sataf and Ein Bikura. Since 1985, KKL-JNF has worked to restore ancient terraces and irrigation systems as part of an effort to conserve agricultural heritage and make it accessible to the public.
The site is also home to the “Bustanof” project, an initiative where individuals can cultivate small plots and become part of an active environmental community.
For decades, KKL-JNF Switzerland has been a committed partner in the preservation and development of the Sataf site. Their support, alongside that of other international donors, has been instrumental in bringing the new Visitor Center and forest hub to life—reflecting the deep connection between the global Jewish community and Israel’s natural and historical treasures.
In recent months, KKL-JNF’s Jerusalem region has faced major wildfires, which were managed professionally by the organization’s dedicated teams. KKL-JNF continues to monitor the area and prepare for the summer season to ensure visitors' safety and preserve the forest landscape.
KKL-JNF Chairwoman Ifat Ovadia-Luski, stated: “The new Sataf Forest Hub is a living example of the connection between nature, history, and community. We continue to preserve the heritage of the Jerusalem Hills while creating experiences that invite the public to explore, learn, and enjoy - all while protecting the environment and ensuring accessibility for all visitors.”
President of KKL-JNF Switzerland, Arthur Plotke, added: “Sataf is a magical place close to Jerusalem that holds a special place in our hearts. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, this Visitor Center stands as a symbol of sustainable development and deep connection to the land. It invites every visitor to embark on a journey through history, nature, and community.”
Opening Hours: Sunday–Saturday, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM (extended hours coming soon)
Location: Sataf – Upper Parking Lot (Waze)
Kosher: All pastries are kosher-certified; the site is open on Shabbat
Accessibility: Fully accessible to the public
Photos Lior Avitan
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An exhibition celebrating the enduring bond between the people of Israel and the natural world, as reflected through science, literature, music, and art curated by Tsila Hayun, Neta Asaf and Karine Shabtai at the National Library of Israel.
The National Library is in full bloom. Hidden among the pages and collections are countless flowers represented in stories and poems, in ornamental patterns and illustrations, in music and sound, in academic studies and in reference books. They appear in the verses of the Songs of Songs, whose protagonists are likened to flowers and whose love unfolds in nature, as well as in ancient manuscripts illuminated with a range of flowers.
This exhibition focuses on local flowers since the emergence of Zionism. Plants and flowers served as an important means of expressing the connection between the Jewish people and the land. Flowers represented the country's unique and variegated natural expanses and constituted an integral part of the Zionist educational process. The first local botanists wrote flora books and academic studies that disseminated their botanical knowledge. In doing so, they contributed to the construction of Hebrew culture and to strengthening its affinity to the land. A dedicated space within the exhibition features some of the botanical illustrations accompanying these studies. Beyond their stunning colours and compelling compositions, they faithfully capture the original plants.
In the late 19th century, pressed flowers were popular souvenirs among pilgrims and visitors to the Holy Land. Pressing flowers became a means of connecting with the landscape for Jews living both in Israel and in the diaspora. Flower - picking also became a national leisure activity which ceased following a widespread public campaign and legal regulation due to the realization that it was threatening the range of local flora with extinction.
Beyond their national and Zionist symbolism, wildflowers and cultivated flowers were also imbued with personal, emotional and relational resonances. These were expressed in poems and songs of love and beauty, alongside ones imbued with pain and mourning which were assimilated into the national canon. Israeli children were themselves likened to flowers: natural,free and full of vitality and potential for growth. Many of them spent their Saturdays and holidays walking in nature and observing flowers with their families.
The works created for this exhibition reveal the centrality of flowers as an inseparable part of local experience, memory and aesthetics.
This exhibition was made possible thanks to the generosity of Great Hill, AG Fund, Joyce and Daniel Strauss, in memory of Stephanie and Jack Gabel and Gwendolyn and Joseph Strauss. Dr. David and Jemima Jeselsohn of Zurich, Switzerland.
During the month of August, guided tours of the exhibitions will begin, offered to visitors, alongside tours of the permanent exhibition at the library. In addition, families and children will be invited to shorter, tailored tours of the exhibition, which will be integrated with the summer activity that will take place during the summer holidays: "The Secret Garden" - on the themes of flowers and nature.
To register for tours and for details about the exhibitions, visit the National Library website
Photo Rut Kopel
