Author Archives: Lee Saunders

Eurovision 2019 – Thanks for coming!

“Thank you for accepting differences between us,” cried Israel’s Netta Barzilai as she won last year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon. Just twelve months since her catchy tune Toy landed the top prize, Israel delighted the thousands of visitors for Eurovision week, and hundreds of thousands tuning in from all over the world.

Left: The official logo of Eurovision 2019. Right: A display model made of toys, as a Netta Barzilai’s character, which was placed at Charles Clore Park by the artist Nirit Levav Packer.

Of course, this wasn’t Israel’s first time hosting the Eurovision; it was home to the 1979 and 1999 contests, and in fact won by Israel four times in the 63-year history of the contest.

But those shows, which had fewer than 25 countries involved, cannot begin to compare to this years show where 41 countries battled it out for this year’s title! The Tel Aviv Fairgrounds’ convention center, or Expo Tel Aviv, played host to the extravaganza, across eight pavilions. The 5,000 square meter Pavilion 1 was the colossal Green Room for Eurovision contestants, with the main event taking place in Pavilion 2 to a 7,000-strong crowd.

Tel Aviv’s Eurovision celebrations was also mentioned at the Jaffa’s Clock Square, which is not far from The Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv. Drone Photo credit: Yosi Vaknin

Fans flocked to take pictures and selfies at the opening ceremony’s Orange Carpet in the city’s Habima Square. Located at the top of the tree-lined Rothschild Boulevard, this square contains major cultural institutions such as the Habima National Theatre, the Charles R. Bronfman Auditorium, home of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. On May 12th, crowds were there for different reasons and were not disappointed by the dazzling display of outfits and personalities. The Grand Finale on May 18th, was the main attraction however, when pop icon Madonna performed two songs after the final 26 countries performed for the title, eventually won by Holland.

It was throughout the colorful week that the beachfront hosted the action. The Eurovision Village at Charles Clore Park was the official fan zone right by the unofficial home of Eurovision Israel, Dan Panorama Tel Aviv, which has always been a magnet for visiting stars and fans alike. Masses meandered and mingled in the Euro-Village which was open daily from 5 p.m. Revelers were invited to enjoy live shows and performances by some of Israels top local talent as well as sample the comforting cuisine at many food stalls. There was even a fun basic Hebrew lesson for visitors to learn some of the local lingo.

The Tel Aviv Eat Festival also took place at the same time in a separate and adjacent compound, with visitors able to taste some of the most delicious dishes by Tel Aviv’s celebrated chefs.

A taste of the Eurovision Village, held during the Eurovision week at The Charles Clore Park. Photo credit: Gal Barazani

The week saw performances by previous Eurovision superstars, such as Austria’s Conchita Wurst and Israel’s Dana International, who became the first transgender woman to win Eurovision in 1998. Three other former Eurovision Song Contest champions, Anne-Marie David (Luxembourg, 1973), Loreen (Euphoria, Sweden, 2012) and Carola Häggkvist (Sweden, 1991) performed a free concert on the boardwalk near the Tel Aviv Port accompanied also by some of Israels top talent, including Mooki. For devoted fans dance parties continued throughout the night and long into the weekend.

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A highlight for some of the actual performance was an ensemble of “Halleluyah” the winning song of Eurovision 1979, performed by Gali Atari and many of Israel’s most famous Eurovision personalities. And of course, Netta certainly took the roof off piloting in the flying entrance and many appearances through the night.

With many events and places to hang out in Tel Aviv at the best of times, the EuroCafe was set up for for fans to meet and special Eurovision viewings at the funky and creative Link Hotel & Hub, attracted visitors to hang out at the hotel’s “hub”

These were just a handful of numerous events on an electric week in the city that never sleeps. The Grande final in fact also coincided with Tel Aviv White Night, an annual all-night celebration of the city’s buzzing culture. As the sun set, party people explored the many performances and exhibitions taking place throughout the city; at the Eurovision Village, cultural centers, museums, bars and on the beach boardwalk in front of the rainbow-façade of the Dan Tel Aviv.

Sunshades designed by Eurovision 2019’s spirit, located at Jerusalem beach in Tel Aviv – The hosting city. Drone Photo credit : Yosi Vaknin

Dan Hotels certainly enjoyed the eclectic guests and stunning vibe that came along with the spirit of such an event, can’t wait till the next time.

Israel’s Whiskey in Fine Spirits

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While Scotland and Ireland have often competed for the title of the ‘birthplace of whiskey,’ this truly global spirit is finding its feet in one surprising place – Israel. Although Israelis are typically used to drinking wine on Shabbat, festivals, weddings or bar mitzvahs, a whiskey culture is maturing.

Whiskey scene in Israel is gaining speed. Thanks to Israel’s warm weather, Whiskey can be produced more quickly locally.

In recent years, much attention has focused on the success of Israel’s wine industry, which has been winning accolades and awards for many of its more than 300 wineries, such as Carmel Winery, Barkan Wine Cellars and Golan Heights Winery. In fact, beer too has come on strongly, with Netanya-based Tempo Beer Industries producing famous pale lagers, Goldstar and Maccabee, Ashkelon-based Israel Beer Breweries making the country’s Carlsberg and Tuborg labels, and smaller microbreweries springing up, like the Dancing Camel, which opened its doors in Tel Aviv in 2006.

And yet, slowly, but surely, the times and taste buds are changing. Israel’s warmer weather means that whiskey—often aged more than a decade in its traditional places of production— can be produced more quickly here. With Tel Aviv the heart of Israel’s vibrant culinary and drinking scene, it has unsurprisingly become the home of Israel’s first whiskey distillery – Milk & Honey. Set up in 2012, distillation began in 2015, with the ultimate goal is to create a local Single Malt Whiskey, which is destined to leave the barrel this year. You can enjoy a fascinating and informative tour, sample the local whiskey and learn how it is made, from the grain to the bottle.

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Israel’s first Whiskey distillery set up in 2012 – Milk & Honey.

With the visitor center welcoming 4,500 people in 2017, this number is only set to rise, as Milk & Honey CEO Eitan Attir said: “In the past five years there has been an enormous growth of whisky consumption, both worldwide and here in Israel. We are seeing a 25% growth every year. The market here is growing.” Milk & Honey
are also making a gin using unique Israeli ingredients like za’atar (local wild oregano) as well as juniper berries, lemon, orange peels, chamomile and cinnamon. This state of the art distillery is located in a quiet industrial quarter of Tel Aviv, near Jaffa and right by the Bloomfield Soccer Stadium and south of the Dan Panorama Tel Aviv.

Milk & Honey may be the first, but it is not the only Israeli whiskey. In 2013, Pelter Winery in the Golan Heights opened a boutique distillery. The Golan Heights Distillery followed suit, its first distillery producing 25,000 liters a year. Another distillery to discover is The Jerusalem Distillery, also is used as a visitors center and making rum and peated Whiskey.

Distilling & Charring are integral stages of the Whiskey production process. Credit: David Zibel

These three distilleries have rubbed shoulders with brands such as Scotland’s Glenlivet and Glenmorangie at Whiskey Live TLV 2019, which was the fourth time Whisky Live, the world’s largest international exhibition of whisky, will come to Tel Aviv. Furthermore, Tel Aviv’s Sarona Market is home to the Whiskey Bar & Museum, one of the largest of its kind in the world. A fantastic restaurant, bar and museum, which stocks over 1,000 brands of whiskey from 13 different countries. Discover more with some of the best experts working on the spot or taste different brands of whiskeys and visit special tasting workshops in the dark. Close to the Link Hotel & Hub, this truly magnificent collection is housed in a subterranean cavernous setting that served as a winery in the 19th century, and is found in a very trendy area of Tel Aviv with many restaurants, open spaces and boutiques.

Photos of Glen Whiskey Bar in Jerusalem – A wonderful selection of quality Whiskeys & a great ambiance. Credit : Igor Farberov

Local entrepreneurs are also importing hundreds of varieties of whiskey from around the world as domestic interest continues to rise. You can find a high quality selection of whiskey in Israel’s third city of Haifa, with welcoming neighborhood pub, Charliebar, and the extremely popular urban Sasson Bar standing out for a wall of whiskey to accompany traditional menus of Israeli comfort food. You can also find a wonderful selection of quality whiskeys (over 400 types of Single Malts) , some of the most informed bartenders and a great ambiance in Jerusalem’s Glen Whiskey Bar. A terrific place to visit on a cool Jerusalem evening, very close to the King David Hotel, you will meet locals and tourists from all over the globe, as you will at the city’s Bell Wood Bar, a local favorite boasting an impressive 120 different types of whiskey. Make sure to grab a bite to eat off their delicious menu before trying each whiskey.

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Whiskey bottles in different styles and tastes, produced at Golani Distillery in the Golan Heights. Credit: Arkadi Raskin

With two other distilleries, Legends in the Elah Valley, near the city of Beit Shemesh and E’drei Malthouse and Distillery in Katzrin set to open in 2019, Israel is emerging as a hugely promising contender on the whiskey landscape. Legends is actually situated close to where, according to the biblical story, the young boy, David fought and defeated the giant, Goliath. Against all odds. And Israel’s whiskey miracle appears to be following that path.

Photos from previous years of Whiskey Live – The world’s largest international exhibition of Whiskey. Credit: Liran Kaminer

Purim 2019 in Israel – but what’s it all about?

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I must have been easily impressed with my dad’s costume-making skills when it came to Purim. Using a pair of scissors, he turned a large cardboard box from the supermarket and glued on red paper to turn this six year-old into Mr. Strong, a famous children’s character from TV in the UK. Today, in Israel, however, the Purim costumes have absolutely exploded in sheer ingenuity to match the color of the Rio Carnival or Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

On Purim, many people swap ‘Mishloach Manot’ & tasty treats, as part of the holiday spirit

From Superman to the Smurfs, Cowboys to American Indians, revellers go even wilder from day to nightfall, choosing the weirdest, craziest and most innovative costumes, decorated in spray paint, to party well into the night. But why exactly?

A glimpse at the costume parade from previous years

The joyful festival of Purim traces its origins over 2,300 years ago and actually celebrates the survival of the Jewish people after Haman, the Prime Minister of the then Persian King, Ahasuerus, conspired to destroy them. He had the Jewish people draw lots, or purim in Hebrew, to decide the date of their own destruction, and yet, in a story filled with heroes, such as Mordechai, and heroines, like Queen Esther, the plot was discovered, Haman was hanged, and the genocide was averted.

The costumes that eventually came to embody the holiday reflect a more recent development. One theory dates the custom to 20^th century Vienna, where local Jewish artists on Purim eve started throwing masquerade balls, similar to their Christian neighbors, and it was from here that the custom spread. So today, inevitably, streets, parks and squares up and down the country burst into life to rejoice, with many people swapping mishloach manot, or gifts of food and wine, and tasting treats, such as hamenstaschen – small triangular pastries, believed to symbolize Haman’s ears, and made with different fillings, including poppy seed, jam, cherry, as well as innovative recipes, such as chocolate-dipped cream cheese.

Hamantaschen made with different fillings

Parades and street parties are everywhere. The city of Holon, south of Tel Aviv, hosts the biggest parade – with brass bands, acrobats, jugglers, dancers performing. The Tel Aviv Purim Street Party is a lively, and free, daytime outdoor rave on 20^th March in north Tel Aviv’s Kikar HaMedina. Bask in the sunshine, enjoy a beer and some food and watch as families with babies mingle with teenagers dressed as unicorns, angels and Wonder Woman. Later that evening, head down to the Tel Aviv Purim Zombie Walk, close to the Dizengoff Center, and explore your inner zombie and walk through the streets, reminiscent of scenes from various popular horror movies. Enjoy the frivolity and madness at the Alice in Wonderland Purim Feast at 99 Allenby bar, all a hop, skip and a terrifying leap from the luxurious Dan Tel Aviv. If you want a more civilized celebration, head to the Fortiswood Purim Party at South Tel Aviv’s Barby venue, where the more glamorous theme consists of tuxedos and evening gowns, close to the equally stylish Dan Panorama Tel Aviv.

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Purim Street Party at Kikar Ha’medina in Tel Aviv. Credit: Ofer Keidar photography

Over in Jerusalem, the main event takes place in Safra Square, within reach of the four Dan Hotels in Jerusalem. Here, circus acts and costume competitions, live entertainment and arts and crafts workshops will keep the crowds delighted, while the traditional Nachlaot Street Party is a joyful experience in this quirky neighborhood, west of the Downtown Triangle, and the Paleo market returns to the First Station in Jerusalem for a festive Purim feast.

Many of the city’s museums also get in on the act, offering family-friendly events. Interactive tours and an amazing Purim treasure hunt takes place at the Bible Lands Museum, where you can join the good fairy, who will take you on a journey into Ancient Persia, through the story of Queen Esther, and her invitation to the royal ball. There is also an impressive hide-and-seek game at the Tower of David Museum, where you can accompany the court jester in the search for Jerusalem’s King in an elaborate game in the ancient Citadel, while at the Israel Museum, there are a range of activities including performances from a host of young musicians and creative workshops where you can create your own emoji mask.

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Purim is celebrated at Dan Hotels: Hamantaschen made at the Dan Tel Aviv Hotel. Credit: Confectioner Liora Osher Ben Ezra

If my own Mr. Strong mask leaves you unimpressed. Purim in Israel certainly won’t.
Purim starts on Wednesday 20th March and finishes in the evening of Thursday 21st March, in most cities. In “walled” cities, like Jerusalem, Purim starts a day later than everyone else so this year will be on Thursday 21^st – Friday 22^nd March.

Have fun!

The Bahá’í – A Mystery with History

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“The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens,” is one of the most famous quotes attributed to Baha’u’llah, a Persian religious leader and founder of the Bahá’í faith. In one particular country – Israel – mankind can enjoy discovering more about one of the world’s lesser known religions. But, who are the Bahá’is?

Dan Carmel Hotel as seen from Bahai Gardens in Haifa

A mystery with history
Having spun out of its predecessor religion, Bábism, the new Bahá’í faith was founded in 1863 by a Persian nobleman, Baha’u’llah, who brought a message of peace and unity and was considered by followers to be a prophet. The Bahá’í faith is a monotheistic religion focused on the unity and equality of all people and prosperity of all nations, races, creeds and classes, and it accepts the divine nature of the missions of Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, the Buddha, Jesus and the prophet Muhammad.

Once confined mostly to the Persian and Ottoman empires, today, the Bahá’í faith has grown from almost 5 million in 1986 to approaching over 7 million followers, and is one of the larger religious minorities in Iran, India, Central and Latin America, notably Panama, Belize, Bolivia, as well as Chad and Kenya in Africa.

Left: Bahai Gardens Akko. Left: Bet Hatzedek building, Haifa.

But why Israel?
How did a religion born 1,500km away in Persia become connected with Israel? After being banished from Persia, Baha’u’llah was exiled to Baghdad and Constantinople before spending much of the remainder of his life in Haifa, and especially, from 1868 onwards, Akko, which was then a penal colony at the time of the Ottoman Empire.

After Baha’u’llah died in Akko in 1892, the leadership of the faith fell to his son before entering a new phase after his son died in 1921. Bahá’ís around the world then annually elected local, regional, and national Spiritual Assemblies that governed the affairs of the religion and every five years, the members of all National Spiritual Assemblies elect the nine-member supreme governing institution of the worldwide Bahá’í community – the Universal House of Justice, which sits in Haifa, close to the resplendent Shrine of the Báb, for Baha’u’llah’s predecessor, and a site surrounded by the perfectly manicured Bahá’í Gardens, the jewel in Haifa’s crown and also among Israel’s most stunning and photographed attractions.

Louis promenade Haifa view

A UNESCO World Heritage site that must be seen
Having attracted more than 7 million visitors in the decade since it opened to the public in 2001, today, the Gardens continue to pull in close to a million visitors each year and is known as one of the faith’s two holiest sites and a major place of pilgrimage for Bahá’ís, who mark festivals and holidays, including the New Year, in March, and the birth of the Báb and Baha’u’llah in October and November.

Take a free guided tour to learn about the fascinating beliefs, values and spirituality of this young religion and gently walk down the 1km, 19-terrace staircase – 19 is a special number in the faith. Capture special panoramic views of the manicured lawns, tended only by Bahá’ís themselves, and enjoy the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, looking upwards towards the northern slopes of Mount Carmel and downwards, towards the impressive German Colony below. As you weave northwards via HaNassi Boulevard, you will enter the HaCarmel neighborhood containing the luxurious Dan Carmel and charming Dan Panorama Haifa.

[INSERT PICTURE OF BAHAI GARDENS IN AKKO]
Close to Haifa is the other holiest site in the religion – the Bahá’í Gardens in the city of Akko, where Bahá’u’lláh resided during the final years of his life. It was here, in Akko, where his followers from Persia would come, often walking for a month and more, with the hope to see him. It is in the Gardens in Akko where the eventual shrine was built, and where his remains were laid to rest after he died in 1892 in the delightful Mansion of Bahji.

A path dotted with Cypress trees at the Bahai Gardens of Akko.

Today, you can take a walk along the path, dotted with cypress trees, a centuries-old sycamore fig tree and the remains of an ancient olive grove – all helping to create a serene ambiance and a beauty that makes this Bahá’í Gardens a fascinating pilgrimage worth embarking on, into the heart of the soon-to-be less mysterious Bahá’í faith.

Israel Sport Events – Be Still My Pumped Up Heart

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Some of the best motivation videos urge you to run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up. In Israel, there are so many ways to keep moving, get healthy and get that heart rate up, that running, cycling and swimming are permanent fixtures on the social and cultural landscape.

Tel Aviv Marathon running along the beach past Dan Tel Aviv Hotel. Credit: Ronen Topelberg & Tel Aviv Municipality

A fabulous run through UNESCO City
One of the largest sporting events in the calendar is the Tel Aviv Marathon. Open to professional and hobbyist runners, tens of thousands of runners will be pounding the sidewalk on February 22 after the event was brought back in 2009. Since then, one Israeli man – Avraham Hailemelkot (2010) and one Israeli woman – Orna Blau (2009 and 2010) have won the race, which has typically been dominated by Kenyans and Ethiopians. First inaugurated back in 1981, today, the event attracts over 40,000 runners choosing to enter the marathon, the half marathon, the 10km or 5km races as they enjoy a stunning flat run along the Mediterranean Sea, through some of Tel Aviv’s most picturesque points and passing close to many of the city’s major landmarks, including the Dan Tel Aviv and Dan Panorama Tel Aviv. A few days before, there is a mini Marathon for Children, carried out by the legendary character, SpongeBob, in the late afternoon of February 20, with a variety of activities for families at Sarona Market, not far from the Link Hotel & Hub.

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Jerusalem Marathon in the Old City that passes two of the Dan Hotels in the city. Credit: Riki Rachman & Jerusalem Development Authority

The Holiest Marathon in the World
Arguably the holiest, and hilliest, marathon in the world is the Jerusalem Marathon for those wishing to combine modern Nike running shoes with steps through ancient history. Since it was founded in 2011, when the marathon attracted 10,000 participants from 40 countries, this annual event has regularly expanded to 25,000 runners of many ethnicities and nationalities. Taking place this year on March 15, the 42.2 km route (26.2 miles) route
combines physical endurance with exquisite landscapes, fresh mountain air and unique culture and heritage sites such as the Israeli Knesset, Mahane Yehuda market, David’s Tower, and much more. Starting from the Israeli Knesset, the route passes through Mount Scopus and the Old City, a hop, skip and a jump from the King David Jerusalem and Dan Panorama Jerusalem, and finishes at the city’s Sacher Park. There is also a half-marathon, 10km, 5km, 1.7km Family Race and 800m Community Race to cater for different levels of interest and fitness.

If Jerusalem’s marathon is one of the loftiest runs, the Tiberias Marathon is the lowest course in the world. The road race held along the Sea of Galilee, 200m below sea level, was won in January by Israeli mother of five, Beatie Deutsch, and Ethiopian, Aimro Alamia.

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Life on Two Wheels
If you prefer to swap two feet for two wheels, then there are few places where biking is as popular as Israel. While a German Baron is credited with inventing the first ever bicycle (without pedals) in the early 19^th century, and a Scottish blacksmith is believed to have created the first bike with pedals in the 1830s, Israelis have taken cycling to a whole new level. With locals travelling to work on hoverboards and attending meetings via Segway, electric bikes and scooters are everywhere. Last August, two U.S. companies, Bird, an electric scooter sharing company, entered the Israeli market, followed, shortly after, by new rival Lime, both competing with other companies, Israeli-designed Inokim and China’s Mobike. There is, of course, the municipality-sponsored Tel-O-Fun scheme in operation, offering locals and tourists the chance to rent bikes across the city. Pick up a bike near Gordon Beach in front of the Dan Tel Aviv and cycle down the promenade to glorious Jaffa or if you prefer a more challenging bike tour, Dan Active has been taking tourists on week-long cycling adventures since 2017, showcasing breathtaking scenery, fascinating history, iconic sites, bringing guests the relaxation, comfort and luxury for which the Dan Hotels is renowned. A joint venture between Dan Hotels and Gordon Active, Dan Active Vacations takes care of all your needs, planning riding options to suit your age or skill so that you can enjoy an extraordinary journey.

Cycling paths in Israel

If this all sounds a little too exhausting, there are times when you just need a swimming pool. Whether for exercise or relaxing, little compares to a dip into the calm waters of a pool. Both heated indoor or sun-soaked outdoor pools are in abundance. There is a revamped open and heated swimming pool, part of the modern refurbishment at the luxurious Dan Carmel in Haifa. In the meantime, it is a pleasant surprise to find a 24-hour heated indoor swimming pool – Jimmy’s Pool – with eight swimming lanes on the rooftop of Tel Aviv’s bustling Dizengoff Center. Next to the sea, between Ben Gurion Street and Hilton Beach, is the iconic Gordon Pool, one of the oldest outdoor swimming pools in Israel having opened in Tel Aviv in 1956. Here, you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the Olympic-size pool, while the kids revel in the children’s and toddlers’ pool, all with a tranquil view of palm trees and the Tel Aviv Marina, close-by to the Dan Tel Aviv. In fact, talking of indoor pools, Dan Tel Aviv are have one of the largest indoor pools to be found in the city.

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Left: Indoor Pool Dan Tel Aviv Hotel. Right: Pool at Dan Carmel Haifa

Tired yet? There’s no need. It’s invigorating.

New Year’s Resolution; Vegan Revolution

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The best time of the year for gyms and recruitment agencies. By February or March, it can often be a different story. As motivation soars, and promises are made, being healthy is that old favorite on everybody’s list. Here in Israel, there has never been a better time to stick to your resolutions and keep body and mind healthily fed and thriving. Here we explore the hot trend of veganism that has engulfed the country, and in fact the world, and sample some of the best vegan restaurants and cafés as you look to grab 2019 firmly with both hands.

Two Vegan dishes served at The Meatless LINK Hotel & Hub

‘The Most Vegan Country on Earth’
It may seem particularly strange that in a country renowned for mouthwatering lamb and chicken Shawarma that Israel has been swept by a vegan revolution – so much so, that Tel Aviv – at the heart of this revolution – was described as the “Vegan Capital of the World” by British newspaper, the Independent, in November 2017. And yet, on further investigation, this is not all that surprising. Dan Hotels have risen to the trend by opening its first MEATLESS hotel The LINK Hotel & Hub situated in the heart of the vegan capital of Israel, Tel Aviv.

Widespread and well-fed, the number of people in Israel choosing a vegan diet (a plant-based, rather than animal-derived, diet) stands at around 5% of the population, the highest percentage of vegans per capita in the world, with locals embracing veganism for many cultural, health, environmental and religious reasons.

With cultural attachment to foods, such as falafel, hummus, salads and couscous, already an integral part of the Israeli diet, the availability of such fresh vegetables and fruits makes it incredibly easy to be vegan. The higher cost of meat – with an estimated two thirds of meat imported into Israel in 2016 – is another factor. Furthermore, a 2012 report estimated that 75% of Israeli Jews keep a kosher diet and many vegan products are often already kosher, on top of which many Israelis are translating kashrut laws, designed to prevent animal suffering, into a broader vegan lifestyle.

You can enjoy learning about the cultural backdrop to this ongoing revolution with informed tours, such as TLVEG Vegan Tours, which was the first to run tours in Israel and has taken visitors to some of the most flavorsome vegan eateries around since the company launched four years ago. Among our own personal recommendations are Meshek Barzilai in the Tel Aviv neighborhood of Neve Tzedek, a short walk from the Dan Panorama Tel Aviv. This organic vegetarian restaurant dishes up a mostly vegan menu of creative dishes taking recipes and flavors from traditional Israeli dishes, such as vegan shakshuka, using the brightest tomatoes, eggplants and zucchinis. New vegan shawarma is available at the vintage but quirky Zakaim, a dynamic south Tel Aviv boutique vegan restaurant popular for its homemade vegan cheese, as well as the Beyond Meat Burger, a meat alternative pleasing both vegan and meat eaters. And if it’s pizza you’re after, after Domino’s Pizza launched its first vegan pizza with non-dairy cheese in 2013, the Green Cat pizzeria opened in 2014 and has been one of the most popular chilled vegan hangouts since, offering all-vegan pizzeria, with toppings including sweet potato and seitan.

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A vegan salad served at one of the Dan Hotels

There is an array of delightful and charming, high quality vegan coffee shops in Tel Aviv, such as the casual Frishman Street’s Anastasia offering a terrific breakfast menu with vegan omelets, nut-made cheeses and a range of creative dips. Surrounding Dizengoff Square, Café Nahat stands out for its own in-house micro-roastery, serving fantastic coffee and a range of vegan friendly options and salads, while within pita eating distance from the Dan Tel Aviv, the bohemian Café Xoho has become a regular home-away-from-home to both local and tourists. An extensive vegetarian menu, with vegan and gluten-free options, include the satisfying juanito burrito.

While the vegan spotlight shines brightly in Tel Aviv, it very much sparkles in Haifa, Hertzilya and Jerusalem too. Close to the Dan Carmel and Dan Panorama Haifa lies the magnificent Umm Kulthum, a cosy venue offering generous portions of high quality vegan food served by a warm and professional staff, while Rabbit Hole is a popular venue for vegan shawarmas, salads and boutique beers. Interestingly, Robin Food in Haifa is considered the first social restaurant in Israel – based on rescued vegetables and fruits collected from farms, markets and shops and that would otherwise be wasted. This produce is miraculously and tastefully turned into delicious meals by a chef and his team of amazing volunteers, who create an ever-changing menu!

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A vegan dish at Dan Carmel Haifa. Credit: Chef Roni Khalifa

The menu is also extraordinary in Jerusalem’s Nagila Vegan Restaurant, a strictly kosher culinary gem in a quiet alley near Mahane Yehuda market. From the vegan lasagna to the lentil and cashew shakshuka, you will not be disappointed at the creativity and skill of this family-run team. Close by is Nocturno Café Resto Bar, both a 20-minute walk from the King David Hotel and Dan Panorama Jerusalem. Here you can enjoy the stunning presentation and taste of some of the best vegan burgers around – a lentil burger wrapped in a ciabatta bun, seasoned and layered in pan-seared mushrooms and caramelized onions.

In 2017, there were hundreds of vegan restaurants, such as the ones mentioned, and an estimated 700 vegan businesses in Israel, not to mention a vegan festival and an Annual Vegan Congress. In fact, so high is vegan fever that even the Israel Defense Forces – with 1 in 18 soldiers declared vegan – now providing vegan-friendly ration packs, non-leather boots and berets containing no wool at all. And of course, all Dan Hotels whip up incredibly mouth-watering vegan dishes and offer special items on the breakfast buffet, along-side the ever present wide selection of salads and vegetables. Mention to a team member in the dining room, or prior to arrival, to be sure that you’re made aware of all the options available, there may be more than you see!

Two Dishes on the VeganTour TLV

As Israel is a small country of many immigrants from around the world, the willingness to sample new dishes, and the exposure to them, is striking. With vegan food increasingly at the forefront, you too should enjoy this trend.

Abba-solutely wonderful weekends with e-Dan

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Pinch me, “I have a Dream.” ABBA are coming to Tel Aviv.

The Original Band – ABBA

Well, one of the best ABBA tribute bands in Israel will perform exclusively at the Dan Panorama Tel Aviv at the end of February. This special event comes almost 45 years after ABBA won the 1974 Eurovision contest for Sweden with their song “Waterloo,” which was voted the best song ever in the competition in 2005.

Since the Swedish quartet of Björn Ulvaeus, Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Benny Andersson split up in 1982, there has been an insatiable appetite for all things ABBA. Two Mamma Mia movies and tribute acts around the world have emerged to entertain the ever-loyal fans and keep the group’s legacy alive. But an Israeli band, also called Waterloo, is increasingly commanding the spotlight, grabbing both headlines and terrific reviews for its talent, high energy and nostalgic performances.

Having launched over a decade ago in 2008, Waterloo was the brainchild of professional musician, Alon Nadel and his wife, a promoter at the once-famous Herzliya nightclub, Camelot. With another family, they formed the band, comprising two female lead singers – ex singer of Israeli girl band Mango, Yasmin Gamliel, and Reut Yehudai, an established recording artist. – with Alon, Oren Balaban, Amir Zuscovich and Eran Zilberbuch on backing vocals.

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WATERLOO – The Tribute band

After receiving a gift and light snacks and drinks, e-Dan members will party the night away with Waterloo from 9 p.m. on February 28, dancing and singing along to an extensive catalogue of greatest hits, including Mamma Mia, Take a Chance on Me and the always-popular Dancing Queen. Part of a special weekend of comedy, culture and surprises, the band will put on a spectacular show, together with the phenomenal Cameri Israel Chamber Orchestra, with arrangements carried out by renowned Israeli composer, Ziv Cojocaru. In fact, these e-Dan weekends are quite a staple, so join e-dan to keep up to date with all the special events coming up.

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Cameri Chamber Music Orchestra

While the Dan Panorama Tel Aviv will be the backdrop to this amazing evening honoring the 1974 Eurovision winners, the hotel is no stranger to Eurovision stardom. Last year, it hosted Israeli singer Netta Barzilai, winner of Eurovision 2018 with her uplifting song Toy. “Netta is amazing. It will be amazing in Israel this year and we intend to be part of it. For Eurovision, both Waterloo and Douze Points, my Eurovision tribute band, will perform every competition winner since the Eurovision began in the 1950s,” said Alon Nadel.

Left: Pre-Eurovision 2018 concert in Rabin Square, Tel Aviv. Left: Neta Barzilay with the GM of Dan Panorama Tel Aviv, Lior when visiting the hotel last year.

But while Netta makes her way in the music world, Swedish music has ingrained itself in today’s music scene for some time, and it arguably would not have happened without ABBA: two married couples in white pantsuits and platform boots who racked up hit after hit about breaking up and falling apart. They reined over European and international pop from 1975 to 1982, became the top-selling act of their time and have today sold around 400 million albums. Can we even imagine a world without ABBA?

Well, these Björn-to-be-wild Swedes announced they are making new music and will be touring for the first time in 35 years, but the comeback will be a digital show! Using high-tech imaging equipment, the superstars will appear as four special “Abbatars,” or virtual holograms, showing the band as they looked in 1979. Last April, the band announced, in a statement: “The decision to go ahead with the exciting ABBA avatar tour project had an unexpected consequence. We all four felt that, after some 35 years, it could be fun to join forces again and go into the recording studio. So we did.”

Promotional image of the band WATERLOO

This event will be broadcast simultaneously around the world, with the iconic mega-band planning a world tour in 2019 or 2020, according to the British newspaper The Times. In the meantime, enjoy a glass of Prosecco at Dan Panorama Tel Aviv’s charming bar before this trip down memory lane will leave you upbeat and with a smile on your face. The winner indeed takes it all but e-Dan Club Members come a very close second.

Israel Through A Lens

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There is a well-known quote that “no place is boring if you have had a good night’s sleep and a pocket full of unexposed film.” Nothing could be truer for than Israel’s most famous photographer, Israel Prize laureate David Rubinger, whose 500,000 negatives are kept in the archives at newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth archives, a tribute to a time when people used film cameras.

A classic film camera – How far technology has come!

Today, with every tourist a photographer and the staggering rise of social media platform Instagram, walking the streets of a strange place with any camera to hand remains one of the most joyful pursuits of being a tourist in a foreign city. In Israel, each day, the streets offer you a photogenic glimpse into the lives, minds and realities of locals. For photography aficionados, there are also many photography galleries and exhibitions to satisfy the most creative eye.

Rubinger himself is honored at a recently opened exhibition at The Eretz Israel Museum, one of Israel’s largest and most remarkable museums, set in serene neighborhood of Ramat Aviv in northern Tel Aviv. Vienna-born Rubinger, who moved to British-mandate Palestine in 1939 and passed away last year, aged 92, is probably the most well-known Israeli photographer. His work defined the nation’s history and included many iconic images etched on local and international memory. From the frontlines of war, to intimate photos of Israeli prime ministers to immigrants who arrived, the exhibition – David Rubinger /I Captured the Truth, 1947-1997, open until April 2019, is well worth a visit.

Two of the pictures on exhibit for the David Rubinger exhibition at Eretz Yisrael museum credit: Eretz Yisrael Museum

There are key photographs of the Middle East in the 19th and early 20th century, as well as a collection of Soviet photography from the 1930s to 1970s on display at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, one of the country’s leading artistic and cultural institutions, also worth a visit. Within walking distance of the Link Hotel & Hub, the museum has expanded its photography collection, which began in 1977, and today also hosts a range of exhibitions, currently by Japan’s Hiroshi Sugimoto.

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Having opened 40 years ago in 1979, the photography department at Jerusalem’s Israel Museum, which lies west of the stately and iconic work of art that is the King David Jerusalem Hotel, has amassed an encyclopedic international collection. Today, a collection of more than 75,000 items regularly impresses visitors, dazzled by the early photography in the Near East or southwest Asia, European photography at the turn of the century, Soviet photography, Israeli photography, and the 1920s photography of the Dada and Surrealist era. While Eretz Israel Museum houses the legendary Rubinger, the Israel Museum displays Mendel John Diness, the first Jewish photographer to capture images of Jerusalem in the mid-19th century, the archive of Yaakov Ben Dov, a photographer active in Israel at the beginning of the 20th century, and the works of internationally renowned photojournalist Nahum Tim Gidal.

There are many exhibitions focused on local and emerging talent, among them the Jerusalem Artists’ House, a dynamic center for local and contemporary artists, including photography, while its namesake, Tel Aviv Artists’ House, tucked away from the city’s main streets, is a nonprofit showcasing homegrown photography. Tel Aviv’s thriving Raw Art Gallery is a creative space synonymous with the Israeli contemporary art scene since it opened its doors in south Tel Aviv in 2005. These galleries represent young and emerging artists and provides a platform to expose their work to an interested audience.

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Picture of Gazelle by Erez Amir exhibited at Jerusalem Theater

Such is the emerging photographic talent that one of Israel’s largest centers for art and culture, The Jerusalem Theatre’s Henry Crown Hall is now exhibiting the nature-inspired photos of high school student Erez Amir, who landed his very own photography exhibition after a crowdfunding campaign. The theatre’s more than 600,000 annual visitors can now appreciate his vistas, flora and fauna, all taken at Mount Herzl, Gazelle Valley, and many other sites around Jerusalem.

With Tel Aviv’s Eretz Israel Museum shortly hosting the winners from the World Press Photo Exhibition 2018, fans can marvel at those photos selected out of 73,000 images submitted from 125 countries – which leaves you wondering – what’s the best angle and where’s the light coming from?

Photo-journalism by David Rubinger, Exhibit at Eretz Yisrael Museum