Author Archives: Dan Magazine

Chamber Music Festival At The Dan Eilat

The Dan Eilat hotel, whilst hosting the Eilat Chamber Music Festival, honored the occasion by offering guests a hospitality experience with a musical atmosphere.

Eilat International Chamber Music Festival

The Eilat International Chamber Music Festival attracts major musicians from around the world. Last February the festival celebrated a decade of excellence with an especially rich program at the Dan Eilat where a variety of guests from around the world attended. The artists included the Geneva Camerata Orchestra with the renowned cellist Steven Isserlis, the Italian Baroque Accordone ensemble with singer Marco Beasley, the Cologne Choir Soloists from Germany, the Maria Juncal’s Spanish Flamenco dancers etc. Additionally, this year the festival hosted two prominent Israeli musicians, Shem-Tov Levy, with a collection of his best chamber compositions and singer and actress Mira Awad. She performed with the veteran British ensemble the Fitzwilliam String Quartet in a spectacular concert combining British Baroque music, and music rearranged in a special composition for the chamber ensemble.

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spectacular concert

Dan Hotels is the main sponsor of the festival for the third consecutive year and as such Dan Eilat hosts all the festival’s concerts and Dan Panorama Eilat hosts the artist’s classes. The festival’s opening cocktail at the Dan Eilat was conducted in the presence of Mayor of Eilat Meir Yitzhak Halevi. Raffi Sadeh, CEO of Dan Hotels, together with Lior Mucznik, General Manager of Dan Eilat, hosted 300 chamber music lovers at the cocktail party along with many distinguished guests including Mickey Federmann, Dan Hotels Chairman of the Board of Directors and his wife Leora, Ami Harel , Chairman of the Board of Cellcom, Dov Kotler, the retiring CEO of Isracard, Carmi Gillon, former Shin Bet chief, Attorney Uri Slonim, chairman of Variety Club, and the festival’s management headed by Leonid Rozenberg.
Raffi Sadeh, CEO of Dan Hotels, said: “Dan Hotels has a commitment to promote art and culture in the country, so it is only natural for us to sponsor this important festival for the third consecutive year.”

At the Dan Eilat they didn’t just provide a superb venue for the festival‘s performances, the musical atmosphere permeated through-out the hotel and was expressed in an Israeli Art Exhibition of photo-graphs and sculptures relating to music. The exhibition was held in the lobby and at the entrance to the concert hall. Placemats, menus and other various items were specially designed for the event and were displayed at the festive breakfast that was served to the guests. “This year’s festival was very successful,” concludes Lior Mucznik, General Manager of Dan Eilat, “almost all 15 concerts were ‘sold out’, and the investment made in the festival certainly made it an extraordinary and unique event.”

extraordinary and unique event

Japan on the Carmel

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A visit to the Tikotin Museum in Haifa is a fascinating opportunity to get a close look at Japanese art and culture.

Situated on Mt. Carmel in Haifa, the Tikotin Museum is one of the only museums in the world outside Japan dedicated entirely to Japanese art. Some 7,000 Japanese artifacts are to be found within its walls paintings,

Prints, sketches, ancient illuminated books, ceramics, miniature statuettes, metal and lacquer work, Netsuke statues, porcelain utensils for religious rituals, Japanese swords and other weapons, useful artifacts from the 17th to 19th centuries and a collection of modern Japanese art.

So how is it that a Museum of Japanese Art found its way to the Carmel Mountain? The Jewish connection never fails: Felix Tikotin (1893-1986) was a well-known collector of Japanese art who even organized Japanese art exhibitions in many museums around the world. During World War II, Tikotin, being a Jew, fled the Nazis and hid his collection in Holland. After the war, he came to Israel to donate the collection and to build a special museum dedicated to Japanese culture in Haifa.

Dan Carmel Hotel – Staying in Haifa and enjoying a perfect view of the Carmel mountain

Japanese art offers visitors the experience of an encounter with a different culture that has its own unique characteristics. Painting is a very popular form of expression in Japan. Until the modern era, the Japanese used a brush to write with, and the skill acquired in their brush techniques is all too evident in the quality of their painting. Japanese painting is usually done on paper or silk, and the topics are plentiful and varied: Buddhist images, natural landscapes, stories of heroism and legends, flowers and birds and so forth.

Wood prints also developed into an important art form in Japan. The prints reveal the landscapes, the lifestyle and the dress of the period. The excellent quality of the wood prints derives also from the fact that this is not the work of a single person, but rather a partnership of skilled crafts-men who accompany the production process. At various times in its long history, Japanese art absorbed cultural influences from various schools: Chinese painting, Indian Buddhist art, Persian art, Zen, and more but through out the Japanese knew how to assimilate those foreign influences into an artistry based on its own unique esthetic values.

The museum exhibitions change about every three months, to fit the seasons and various other events. Another reason for the frequent changes of display is the sensitivity of the paintings and prints to light and climatic conditions.

Japan on paper…
Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. The origin of the name is the fusion of the words:
‘ori’ – fold, and ‘kami’ – piece of paper. The art of origami has deep cultural significance for the Japanese, and is used in various common Shinto rituals. This form of art has spread to the whole world and has become part of our leisure time activities thanks to its unique combination of creativity, precision and technical challenge. There are many styles of origami and new models are constantly being publicized. Usually the folds are made with neither cuts nor glue, on square paper that is colored on one side and white on the other (see Wikipedia). The Israeli Center for Origami Art offers programs to develop learning skills through the art of folding paper
(Abba Hillel 146, Ramat Gan, Tel: 03-7513483)

Birds Trip to Eilat

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At the Ornithological Birdwatching Park in Eilat awaits a unique experience of nature: a fascinating encounter with migratory birds that land here to rest and prepare for the long flight ahead that entails crossing the Sahara Desert.

Migratory Birds in Eilat

Eilat –A gas refill station for birds

The Land of Israel, and especially Eilat, is amongst the most important points for migrating birds. Millions if not billions of birds that migrate between the continents of Europe and Asia to Africa, fly over Israel because thanks to its geographical position that forms a main bridge that connects the continents.

Eilat is then southernmost “gas station” for the birds before they continue south to the most difficult and challenging part of their journey which entails crossing the Sahara Desert. The crossing takes about 10 days during which the birds fly over 3000 km of desert without food. Ei-lat’s municipal and industrial development had severely affected areas in which birds fed, and the Birdwatching Park was established in order to repair the damage. The Park is a joint initiative of the Jewish National Fund, Eilat Municipality, the Israel Government Tourist Corporation and the International Birding Center in Eilat.

At the Ornithological Birdwatching Park in Eilat

Preparing for the Big Trip

If birds could speak they certainly would thank all those involved in the transformation of an abandoned dump on the outskirts of Eilat into a roadhouse for millions of migratory birds. The garbage and waste were replaced with a freshwater lake, a salt lake and forest vegetation that effectively provide food for the migrating birds. The entire park is irrigated to increase the production of food, and an effort was made to create a comfortable and natural habitat providing almost every bird a place rest and replenish themselves towards the great challenges ahead.

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A guided tour of the Birdwatching Park is a great way to get to know and recognize the migrating birds. During the tour you will meet birds that have been captured and brought to the research station, where their physical condition and migration skills are examined. The Park gives a detailed explanation of the birds’ heroic journey and extraordinary abilities to overcome obstacles during migration. Then, together with the Park’s team, release the birds on their way to the next part of their long flight. Amazingly, some of these birds weigh no more than 5 grams, but despite this, these “featherweight champions” manage to complete a journey of 25,000 miles in harsh conditions, every year.

Desert Oasis next to Eilat

Each bird you encounter has its own unique and fascinating story that completes and complements the colorful picturesque scene of the migrating birds along the Eilat landscape. After an intriguing introduction to the birds, you can tour the Park and see the Growth Cages / hab-itats and the birds that live there.

The Birdwatching Park has begun, in recent years, to promote tourism in Eilat to all birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. The diversity and the large number of birds during the migratory periods, attract both professional and amateur birdwatchers that eagerly come to visit the meeting point for flocks of birds that arrive from all over Europe and northern Asia. Eilat is the meeting point for a variety of species of birds that include among them the English Miller’s Warbler, Mongolian Eagle Harrier and Kazakhstan Zaronfields with birds and birdwatchers from around the world, who come to see this unique natural phenomenon. Israeli tourists also visit and enthusiastically enjoy the experience of watching the big bird migration, and the various activities that the Birdwatching Center offers.

The Park offers guided tours, at a fee, that include a visit to the bird research center that provides a close encounter with birds and bird re-searchers, a bird watching tour, and also a visit to the flamingo ponds.

Did you know?

About 70% of the world’s birds migrate at night. This has several advantages, navigation with the aid of the night skies, avoiding predators and reducing the risk of heat and dehydration.

Guided Bird Watching Tours For Hotel Guests

Bird watching Tours for Dan Panorama Eilat Guests

The activities offered at Dan Hotels are part of the chain’s policy in order to enhance your vacation experience. This time the Dan Panorama Eilat offers complimentary guided bird watching tours for hotel guests. The tours take place on Saturdays, mainly during the migration periods.

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Noble Artifacts

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To mark the 50th anniversary of the Israel Museum it will receive a noble gift, the Belfer Collection, which includes 350 items of glassware, sculptures and mosaics. These artifacts allow a glimpse into the lives of the nobility in the ancient world.

The Israel Museum, Jerusalem announced a transformative gift of more than 350 works of art and artifacts from antiquity by Robert and Renée Belfer, New York. Considered among the most significant private holdings of antiquities in the world, the Belfer Collection features hundreds of ancient Greco-Roman and Near-Eastern glass vessels— recognized as some of the most impressive specimens of their kind—as well as important early examples of Greco-Roman sculpture in bronze, marble, and mosaic. Select objects from the collection will be on view at the Museum, beginning in June 2015, in a special exhibition exploring the culture of collecting and connoisseurship in ancient Rome. A Roman Villa—The Belfer Collection will be a centerpiece of the Museum’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, which, throughout 2015, will highlight gifts across all of the Museum’s collections on the occasion of this milestone year.

“The donation of this unparalleled collection enables us to extend the rich narrative of ancient civilizations as told through the Museum’s holdings in archaeology,” said James S. Snyder, Anne and Jerome Fisher Director of the Museum. “Our focus in archaeology is the story of the ancient Land of Israel, and the Belfer Collection notably enhances our ability to broaden our story to the critically important history of ancient Israel’s neighboring cultures and the foundational role that Greco-Roman civilization played in the history that then extends to our own time. We are profoundly grateful to the Belfers for this outstanding generosity and for the message that it sends, at the start of our 50th Anniversary year, about the worldwide support that has contributed to the growth of the Museum and its collections since its founding.

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The Belfers have been prominent art world patrons and longtime supporters of the Israel Museum, and Renée Belfer currently serves as Chair of the Executive Committee of the American Friends of the Israel Museum. The Belfer Collection, notable for its exceptional holdings in ancient glass, includes:

• Approximately 300 ancient glass works from the earliest stages of glass production in the Late Bronze Age through the Islamic period, including rare, exquisitely preserved core-formed and cast vessels, early blown glass and extremely rare blown Roman glass, and sumptuous masterpieces of mold-blown and mosaic glass.

• Greek, Southern Italian, and Etruscan pottery, including an outstanding Attic black amphora depicting mythological scenes of the Greek heroes Heracles and Theseus with a lid, attributed to Group E and dated to circa 540 BCE.

• Approximately 50 Greek and Roman sculptures and reliefs, among them a 1st-century CE marble head of a youth, a Roman copy of a Greek original (5th century BCE), by the renowned sculptor Polycletus; and an important Roman bronze statue of a young god or athlete, dated to circa 50 BCE.

• Mosaics, including a unique 2nd century CE Roman example with a bird’s-eye view of a city with an amphitheater, Poseidon and Amphitrite, and two ships with sailors.

“When deciding on an ideal home for our collection, we could not think of a more fitting venue than the Israel Museum, especially for its emphasis on the foundational narrative of humankind that is so relevant to us all today,” said Renée Belfer. “Our collection represents an important chapter in the history of civilization, and we are delighted to bestow the Israel Museum with this gift on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary so that it may preserve and share the story of these ancient objects in perpetuity from Jerusalem, one of the central sites of that long history.”

From June to November 2015, a selection of works from the Belfer Collection will be presented together for the first time at the Museum in a special exhibition. Curated by Dr. Silvia Rozenberg, the Rodney E. Soher Senior Curator of Classical Archaeology, and Natasha Katsenelson, Curator of Ancient Glass, A Roman Villa will feature highlights from the Belfer Collection in a display designed to illustrate the lifestyle of powerful Roman aristocrats from the 1st century BCE through the 3rd century CE, when Rome was first transformed into a major cultural and artistic center. The exhibition will examine how Rome’s elite class decorated their homes with the finest examples of Greco-Roman sculpture and magnificent Hellenistic and Roman glass objects and mosaics to demonstrate their standing in public and social life.

Dan Hotels is Renewing for You

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A comprehensive renovation of a group of rooms at the Dan Panorama hotels in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem promises a hospitality experience at another level.

At Dan Hotels, they don’t rest for a moment. The hospitality experience is being upgraded in accordance with the highest standards adopted by the chain. Each of the 16 hotels in Israel has been examined with a magnifying glass, and has undergone an appropriate series of renovations and architectural changes. We are not talking here about ongoing maintenance, but an ongoing aspiration to imbue the hotel with contemporary spirit and to add the very lat-est touch in every possible sense – planning, design and technology.

And now, the Dan Panorama hotels in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv: two fabulous hotels that enjoy high occupancy rates, many returning guests and attractive locations. The hotel in Tel Aviv is close to the seashore, the Tachana complex, Old Jaffa and the Carmel Market, while its Jerusalem counterpart is within walking distance of the walls of the Old City, Mamilla Boulevard, Nahalat Shiva and the city center. Each maintains a unique character and style of its own, expressed in the design concept chosen for the reno-vation. Yet the renovations of both the hotels also express the overriding philosophy of the Dan Hotels chain, and the leading trends in the hotel industry.

Every Hotel and Its Unique Character

As mentioned, alongside the renovations common to both hotels, each also features certain emphases in design and planning that are precisely suited to the target market, the urban environment, and the ambience that characterizes each hotel.

Bathroom: 7 out of 10 guests rate the bathroom first in their list of priorities. Therefore, extensive thought was invested in the planning and design of the perfect bath-room, down to the finest detail: sanitary fittings, tiles, and various accessories were meticulously selected to corre-spond with each other in a unified design language and to serve one central goal – to provide guests with the perfect pampering experience that meets their expectations.

Climate control: The renovations have resolved an ongoing and complicated issue: room temperature. It is difficult to satisfy all guests – it is either too hot for one guest, or too cold for another. The existing system has been replaced with an innovative 4 PIPES system that enables simultaneous cooling and heating and upgrades the climate control of the guestroom to the satisfaction of all guests.

Family accommodation: ‘Family Units’ is a new, inno-vative concept that has been implemented for the first time and has generated much interest. Family Units are suitable for 2 adults and 2 children, providing a solution for families that prefer a single, central entrance, rather than accommodation in separate, adjacent guestrooms.

Accessibility: According to the recommendations provided by an expert accessibility consultant, a range of guestrooms for guests with disabilities were planned, some of which have a connecting door to the carer’s adjacent room. Renovations to the hotel’s public spaces were also conducted in order to enable maximum convenience for guests with special needs, and to transform the hotel into a “full-access” hotel in every sense of the word.

The Dan Panorama Tel Aviv, renowned as an out-standing business hotel, is proud of its unique design suited to the specific needs of business guests, such as the business lounge on the 18th floor and its luxurious, inti-mate conference room. Chen Michaeli, General Manager for the past nine years, has guided the renovations throughout their entire history, beginning in 2005 with the upgrade of the four top floors, including the Executive Suites located on those floors. In 2010, the entrance levels and lobby were renovated, and this year, the turn came for.

Design that incorporates the worlds of old and new

The design concept, developed by the Hollin + Radoske architectural firm in Frankfurt, combines old and new, and gives the renovated rooms a one-of-a-kind character: it draws inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of Jerusalem, and from the city’s magnificent past, whose enchantment has not waned over time, yet with a definite nod to the modern world and con-temporary style. Various ornaments featuring historic character, translated into a modern language, have been implemented as a decorative motif that repeats on the walls, furnishings, and more. One of the most original and outstanding elements of the rooms is the beautiful wall plates that tell the story of Jerusalem throughout the ages. The light colors correspond with all the other elements of the room, and together with the veneer furniture, complete the picture and create a warm, pleasant and magical atmosphere, with a unique Jerusalem flavor.

renovations of floors 5 to 8, currently underway. According to Michaeli, aside from the structural frame, nothing will remain as it was. The rooms are now being upgraded to Deluxe Plus rooms, a name that best expresses the revolu-tion in design and the high standards that will transform a stay at the hotel to a hospitality experience at an entirely new level.

The thought processes behind every detail in the planning also included the trend towards ‘green’: in the new rooms, an occupancy sensor has been installed for automatic operation of lighting, an advanced tech-nological solution combining convenience and energy savings, and along the way, enables guests who observe the Sabbath to enjoy their holiday according to the Jewish law.

As a part of the vacation experience, the guests of the Dan Panorama Tel Aviv are invited to enjoy the Health & Spa complex that was recently upgraded, including the well-equipped fitness room and large swimming pool that has been refurbished in time for the swimming season. The pool area was resurfaced with a safe, aesthetic faux deck-ing material, and new flora offers a fun, summery look. All that’s left to do is jump into the pool or recline on the tanning beds with a cool, refreshing drink, and enjoy the wonderful Tel Aviv summer…

The Dan Panorama Jerusalem offers not just the clear mountain air of Jerusalem, but also the unique atmo-sphere and character of the city. The lobby is designed in dark shades of black and red, and here each guest can find a quiet, intimate corner of his or her own. The superb design faithfully reflects the significant investment and comprehensive renovation that was carried out a few years ago, which also included an upgrade of the central dining hall, followed by renovations of all the other public spaces.

After the current renovation, 130 guestrooms joined the honorary category of Deluxe, including 30 family units. According to General Manager Dubi Rakia, this change will be a “definite success” in light of the expected demand for the suites.

Guests of the hotel will enjoy a business lounge overlook-ing the Old City, a fitness room with advanced equipment, and a fully-refurbished swimming pool on the hotel rooftop, sur-rounded by a transparent glass fence that enables a perfect view of the magnificent Jerusalem cityscape.

Today, more than ever, the Dan Panorama Jerusalem is the natural choice for family vacations, romantic get-aways or business travel, with the highest service and hos-pitality level that is the pride of Dan Hotels, together with the chain’s distinct advantage – value for money – that enables it to enjoy the highest occupancy rates.

After the renovations, the Dan Panorama Hotels in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are now preparing to present to you design and planning according to the highest interna-tional standards – alongside excellent service and unique advantages that have made the Dan Hotels chain the first place winner for customer satisfaction for the eighth year in a row.

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The Watches Collection at the Museum for Islamic Art

Drama at the Museum

Each clock in the rare collection has its own individual story, but the story that connects them all is the Great Clock Robbery. In April 1983, in the dead of night, thieves broke into the Museum of Islamic Art and stole approximately 100 rare antique watches and clocks, including the Marie Antoinette clock valued at millions of dollars, and other valuable objects. The burglary, named “The Great Robbery”, was well-planned and no clues were left behind. It was then the largest robbery in the history of Israel, and many agents were recruited to help the police in their search, including the Mossad, Interpol and private investigators hired by the museum’s insurance company.

In August 2006, after 23 years, a significant development in the investigation finally occurred: a local clock-maker notified the museum that a woman had asked him to appraise some rare clocks, which were verified by him to be pieces from the famous stolen collection. Following a short investigation, it became clear that the woman who approached the clock-maker was the attorney of a US resident whose late husband had bequeathed her 40 antique clocks, including the Marie Antoinette clock, some of which were hidden in the safe that was only opened after his death.

At this stage, the Israel Police entered the picture and located a safe in Holland where they found 7 clocks, a jewelry box and a fake passport kit that was used by the thief. In the woman’s home in Los Angeles, more pieces were found and later other clocks and artworks were traced to various bank safes in France. There ended the saga that rocked the art world, and instantly entered the history pages alongside the theft of the Mona Lisa in the early 20th century, Munch’s The Scream that was stolen from the National Gallery of Oslo in the 1990’s, and the mysterious disappearance of Rembrandt’s The Night Watch during the Second World War.

The antique clock collection, which was returned to its permanent home in the Museum of Islamic Art, is now on display in a special, breathtaking exhibit that draws a large audience from all over the world. There’s no doubt that the amazing story of the “Great Clock Robbery” makes a visit to the museum even more powerful, and adds a certain dramatic touch…

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The Taste of Jerusalem

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For the people that live in Jerusalem it’s one word “Machneyudah”.

For tourists it’s probably the most colorful and beautiful market in Israel. Visitors come to Jerusalem to visit all the famous holy temples: huge synagogues, elaborate churches and mosques.

Those wishing to experience the mundane, everyday experience and the taste of traditional Jerusalem should visit the renowned neighborhoods named “Lev Ha’Ir” and “Nachlaot”, picturesque neighborhoods, water wells and washing hanging out in the garden. At the heart of these neighborhoods is “Machane Yehuda” market that is considered by most to be the most colorful and beautiful market in Israel.

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Between the Yafo and Agripas roads lies the market that is defined by two main streets: one sheltered and the other is open air. These two streets are the main links between many other smaller streets that all lead to the market.

I love old markets and as a regular customer I have chosen a few places that I am particularly fond of amongst the many others. As an amateur baker and a lover of breads and pastries, I have a fond attraction to bakeries. The smell of baking captivates my nose and I’m always willing to devote myself to the aroma of a freshly baked loaf of bread. I used to visit bakeries like Chaba and Calderon, but in recent years bakeries that bake whole wheat and rye bread have sprung up and the memories of the fine taste stay with me the entire week. Teller Bakery has brought with it a new spirit to the market.

Avishay Teller: “I was a baker for two years in Kfar Eztion, and when we opened the bakery I wanted to bring the news of homemade baking to Jerusalem.. Today we have 14 different kinds of bread, from ciabatta and baguettes to whole wheat and rye bread and many more”. All are handmade and the dough kneaders – young and enthusiastic people from Jerusalem – love their work.

You can meet the skilled baker, Russell Zaks, on the doorstep of a bakery called “Ha’Dekel 2”. The breads baked here are wheat, spelt and rye breads and those who prefer a baguette or white bread can find it here. Russell Zaks, a former photographer who worked for the Red Cross, learnt the secrets of white flour from an old Italian baker in South Africa and the secrets of rye in Stockholm. Working beside him is Nisan, also a baker and a religious Jew born in Sweden renowned for its expertise in bakery. “The market atmosphere that brought me here also brings a variety atmosphere that brought me here also brings a variety of customers” says Russell Zaks.

Machneyudah – in a single word

Alongside the colorful stalls overflowing with fruit and veg, butchers and spice stalls, coffee shops and restaurants have sprung up throughout the market, allowing buyers and casual visitors to spend time and enjoy the market atmosphere. Among them, the trendy restaurant Machneyehuda (no it’s not a spelling mistake, that’s the precise way that locals pronounce it – in one breath) and the “Hachpuria” – a small place selling Georgian dishes. The Aroma chain of coffee houses has also opened a branch here. The first place to open in the new spirit of the market 12 years ago was a Parisian style café named “Mizrachi”, owned by two brothers – Shlomo and Moshe . Shlomo owns a veg shop in the market and inside hangs a picture of his father Eliyahu, who also owned a shop in the market and his children have carried on the tradition He started off with a stall. Moshe owns probably the noisiest shop in the market that specializes in green herbs: parsley, coriander, celery, mint and cress, and the strong smell portrays the freshness. Moshe says that he has been in the market his whole life. “As children we unloaded watermelons for just a few pennies, to earn more we collected beer and juice bottle tops and sold them back to the manufacturer in Givat Shaul.”

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Yossi Mizrahi, owner of a nut shop is also a member of this extensive family and the son of “Tzachko” – brother of Shlomo and Moshe. The late “Tzachko” earned his nickname because he always loved to laugh. He is remembered as someone who modestly contributed to the poor. Amongst the “mountains” of nuts almonds and dried fruit, Yossi makes granola mixed with assorted nuts that tastes heavenly. He continues to run his father’s shop. “In 1984,” says Yossi “Dad wanted to go to abroad for the first time in his life, and I’ve been here ever since.”

Mahane Yehuda Market was established at the end of the 19th century, as a temporary market where Arab women would sell their produce to the Jewish residents who began to settle in the area. The market is also called Chaim Valero Market, after one of the most wealthy property owners in Jerusalem. As time went by, the market grew and Jewish merchants began to sell their wares in makeshift stalls and harsh conditions. The first shop belonged to the Etz Chaim Yeshiva that built shops to support the big and famous Yeshiva located in the old city. The shops expanded next to Jaffa Street and later additional shops that belonged to the Yeshiva also opened.

Two Rooms above a Veg Shop

During the British Mandate period, in the twenties, some of the traders incorporated – mostly members of the Persian community and among them the Cohen and Banai families – who established four rows of shops that are today, located on the nearby Ha’agas and Ha’tapuach streets. The Banai family resided at Ha’Agas 1 and Meir Banai, who married his cousin when she was 15, lived with her family on Nissim Bachar St. A few years later the young couple moved to a spacious two bedroom flat, over the family’s vegetable store. They moved there with their six children, Shmuel, Yaacov, Aliza, Avraham, Yitzhak and Yosef. Whilst living there his wife gave birth to Chaim and Gabriel (Gavr) Today the street is called Eliyahu Yaakov Banai, in the name of the grandfather who was a revered storyteller, actor and accomplished musician. Yossi and Gavri Banai, who grew up under the influence of their grandfather have undoubtedly inherited many of his talents.
Today the house number has changed and is now number 11, there you can find a vegetarian restaurant called Ha’agas 1. Meir Eliyahu Bana’ s signature can still be seen on the iron grille at the front of the restaurant (later the signature changed and the letter “I” was added to the family surname). In 1930, 81 merchants got together and decided to buy land from Valero and they borrowed money from the Savings and Loans bank. This purchase On Ha’Shaked St. there is a sign that reads: Savings and formed the character of the market and made it what it is today.

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Loan Market was built by the city community for the Jews of Jerusalem, 1931.
A Market of Beauty and Character Mahane Yehuda market consists of two main streets and small side streets between them. We’ll start our tour from Etz Chaim St. on Jaffa corner. An unusual structure that can be seen from here is Jerusalem’s first “Skyscraper”; a 4-storey hostel, built in 1908 and known as the sundial – a sort of giant “Smiley” sundial with two clocks. The market served as the neighborhood meeting place in the days of the British Mandate.
The first place we come across is the small Georgian section of the market with its old but refurbished stalls selling spices, haberdashery, vegetables and fruits, butchery and fish stalls and a commercial bakery. To our right, Ha’Tapuach Street and straight after Banai Street. These were the first street built in the market and on the corner of one street a particularly stylish sign.
Taking a stroll down Ha’Afarsek Street we’ll reach Ha’Shezif Street where we can sit down and indulge in a cup of freshly ground coffee and enjoy homemade pastries.
Café Mizrachi is a combination of a typical Parisian style coffee house with the added chic of Jerusalem that has turned it into one of the most successful in the market. Sit inside or if you prefer people watching there is a lovely little outside balcony.

The next street is Ha’Shaked, colorful and full of hustle and bustle. Here you’ll find Yossi Mizrachi’s nut shop and the renowned shop, David’s Fish. Opposite is Ha’Egoz Street that has undergone quite a few changes and has a variety of shops: flowers, candies, excellent ice-cream, restaurant, and designer clothes, screen printed t-shirts and ceramics where 11 ceramic artisans sell their works.
At Uzi Eli’s shop, who is nicknamed “Citrus Man” you can enjoy a glass of freshly squeezed juice and products he has concocted for stress relief. You can even ask for a glass of fertility juice or juice for a peaceful home!

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Passing through to Machane Yehuda Street, we enter the Iraqi section of the market and here we’ll end our tour at “Azura” restaurant and watch the “Hamar” where men spend their time playing cards, dominos, drinking arak or tea and generally passing time. The Hamar is a place that holds many memories for the citizens of Jerusalem, if you start a conversation you’ll hear many stories, past experiences and examples of the old days in the eternal city.

This is Mahane Yehuda Market – unique and one of a kind. Some say it is full of typical Jerusalem character, others say it holds the character of the market, but all agree that it has a great character.

Four Dan Hotels in the Capital

• The King David is perfectly located opposite the Old City walls, adjacent to the city center and a series of fascinating attractions such as Mamilla, King David’s Tower, The Time Elevator, Botanical gardens, and more.

• The Dan Jerusalem situated on the slopes of Mount Scopus, boasts breathtaking views of the Old City and the Judean Hills. The hotel is located a short walk from the old town’s lookout post and light rail station, which allows hotel guests easy access to many major sites and attractions.

• The Dan Panorama, overlooking the enchanting landscape of Jerusalem, is located near the city’s shopping, culture and entertainment center. The hotel is situated in a perfect starting point from which you can discover the different aspects the city has to offer – the sacred and profane, past and future, East and West.

• The Dan Boutique is located on a hilltop in front of Mount Zion and the Old City walls, close to many tourist attractions, within walking distance of the German Colony and near the old train station, which has become the entertainment and leisure center of Jerusalem.

Deep in the Red Sea

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The fish were silent, but the cameras were clicking: the Eilat Red Sea underwater photography competition has been gathering momentum year by year, attracting dozens of photographers from around the world. The photography challenge and the Eilat experience that have no competition.

Eilat underwater photography competition

Eilat Red Sea underwater photography competition

Late at night, dozens of photo-graphers dive into the Bay of Eilat’s frigid waters. Wearing wetsuits and armed with their cameras and lights, they are well-prepared for the scene that awaits them below the surface: many species of nocturnal fish are venturing out from their hiding places, and at this challenging moment, waiting patiently, are the photographers participating in the Eilat Red Sea underwater photography competition.

The Eilat Red Sea photography competition, which was recently held for the ninth consecutive year, attracts more and more photographers from Israel and around the world who come to take part in the “Olympics” of the underwater photography world. The creator and driving force behind this competition is veteran underwater pho-tographer David Pilosof, who in the past competed in sev-eral international competitions and brought the concept of underwater fashion and nude modeling to the world of underwater photography. “It was nice to win medals and trophies in the competitions I entered,” Pilo says, “but I always felt there was something missing. A cash prize that can help you go on another photography adventure.”

Red Sea Underwater

Indeed, the Eilat Red Sea competition managed to cement its status as the leader in the world of underwater photography thanks to the combination of the challeng-ing photographic experience in the Red Sea and the huge incentive to win – cash prizes totaling $80,000. This year’s 82 participants, who hailed from many different countries, including the USA, Italy, Switzerland, Russia, UK, and Japan, demonstrated their underwater photography skills while strictly adhering to the competition rules: not harm-ing the natural environment or touching wildlife, and not using a computer to process the images. But, with or with-out Photoshop, the photos submitted to the competition impressed the panel of Israeli and international judges, leaving Pilo, the founder of the competition, with a feeling of immense satisfaction: “The photos get better and more interesting every year, never failing to surprise.”

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Local pride: two Israeli photographers are listed among the major prizewinners this year – the first prize of $10,000 was won by Mark Fuller from Kibbutz Grofit for his five excellent photographs, the $5,000 jury prize was awarded to Uri Magnus Dotan from Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael, and the third prize was given to Yuzuru Masuda from Japan, who competed in the underwater fashion cat-egory. His winning photograph will have pride of place on the cover of the competition album.

Clown Fish Red Sea Eilat

Eilat – An Ideal Diving Site

Eilat has become one of the world’s premier diving locations, and an idyllic site for both beginners and expe-rienced divers for several good reasons. According to iDive magazine: the diving sites are within swimming distance of the beach. The underwater landscapes are startlingly beautiful, while the stable weather conditions and clear water permit diving all year round. The most popular div-ing sites include: the Japanese Gardens – the biggest and most well-preserved diving site in Eilat, the North Shore – an impressive site that includes swimming between beautiful soft corals, the Tables and Caves sites that offer fascinat-ing diving experiences, and of course the Eel Garden
approximately 80 meters from the shoreline in shallow water lies a small sand dune where an impressive number of eels live, popping their heads up to the surface.

The excitement surrounding the competition has brought many tourists to the city who are eager to experi-ence the wonders of the Red Sea for themselves while diving in the calm and tranquil bay. Eilat is prepared to help everyone enjoy this underwater experience in any way they choose – through the diving clubs mostly located by the beautiful diving sites, a visit to the Underwater Observatory, the Jules Verne Explorer boat, the Dolphin Reef, and more.

The competition is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Sport, the Municipality of Eilat, the Underwater Observatory, the Dolphin Reef and international sponsors.

Red Sea underwater photography: clown fish