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As the country celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2008, we have a new Israel, a surprising Israel, an Israel that was not part of the Zionist dreams of our sturdy, malaria-fighting, kibbutz-building, vision-seeing, life-risking forefathers.

Today's Israel is a sophisticated place, a thrilling mix of east and west, low and hi tech, modern and ancient; intensely secular, intensely religious. For travelers looking for the unusual and willing to be a bit adventurous, Israel today will reward and surprise you. Let's see what's new in culture, sports and lifestyles.

Israeli Culture & History

Would our solid forebears be amazed -- would Golda grin or Ben Gurion laugh? -- to encounter such contemporary Israeli curiosities as:

Red Sea Jazz Festival
08/634-0253
Cool jazz under the hot sun, at the end of every August. Hang out in the port city of Eilat under star-strewn skies and hear musicians who have gathered from all over the world to jam and riff in all-night sessions that spill out onto the beach and continue 'til dawn, and on . . . Annually one of the world's biggest, greatest jazz festivals outside the U.S.

Israeli Opera
03/692-7777
And tons of it in the brand new, big, bold and beautiful Opera House, the core of the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center in the heart of the city. See and hear internationally acclaimed stars sing Aida, Carmen, and Falstaff in their original languages with subtitles in Hebrew!

An Indian synagogue in the desert! Moshav Nevatim, not far from Beersheba, is inhabited by 120 Bene Israel families, Indian Jews who claim to be descendants of one of the Ten Lost Tribes. Immigrating in 1955, the villagers did their part to help fulfill Ben Gurion's vision of making the desert bloom by planting and tending roses in the sandy land. And bloom they did. Twenty years later, with great pride, the community built a replica of their old and beloved synagogue, the centerpiece of which, the bima ,was imported from India. To visit this surprising and charming site, phone 07-623-8299. And, for small groups, Rima and Nehemia will prepare a fine Indian meal, Cochin style, in their home. Phone 07-623-3928.

Digs are Us
Archaeological digs, once the esoteric provenance of university scholars and archaeologists, have been spiffed up by academic marketeers to attract both financial support as well as "volunteers" (formerly known as slave laborers!!). There are many major ongoing digs throughout the country, details of which are available on the Internet at Archaelogical Sites. Now wildly popular, digs are a clever way to spend an exciting month or so at minimal vacation cost. Many satisfied "slaves" consider these digs the ultimate one-stop for study, sun, shards ... you never know.

Explore The Old
Just to the left of the Jerusalem's Damascus Gate is an immense cave with honeycombed chambers, niches, dark passageways, massive pillars, all overpoweringly strange and silent. For over 2,000 years, Zedekiah's Cave has been a great place to hide from the noonday sun. This huge former stone quarry and/or burial cave is now well lit and marked. So you can see, won't get lost, and can explore an incredible ancient site right under the hustle and bustle of the Old City.

Relive the Past!
The "Great King Herod Murder Mystery" is performed on Saturday nights at 10 pm in Jerusalem's ancient (2700 year old) Citadel at the Tower of David Museum. In English and wittily interactive: four suspects protest their innocence and the audience gets to decide who murdered Aristobulus III, the 17-year- old high priest. Follow the actors through dimly lit courtyards, up stone stair wells. Outcome: you're usually wrong. But the true culprit will step forward defiantly. [Hint: the butler didn't do it.]