Tidewater Celebrates Israel@72 All Year Long!
The festivities are a little different this year, but we're still celebrating Israel's 72 years throughout 2020.
This is an unprecedented opportunity for Israel supporters from every background and corner of the globe to unite — digitally — and celebrate Israel.
Israel Fest 2020 - Tidewater Celebrates Israel @ 72 (from HOME!)
Celebrate Israel with PJ Library in Tidewater and Ohef Sholom Temple's Wiggles & Giggles.
Check out Tidewater's Israel Kahoot! Competition. Join Kindergartners through 7th graders from Ohef Sholom Temple and Beit Sefer, the partnered school of Beth El, Temple Israel, and KBH, (and their families!) for fun. View video.
Join Israel Today expert and founder of Artists 4 Israel, Craig Dershowitz, for a conversation about Artists 4 Israel's Healing Ink project and the impact in Virginia Beach during their December 2019 visit as they helped first responders and victims of the Virginia Beach Municipal Center shooting, heal. View video.
Cook with Meat Carneval's Gili Ben Shahar & Ohad Kvity: Former Dad Bloggers turned Culinary Renegades brought their live-fire Israeli cooking skills to your kitchen from Israel. Cook along with Gili and Ohad – get prep list here.
Here are more ways you can celebrate Israel@72 all year long!
What to EAT and DRINK to celebrate Israel@72
Here are some quintessential Israeli recipes for you to try at home.
- Adena Sussman's Tahini Blondies
- Yotam Ottolenghi's Shakshuka
- Alon Shaya's Hummus
- Michael Solomonov's 'Zahav' Mango, Cucumber and Sumac-Onion Israeli Salad
- Stuffed Grape Leaves
- Learn more about Israeli food after 1948.
- The 5 Foods You Must Eat for Israel's Birthday: From hummus to homemade pita, these are the foods you should enjoy.
- The 12 Israeli Wines You Need to Drink to Be an Expert
What to LISTEN to, to celebrate Israel@72
Here are some awesome Israeli playlists and podcasts for you to plug in and enjoy!
- Playlists that reflect the music, people, and history of Israel through various artists, genres, and tempos!
- Seven decades of Israeli music (with videos!) for Yom HaAtzmaut
- Take a musical journey down memory lane through songs of yearning, war, and peace, and hear the stories behind some of Israel's most iconic tunes with the Israel Story podcast.
- Take a glimpse into the everyday lives of Jews and Arabs in Israel, stories of people living the example of a truly shared society.
- Learn about Israeli psyche, society, and culture through the Hebrew language within a bite-size podcast showcasing modern Hebrew and its slang.
What to WATCH to celebrate Israel@72
- Check out an Israeli film from one of Virginia Festival of Jewish Film's past line ups.
- The Jerusalem Post's number 1 movie from the past decade: The Matchmaker!
- Watch a lost interview with of one of modern history's greatest leaders in the Ben-Gurion Epilogue, There Are No Lions in Tel Aviv and other Israeli films.
- Explore the extraordinary relationship between Miriam and her grandson, Ben, as they join forces to save Rudi Weissenstein's photo shop and its nearly one million negatives that document Israel's defining moments.
- 10 must-see Israeli TV shows
- A guide to every single Israeli TV show and movie you can stream right now
What to READ to celebrate Israel@72
- Celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut: Israel Independence Day by learning more about the day.
- Read the Declaration of the Establishment of State of Israel.
- 14 must-read books to help you understand Israel's history, culture and technology
- 7 must-read books by Israeli authors
- 11 Israeli books you must read over the summer!
- Check out Israel's newspapers for the latest news:
Take a VIRTUAL VISIT to Israel to celebrate Israel@72
Can't visit Israel? Go on a gorgeous virtual tour instead!
- Coronavirus scares may be closing the skies but there's no reason you can't still enjoy a trip around Israel!
- Explore Israel and all she has to offer…
- CBN News Takes You to the Holy Land with Daily Virtual Tour
- Experience Israel through The Culture Trip.
Plan an ACTUAL VISIT to Israel to celebrate Israel@72
- Birthright Israel offers a 10-day journey for Young Jewish Adults, ages 18 – 32
- The an immersive trip with a cohort or as a couple with Honeymoon Israel.
- International Christian Embassy Jerusalem hosts The Israel Impact Tour, a one-of-a-kind, power-packed 10-day young adult tour to the land of the Bible
- Our friends at Puzzle Israel takes adventurers on trips WITH Israelis AS Israelis.
A few additional activities to make your Israel@72 celebration at home more fun
- Make an Israeli Flag with repurposed items around the house. Be as creative as possible, and send us your photo! Be sure to share a photo of your flag!
- Water is a fundamental resource and business in Israel. Build your own water tower using the following items and show the result. You can only use the items listed in the time allotted. Good luck!
- Start your own Israel garden by sowing plants grown in Israel. Nowadays, that is just about everything, but you can plant more traditional seeds to include figs, olives, chickpeas, and others.
- Ask the Expert: 5 DIY Yom Ha'atzmaut Celebrations
- 12 ways to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut like an Israeli!
- Five ways to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut: From a day at the beach to drinking beer peppered with Cuban tobacco, activities abound for Israel's birthday.
- Write a prayer and send it to Israel to be placed in the Western Wall.
- 11 fun ways to celebrate Israel Independence Day in lockdown
Have more ideas for us to add to the virtual celebration? Want to share a story or photo of a favorite trip to Israel or a favorite dish you made? Click here to share or share them on social media with #TidewaterCelebratesIsrael@72 or #YomFromHomeInTidewater.
The best way to celebrate Israel is TOGETHER!
Take a look back at past Israel Fests!