Israeli Radio

Tired of hearing the same songs on every station?  Today’s car rides are an exercise in monotony, but they don’t have to be. With satellite radio we are no longer limited to whatever station gets the best reception, so we might as well tune into an Israeli station and see what we’re missing. Israeli radio has a way of finding songs that you love but would never put on your ipod.

Listening to the radio in Israel is an experience. Most radio stations in Israel feature an eclectic mix of music from every generation. Modern pop music is followed by Golden Oldies and rockin’ hits from the 80’s. One of the most popular radio stations in Israel is Galgalatz, a station operated by the Israeli Defense Force that plays nonstop music and traffic reports. Galgalatz gives back to the IDF soldiers by hosting an hour long playlist created by different units every day. Tune in and find yourself taking the longer commute to work because you don’t want to miss that song you didn’t even realize you wanted to hear. tunein.com/radio/Galgalatz-918-s68320/

Image Source: http://bit.ly/11OxzrE

American radio can learn a thing or two from Israel.

Keeping Active in Israel

With over 300 days of sunshine a year, Israelis always feel the need to be "beach ready," a feat made easier by workout gyms that are almost as prevalent as coffee shops in Tel Aviv. Perhaps even more enticing for serious athletes are city-sponsored events that are staged every month. 

After their army service, thousands of Israelis travel to India and bring back a love for Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, and other disciplines that engage the body and spirit. It's no wonder why Israelis would want to keep their post-army bodies in shape, which they are doing in more ways than one. Israel has joined the worldwide trend of offering short, high intensity workouts for those who want to build muscle along with an adrenaline rush. Tel Aviv is even broadening its fitness selection to include a few high intensity CrossFit gyms, popular with ex-special forces. When it comes to gyms, Israelis don't need a New Year's resolution to remind them to go. Israeli gyms will call you and tell you exactly how long it was since you were last there! 

For those who want a more outdoor experience, Israel has spent millions of shekels designing facilities that cater to the needs of athletes of all levels. Many cities hired urban planners and designers to install outdoor gyms around the country. Found in many parks, these outdoor gyms are electricity-free and use body weight to get their gears moving. There are also bike rental stations in Tel Aviv to allow its residents to make the most of newly renovated bike lanes. No matter what their fitness level, Israel is helping its residents stay more active outdoors. 

This active lifestyle has clear advantages. In addition to keeping health costs down with fewer sedentary lifestyle-induced illnesses, Israelis are living longer than ever. With fresh produce cheap and accessible, Israeli diets support healthy living. If you are looking to kick start 2013, there's still time to sign up for both the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem marathons, both held in March. So, for those of you planning a trip to Israel, remember to pack your gym shoes! 

How to watch Netflix in Israel

Leaving the States was painful in many ways, but one of the most heart wrenching for some was the loss of a constant companion, dear friend, and faithful provider...Netflix. Tears were shed, subscriptions were canceled, and many ex-pats were only left with fond memories and all too short holiday visits.

But those days are no more! Now you can spend your Valentines night snuggled up with some Netflix.

A new company, Hola, is attempting to speed up the internet. They haven't really succeeded yet, but a side effect is Netflix, Hulu, and US content streaming sites are now available in Israel. This site is Free and you don't have to deal with those proxy-servers that don't really work. Go to www.hola.org download their thing, and get out of the dark ages.

Before Hola

After Hola

 Before Hola

 After Hola

"Liking" History

Coursera is a social entrepreneurship start-up that developed an online platform to bring university classes to anyone with a computer.  Over two million people have signed up to take a class from schools like Princeton, Stanford, Columbia, and other highly ranked universities. This is great for the college level, but what about high school? Israeli high school student must pass a matriculation exam covering topics from the Second Temple to World War II. One Israeli nonprofit company, “Making History” is using Facebook’s timeline feature to make history more interactive. This company decided to turn Facebook into an educational tool and exam prep course. What are your thoughts? Will Facebook ever become more than social media, and can it teach people in an impactful way?

http://nocamels.com/2012/12/israeli-entrepreneurs-use-facebook-to-teach-kids-history/

Carmel Market’s not-so-secret facelift

Israel is becoming hotter than its weather. With over 3.5 million tourists walking, flying, and driving into Israel last year alone, this small country is showing it can handle the challenge. 

Tourism numbers are going up around the world, but Israel is a stand-out in the Middle East tourism arena. With popular television shows like Homeland showcasing Tel Aviv's Middle Eastern feel and European style, it is no wonder more and more visitors are coming to these shores. 


But what some don't know is that the Tel Aviv shuk is getting a makeover. Talks have ended and it looks like the plan will be approved, but what will this mean? Shuk HaCarmel, an outdoor market in the heart of Tel Aviv, is a tourist attraction and a vibrant local market. The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality has in mind to clean up the shuk and modernize it. This new plan includes covering the market and rezoning the area for commerce. More businesses will be brought in, residential buildings built, and a four-level underground parking structure is planned. So if you want to see the old market while it’s still here, now is the time to come!

Falafel

Falafel is an Israeli street food staple. While the street version is delicious, it isn’t always the healthiest thing for you. Here's a simple baked falafel recipe that keeps the flavor without the fat. Try it out and let me know what you think!

1 -20 oz can chickpeas
1/2 onion
1/4 cup of chopped parsley and/or cilantro mixed
2-3 cloves garlic (slightly roasted)

1 Tbsp flour
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
couple tablespoons of olive oil - for the falafel and for the baking sheet
1 tsp salt 

1/4 tsp pepper

Drain the chickpeas and pulse everything together in a food processor. You want to end up with a couscous consistency. Then roll the mixture into half dollar sized balls and lightly coat with olive oil. Put the balls on a baking sheet (it’s ok to smush them a little so they have a flat top and bottom) then put them in the oven at 400 degrees F - 10 minutes for first side, 15 minutes for the second.

For more step by step instructions (or a fried recipe) check out at http://theshiksa.com/2011/01/05/falafel/