This past week has seen distingusihed Israeli victories in the fields of music, movies and sport. Of the winners, two are olim from the former Soviet Union and three are 18 years old or younger.
As reported widely in the press here and abroad, pole-vaulter Alex Averbukh last week became the first Israeli to win a gold medal at the European Athletic Championships. Averbukh, an immigrant from Siberia, dedicated his medal ?to my father and the people of Israel. I want to give a little present to the Israeli people, in place of the news that is not so good,? he said through a Russian translator. Averbukh was visibly moved when the Israeli national anthem was played in the Munich sports stadium. The win was particularly symbolic, as the memorial ceremonies for the 11 Israeli athletes killed during the 1974 Olympics were taking place in Munich that same week.
In another gold medal win last Friday, sailors Eyal Levine and Stav Cohen took the European Youth Championship in Newport, Belgium. Cohen, 17-and-a-half years old, and his partner, Levine, 16, ?are made of championship material?? said Yehudah Ma?ayan, chairman of the Sailing Association.
Israeli competitors also shined in the arts. Pianist Boris Giltberg won first place in the the International Piano Competition in Spain last week. Giltberg, 18, was awarded $20,000 and a series of invitations to play for European audiences. The young star pianist made aliyahfrom Moscow in 1990.
And in Australia, the Israeli film It Kinda Scares me (Tomer Ve-Hasrutim) by Tomer Heymann took first prize for documentary films at the Melbourne International Film Festival, including $3000 Australian dollars in prize money. The film, which details the filmmaker?s experiences as a counselor for a group of boys in Azur, Israel, had previously won the Israel Film and Television Academy prize and the Torino Festival award. It is slated to be screened next week at the Edinburgh Film Festival.
As reported widely in the press here and abroad, pole-vaulter Alex Averbukh last week became the first Israeli to win a gold medal at the European Athletic Championships. Averbukh, an immigrant from Siberia, dedicated his medal ?to my father and the people of Israel. I want to give a little present to the Israeli people, in place of the news that is not so good,? he said through a Russian translator. Averbukh was visibly moved when the Israeli national anthem was played in the Munich sports stadium. The win was particularly symbolic, as the memorial ceremonies for the 11 Israeli athletes killed during the 1974 Olympics were taking place in Munich that same week.
In another gold medal win last Friday, sailors Eyal Levine and Stav Cohen took the European Youth Championship in Newport, Belgium. Cohen, 17-and-a-half years old, and his partner, Levine, 16, ?are made of championship material?? said Yehudah Ma?ayan, chairman of the Sailing Association.
Israeli competitors also shined in the arts. Pianist Boris Giltberg won first place in the the International Piano Competition in Spain last week. Giltberg, 18, was awarded $20,000 and a series of invitations to play for European audiences. The young star pianist made aliyahfrom Moscow in 1990.
And in Australia, the Israeli film It Kinda Scares me (Tomer Ve-Hasrutim) by Tomer Heymann took first prize for documentary films at the Melbourne International Film Festival, including $3000 Australian dollars in prize money. The film, which details the filmmaker?s experiences as a counselor for a group of boys in Azur, Israel, had previously won the Israel Film and Television Academy prize and the Torino Festival award. It is slated to be screened next week at the Edinburgh Film Festival.