Joodles Archive

If Ruth represents the harvests of ancient Israel, Eyal Shani celebrates the flavours of modern Israel. Born in Jerusalem in 1959, Shani is one of Israel’s most famous chefs, known for transforming simple ingredients into something unforgettable. In his hands, tomatoes, cauliflower, olive oil, pita and fresh herbs become something extraordinary. His distinctive, theatrical style has helped redefine how Israeli food is seen around the world. Shani’s cuisine is bold, creati

Long before the startup nation, the Jewish people gave the world one of its most enduring ethical frameworks: the Ten Commandments. According to Jewish tradition, Shavuot marks the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, including these ten short principles that would go on to shape moral thinking for generations. Their influence extended far beyond Judaism. Ideas about respecting parents, protecting life, telling the truth, respecting property and recognising limits on human

The biblical figure associated the most with Shavuot is undoubtedly Ruth, who lived in ancient Israel during the time of the Judges. The Book of Ruth, which we read on Shavuot, tells the story of a woman who refused to give up. When faced with the loss of her husband, instead of succumbing to grief, Ruth chose loyalty, kindness and faith. After the death of her Jewish husband, Ruth could have remained in her homeland of Moab. Instead, she chose to accompany her mother-in-

Born in Ra’anana in 1998 to French Jewish immigrant parents, Noam Bettan had already built a growing music career in Israel before Eurovision, releasing successful singles and a debut album after first gaining national attention on Israeli television. But Eurovision 2026 is his breakout moment. His song Michelle, blended Hebrew, French and English in a dramatic ballad about a toxic relationship. Bettan captivated audiences and earned second place in the public vote, helpi

Yuval Raphael’s journey to the Eurovision stage is one of extraordinary survival and resilience. On 7 October 2023, the then 23-year-old was at the Nova music festival when Hamas terrorists attacked. She escaped to a roadside bomb shelter, where dozens of people crammed inside as gunmen repeatedly returned, firing into the shelter and throwing grenades. Raphael survived by hiding for hours beneath the bodies of those murdered, later speaking in heartbreaking interviews abou

Born in Tel Aviv in 1957 to a large Yemeni Jewish family, Ofra Haza rose from modest beginnings in one of the city’s poorer neighbourhoods to become one of Israel’s most iconic singers. Her extraordinary voice first gained attention as a teenager in a local theatre troupe, before she became a national star in the 1970s and 80s. In 1983, she represented Israel at Eurovision with Chai, finishing second in one of the contest’s closest results. Far from a disappointment, the

Deni Avdija was born in 2001 in Israel. He grew up around basketball. His father was a professional player, and from a young age he was already competing at a high level. As a teenager, he joined Maccabi Tel Aviv, one of Europe’s top clubs. By 18, he was playing professionally and winning championships. He also represented Israel internationally, leading the under-20 national team to a European Championship title, where he was named MVP. In 2020, he entered the NBA Draft and

Today, athletes train very differently to what they did in the past. A lot of that shift has come from technology that allows athletes to study and improve their performance in ways that were once impossible. PlaySight is an Israeli sports technology that started in 2010 with a simple idea: use cameras and software to record training sessions and turn them into something athletes could analyse and learn from. The system places multiple cameras around a court or field. It trac

Agnes Keleti was born on 9 January 1921 in Hungary. She began gymnastics as a child and was already a national champion before the war. Her career was then taken away from her. Anti-Jewish laws banned her from competing, and during the Holocaust she was forced into hiding, surviving under a false identity. Her father and many relatives were murdered. After the war, in her mid-20s, she returned to a sport where most athletes peak much earlier. In her 30s, an age when most gymn