SOUTH A musical Tu Be'av To celebrate Tu Be'av, the Israeli Valentine's Day, the Beit Guvrin music festival will on August 7 host two of Israel's most famous female pop singers at the Beit Guvrin amphitheater: Yuval Dayan, who rose to fame on “The Voice,” and Miri Mesika, who has won several female singer of the year awards in Israel. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets range from NIS 164 to NIS 184, with sitting and standing room options available. For more information and tickets, see www.zappa-club.co.il Retreat into love If big crowds are not your style, the Desert Ashram's series of love-themed retreats and workshops may catch your fancy. The Ashram, a spiritual and therapeutic center run by a “commune of desert dwellers and Osho meditators,” will host several events throughout August with amorous topics such as “Presence and Eros: A Transformative Weekend of Knowing the Body Wisdom” from August 17 to 19, and “From Fear to Love – Going beyond Sexual Conditioning” from August 22 to 26. All events are to be held at the Ashram, south of Mitzpe Ramon. Tickets for events vary widely according to length and accommodation options and early-bird prices are available. For more information and reservations, see www.desertashram.co.il/. Fires, meat consumption and pets are prohibited. Light up the night Whether for a date or the whole family, the Eilat Tourist Center offers a dazzling light fountain show, featuring 350 jets of water up to 30 meters high, coordinated with music and vibrant colors brought to life using 400 individual LEDs. Free, no tickets required. Every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Gan Binyamin in Eilat, throughout the summer. Shows at 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. NORTH Nights of love on Lake Kinneret The three-day Galilee music festival “Nights of Love” ends with its final shows on Saturday night. Vocalist Avraham Tal and pop/rock sensation Eli Botner will take the stage at sunset. Beit Gabriel Amphitheater, Jordan Valley. Doors at 6 p.m., first show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for NIS 139 at betgabriel.co.il Story, crafts and classical music From August 17 to 19, a unique classical music festival will take place at the Open Museum that operates within the Tefen, Tel Hai and Omer Industrial Parks. Master percussionist Chen Zimbalista, along with other first-class musicians from around the country, will teach master classes and perform concerts for the whole family. Event participants are also invited to enjoy the museum's exhibits, including an exhibition about classic cars in Israel, one on how artifacts tell the story of the immigration of Central European Jews to Israel in the 1930s, a statue garden, and an outdoor playground for children over the age of three. The master classes are free, and concert tickets cost NIS 30. For information and reservations: www.ozrothagalil.org.il, or 077-996-4406. CENTER Bask in Regina Spektor's soul tunes Beloved Jewish songstress Regina Spektor will perform once again in Israel on August 19 at the Ra'anana Amphipark. She is known for tragic love songs such as the biblically inspired “Samson,” and the opening to Orange is the New Black, “You've Got Time.” This is Spektor's third trip to Israel, having performed here in both 2007 and 2013. Spektor also sang in celebration of Israel's 60th birthday as a state in 2008 at the National Mall in Washington, DC. Selected tickets are still available at www.eventim.co.il/ All you need is love The Israel Children's Museum in Holon helps kids fall in love with The Beatles with their take on the “Magical Mystery Tour.” This interactive exhibit, with special features for both children and adults, helps answer questions like “Why are The Beatles considered the most successful and beloved band in the world?” and “How can they be used to understand music as a tool for creativity, communication between people, development of imagination, expression of emotions and social and cultural values?” For tour times, more information, and advanced reservations: (03) 650-3000.
Regina Spektor to play in concert on August 19 in Ra’anana Amphipark(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)