Elie Bleier

The happening Noga neighborhood, snugly situated between Yafo and Florentine, is home to not one, not two, but five distinct cafes serving some of the best java in Tel Aviv

New year, new goals, new body, new you. Less talk, more do. Eat, pray, love. Yalla yalla, enough already, get going; we all know the yearly drill, rinsed and repeated. But do we know what’s the right way to get going here in Israel? Here are the best ways to tighten up your holy tush in the holy land: Beach Workouts Intrigued by the innumerable shirtless studs strutting their stuff? Don’t get left in their (often sparkly) dust. Check out one of the numerous bodyweight exercise stations spanning the boardwalk. Pull-ups, squats, and sit-ups will challenge you, while those stations where you swing your hips back and forth will...well, they’ll just confuse you. Once you break a sweat, cooling off is literally a stone's throw away. Explore Tel Aviv is as flat as your behind. Start toning it by exploring it. Walk from north to south in about an hour. Bike the boardwalk or, if you’re feeling brave, the streets. Just remember: electric scooters don’t burn cals. Neither does GetTaxi, for that matter. And that baklava you snarfed mid-way through your stroll? Yeah, that means you’ve gotta walk back north again. Tel Aviv Port © Shutterstock Martial Arts Toss those infomercial self-defense VHS’s your savta saved for you. Turns out Jews have developed some of the world’s most renowned martial arts. Go for a Krav Maga class to engage your inner IDF soldier. Get Samson strong with Abir Qesheth, purportedly developed in biblical times. Or check out an MMA class if you want something that ac

Want to know how Israelis have become known for such successful entrepreneurship across the globe? One hint: A secret ingredient here in Silicon Wadi - chutzpah. A new podcast highlighting the vibrant stories of Israeli start-up founders sheds light on the subject. Israel is well known as the Startup Nation. The Israel Defense Forces teach grit, discipline and how to navigate flexible hierarchies. Immigrants bless the nation with various languages and skillsets. Higher education is not only renowned domestically but globally leading, especially in the sciences and entrepreneurship. Tapping into this success, Tel Aviv based venture capital firm F2 Capital has started a podcast, Founder Stories, which interviews successful Israeli entrepreneurs. The hosts of the podcast happen to be intimately connected. Husband Barak, a managing director of the firm, and wife Anouk, founder of the tech journalism site NoCamels.com, invite the who’s who of the local scene to informally chat not just about their business journeys but life journeys as well. “We wanted the podcast to be like meeting people in our living room or a cafe,” Anouk explained, “It's laid back and intimate. We delve quite deep, not just focusing on the business but on anything: we talk about ourselves, about our kids, even the meaning of life!” Founder Stories © Ayelet Shapira The impetus for the podcast was quite simple. “My husband and I love podcasts.” Anouk exclaimed, “We listen in our free time, whether driving our

Harleys and Torah Study? A Zionist, do-gooding motorcycle club? Yup, that's right. Giving back with the Zion Riders  The engines roar ferociously as the motorcycles circle the courtyard, lap after lap, continuously revving their choppers, drowning out the screaming school kids ecstatically snapping photo after photo. Finally parking, the bandana-touting, patch-filled vest-wearing motorcyclists demount from their custom bikes and cross their large, tattooed arms to face the awe of the teenage crowd. A young male runs towards them, energetically singing as he waves the Israeli flag in the air; the bikers, breaking their cool, smile, joining him for an opportune photo. A moment later, the school rabbi grabs the leather-clad, tattooed bikers' hands for a round of the hora and they all dance joyously. Not an everyday Israeli scene, that's for sure. Zion Riders © Elie Bleier The bikers are members of Zion Riders, Israel’s largest and most prestigious motorcycle club. Founded in 2003, Joseph “Bonnie” Hayat was a seasoned motorcyclist who had returned from a stint living in the US and wanted to bring the same motorcycle culture back home. The club has blossomed over the years, touting a global Motorcycle Club affiliation with members as old as 86 streaming across a range of professions and political affiliations. But since its inception, and in contrast to the rigid rules of the stateside bike clubs, Bonnie knew things would have to work a little differently here. “We’re Jews,” he

Coffee and bikes. A match made in heaven. Brothers from another mother. In Tel Aviv, you see fixed gear maniacs racing from one third-wave roaster to the next just to get their fix, as if we were in the middle of Berlin or Brooklyn. Here, three bike-café owners on the local scene and what makes coffee and bikes just work BikeCafé At first glance, bikeCafe looks like your authentic traditional bike shop. Gear flooding every corner of the store. Custom made Middleasta bikes hanging from the walls. Energy bars for your mid-ride pick-up. Even a vast selection of cycling caps. But behind the counter, a stunningly gorgeous espresso machine changes the game. For Arnon Fisher, 42, he wouldn’t have it any other way, combining two of his greatest passions. Courtesy of Bikecafe Tell us about yourself. I started biking when I was 5. I’m from Tivon, a small countryside town, and when I was 11, I started working at the only local bike shop. I performed simple tasks, like fixing flat tires. Biking has always been a main part of my life. How did you get into coffee? Well, coffee is also a main part of my life. I love coffee. I love sitting at cafes. Good coffee is the main catalyst for your entire day. If you drink lousy coffee first thing in the morning, it can ruin your day! If you had to choose one? It would probably be bikes. I don’t see myself without coffee, but it’s the end of the world without bikes. What do you think about biking in Tel Aviv? I see Tel Aviv as the perfect city for

Skateboarding has always been on the edge of mainstream sports, but with the 2020 Olympics hosting its first ever competition, the skater community is set for a bright spotlight. An interview with Mayaan Levi, founder of Jerusalem Skater Girls, on how the local landscape is shifting and the next generation of insane little skate monsters  In Israel, the local skate scene is on the pickup, with brand new skate parks opening up left and right and skaters hoping to vie for a spot on the national team. Israeli girls are also becoming part of the tribe with the first ever women’s competition held four years ago. We met up with Mayaan Levi, 27, co-creator of JSG (Jerusalem Skater Girls), a group that bolsters the Israeli female skate community, to talk about hosting that first competition and more. Arriving on a little cruiser, decked out in JSG gear, a Tel Aviv tan and positive vibes, Mayaan is the perfect person to get Israeli girls on board(s) – and skating into the future. What’s your background? I started skateboarding when I was 16 years old with some of my best friends. They wanted to be “cool”. I found a toy skateboard that was just lying around my house. I went with them and fell in love! They all quit after three months. Mayaan Levi © Johnny Benchimol Paula, my JSG co-creator, moved to our school from Panama. Her Hebrew wasn’t that good, but I invited her to the skate park and she really liked it, feeling as though she found her place in Israel. We would skate every day

Tell us about your background. My mom is American and my dad is Palestinian-Arab. We moved to the States, to Florida, when I was thirteen and I lived there for ten years before I decided to come back. I like it better here. I was born and raised here, it’s where I see myself living. It’s my home. My friends and people I grew up with here mean a lot to me and the energy I get here from them. I’m just more motivated here. Shout out to West Palm Beach, though! Florida is a beautiful state. The beaches, the warm weather, you know. I didn’t really connect with the people or find myself there. America is no doubt one of the greatest countries in the world. But the warmth and connection of people here I haven’t found anywhere else. When did you get into music? I decided to become a DJ after I went to a Steve Aoki show. I was blown away by the energy of the crowd and how he could bring everyone to a different level through music alone. It’s amazing to affect people, changing their whole mood and taking them on a sound journey. Music gets you thinking and moving; in a way it’s therapeutic. Before, I never had thought that I would be a DJ. I always liked music, but it wasn’t some dream of mine. But after this event blew me away, I decided to give it a shot. I signed up for a course at BPM in Haifa, and the rest is history. Courtesy of Yasmine Eve What genres inspire you lately? Which artists? From rock to hip hop, down tempo to techno, tech house to progressive. Oriental, Arabic, you

Walking along the Tel Aviv boardwalk on any given day, one can see hordes of surfers impatiently waiting for the next swell. What one doesn’t see are the local surfboard makers who create the boards made for the waves, in doing so, anchoring the domestic market. We asked three local shapers the importance of custom boards, the status of the Israeli surf scene and where they side on the debate between machine and hand-made. Hani Surfboards Sitting in a prominent Jaffa cafe, passerby after passerby acknowledge Hani Ovadia, 43, shaking his hand, complaining about the (lack of) waves and oozing over his latest model. As the owner and head shaper of one of the hippest and most successful surf companies in Israel, getting recognition is business as usual. Tell us your background. I started surfing around 13. There was a group of surfers; the cool guys in my neighborhood Tel Kabir. I went surfing with them and got hooked. The funny thing is that they didn’t go surfing for surfing. They went to be social. Today, none of them is still a surfer. I ended up as the only one in the neighborhood. After the army I worked at Intersurf fixing boards. I was living at my parents' house, and there were days when I would wake up at 5 AM so I could surf before work at 9 AM, and if it was a good day, end at 18:00 and go surfing again. I’d come home at 21:00, surfboard in hand. All the neighbors would ask my mom: “Is your son even working? Does he just hang at the beach all day?!" Hani Surfboards

Everyone knows of recycling: downgrading old material to make something lesser. But not many are aware of its opposite, upcycling: repurposing and reclaiming old material in order to make something new and even better What may have started as simple DIY is now a full-fledged ideology and global movement pushed forward by environmental activists and alternative economy advocates alike. It’s also well alive in Israel, in spite of and as a reaction to the ubiquity of Ikea-made-everything. Across Tel Aviv, you can find artisans that not only turn dumpster diving into beautiful handmade products but do so with a guiding purpose.  Molet: Wood, wood and a lot of wood. At Molet, that’s the name of the game. Tal “Talco” Mor, 33, Head of Molet's Hospitality, chilled in their sidewalk Zula bar, completely handmade, explaining the pallet revolution and tourist workshops alongside the company dog Puma. Leashless, of course. How did Molet come to be? It started with Ari Lieberman. He and his friends were architects in Buenos Aires who, sick of working in front of computers, scheduled a weekly meetup for their hands, minds and beers. On the way, they would collect street pallets which they would then tinker with. They started small projects for things they needed but soon started looking at the pallet holistically, and after a few months had developed systems of how to work with them. They were taking something that has one meaning and giving it another. Molet © Hila Ido After Ari made Al

We sent out one of our writers to report back on the festivities... Back in the press tent, in between live streams and 3D pressed lattes, the discussion weaved between the competitors, the food and the weather. But at a certain point, the unavoidable question was raised to and by each and every journalist: How do you feel about the politics? How is it to be here, in Israel, home of the one of the world’s most contentious ongoing situations? Is there pressure between the grandiosity of the event and the gravitas of the conflict? And is Eurovision the solution?(!?)   Elie Bleier “The politics and moreover diplomatic games are nothing new at Eurovision,” explains Dean Vuletic, an academic historian specializing on the event, “it’s been used by people ranging from dictators to drag queens.” Sebastian Diaz and Etienne Waïotte of Wiwibloggs, a top Eurovision blog, express similar sentiments: “It’s ‘not’ political...but it so is,” Sebastian says, “and the political drama is part of the excitement. It’s like the Olympics of music - more than 200 million people watch it, it's one of the biggest TV shows in the world, countries competing from across the globe, so of course, politics comes into play.” Part of the politics comes from countries that, while geographically speaking lie outside of Europe, feel connected to its culture and want to participate. And in order to participate, they must join the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) and follow its rules. But unlike Israel, some don

We sent out one of our writers to report back on the festivities... The press tent of Tel Aviv’s Eurovision is abuzz prior to the start of the semifinals. International news teams with high-end gear are on a single-minded mission: to capture the essence of this year's competition. Coming from far reaching corners of Europe, one can hear diverse languages left and right, see an abundance of national flags, and even taste the diversity: a latte machine prints each country’s Eurovision representative right into the foamed milk. But amidst the film crews and telescopic lenses is the changing face of Eurovision coverage represented, simply, by low-tech selfie sticks. And not just for selfies! An essential tool in the modern day Eurovision Vlogger’s toolkit is, it seems, the live stream: providing 24/7 live content through various social media sites, and even during the event itself. In addition to selfie sticks, there are hundreds of laptops with makeshift studio setups, providing coverage and analysis to fans back home. Because why watch the actual Eurovision when you can watch someone talk about Eurovision? Elie Bleier One press table, front and center, is filled to the brim with reporters and an ongoing live-stream. Founded ten years ago, Wiwibloggs is an independent, international and perhaps the most influential dedicated Eurovision blog. But perhaps ‘perhaps’ is an understatement. While most media organizations were allotted five press passes, they finagled 22 through conn

Get your dog ready. Put your headphones on. Start video chatting your cousin. Light a cigarette. Pop open a Goldstar. Forget your helmet. Doing all of these things simultaneously? Great, you’re ready to ride! Sharing is Caring Don’t worry about the sprinting toddler you clipped, the leashless dog you hopped over, the confused tourists you muscled past, or the electric scooter riders laughing as they overtook you. Whatever you do, just don’t stop. Or, on second thought, stop – a lot! Tel Aviv © Shutterstock What Hand Signals? Want a driver to know you’re taking a left? No prob. Cut right in front of him, and when he beeps incessantly at you, act like you didn’t see him. Then when he tries running you off the road, speak only English. If he speaks English, switch to Spanish or French. Congrats – you’ve just successfully turned left! I’m Confused... Did we say there were plenty of bike lanes? If worn out paint stripes that pedestrians give no credence, on-street pathways blocked from double-parked cars, or lanes which stop randomly for half a block or more before picking up again are considered bike lanes, then sure, there’s lots of bike lanes. © Shutterstock Jungian Peddling No lane? No worries! Choose either the sidewalk or the street, but beware of encountering some of the mythological Tel Aviv biker enemies: stroller-pushing tigermoms, cane-as-weapon saftas, Taglit-tour-groups on-Rothschild, policeman-handing-out-insanely random- tickets, or any-and-all tus-tuses and cab

For more than 20 years, The Shirt Creator has been a kiosk staple at the entrance of the Carmel Market. Originally founded by Shlomi Levi, after his passing seven months ago, his wife Racheli took over its bustling operations. “Many tourists return to this place, year after year from all over the world,” she says proudly. “They do so because of my late husband’s creative, entrepreneurial spirit, which shows in our products.” Ranging from the iconic Coca-Cola-font-in-Hebrew to relatable, comic relief slogans that the late Levi cooked up, their shirts stand out amongst the numerous generic shirt sellers populating the Carmel Market.  In the shuk with Racheli Levi As we spoke, multiple tourists walked up to Racheli, asking about specific shirts they had seen on previous trips and even about old rock’n’roll paraphernalia that Shlomi had plastered to the outside of the store. Visitors hailing from all corners of the globe bee-line for this spot either for a laugh, an Insta-snap, a T-shirt or all of the above. And each time someone stops in, Racheli smiles, knowing Shlomi’s legacy lives on. NIS 35 per shirt or 3 for NIS 100. The Shirt Creator is at the top of the Carmel Market, across from Pasta Basta, 052-6622529   Johannes Klaus 29, Dresden, Germany. Jew Jitsu   Kati Tolnai,38, Budapest, Hungary. Kapara   Kelsie Bowman 23, Adrian, Michigan. Visit Israel Before Israel Visits You   Christopher & Denise Gannon 58 & 56, Palmerston, North New Zealand. Welcome to Sababa Land &