Stunning Israel Series: 'Acre: Dancing On The Edge' (original photograph)

'Acre: Dancing On The Edge'
(Photo: Dave Bender)

Stunning Israel Series: 'Jaffa: Setting Sail' (original photograph)

Jaffa: Setting Sail (Photo: Dave Bender)

Stunning Israel Series: 'Arise And Walk The Land' (original photograph)

Hikers atop Mt. Gilboa, overlooking the fertile Jordan Valley,
on a winter afternoon. (Photo: Dave Bender)

Blue Suede Jews: Elvis' 'shloshim' redux (exclusive video)

"The Elvis Inn" (Photo: Dave Bender)

(Wasn't planning on -- excuse the expression -- resurrecting this for Elvis's 30th bash, but, if the venerable Atlanta Journal-Constitution can do it, what the hey...)

Here's the original story I wrote for American Jewish Life:

"Memphis has Graceland. Vegas has impersonators. And Israel -- yes, Israel -- has the Elvis Inn, a bizarre desert Mecca for Middle East Elvis enthusiasts. It's the Holy Land, people, and the King has risen.

"Now, it's not as if I'm some kind of delusional Elvis freak here in the holy city, waving a hand-scrawled sign drawn in black magic markers, babbling on about Mideast war and peace in one breath and Elvis and aliens in the next, but, there I was: noon on Friday and traipsing through the market's bustling main open avenue doing my weekly round of pre-Sabbath shopping when I saw Elvis."

Read the rest.

And here's the video I produced for Infolive tv:

The Elvis Inn from Dave Bender and Vimeo.

"ahh got a hunk-a', hunk-a' burnin' s'hug, burning s'hug..." (ok - I'll shut up now...)

Israeli joins ranks of Ninja grandmasters

(...hey, and no dopey jokes about turtles, mutant or otherwise, or their creator, Israeli Haim Saban.)

From Channel 10 News via Infolive tv:

Professor Van Yuren, a Dan 10 Ninjitsu grand master, is in Israel to ordain the first ever Israeli ninjitsu grand master, David Haliva. Haliva must pass rigorous, life-risking tests and sign a blood oath in order to join the ranks of grand masters in this secretive and ancient martial art

Previously on this subject: Israeli Yemenite martial arts grandmaster goes viral.

Click the pic for the original report.

More unique Israeli martial arts are here.