David Arkin, at The Blogs

Jun 24, 2026, 9:19 PM

Birthday greetings to Messi – From a rugby fan in Israel

24 June 2026 Dear Lionel, Happy birthday my man. Don’t worry about the number…. 39 is the new 29. At least for pro footballers like you. I don’t know if you remember me, I watched you live at Camp Nou in April...

Dec 29, 2025, 6:25 PM

Hands off our soldier poets (Noam Tsuriely vs. Hind Rajab Foundation)

Living in Israel carries a weight of reality that moves daily between happiness, tragedy, farce and surrealism. Some of it is our own making. But much of it comes from the outside. Good guys become bad. Badasses become canonized....

Nov 25, 2024, 4:58 PM

A Nation of Superheroes (Giborei Al)

Since the outbreak of War on October 7, many local artists have composed songs commemorating the fallen, or singing about courage and optimism. As the first anniversary of October 7 has come and gone, and the war drags on,...

Nov 3, 2024, 3:09 PM

City Of Summer (Winter, Autumn and Spring). This song is good for anytime, especially now.

The artistic insights and interpretations of the song are credited to the yosmusic site, an initiative of journalist and music critic, Yossi Harsonsky. The translation is solely mine. Berry Sakharof is one of the elder statesmen of Israeli Rock. Even...

Dec 15, 2023, 7:05 PM

Tel Aviv Heat win their home semi-final, 2200 km from home!

This is the approximate distance between Shlomo Bituach Stadium, in Petah Tikvah, and the Budapest Rugby Centre, where the Tel Aviv Heat won through to the final of Rugby Europe Super Cup 2023. For the second year running they...

Nov 30, 2023, 10:56 AM

Tel Aviv Heat fall just short in stirring comeback against Black Lion

The Heat are currently in Budapest, preparing for their semi-final against the Romanian Wolves this Saturday in the RESC. Catch the game live on Rugby Europe TV at 1430, or on Channel 5 Sport. It’s worthwhile to review their final...

Nov 16, 2023, 3:05 AM

Tel Aviv Heat win big in inaugural game in Spain

The Tel Aviv Heat followed up their good win against the Lusitanos last week, with a maiden victory over the Castilla y León Iberians in Valladolid. Final score 38-20. It was the first time TAH played in Spain (after...

Nov 8, 2023, 2:11 AM

Tel Aviv Heat off to cracking start in RESC (and put some smiles on Israeli faces)

The 3rd edition of the Rugby Europe Super Cup started over the weekend, with the Heat getting it done with a comeback bonus-point win 31-23 over the Lusitanos in Lisbon. “It’s been a very tough few weeks back home,”...

Nov 1, 2023, 11:26 PM

Dreaming of Peace… and Rugby World Cup Glory (whilst remembering Adam)

A photo of Adam Agmon (of blessed memory), who fell in battle rescuing residents at Kibbutz Kissufim, as shared by his brother, Yahel, Oct, 13, 2023. (sourced from the NZ Herald site)

This Post is dedicated to the memory of Adam Agmon. Tel Aviv Heat kick-off the 3rd Super Cup season this Saturday against the Lusitanos in Lisbon. Catch them on Rugby Europe TV (live steam at 18:00 and then on...

Jun 8, 2023, 8:21 AM

The Musings of Musikanth: In conversation with the Tel Aviv Heat Head Coach

Kevin Musikanth, Tel Aviv Heat and Israel Rugby Head Coach

The write-up of this interview got delayed due to several family and work crises that conspired against my journalistic good intentions. After initially meeting at Sun Café on Moshav Batzra, I followed up again in early June, for the...

About Me

David works as a Project Manager in the Building Materials Sector. At first, his usual fare was writing about the Tel Aviv Heat, Israel's first professional rugby team. Then he dabbled in literary translation, exhibiting some versatility. Apparently, he is also a casual soccer fan.