Israel Active

Israel has approved the construction of several new towns in the Negev and Galilee geared to serve the Bedouin and disabled populations. Shibolet, in the southern Galilee, will have a total of 350 units. 500 units will be built at Daniel in the south. 20% are for people with disabilities.

Israeli NGO Unistream runs a multi-year program and an annual competition to give entrepreneurship and leadership skills to 4,000 underprivileged teens. This year’s winners developed an allergen detector, an app to recommend charities and a clothing line for special needs children.

Israeli charity Ezer Mizion runs a summer camp at Moshav Nechalim for 300 special needs children and young adults. Each camper has a personal counselor, a yeshiva student who decided to volunteer in this summer camp instead of spending vacation time with his friends.

Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, Israel has treated about 5000 patients from Syria -both adults and children. The army coordinates their transport, usually at night, to Israeli hospitals mostly in northern Israel.

In the 2018 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), Israel’s Technion was ranked at number 77, up from 93 last year.  The Hebrew University of Jerusalem moved into the top 100 at number 95 after being in the 101 – 150 section last year.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and Israel’s Ministry of the Economy are working together to alleviate poverty among Africa’s smallholder farmers. They will leverage Israeli agricultural technology as part of JDC’s new Tikkun Olam Ventures (TOV) program.

The United Nations’ Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has given “Special Advisor” status to Israeli NGO Krembo Wings .  It recognizes the youth movement as a world leader, integrating disabled children with other children.

Israelis won the European Universities Debating Championship in Serbia. Noam Dahan and Tom Manor won the main competition, beating teams from Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Amichay Even-Chen and Ido Kotler won the “English as a Second Language” category.

Shira Ben-Eli has been appointed to serve as a judicial assistant to the Jerusalem District Labor Court - one of the most senior positions in the Orthodox-run court system. The position involves close contact with the court’s decision-making processes.

Israel’s Premier League is to adopt new kit guidelines to help color-blind supporters. Green and red have been defined as identical colors and if the colors of opposing team kits clash, the away team will be required to use an alternate outfit of black or white or stripes.