Israeli Arabs study Yiddish

About a quarter of the 400 students studying Yiddish at Bar Ilan are Arabs, says Ber Kotlerman, academic director of Bar Ilan's Center for Yiddish Studies. According to Kotlerman, some of the Israeli Arabs are searching for a way to connect to Jewish culture. (Translated from Yediot Aharonot)

New generation of researchers

The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities has established a separate science and humanities academy for young researchers up to age 45. President Ruth Arnon said that integrating young people was very important in its work as official adviser to the government on research and planning.

Fighting hunger in Senegal

Italians and Israelis are working together to eradicate hunger and poverty in Senegal. The program aims to provide the country’s poorest farmers with the technological know-how for integrating irrigation technologies. It expands an initiative of the local Israeli Embassy begun in 2006.

The Dream of Success

How Israel and the United States make it happen! These “Dreams” are the promise that with some blood, sweat, and tears, a person can make him or herself into a success. Also, hateful speech is met not with violence, but with counter arguments, moral suasion, and sanction. Both countries see freedom to speak one’s mind as a natural right, and the best cure for hatred and ignorance is sunlight. Please read Part 1 and Part 2 of this analysis by James Legee, on the shared values of the USA and Israel. Strategic alliance with Azerbaijan. Major discussions between Israel and the Baku government are opening up diplomatic, economic and tourism opportunities between the two friendly countries.

Israeli aid to hurricane Sandy victims

The Israeli global humanitarian organization Israel Flying Aid, which was first to land in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, has been distributing large supplies of gas to hospitals, and food, batteries and generators to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island.

And rescuing Ghanaians from the rubble

(Thanks to Israellycool) An Israeli Home Front Command team and a Magen David Adom team are assisting in the relief effort following the collapse of a four-storey shopping mall in Ghana’s capital Accra.

SACH had a mountain to climb

Israelis and Jews from abroad climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise $200,000 for Holon based Save A Child’s Heart. Since 1995, SACH volunteer medical staff have performed life-saving heart surgery on 3000 children from 44 countries who suffer from congenital defects.

Researchers can raise their kids too

In a first for Israeli academic institutions, seminars at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem will conclude by 3:30 p.m. to enable young researchers who are raising children to attend without sacrificing the time they spend with their children.

India admires Israel

According to SE Asia expert Professor Nathan Katz, Indian perception of both Jews and Israel is very positive. It is almost affectionate and there is much idealization.

Growing relations with Bulgaria

President Rosen Plevneliev of Bulgaria revealed that he was born on May 14th 1948 – the same day as the modern Jewish State. He planted a tree in Jerusalem’s Grove of Nations and hoped “it will grow and flourish just like the friendship between us.” He also sought more hi-tech co-operation.