Israel Active

Some of the residents of the Palestinian Authority may have closer links to the Jewish people than you might have expected.

Israeli archeologists have discovered Second Temple period (516 BCE-70 C.E.) workshop for the manufacture of stone utensils just outside Jerusalem. Stone does not attract impurity and therefore stone utensils were frequently used and re-used in Temple services.

367 students, mostly from the USA, attended the JNF-USA-run summer program at the Alexander Muss School in Israel (see previously). The school’s two campuses teach 1,500+ students about Israeli history and its connection to Judaism and Jewish peoplehood.

For the first time, Selichot prayers at the Kotel (Western Wall) were translated into sign language. Dozens of groups of hearing-impaired individuals, in cooperation with the Hushim Ben Dan Association, came to the Western Wall from all over the country and took part in the prayers.

Nine African-American imams visited the Holy Land on a mission to promote faith-based peace in the Middle East. At the Western Wall in Jerusalem the imams, wearing kufis with their hands turned skywards, prayed side-by-side with Jewish men in skullcaps.

The Orthodox Union has certified chicken cell line products from Israel’s SuperMeat as kosher Mehadrin meat, meeting the most stringent qualification for kosher supervision. SuperMeat’s lab-grown poultry uses the stem cells from chicken eggs.

A new exhibition in the Beit Shemesh Biblical Museum of Natural History showcases one of the largest collections of kosher shofars in the world. They originate from the traditional ram, ibex and goat to the kudu, sable, and waterbuck antelope, and the East Caucasian tur.

Jerusalem’s new sights include new festive lights, inflatables at the Botanical Gardens, new immigrant shuks (markets), Nefesh B’Nefesh’s Business Conference, a new bike trail, new brides & grooms, the new National Library, and apple & honey for a sweet New Year.

Israel’s 2023 Presidential Medal of Honor was awarded to 12 individuals who have contributed to the State of Israel, the Jewish people, and all humanity.  Also, the Kemach NGO which promotes haredi employment. Non-Israelis included Morocco’s André Azoulay and Canada’s Irwin Cotler

The historic Tiferet Yisrael, or “Glory of Israel” synagogue, was established in 1872. The 3-storey 80 feet high building dominated the Old City’s Jewish Quarter until its destruction after the Jordanian Army captured the Old City in 1948. After a NIS 70 million project, it should re-open in 2024.