Israel Active

For Israel’s Independence Day, Israel’s Assuta Hospital in Ashdod dressed the newborns in its maternity ward in the colors of the Israeli flag. "Our flag symbolizes our inseverable connection to this land and our responsibility to stay united for the sake of the children of tomorrow," the hospital wrote.

To celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Jacob Richman has updated his hot-sites of Israel links.  I particularly recommend Barbara Sofer’s 75+1 new reasons I love Israel.

300+ members of UJA (United Jewish Appeal) of greater Toronto have been touring Israel (Apr 24 - May 1) on an “Israel @ 75” mission. It explores Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Sderot, the Dead Sea, and much more, with a variety of tracks. It ends with a gala in Tel Aviv for 1500+ Israel supporters.

Four women each delivered twin babies within the same 24-hour period at Israel’s Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba. Prof Shantal, director of the Women's and Midwives department said that when the mother embraces two babies, the room is double happiness and magic.

Organs donated by Or Ashkar and Lucy Dee have been transplanted into 10 patients. Their corneas have given sight to even more. The wife of one of the heart transplant patients said, “I heard that Or Ashkar had a heart of gold. I promise his family that his heart reached a man of gold.”

Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan, in collaboration with Aish Global, hosted a model Passover Seder at the UN that was attended by 70 global Ambassadors. It included traditional Passover foods, Haggadah readings, and explanations of Seder customs.

Tel Aviv’s Chabad center enlisted the help of protestors in Tel Aviv’s Habima Square to pack food boxes for the needy before the Passover festival. Many passersby also joined in the humanitarian initiative to help and connect the entire Israeli Jewish nation.

Avi Abelow stops to fill up his car with gas at a gas station in Israel and shares his amazement that all the products sold in the shop are Kosher for Pesach.  Everything!

Colel Chabad sponsored and organized a joyous Bar Mitzvah celebration at the Western Wall for more than 120 orphans who had lost at least one parent. The Kotel event was followed by a gala celebration in Jerusalem’s International Convention Center.

A recent multinational study on the genetic makeup of grapevines, suggests that the harsh climate during the Ice Age enabled the domestication of grapes in Israel and the Caucasus. Ariel University’s Elyashiv Drori says that Israeli wild grapevines are the source of all cultivated table grapes.