Israel Active

30 residents of Connecticut, including adults with disabilities, their parents and staff members who work with them, spent nine days in Israel learning about accessibility in the Jewish state. They visited Nazareth, the Kinneret, the Hula valley, Tel Aviv, the Kotel, Tower of David, and even Masada.

Alfred Moses purchased the Codex Sassoon at Sotherby’s in New York for $38 million. It was the most ever paid for a book at auction. He then generously donated it to Tel Aviv’s ANU Museum of the Jewish People where it will be displayed as part of the permanent collection.

A stone tablet fragment was recently discovered during excavations in the City of David, Jerusalem. It bears the name “Shimon”, the letter Mem (for ma’ot – money) and symbols for numbers. It has been identified as a receipt and allows a glimpse into everyday life in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago.

If you are in around New York and Long Island, don’t miss the opportunity to join the festivities at the “Celebrate Israel Parade” on Sunday, June 4. This year’s theme of “Israel @ 75: Renewing the Hope”. Floats, bands and performers will parade up Fifth Avenue from 57th Street to 74th Street.

Please watch this inspiring video to accompany Jerusalem Day – Yom Yerushalayim.

Jacob Richman has been updating his website resources for the recent festivals.  Please have a look, use, and share.

Thousands of participants from around the world joined the “March of Nations” event in Jerusalem to celebrate Israel’s 75th year of independence. It was led by Arie Itamar who originally arrived in pre-state Israel, at the age of seven, on the ship Exodus.

Both in good times and in difficult times, this message needs to be publicized and emphasized.

Californians Dr. Susan and Dr. Henry Samueli made a $25 million donation to the Rabin Medical Center’s Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva. It will be used to establish an integrative cancer pioneering institute at the Davidoff Center which treats one in seven Israeli cancer patients.

When Israeli star musician Idan Raichel performed in Ramat Gan, he admitted to the audience that he had forgotten to buy diapers for his twin 2-year-old boys. At the end of the concert, Ramat Gan’s Mayor presented Idan with a pack of diapers. And when he got backstage, he found two more packs, bought by fans.