Israel Active

A new entrance to Jerusalem, Route 16, has been opened and is expected to significantly ease traffic, providing speedy travel between Route 1 and the city’s southern neighborhoods. It has 4 tunnels, 7 bridges, 50,000 acres featuring bike paths, walks, picnic areas and views over the Jerusalem hills.

On Aug 17, Noor Dahri wrote to his 10,000+ Facebook followers, “An exciting time has come for me to visit Israel for 10 days, the land of dreams, love, peace, and coexistence. The holy land of divine faiths, Abrahamic Prophets, and the land of Blessings. Insha’Allah.” Read about him and his trip.

180 new immigrants ages 22 to 35 arrived in Israel last month from 30 different countries. They include doctors, engineers, lawyers, architects, journalists, athletes, artists, teachers, and IT professionals who will study Hebrew intensively for 5 months at Ulpan Etzion, the Jewish Agency’s flagship program.

Since its launch in 2018, Athletes for Israel has brought high-profile athletes and sports teams to the country to compete in athletic events and get to know the Jewish state. After their trips many of the athletes help publicize the story of Israel’s people, history, food, technology, and culture.

The City of David organization has revitalized the Valley of Hennom, on the outskirts of Jerusalem into a brand-new park. The valley is mentioned in in the Book of Joshua and is said to be the origin for the concept of hell.  Israelis transformed it, just as they did to the once desolate Land of Israel.

225 new immigrants from the USA and Canada have just arrived in Israel. They included the 75,000th Oleh brought by Nefesh B’Nefesh, together with 27 medical professionals and 40 future lone soldiers. Earlier, 100-year-old Judy Neiman made Aliyah, joining her son’s family in Beit Shemesh.

Assuta Medical Center in Ashdod has opened a pediatric playroom. Thanks to Brooklyn-based Toys for Simcha, it features a lounging area, a video game corner, a reading library, a foosball table, a play kitchen, toys and tech for patients and their families, from toddlers to teens.

Shalom, an EMT with Israel’s United Hatzalah was in the vicinity of the recent fatal Jerusalem bus crash but had no medical equipment at the time. He saved a young victim with severe injuries by stemming the blood flow from one of her legs by tying his tzitzit (small prayer shawl) around it as a tourniquet.

Israel’s SavorEat has finally done it. It has just launched kosher 3D-printed, plant-based vegan, gluten-free, allergen-free pork patties. They contain pea and other plant-based proteins with sunflower and coconut fats.  (Ed - I wonder if they will be as popular as the facon-burger!)

Many Rabbinic texts are difficult to read, even for Hebrew speakers. Rashi script, no punctuation, and abbreviations are just some of the issues. Israeli-American computer scientist and Talmud scholar Prof. Moshe Koppel has launched Dicta Maivin (dictation expert) to resolve those problems.