Israel’s oldest Indian Jewish community
Hundreds of India’s Bnei Menashe community have just arrived in Israel. But Israel’s 8,000 Cochin Jews can trace their Indian roots all the way back to the times of the biblical King Solomon. The Cochin Jewish Heritage Center is situated in Nevatim, a moshav in the Negev Desert.
The fruits of Land
To celebrate the Jewish New Year for Trees, this article summarizes the annual harvest of the Jewish State. It includes 55,000 metric tons of grapes, 60,000 tons of pomegranates, 2400 tons of figs, 32,000 tons of dates, 4.5 million bottles of wine and 16,000 tons of olive oil. Read also about Israel’s trees.
Oldest seal
Originally thought to be a replica, a bulla (impression of a seal inscription) was bought for 10 old shekels in the 1980s. In ancient Hebrew, it says it belongs to Shema the servant/minister of Jeroboam who ruled the Kingdom of Israel from 788 BCE to 748 BCE. Technology shows it to be the oldest seal ever discovered.
$11 million donation to transform youth village
The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation has donated $11 million to renovate and upgrade Israel’s Kfar Silver Youth Village. It is the largest ever donation to an ORT school. The village supports some 740 students - one-third living as on-site boarders.
Returning after 2,700 years
Good articles about the continuing immigration of thousands of the Bnei Menashe community who were exiled from the Kingdom of Israel some 27 centuries ago.
Unit 669 tribute Gala
Non-profit “American Friends of Unit 669” supports the Search and Rescue Unit of the Israeli Air Force. Its virtual gala event on 31st Jan is hosted by Israeli actress Rona-Lee Shim'on (Fauda) and features Israeli mentalist Lior Suchard and amazing IDF veteran Ziv Shilon, rescued by Unit 669 in 2012.
3D testimony from survivors
Israeli non-profit NeVer Again VR is crowdfunding its project to record the testimony of survivors of the Shoah (Holocaust). They are using volumetric video by Israel’s Tetavi (reported previously) to produce lifelike holograms and keep the message of the survivors “alive” forever.
Vaccination – a light to the nations
Last week’s cover story on BBC World news featured Shira, a United Hatzalah volunteer EMT, vaccinating an elderly Israeli. The headline was titled, “Israel leads virus vaccine race with 12% given jab”. This article highlights five UH volunteer medics who typify what lifesaving is all about.
The “blessing” of a scarce water supply
Israel is described in the Torah as a land where the people look to Heaven for its rain. In modern times, the scarcity of this valuable resource inspired the Jewish State to develop the infrastructure and technology to be a “water superpower” and export this knowledge to the rest of the world.
Yamina leader does the “right” thing
Naftali Bennett, leader of Israel’s Yamina (to the right) party, stopped to help a man who had fallen (breaking his leg) while crossing the street. He helped carry him back onto the sidewalk and gave him water and first aid. He then waited until a Magen David Adom ambulance arrived.