First UK Royal donation to Israeli charity
HRH Charles, Prince of Wales has made a private donation to Israel’s Peres Center for Peace and Innovation. “It is a great honor to be the first Israeli non-profit to receive support from a member of the Royal Family,” said Chairman of the center, Chemi Peres, Shimon Peres’ son.
Kristallnacht
On 9th Nov, the walls of Jerusalem were illuminated with projections on the anniversary of Kristallnacht – the Night of the Broken Glass, in 1938. Thousands of people around the world took part in March of the Living’s global interfaith campaign “Let There Be Light”. Houses of worship were lit up all night.
Family values
26-year-old Effi from Jerusalem said he volunteered to test the new Israeli Covid-19 vaccine because he had not seen his 89-year-old grandfather for almost a year. “I’m doing this COVID vaccine trial for every Jewish grandparent cut off from their family, and for every Jewish family divided by the pandemic”
Groundbreaking digital ambassadors
ISRAEL21c’s 32 Digital Ambassadors from 23 university campuses are launching “Groundbreaking Israel” - a social-media campaign that focuses on the diverse people of Israel and their vision, accomplishments and tenacity. I hope they subscribe to this newsletter.
A day of lifesaving
United Hatzalah volunteers respond to an average of 1,800 calls every 24 hours. On 1st Nov the NGO launched its 24 by 24 campaign to raise two months’ worth of lifesaving by 24th Nov. Each $1800 dollars will fund 24 hours of lifesaving.
Jerusalem salutes Veterans
The JNF is celebrating Veterans Day on 11th Nov with a virtual tour of Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem, the historic site of the battle for the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. The Wall of Honor at the site bears the names of more than 500 Jewish veterans who have served their countries.
Israel sponsors Limmud Labs
The Israeli government is co-sponsoring a $2.5 million project Limmud Labs. It aims to enlist former Soviet Jews to bolster Jewish community life in the FSU. Celebrities like Sergey Brin (Google) Jan Koum (WhatsApp) and Max Levchin (PayPal) can forge bridges between the FSU and Israel.
The first US passport to show Jerusalem is in Israel
US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman presented the first-ever US passport to list Jerusalem as part of Israel. He gave the new travel document to an 18-year-old US citizen, who had fought twice in the US Supreme Court to have his place of birth shown as Jerusalem, Israel.
Happy Aliyah Day
On the week of Yom Ha’Aliyah, Israel welcomed its 16,000th immigrant of 2020. The second article describes some of the Anglo-Israelis who were key to the founding of the State. They include Chaim Weizmann, David (Mickey) Marcus, Gold Meir, Abba Eban and Henrietta Szold.
70-year-old has 3 ceremonies in a month
A 70-year-old former immigrant from Moldova, remarried his wife at a ceremony in their hometown of Nof Hagalil. It was his 3rd ceremony in a month following conversion to Judaism and Bar Mitzvah. They had a civil marriage 47 years ago, but now decided to have a Jewish wedding.