Israel Active

One recent visitor to these shores didn’t require to be self-quarantined. A killer whale (orca) was filmed swimming 1.4km off the Israeli coast between Haifa and Akhziv. From its markings it is believed to be “Riptide” which began its journey in Icelandic waters, 8,000 miles away, in June 2018.

Inspiring story of the history of the community of African Hebrew Israelites, which has just marked 50 years in Israel. The National Library of Israel has released photographs taken in January 1970, a few weeks after the community was established in Dimona.

BBC’s website editor Raffi Berg (a rare decent BBC employee) has published a new book “Red Sea Spies: The True Story of Mossad’s Fake Diving Resort”. It retells the thrilling story of how, in the mid-1980s, Mossad agents smuggled Ethiopian Jews from Sudan to Israel.

Israel has just welcomed about 40 new members from Ethiopia. They include nine families from a sect of Jewish descendants called Falash Mura, a community who long ago were forced to convert to Christianity and currently seek to return to Judaism.

Nasrin Kadry (Qadri) is known to her thousands of Israeli fans as simply Nasreen. Since being reported , she has sung at Israel’s Independence Day celebration and converted from Islam to Judaism. Her Hebrew name is Bracha (Blessing). Interesting NYT article.

The Orthodox Union (OU) Israel helped organize a special prayer gathering at the Western Wall on behalf of those suffering from the coronavirus. OU Rabbi Avi Berman said “We know how to talk to God and say, ‘Please, bring a speedy recovery to all those who are sick.”

Israel’s extraordinary winter rains have not only replenished the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) but also made the desert bloom. The shores along the northern Dead Sea have burst into carpets of color. Between Kibbutz Kalya and Ovnat, seeds that lay dormant for years have now germinated.

After 2000 years, Israel has re-opened an entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City, previously discovered in the 1930s. Buried underneath the Damascus Gate, the entrance and plaza were used by the Romans when they ruled Judea.

On the Jewish festival of Tu BiShvat (New Year for Trees), US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman planted an olive tree (a symbol of peace) at the US Embassy in Jerusalem.  And (TY Sharon) for photos and descriptions of how Tu Bishvat was celebrated in Jerusalem.

The Israeli cabinet has approved the next wave of 400 Ethiopian Aliyah – immigration to Israel. These Falash Mura (forced converts to Christianity) maintained their connection to Judaism in Ethiopia and their hopes of coming to Israel. Many have relatives in the Jewish State.