The high holidays in Israel
The festivals (“chagim”) in the Jewish month of Tishri in Israel differ to the rest of the world. Everyone is on holiday; meals are celebrations; on Yom Kippur roads only have bicycles; and on Sukkot the national parks are full to capacity. And no-one makes a serious decision until “after the chagim”.
High Holiday humor
Includes the largest gefilte fish caught in the wild.
The Israeli town with the most kidney donors
The religious community of Yitzhar in Samaria has the highest proportion of kidney donors in Israel. The ten Jewish donors didn’t know any of the recipients, who included secular left-wingers. Their only regret was that they could only donate once. Incredible video.
Christian Zionists help Jewish farmers harvest grapes
US evangelical group HaYovel ("The Harvest") brings Christian volunteers to Israel to help Jewish farmers. They are currently harvesting grapes in the Samarian community of Shiloh – where the Biblical Tabernacle stood, prior to the Temple in Jerusalem.
The class of Hillel
Over four years ago, after the passing of Rosh Yeshiva Rav Hillel Zaks, many parents in Modi’in Illit named their sons “Hillel” in his memory. So now in the new class at the kindergarten of Talmud Torah Medrash Meir in Kiryat Sefer, of the 29 children, 21 have the first name Hillel. Could be confusing?
Home in the Homeland
Dina and Eli Kamionski, in their mid-30s, with four children, left the US for a new life in Israel. They documented their Aliya journey in a series of some 50 short videos entitled “The Kami Klan” to help others intending to embark on a similar path. (Some on Youtube; most on Facebook).
JR’s 35 years since Aliya
Regular readers will know that Jacob Richman is a prolific blogger and provider of vital information and photos on Israel and Jewish holidays. He made this video to celebrate the 35th anniversary of his Aliya from Brooklyn. He introduces it, “It was the best decision of my life. I highly recommend it!”
AI search of David Ben Gurion diaries
Ben-Gurion University and Microsoft Israel have teamed up to bring David Ben-Gurion's archive to life. They are developing an advanced Artificially Intelligence-based system that will be able to search the entire archive, printed and handwritten materials alike.
What’s that falling from the sky?
Some parts of Israel experienced their first Autumn rains last week. It arrived early this year and made a pleasant change to the long, hot, dry summer weather. It is so important, that it has a special Hebrew name - “Yoreh” and is included in the Shema prayer.
Two generations of donors
Neria’s father had already donated a kidney to a total stranger. So, it was natural for Neria to register on the bone marrow database of Israeli NGO Ezer Mizion. He then got the call - he was the only known genetic match who could save a cancer patient’s life. So, naturally, he donated his cells.