Israel Active

Chicago natives Devorah ‘Doris’ Levitz (91) and Norman Levitz (93) have just made Aliyah. Devorah and Norman visited Israel at least once a year since their son made Aliyah 40 years ago. Now, they have officially decided to call Israel their permanent home.

Archaeologists have unearthed a 3000-year-old 5cm sculpture of a Biblical king from at Abel Beth Maacah, near Israel’s Lebanese border. But which king? It could be the Aramean Ben Hadad or Hazael of Damascus, Ahab or Jehu of Israel, or Ithobaal of Tyre.

Three pairs of Jewish Israelis and Muslim Arabs were awarded the 14th annual Institute of International Education (IIE) Victor J. Goldberg Prize for Peace in the Middle East in Jerusalem, recognizing their work toward advancing peace and reducing tensions in the region.

Here are my favorite highlights from this historic event. US Ambassador David Friedman’s opening speech: US President Trump’s speech and unveiling ceremony: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech: Pastor John Hagee’s speech:

140,000 Jewish children are born in Israel every year.  In the Diaspora - 80,000 pa.  Israeli Arabs - 41,000 pa.  Plus, net Aliya - 20,000 pa.  It’s a demographic miracle. It was underlined when Ezer Mizion found an Israeli bone marrow DNA match for an Italian Jew with Leukemia.

Israel Antiquities Authority has allotted an additional $17 million to the ongoing excavations in the City of David, just south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

As it says at the end of the video “Then, Now and Forever”.

I reported two weeks ago that Paraguay’s President hoped to relocate his country’s embassy to Jerusalem before the end of his term in mid-August.  Well, he’s certainly beaten that target as it will be moving this coming Tuesday – 22nd May.

In 1948, Guatemala was the 2nd country (after the USA) to recognize the State of Israel.  On 16th May 2018, Guatemala became the 2nd country (after the USA) to move its embassy to Jerusalem - capital of the State of Israel.  (Open link to see United with Israel at the opening ceremony).

This video shows seven examples of archaeological evidence that the city of Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish people. Official seals, parchment, burnt stone walls, ritual baths, siege weapons and Temple floor tiles.