Israel Active

Here, some Israeli children give perceptive views about their country.

Job Daudi Masima, Tanzania's first-ever ambassador to Israel, is a Muslim. But he put on a kippah to greet Israeli President Reuven Rivlin with the Shehecheyahu prayer (the blessing said on new occasions) in Hebrew to mark the beginning of closer ties between the two countries.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, a former Prisoner of Zion, became the first Israeli to address the Russian parliament. In Hebrew, he told of his imprisonment by the Soviets 33 years ago for teaching Hebrew. In Russian, he praised diplomatic and economic ties between Israel and Russia.

201 North Americans became citizens of Israel on July 4th when their El Al Boeing 777, chartered by Nefesh B’Nefesh, landed at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport. The 201 passengers on the first Aliya flight of the summer included 34 families and five sets of twins.

The City of David has launched “Hallelujah” Nighttime Presentation - the story of the Jewish return to rebuild ancient Jerusalem. The thrilling, outdoor cinematic experience features cutting-edge video mapping technology that reveals a story, 3,000 years in the making.

India’s Prime Minister Modi met 11-year-old Moshe Holtzberg, whose Chabad emissary parents were murdered by terrorists in Mumbai in 2009. Moshe declared his wish to visit India and one day direct Chabad’s mission in India.  PM Netanyahu said he would take Moshe on his next visit to India.

Archaeologists excavating the ancient port of Caesarea discovered a mother-of-pearl tablet inscribed with a menorah, dating from the 4th or 5th century. It was likely part of a box housing a Torah scroll and is the first artifact of its kind made of the precious material bearing a Jewish iconograph.

Although her committee denies Jewish links to Jerusalem, Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Irina Bokova has emphasized the historical Jewish connection to the city.

The head of the Students for Temple Mount Movement, Tom Nissani, betrothed his fiancée in a minimalist ceremony on Temple Mount.

Nefesh B’Nefesh 2017 Bonei Zion Prizes, for immigrants from English-speaking countries who have made a major impact on Israel, were awarded to Prof Benjamin Corn, Beth Steinberg, Rabbi Chaim Brovender, Gerald Steinberg, Yoram Raanan; Capt Libby Weiss, and Scott Neiss.