150 German-speaking Jewish leaders visit Jerusalem
In the largest gathering of its kind, some 150 young Jewish leaders from German-speaking countries gathered in Jerusalem for an annual event hosted by the Jewish Agency for Israel. Their tracks included hi-tech, archeological discoveries; the social fabric; and education.
90-year-old Holocaust survivor’s first visit to Kotel
Avraham Takacz, a native of Donetsk and a Holocaust survivor, arrived in Israel as a refugee in 2014 from the battle zones of the Ukraine. For his 90th birthday, he fulfilled a dream and visited the Western Wall for the first time in his life.
Hanukah in Jerusalem
Hanukkah - the Jewish “Festival of lights”, begins on the evening of 12 Dec. This video shows the traditional nightly Hannukiah (candelabra) lighting in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Will Smith visits the Western Wall
Actor Will Smith, star of Men In Black and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, was “chillin” by the Western Wall in Jerusalem. He found it to be “a very spiritual, very powerful place” and was “very honored to be here.”
Miss Israel’s kosher diet
I wrote previously about Rotem Rabi, Israel’s contestant in this month’s Miss World competition in China. But it isn’t easy, as she keeps kosher. “I’m having difficulty with the food,” she said, “almost nothing here is kosher. I’m living on pineapple and cookies”.
Drones discovers ancient Edomite temple
Drones flying over Israel’s Lachish region have discovered the remains of a 2,200-year-old Idumean (Edomite) palace or temple. Dating from the Hellenistic period, the structure was partly dismantled, probably by the Jewish Hasmonean King John Hyrcanus I around 112 BCE.
From UAE student to IDF soldier
Michael Bassin now works for Israeli startup FirstImpression.io and has written a book “I Am Not a Spy”. It tells of his time studying in Sharjah United Arab Emirates, also in Cairo, Lebanon and finally in Israel.
A message from a Muslim Arab
Mohammad Kabiya is a Bedouin, Muslim Arab. He loves his country. He is prepared to die for it, which is why he served in its army - voluntarily, because his country is free, diverse, vibrant. His country is Israel.
Bar Mitzva boy gives light to Ugandan school
13-year-old Eytan Kramer from Ra’anana marked his coming of age by raising $18,000 to provide solar power for the Bukalikha Primary School in Uganda. Eytan and his mother then traveled to Uganda to see the lights turned on and give 959 children a brighter future.
35,000 celebrate Abraham’s land purchase
Jewish ancestor Abraham bought the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron as a burial site for his wife Sarah some 3,700 years ago. Jews recently read the Torah portion containing the details of the event and to mark the occasion, some 35,000 celebrated by dancing at the historic location.