Israel Active

A short, yet powerful video, “If you will it, it is no Dream” - produced by Israel-advocacy organization StandWithUs. It shows that Israel has, and will always be, the home of the indigenous population – the Jewish people.

Keren Kayemet Le’Israel-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) has planted some 240 million trees in Israel since its founding in 1901. And it has undertaken massive projects in sustainability, conservation, education, tourism, agriculture, roads and reservoirs. It also works in Kenya, Colombia, Italy, Australia and even Indonesia.

Yair Shahak of New York City and Israel’s Yafit Silman were joint winners of the International Adult Bible Contest in Jerusalem in December. The competition is held every two years. Yair reached the last eight in 2014 and had to defeat his wife on the way to this year’s final.

The San Francisco-based Koret Foundation has given a $10 million grant to the Beit Hatfutsot (Museum of the Jewish People) in Tel Aviv. It will fund an International School offering educational programs for visitors, online users, students, educators and community leaders.

Israel marks Hebrew Language Day every year on the birthday of Eliezer Ben Yehuda, the father of modern spoken Hebrew. This year, the Hebrew date falls on January 19th.  The revival of the 3000-year-old language is unique, becoming a spoken language after being dormant for centuries.

An article by ex-Labor MK Einat Wilf.  The world should admire Israel. E.g. airport security - no need to remove belts and shoes or throw away bottles of water.  Israel’s main problem is “timing”, because what once was only Israel’s problem, is now coming to everyone.

I reported previously that Jenna and Gil Lewinsky, an Israeli couple in Vancouver, were raising Jacob sheep (mentioned in Genesis) for returning to the land of their ancestors. Now the first 3 of 11 flights carrying the sheep have arrived in Israel on 28th Heshvan – the day that Noah came out of the ark.

Many Israelis opened their homes to the thousands of Israeli citizens who had to escape from the devastating November fires.  Volunteers calling the Haifa Municipality were told to “get in line” because so many had offered to host fleeing residents.

In 2014 Tel Aviv University archaeologists found an ancient gatehouse complex in the Negev Desert. Remains of the stables and other artifacts in one of the largest copper smelting camps in Timna Valley have now been dated as 3,000 years old - the time of Kings David and Solomon.

International Volunteer Day on Dec 5 is always well-supported in Israel.  Israel Central Bureau of Statistics published the volunteer data for 2015. Last year, 1.1 million Israelis volunteered - 21% of adults age 20 to 64 and 16% of those 65 and older.