Israel Active

The National Library of Israel and the British Library in London are to digitize all of the 3,200 rare Hebrew manuscripts at The British Library.

I know it was 12 Mar 2014, but I missed British Prime Minister David Cameron’s speech to the Israeli Parliament then. He revealed that Israeli technology was protecting British troops in Afghanistan. I just wanted to make sure that you hadn’t missed the speech too.

The lion story that didn’t make international headlines this week is that Israeli veterinarian surgeons removed a tumor from the stomach of Sumani – an 8-year-old lion at Ramat Gan safari. The two-hour operation was successful and biopsies will determine Sumani’s future treatment and care.

Israeli-born NBA Sacramento Kings forward Omri Casspi told a fan on twitter that he is committed to the Orthodox-Jewish practice of wrapping the small Scripture-filled boxes called tefillin in Hebrew around his arm and forehead during morning prayers.

Israeli charity Chessed Ve’Emet has acquired 60 bridal gowns which will be loaned free of charge to orphan Jewish brides marrying and setting up their home in Israel.

Israeli architects have converted a centuries-old building in spiritual Safed into a beautiful modern home, whilst conserving and revealing the ancient stone masonry walls. Previously hidden under plaster, the ancient stones now star as main feature of the restored building.

Archeologists excavating in the southern Judean plain have found that chicken and eggs, were raised and consumed in the town of Maresha, around 300 BCE, well before any other antiquity sites. Once the Romans reached Maresha, chickens became a culinary craze throughout the Empire.

45 years ago a burnt remnant of a Torah scroll was discovered in a ruined synagogue in Ein Gedi (near the Dead Sea). Carbon dating places the scroll as from the 5th century CE. Latest CT-scan technology has identified the contents of the scroll as from the book of Leviticus (Vayikra).

Researchers from Tel Aviv University, Harvard University, Bar-Ilan University, and Haifa University have concluded that plant cultivation may have started in the Galilee some 23,000 years ago. Ohalo II, 9km south of Tiberias is the earliest example of small-scale cultivation anywhere in the world.

Taglit-Birthright Israel has dedicated the partially restored ruins of 1,800-year-old synagogue in Arbel National Park in memory of fallen soldier Max Steinberg. Birthright participants celebrating an event will have meaningful experiences, while honoring someone just like them.