Israel Active

Deafness did not prevent US Jews from visiting the Jewish State this summer on Taglit and Birthright trips. One group specifically catered for those with hearing impediments. And the highlight was a whole day’s sessions at the Institute for the Advancement of Deaf People in Israel.

Hundreds of children from 25 countries came together in Tel Aviv to mark the 20th anniversary of the “My Family Story” competition. Each student produced an art installation illustrating their journey into their family roots and connection to the greater story of the Jewish people.

A rare proto-Hebrew inscription from the era of King David has been found in Khirbet Qeiyafa, near Bet Shemesh. “Eshbaal ben Beda” was fired on an earthenware pot. The name Eshbaal (also that of a son of King Saul) was discontinued later, due to associations with a heathen god.

Israel Shrir (now 79) survived the Holocaust and in 1957 was awarded a citation for excellence in the IDF. But due to a clerical error, Israel never received an invitation to the awards ceremony. 58 years later, President Rivlin presented the citation to Israel, in the presence of his 13 children.

Some 150 of the Jewish world’s leading change-makers from 32 countries gathered in Jerusalem for the 2015 ROI (Return on Investment) Summit. App developers, journalists, toy designers, community organizers, and more; all seeking to build a thriving Jewish future and a better world.  

I mentioned last week that Art Garfunkel made the Shecheyanu blessing during his Tel Aviv concert. Here’s the video of it. .

Ayala Shapira, granddaughter of my shul’s warden, was released from hospital for a week of Bat Mitzvah celebrations. Ayala was severely burnt when Palestinian Arab terrorists through firebombs at her Dad’s car in December. Her Bat Mitzvah included a family visit to Temple Mount.

The International Military Group report to the UN stated that, in Gaza, Israel exceeded the standard laws of armed conflict. And another expert, Michael Schmitt, Director of the Stockton Center for the Study for International Law at the US Naval War College, said “People are going to start thinking that the United States and other Western democracies should follow the same examples in different types of conflict. That’s a real risk”.

Israel’s President Rivlin distributed inaugural Jerusalem Unity Prize awards to individuals and organizations that contribute to unity among Jewish communities and Israeli society. Unity Day and the awards were in honor of murdered Jewish teens Gilad Shaer, Eyal Yifrach, and Naftali Frenkel.

A Chabad poster attached to balloons drifted from Israel into Lebanon. Members of the terrorist organization Hezbollah were seen holding up a banner displaying “We Want Moshiach Now”.