Israel Active

A Group of 22 Indian Jews, mostly from the Mumbai area, have completed a 10-day free Taglit-Birthright Israel educational trip to explore the Jewish state. They saw Tiberias, the Golan Heights, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, and an Indian spice shop in the Ramla market.

I highly recommend readers to visit this site and set up a free account to view exciting 3-minute video clips of important historical events associated with the establishment of the State of Israel.

Israel is one of the top 5 happiest countries, according to a new Better Life Index report by the OECD. Israel came after Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland and Finland on 22 variables - including income, education, housing, health, life expectancy, life satisfaction and community.

Israel’s latest postage stamps include bridal jewelry, WW1, the IAF Cobra helicopter, 50 years of diplomatic relations with Germany and vegetables.

For young Israeli Yossi Azran, 15 years of debilitating kidney disease and 2.5 years of dialysis was like a slow death until Rav Shmuly Yanklowitz donated one of his kidneys. “I have been teaching about social justice and saving human life for many years,” Yanklowitz said.

Sarah Zoabi - another relative of anti-Israel MK Haneen Zoabi – is a contestant on Israel’s Master Chef. In her introduction, she said, “I want to say to all the Arab [citizens] of Israel to wake up. We live in paradise. Compared to other countries, to Arab countries – we live in paradise.”

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.