Israel Active

Israelis joined an estimated 1 million Jews worldwide celebrating the latest Shabbat Project initiative.  The Israeli message - it is not only in wartime that we can be united.

Zechariah’s prophecy is coming to fruition.  Thousands of Christian supporters of Israel packed Jerusalem’s streets and the new Pais Arena to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

Yarden Ben-Ezra was driving behind a Brink's security truck in the Israeli city of Kiryat Ata when a sack containing 400,000 shekels fell out of the truck.  Ben-Ezra retrieved the bag and chased the truck until it finally stopped. The guards, who hadn’t noticed the loss, thanked Ben-Ezra and drove off.

At the Jewish New Year 2014, Israel's population has risen to 8,252,500.  Israel’s birth rate of 3 children per woman is the highest in the developed world.  (The international average is 1.7)  42% of the world’s 14.2 million Jews now reside in Israel.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin used the theme “Sukkot in the Environment” when he invited the public to join him in his Jerusalem sukka.  Visitors enjoyed activities and displays promoting recycling and reuse, green space, bio-gas from waste and sustainable construction.

The Ugandan Jewish community of Abayudaya had no Arba Minim (4 species) with which to celebrate the festival of Sukkot.  So Melanie Lidman traversed facebook, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Entebbe airport and Kampala to bring a set donated by total strangers to the eagerly awaiting Jews.

Lt. Col. John Henry Patterson led the British Army’s Jewish Legion to battle against the Turks in WW1.  He was widely recognized as a “true righteous among the gentiles”. To commemorate the 147th anniversary of his birth, Lt. Col. Patterson’s ashes will be re-interred in Israel. =

In 1953 Yigael Yadin - the first Chief of Staff of the new Jewish State - discovered letters written by Simon Bar Kochba - the last commander of Judea.  The letters, now on display in the Israel Museum, were addressed to commanders of the Jewish army - perhaps including Yadin, some 1820 years later.

Archaeologists working in the hills outside of Jerusalem uncovered an ancient Jewish ritual bath that reveals not only remnants of Second Temple-era life in the area, but also the inscriptions of two Australian soldiers who visited the site while passing through during World War II.

This is the ultimate for those wanting 8 days in a 5-star penthouse overlooking Jerusalem.  Full board for a family of four with your own huge sukkah costs a cool $50,000.