Israel Active

(Thanks to Algemeiner) Aliyah (the Hebrew word for “ascending” and referring to immigration to Israel) increased in 2013. 19,200 “Olim” arrived in Israel in 2013, compared to 18,940 who arrived in 2012. Much of the increase was due to a 63% rise in immigration from France.

Israeli Dekel Ovadia explains why, after living abroad for seven years, he is coming home to Israel.

Helmsley Trust has given $22 million to Magen David Adom, Barzilai Hospital, Haifa University and Friends of the IDF. Trustee Sandor Frankel stated, “They will strengthen Israel’s scientific, technological and medical research, which will benefit not only Israel, but the rest of the world as well.”

Amid an unprecedented rise in French immigration to Israel, 1,000 French high school seniors arrived in Israel for a weeklong tour of the country, organized by the Jewish Agency.

Libbie Snyder writes about the 30 or so reasons why she loves living in the Jewish State. Whatever the reason, she says, “Now is the time to be here”.

Rami Yizraeli bumped into his neighbor in Jerusalem and persuaded him to help with his project - to put up a plaque next to the Supreme Court containing names of many of the Jews that died fighting to defend Jerusalem in 1948. It was fortunate that Rami’s neighbor was Bibi Netanyahu.

(Thanks to Israel21c) The UK’s leading travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveller, spotlighted Tel Aviv in its “Insider Tips” section. It quotes “Tel Aviv’s creative energy and joie de vivre. Such positive energy is rare to find, and a pure joy to experience. This is a place where ideas are transformed into reality - where people enact their dreams rather than just talking about them.”

A modern interpretation of Isaiah 62/10?

The community spirit kicked in as Jerusalem residents hosted visitors to the capital who found themselves trapped by the snow that they came to see.

Boys and girls from all over Israel gathered under the auspices of the International Young Israel Movement (IYIM) – Israel to celebrate their Bar and Bat Mitzvot. Every one of the 63 participants was deaf or hearing impaired.