Israel Active

Over 1.8 million Israeli employees and contract workers received gifts from their employers in the week before the Jewish New Year. The average gift was NIS 700 ($200).

David Hornick. His conclusion is that no matter how much effort and money Israel spends on advocacy (i.e. defending itself), those that hate us will always hate us. That’s why I now try to change the conversation and just publicize all the good things that Israel does.

(Thanks to Jacob Richman) The latest issue of beautiful Israeli stamps includes silver etrog boxes and children’s songs.

(Thanks to Janglo) Now there is a Nefesh b’Nefesh on-line dating site for Aliya-minded individuals.

George Lichter, who passed away on Aug 2nd aged 92, was a hero of Israel’s 1948 War of Independence when his skills as an ace pilot were crucial in testing and flying 50 modified Czech Messerschmitts to Israel. He then taught Israeli pilots, helping to establish the Israel Air Force.

Another Jewish biblical link to Israel’s capital city has been discovered in the City of David excavations. The pottery fragment from the first Temple period has an ancient Hebrew inscription possibly containing the name of the Biblical figure Zechariah son of Benaiah.

At the same time, Assyrian king Sargon II was destroying the Philistine army in the Ashdod area and an 8th Century wall has been unearthed by the harbor. The prophet Isaiah (ch.20) warned Judah’s king Hezekiah to stay out of the fight – advice, which Hezekiah heeded. (Is history repeating?)

A total of 331 new immigrants (Olim) from North America landed at Ben Gurion Airport on August 13, 2013. This flight marked the 50th Nefesh B’Nefesh charter flight since the group began mass Aliyah flights to Israel in August 2002.

The percentage of Israelis passing their school matriculation exams increased by 1.7% in the 2011-12 school year compared to the previous year. In the past five years, the rate has improved by 3.5% to an overall rate of 49.8%. Success for those actively studying improved last year by 2.6% to 62.4%.

Daniel Greyber won a Gold medal at the 1993 Maccabiah. It was his first trip to Israel, his first visit to the Western Wall and the first time he put on tefillin. Two decades later, he returned to Israel for the games - this time as the rabbi escorting the US’s delegation.