Israel Active

Whoever it was that lost a door key on the way to the Temple in Jerusalem about 2,000 years ago, will be pleased to know that it has been found during the construction of Jerusalem Road 21. The key will be available for collection at the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Here is a guide to some of the exciting events happening in Israel during the week that encompasses the Jewish festival of Shavuot (Pentacost). It includes the 13th annual Jezreel Valley Shavuot Milk and Honey festival, which features agricultural fairs, circus activities and organized valley tours.

“A nation is not defined by its problems”. “We need to begin a conversation about what we bring to the table as a country.” “In today’s tech environment it is not about winning debates, but building relationships with people with influence and relevance, people who matter,” Great quotes by Ido Aharoni, Israel’s consul-general in New York in this latest interview.

At least a dozen groups of Americans making Aliyah (immigrating to Israel) with Nefesh b’Nefesh answer that question here.

The US Embassy's diplomatic attaché and cultural attaché visited the Lustig Institute in Ramat Gan and committed to assisting in the integration of haredi women into the high-tech sector. Two Lustig students helped develop an advanced chip for the US defense industry.

To mark Earth Day, the Israel Defense Force published this list of how it protects not just the people of Israel, but its environment too. This includes wastewater recycling, solar power, re-using water from air-condition units, filtering bacteria from ship water, recycling engine oil and switching to natural gas.

Sadly, I missed out for the second year running. But the well-deserved winners were Chancellor Yigal Cohen-Orgad of Ariel University, Rabbi Moshe Levinger of Hebron, and Zionist education expert Dr. Zvi Zameret.

Every year, hundreds of Israelis walk to raise funds for Ra’anana’s home for lone soldiers. Benji Hillman made Aliya from London in 1983 but was killed in Lebanon in 2006. As divisional commander he always watched over lone soldiers and Habayit Shel Benji was built in his memory.

A new home for Lone Soldiers in Israel was opened in Ramat Gan with a special ceremony. It marks the conclusion of the $5 million project launched by the American Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.

(Thanks to Israel21c) Israel celebrated Earth Day with the world’s first full-length movie screening, powered by solar energy, sponsored by Energiya Global. In Jerusalem the lights were turned off, to highlight the need to save energy – but not until after the opening of the Cool Globes exhibition.