Israel Active

Israel’s Antiquities Authority (IAA) has launched a new on-line Israel Archaeological Archive. The project consolidates 30,000 Israeli websites and 30,000 antiquity sites. IAA deputy director Dr Uzi Dahari called it “the largest and most important asset of the State of Israel.”

It may sound like the title of a horror movie, but it is definitely good news. The measured water level of the Dead Sea has increased by 10cm for the first time since 2003 due to the surging Jordan River and flash floods in the area.

Israel's National Library has unveiled recently purchased ancient Jewish manuscripts rescued from caves in a Taliban stronghold in northern Afghanistan. The Afghan collection gives an unprecedented look into the lives of Jews in ancient Persia in the 11th century.

Teacher Marlin Nowbakht at Israel's Shenkar College of Engineering and Design believes “Israeli students are very targeted on what they do.... They're pushing the boundaries of their thoughts. They don't accept every answer as it is. And there is a lot of creativity within that breaking-the-boundaries kind of approach."

(Thanks to Israel21c) “Gazelle Valley” is a 64-acre site in the Givat Mordechai neighborhood of Jerusalem, in the south west of Israel’s capital. The valley is to be turned into the Gazelle Urban Nature Park, preserving the small flock of wild mountain gazelle that live there.

The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education at Bar-Ilan University has completed an innovative "Israel throughout the Year" curriculum for Jewish day schools in the United States and Canada. Schools can choose to utilize either the colorful print or digital versions.

Guests of the StandWithUs Fellowship Reunion Conference included Israeli Environment Minister Gilad Erdan and CEO of Google Israel Meir Brand. The StandWithUs Israel Fellowship identifies, educates and empowers Israel’s next generation of leaders and ambassadors.

Among the 18,000 new immigrants to Israel in 2012 was 100-year-old Moises Lederman from Brazil. "I'm only sorry I didn't come to Israel earlier on, but better late than never," he said.

Here are some of the best Internet images of Israelis making the most of the unusual weather. Eight of the photos are genuine, but five have been enhanced – probably with Israeli technology. See if you can spot the intruders.

See this lovely photo of an Israeli Air Force squadron flying over the snow-capped hills of Northern Israel. Sends shivers up one’s spine, and a warm glow everywhere else!