Israel Active

Barbara Sofer writes an annual Yom Ha’Atzmaut article, each one containing fresh and exciting observations and events that celebrate Israel’s existence. Here is her list for Israel’s 64th birthday.

This JPost blog describes some of the major categories of achievements that Israel can be proud of. The author has missed out one, however. See if you can spot it. If not, check the comments.

Excellent advice from the Jerusalem Post Editor - Stop being negative and emphasise the positive aspects of the Jewish State.

Since 2003, volunteers and donors to Standing Together have provided food to Israel’s soldiers and those civilians who are under threat of attack from Israel’s enemies. This year Standing Together organised a series of barbecues at army bases to celebrate Independence Day.

The website www.israelupclose.org contains a library of hundreds of videos that highlight Israel’s contributions to humankind. Please read this recent introduction to the site and then have a look at some of the films that you haven’t seen already.

We may be celebrating the birth of the Jewish State, but we can also be proud that a record 161,000 babies were born to Israeli citizens in the last 12 months.

Bahadim City is the location of the IDF’s new environmentally friendly training facility. The base will reclaim the Negev desert, generate hundreds of jobs, utilize solar power and recycle water from the wastewater treatment plant for use in agricultural irrigation.

In case you missed it, here is a link to the advertisement that FLAME placed in newspapers across the USA. FLAME stands for Facts & Logic About the Middle East. We certainly need more publicity like this.

(Thanks to Israel21c) A 3 minute tour through the many innovations that are improving lives across the planet, thanks to Israeli creativity. Hi-tech, water technology, medical - a myriad of life changing technologies that have all been “Made in Israel”.

The latest OECD study shows that Israelis work an average of 2000 hours per year. That’s 20% longer than the average British worker and 40% longer than a typical German. Israelis are top of the league for reading books and attending cultural events.