Israel Active

It is truly incredible that, thanks to organisations like AMIT, the academic performance of Israeli students in the South continues to improve despite the terrorist missiles from Gaza. In Sderot, 85% of students matriculate into universities when they finish high school, while the national average is only 62%.

Half of David Salomons’ collection of nearly 200 unique watches and clocks was stolen in 1983 but almost all have since been returned to the Jerusalem Museum of Islamic art. This video shows some of the beautiful items recovered.

The annual migration of the swifts is well underway. Several hundred of the aerial acrobats nest in the cracks between the stones of the Kotel – providing an exciting spectacle to their international audience.

No prizes for guessing that the awards go to the City of David, the Archaeological Park & Davidson, the Rockefeller museum, the Bible Lands museum and the Tower of David.

Israel’s Orly Cactus Farms is to offer a new fruit to the Israeli market. According the company, its taste is unique and it also tastes good pickled. If it is successful locally, Orly hopes to export the cactus to Russia and Europe.

The Israeli self-defence technique “Krav Maga” (close touch) is being taught extensively to women in the USA. Darren Levine - one of the highest ranked Krav Maga instructors in the world - said that the classes not only provide individuals with the appropriate moves and skills to defend themselves during an attack, but also teach them a mindset that is essential for survival.

The Zomet Institute has designed the “Shabbatphone” for those engaged in vital (non-life saving*) services on Shabbat. It works on the principle of changing electric capacitance. Numbers are printed on a smooth sealed surface. On ordinary phones, pressing buttons completes electric circuits, which Jewish law prohibits on the Sabbath. (*Jews may of course break Shabbat laws in order to save life.)

The Zomet Institute has also developed a kosher-for-Shabbat capacitative keyboard, which operates on the principle of “gramma” (indirect action). The IDF has purchased 500 of the keyboards for religious soldiers who need computers to perform military duties on the Sabbath.

“Vhi Sheamda” – this video is a “must-see” before the Passover Seder. An inspiring message from South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein and the music of Yaakov Shwekey.

Irish artist Nicky Larkin underwent a personal transformation whilst making a film about the Israeli-Arab conflict. This has to be the “must read” for this week’s newsletter. Nicky Larkin’s film “Forty Shades of Grey” will premiere in Dublin in May.