Israel Active

The Young Israel Movement has dedicated a new Torah scroll to the IDF’s Iron Dome anti-missile unit. Together with $1billion investment voted by the US House of Representatives, the Iron Dome system could soon improve on its 90% success rate in shooting down rockets from Gaza terrorists.

Michael Freund, Chairman of Shavei Israel writes about the latest Government decision to bring remaining members of the Bnei Menashe tribe from India to Israel. The “lost” tribe of Menashe was exiled by the Assyrians 2700 years ago.

“Israel in the Digital Age” is the most comprehensive survey ever of how engaged Israelis are with social media. It portrays a nation that takes full advantage of all the Internet has to offer. Nearly one third of the ultra-Orthodox population is online. Also, Arabs blog more than Jews.

Is this good news, you ask? Yes – because Israel is steadily integrating its Ethiopian community into regular State education. Just an example of the ways a news story can be treated.

Archaeologists from The Hebrew University have found 3000-year-old artefacts that shed light on the design of the First Temple in Jerusalem. The models utilize important architectural designs written in the Torah that describe how the Temple should be built.

Renowned jeweller Henri Padani has passed away aged 92. He fled Antwerp with nothing when World War II began. Post WW2, he came to pre-State Tel Aviv working as a fruit picker and a barman. His pre-war jewellery design skills slowly allowed him to build a flourishing business and a home.

Celebrity hairstylist Vidal Sassoon, who was committed to fighting anti-Semitism and fought in Israel's War of Independence, has died age 84. Sassoon passed away on the eve of the Jewish minor festival of Lag B’Omer – the day when traditionally Jewish boys have their first haircut.

This article reminds ourselves of what a miracle it is to have a Jewish country.

“I know not one good example in the world of a city that was split and ever worked.” Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said, during his recent trip to Washington. “There’s no other way than to keep Jerusalem a united city. The costs of dividing the city of Jerusalem along political lines are too great.”

250 members of the Bnei Menashe community of Northern India will start new lives in the Jewish State this summer. The Bnei Menashe trace their roots to the Biblical Jewish tribe of Menashe who were taken into captivity from the Land of Israel by the Assyrians more than 2,700 years ago.