Israel Active

I couldn’t resist this. The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout” and the festival of Tabernacles.

We’ve had a week of joy here in Israel – and it ended with the festival that marks our re-start of the cyclic reading of the Five Books of Moses. It’s even been known for the Rabbi to bring in a bottle or two of whiskey to help the celebrations along.

Rescued from the Holocaust, restored and presented to the IDF at Sirkin Army base, Young Israel’s 200th restored Torah scroll was dedicated to the memory of one of the founders of YI’s Redeem a Torah campaign Ruby Davidman, who died last year. Davidman’s grandson Amit serves at Sirkin. This is a truly fascinating and moving story.

Arik Einstein and Guy Bocati have written a piece of music that they hope will give Gilad Schalit some comfort following his return from five years of captivity – “Now you are here”

Over 130 Righteous Gentiles who saved Jews during WW2 have just emerged in Israel. They had decided, post-war, to immigrate to the Jewish State rather than remain in Europe.

Here is an article featuring the top 10 public gardens in the Jewish State.

As the downturn grinds on in the USA, more ambitious young professionals have been lured by Israel’s robust economy. In 2010, nearly 4,000 North Americans made aliya, more than any year since 1973.

Yehuda Medwin survived a roadside bomb in Iraq. After 4 years of combat he arrived in Israel on Aliya and quickly joined the IDF. After his service he wants to study at yeshiva.

Ten non-Jewish US army veterans injured in service visited Israel on a 10-day trip. They were surprised to find how well they connected with the Israelis they met. “The U.S. could learn a lot from how Israel treats its veterans.”

The Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers has provided the IDF with 50 massive Succoth (booths) and 1000 sets of the four species for use during the Festival of Tabernacles.