Israel Active

The National Library of Israel has just launched a website giving the public access to a huge collection of materials, including books, periodicals, maps, photos and musical selections. The website, is the most comprehensive content-based website in Israel. It can be found at: www.nli.org.il

Professor of medicine Dov Weissberg was shot during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. The bullet hit his document wallet in his back pocket and stopped a millimetre from his skin. He has now donated the wallet to Yad Vashem together with the story of its bullet hole.

Could this start a trend? A special workshop scheduled to open in the Knesset in two weeks will teach lawmakers the basic rules of etiquette, as well as some advice related to their special role as elective representatives.

In addition to cash payments, employment assistance, language training, etc. etc., on arrival at Ben Gurion, new immigrants will now also receive an Israeli SIM card and 200 minutes of free calls.

The Israel Defense Forces will inaugurate the first military ritual bath in history on Thursday, at the southern Air Force base in Ovda. The project was launched to cater for women living on base who previously had to travel the 60 km to Eilat.

A pod of 10 dolphins including two calves was spotted wintering off Herzliya. Experts say that there are now 300 – 400 Mediterranean Bottlenose dolphins that visit Israel’s shoreline regularly. They are an inseparable part of Israel’s flora and fauna.

IDF spokesperson Colonel Avital Leibovitch explains, on CBS News, the measures Israel takes to defend its citizens with minimal impact on Palestinian Arab non-combatants.

Australian businessman Kevin Bermeister launched Yerushalayim 5800 designed to bring prosperity and tourism to the capital city of the Jewish State. His goal is to build a beautiful, culturally rich, Jewish city.

One of the most sensible protest movements I have seen. Led by Solar Mosaic, an organization that tries to promote the spread of solar energy use in communities, Occupy Rooftops (also known as Community Solar Day) encourages people to take charge of rooftops that are a prime location for solar panels. Last week people all over the world (including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv) did just that.

Glenn Beck, American journalistic figure and die-hard conservative, received the first Zionist Organization of America's "Defender of Israel Award". In presenting the award, Sheldon Adelson said of Beck, "He is a man of courage and determination, who is devoting his life to battle evil. I have never met a Christian-Zionist like Beck. There is no greater supporter of Israel in the media."