Turning rockets into roses

With just a hammer, anvil and furnace, Israeli artist Yaron Bob melts, moulds and sculpts the remains of Kassam rocket attacks from Gaza into gorgeous flowers.

The reason to make Aliya

Participants at the Jerusalem Conference for English speakers have a message to Jews in the Diaspora: Come to Israel!

50,000 at International Jerusalem march

The annual festival of Sukkot march included 10,000 visitors from Brazil, the U.S., Norway, Denmark, Thailand, China, and Italy who wanted to identify with Israel.

Shaking the Lulav

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

Another excuse to celebrate – Simchat Torah

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.

Torah scroll comes home

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.

Song for Gilad

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”

Non-Jewish heroes tell their stories

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.

The beauty of Israel

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

Aliya is a good career move

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.