From tragedy to kindness
Shoshana Greenbaum was one of 15 people killed in the Sbarro suicide bombing 10 years ago. The official death toll did not include her unborn child, who was to be the Greenbaums’ first child. Her husband’s response was to establish a new website and a book on kindness.
Israel is closing the standard of living gap
Bank of Israel Governor Professor Stanley Fischer said that the days are over when Israelis visiting the USA brought back peanut butter, toilet paper and electronic equipment. Guess what I brought back from the UK on my last trip!
MASA to train US students
Five hundred young North American Jews will spend this year in Israel, participating in seminars to equip them to deal with increasing anti-Israel sentiment on U.S. college campuses.
Israeli classrooms go global
The Jewish Agency is linking 200 Israeli schools via the Internet to 200 Jewish schools students in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Turkey, Russia, South Africa and Australia. Students will participate in virtual joint study sessions using large video screens in their classrooms.
1600 years since the last bath
Israeli archaeologists have uncovered remains of an ancient bathhouse dating to the Byzantine period during work being conducted on the modern water infrastructure near Moshav Tarum in the Judean coastal hills.
MDA Diaspora volunteers save lives
Bnei Akiva, the religious- Zionist youth movement, has launched a new “Hachshara” (training) program that allows young Diaspora Jews to spend 8 months in Israel rotating between MDA, the IDF and other organizations. 160 people are set to participate over the next seven months.
The City of David – where it all began
This new video, with musical-style accompaniment, features views of the site of Jerusalem’s original Jewish settlement, some 3000 years ago.
Bringing the Dead Sea back to life
Two bills setting up funds for resurrecting the Dead Sea passed their first reading in the Knesset. It also voted in favour of harvesting salt that has built up over the years and now threatens nearby hotels with flooding.
“Latkes are healthy” (-ish)
The traditional high-fat potato and onion fried delicacy for Chanukah is not as bad for you as you may think. The potato ingredient fights colds, reduces cancer, heart and anaemia risks, helps digestion, lowers blood pressure, calms stress and protects bones. So go on – have one and enjoy it!
Ancient Iraqi Torah scroll smuggled out to Netanya
A Torah scroll, estimated to be 400 years old, has been secretly smuggled into Israel from Baghdad’s Beit Zilcha yeshiva. It is to be ceremoniously inducted to the Be'er Chana synagogue in Netanya.