June 17, 2013 | 12:48 pm

This week from Israel

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

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Watch out, USA, the Israelis are coming!

Last week, more than 1,200 Israeli young adults made their way to North America to serve as Jewish Agency emissaries at day and overnight camps throughout the continent. Overall, 200 Jewish camps in 150 communities will have some extra fun Israeli summer!

Read more here. 
Read all about my personal experience as an Israeli delegate (Shlicha) here.

 

An Israeli 8th Wonder of the World

After the Dead Sea failed to enter the new list of Seven Wonders of the World, the Israeli 200-million-year-old natural naturally formed crater, Ramon Crater, is nominated to be the 8th Wonder of the World in a contest sponsored by VirtualTourist.com, a travel research website part of the Trip Advisor Media Group.

Read more here. 

 

"W" in Israel

New York-based real estate investment firm RFR Holding and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is expected to open a luxury boutique hotel under the W brand in Israel in 2015. The project, costing more than 50 million dollars, will convert a 19th century building that once housed the French Hospital in the ancient port neighborhood of Jaffa to a 125-room hotel overlooking the Mediterranean. Starwood will manage the hotel.

Read more here. 

 

The High Waze

After both Apple and Facebook had reportedly entered negotiations with the Israeli company behind the successful application, Waze, it was Google who sealed the deal. Long days of rumors and anticipation came to an end last week, when it was announced that Google purchased Waze, the GPS - Social network of 50 million users, for more than 1 billion dollars.

Read more here. 

 

International LEGO exhibit is making its way to Israel

International LEGO exhibition, "The Art of the Brick," will arrive in Israel in late June for two months. The exhibition includes some 40 sculptures created by New York-based artist Nathan Sawaya. The exhibition in Israel will also feature LEGO portraits of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres, which will be built by Israel's community of young engineers.

Read more here.

 

A Smartphone for the visually impaired

Using Israeli technology, Odin Mobile is the first company to offer the RAY Huawei Vision phone, a device that lets blind users not only make phone calls, but also allows them to send text messages, search the Internet, identify the denomination of cash, recognize colors, and access over 100,000 audio books and magazines.

Read more here.

 

Formula 1 in the middle of Jerusalem

Last week, Formula 1 drivers visited Israel for a very special event, as a part of Formula 1’s “Peace Road Show.” The drivers showed off their skills around Jerusalem's streets, featuring world-class cars and drivers representing Ferrari, Mercedes and Audi – as well as models constructed by Ben-Gurion University’s student race car team, “Ben- Gurion Racing.”

Read more here.

 

 

The Smartphone Nation

Israel is known for its innovation in almost everything, and start-up businesses in every corner. And as we all know by now, you cannot truly be a businessman without a proper Smartphone in your pocket. According to a survey commissioned by Google, 57% of Israelis own Smartphones, giving Israel the second place in the world in the device's penetration. Coming in first place is Britain, and Spain is on third.

Read more here. 

 

British MP apologizes for anti-Semitic remark

A British MP was caught on camera branding an Israeli soldier a “bloody Jew.” After being condemned by community leaders and fellow politicians, he apologized for the remark. This is not the first time a British MP makes such remarks: On March, another British MP blamed his imprisonment after causing a deadly car accident on a Jewish conspiracy.

Read more here. 

 

Israel and Britain against racism

Israel is hosting UEFA Under-21 European Championships, which is a very prestigious international event, and a great opportunity to promote important causes. Stars from the Israel and England Under-21 football teams joined together on Sunday to encourage the "Football for All" campaign and declare their support to kick racism and violence out of the sport.

Read more here.

June 14, 2013 | 12:21 pm

One Israeli Creation for the Weekend

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Yael Arad is an athlete, which was the first Israeli to win an Olympic medal, and by that- became an Israel icon. She was born in Tel-Aviv in 1967, and  started practicing in Judo as a child, back in a time when it was not a mainstream sport in Israel.  For lack of judo partners, she trained with the coach of the men's team in Israel, and also trained in Europe and Japan. In 1984, at the age of 17, Arad won her first international title in a middleweight competition. 

She came in 7th in the world judo championships in Vienna. In 1989, 1990 and 1991, she won medals in the European championships. In 1992, at the Olympic games in Barcelona, Arad won the silver medal in Judo half-middleweight. With that achievement, she became the first Israeli athlete to win an Olympic medal. In 1993, she won a gold medal in the European championships. At the world championships that year, she took home the silver medal. At the Maccabiah Games of the same year, Arad was chosen to light the torch.

She finished in second place at the 1993 World and European Championships and fifth at the 1995 World Championships.She also participated in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta,  but lost to Jung Sung-Sook of Korea, competing for the bronze. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she served as a judo coach for Israel.

In 1997, Arad was elected as one of the sports representatives to sit on the Israeli Olympic Committee. Today, she coaches judo, serves as a TV commentator at judo competition and working to promote sports for women. 

A short documentary about Yael Arad

 

Yael Arad and Catherine Fleury on the battle for the Golden medal at the 1992 Olympic Games

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June 12, 2013 | 12:26 pm

The new wave

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

The world's most famous scientist, Professor Stephen Hawking was supposed to arrive in Israel this month. Hawking, 71, a world-renowned theoretical physicist, was invited to participate the high- profile Presidential Conference in Jerusalem named "Facing Tomorrow"," which will also include a 90th birthday celebration to our President, Shimon Peres.

Everything was settled, and the excitement was high. I mean, not every day one of the most respected people in the world clears his schedule to visit Israel. My cousin, who is a fan, told me this means the world to her, that her idol would go all the way from England to Israel, and was really excited to hear the news. It wasn't even a month later when Hawking changed his mind.

Like many before him, the Cambridge University Professor joined the boycott of Israel, and cancelled his visit in protest of something called "Palestinian Occupation." Like many before him, Hawking did not check facts or decided to come and see what is really going on here, but decided it is much more convenient to believe the horror stories about ethnic cleansing, a second holocaust, abuse, apartheid and other lies. Turns out that him being a scientist, and more than that, a person who suffers from motor neuron disease and using Israeli technology to communicate does not make him think how dumb, empty and hypocritical this whole thing is.

This new trend called "boycotting Israel" is catching like a fire in a hay field.  Musicians, Scientists, Universities and public figures fall in love with the idea of becoming heroes and supporting an important cause, and without thinking twice, jump on the bandwagon. One by one they fall into the picture drawn to them by haters and liars, as we, just like in some twisted horror movie, are forced to watch everything from afar, not able to say a word of truth without being called "liars."

Every time I hear about a new guest at the "boo Israel" party, I can't help but wonder what are they trying to achieve, and why don't they even bother checking out the facts. I mean, the situation here is very political, and I understand why some who have been here would support an independent Palestinian country. Supporting this is legitimate. It is a political argument, just like the issue of the US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. But there is a long way from this to making accusations about ethnic cleansing, or comparing Israel of 2013 to Germany of 1940.

Those who call for a boycott want to look good, like peace activists (and let's put aside the fact that just next door, people are actually being murdered for fun.) But instead of helping to turn the world into a better place, they are doing the exact opposite. I'm sure many of them, Hawking included, did not take the time to Google Israel, and see its extraordinary contribution to the world in many fields, from science and medicine to high-tech and entertainment. I bet they don't know that many people worldwide, Palestinians included, have been treated by inventions that changed the face of medicine, and became available, in a way, thanks to a worldwide cooperation. I bet they have no idea that the Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, which has recently fallen under the boycott radar, stands behind Rasagiline, a drug effective in the treatment of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, the "Snake Robot," an innovative search and rescue robot invaluable to earthquake survivors, and more.

Joining the boycott of Israel does not bring the world forward, but takes it backwards. It weakens many types and kinds of progress and as if all of that is not enough- it hurts us, Israelis personally. I don't kill Palestinians for fun, honestly. I checked twice. Same goes for my friends, which some of them are Arabic. While we sometime have our political differences, we all believe in progress and we all believe in peace. And when we hear about yet another public figure cancelling a visit, we feel contagious and excluded. But the worst part of it all is that we feel hated, which I'm sure wasn't the main goal of those peace troopers.

We feel like we are doomed to watch, read and hear terrible lies about us, and not being able to defend ourselves. We stand aside, hearing lies and being boycotted, as the world is being filled with more and more hate with every cancellation. Those people call for peace, but they are so caught up in this new wave, that they don't take a moment and look back on the trail of damage they are leaving behind.

So here, I want to use the very little power I have here, as one little person against a raging crowd, and ask Hawking and his friends to take a moment, check the facts (which means listening to the other side also, or even stopping by for a visit) and rethink the damage they are doing. Marking us as brutal killers is easy, because dealing with the real killers, including the one next door, is a difficult task. It includes action, and a true struggle for peace. But marking us as the world's enemy is also wrong. So boycotters, please don't. Stop doing what you're doing because it is not the high road. It is the road of twisted lies and a struggle for nothing. Pull yourself together, and help returning the world to its nature, where there is good, bad and a huge gray zone in the middle. Check the facts, then agree or disagree, but don't hate and don't fall for lies. It is not what peace is made of.

 

Originally published on www.ynetnews.com

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June 10, 2013 | 12:25 pm

This week from Israel - Tel-Aviv’s Gay Pride Parade

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

This Friday, 100,000 people from all around the world gathered in Tel-Aviv for a big, colorful celebration of Pride. Straights, Homosexuals, Transgenders, Bisexuals- all came to show their support of equality in our society.

This combination of a celebration and a protest took place in the city that was recently elected one of the most "Gay Friendly" cities in the world, with the full support of the local municipality. Our top list of politicians joined the members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community in calls for the legalization of gay marriage and of the full right to be parents, and for a day, it seemed like the future is brighter than ever.

However, between one cheerful party to another, I remembered why these Pride Week events even take place. I remembered that whilst it is called "a Gay Pride Parade," it is still a protest, and a wake-up call for all of us. Between the smiles and the rainbow-colored set, I could see the pain in their hearts of having to be out there and still show a significant presence as a struggling community.

You see, we're in the 21st century, and teenagers still fear coming out of the closet, because they would instantly be marked as "different", "strange, "ill," or even "freaks of nature." Despite the fact the year is 2013, some people still live in the Middle-Ages, and members of the LGBT community have less chance of getting ahead in life, just because of their sexual orientation Just last week, I heard someone who said he would not allow his son to have a gay teacher, because he might molest him. The same person said that he does not think that a straight female teacher might molest his son, or that a straight male teacher might molest his daughter. Those teenagers, who feel something inside but scared to act on it because of the society, are sometimes sentenced to a life of unhappiness and incompleteness.

So yes, the Gay Pride Parade was one big fun celebration, and yet we mustn't forget its true meaning. But until we reach the point where there wouldn't be any need in Pride Parades, or a Pride Week, we must keep supporting this struggle for equality. I am not a member of the LGBT community, but I am proud to be a member of a community that does not care about a person's sexual preference, because why, on earth, should we care? The support of Tel-Aviv's municipality of the Pride Week events is one step towards the world we should live in. May this example, and other examples worldwide, catch the rest of the world soon, so we can truly say the human race is enlightened.

Caught on Camera- images from Tel-Aviv's Gay Pride Parade

Taken by: Rony Kahana

        

 

Taken by: Sharon Dar

          

 

Taken by: Tom Givon

   

   

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June 7, 2013 | 12:20 pm

One Israeli Creation for the Weekend

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Krav Maga (contact combat) is a is a non-competitive practical and tactical self-defense system that consists of a wide combination of techniques sourced from boxing, Muay Thai, Wing Chun, Judo, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and grappling, along with realistic combat training. It was invented and developed in Israel, based on a street fighting skill developed by martial artist Imi Lichtenfeld.

At the beginning of the 20th century, before Israel was a state,  Krav Maga lessons were given to what would later become the IDF. The purpose of the system was to teach the soldiers how to fight under realistic conditions.  When the state of Israel received its independence, and the IDF was formed, soldiers were taught Krav Maga as a way to fight in case they run out of ammo or in case of being attacked without a weapon to fight back with. Up until today, all soldiers of the IDF are being taught Krav Maga.

With time, the self-defense  system was spread outside the boundaries of the army, and outside of Israel. Nowadays Krav Maga techniques are being taught in the police, and in civil frameworks, such as gyms or special Krav Maga schools. But no matter where it is being taught, Krav Maga will always be known as the Israeli way to always be prepared for the unexpected.

Krav Maga vs. "Jazz Kwon Do" on Happy Endings

 

Krav Maga on Good Morning, America

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June 4, 2013 | 12:19 pm

The “posing” female soldiers are not the real face of the IDF. We are.

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Earlier this week, photographs of a group of female Israeli soldiers "loving the camera" in a variety of "sexy" poses were uploaded to Facebook. The photos, in one of which the girls were posing in their underwear with their guns, soon reached the press worldwide and caused an embarrassment to the IDF and its image.
This incident follows a list of previous inappropriate Internet conduct. In February, an IDF soldier posted a photograph of a Palestinian boy in the crosshairs of his  rifle drew harsh criticism. In 2010, a male IDF soldier was filmed dancing around a bound Palestinian woman. And these are merely a few examples.

These photos were widely used by anti-Israeli organizations as proof of "the real face of the IDF," and since people tend to believe scandals and "leaks" more than the words of the "establishmen" these added quite an amount of work for the pro-Israeli advocates.  The soldiers were punished, the IDF continued its fine work in protecting our country, but the public only remembered those images.

Since we all must enlist, but not all want to or understand the meaning of being a soldier, the unfortunate outcome is, well, this. Imagine having to stop your life for two or three years, right after graduating high school, and instead of partying and enjoying life at college, you would have to wear a uniform, carry a gun and take orders. For some of us, it is a difficult, yet possible transformation to undergo, but for others, it is practically mission impossible.

These soldiers couldn't take the burden, and chose the wrong way to deal with it. They thought they were just having some fun, goofing around, but it all resulted in them disgracing themselves and disgracing our Defense Forces.  And by disgracing the IDF, they disgraced us, too. Former soldiers like myself, and current soldiers, like my brother, who, when wearing the uniform for the first time, took upon ourselves the responsibilities of being Israeli soldiers. Protecting the ones you love and your fellow Israelis while putting aside the life you wished you had at the age of 18, because this is the kind of sacrifice being an Israeli requires from you.

These young men and women who posted these provocative photos are not the real face of the IDF. My brother, who returns home once every three weeks tired and tanned, my uncle, who leaves his wife and kids once every couple of months for his reserve (Milu'im) duty, my father, who served for 20-odd years as an officer, my friends, myself, and the hundreds of thousands of young men and women who know what being an IDF soldier means, we are the real IDF.

I salute the IDF soldiers for keeping me safe, and for putting their personal business on hold for me and for my fellow Israelis. Join me in the appreciation for them, and don't let a small group clowns in uniform define an entire group of heroes.

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June 3, 2013 | 12:28 pm

This week from Israel

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Airlines of Jordan and Turkey withdrew sponsorship from Israeli travel conference

Last week, an International Tourism Summit was held in Jerusalem. The conference, where innovative technologies in world tourism and travel were presented, had several sponsors, including Royal Jordanian and Turkish Airlines. However, the sponsorship of the national airlines of Jordan and Turkey caused quite an outrage in both places, and the two airlines gave in to the pressure and withdrew their sponsorship.

Read more here. 

 

The Netherlands wants Israeli start-up, ignoring BDS

The Brabant area in the south of the Netherlands offers Israeli startups some nice incentives for settling there. It is a part of an attempt to attract business to the region, with an emphasis on the Startup Nation.

Read more here. 

 

Israel's "Pride Month" is here!

Israel's Pride Month events kicked off last Friday in Tel Aviv, with a celebration that made this city one of the most popular cities in the world among tourists from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. This month will be a one big celebration of pride, and it will be launched with the official opening of Tel Aviv's Hilton Beach, the first "proud" beach in Israel. 20,000 tourists are expected to arrive in Israel, mostly from Germany, the United States, France, Spain, The Netherlands and England.

Read more here. 

 

Waze developers  insist on remaining local

After the Israeli app, Waze, and Facebook negotiated a purchase deal, the talks between the two companies had broken down, apparently over the insistence by Facebook that Waze relocate its operations abroad, and Waze’s insistence that it remain in Israel.

Read more here. 

 

Robert De Niro to visit Israel this month

Robert De Niro will arrive in Israel later this month to attend the Israeli Presidential Conference and take part in President Shimon Peres' 90th birthday celebrations. He visited Israel several times in the past, and even dated Israeli singer, Gali Atari. He is expected to spend 24 hours here, and attend Peres' birthday celebrations, alongside singer Barbra Streisand, (who will also perform here a few days later,) former US President Bill Clinton, former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev, Prince Albert of Monaco and more.

Read more here.

 

Desmond Tutu against Israel hosting a major sports event

Desmond Tutu has joined calls for UEFA to move the Under-21 European championship from Israel because of the Jewish state's treatment of Palestinian sport. This, alongside other calls, has put a lot of pressure on UEFA, but so far, it seems like Israel will still have the honor to host the championship.

Read more here.

 

Jerusalem – the new star of Hollywood!

Nir Barkat, the mayor of Jerusalem, traveled to L.A to meet with people of the entertainment industry and promote our capital as a location for films and television series.  In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he mentioned several projects that were recently shot in Israel, including the country's Oscar-nominated feature Footnotes and scenes from Showtime's Homeland, which is based on an Israeli series. He also said that filming in Jerusalem is not only good business, but also good Zionism.

Read more here.

 

Anti- anti- Semitism squad

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed the issuance of the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition Combatting Anti-Semitism (ICCA) Internet Hate Task Force Report and Recommendations for responding to cyber-hate. Now, they are ready to fight online anti-Semitism worldwide.

Read more here. 

 

Israel Day concert in NYC

25,000 people are expected to attend the upcoming 20th Annual Israel Day Concert on June 2nd. The concert, taking place at Central Park has three main themes:  First:  Israel and Jerusalem: Ours, united, forever, never to be divided again. Second: no further concessions of any part of the Land of Israel. Third:  Stopping Iran NOW!

Read more here.

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May 31, 2013 | 12:53 pm

One Israeli Creation for the Weekend

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Bar Refaeli (26) is an international model, often referred to as the most beautiful Israeli creations nowadays. Refaeli's modeling career started at the age of 8 months, when baby Bar starred in a commercial. At the age of 15, she appeared in campaigns for the Israeli fashion brands Castro and Pilpel, and also starred in several commercials on television.

Throughout her career, she starred in many fashion campaigns for Israeli brands and companies, and also acted a little bit, but what got her the status of an Israeli symbol is her success abroad. Refaeli appeared on the covers of Elle (France), Maxim and GQ (Italy) magazines , and in 2007, appeared in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, and she was the covermodel of the 2009 issue. This made her the first Israeli model to appear in the magazine.  In 2008, Refaeli became the presenter of the clothing line Hurley, and of Diddy's cologne, "I am King." In 2009, she became the spokesperson of Garnier International  and these are just the top of the iceberg of her busy career. Besides her modeling career, Refaeli was also known for being Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend for some time, and recently, she was highly noticed during the  2013 Super Bowl, where she starred in the much talked about GoDaddy commercial. 

Even though she did not serve in the IDF (an issue that received a high dose of criticism here,) Refaeli is an international ambassador of Israel, being proud of her nationality, and promoting the beautiful place that we live in.

GoDaddy's commercial from the 2013 Super Bowl

 

On Letterman

 

Bar Posing for Sports Illustrated  With Rafael Nadal, Michael Phelps and Chris Pau

 

Bar starring in a campaign promoting Israeli creations

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