May 20, 2013 | 12:39 pm

This week from Israel

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Follow JewishJournal.com on

A 1500 year old mosaic discovered in Israel

Israel is a place full of history. In thousands of years, many nations, tribes and empires of many cultures settled here, built and ruined, and left many discoveries to be found. With time, more and more beautiful memories are being found, including remains of palaces, old cities, ancient artwork and more. An archeological excavation of the Israel Antiquities Authority discovered a colorful mosaic dating back to the Byzantine period. It was exposed in the fields of Kibbutz Bet Kama in the Negev desert.

Read more here. 

 

 

"Google glass" for the blind

Israeli researchers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa have developed an innovative tool, which one day in the not-so-distant future, people blinded by RP may see beyond shadows once again. This tool will provide a futuristic and bionic way to bypass neural circuitry and directly stimulate restored vision cells with a computer-driven technique called holography.

Read more here. 

 

NY Center  for Jewish History gives artwork to Google Art

New York City's Center for Jewish History is contributing more than 600 high-resolution artworks to the Google Art Project, which uses technology to put art, archives, heritage sites and other cultural material online. The center's contribution includes paintings and works on paper that survived the Holocaust, as well as portraits of Sigmund Freud.

Read more here. 

 

A digital revolution is coming to Tel-Aviv

Mayor of Tel-Aviv, Ron Huldai, portrayed a "digital revolution" his city is planned to undergo in the next few months. “Digi-Tel,” will allow residents to do all municipal business online, from paying real estate taxes to filing requests for permits, license applications, and renewals. Residents will also be able get tailor-made information about events in their neighborhoods based on their preferences, reserve and pay for tickets to the theater and sporting events, sign kids up for school and more.

Read more here. 

 

 

A hit Palestinian reality show allows people to pretend to run for President

"The President" is a reality show, broadcast weekly on the Palestinian TV station, Maan TV.  The show offers contestants the chance to tell what they would do on a variety of subjects, if elected President. Since the Palestinians haven't elected President since 2005, the show allows them to vote contestants off and choose a winner, something that they cannot do in real life.

Read more here. 

 

 

Israeli students using science to help poor African communities

High school students from Tel-Aviv are developing a system to convert highly nutritious spirulina alga into powder, for distribution in poor African communities. It is not able to solve the world hunger, but it can prevent malnutrition, which causes death in developing countries.

Read more here. 

 

A new TAU - US team discovery

A team of astronomers from Tel Aviv University and from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) has discovered a planet outside our solar system using a method based on Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.

Read more here. 

 

Gene Simmons insults Muslims on an interview

Rock legends and "Kiss" bassist, Gene Simmons, sparked outrage in Australia, where he was touring earlier this month. On an interview for a Melbourne radio station, Simmons made some anti-Muslim comments, calling it a "vile culture," and insinuating that the West was under threat.

Read more here.

 

 

Ashton Kutcher visits Israel

Ashton Kutcher arrived in Israel on Monday for a visit. The actor stayed in Tel-Aviv, where he met with some local startup companies. Kutcher is a big fan of Israel. This is his fifth visit here, and just like the four times before, he did not forget to mention his impression with this country to his fans and followers.

Read more here. 

May 17, 2013 | 12:33 pm

One Israeli Creation for the Weekend

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Rotem Shefy is a 28 year old Israeli singer, and the voice of the most unique cover of Radiohead's Karma Police.

Shefy's oriental version of Karma Police was uploaded to YouTube on April 23rd and in less than two weeks reached over 210,000 views, becoming a must hear song. In an interview to Israelife, Shefy, a singer from Tel-Aviv, seems quite surprised from the clip's overnight success, and explains that it actually started as a private joke:

"In 2009, I started my first year in the music academy- Rimon. In my second year there, I joined a Radiohead ensemble, which performed covers of the band's songs. There, I met cellist Leat Sabbah, and we became very close friends. Karma Police started as a private joke between the two of us, and then between all members of the group. Before we started playing Karma Police, I would sing a short oriental version of a part of the song and everyone would laugh. After we graduated, this "private joke" of us became the real deal, as we decided to turn Karma Police around and rearrange in into a middle-eastern song. We started a Kickstarter campaign and raised the money for the production. After recording, we filmed the video, where we created those new fun characters, and the rest is history…"

 

Did you have any ideas it would become such a great hit?

"None of us imagined it would become such a viral hit. The song was born out of respect to Radiohead, when our main goal was to enjoy ourselves and have fun."

 

Will we be hearing more from you in the near future?

 

"Both Liat and I are musicians, and we work both together and separately. In the past two years, I've been working on my own original material and perform with a band. Soon, we will start recording.

My plans for the future is to never stop creating music, whether it is original or covers that inspire me, record everything and then release them. I also hope I would combine acting with my musical life."

 

Karma Police:

 

Vocals: Rotem Shefy (https://www.facebook.com/RotemShefy?f...)
Cello: Leat Sabbah (https://www.facebook.com/leatsabbahcello)
Oud: Yaniv Taichman
Percussion: Ori Dekel
Produced: Rotem Shefy & Leat Sabbah
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered: Avi Ein Zur

THE CREW:
Producer: Roi Kurland- green productions www.greenproductions.co.il
Director & Editor: Amos Geva
Director of Photography: Shay Druyak
Assistant Camera: Orr Weiner
Concept: Nir Raizes
Color Grading: Oren Agami
Co-Producer: Yael Gal
Set Dressing: Danny Bar shay "HaKol Dvash"
Hair/Makeup: Elran Efargan
Cast: Idan Shefy, Erez Solow, Yogev Ben-Ami, Beata Garber, Einav Yaacoby, Snir Shefy-Shalev, Eitan Shalev

Executive Producers: Riki Cohen, Barbara Trommer, Paul Sabbah, Ilan Tamir, Nitzan Canetty, Guy & Einat Cohen, Eran Sisam, Carmela Segal Nielsen & Erik and dahlia Nielsen, Yaron Shefy

Special thanks to Kickstarter Donators:
Erez Keynan, Rotem Tamir, Anyssa Neumann, Mark Kuzmack, Aviv Pressburger, Jessica Schutzman, Dana, Sarah Aroeste, Noam Liebeskind, Noah Temple, Martyna, Michal Weiner, Daniel Shahar, Asaf Meidan, Hagar Levy, Ella Joy Meir, Jechiel Herschensen, Ryan Frank, Michael Fridman, Daniel Koren, Marta Bagratuni, Yemi Gonzales, Laurence Cohen, Dor Shemer, Nitzan Tzifroni, Laura Kegeles, Daniel Allen, Gillian Berkowitz, Neta Doppelt, Jechiel Evers, Nehemia Shefy, Ron Dotan, Roby Fayer, Daya Tolkatzir, Ayelet Shabani, Jonathan Maimon, Itamar Feitlovich, Dorit Shefy, Alicia Horwitz, Shai Bachar, Gil Epstein, Hana Rosen, Jonathan Meister, David Meister, Roy Niederhoffer, Hari Bernstein, Tsfania Sangauker, Idan Shefy, Anastasia Lekatsas

0 Comments — Leave your comment

May 14, 2013 | 2:22 pm

State, Religion, and Women of the Wall- an Interview with MK Stav Shaffir

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

On March 11, first time MK (Member of the Knesset,) Stav Shaffir (27) from Ha'Avoda (labor) party, joined the Women of the Wall in prayer at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. With threats from several Orthodox groups, and attempts for arrests by the police, they welcomed the new "Rosh Chodesh." This is what she wrote on her Facebook page that day:

"I usually do not wear a talit, but it is my honor and duty to stand here and protect the rights of all Jews from around the world to pray as they desire and believe. One denomination cannot take hold of a place so important and place for all Jews in the world. At a time when there is a debate in Jewish communities on what is the right way to worship G-d, we must remember that there is more that connects us than divides us. The least we can do is to allow all men and women to worship as they see fit.

 

For over twenty four years, The Women of the Wall pray every Rosh Chodesh at the Western Wall. For years they have been harassed and arrested because they choose to pray as women there. This morning, after a week of threats in the Orthodox media, I joined them.

At first the police tried to block our entrance claiming we would disturb the peace. But there is nothing that one hundred women armed with talitot cannot accomplish.

 

Surrounded by policemen and women, and to the sounds of yelling of ultra-Orthodox men and the blowing of Shofars, we stood in front of the wall and prayed."

This prayer received large media coverage, and brought the discussion of women's religious rights in Israel back to the headlines. After the police arrested five women for praying at the Kotel, wearing talitot and yarmulkes, while claiming it is against the rule of the Israeli Supreme Court, the legal discussion was reopened, and there may be a light at the end of the tunnel: On Monday, Jerusalem District Court ruled that Women of the Wall were not breaking the law by conducting their monthly service. A big step forward, but there is still a long way to go.

Today, more than a month later, Shaffir, who also led the national struggle for "social justice" in the summer of 2011, has agreed to interview for Israelife and give her opinion on Judaism, Israel, equality and Women of the Wall.

 

Why did you join Women of the Wall for their monthly service and in their struggle?

"This struggle is not only about the equal right for women to pray.  It is a much wider struggle, which symbolizes our fight for the freedom of religion in Israel. Out freedom to live how we want to live, with our own beliefs and our own personal way of practicing jewdaism or other religions. It is about how and where we choose to pray, but also about  every other aspect of our lives. Nowadays, the marriage institution, women's rights and the most intimate, important choices of our lives are all in the hands of a small and powerful group within jewdaism - the orthodox, which many times doesn’t see, or is not respectful enough, for other forms of practices.

This situation also has the unfortunate, less notable, side effect of pushing people away from Judaism. The Judaism we know here, in Israel, is mostly Orthodox. This causes many women to feel discriminated in this specific culture. For many, the orthodox practice is considered extreme, and when the general perception is that this is the only Jewish life possible, many people step further away from the Jewish religion and culture.

One of the things that make Israel special is that we can live a Jewish life without necessarily having to live a religious life. Judaism is everywhere here, from our educational system to our national holidays. Everything here is the outcome of Judaism, mostly its cultural aspect. The moment all the Jewish streams are being sucked by one very small stream, there is a problem. It pushes people away from their own religion and sometimes from the Jewish culture and legacy.

All the beauty of Zionism, and this beautiful Zionist project called The State of Israel, must renew itself constantly. We must always understand the field we're at, and keep finding the ways to continue to realize it."

 

So you believe state and religion should be separated?

"I don't believe we need to strip the Orthodox stream from its power, but to simply provide more power to the other streams as well, and create a true Democracy. Allow freedom for non-Orthodox as well. The way it goes now, there is not a non-Orthodox marriage institution. People cannot legally get married, and enjoy marriage privileges in a non-Orthodox way. Same goes for any other basic rights in our lives, such as divorce, gender identity sexual identity, what women can and cannot do in their military service. There are many outcomes coming from this domination of one religious stream. The best solution would not be to remove them from all power, but to give other streams and groups within the Jewish religion with the same amount of power."

 

What were the reactions you received after joining Women of the Wall?

"Reactions came from both sides of the scale. Many asked me: "You are not religious, so why were you wearing a tallit?" This question is very hard for me, because what I felt there, during the service, was incredible. It was very powerful, empowering and moving to stand there, with these wonderful, courageous women. The prayer they chant is very beautiful and combines several streams. It took them years to write it, and it addresses the Conservatives, the Reform and also the Orthodox. It combines everything, and there is something very special in it. I think that I, as an Israeli woman, never felt I was an equal at services combining prayers. I felt discriminated, beneath men. As a woman in Jewish Israel, I always felt like I was being pushed aside. That's why the feeling of standing there with the amazing Women of the Wall, knowing this is our thing and that's how we choose to do it, was wonderful and really brought us closer to one another.

Hearing negative remarks on what I did made me realize it is all a misconception of religion and the definition of who is religious and who is secular. I mean, we each believe in our own way. This is what religion truly is- each person does whatever he or she feels in his or her heart. There is no one prayer better than another. I felt like there was an unreasonable appropriation of religion. I was born in Israel. I am Jewish, my grandparents are Jewish, and no one gets to decide for me how I must realize my Judaism and what is not "good enough." It doesn't work this way.

This kind of reaction was very condescending and again, very drifting away from Judaism. Instead of pulling us closer to religion, the message was: "it is ours, and unless you do this and that- you cannot be a part of it."

On the other side, there were very supportive, enthusiastic reactions. Many women, secular also, said that this showed them they can do this, and must never give up. There is a common perception in Israel that because there is a status- quo of some sort, we cannot make a change. We forget that things can be different. We live in a country with religious institutions, but this does not mean we cannot also throw a reform or secular wedding, just like in any other western, free state, that puts liberty as a higher value. So there were many positive reactions as well, and on a more general note, I feel like my party, Ha'Avoda, really aroused the civilian talk.

Nowadays, we are in a time of a change of generation in politics, as there are more young people in our Knesset than ever before. This is the perfect time to revive the discussion about religion and state. There are many things that weren't as clear for the previous generation as they are to us. As a woman, I will not accept limitation, something that women several decades ago may see as something that cannot be changed. I also think that the issue of LGBT is also something that we, today, accept as a part of our lives. For our generation, the acceptance is more obvious, a part of our culture, not something that needs to be on the side, hidden. Same goes for civil, secular, marriage. This topic is more out in the open now.

That's why the change in our politics, the younger breeze, is important for reopening these discussions. Now is the time to redefine Judaism and its connection to Israel. To turn the Zionist vision to what it is supposed to be. On some level, there is a very strong connection between what our grandparents dreamt of when they realized the Zionist dream, to what became of it- the state of Israel- but now it seems like this Zionist dream was forgotten, and when living under constant existential threat, that dream is sometimes being pushed aside. This is the role of our generation- to pull it back."

 

In summer of 2011, you led what can only be referred to as "revolution." You and your partners made hundreds of thousands of people get up from their seats and protest in the streets for "social justice." Do you think that the struggle for a true freedom of religion is the next revolution in Israel?

"I think it can be one of the main issues to capture the public's attention, but a true change depends on the involvement, both of the Knesset's as well as the public's ability to get up and join. But I think it is definitely possible, yes. We have a very indecisive government, and I really have no idea how the various parties will react to the matter of civil marriage. I think there is a place for a true, meaningful, discussion."

 

And is there a chance for a true change?

"Definitely, because there is no other choice. Even today, you can see how the discussion of the post- social-justice protest of 2011 still has a major impact on everything. Whether it is the decisions made by the national banks, the decisions made by Israeli tycoons, and the fear of our elected politicians to disappoint their electors. Same goes here. The talks about it can turn into a change similar to that of the 2011 protest.

In his speech in Israel, President Obama said "as a politician, I can assure you that political leaders will not take risks if the people do not push them to do so". I think this is very true. We lit a match with Women of the Wall, a struggle for a thorough change they've been leading for a long time now. It created a public discussion which must grow and spread, and if it will lead to a demand from the public, it will lead to a governmental change."

 

Do you see yourself as the leader of this struggle?

"We are all leaders of what we care for, and this struggle is a major part of our struggle for greater freedom. I've been dedicating time to meeting with all the parties involved, the Rabbi of the Kotel, the women, and I try to reach a compromise. If we will fail to reach a meeting point which will be accepted by all sides, especially for Women of the Wall, we will need to take this to the next level."

0 Comments — Leave your comment

May 13, 2013 | 12:22 pm

This week from Israel

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Shurat Hadin vs. Hawking

Stephen Hawking's announcement of cancelling his visit here and joining the boycott of Israel did not pass by quietly. Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of Shurat HaDin – Israel Law Center, responded publicly to this ridiculous decision, saying:  "Hawking's decision to join the boycott of Israel is quite hypocritical for an individual who prides himself on his own intellectual accomplishment. His whole computer-based communication system runs on a chip designed by Israel's Intel team. I suggest that if he truly wants to pull out of Israel he should also pull out his Intel Core i7 from his tablet" 

Read more here.

 

Americans prefer Tel-Aviv

A recent survey asked 13,000 Americans to rank their favorite brands. It was conducted by the international company, BAV Consulting, which every quarter presents the world's most comprehensive brand index ranking companies, cities and countries according to different parameters. In somewhat a surprising finding, Tel Aviv was found more attractive than 90% of the most popular brands in the United States.

Read more here.

 

A church in Britain insulted the Jewish community, causing the Ambassador's interference

The Church of Scotland published a document that questions the biblical right of Jews to the land of Israel. This document included some hurtful remarks, which insulted the Jewish community there. Only after Israel's ambassador to the UK, Daniel Taub, condemned the document, did the Church agree to reword it. 

Read more here.

 

Author Dvora Omer died at 80

Author and Israel Prize laureate Dvora Omer was laid to rest Sunday afternoon in the l Israeli moshav of Kfar Ma'as, where she had lived until her death at the age of 80 last Thursday. Omer was one of the most influential figures in Israel, writing many books which became milestones in the Israeli culture, and were read by generations of children, teenagers and adults.

Read more here.

 

Facebook is interested in purchasing Waze

After being wooed by Apple, the Israeli Smartphone app. Waze, is negotiating with Facebook a purchase that might make its creators 1 billion dollar richer. Waze is a GPS system/Social network. Its users contribute map data, and report traffic incidents, delays, police ambushes, etc., which can help other users find alternative routes or directions and get to their destination as soon as possible

Read more here.

 

Israeli Hackers help defending the US from a cyber attack

Hacktivist group Anonymous, along with numerous other hackers, planned a massive cyber-attack on American websites, as a follow up to their #OpIsrael attacks from last months. According to Anonymous, #OpUSA was about “payback for American crimes. America you have committed multiple war crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and recently you have committed war crimes in your own country. You have killed hundreds of innocent children and families with drones, guns, and now bombs. America you have hit thousands of people where it hurts them, now it is our time for our Lulz. For this you shall pay.” However, just like the last time, Anonymous' operation was a flop, as Israel hackers joined the US cyber defenders.

Read more here.

 

American TV stars visited Israel and fell in love

Actors of hit American TV shows such as Scandal and  Once Upon a Time spent a week touring Israel in a trip which was led by America's Voices in Israel (AVI) Director Irwin Katsof and sponsored by El Al Israel Airlines and the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When the trip was over, the Hollywood stars made sure everybody knows of the wonderful place that is Israel.

Read more here.

 

A new production of Wagner's opera was cancelled due to graphic Nazi scenes

A German opera house has cancelled a modern production of Wagner's opera "Tannhauser," after the opening-night audience complained about images of Jews being executed and dying in the gas chambers. Some scenes showed Jews being raped, having their heads shaved and being shot to death.

Read more here.

 

And the "Israeli Nobel Prize" goes to…

The Wolf Prize, also known as "the Israeli Nobel Prize" was awarded to eight recipients by President Shimon Peres Sunday night. Among the winners of the international award granted in Israel, were author Jared Diamond, a champion of geographical determinism, and MIT professor Robert Langer, a pioneer in creating polymers for time-release drugs.

Read more here.

0 Comments — Leave your comment

May 10, 2013 | 12:19 pm

One Israeli Creation for the Weekend

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

MUTRAH is a young jewelry label, which blends contemporary jewelry design with a distinctive touch of bohemian chic. Inspired by the tribal African culture and ancient Egyptian jewelry. MUTRAH jewelry is all hand-made, created from industrial mechanical brass, colorful neon dyed strings and leather, which are carefully crafted with great attention to detail and quality. MUTRAH is based in Israel, but is also providing jewelry to stores in Japan, Finland, Panama, England, Italy and New York.

The label worked with ARDC (African Refugee Development Center,) and donates a share of its profits to the organization. Nowadays, MUTRAH employs people with disabilities, allowing them to make a proper living. An even more inspiring fact about MUTRAH is that it was founded only a year ago, by two 21-year-old inspiring Israeli designers who have worked their way to the top! The young founders are Mor Aldaag and Gani Bar-Lev. They come from the world of fine art and spent several years studying traditional art forms in Thelma Yellin School of Arts, before starting their path as jewelry designers.

"We founded MUTRAH without any commercial pretensions or great expectations. As a matter of fact, it all started with a hobby of two good friends." Says Mor to Israelife. "Gani and I met in high school, and became good friends. The love that we both share to art and design led us to spend a lot of time together, create together, and start small projects, which one of them eventually became MUTRAH ("nut" of a bolt, in Yiddish.) We started by making jewelry for ourselves and for our friends. A short while later, we started receiving phone calls from other girls who saw the jewelry and wanted a piece or two for themselves. Surprisingly, we were also approached by a clothing store manager who saw our work and wanted to sell it, and from there, things just happened and MUTRAH was turned into an international business."

Visit MUTRAH's website: http://www.mutrah.com/

Here are a few examples from MUTRAH's 2013 collections:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0 Comments — Leave your comment

May 8, 2013 | 12:20 pm

What Jerusalem Day means to me

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Jerusalem. A meeting place of holy and secular. A place of synagogues, churches and mosques. A place there old and new merge into something so beautiful, so special, it takes your breath away. No place in the world is like Jerusalem. No experience in the world matches standing in front of the Western Wall, closing your eyes, and feeling something indescribable inside.

I've been to Jerusalem countless times. It is an hour away from my home. With time, it stopped stimulating that special place in my Jewish heart, reserved for the holy city. I don't long there, I don't feel the need to pray for "the next year in Jerusalem," because it is right there, an hour away. I visit there a lot, but only when my parents want us to take a trip there and enjoy the city.

It's not that I feel nothing. I mean, no matter who you are, where you're from and what your beliefs are, Jerusalem does something to you. Religious, secular, young or old- you cannot stay indifferent to the wonders of this city. When you enter its gates, something turns on inside you, and you feel more alive than ever before. Jerusalem is a state of mind. It is a powerful connection between body and spirit, a place of completeness.

The thing is, once something is handed to you, you tend to take it for granted. This is why I think it's important for me to remember Jerusalem day. Not because I am a spiritual person, because I'm really not. Also not because I believe this city must be owned by Judaism, because I admire its openness to all religions.  I find this day important, because it reminds me that things weren't always at our reach. Jerusalem day reminds me that back then, when Israel fought daily for its existence; people gave up their lives for what they believed in and longed for.

I may be too young or cynical to truly understand the meaning of Jerusalem, but I see people around me, who breathe Jerusalem in their every move. I also see people who live far away from here, people to whom Jerusalem is not within a reach, but they always pray turning east, longing for the holy city, which is, in a way, the essence of the Jewish identity.

My favorite spot there is in front of the Tower of David. When I stood there for the first time and looked around, I felt like all the worries and sorrows of the world no longer existed. I felt the Jerusalem breeze blowing through my body and my soul, carrying thousands of years of history and fading away into thousands more years to come. I don't feel it anymore, but I will always remember that experience. This was the time I felt lucky for having the honor and right to stand on the ground of the most important city in the world.

This day reminds me that no other place in the world compares to Jerusalem. It is a place holy to all, where all share the same feelings. It is the center of the world, a common ground to three religions. It is a peaceful place, where the air is crystal clear and the sun sets in perfection. It is where I feel most connected to my roots, and the only place where I feel I can talk to God, and he can truly listen.

Jerusalem of Gold/ Neomi Shemer

0 Comments — Leave your comment

May 7, 2013 | 1:07 pm

Israel Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs has officially closed its gates

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

This week, the Israel Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs officially closed. With almost no media recognition, it has become a division in the Prime Minister's office. From a ministry to a division, just like that.

I find this move unacceptable. Did someone think we no longer need the ministry’s services? Did someone think our image in the eyes of the world suddenly became perfect, and that our actions will always look good in the future?  Did someone think we no longer need a Minister of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs? If so, that someone must be blindfolded, or perhaps is living someplace else and mistaking it for Israel.

Israel’s Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs is one of the most important ministries we have. Its employees work day and night to show the world the full and accurate picture of Israel’s reality. They monitor every false or imbalanced report, and help spreading the truth. They deal with issues using the most important tool every country possesses—diplomacy.

It’s true that many Israelis have independently become involved in Israel's foreign affairs, mostly via Facebook. Many Israelis have taken up the roles of mini-ambassadors, and they are doing a good, if not great, job. But closing the Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs is a mistake. No Facebook activity or international blog can replace the formal and integral role of the ministry.

Downsizing the Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs into a small division is disrespectful to us, the citizens of Israel. We do our best to spread the word about Israel's true self, correcting mistakes and refuting lies, day and night, with only Israel's best on our minds. We want to help our government in its important diplomatic mission, but the decision to close the ministry has made our job of spreading the truth much harder. The closing of the ministry sends a message that "we don't care what other people think about Israel." That's a dangerous message that most of us, Israelis, don't agree with and don't stand behind. 

The mistake of closing Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora has already been made. Now, we will have to work even harder to prove we believe in diplomacy and international advocacy on behalf of Israel. In my opinion, the decision to close is not supported by most of us, who believe in its necessity. Now, I only hope that the someone who made this mistake will wake up soon, and change his mind.

0 Comments — Leave your comment

May 6, 2013 | 12:07 pm

This week from Israel

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Go Big in Tel-Aviv

European low-cost airline Easy Jet is launching an aggressive marketing campaign in London, aimed to promoting tourism  in Tel-Aviv, in cooperation with Israel's Tourism Minister. The campaign, under the banner "Go Big in Tel-Aviv," is aimed at young people and couples without children.  The campaign will include billboard advertising, ads in leading websites and newspapers, ads on taxicabs and more.

Read more here.

 

20 years to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum

More than 800 Holocaust survivors and some of the American soldiers who liberated them from Nazi death camps in World War II came together on Monday for the 20th anniversary tribute to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Read more here.

 

First ever Bethlehem Marathon

Last Sunday, hundreds of athletes took part in Bethlehem's first ever marathon. The race began at 8 AM, as 500 runners, Palestinians and foreigners, ran for the win in freezing cold. The winner of the full marathon was Abdel Nasser Awajme, a Palestinian from Jericho.

Read more here.

 

Everyone wants a piece of the start-up nation…

Gov. Gary Herbert gathered a group of 30 Utahns on a four-day trip to Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv and Ramallah, where they met with politicians and state leaders.  The purpose: to build Utah’s image overseas and foster relationships that are believed to pay off in the future. By doing that, Utah joins a list of US states which has built tech relations with Israel.

Read more here.

 

Reorientation in Sakhnin

World-renowned artists will open "Re Orientation," the international Mediterranean Biennale, in the Israeli- Arab city of Sakhnin. This will be the first time the international biennale will be held in an Israeli-Arab city. The exhibit, which will be presented on May 13, is aimed to promote dialogue while addressing questions of identity, place, time and individuality.

Read more here and here.

 

Israel.com for sale
Florida resident Jean-Noel Frydman originally acquired the URL www.israel.com  in 1994, in order to “to protect” the name from falling into the hands of someone who “might promote the wrong ideas.”  Now, he decided to sell this valuable asset, which is expected to make him 1 million dollars richer. Any buyers? 

Read more here.

 

Trump's anti-Semetic remarks

After revealing a somewhat xenophobic behavior when insisting that President Obama will release his birth certificate to prove that he was born in the United States, real-estate mogul Donald Trump, is in the center of another scandal. On Wednesday, Trump wrote a tweet about Jon Stewart of "The Daily Show," which many believing had anti-Semitic undertones.

Read more here.

 

White Water- a New Energy Pioneer

WhiteWater Technologies, an Israeli company that produces a system for network water management, has been named one of the 10 New Energy Pioneer worldwide for 2013 by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. 

Read more here.

 

A first of its kind surgery to separate a living newborn from his dead conjoined twin

In a first of its kind surgery in Israel, doctors from Haifa's Rambam Medical Center managed to separate a living newborn from his dead conjoined twin. The newborn, who was partially absorbed by his brother, who did not live to see the world, has undergone a rare surgery to remove the other's organs.

Read more here.

 

Connecting to Judaism through music

AMI ( Artists and Musicians for Israel,) is a project founded by musician and educator Yehudah Katz, with the mission to strengthen Jewish identity among young adults ages 13-18 through music and art. An anonymous donation made to the organization, led to the opening of a new Young Artists Fellowship, which helps young artists develop their skills and express their art and music through a Jewish lens, and also providing them the opportunities to enter and stay in the industry.

Read more here.

 

A new promotional video of Israel

No words needed. Enjoy

0 Comments — Leave your comment