Israel's clean tech advances attract foreign investors' green

By Dina Kraft
Published on July 14, 2008

Spurred by skyrocketing oil prices and growing interest in energy alternatives, a wave of new companies and investors are scouting out new clean technologies in Israel.

Israel invests in clean tech as energy crunch looms

By Dina Kraft
Published on July 2, 2008

Industry observers say more aggressive government policies, such as underwriting renewable energy initiatives and granting more land for power plants, are needed to bolster the development of alternative energy.

The source of häMAKOR -- it's all in the family

By Paula Roth, Contributing Writer
Published on June 26, 2008

When Israeli band häMAKOR headlined the Israel Day Concert in Central Park, front man Nachman Solomon walked onstage with an Israeli flag draped around his shoulders and blue-and-white souvenir sunglasses tucked into his jeans pocket

MUSIC VIDEO: Hadar Manor—‘Queen of the Underground’

Published on March 21, 2008

Israeli singer Hadar Manor -- who lives in London -- was just named 'Queen of the Underground' -- and here's why!

MUSIC VIDEO: Avigal Cohen—‘ Erev Rosh HaShanah’ (New Year’s Eve)

Published on September 21, 2007

Israeli singer songwriter Avigail Cohen expresses universal hopes and doubts in 'Erev Rosh Hashana': "There's a last ray of sunlight, the fading year is disappearing in the dim light. What will the New Year bring with it? The darkness spreads a scent of hope."

Socalled music, mythic characters, legal pugilism, Kirk again, open casting call

By Dikla Kadosh
Published on June 7, 2007

Picks and Clicks

MUSIC VIDEO: HaDag Nachash—‘The Sticker Song’

Published on May 3, 2007

Snake Fish in hit Israeli music video 'The Sticker Song' now with English subtitles

In the ‘hood, the treat is no trick

By David Suissa
Published on November 2, 2006

Halloween is seen as the crowning achievement of secular emptiness. You celebrate, glorify, trivialize and idolize something as deep and holy as death, and in return, your kids get to gorge on KitKats and day-glow jawbreakers.

Israel, U.S. Act on Request for Renewable Energy

Published on August 31, 2006

Under the proposed U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Act, scientists and engineers from both countries would focus on research, development and commercial use of renewable energy from solar, wind, hydrogen and biofuel sources.

Special Delivery - Jewish Lamaze Class Reunion

By Jane Ulman
Published on June 22, 2006

Jewish Lamaze was first sponsored by the Los Angeles Bureau of Jewish Education in the early 1980s and taught in various synagogues until the funding ran out toward the end of the decade.

And while it's no longer being offered in Los Angeles, as far as anyone knows, similar programs exist elsewhere.

Abbas’ Move Challenges Olmert

By Leslie Susser
Published on June 1, 2006

The key to whether the Saudi plan becomes a serious option -- even if adopted by the Palestinians -- lies in Washington. The American goal remains a negotiated two-state solution based on Bush's "vision" that he outlined in June 2002.

The Second American Jewish Revolution

By Steven Windmueller
Published on April 20, 2006

Wars, the Holocaust, the creation of the State of Israel and the movement of Jews to countries of freedom and security shaped the first revolution in Jewish communal life. Now, individuals are able to re-invent the idea of "community" on their own terms.

Wines to Test the Palate, Pocketbook

By J.D. Smith
Published on March 30, 2006

Kosher wine has got a bad reputation, some of which is justly deserved. Along with rabbinical supervision of the winemaking process, strict rules about cleaning barrels, the prohibition of animal products and other laws regarding viniculture, wine was actually boiled (mevushal) as part of the traditional koshering process.

Pupils Vote Yes on Democratic School

By Dina Kraft
Published on February 23, 2006

The Hadera Democratic School, which receives funding from both public and private sources, was the first of its kind in Israel. Since its founding in 1987 in this city about 60 kilometers north of Tel Aviv, 23 other schools have opened around the country based on its model of democratic education, in which student participation and choice is emphasized.

Groundwork Laid to Evacuate Gaza

By Gil Sedan
Published on September 9, 2004

Sharon hopes to create sufficient motivation among settlers to evacuate their homes willingly in exchange for generous compensation packages, avoiding violent confrontations like those in Yamit.

Monk Could Be Way to Mideast Peace

By Larry Kasanoff
Published on August 5, 2004

There are only two ways to ever make peace in the Middle East, and both are extreme. One is for one side to obliterate the other in a military conquest. The other, far more favorable approach, is for an unrelated third party to broker peace. For this to succeed, this person must come with absolutely no agenda -- not one of country, religion, politics or money. Just peace.

More Turn to Israel for Cheaper Drugs

By Gabriella Burman
Published on March 18, 2004

Judith Aaronson is one of the many people who obtain federally approved drugs from online business brokers, but instead of cost as the motivating factor, it's idealism that moves her and other Jews around the country to turn to Israel for their drugs.

Alternative Invitation to a Simcha

By Meira Maierovitz Drazin
Published on March 11, 2004

Tricia called Jewish National Fund (JNF) to find out if she could plant a tree in Israel for each guest invited to Danielle's bat mitzvah. "It turns out JNF has exactly such a program set up already," Tricia said.

Right Wing Girds to Block Gaza Plan

By Leslie Susser
Published on February 19, 2004

In the wake of the recent announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that Israel soon could withdraw unilaterally from Jewish settlements from Gaza, the political landscape is shifting as well. Since Sharon made his remarks two weeks ago, right-wing ministers have been busy mobilizing Cabinet colleagues in an effort to stop the prime minister, while the left-leaning Labor Party has been preparing to embrace Sharon.

Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the hawkish National Union, has written to 10 right-wing ministers, urging them to come up with an alternative plan to Sharon's. The Likud's Uzi Landau is openly trying to drum up a majority against the prime minister in the Cabinet. In addition, the National Union and the National Religious Party are threatening to bolt the coalition, if Sharon goes ahead with his plan.

Communities Find Light in Darkness

By Rachel Pomerance
Published on August 21, 2003

"I gotta tell you," said Lenny Silberman, North American continental director of the JCC Maccabi Games, "doing this for the games for 20 years and working with those communities, the potential for a big balagan [brouhaha] was definitely there."

Reduce Oil Demand

By Rep. Henry Waxman
Published on April 3, 2003

The following are remarks and an amendment introduced by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) on March 19 to the House Energy Subcommittee that propose an alternative energy strategy for the United States.

Funds Combat ‘Who Is a Jew’ Wars

By Journal Staff
Published on January 2, 2003

In 1997, stimulated by the controversy over whether non-Orthodox converts would be registered as Jews by the Israeli government -- the latest battle in the "who is a Jew?" wars -- The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles began making funds available to what it calls "pluralism" projects. The projects are programs and activities aimed at stimulating religious pluralism and supporting "alternative" forms of Judaism in Israel, as well as increasing Jewish knowledge among Israel's secular population.

Latkes That Last

By Gaby Wenig
Published on November 28, 2002

Scientists at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa have come up with an alternative way to preserve food, which promises to keep latkes frying-pan fresh -- even months later -- without extreme heat, chemicals or freezing.

Suddenly Seymour

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on November 28, 2002

In the days when National Public Radio flagship KCRW-FM was an obscure Santa Monica College station, general manager Ruth Seymour decided to create a live Chanukah show as an alternative to Christmas programming.