Despite enduring decades of overwhelming challenges and tragedies, Israeli society is remarkably hopeful, resilient and compassionate. This tiny nation, founded by Holocaust survivors and refugees from around the world, never hesitates to extend its help and knowledge to other people and countries in need. The Jewish principle of tikkun olam, repairing the world, through personal and national acts of generosity, love and moral leadership is why Israel will always serve as a light unto the nations.
Seventy-five years after he helped a group of over 1,000 Jews fleeing Italian-occupied France, 98-year-old Jewish-Italian Enzo Cavaglion was honored in his hometown of Cuneo on Sunday. Cavaglion was presented with the Jewish Rescuers Citation by B’nai Brith World Center-Jerusalem and the Committee to Recognize the Heroism of Jews who Rescued Fellow Jews During the … Read More
NEW YORK – Two major US publications have listed Israel within their top ten rankings, citing the country’s military prowess and innovation capabilities, respectively. Web-based publication US News and World Report, best known for its influential ranking lists, named Israel as the 8th most powerful nation in the world. Meanwhile, Bloomberg News listed the Jewish … Read More
Utilizing 60 minuscule fragments of mysterious ancient code from the second-to-last unpublished Dead Sea Scrolls, researchers at the University of Haifa have decoded a unique 364-day calendar once used by the enigmatic Qumran Sect in the Judean Desert. The 900 Dead Sea Scrolls (also known as the “Qumran Scrolls”) dating to the Second Temple Period … Read More
Rabbi Raziel Shevach, slain in a West Bank terror attack Tuesday night, was remembered by friends and acquaintances as a goodhearted family man who was a central figure in the local settlement community and in his home of Havat Gilad. “He was a very special person,” said friend Yehuda Hass, who volunteered with Shevach as … Read More
Forty ZAKA rescue and recovery organization volunteers assisted thousands of Johannesburg residents after severe storms ripped through homes in different parts of the city between December 31 and January 2. The team took part in relief and clean-up efforts together with city officials and several other NGOs.The organization said that its headquarters in Jerusalem received … Read More
Israeli tourism hit an all-time high in 2017, earning ₪20 billion in revenue from incoming tourism alone thanks to new flight routes and marketing efforts led by the Ministry of Tourism. A total of 3.6 million tourists were recorded, a 25 percent increase over 2016. “The all-time record number of tourists visiting Israel this year … Read More
Past and present collided last week when an extremely rare seal impression discovered in Jerusalem’s Western Wall plaza and bearing the inscription “Belonging to the governor of the city” was presented to Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. According to site excavator Dr. Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, “This is the first time that such an impression was found in … Read More
The remains of a 1,500-year-old Byzantine monastery and church decorated with mosaic floors and imported marble elements are currently being uncovered during large-scale excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in Beit Shemesh with the help of more than 1,000 teenagers. “We were surprised by the wonderful state of preservation of the ancient remains, and … Read More
As the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah comes to a close, the discovery of an ancient tomb door with a stunning menorah carving is providing a fascinating glimpse into Israel’s rich history. The basalt tomb door, which is undergoing preservation work, was recently put on display by the Institute of Archaeology at Hebrew University, in Jerusalem. … Read More
If you’re a Raptors fan, you may remember a 2005 exhibition game in which Toronto became the first NBA team in 27 years to lose to Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv. Star guard Anthony Parker nailed the go-ahead jumper with less than a second remaining, and the two-time EuroLeague MVP later parlayed that performance into a multi-year contract with the … Read More