Birds and Legislators Share Jerusalem Hill

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It may be the seat of power in Israel and located in the middle of a busy city, but Jerusalem Hill—the site of Israel's parliament—is also home to a significant bird observatory. When it comes to birds, Israel is one of the busiest thoroughfares in the world. Every spring and fall [or autumn], without fail, half a billion birds cross the country on their long migration from Africa to Europe and back. As the first green habitat they encounter on their long and perilous journey, it's no surprise that Israel takes its birds seriously—so seriously, in fact, that even in the heart of Jerusalem, just a stone's throw from the Supreme Court and the Knesset, you can find a bird observatory.

Haitian Child Receives Cardiac Op

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When the members of Israel's rescue team returned home from Haiti, they brought along six-year-old Woodley Elisse.

Israel, Syria Open the Border for Apples

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Israel and Syria may be enemies and currently not even meeting for peace talks, but there’s at least one simple interest they share in common: apples from the Golan Heights. According to an Israel Defense Forces [IDF] press release, thousands of apples grown in the Israeli Golan, which was taken by Israel from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War, will be transferred into Syria.

On Palestinian Glorification of Terrorists

Palestinians continue to defend their practice of honoring terrorists who have killed Israelis by naming public places and events after them.

The End of the iPhone?

{image_1} Else has developed one of the most innovative cell phone devices to hit the market in a long time. CEO Amir Kupervas tells ISRAEL21c that the First Else is more device than phone. “Our approach to this device is to ensure that it provides users with the experience they want…” he says. “If users want to take a picture with the device, we want to make sure it functions as a high-level camera, similar to a digital camera.”

Israel Blesses Haiti

{image_1}God said that the Jewish people would be a blessing to the world: “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). We have seen this happening for decades as Israel is quick to respond to emergency situations around the world. They take the mandate in Deuteronomy 15:7 seriously: “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother.” For them, this includes opening their hands to the poor of other countries as well.

Jerusalem Street Unearthed in Old City

{image_1} A friend and I went to the Old City of Jerusalem late December last year and found quite the mess! Between the Tower of David Museum and the entrance to the shuk (market), the street was all torn up because new sewer and telecommunication lines were being laid. It wasn’t until February, that the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced they had made an amazing find there.

Revolutionizing Heart Disease Diagnosis

{image_1} Even though it's widely known that heart disease is the number one killer worldwide, there's a critical piece missing from its treatment—early diagnosis. By the time a patient has suffered a heart attack, the damage has already been done.

Proclaiming the Goodness of God—Sapar

{image_1} There are two Hebrew words with very similar meanings that are translated “proclaim” or “declare.” One is sapar,which means to number, count, proclaim, and declare. The other is qara, which means to state boldly and publicly. Both have the connotation of detail and unquestionable accuracy. Sapar is used in Genesis 15:5 where God tells Abram to number the stars and in 2 Samuel 24:10, where David takes a census. The verb can also mean “to measure,” as when Joseph gathers “grain, as the sand of the sea” (Gen. 41:49). But in 90 of its 110 uses, the word means to proclaim or declare, to orally list in detail a series of incontrovertible facts.

1,400-year-old Wine Press Discovered

{image_1} One of the largest wine presses ever revealed in an archaeological excavation in Israel was recently exposed in excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). The impressive press is 1,400 years old, from the Late Byzantine period (sixth to seventh centuries AD), and measures 6.5 x 16.5 meters (21 x 54 feet). It was discovered southwest of Kibbutz Hafetz-Haim, east of Ashdod.

Unique Find—A Marble Hoard

{image_1} In an excavation that was conducted north of the Old City wall of Akko, a unique find was discovered from the Crusader period (13th century)—a hoard of 350 marble items.

Keeping Food Safe from Farm to Fork

How can you be sure that bacteria are not festering in your food? Bacteria, viruses, and toxins thrive on food that is undercooked, inadequately refrigerated, or prepared in places where hygiene standards are lax. One Israeli company, however, hopes to make your food safe from the farm to your fork. Herzliya-based MS Tech has developed advanced smart sensor technology that can detect the presence of contaminants and related chemicals in just three seconds in the field.