Leaven—Chametz

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Although the word technically means “to make sour,” most dictionaries define chametz as any flour of the five species of grain, which is mixed with water and allowed to ferment before being baking. The five species of grain are wheat, spelt, oats, barley, and rye. Some dictionaries define chametz simply as yeast or leaven. The word is mentioned over a dozen times in the Old Testament, and it traditionally takes on the most significance during the feast of Pesach (Passover). The Torah (Gen.–Deut.) requires that chametz not be eaten nor found in one’s home or among one’s possessions during Pesach (Exod. 12:18–20). The sages go so far as to teach that it should not even be looked upon during the festival season.

The Arab World Needs Israel – for Now

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Hamas is a constant irritant to Israel, but it is also a major problem for national leaders in the Arab world. No longer can journalists, analysts, or commentators look at the Israel–Hamas conflict and describe it as an isolated war between two ancient rivals. The contest is much more widespread, embracing Washington, Cairo, Tehran, Moscow, Baghdad, and even Mecca.

El-Al – A Soaring Success!

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A surge of Jewish pride greeted the latest award bestowed on the national airline, El Al. For the second successive time, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) awarded El Al the highest rating on strict safety standards. “The IOSA [International Operation Safety Audit] standards are the most stringent airline safety criteria. El Al is proud to be the first Israeli airline to pass IATA’s stiff audit, for the second successive time,” said Capt. Lio Yavor, El Al’s vice president of Operations

Helping Dreams Come True

{image_1}The Jewish people have been coming back “Home” to the Promised Land since the 1880s by the millions…and they are still coming. Sometimes they don’t really know why. It’s like a great shofar (ram’s horn used in Bible times to assemble the people) has been blown by God in the heavens, and His people are following the sound back home. For others, it’s a life-long dream, not just for themselves but one that has been dreamed for generations in their family.

A Second Chance for Netanyahu

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On February 10, Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party won 27 seats in the election, one less than the Kadima Party headed by Tzipi Livni. However, because Israeli President Shimon Peres believed Netanyahu was more able to form a coalition government than Livni, Peres appointed him with this task on February 22, giving him six weeks to do so. As we went to press, Netanyahu had five weeks left to form his government.

More Rare Coins

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Not far away, and about the same time, two other rare coins were found from the siftings of the Temple Mount rubble across the Kidron Valley on Mount Scopus. For the past four years, over 40,000 volunteers have found a total of 3,500 coins. In December, a 14-year-old volunteer found a silver half-shekel coin used for the biblical Temple tax (Exod. 30:11–15). Minted in AD 66–67 during the Jewish revolt against the Romans, these coins, wherever found, are considered the rarest of finds.

Unique Marble Figurine Discovered

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If finding gold wasn’t enough, in late January, the City of David excavation team also unearthed Israel’s one-of-a-kind 1,800-year-old Roman marble figurine. Though many others like it have been found throughout various parts of the Roman Empire, this one is a first for Israel. Similar statues in Israel have been made of bronze.

777,400 Children among the Poor

THE NATIONAL INSURANCE INSTITUTE'S poverty report published in January showed worrying trends. While the overall number of people living under the poverty line remained relatively stable, the outlook predicted in the report shows their situation will only get worse.

The Golden City Strikes Gold

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In November 2008, a 2,000-year-old gold earring—missing its match, but inlaid with pearls and emeralds—was discovered in the City of David excavations just outside the Dung Gate in Jerusalem. It was found in the ruins of a building dating to the Byzantine period (fourth–fifth centuries AD) but was most likely produced earlier during the Roman period (between the first and fourth centuries AD).

Iran – Israel’s Enemy No.1

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The Israel defense establishment has announced that the State of Israel is under an “existential threat.” In a report to the defense minister, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) singled out Iran as “the No. 1 threat the IDF is now preparing for.” Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi warned that the near-nuclear capabilities, the existing ballistic aptitude, and terror contacts combine to create the Tehran threat. Iran also recently announced it would be upgrading its military ties with Russia.

UN Bias Against Israel!

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It is amazing how quickly some choose to blame Israel and how sooner or later the accusations have to be withdrawn. In January, an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council joined with ambassadors from the world’s dictatorships, and even some democracies, to attack Israel for targeting a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) school.

Turkish Jews Fearful

{image_1} A Jewish woman living in Istanbul writes of difficulties faced by Jews following rising anti-Semitism in Turkey in wake of Gaza op.

“Me and my friends in the Jewish community in Istanbul are scared to give out our names these days, fearing it might hurt us. We don’t want to be identified as Jews.