Worst Water Crisis

{image_1} Israel is suffering through a brutal water crisis that, if not righted, could lead to permanent damage to the Sea of Galilee and possibly even to water rationing. Uri Schor, spokesperson for the Israel Water Authority, said, “If you take into consideration all the results that we have in [water in] Israel, then Israel was never in such a bad situation.”

Translating the Web

{image_1} Even though the Internet has democratized the way people communicate and receive news and product information, it remains Western-focused and ignores 70% of the world that can’t read English—about 1 billion people online. However, a new Israeli company Alfabetic is taking a major leap towards changing the way the non-English world consumes content, creating new business opportunities for content owners.

Sharia Compliant Finance: Deal or no Deal

{image_1} The economic crisis is devastating. Major governments have thrown multi-billion dollar rescue packages at the problem, and many have announced dramatic reductions in interest rates. This is meant to stimulate activity and resuscitate the ailing markets. Economists speak in billions and trillions, and sometimes the enormity of the problem seems to be insurmountable.

One innocent handshake

{image_1} There are two ways to shake hands in the Arab world. In the regular way, you quickly rub palms while shaking hands, yet, in the warmer way, you place both your palms on the hand you are shaking and hold them there for a long moment. The warm way is meant to symbolize intimate friendship and positive intentions, as well as close familiarity.

Poverty Report: 36% of Israeli Needy Live in Hunger

{image_1} One in four Israelis fears falling into poverty. More than 1.5 million Israelis (25% of the population) live in poverty and 36% of them (540,000) live in hunger. One in five has contemplated suicide, and 10% of the needy know someone who died due to inability to fund medical care. These statistics were all revealed in the 2008 Alternative Poverty Report published by the LATET aid organization.

Earliest Hebrew Text Discovered

{image_1} The earliest known Hebrew text, written in a Proto-Canaanite script, has been discovered by Hebrew University archaeologists in an ancient city in the area where David slew Goliath, the earliest Judean city found to date.

Medical Images on Cell Phones

{image_1} A process to transmit medical images via cellular phones, developed by Professor Boris Rubinsky of Hebrew University in Jerusalem, has the potential to provide sophisticated radiological diagnoses and treatment to the majority of the world’s population lacking access to such technology. According to the World Health Organization, some three-quarters of the world’s population have no access to ultrasounds, X-rays, magnetic resonance images, and other medical imaging technology.

May Those Who Love You Be Secure

{image_1} “Do you ever feel scared over there?” my aunt wanted to know. I was home visiting family I had not seen in a while. Moving from America to Jerusalem had made me a bit of a curiosity to relatives who had, for the most part, stayed close to home. They had a lot of questions mostly about whether or not it was safe to live in Israel.

Joy—Simcha

{image_1} Simcha (pronounced sim-CHAH) is a word of many meanings. From the root word sameyach, it means glad, happy, or joy. “Serve the LORD with gladness [simcha]; come before His presence with singing” (Ps. 100:2). Note that in Hebrew or English, this is a command. How often have the Jewish people faced devastating circumstances with an inner joy drawn from their foundational focus on the Divine? This inner joy produces fortitude and strength.

Rare First Temple Seal Found

{image_1} In excavations the Israel Antiquities Authority is carrying out in the northwestern part of the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem, a rare and impressive Hebrew seal was discovered that dates to the latter part of the First Temple Period. The seal was found in a building, which dates to the seventh century BC, when the kings Manasseh and Josiah reigned.

Creating the Next Knesset

How Israel’s Elections Work

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Though Israel is a democracy, its election system is not representative, but party-focused. In other words, rather than electing representatives of a party, voters cast ballots for the parties themselves. The parties’ candidate lists—the ranking of party members running for office—are chosen ahead of time by the parties themselves, determining the likelihood of a particular candidate making office. The number of seats taken by a party, determined by the percentage of the vote the party receives, determines how many of their candidates make the 120-seat Knesset (Parliament), starting with the top ranking member. In other words, a candidate ranked 10th on the Labor list would only make the Knesset if the Labor party gains at least 10 seats.

Jewish Philanthropic World Devastated

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The loss of US $50 billion in a financial scandal late last year, involving Jewish Wall Street wizard Bernard Madoff, has devastated Jewish charities. The loss is estimated at between US $600 million to US $1 billion.