From Hunter-Gatherer to City-Dweller

{image_1}An extensive archaeological excavation of the Israel Antiquities Authority at Eshta’ol (near Beit Shemesh) is producing amazing finds that provide a broad picture covering thousands of years of development of human society. The finds range from the period when man first started to domesticate plants and animals, instead of searching for them in the wild, until the period when we see the beginnings of proper urban planning.

Christmas Carolers Sing “Burn Kikes”

{image_1}The Anti-Defamation League has come out against an anti-Semitic Christmas broadcast from Romania. Director Abe Foxman says, “This pastoral scene of Romanian carolers singing perverse, bigoted and vicious anti-Semitic lyrics utterly shocks the conscience.” He continued, “Something is wrong in a society where virulent anti-Semitism masquerading as Christmas cheer could appear on public television and no one blinks. It is a throwback reminiscent of the anti-Semitism that pervaded Romania prior to and during the war, which led to the death of tens of thousands of Jews in the Holocaust.”

Urgent Need for Genuine Solution

{image_1}When the world powers met in Geneva, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the opportunity to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In Netanyahu’s address to Putin, Israel’s PM said, “For us, for Israel, the biggest threat against us and against global security is Iran's effort to arm itself with nuclear weapons. Both of our countries have a common goal: we do not want to see Iran with nuclear weapons. Israel's approach is that the international community needs to insist on its positions as expressed in UN Security Council resolutions, i.e. to halt all enrichment, to remove all enriched material, to dismantle the centrifuges and to stop building the facility in Arak.

Rape, Abuse Used as Weapons

{image_1}Syrian women are systematically raped and abused as a means of exacting psychological pressure on their families—“pressuring their male relatives to surrender”—according to a report by a Europe-based rights organization. The report by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network describes the abuses as a “deliberate tactic to defeat the other party from a symbolic and psychological perspective, making women desirable targets as the conflict rages on.” 

Jewish–Christian Relations—Vital Necessity of Our Times

{image_1}I have frequently been involved in conversations with Christians (in many countries) who are concerned about the decisions that are being made by their leaders—decisions that are often not in Israel’s best interests. I was in the United States and Canada when the P5 +1 (USA, China, Russia, United Kingdom, France plus Germany) were meeting with Iran and making decisions which could have drastic impact on the State of Israel. South African Christians are greatly concerned about the stance their government has taken toward Israel and they are not alone. Many Christians are concerned that their country will be judged by God for their actions against Israel (Joel 3). 

Winter Warm-up!

{image_1}The air in Israel now has a chill and the winter rainy season is not far behind. Warm, hearty, comfort foods like goulash are back on the menu. Goulash made with cubed beef is a stew, but with ground beef—a soup.

Bomb-Proof Backpack for Children

{image_1}An Israeli designer has created a bomb-proof backpack that its designer says will protect all vital organs from the impact of an explosion with 19 layers of Kevlar fabric, the same material used in flak jackets. The British Daily Mail reported that designer Hila Raam is targeting the Israeli market, but the steep price (more than US $450) might be a deterrent. According to the report, in the event of an attack, the child must simply pull side straps and yellow strings from the hood to effectively create a personal bomb shelter.

Dozens of Judaica Items Unveiled

{image_1}A town near Strasbourg unveiled dozens of Judaica items hidden before the Holocaust and discovered during the renovation of a former synagogue. They had been hidden at what is now the new cultural center of Dambach-la-Ville, a town of 2,000 in eastern France.

History Course Online

{image_1}Tel Aviv University (TAU)—Israel's largest and most comprehensive institution of higher learning—is home to over 30,000 students studying in nine faculties and over 125 schools and departments across the spectrum of sciences, humanities and the arts. During the upcoming academic year, TAU will be offering two online history courses within the framework of Coursera—an education company that partners with the top universities and organizations in the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free.

Tel Aviv Free WiFi

{image_1}Tel Aviv has long called itself Israel’s “Startup City” for innovation and creativity. With more than 600 tech startups in its 20 square miles [52 sq km], the municipality is on a digital mission to keep the White City online and accessible all the time.

Israeli Technion—7th Best College for Tech CEOs

{image_1}A new ranking published by the American financial media company Bloomberg includes the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology among the world's top 10 academic institutions whose graduates lead companies with a market value of more than US $1 billion. The Technion made it to seventh place alongside the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Rice University and the University of Texas, Austin. Princeton, Stanford and Harvard universities top the list. The Technion is the only institution on the list located outside the United States.

A Heavenly Lookout!

{image_1}The Cliffs of Arbel

One of the advantages of being a Bridges for Peace volunteer in Israel is the opportunity to explore on your own. While Arbel National Park is not usually found on Israel tour itineraries, it is definitely worth a visit. The view from Mount Arbel is breathtaking, including the Golan Heights, Tsafat (Safed), Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee. The high cliffs reach an elevation of 181 meters (594 ft) above sea level at the peak for a total elevation of 380 meters (1,247 ft).