Dispatch from Jerusalem

Adopting Towns Builds Relationships

{image_1}
AUSTRALIAN AND ISRAELI FLAGS were flying in the breeze as joyful Hebrew music played and hundreds of school-age children clapped along. The elementary school in Beit Shemesh was humming with excitement as we walked in with the Australian ambassador to Israel. The town was rolling out the red carpet for his visit. At the same time, BFP volunteers from Australia were working at the school: cleaning, painting, creating playground decorations, and tutoring students in English. The ambassador heard of this activity and came to see the Australian — Israeli cooperative venture for himself.

A Light to the Nations

{image_1}

God said that the Jewish people would be a blessing to the world (Genesis 12:3). We see that happening repeatedly as Israel is quick to respond to emergency situations around the world.

Israel Blasts UN Report

{image_1} ISRAEL BLASTED THE UNITED NATIONS fact-finding mission report, also known as the Goldstone Report—on Israel’s Operation Cast Lead campaign in the Gaza Strip—which declared Israel and Hamas both guilty of actions that amount to war crimes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site said that the report “effectively ignores Israel's right of self defense, makes unsubstantiated claims about its intent, and challenges Israel's democratic values and rule of law.”

Iran’s Nuclear Program…Evolving

{image_1}THE EVER EVOLVING DEVELOPMENTS of Iran’s nuclear program—with weekly, if not daily, new reports—are keeping the world on its toes wondering what’s coming next. The Media Line reported that, on September 23, Iran’s nuclear head said that a “new generation” of centrifuges had been constructed, which were “stronger and faster” and were being tested.

Netanyahu to UN: Stand with Israel against Iran

{image_1}ON SEPTEMBER 24, ISRAELI PRIME Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his hope that the world can “learn from history—that we can prevent danger in time.” In an English speech that touched on topics ranging from the reality of the Holocaust to the “travesty” of the recent UN report on Operation Cast Lead in Gaza that accused Israel of war crimes, Netanyahu attempted to portray a world in which forces for peace are faced off against extremist forces, with the UN facing vital choices on how to respond.

Fatah: Peace Partner or Peace Preventer?

{image_1}They openly call for maintaining the option of “resistance.” They run children’s programs on television that refer to Israeli cities as Palestinian ones. And, they glorify terrorists in public events and by naming government-funded facilities after them. No, the Palestinian group in question isn’t Hamas. It’s the supposedly moderate Fatah party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). Yet, despite the above examples, Abbas publicly denounces terrorism and declares that the preferred route to statehood is negotiations. If this sounds confusing and self-contradictory, that’s because it is.

Drawing Electricity from Roads

{image_1}PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES could be the newest electricity generators in Israel, thanks to technology being developed by the Israeli Innowattech company. The Innowattech Piezo Electric Generator technology converts mechanical energy generated by pressure on the roads from passing cars into usable electricity that can be stored or sold to the national electric grid. As cars drive over the energy harvesters placed into the roads, the system is able to generate electricity for streetlights and even homes. The technology could potentially be applied to train tracks and runways as well.

Unique Menorah in 2nd-Temple Synagogue

{image_1} A synagogue from the Second Temple period (50 BC–AD 100) was exposed in archaeological excavations the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) is conducting at a site where a new hotel is being constructed in Migdal (“Magdala” in Aramaic) on the Sea of Galilee. The main hall of the synagogue is c. 120 square meters [1,291 square feet] in area, and its stone benches, which served as seats for the worshippers, were built up against the walls of the hall. Its floor was made of mosaic, and its walls were treated with colored plaster (frescos).

OPEN House OPENS Hearts

By Rev. Cheryl Hauer,  BFP International Development Director

{image_1}There is a saying about Jerusalem, that even though it is a city of over 700,000 people, it is really just a very large small town. Bridges for Peace’s recent participation in the community open house event, called “Houses from Within,” made that seem even truer than ever. For the second year in a row, Bridges for Peace had the privilege of opening its doors to Israelis from all over the Land as they visited historic Jerusalem buildings on walking tours. Last year, we were excited that we had 300 visitors during the two-day event. This year, we welcomed 820 people through our gates, not only to see our building, but to learn about the work we are doing to build bridges of friendship between Jews and Christians.

Plums & Dates – Good For You

{image_1}ISRAELI RESEARCH is not just about new inventions or medicines; it is also interested in prevention and ways to promote good health. For instance, ISRAEL21c reported on new research from Israel's Volcani Institute, revealing that eating one fresh red plum with your meal counters the oxidizing agents in a seven-ounce portion of red meat. Antioxidant levels in plums are three times as high as those in pomegranates and five times higher than those in red wine, apples, and bananas.