Dispatch from Jerusalem

Canadian Hauls Great Catch in Israeli Waters

{image_1} When it comes to fishing in the Holy Land, Canadian fisherman Italo Labignan is nothing short of enthusiastic. “It’s an awesome experience,” he admits. This is fulsome praise indeed because Labignan is a premier fisherman and the host of Canada’s longest running and most watched sports fishing TV series.

60-Year Reunion for Holocaust Survivor

{image_1} The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, organized the meeting that brought together Rozia Rothshild, who now lives in Tivon, Israel, with her rescuer Wiktoria Sozanska from Wroclaw, Poland, for the first time in over 60 years. This moving reunion between a Holocaust survivor and the Polish woman who risked her life to save her, took place at JFK Airport in New York.

Border Guard Unit Stars in TV Series

{image_1} The world will soon get acquainted with the Israeli Border Guard unit through a documentary series on special police units around the world titled “Elite Police.” The Discovery Channel production, which is set to air in dozens of countries across the globe, premieres in South Africa.

Let’s Celebrate – Purim!  Hamantaschen Recipe

{image_2} Purim is the most wildly joyous of all the Jewish holidays. While it is not included in the list of feasts found in Leviticus 23, it is Bible-based, commemorating the story of Esther. My husband Tom and I have been celebrating the Levitical feasts for over 25 years, but even before we “discovered” these Feasts of the Lord, we were introduced to the feast of Purim.

Let’s Celebrate!!!

{image_1} Purim is the most wildly joyous of all the Jewish holidays. While it is not included in the list of feasts found in Leviticus 23, it is Bible-based, commemorating the story of Esther. My husband Tom and I have been celebrating the Levitical feasts for over 25 years, but even before we “discovered” these Feasts of the Lord, we were introduced to the feast of Purim.

Arab Response to the Conflict

Gaza Will Never Cave to Israeli Pressure

{image_1} “We will not leave our land, we will not raise white flags and we kneel only before Allah.”

“There is blood everywhere, there are wounded and martyrs in every house and in every street. Gaza today was decorated by blood…There can be more martyrs and there can be more wounded but Gaza will never be broken and will never surrender.”

—Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, December 27, 2008

War in Gaza

{image_1} In late December, a six-month truce between Hamas and Israel came to an end. Throughout the “truce,” Hamas continually launched missiles into southern Israeli communities. When Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal stated that Hamas would not renew the truce and would continue the armed struggle, Israel decided it must deal militarily with the continued strikes against Israeli civilian targets.

Israeli Leaders Respond to Truce Collapse

{image_1} “That is a declaration of war, this is a declaration of intentions, that means that they are going to pursue bombings and rocket shootings and so on, and obviously there will be a reaction [by Israel].”

‘‘Leah’’ gives Birth

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“When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb” (Genesis 29:31).

What was written long ago about Jacob’s first wife is true of another “Leah” today—only this time it is a 30-year-old gorilla in the Ramat Gan Safari Park who was also rejected by other gorillas in her group. Leah gave birth to a healthy baby on December 14 and mother and baby are both doing well.

Salamanders Saved!

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Aviram Tzuk, KKL-Jewish National Fund regional director, noted that goldfish, recently introduced into pools and springs of freshwater by unknown hands, fed on the salamander eggs. The foresters removed most of the goldfish from these pools. After the first rains, the results were clear: there is now a noticeable increase in the number of salamanders!