Dispatch from Jerusalem

Large-Scale Ethiopian Emigration Ends

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The era of large-scale Jewish emigration from Ethiopia to Israel
is over, the Jewish Agency for Israel has said. The last official
airlift of Ethiopian Jews was scheduled to land in Tel Aviv on August
5, bringing to an end an organized campaign that began nearly 30 years
ago and brought in some 120,000 immigrants from the east African
nation.

The Exodus

{image_1}Originally a US packet steamer, the President Warfield made
trips between Virginia and Maryland from 1928 to1942. During WWII, it
served both Britain and America. Afterwards, it was sold to an American
shipwrecking company that served as an agent of the Jewish underground
defense force Haganah and was renamed Exodus 1947 after the biblical
exodus from Egypt.

Tourism Profits Spike

{image_1}The Israel hotel industry has achieved one billion shekels (US
$295.5 million) profit in a year, for the first time. Tourism growth in
2007 included 2.3 million tourists and a 25% increase over 2006.

Yom Kippur Traditions:  Kreplach Recipe

{image_2} Each of the biblical feasts has a symbolic food associated with it – even Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), the most severe fast of the year. A pre-fast feast helps worshippers make it through the 25-hour fast, which is observed much like a Shabbat (Sabbath) meal, except it is eaten before sundown. Table linens and clothing are white to symbolize the hope of sins forgiven. The best dishes are used, two candles are lit, and blessings over the wine and bread are recited. Sometimes the bread is decorated with birds to remind them that just as birds fly, so their prayers will rise quickly and be answered.

Israel Sends Earthquake Aid to China

{image_1} An Israeli cargo plane  carrying about 90 tons (81 metric tons) of medicines and medical equipment, water purification kits, generators, tents, sleeping bags, and clothing intended for the earthquake survivors departed for the Chinese city of Chengdu late in May. The humanitarian aid was on its way to survivors of the 7.9 earthquake that struck the Sichuan province in southwestern China on May 12, killing 69,130 and leaving 4.8 million homeless.

Israel Remembers

{image_1} On May 7, the State of Israel honored the memory of their 22,437 casualties—including 1,634 people killed in terror attacks—starting from 1860 to May 2008.

Citrus Extract—A Natural Preservative

{image_1} The US Food and Drug Administration is investigating a number of inquiries about parabens, the synthetic preservatives used widely in the cosmetics industry. Parabens ensure that creams, underarm deodorant, body sprays, shampoos, and toothpaste don’t rot before you get around to using them. The problem is that parabens (or alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid) have been linked to a number of health concerns, cancer being one of them. Samples of women’s breast cancer tissue from the United Kingdom have been found to be loaded with parabens.

Golda’s Kitchen Cabinet:  Shakshuka Recipe

By Charleeda Sprinkle
Assistant Editor

{image_3} “When the word ‘greatness’ comes to mind, Golda Meir comes immediately to the forefront. Her commitment to her Land and to her people was the paragon of human dedication. Her complete involvement, tempered with love, fired by fierce devotion, caused the world to know that she was a true mover of mountains.” What a great description of Israel’s fourth prime minister, who was only the third woman in the world to hold such an office. David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, called her the “only man in the government”!

Jerusalem in US Politics

{image_1}During a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Council (AIPAC), a US pro-Israeli lobby group, on June 4, US Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said that Jerusalem “will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.”

Synthetic Molecules Fight Cancer

{image_1} Synthetic molecules designed by two Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have succeeded in reducing and even eliminating the growth of human malignant tissues in mice, while having no toxic effects on normal tissue.