The Central Jewish Board of Greece (CJBG) has protested the decision of Salonika not to include the northern port city in the "Network of Martyred Cities and Villages 1940-1945." The network, with more than 50 cities and villages, was created several years ago to honour the victims of the Nazi era regardless of religion. The ruling group, headed by Salonika's mayor George Papageorgopoulos, rejected the bill by saying that the killing of 91% of the Jewish population of Salonika was not committed in the city but out of it, in the Nazi concentration camps. He also argued that the Jews lived in the city since only 500 years, after being expelled from Spain in 1492. The decision was heavily criticized by the media as an "abomination,", an "insult to the memory of the Jews and lacking fundamental knowledge of history."
The first Jews arrived to Salonika when the city was founded by Alexander the Great in 315 BC. But Jews lived there in the 1st century because according to official Christian religious writings, Saint Paul preached for 3 consecutive Sabbaths at the Salonika synagogue. Jews of Salonika are mentioned also in the writings of Flavius Josephus and in a letter from Herod to Caligula dating back to the 10th century AD. Home to a thriving Sephardic Jewish community of around 50,000 people before World War II, Salonika was once known as the "Jerusalem of the Balkans." Virtually all of the city's Jews perished in Nazi extermination camps.
I read this mail from Ryan Woloshin on a forum, and I wanted to share it.
Today is one of the very few days that I can honestly say that I will remember for the rest of my life. I, for the past 5 days, have been at a Soccer Showcase in Pennsylvania out of touch with the world. The euphoria of this week was shattered as i got on my train to head home to Virginia. We, the Jewish People, had just traded Samir Kantar, one of the most cold blooded killers in the history of this conflict, back to Hizbollah for coffins of two heroes. I have thought a lot about what to say in this announcement and I have decided to just let you faithful know how I feel about all of this. First, I would hope that most of you will agree with me in not blaming the state of Israel for its actions. Israel took a gamble in exchanging Samir Kantar. Their was a chance they were getting two live soldiers back, and you know what if I was in their shoes I would make the same deal. Second, its important that if you can this week get to a synagouge or shul and either part! icipate in a Yitzkor service for these soldiers and if your shul is not having one, convince your Rabbi to conduct one.Also, I think it is important for you to find someway in your individual lives to honor these men. For me, I will be wearing a black armband with their initials and the Israeli flag for my senior soccer season. Find someway to live your life for them, let them live life through you. If you are like me and live outside of Eretz Israel, mail condolence letters adressed to the families to the Israeli Consul. Lastly, remember that this cause is not over. Gilad Shalit is still not home. I have faith that he is still alive, so should you. Shalom.
Medicine... Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation,diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.
An Israeli company developed a computerized system for ensuring proper administration of medications, thus removing human error from medical treatment. Every year in U. S. hospitals 7,000 patients die from treatment mistakes.
Israel's Given Imaging developed the first ingestible video camera, so small it fits inside a pill. Used to view the small intestine from the inside, cancer and digestive disorders .
Researchers in Israel developed a new device that directly helps the heart pump blood, an innovation with the potential to save lives among those with heart failure. The new device is synchronized with the camera helps doctors diagnose heart's mechanical operations through a sophisticated system of sensors.
Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with 145 per 10,000, as opposed to 85 in the U. S., over 70 in Japan, and less than 60 in Germany. With over 25% of its work force employed in technical professions.? Israel places first in this category as well.
A new acne treatment developed in Israel, the Clear Light device, produces a high-intensity, ultraviolet-light-free, narrow-band blue light that causes acne bacteria to self-destruct -- all without damaging surrounding skin or tissue.
An Israeli company was the first to develop and install a large-scale solar-powered and fully functional electricity generating plant, in southern California's Mojave desert.
All the above while engaged in regular wars with an implacable enemy that seeks its destruction, and an economy continuously under strain by having to spend more per capita on its own protection than any other county on earth.
. . . . AND THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR IN ENGLAND SAYS:
"ISRAEL IS NOTHING BUT A SHITTY LITTLE COUNTRY................."
According to a report in the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper this month , vets were asked to treat an adult, female giraffe at Israel's largest zoo, the Safari Park in Ramat Gan.
The team, led by Professor Zohar Amar, took a routine sample of milk and found that it clotted in the way required by Jewish law for kosher certification.
They submitted more milk for verification by the rabbinical authorities and the paper reported that a ruling was made that giraffe meat and milk are acceptable for observant Jews.
The giraffe belongs to the family of grazing animals that have cloven hooves and chew the cud, thereby making them consistent with kosher rules, but the milk test was the final confirmation.
"Indeed, the giraffe is kosher for eating," Rabbi Shlomo Mahfoud, who accompanied the researchers in their work, said.
"The giraffe has all the signs of a ritually pure animal, and the milk that forms curds strengthened that."
But Dr Yigal Horowitz, the zoo's chief vet, said this did not mean there would suddenly be a surge in demand of giraffe food products in Israel.
"This does not mean that tomorrow we are going to drink giraffe milk or eat soup made from giraffe necks," he said.
"After all, this is an animal in danger of extinction."
Yesterday I came back. from 6 days Israel. Had a great time, a beautifull wedding, a fabulous after party, a stay in a luxury hotel, a warm shavouot with friends who made alya 3 years ago. My 19 year old son accompagnied me, and I enjoyed every minute we spend together. He is planning his alya. My feelings are so diveded, one side I feel warm and proud, on the other side I feel afraid and sad, he will do 3 years army and I miss him already before he's gone. Hard to be a mother, hard to be a jewish mother, hard to be a jewish mother with zionistic kids...and yet...such a joy and pride.
· In proportion to its population, Israel has the largest number of startup companies in the world. In absolute terms, Israel has the largest number of startup companies than any other country in the world, except the US (3,500 companies mostly in hi-tech).
· Israel is ranked #2 in the world for VC funds right behind the US.
· Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita.
· Outside the United States and Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies
· Israel has the highest average living standards in the Middle East. The per capita income in 2000 is over $17,500, exceeding that of the UK.
· With more than 3,000 high-tech companies and start-ups, Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the world (apart from the Silicon Valley).
· With an aerial arsenal of over 250 F-16s, Israel has the largest fleet of the aircraft outside of the US.
· Israel's $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.
· The cell phone was developed in Israel by Motorola-Israel. Motorola built its largest development center worldwide in Israel.
· Windows NT software was developed by Microsoft-Israel.
· The Pentium MMX Chip technology was designed in Israel at Intel.
· Voice mail technology was developed in Israel.
· AOL's instant message program was designed by an Israeli software company.
· Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R&D facilities outside the US in Israel
· The city of Beer Sheva in Israel has the highest percentage in the world of Chess Grand Masters per capita – one for every 22,875 residents.
· On a per capita basis, Israel has the largest number of biotech start-ups
· Israel has the largest raptor migration in the world, with hundreds of thousands of African birds of prey crossing as they fan out into Asia.
· Twenty-four percent of Israel's workforce holds university degrees -- ranking third in the industrialized world, after the United States and Holland -- and 12 percent hold advanced degrees.
Facts about the 100th smallest country, with less than 1/1000th of the world's population.
· Israel has the third highest rate of entrepreneurship - and the highest rate among women and among people over 55 - in the world.
· Relative to its population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants come in search of democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity.
· Israel was the first nation in the world to adopt the Kimberly process, an international standard that certifies diamonds as "conflict free."
· Israel has the world's second highest per capita of new books.
· Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees, made more remarkable because this was achieved in an area considered mainly desert.
Facts about the 100th smallest country, with less than 1/1000th of the world's population.
Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.
Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.
In 1984 and 1991, Israel airlifted a total of 22,000 Ethiopian Jews at risk in Ethiopia to safety in Israel.
When Golda Meir was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969, she became the world's second elected female leader in modern times.
When the U. S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya was bombed in 1998, Israeli rescue teams were on the scene within a day - and saved three victims from the rubble.
Lyricks from the Hatikva (translated from the original French version)of Francky Perez hommage for the 60th birthday of Israel
If you knew how I love her You’d see how I feel If you where I am from then you know what IS-real If you’ve bled like we’ve bled died like we’ve died Seen what we’ve seen and cried what we’ve cried You’d know we love her, treat her like a son does his mother Or a father does his son and the brothers do each other For every stone we move, and all the land we lose As life gets hot like the desert sand in June And everywhere is the same, the only real change is Every day new faces that feel the same hatred It’s like we’re caught in the matrix, we need ‘The One’ to save us They can bomb us, they can kill us, but they will never break us The beach air is so clear, and the sand is like cotton In a land that has been forsaken but has never been forgotten and I turn to the east and I pray as the sun warms my skin The voices of my elders and the places I have been
We have overcome the wait overcome our faith Underestimated and overcome the pain 5000 years of history, weather you know it or not that’s why we defend the land like it’s all we’ve got Cause, it is the only safe place to raise my kids The family how can it be so hard to let us live They welcome me with open arms, even though times are hard As peace is like a memory that drifts between the songs We build this city out of blood, made buildings out of mud That’s why I wrote this song out of respect and out of love For my descendence, every letter, line and every sentence It’s time for us to celebrate our independence This is Go’ds city, Jerusalem-Yerushalayim The only place we live without the fear of dying Doctors, Mothers, Sons, Prophets and teachers Believe is what we do..Odlo avda Tikvatenou
The record for the world's largest flag belongs to an Israeli banner produced by a Filipino evangelical Christian.
The huge blue and white flag, measuring 2,165 feet long and 330 feet wide and weighing 5.7 tons, breaks the record for the world's largest, according to the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. The flag was unfurled beneath the ancient Jewish desert fortress of Masada.
Representatives of the Guinness Book of Records measured the flag and later confirmed the record.
Filipino entrepreneur Grace Galindez-Gupana said she decided two years ago to produce a giant Israeli flag as a testament to her love for Israel and the Jewish people and as a celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Israel.
"God spoke to me in thunder and lightning," Galindez-Gupana said. "The Lord said, 'Make the flag of Israel, the standard of my people.'"
"This is a tall order," she said, breaking down in tears.
The Israeli flag was accompanied by a giant Philippines flag — huge, but not quite as big. It weighed about 4.2 tons.
Large stones anchored both flags as they billowed in the desert winds.
There are about 31,000 Filipinos in Israel, most of whom are foreign workers, said Gilberto Asuque, consul general of the Philippine Embassy in Israel.
"This flag expresses the friendship between the Philippines and the state of Israel, and also the friendship between Jewish and Christian communities," said Shaul Zemach, director of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism.
