Update: New French Jews Excited About Israel

(Image: New Olim at Ben-Gurion Airport, Credit: Yael Branovsky of Ynet News)


It looks like the Jews who left the land of croissants for the land of falafels are enjoying their stay in the holy land. Ynet reporters were able to give everyone a brief update on how they were adjusting to Israeli life, and it looks like the French Jews are enjoying it!

(Ynet News) An Immigration Ministry representative arrived at the house and held a short festive ceremony in which he gave the parents their blue identity cards. The children jumped up and kissed their excited parents. [...]

"We used to visit Israel a lot," says Valerie. "Last February we arrived for a real investigation. We came to Netanya, where I was familiar with the community of French immigrants, and I felt at home.

"When I entered the school the children will study in, I was excited and immediately understood this is the place I want them to be in. On the way back to France we already knew that we are going to immigrate to Israel very soon," she adds.

This family (along with 600 others) are already beginning to experience real life as Israeli's, with some seeing if they can remain in the same industry as they had in France.

Although they have yet to learn the language, these new comers (or olim as they call them in Israel) seem determined to learn Hebrew, as well as contribute to the overall Israeli society.

Israeli Kids Becoming "Net Savvy"

(Image Credit: The Redwood Motel)

It looks like many children in Israel are beginning to embrace the internet for all that its worth.

(Globes Online) TNS/Teleseker: Israel has almost 4.5 million internet users over the age of 5, 62% of the country’s total population.

58% of Israeli children aged 5-12 use the internet, according to the TNS/Teleseker survey for June 2007. The information was provided by parents.

The main internet use by children 4-8 is for games, surfing children websites, and picture coloring pages. Children aged 7-8 are already using the internet for study purposes, to listen to music, and to download songs.

Israeli children have always seemed to have a "nack" for technology, something I definitely noticed when I saw eight year olds with cell phones (that was back in the day when beepers were king).

I would not be surprised to find Israeli kids harnessing iPhone look-a-likes in the near future--unless of course the jPhone has anything to do with it.

Update: Added source link.

Israel Spending Over A Billion Dollars To Woo Jews To Jerusalem

(Image Credit: RomKri of Jerusalem Shots)

Despite the fact that many Jews are proud that Jerusalem is once again in Jewish hands (as the capital of their nation), many Israeli citizens for some strange reason are reluctant to relocate within the capital.

The government, unsatisfied with the current status of "Jerusalem immigration" has decided to spend approximately $1.45 billion in order to see more Jews live within what many regard as the holiest spot on earth.

(Israel National News) Jewish areas of Jerusalem are expected to receive extra attention with the allocation of some $1.45 billion toward development aimed at improving the capital’s Jewish demographics.

Media reports quoted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as saying the government would approve NIS 5.75 billion to upgrade the city's infrastructure while strengthening its Jewish majority.

Although I have heard of many Jews desiring to keep Jerusalem 100 percent in Jewish hands, I have seen various conversations online where a few of them would decline actually living in the Holy City.

If anybody who is Israeli is reading this, I would be curious as to why so many Jews are avoiding living in their capital city, and whether or not the incentives would attract them towards reconsidering?

Horn Of Plenty On New Jewish Shekel?

(Globes Online) The Bank of Israel has confirmed that it will mint a NIS 2 coin, as first reported by "Globes". The process took shape in recent months, following the establishment of the Bank of Israel advisory committee. Minister of Finance Abraham Hirchson must give final approval for the minting of the new coin. The procedures will be completed in a few months.

I was trying to see if the bank had any images of what the coin may look like, but visiting their site (as well as a Google search) revealed nothing.

For those who do not know what a "horn of plenty" looks like, hopefully the photo above will give you a clue.

World Prayer For Missing Israeli Soldiers

There is a call for Israelis to pray for the safety of the nations missing soldiers. Israel's chief rabbi is leading the prayer on August 1^st.

(JTA.org) Israel's chief Ashkenazi rabbi, Yona Metzger, announced Thursday that he wanted to enlist 1 million Jews worldwide to recite the prayer simultaneously at 7 p.m., Israel time, on Aug. 1.

The prayer, composed by Metzger after Cpl. Gilad Shalit was kidnapped by Hamas-led gunmen June 25 and Hezbollah combatants snatched reservists Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser on July 12, is available in both Hebrew and English on the Web site http://www.tfila.org.il.

Although he is asking for his Jewish brethren to lift up prayers to the Almighty, I am sure he would not mind Christians (as long as they are pro-semitic) praying for their safety too.

A Million Dollars Raised For Jewish Children

A Jewish organization has committed to donating one million dollars in order to transport children from cities being bombed in the north towards camps in the center of the Kosher state.

(JTA.org) The United Jewish Communities committed $1 million toward a Jewish Agency for Israel effort to evacuate children living near fighting in northern Israel. [...]

"The ability to raise $1 million in a couple of hours for children on the confrontation line is an expression of the feeling of our common destiny," said the agencyÂ’s chairman, Zeev Bielski. Nearly a dozen North American federations are committing funds to the effort, as are the Jewish Agency, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal.

The funds will allow Jewish children to enroll in camps, with the latest donation allowing 2,000 kids to begin attending these camps within a week. This will allow parents to continue working in dangerous cities and perhaps give the children a chance to breathe and play without the threat of bombings.

Swimming Pool Named After Ron Arad

Ron Arad, an Israeli air force navigator who has been missing for well over 20 years is being honored by having a swimming pool named after him.

(IsraelNN.com) Friends of captured air force navigator Ron Arad on Friday morning held a swimming event in the Kinneret, signifying 20 years since he fell into enemy hands. Taking part in the event were members of AradÂ’s pilot training course.

One of Arad's classmates, Adi Pereg, began a 20km (12 mile) swim, followed by others in kayaks. Following the swim, a ceremony was held, attended by members of the Arad family.

Arad has been missing since 1986 and it is currently not known whether he is alive or not. He disappeared over Lebanon and has not been seen ever since. If alive, hopefully his God (via IDF) can rescue him as he probably would enjoy swimming in his own pool.