Shekel Trivia & Update 2/9/10

Shalom Hagesher!

Happy Snow Day everyone! While you are taking a break from the sledding and shoveling, brush up on your Israel trivia with Hagesher’s Shekel Challenge.  This week we have something extra just for you; news stories about Israel!  Now you have some light reading on your day off!  Let’s get to it:

You know the rules, but I’ll break them down for you: You should send an e-mail only to Hageshershekelchallenge@gmail.com containing…    1) your name 2) your chapter 3) and the answers of course!  All answers must be in before Shabbat and include the above items.  Failure to do so will negate your answers.    Where and when did Thedor Herzl have the First Zionist Congress?
 What are the 4 religious quarters of  Old City? Which Israeli political party is Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu a member?

Hagesher Updates!!

-If you missed the deadline for Hagesher’s Hechalutzim Kinnus and don’t want to miss out on the most amazing weekend of February contact Louis Sacks at Israel@usy.org

-Did you like what you saw in the first edition of Ahavat Tzion, Hagesher’s Israel Newsletter?  Well we have another one in the works for you. If you’re interested in writing for the second edition remember that articles are due no later than February 22^nd. Email Sarah Raff at sraff4@gmail.com with any questions

Israel Update

Have you ever been at an airport where the check in line is going so slowly you feel like you will never get through because the security is asking one group of people question after question? Well new technologies might help that problem by finding alternatives to profiling. According to CEO Ehud Givon, WeCu raises detection to a whole new level. The device will flash stimuli such as pictures, codes, or symbols that relate to whatever authorities are interested in detecting, and it will record the person’s reaction. Reactions they are looking for are often involuntary, a more quickened heartbeat, eye movement, and increased blood pressure. The people that show these types of reactions will be the ones that are taken aside. The WeCu will be so covert you might not even notice that your being monitored. So watch out next time you board a plane they might be monitoring you at any moment. To read more go to http://israel21c.org/technology/sorting-the-bad-guys-from-the-good

As you probably know the Winter 2010 Olympics will start this Friday night in Vancouver. So how does Israel look in the running? The Israeli team consists of 3 people this year, an ice dancing brother sister duo, Roman and Alexandra Zaretsky, and a slalom skier, Mikail Renzhin. Israel’s team maybe small but they are mighty. Israel’s standards to get on the team are much higher then the International Olympics Committee’s, keeping some athletes away from the games all together. Israel’s Olympic Committee did not allow, Tamar Katz, a three-time national champion figure skater because she didn’t land a spot in the top 14 at the European Championships. Efraim Zinger, the secretary general for the Israeli Olympic Committee said that Israel isn’t only interested in having a representation they are interested in winning and only sending athletes they are sure have a chance at a medal. To read more about Tamar Katz go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/0 1/30/sports/olympics/30olympics.html to read more about the Israeli Olympic team go to: http://jta.org/news/article/2010/01/26/1010324/israel-announces-olympic-team

Israel Challenge of the Week:

iIsrael: USYers Create “playlists” with their top 10 favorite Israeli songs and their lyrics. USYers must also include a brief explanation why they enjoy the song or explain their favorite line. One song may not be used more then 5 times per region. Extra songs will be awarded additional Shekalim. Regions can choose to display the playlists at regional events or play the songs at a regional dance. You can also sell the playlist on a CD to raise money for TO.

–
Sarah Raff
2009 – 2010 Hagesher IA RGB
2009 – 2010 Voorhees President

–
Louis Sacks 2009 – 2010 Hagesher Israel Affairs VP
2010 USY Israel Affairs VP
215 421 0373 // Israel@usy.org