Israel Update/Shekel Challenge 2/24

Happy Adar Hagesher!!

For those of you who do not know this Sunday is Purim, a big holiday in Israel. With carnivals and costume parties, giving time to those that are less fortunate, and visiting with friends, there are a lot of faces to this holiday; just like there are many faces to Israel. So as your getting your costume ready or packaging מנות משלוח (gifts of food given to family and friends on Purim) take some time to do a little ISRAEL TRIVIA!

1)Name two types of community settlements that were established as farming communities?

2)This man revived Hebrew in making it a modern language.

3)What famous Jewish artist designed and made stained glass windows for Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem?

HAGESHER UPDATE:

Remember articles for the upcoming edition of Ahavat Tzion are due now! See yourself in print for all of Hagesher to see. We want to hear what you think about this edition’s topic “The Bigger Culture of Israel” Prompts are attached. Send your finished articles to Louis Sacks louisasacks@gmail.com or Sarah Raff at sraff4@gmail.com.

ISRAEL UPDATE

Israel may be the first country to go completely furless.  In Israel a whopping 86% believe that killing animals for their fur isn’t right. The animal rights’ group Let the Animals Live has been pushing efforts to pass a law in Israel that would ban the sale and import of most furs and fur items. The bill would not include the fur used to make shtreimels (the fur-trimmed hats usually worn on festive occasions by married ultra-orthodox Jewish men from hassidic sects) and the hides of cows and sheep and goats, since cruelty is not involved in acquiring these animals’ hides. The people in Let Animals Live see it as their part in repairing the world or עולם תיקון. To read more go to: http://israel21c.org/201002187707/social-action/israel-may-be-the-first-to-go-furless

Is Sedrot really returning back to “normal”? It seems so real estate has gone up, new homes are being built, and families are returning home. But in no way has the shock and trauma of their situation when rockets attacks were daily occurrences left. Resilience centers for therapy treatment are seeing more and more patients. Progress in therapy is slow and any attack or siren can bring it all back to square one. Another ailment that is becoming more common is hearing loss. Which can be discovered or brought to attention later after the initial problems are solved. Hopefully soon life will become easier for the residents of Sderot as a calm time continues. To read more go to: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3850777,00.html