Eye 2 Israel

Gilad's 24th Birthday in Captivity

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:50:07 GMT

Gilad Shalit is an Israeli soldier who was born on August 28^th, 1986.

Gilad was kidnapped during a patrol on June 2006 by Hamas Palestinian terrorists. The Hamas demands thousands of Palestinian prisoners who were convicted of murder and terrorist actions.

Gilad used to live in Mitzpe Hila in the Western Galilee.

A few days ago, Gilad "celebrated" his 24th Birthday in captivity, where he has been kept for over 4 years.

Israel has been negotiating Gilad's release since 2006, and Hamas keeps shutting down the negotiations and raising the numbers of prisoners to be released.

Gilad has not been able to see even a Red Cross Representative, which is a horrible violation of his human rights as they are described in the Geneva Convention.

I hope Gilad will be released as soon as possible, and that he won't have to spend his 25th birthday without his family.

Song for Gilad's mother (video from MrJonsac on youtube.com)

Holy Land in Stamps II

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:49:52 GMT

Today, I'm going to write another stamp-themed article, if you would like to read the first one you can do so here.

In this article, I'll review more Israeli stamps, and this time I'll show stamps that deal with peace.

The first stamp that I'm going to show you is a stamp from May 2000, and it's called "The Land of Three Religions." What we can learn from this stamp is that the land of Israel is sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam and the Israeli government respects and encourages the people of all those three religions to visit their holy places in Israel.

The next three stamps were issued in March 1979, August 1994 and October 1994 and they represent the two peace treaties that Israel signed with Egypt (in 1979) and with Jordan (in 1994). What we can learn from those stamps is that Israel wants peace, no more wars or ceasefires, just peace.

The last Stamp I'll be talking about is "Children's Drawings on Peace" published in February 1977, which shows that Israel teaches its kids peace, not war, not massacre and not discrimination – just peace and understanding.

Israeli Fields Medal Recipient

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:49:01 GMT

I am glad to say that for the first time an Israeli researcher won a medal known as the Nobel Prize in mathematics!

Professor Eilon Lindenstrauss from Einstein institute of Mathematics at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem had received the 2010 Fields Medal.

The Fields Medal is the most important award given in the field of mathematics.

Prof. Menachem Ben-Shoshan, the President of the Hebrew University, said that not many Israelis have won this significant award because one must be at least 40 years-old in order to win, and since the Israeli researchers are very young when they start their academic careers it is quite a limitation for them.

Eilon Lindenstrauss (video from HebrewUniversity on youtube.com)

Gilad's 24th Birthday in Captivity

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:42:57 GMT

Gilad Shalit is an Israeli soldier who was born on August 28^th, 1986.

Gilad was kidnapped during a patrol on June 2006 by Hamas Palestinian terrorists. The Hamas demands thousands of Palestinian prisoners who were convicted of murder and terrorist actions.

Gilad used to live in Mitzpe Hila in the Western Galilee.

A few days ago, Gilad "celebrated" his 24th Birthday in captivity, where he has been kept for over 4 years.

Israel has been negotiating Gilad's release since 2006, and Hamas keeps shutting down the negotiations and raising the numbers of prisoners to be released.

Gilad has not been able to see even a Red Cross Representative, which is a horrible violation of his human rights as they are described in the Geneva Convention.

I hope Gilad will be released as soon as possible, and that he won't have to spend his 25th birthday without his family.

Song for Gilad's mother (video from MrJonsac on youtube.com)

Holy Land in Stamps II

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:45:26 GMT

Today, I'm going to write another stamp-themed article, if you would like to read the first one you can do so here.

In this article, I'll review more Israeli stamps, and this time I'll show stamps that deal with peace.

Israeli Fields Medal Recipient

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 06:47:20 GMT

I am glad to say that for the first time an Israeli researcher won a medal known as the Nobel Prize in mathematics!

Professor Eilon Lindenstrauss from Einstein institute of Mathematics at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem had received the 2010 Fields Medal.

The Fields Medal is the most important award given in the field of mathematics.

Eilon Lindenstrauss (video from HebrewUniversity on youtube.com)

New Song for Israel

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:56:32 GMT

This song pretty much speaks for itself. Just listen, read the subtitles and watch the images.

Only Israel (video from SassVideo on youtube.com)

New Song for Israel

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:46:27 GMT

This song pretty much speaks for itself. Just listen, read the subtitles and watch the images.

Only Israel (video from SassVideo on youtube.com)

The Arrow Missile

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:32:34 GMT

The Arrow missile is an anti-ballistic defense system that was developed by Israel. The missile was developed with US funding since 1992.

The arrow missile is the only missile nowadays that's capable of eliminating missiles outside of the atmosphere.

The project started after the Gulf War where after an anti-missile defense was required.

Today, the first and second versions of the arrow are ready and operational, and the third and final version is being tested.

The hope is that it will protect Israel from possible threats from Iran.

The arrow will add up to the Israeli anti-missile defense system, which contains many layers, one of which is the Iron Dome.

Arrow Missile (video from infolivetvenglish on youtube.com)

Holy Land in Stamps

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:32:23 GMT

Once upon a time, before the internet and the telephone were the way to connect, people used to send messages through letters (snail mail). Back then, stamps were a pretty big thing and you had to buy those to send the envelope or the package to the person who was waiting for them to arrive.

Some stamps are ordinary and simple. Other stamps are magnificent and interesting. But stamps are always printed with the things that the government and postage services think is important, like promoting new things or displaying interests and accomplishments.

In my next few articles, I'm going to show you some of the things Israel printed on its stamps throughout the years. All the stamps I'm going to show you are from my own collection.

I'm going to start with "Israel as a Jewish state"

The second series of stamps, which was issued in 1948, includes five stamps and its theme is welcoming the Jewish holidays in September and October. The postal service continues this tradition, and every year it makes a series of stamps in the same theme.

The next series of stamps I'll show you was issued in 1949, and it shows the walls of Jerusalem and the hills around the city. The fact that this stamp is the first issue with only one stamp (and the third in total) shows the significance of Jerusalem to Israel as a Jewish state.

The next stamp I'll show you is the menorah stamp, issued in 1952, showing the menorah, an ancient Jewish icon, which is also a part of the state's emblem.

Holy Land in Stamps

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:06:16 GMT

In my next few articles, I'm going to show you some of the things Israel printed on its stamps throughout the years. All the stamps I'm going to show you are from my own collection.

I'm going to start with "Israel as a Jewish state"

The next stamp I'll show you is the menorah stamp, issued in 1952, showing the menorah, an ancient Jewish icon, which is also a part of the state's emblem.

The Arrow Missile

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:10:54 GMT

The Arrow missile is an anti-ballistic defense system that was developed by Israel. The missile was developed with US funding since 1992.

The arrow missile is the only missile nowadays that's capable of eliminating missiles outside of the atmosphere.

The project started after the Gulf War where after an anti-missile defense was required.

Today, the first and second versions of the arrow are ready and operational, and the third and final version is being tested.

The hope is that it will protect Israel from possible threats from Iran.

The arrow will add up to the Israeli anti-missile defense system, which contains many layers, one of which is the Iron Dome.

Arrow Missile (video from infolivetvenglish on youtube.com)

Once in a Lifetime Experience

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:29:27 GMT

The Stand With Us international educational organization had organized an amazing campaign for a competition for bloggers, where the grand prize is a once in a life time experience of an all-expense paid trip to Israel!

The campaign went really well and 4 bloggers from around the world had won the trip and are uploading videos of their experiences in Israel.

Here are two of the videos, but you can see and read more at the official website.

Day 2 (video from mytrip on youtube.com)

Day 4 (video from mytrip on youtube.com)

Israeli Music

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:29:13 GMT

As you walk through the streets of Tel Aviv you hear the most unique musical culture. From one cafe you hear Israeli rock, from the restaurant across the street you hear Israeli pop, and from the kiosk you hear Israel trance. Only in Israel can you feel the connection between the different cultures as it transforms the music.

Israel was founded in 1948 by the Jewish people who came together from all the ends of the earth. Thus a very special population was created, a population where for example, a son of an American professor is the neighbor of a son of an Iraqi Rabbi. During the years music from America influenced Iraqi music and vice versa. This combination created what is known as Mizrahit music. Throughout the years more and more genres were created in the same way.

By the 21st century hundreds of Israeli bands performed in these genres. Some bands were popular only in Israel, as they performed mainly in Hebrew, but others were a tremendous success abroad. These include Infected Mushroom, Balkan Beat Box, the Comfort girls (aka. HaBanot Nehama), Useless ID, Skazi, Betzefer, Asaf Avidan, and many more. These bands, inspired by both new Israeli genres and by existing genres abroad, became immensely popular both among Israelis and among foreigners. These bands went on tour in Europe and the US.

How can such immensely popular bands come from a country the size of Delaware? No one can fully answer this question but it probably has to do with the unique population of Israel. Israel is the only place in the world where such culturally diverse people live together. Thus the most special genres are created, by the groups of immigrants who strive to make a homeland in Israel.

Next time you walk through the streets of Tel Aviv, listen to the sounds of Israel, to the genres, which can evolve only in a land where the population has almost no similar traits. In a land with so many genres and styles anyone can find a song he or she connects to.

Feminism

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:29:02 GMT

I'm a student at Tel Aviv University and I'm studying feminism in the sociology and anthropology department. I took only one course because I also had my high-school finals this year. A lot of people, not just in Israel, think that feminism is supporting the idea of women's supremacy, but this is not true. Feminism is supporting the idea of equality between the genders. I learned about the discrimination against women throughout their lives.

I'm sure that at least 50% of you don't understand what I'm talking about. Allow me to explain: there are two spheres, the private sphere (where the woman is in charge of caring for the husband and the children) and the public sphere (where the men do male things, like work, fight, engage in politics, etc.). Take a look at your own household – the father is usually the main breadwinner because there is a stereotype regarding women who work and spend less time with their children. Feminism is about women being able to work while the men stay at home with the children.

It was my honor to be a student of Professor Hana Herzog, who is well known in the world.

She was the woman who first invented the Hebrew word for "gender." She was amazing.

Once in a Lifetime Experience

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:06:00 GMT

The campaign went really well and 4 bloggers from around the world had won the trip and are uploading videos of their experiences in Israel.

Here are two of the videos, but you can see and read more at the official website.

Day 2 (video from mytrip on youtube.com)

Day 4 (video from mytrip on youtube.com)

Israeli Music

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:29:33 GMT

The World Against Israel

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:18:24 GMT

Israel is currently suffering from criticism from almost everyone. Our neighboring countries are happy to see us struggling with everything that is going on and the Hamas is brainwashing the world to make everyone believe we're the bad guys.

The Palestinian population in Gaza is indeed in need for salvation, but not from us, rather from Hamas. They launch rockets from schools and populated areas so that when we retaliate, and we must retaliate, it would cause as much damage as possible. The UN is blinded and afraid and makes all the wrong decisions and the world is just aching to see us make mistakes.

Even more disturbing is that we have a captive soldier, Gilad Shalit, who had been deprived of all human contact (he can't even see a Red Cross representative) for over 1500 days! We are forced into a negotiation that will end in the release of many murderers with blood on their hands.

Yes, it's true – the Palestinian people shouldn't suffer, neither should we nor Gilad Shalit – the only bad guys in this awful scenario are the Hamas. When will the world understand that?

Hamas (video from Hollyyyyyyy on youtube.com)

The Israeli Cinema

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:18:32 GMT

Waltz with Bashir is an Israeli documentary animated movie directed by Ari Folman, an Israeli director who is telling his own story of dealing with the memories from the First Lebanon War in 1982. It took 4 years to make this movie and eventually it was nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign film and won a Golden Globe Award.

There are a few other successful Israeli movies, like Free Zone, which made Hanna Laslo famous by winning the best actress award at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival. There was also the movie Beaufort, which tells the story of the Israeli soldiers who remained at the Beaufort during the First Lebanon War.

Many people love the Israeli cinema because it's very unique in its style and sense of humor. I highly recommend watching these movies and other Israeli movies to get a better understanding of the fascinating Israeli culture.

Free Zone trailer (video from amnesico on youtube.com)

Caesarea Maritima

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 12:00:51 GMT

Caesarea Maritima is a Harbor city that was built in the first century B.C. by Herod the Great. Caesarea Maritima was Israel's capital city in the Roman period.

Today, Caesarea Maritima is a national park of Israel, and near it there is a city with the same name, Caesarea – named in memory of Caesar Augustus.

Caesarea Maritima is an ancient city, with a long history, and has a significant role in Jewish history. In the beginning, the city was a small village in Phoenicia. Later on, it was a part of the Hasmonean kingdom. In 639 B.C. it was conquered by Muslims.

The old city has many ancient ruins, such as the harbor, a temple, the palace of Herod the Great, a theater, etc.

Caesarea Maritima is considered a holy city in Judaism.

Caesarea Maritima is now a big tourist spot and the modern Caesarea is considered quite expensive and fancy. It is a beautiful and interesting place.

Caesarea Maritima (video from HamblinOfJerusalem on youtube.com)