Stories
Volume 1 Short Term Volunteering Israel’s
Largest Bike Ride Feeding
the Needy Volume 2 French Student’s New Life in Israel Mike’s
Place, Before and After The
City of David Volume
3 Israeli Women’s Flag Football Team Israel
Reinvents the Wheel High-Tech
Jerusalem College Volume 4 Desert Agriculture Healing by Horseback Riding Boutique
Wineries in Israel Volume 5 For Love of Country
Entrepreneurs in the Golan Heights
The "White City"
Volume 6
Israel Education Aid to the World
Visiting the Jewish Community in Serbia
Caring for the Elderly and Lonely
Volume 7
Anti-Semitism Conference in Belgium
American Aliyah to Israel
Israeli Musicians Rock in English
Volume 8
Students Advocating for Israel
The African Hebrews Living in Israel
American Football Alive in Israel
Volume 9
The
Boombamela Spring Festival
Environmental
Studies - Arabs & Jews
Unique Jewish Community in Finland Volume 10 Jacobs Ladder, Blues & Folk Festival World's Largest Desalination Plant Cinematrix High Tech Cinema Volume 11 Modiin Concert of Jewish Soul Music Revival of the Kibbutz Movement The 2000 Year Old Judean Date Volume 12 Ethiopian Immigrants Celebrate the SIGD Breaking Barriers in a Bilingual
School Young Farmers return to the Negev Volume 13 The Menahem Begin
Heritage Center Tourism in the
Old City of Jerusalem Baseball in Israel Volume 14 The
International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians Innovative
Holocaust Studies Mayumana Rhythm
Troupe Volume 15 Israel Saves Sudanese Refugees Israeli Guide Dogs Lead the Way
The Secrets of Shmurah Matzah Revealed Volume 16 Arabs & Jews/Martial Arts for Peace Hi-Tech Convention in Tel Aviv Ein Hod, Unique Artists Colony Volume 17 Combating Global Warming US Law Enforcement Learns Israeli Security Israelis Care for Terror Victims Volume 18 Israeli Doctors
Care for the World Israelis Fight
Internet Hate Historical
Photojournalist Reminisces Volume 19 Toxic Waste Site
Recycled Organic
Entrepreneurs Disables
Vintners Create Fine Wines Volume 20 Israeli Hi-Tech
Aids Auto Industry Struggle for
Russian Jewry on Show Multi-Cultural
Theatre Festival in Acco
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For 25 years, Livnot
U'Lehibanot has made it possible for college students
from around the world to volunteer their time while exploring their Jewish
roots. In response to the outbreak of violence in September 2000 and
the surge of eager international volunteers, Livnot began a series of
short-term programs for tourists interested in lending a helping hand
by refurbishing homes, painting hospitals and caring for the less fortunate. 
Every
year, more than 160 participants from the United States, Europe,
Canada and Israel gather for a five-day ride through the Israeli
countryside.
It is Israel’s largest annual sports charity event and every year
it sees a marked increase in the number of riders. The Alyn Pediatric
and
Adolescent Rehabilitation Center, one of the world’s premier
medical
centers for children with disabilities, sponsors the event. 
Hunger
takes no holidays. That’s true even in the Holy Land. Despite
extensive government sponsored social programs, private initiatives are
an essential part of the battle against hunger. Hazon Yeshaya is
one of
Israeli’s premiere programs at the forefront of the effort to make
sure no one goes hungry. Founded by Abraham Israel, a self-described former
hungry refugee, the chain of soup kitchens feeds more than 120,000 Israelis
per month. The organization’s 140 volunteers are high school and
college students, adults and pensioners, many of whom are in Israel as
tourists. Hazon Yeshaya’s centers are open 365 days a year and often
provide the only hot meal of the day for Israel’s less fortunate
citizens. 
Driven
by a desire to live and succeed in Israel, Clara Bayler
left her native France to embark on a new life in Israel. In between pursuing
her Masters Degree at Tel Aviv University and socializing with friends,
Clara volunteers for Israel’s ambulance service, Magen David Adom
(MDA). Twice-a-week, Clara dons the familiar white and orange vest of an
MDA emergency response volunteer and hits the streets to help Israel’s
sick and injured. 
Mike’s
Place is a popular seaside pub in Tel Aviv
touted as a microcosm of Israeli society. Always filled with regulars
and tourists, the restaurant was awash in good food and laughter. In
fact, the day before a suicide-bomber targeted Mike’s Place, an
American production company had been there filming a documentary on how
well Israelis
cope with the never-ending threat of terror. 
The
City of David, Jerusalem of the biblical era,
is set on a hill below the Temple Mount. This ancient sacred city,
left in ruins for centuries, is being slowly transformed into a peaceful
community of Arabs and Jews. As its name implies, the city was founded
by ancient Israel’s King David and is an area rich in archeological
treasures of the biblical period. After the destruction of the second
Temple, its Jewish inhabitants were forcibly evicted, but today, nearly
2,000 years later, the Jewish community is being rebuilt. 
With
only one complete season under their belts, participants in the Women’s
American Football in Israel League proved skilled enough to earn
an invitation to the International Flag Football Championships held in
the Dominican
Republic. Many of the players, ranging in age from 14 – 60 and hailing
from diverse backgrounds, had little or no experience but proved fast learners
and have every intention of making a repeat appearance on the international
stage. The league is an offshoot of the highly successful men’s league,
and features six teams and boundless enthusiasm. 
In
the world of high-tech R&D, Israel stands among the giants, constantly
challenging the status quo and inventing new technologies that enhance
our everyday lives. Imagine a wheelchair that can climb stairs or traverse
an uneven patch of pavement. A new type of wheel, designed by two young
Israeli entrepreneurs, does just that by turning itself into a tracked-wheel
at the touch of a button. Wheelchair accessibility is
a challenge in every country, and even with the best intentions, government
regulations are
not always enforceable. This innovative technological breakthrough is opening
new horizons for the disabled. 
Israel
is home to more than 60,000 Ethiopian Jews, many of whom arrived as
refugees with little formal education and even less exposure to modern
technology. Shepherds in their homeland, they entered a bustling, modern
society. The Jerusalem College of Technology is reaching
out to the Ethiopian community, offering programs in accounting, computer
science, engineering,
etc. to help them enter Israel’s high-tech economy. 
The
Arava Desert, a dry stretch of earth running from the Dead Sea
to the Red Sea, is among the world’s hottest places. It is also
home to one of the world’s most ambitious and successful agricultural
projects. The efforts of 450 Israeli families, living in eight farming
villages,
produce 70,000 tons of fresh produce annually. This amounts to 65% of
Israel’s agricultural exports and 12% of the country’s flower
exports. The next time you go to the supermarket, look for the Arava
label and discover just how good Israeli ingenuity can taste. 
Pioneering
research conducted in Israel, known as animal-assisted
therapy, is helping people with severe handicaps improve their
quality of life. Through a course of therapy that includes such activities
as caring for
a dog and riding a horse, injured war veterans, or children born with
congenital problems, are realizing significant improvement in their emotional
and physical conditions. There is something healing about the interaction
between people and animals and, while it has not been clearly defined,
Israel is at the forefront of using it for the betterment of others. 
The
Judean Hills are rich in history, beauty and, thanks to Israel’s
entrepreneurial spirit, wine. The wine-making roots of this region date
back to biblical times when local growers manufactured their product for
local consumption and use in the Jewish Temple. Thousands of years later,
the ancient art of wine-making in this region, which lies only minutes
from Jerusalem, has gone high-tech, led by three boutique wineries, Ella
Valley, Seahorse and Domaine du Castel. Each
approaches his craft from a unique perspective but each is out to make
the
best tasting wines in
the world. Running time: 6.37 minutes
The Israel Defense Forces are known throughout the world for its skill and ground-breaking technologies. The IDF is also charting new frontiers in the area of equal opportunity for the disabled. In keeping with its policy of giving anyone interested in serving the opportunity to do so, the IDF allows physical handicapped individuals to enlist and assume positions ranging from Cadet Corps Commanders to intelligence officers. Hear their stories. Running
time: 3.40 minutes
Nimrod is a relatively new Golan Heights community on the slopes of Mount Hermon, Israel’s tallest peak. Awed by the beauty of the landscape and the chill of the winter, the families who call the small village home share more than just a love of nature. Each of Nimrod’s families brought their unique entrepreneurial energies to the area. There’s a small bed & breakfast, a restaurant and an artist and his gallery. Each contributes a special element to life in Nimrod and has made the area a favorite get-away for Israelis and tourists alike.
Tel Aviv is Israel’s cultural center and home to a majority of the country’s citizens. It also hosts the largest collection of buildings built in the Bauhaus, or International, architectural style, created in Germany in the 1920s. European architects, fleeing the Nazis, arrived in Tel Aviv and found a growing city in search of a look. They put their Old World training to use in Israel’s new city. The United Nations declared Tel Aviv a “World Heritage Site,” an honor many in the city hope will spur the refurbishment of many of the Bauhaus buildings. The Bauhaus style is known for its clean lines, angular structures and open floor plans, all of which gave Tel Aviv its nickname, The White City.
The experience gained through the rapid and remarkable growth of the State of Israel is shared with the developing world through unique Israeli programs designed to promote health, education and democracy. Mashav – The Center for International Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is one such program boasting more than 300 courses in 42 countries this past year alone.
The war in Serbia is over and the nation is struggling to redefine its
identity in the post Milosevich era. Serbian leaders called on Israel and
the Jewish world for support in rebuilding their battered country. A high
level delegation visited Serbia to examine the needs of the new government
and to assist the tiny Serbian Jewish Community. Running time: 5.01
minutes
The ever increasing elderly community presents a challenge to all modern societies. In Israel private initiatives supplement government programs to assist the golden age citizens. Yitav, a voluntary association for the elderly, is one such organization that provides contact and care for thousands, by way of a hot-line and a network of dedicated volunteers. Meet two Jerusalem teens who 'adopted' a grandmother, forging new family ties of caring, friendship and love. Running time: 3.33 minutes
Anti Semitism has once again raised its ugly head in Western Europe. Jewish Leaders from around the world met in Belgium to discuss this growing phenomenon and to find methods of combating racial hatred in the 21st century. Specialists from around the world, Jewish and Gentile alike, explored the role of the European Governments and democratic societies in the war against anti-Semitism and the appropriate response of the Jewish Community. Running time: 5.06 minutes
The Aliyah revolution taking place these past few years is not defined by an increase in numbers but rather by the character of the immigrants. Immigration from the comfort and wealth of American society presents an entirely different challenge to Israel. This was understood by the founders of the Nefesh B' Nefesh organization, which provides the new immigrant with a comprehensive support network, from job placement to housing solutions and financial assistance. The organization is helping to alleviate some of the obstacles that deterred many from making the move up to now. Aliyah is once again on the agenda of the American Jewish community and the numbers are on the rise.
Follow the birth of "Nova" an upcoming Israeli rock band, as they set their
sites on conquering the world. This young ambitious group is producing
quality music and winning an audience of loyal fans on the local scene.
With a newly signed contract with a major international record company,
they are set for the stars. Running
time: 5.00 minutes
Yavneh Olami organizes students dedicated to promoting Aliyah and combating
anti-Israel propaganda on college campuses throughout the United States.
They serve as Aliyah ambassadors spreading the word on campuses that Israel
is a viable and even desirable country that should be considered when making
future travel plans. These students coordinate many activities designed
to enhance the public image of the State of Israel and bring it closer
to the Jewish student’s heart. 
The Black Hebrews came to Israel from the United States and settled in
the town of Dimona. This community traces its origins to an ancient tribe
of the people of Israel. 
Super Bowl fever hits Israel… Yes, football mania has indeed reached the Holy Land. Kraft stadium, dedicated by the owner of the New England Patriots, offers a first class stadium which launched the Israeli American football league. 
The Jews of Finland are so few that most Finns regard them as a curiosity rather than a minority. At present the Jewish community of Helsinki
is thriving, bolstered by new immigrants from the former Soviet
Union and Israel. Despite a 95% rate of intermarriage, Synagogue attendance and the enrollment in the Jewish school has increased.
Every community in Israel seems to have their own unique festival... from
Moroccan to Yemenite to Ethiopian Jews. Even the English speaking community in Israel has theirs. It's a music
event in the spirit of Woodstock called Jacob's Ladder and it combines good old rock from the 60's
and 70's, country and folk, with fun and family. Traditionally, Jacob's Ladder was one of the country's more
intimate cultural gatherings. However, the secret is out, and in recent years attendance has been growing
enormously. Running time: 4:48 minutes. 
Israel's water worries are over! The largest seawater desalination plant in the world has begun supplying the country with some 100
cubic meters of fresh water a year or roughly 15 percent of the total annual household water consumed in Israel. The plant was constructed
just south of Ashkelon on the Mediterranean Sea and is the first of five planned over the next 4 years.
With this project running, Israel has strengthened its position as a world leader in the field. Several countries including China,
Australia and the United States have expressed an interest in acquiring this technology.
Running time: 4:08 minutes. 
Cinema lovers can now smell a good movie when they see one. At the
Cinematrix in Haifa, the audience experiences "sensurround" in the
fullest sense, including aroma, sound, moving seats ("smart chairs"),
air, water, smoke, 3-D glasses and the feeling of traveling through
space at astonishing speeds, almost touching the planets as they fly
out of the screen. The technology allows each viewer to actually
influence the action by remote control and revolutionize the way one
watches movies. Cinematrix is Israel's contribution to the world of Cinema.
Running time: 3:10 minutes, infocomm-smart theater
Woodstock lives on … at the farming village of Moshav Modiin, outside Tel Aviv, where Rock and Roll is fused with Orthodox Judaism. The community members, many of whom are top rate musicians and artists, follow the teachings of the late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach also known as "the Singing Rabbi". Once a year, the Moshav holds a Carlebach Festival, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors and embodies a special blend of spirituality, natural living, and song.
running time: 3:52 minutes...web search: Modiin Concert (English Newspaper )
The Kibbutz, a unique Israeli institution and one of the greatest symbols of the Zionist enterprise, is enjoying unprecedented prosperity after years of decline and deterioration. Last year alone kibbutz industries rang up more than 200 million dollars of export sales, and account for one third of the country's total agricultural yield. Membership is also on the rise once again. Kibbutz movement officials say that they are finally reaping the fruits of a long and difficult learning curve. running time: 5:42
minutes... 
The Judean date Palm mentioned in the bible may soon flourish once again after having been extinct for almost 2000 years. This is certainly one of the most exiting agricultural research projects currently underway. Israeli scientists have managed to resurrect the species from an ancient date pit discovered by archeologists in the Dead Sea Basin. Researchers, who named the revitalized sapling Methuselah, say that they hope it will lead them in the development of new natural medicines. running time: 4:31 minutes....web search:
wikipedia-judeandatepalm
For centuries the SIGD Festival, observed by prayer and fasting, symbolized Ethiopian Jewry's longing for Jerusalem. Here in Israel, the annual event expresses the immigrant community's successful return and absorption into their new environment. Most Jews in Ethiopia were subsistence farmers and were dramatically airlifted to Israel from their war torn country in 1991 in what has come to be known as " Operation Solomon ". According to recent figures released by the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Ethiopian newcomers are making real inroads into Israeli society. Each year some two to three thousand ex Ethiopian youngsters register for university, and the number of academics in their community is rising fast.
running time: 4:18 minutes... google search - Ethiopian Jewish Culture-Sigd
Jerusalem is home to two separate communities that have very little contact with each other, one Jewish the other Arabic. For the children of the capital, this situation is even more acute. While they are all Israeli citizens, they live and play in separate
neighborhoods and study in different schools. They never have the possibility to meet……apart from those who enrolled at the Bilingual School where the name of the game is "equality". The student body is made up of an equal number of Jews and Arabs, the classes are taught in both languages, and the festivals of three religions are upheld, Judaism Islam and Christianity.
running time: 3:27 minutes... 
While agriculture was once the corner stone of the Israeli economy, today the country's strength lies in high tech and knowledge based industries. However, for some people, working the land is still a way of life that cannot be abandoned. Yochai Hershberg, a young farmer is one such person. Yochai says that growing produce in the Northern Negev is his way of continuing the Zionist enterprise.
running time: 3:54 minutes....web search google: Negev:land,Water
One of Jerusalem's newer landmarks is The Menahem Begin Heritage Center dedicated to presenting insight into the life and times of Israel's sixth Prime Minister, Menahem Begin. However, besides the impressive museum and library,
the main goal of the institute is to serve as an educational and research center for aspiring young leaders. One unique program
offers Israeli youth, Jews and Arabs alike, a new and innovative way of learning about parliamentary
democracy.
The Old City of Jerusalem, with the Temple Mount and Arab Market, still tops the list of Israel's tourist destinations. Recent statistics show that the volume of foreign visitors to the walled neighborhood is rising steadily and will soon reach record numbers. Israeli tourism is also on the rise. Local tour guides and merchants speak of renewed prosperity based on feelings of security and co-existence in the mixed Quarter. Running time: 2:47 minutes
For many Israelis the all American sport of baseball means "oh that game with the bat and ball"… Well things are about to change…. because there is a new initiative underway to bring professional baseball to Israel. That’s right, real professional baseball, with major league players brought in from the United States. The man behind the initiative is American entrepreneur Larry Barras, and the commissioner of the new league is former US Ambassador to Israel Daniel
Kurtzer. 
The International Council Of Jewish Parliamentarians is a newly established global forum of Jewish parliamentarians and legislators which convenes in Jerusalem.
Drawing over 70 representatives from 30 nations including the United States. I.C.J.P was created to provide a platform for it's members to cooperate on issues of concern in the Jewish world, and the international community, including the growth and spread of anti-Semitism and the need to improve inter-faith relations.
With the holocaust generation quickly disappearing there is a danger that the message of "never again" may fade away. However
some survivors have taken it upon themselves to educate today's youth about this horror in the Jewish
people's history. They say that there is a renewed interest in the holocaust among the younger generation.
Running time: 4:39 minutes
Veteran musician David Broza and members of the Mayumana Rhythm Troupe have been mutual fans for years. They've performed together for brief periods in the past. Now they've joined forces in a full-length, high-powered musical spectacle called "Bechuntos". The show is playing to packed houses.
News that Israel is a free and safe democratic country that respects human rights is spreading quickly amongst Muslim Sudanese refugees from Darfur who are fleeing genocide. Hundreds, who are looking for asylum and a better life, have crossed the Southern Border into Israel. In this video we hear from one of the 12 mothers about their escape to Israel through Egypt and how well they and their children were treated by the Israel army when they entered Israel illegally. Visit them in their safe houses provide by the Israeli Government. (running time 6:01 minutes) 
The Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind has only one goal – to help blind people in Israel, civilians and war veterans, achieve independence and mobility through the use of guide dogs. This report gives us some idea of the techniques and the time needed to train the dogs before they are ready.
For eight days, once a year, during the festival of Passover, Jews around the world eat matzo or unleavened bread. Most know what the crispy flat cracker-like bread substitute looks like, but not many know how it is made or that one can even bake it at home. Visit with one family and the kids in the
neighborhood enjoying this labor of love together. (running time 3:47 minutes)
The idea of using martial arts to foster peace and harmony may seem like a contradiction in terms. However, a new project has taken root in Israel called
"Budo for Peace" which brings Arabs and Jews together in an effort to build trust and encourage dialogue. These youngsters come from Palestinian, Bedouin and Israeli towns.
go to Yahoo, 
The annual "Telecom Israel exhibition" in Tel Aviv provides Israeli high tech companies with the opportunity to display the latest in "cutting edge" communication and
information technology. Guess who provided the technology for Firewalls, Blue Tooth etc? The exhibit attracts top government officials, and
Israeli artists have been have been shaking up the international art scene in growing numbers over the last decade and their works can be found in the world's top museums and exhibition halls. The uniqueness of this village is, you have to be an artist to reside there.
Global warming is real!
Scientists are convinced that the earth's temperature is rising steadily and upsetting the planets ecosystem. This was the issue that brought some of the world's leading environmentalists from five continents to Jerusalem. Among the locations they visited was, the largest and driest forest in world,
located in southern Israel. 
Israel has developed some of the best anti-terror units in the world. The Israeli methods are so effective that successive groups of FBI agents and other senior law enforcement officers from the United States arrive regularly to learn ways to improve their own local homeland security. One of participants
was the senior FBI agent who was involved with the D.C. sniper killings, the Wako Texas debacle, the Unibomber and the Alabama Church fires. (running time: 3:42 minutes )
Israeli terror victims and their families now have a special home in Jerusalem where they receive personalized care and support. The center was opened by "The One Family Fund"
The Israeli organization "Save a Child's Heart" is one of the largest undertakings in the world that provides urgently needed pediatric heart surgery and follow-up care for children from third world and developing countries. Its entire surgical, intensive care and nursing staff volunteer their services and donate their time, in conjunction with the Wolfson Medical Center outside Tel Aviv. The organization also brings medical personnel to train in Israel. Thousands of sick children from all over the world, regardless of race or religion, have had their lives saved with cutting edge medical technology. In this report we interview two Palestinian families.
We all know about the wonders of the Internet, and the worlds of information and communication it has opened up. But there is a dark side to the Net as well, with the stunning growth of hate sites spewing everything from anti-Semitism to terrorist propaganda. Under the auspices of the Anti-Defamation League, mass communications experts from Israel and the United States convened an international conference in Tel Aviv that explored just how hatred is poisoning the Web and what can be done about it.
When traveling through Israel today it’s hard to believe that the country is only 60 years old. But if you want to see how it all started, a major photography exhibit in Jerusalem offers a rare glimpse of the historic rebirth of the Nation. The display features the work of photo -journalist David Harris, who documented Israel's epic struggle, against all the odds, to establish its independence. His images capture the Zionist dream of shaping a new country while absorbing refugees from a multitude of different cultures.
A "recycling revolution" is underway in Israel's infamous Hiriya landfill site on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. This once- toxic garbage dump, which was Israel's largest, is being transformed from a smelly eyesore into a place where younger generations can discover the importance of keeping our world clean and green. Visit the former dumpsite and see how even a landfill can be recycled.
People around the world are quickly waking up to both the environmental and health benefits of eating organic, and Israel is no exception. What started out as a weekend hobby for two “big city” Tel Aviv high tech businessmen, turned quickly into a full-fledged farm for the production of organic vegetables. This new eco-friendly Israeli venture shows how green agriculture and greenbacks can go together.
Israel now has about 130 active wineries producing many different varieties, earning Israel a growing reputation as a maker of sophisticated, award-winning world-class wines. Tulip Winery makes a label whose exceptional bouquet is matched only by the special nature of its vintners. Tucked away in the lower Galilee is the unique village of Kfar Tikva (“Hope Village”), whose residents live in a facility for people with autism and other special needs. These residents comprise most of the staff of Tulip Winery, which produces about 85,000 bottles of red wine annually. This boutique winery has won a number of medals in international competitions in Europe and the US. This is just one example of Israel’s culture of inclusion, offering opportunities for meaningful and productive lives even for the disabled.
The achievements of Israel's hi-tech and bio-science companies are legendary, earning the country's cutting-edge technology companies the nickname " Silicon Wadi." Now Israeli innovators have successfully shifted gears to an entirely new and somewhat unlikely field: the automotive industry. Israeli engineers are working with General Motors to improve vehicle safety systems, while adding features that make driving easier, more economical and more environmentally friendly.
It's been called the spark that set in motion the collapse of the Soviet Union, and prompted that country’s historic transformation to a free society. An exhibition on the epic history of Russian Jewry's struggle for freedom is on display in Tel Aviv’s Beth Hatefutsot (Museum of the Jewish Diaspora). Called "Jews of Struggle," the show marks the 40th anniversary of the movement which changed the history of Israel and the rest of the world, bringing freedom and new beginnings to millions. We interview Natan Sharansky, who gives us his insights into this historic exodus that brought almost one million Russian Jews to Israel, including many elderly Holocaust survivors.
The Acco Festival of Alternative Theatre is one of Israel's leading cultural events. Besides providing artists and creators with a platform for presenting new and original forms of expression, the Festival promotes dialogue between Jews and Arabs and other ethnic groups. The ancient walled port town provides a magnificent backdrop for the multi-cultural event, literally drawing the audience into the magic of theatre and mixing the old with the very new.
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