Video: CBS Keeps Its Eyes Upon Israel

(Hat Tip: IsRealli.org)

In the American city that never sleeps (that's New York for those of you who do not know), CBS-TV highlighted the Jewish nation in one of its Eye on New York videos.



The video highlighted Israel's struggles during its creation as a state, as well as celebrating Israel's 60^th birthday.

Note: Next time Dan Gillerman (Israel's UN Ambassador) should mention about how close Israeli scientists are at producing a viable hydrogen car, something that has caught the attention of a few of my friends.

Yad Vashem Goes Hi-Tech To Convey Holocaust Message

(Image Credit: Rachel of Israel 21^st Century)

Yad Vashem, a museum in charge of insuring that the world remembers the tragedy of the Holocaust (so that it is never repeated) has decided to use the internet to help enlighten the world about the horrors of the past.

(Israel 21^st Century) Today, May 1, which is Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day in Israel, Yad Vashem will upload its 130,000-image photo archive to its website. The collection, the largest of its kind in the world, includes photographs taken in the ghettos, during the deportations, images that illustrate slave labor, the camps, liberation and more. [...]

"This will allow the public at large direct and simple access to the vast collection of resources collected by Yad Vashem over the past half century," says Avner Shalev, chairman of Yad Vashem. "We are hoping that it will increase public awareness of the archives' tremendous importance, and encourage people who have similar photographs and documents to confer them to Yad Vashem for safekeeping."

Users can search the photo archive by clicking over here in order to see the images for themselves.

Yad Vashem has also launched a YouTube channel in English as well as Arabic for the middle east.

Users interested in learning more about this Museum, and why they should visit (as everyone should at least once in their life) can visit here for more information.

Update (5/3): Google just highlighted Yad Vashem over on their corporate blog.

East Jerusalem: Queen Helene's Mansion Unearthed

(Image Credit: Ron Peled, via Ynet News)

It looks as if Queen Helene's mansion has been discovered in a parking lot located in eastern Jerusalem.

While her mention may draw scratching heads from some, Queen Helene played a minor role in Jerusalem's history, not only as a woman who helped feed the poor, but also regarding Jerusalem's temple.

(Ynet News) Josephus and Jewish texts, Helene was from a royal clan that ruled Adiabene, a region now in northern Iraq. Along with her family, she converted to Judaism and came to Jerusalem in the first half of the first century A.D.

Helene merited grateful mention in the Mishna, the written version of Judaism's oral tradition, where she is praised for her generosity to Jerusalem's poor and for making contributions to the Second Temple, the center of the Jewish faith, which was just a few hundred meters (yards) uphill from her house. She was buried in an elaborate tomb not far away.

The discovery of Helene's mansion helps cement the idea that Jerusalem was (and still is) a Jewish city about 2,000 years ago, around the time that Jesus Christ appeared on the scene.

Hopefully Bush will take note of this, as he is planning on visiting Israel for a few days next month.

Was Thomas Jefferson Jewish?

Researches think they may have found some DNA evidence linking the American President Thomas Jefferson with some mysterious mid-eastern roots.

(Forward) As The New York Times reported Wednesday, "Researchers studying Jefferson's Y chromosome have found it belongs to a lineage that is rare in Europe but common in the Middle East, raising the possibility that the third president of the United States had a Jewish ancestor many generations ago."

Although Jefferson was probably not a full Jew (or even half) there may be a case displaying kosher roots deep in American history (either that, or this sounds like a great rumor to start ;-)).

Israel Popular At The United Nations?

It's not every day an Israeli ambassador is greeted with applause at the United Nations. But today was not an ordinary day for Israel, as the UN takes the time out to reflect upon the horrible tragedy over half a century ago that caused over 12 million lives to be lost, half of them Jewish.

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency) Hundreds of Holocaust survivors and their families gathered at the world body for its second annual day commemorating victims of the Shoah.

"I vow that as long as there is an Israel – and I vow that forever there will be an Israel - you are not alone," [Israeli Ambassador Dan] Gillerman told survivors, his voice rising. "You are safe. And today, here in this hall and around the world, the whole of the civilized world is vowing this vow together with you."

"As long as there is a United Nations, Israel is not alone," responded the U.N.'s undersecretary-general for communications and public information, Shashi Tharoor, who presided over Monday's event.

On a lighter note, if one is actually able to view the UN forum (which is usually half empty, regardless of the speaker) was filled to the brim! Not only were there diplomats, but there apparently was a musical by a local yeshiva choir as well!

This is a healthy sign for Israel, that despite the arguing that surrounds the tiny Jewish state, there are many who do not want to see a repeat of the Holocaust.

Ancient Semitic Language Revealed At Last?

For those history buffs out there this might be interesting.

(Israel National News) Professor Reuven (Richard) Steiner, an expert in Semitic languages and teacher of Semitic literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has deciphered the most ancient Semitic texts ever discovered. The texts, which were first discovered one hundred years ago, are thought to be approximately five thousand years old.

These texts could quite possibly be the oldest writings on planet Earth. It should be interesting to see their connection not only to the middle east (of that era) but also how it relates to present day Israel as well.

Ancient Ritual Bath From Jerusalem Temple

An ancient ritual bath was discovered in Jerusalem underneath the western wall. The bath is one of the largest ever found and will hopefully shed more light on Israel's past.

(Ynet News) Archeologists from the antiquities authority discovered an ancient mikve (ritual bath) from the second temple period during restoration work on the tunnels below the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Israel has a very long history spanning thousands of years. Although much of it is already documented in the Torah, having confirmation in the present sheds revelation about their glorious past.