A preliminary IDF Homefront Command medical delegation, comprising two doctors and a Homefront Command officer, arrived today (Monday 21 March 2011) in the Miyagi prefecture north of Tokyo and have begun their appraisal of requirements that will enable the dispatch of the full-scale medical delegation, which is due to leave Israel shortly. Israel is one of the first countries to dispatch a medical delegation to Japan. To date, only a few international search and rescue teams have provided assistance, but no medical teams have been dispatched. The Israeli team will be located in the Miyagi prefecture, about six hours north of Tokyo, which was hardest hit by the recent Tsunami. The team will establish a medical clinic geared to handle the casualties and refugees concentrated in the region. The … [Read more...]
Israeli Government Offers Aid to Japan
The Government of Israel has offered aid to the Japanese government after the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Japan on March 10th, followed by tsunamis across the Pacific Ocean. Widespread death and destruction was caused by the earthquake and tsunamis. According to Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, the “enormously powerful” earthquake caused “tremendous damage over a wide area.” Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman immediately directed Israel’s ambassador in Tokyo, Nissim Ben- Sheetrit, to offer any aid to the Japanese government that it may need in dealing with the tragedy. In addition, Ben-Sheetrit said that the embassy was trying to make contact with Israelis known to be in the country and who remain unaccounted for. … [Read more...]
HaZamir at Lincoln Center
Lincoln Center will be alive with Jewish music March 27 as more than 250 teenagers from across the United States and Israel gather to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the founding of HaZamir: The 6 p.m. concert will be held in the Rose Theater, the home of Jazz at Lincoln Center at Broadway at 60th St. Tickets range in price from $36-$100 and can be purchased online or at the box office. HaZamir was created by Matthew Lazar, founder of the Zamir Choral Foundation, to provide teens with a high level choral experience in a Jewish environment. In the years since its founding it has grown from a single New York City chapter to 19 chapters in the United States and Israel. Each chapter meets weekly and shares a musical repertoire that is studied for the annual gathering in New York City. Many … [Read more...]
New Hillel Affiliates: From Ski to Shining Sea
Interested in a quick dip in the Caribbean between classes or an after-class run down the slopes? Hillel’s newest groups offer Jewish students the opportunity to do both, and more. Hillel’s Soref Initiative for Emerging Campuses recently approved the affiliation of 21 new “Small and Mighty” groups that include Westminster College in Utah, a campus with easy access to great skiing, and, for beach lovers, St. George’s College in Grenada and American University of Antigua, Hillel’s first outposts on the Caribbean since the closure of Hillels in Cuba following the Castro Revolution. The Soref Initiative, established through the generosity of the Samuel and Helene Soref Foundation, provides guidance, financial assistance, online resources and a communication network for Jewish students and … [Read more...]
Jewish Women No Longer in the Back of the Bus
There is an alarming trend of gender segregation and gender discrimination in Jerusalem, spearheaded by segments of the ultra-Orthodox community. Examples include gender-segregated buses, which are currently growing in occurrence under the authority of the Ministry of Transportation. There are also escalating degrees of discrimination at the Western Wall and in the Jewish quarter, and there is a prohibition against presenting women in advertisements in the city’s public spaces, according to Rachel Azaria, a city council member and founder of the social change organization Yerushalmim (Jerusalemites). Targum Shlishi is supporting Yerushalmim’s program “Inclusive Jerusalem: The Struggle Against Religious Extremism” by funding a legal defense initiative to counter haredi extremism. This … [Read more...]
Jewish Teens Call for 18,000 Peers to Sign Jewish Community Pledge
Jewish teenagers from the major International Jewish Youth Movements are taking on bullying and standing up for their lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer peers. In addition to publicly committing to end bullying and creating an inclusive environment in their own movements, the Coalition of Jewish Teen Leaders - the presidents of the International Jewish Youth Movements - has set a goal of getting 18,000 Jews to sign Keshet’s “Jewish Community Pledge to Save Lives”. This goal has been echoed by the Executive leadership of the movements and their staff. “It is really exciting to see Jewish teen leadership take a strong stand against homophobia and to promote a vision of the Jewish community that fully embraces all forms of diversity. When Keshet began the Jewish Community Pledge … [Read more...]
