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Israel 411 & More - Your Israel Resource
Get the 411 on Israel - basic facts, current events, things about your trip, and stuff you need to know before go!
Many of our Israel 411 posts are written by Carl Schrag - Israel educator, journalist, and former Editor of the Jerusalem Post, Israel's leading English-language daily newspaper.
For an alphabetical list of all Israel 411 Articles, see the index.
Israel Leads the Way in Electric Cars
Hybrid cars are yesterday’s news. Make way for the EV – battery-powered electric vehicles that use no fossil fuel and run on giant rechargeable batteries. They’re under development all over the world, but the industry leader is Better Place, a California-Israeli startup that plans to begin testing a fleet of hundreds of EV cars in Israel in 2011. Next up: Denmark and test communities in the U.S.
What is the Law of Return?
Immediately after Israel gained independence in 1948, it declared that any Jew, from anywhere in the world, could move to Israel and become a citizen. In 1950, this policy was formalized when the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) voted unanimously to enact the Law of Return, which states, succinctly:
Every Jew has the right to immigrate to the country
What’s So Exciting About Israeli High-Tech?
I don’t know what image pops into your mind when you hear people talk about Israel as a high-tech nirvana, but the truth is there’s not a whole lot to see. Unless tall, sleek buildings and endless low-rise R&D centers pump your adrenaline, Israel’s tech industry doesn’t offer a whole lot of amazing visual stimuli.
But when you realize what the Israeli technology sector creates – well, that’s an altogether different story.
Israeli scientists invented the cell phone, the latest Pentium microprocessors that power your laptop computer, the flash drive that you probably have in your pocket right now, not to mention thousands of medical, agricultural and energy-saving innovations that have changed the way people around the world live.
He Died for His Country
In another country, it might have been just another military training accident. A young Israel Air Force pilot’s fighter jet crashed and the pilot died instantly. A tragedy for the family, an investigation for the Air Force. Hardly a matter of public attention.
But this is Israel, where every man and woman in uniform holds a special place in the national psyche. And the young pilot was Captain Asaf Ramon, the beloved son of fallen national hero Ilan Ramon. And the entire country joined his grieving mother as she buried him and mourned for the future that he will never have.
Shorashim on Youtube
Curious about what your Taglit-Birthright Israel experience will be? Check out Shorashim's YouTube site to see some participant posted videos under our favorites. Be sure to let us know about your video when you come back. One of our favorites is by Brett Lemick, an alum of the Chicago Community - College trip.
Traveling with Israelis - The Mifgash
Whether you know it or not, the Taglit-Birthright Israel trip that you have chosen is unique. It is the only Taglit-Birthright Israel program in which Israelis will travel with you for the full 10 days of the program. We call this (in Hebrew): Mifgash - the best English translation is "encounter."
The great thing about this experience is that you will leave Israel not only with a connection to the places and amazing history - but to real people as well. You will also get an insider's perspective, rather than a tourists lens. It really is seeing Israel "through the eyes of Israelis."
So what can you do to prepare for this "encounter"?
FAQ: Zionism = Racism???
In 1975, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution that said bluntly:
- Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination
Passed by a coalition of Arab, African and Soviet bloc countries, the resolution was condemned by America's UN Ambassador Daniel Patrick Moynihan who said:
- The United States, rises to declare before the General Assembly of the United Nations and before the world that it does not acknowledge, it will not abide by, it will never acquiesce in this infamous act
More than 15 years later, the UN repealed this infamous slander, but in recent years many of Israel's adversaries have worked hard to revive it.
So what's the truth? Is Zionism a form of racism? Or isn't it?
Let's take a look at the definition of Racism:
FAQ: Was Israel Created Because of the Holocaust?
In a word -- no.
FAQ: Israeli Election 2009
When is the election?
Feb. 10, 2009
How is the Israeli election system different from the U.S. system?
Israel is a parliamentary democracy. So when you hear that Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu is running for prime minister, this is only partly true, because it is not a direct election. Because he is the head of his party, if the Likud party wins the election, and the President (a largely ceremonial position) approves his coalition, he will be the next prime minister of Israel.
