Congratulations and 234 pictures of the new olim from North America

Hi Everyone!

Congratulations to the 200 new olim who made aliyah today from North America to Israel.

I was at the airport and took pictures of the exciting event.
I posted the pictures online at:

http://www.jr.co.il/pictures/israel/history/2007/a117.htm

When the first page appears, press the F11 key to view the full length of the pictures. To move from page to page, use the navigation buttons on the bottom of the screen.

May the aliyah from North America (and the rest of the world) grow and bring more Jews back to their homeland, Eretz Yisrael.

Have a great day,
Jacob

Israel solar energy company inks huge solar power deal in California

Hi Everyone!

As many of you know, I am a big fan / advocate for advancing the use of solar energy and other alternative energy resources. There are several Israeli companies that are making big advances in spreading the use of solar energy around the world.

The Israeli company Solel Solar Systems closed a deal to sell 553 megawatts of electricity to California's PG & E Corp. (Pacific Gas and Electric Company) from a solar power plant that the company will build in the Mojave Desert at an investment of some $2 billion. PG & E's nine-square mile Mojave Solar Park is due to begin operating in 2011. PG&E said that the power, enough for 400,000 homes, will go to customers in northern and central California. The Mojave Solar Park project is now the world's largest single solar commitment.

For the full article see:

http://www.jr.co.il/articles/solel-solar-inks-huge-solar-power-deal.txt

It would be super cool if Israel, which has brought many discoveries and inventions to the world, will be in the center of the new energy revolution and be a literal "light" unto the other nations.

Shabbat Shalom,
Jacob

Congratulations to the 600 new olim from France

Hi Everyone!

Congratulations to the 600 new olim who made aliyah to Israel today from France.
I posted on my website articles and pictures of this exciting, historic event.
The address is:

http://www.jr.co.il/pictures/israel/history/france-aliyah.htm

If you do not see July 25, 2007 on the top of the page, hold down the control key on your keyboard and press the F5 key. This should refresh your browser with the newest page.

May the aliyah from France (and the rest of the world) grow and bring more Jews back to their homeland, Eretz Yisrael.

Have a good day,
Jacob

Educational websites about Tisha B'Av

Shalom.

Tisha B'Av is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar because of the incredible series of tragedies which occurred on that date throughout Jewish History.

Tisha B'Av means "the ninth (day) of the Hebrew month of Av." Tisha B'Av primarily commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples, both of which were destroyed on the ninth of Av (the first by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E.; the second by the Romans in 70 C.E.).

Although this day is primarily meant to commemorate the destruction of the Temple, it is appropriate to consider on this day the many other tragedies of the Jewish people, many of which occurred on this day, most notably the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492.

This year, the fast begins Monday night, July 23, 2007
and continues till after sundown on Tuesday, July 24, 2007.

I posted on my website links to 37 educational sites that describe practices, prohibitions, insights and explanations about this sad day in Jewish history.
All 37 links have been reviewed / checked this week.

http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/j-hdayav.htm

May we see the rebuilding of the Temple in our days and that Tisha B'Av becomes a day of celebration.

Jacob

Congratulations and pictures of the new olim

Hi Everyone!

Congratulations to the 220 new olim who made aliyah today from
North America to Israel.

I was at the airport and took pictures of the exciting event.
I posted the pictures online at:

http://www.jr.co.il/pictures/israel/history/2007/a97.htm

When the first page appears, press the F11 key
to view the full length of the pictures. To move from page to page,
use the navigation buttons on the bottom of the screen.

May the aliyah from North America (and the rest of the world)
grow and bring more Jews back to their homeland, Eretz Yisrael.

Have a great day,
Jacob

New Israeli Educational Stamps Posted Online

Hi Everyone!

I scanned and posted on my website the new Israeli stamps
that were issued in May and June 2007.

I included the stamp itself, the first day cover,
and an English and a Hebrew flyer about the stamp.

- Jerusalem - 40 Years of Reunification
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Israel
- Volunteer Organizations
- Israel Prison Service
- Dance in Israel

The new stamps are located at:
http://www.jr.co.il/pictures/stamps/index-2007.html

If you do not see July 5, 2007 on the top of the page,
hold the control key and press the F5 key to refresh
your browser.

Have a good day,
Jacob