Welcome Home to the New Olim (and pictures)

Hi Everyone!

At the end of December 2008, 238 olim made aliyah on 4 flights from the United States and England. The youngest oleh in the group is three months old and the oldest oleh is 96 years old.

On Monday afternoon, January 5, 2009, I was at the AACI and Nefesh B'Nefesh Klita fair in Jerusalem. I took pictures of the exciting event and I posted them online.

I also posted pictures from the December 31, 2008 flight that were sent to me by Nefesh B'Nefesh (thank you).

The address of the 158 pictures:
http://www.jr.co.il/pictures/israel/history/2009/a427.htm

I also copied 148 of the pictures to Facebook for name tagging. There are two sets of pictures and the address of the first set is:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=69960&id=553691548

If you have a Facebook acccount and you are in the pictures or see someone you know, please feel free to name tag the pictures.

May the aliyah from all over of the world grow and bring more Jews back to their homeland, Eretz Yisrael.

Have a good week,
Jacob

Pictures of our Israeli Soldiers and a Prayer

Hi Everyone!

I posted on my website recent pictures of our soldiers stationed near Gaza. I also posted the Hebrew prayer for the IDF and its English translation.

http://www.jr.co.il/pictures/israel/army/index.html

Please pray for the safety of our soldiers.
Shabbat Shalom,
Jacob

Hi Everyone!

I scanned and posted on my website the new Israeli stamps that were issued in December 2008. I included the stamp itself, the first day cover, and an English and a Hebrew flyer about the stamp.

- Ancient Letters

-- The Letter from Ugarit (Canaanite Period)
-- Lachish Letters (First Temple Period)
-- Bar Kochva Letters (Bar Kochva Uprising)

- 60 Years of Friendship betwen Israel and France

- CBS: 2008 Population Census Survey

- Galei Zahal

- Taglit - Birthright Israel

The new stamps are located at:
http://www.jr.co.il/pictures/stamps/index-2008.html

The top of the web page should display the date December 23, 2008. If the page has an older date, hold the control key and press the F5 key to refresh your browser with the updated page.

Happy Chanukah!
Chag Sameach,
Jacob

70 Cool Chanukah YouTube Videos

Hi Everyone!

I created a list of 70 cool Chanukah YouTube videos.
There is something for everyone.

The list includes:

Adam Sandler's - The Chanukah Song
Kenny Ellis sings his hit single Swingin' Dreidel
I Had a Little Dreidl - Bagel Blvd Chanuka Edition
Captain Smartypants sings Dreidel
The Funky Gold Menorah by The Mama Doni Band
Chabad: Chanukah Around the World
Nefesh B'Nefesh: Modern Day Miracles
Birthright: Light em Up
Hanukkah Bird (animation and song)
My Menorah - The knack is back! (animation and song)
Ahmedinijad admits he is addicted!
Eli Yazpan, Hanukkah (in Hebrew)
The Man Show - Hanukkah with Bill Goldberg
Jewlarious: he Miracle on 42nd Street
Meshugga Beach Party - Oh Hanukkah
Al Hanisim - Six13 @ Chabad Chanukah Telethon
Hannukah Song Texas Style
Oy Cappella - Adam Sandler Chanukah Song
Voices of Liberty singing O Hannukah
Aish: Just Jew It - True Chanuka Story
Chana Zelda
"The Latke Song" by Debbie Friedman
How to play Chanukah Dredyl
Gerber Folk Skewer The Dreidel Song
The Eight Nights of Hanukkah, as told by Jewish celebrities
Purim Homintaschen vs. Hannukah Latke debate
Light One Candle performed by Peter, Paul and Mary
Light Up - Moshe Skier Band 2006
Feed Me Bubbe - Latkes

and many more.....

The address is:
http://www.jr.co.il/videos/chanukah-videos.htm

Enjoy!
Have a Happy Chanukah!
Jacob

Hi Everyone!

Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is observed for eight days, beginning on the evening of the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. This year Chanukah starts at sundown, Sunday, December 21, 2008.

Chanukah is a wonderful holiday of renewed dedication, faith, hope and spiritual light. It's a holiday that says: "Never lose hope." Chanukah commemorates the victory of a small band of Maccabees over the pagan Syrian-Greeks who ruled over Israel.

The J Site - Jewish Education and Entertainment
http://www.j.co.il/

has several entertaining features to celebrate Chanukah:

Jewish Trivia Quiz: Chanukah
What does the Hebrew word Chanukah mean ?
What type of foods do we specificaly eat on Chanukah ?
What activities are forbidden during Chanukah ?
Are woman obligated to light the menorah ?
How many candles do we need for all of Chanukah ?
Which family was Judah the Maccabee from ?
How many branches did the menorah in the temple have ?

The above questions are examples from the multiple choice Flash quiz. There are two levels of questions, two timer settings.Both kids and adults will find it enjoyable.

Additional Chanukah resources and games on the J site include:
Free Chanukah Clipart
The Multilingual Word Search Game (English / Hebrew / Russian)
The Hebrew Hangman Game
My Hebrew Songbook (Hebrew Song Lyrics)
My Jewish Coloring Book (online / offline)

The J site has something for everyone, but if that is not enough, I posted on my website 127 links about Chanukah, from laws and customs to games and recipes. Site languages include English, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German and Italian.

All 127 links have been reviewed / checked this week.

The web address is:
http://www.jr.co.il/hotsites/j-hdaych.htm

Please forward this message to relatives and friends, so they may benefit from these holiday resources.

Enjoy!
Jacob

Oldest Hebrew Text Discovered at King David's Border Fortress

Hi Everyone!

Here is the beginning of a very interesting article:

(IsraelNN.com) Archaeologists have discovered what they say is the oldest Hebrew text ever found, at a site they believe was King David's front line fortress in the war against the people of Pleshet, also known as the Philistines. The site overlooks the Elah Valley, where the young David slew Goliath, the Philistine giant, with a well-aimed shot from a sling.
The text is written in ink on a pottery shard (ostracon). It is made up of five lines of text in Proto-Canaanite characters separated by lines. The discovery, by archaeologists Prof. Yossi Garfinkel and Sa'ar Ganor of Hebrew University, is being hailed as one of the most important finds in Israel since the Dead Sea Scrolls.

I posted 2 articles and related pictures at:

http://www.jr.co.il/pictures/israel/things/oldest-hebrew-text.htm

Enjoy!
Shavua Tov!
Jacob

Audio added to Learn English with Pictures

Hi Everyone!

This week I added audio to my website:
Learn English with Pictures
http://www.my-english-dictionary.com

Learn English with Pictures (and Audio) is a free, online, resource to learn English words in a fun way. The site has over 400 words and photographs, ranging from animals to kitchen appliances. Beneath each photograph, there is an audio button to click and hear the word.

Both kids and adults, who are learning English, will find this educational website valuable and entertaining.

I welcome your feedback.

Please forward this message to ESL and EFL teachers and students, and anyone that may be interested in learning English. Thank you!

Have a good day,
Jacob