Yad Sarah provides services for the disabled, elderly and ill. (Yad Sarah)

Israel’s largest voluntary organization launched a new initiative to enable disabled individuals and their families to visit Israel; Women feature on new currency bills; 89 women simulated the first ever all-female mass casualty incident of its kind in Israel, and much more.

ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Everyone can visit Israel

Yad Sarah – Israel’s largest voluntary organization – has launched a new initiative to enable disabled individuals and their families to visit Israel. They arrange airport pick up in special vans and transport to hotels or specially prepared apartments. Tour guides and tours are also available.
http://www.baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=81814

Women feature on new bills

The design of new Israeli currency notes features two famous Israeli women.  The poet Rachel is on the new NIS 20 bill. Poet, author and playwright Leah Goldberg is on the NIS 100 bill.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-bank-of-israel-unveils-new-bill-designs-1001174895
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Bluwstein  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leah_Goldberg

Mass-emergency drill for women

89 women simulated the first ever all-female mass casualty incident of its kind in Israel. The women (many ultra-Orthodox) replicated a terror attack on a Jerusalem girls’ high-school, under the guidance of trainers, paramedics and doctors from United Hatzalah.
http://israelseen.com/2017/01/01/israel-empowering-women-via-emergency-medical-training/

Jewish-Muslim Caucus

The Israeli Knesset has inaugurated the Jewish-Muslim Ties Caucus, alongside religious leaders from both faiths.  The initiative, led by MK Zouheir Bahloul (Zionist Union) and MK Yehudah Glick (Likud) started with a session about the value of life in Judaism and Islam.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Knesset-inaugurates-Jewish-Muslim-ties-caucus-479475

The Christian Empowerment Council

I have reported previously (4 times) about Father Gabriel Nadaf and his work to promote Israel and integrate Christian citizens.  He heads the Christian Empowerment Council and their annual conference was attended by IDF and police officers, Jewish and Arab municipality heads and Muslim and Druze sheikhs. http://cecisrael.og-en.co.il/en/home-5/

More ultra-Orthodox at university

Between 2008 and 2014 the number of Haredim newly enrolled in academic learning institutions increased from 1,122 to 3,227.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/ultra-orthodox-university-enrollment-rate-triples-report/

Israel is the most popular embassy in China

Many foreign embassies in China have an Internet presence on Sina Weibo – China’s most popular social media platform.  And the most popular embassy – with over 1.9 million followers – is Israel! Next are Canada and the US with just over 1 million followers.
http://www.whatsonweibo.com/digital-diplomacy-foreign-embassies-unpopular-weibo/

Israel welcomes foreign entrepreneurs

Israel has launched an “Innovation Visas” program to allow foreign entrepreneurs to reside in Israel. They will be able to stay in Israel for 2-5 years while receiving support from the Authority’s Tnufa program, which exists specifically to help inventors with good ideas.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-opens-door-for-foreign-entrepreneurs/

25 years of diplomatic ties with China and India

Israel just marked 25 years of diplomatic relations with China and India. India’s ambassador to Israel announced the 2017 visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. And trade with China (currently $11 billion p.a.) is expected to grow significantly once negotiations conclude on a new free trade zone.  http://www.thetower.org/4510oc-israel-marks-25-years-of-diplomatic-relations-with-china-india-amid-strengthening-ties/

UK’s partnership with Israeli Intelligence

The Director General of British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) praised the “strong partnership with our Israeli counterparts in signals intelligence”. He said the relationship “is protecting people from terrorism… not only in the UK and Israel but in many other countries.” https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/revealed-gchq-s-israel-uk-partnership-1.431416

Designing Canadian stamps

Israeli-born graphic designer Avi Dunkelman has a key role in Canada Post’s five-year stamp program honoring Canada’s towering hockey stars. The Canadian post office has issued a new collection of hockey stamps each year, all based on Avi’s designs.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-artist-makes-impression-on-canadian-postage-stamps/

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