Hebrew 101
This is comforting: In the ongoing effort to turn up anti-Israel heat, Iran has begun recruiting Hebrew speakers. Tit for tat, you could say, since Israel recruits Farsi speakers to its intelligence ranks. 
According to this YNet story:
The Iranian regime needs Hebrew speakers to work as translators, intelligence agents and as part of its propaganda machine against Israel. The main source of Hebrew speakers is Palestinian students studying abroad or Palestinian terrorists sent for military training in Iran and Lebanon.
One of the most prominent centers for Hebrew studies is located at Iran’s embassy in Beirut, where Hizbullah members learn Hebrew at the Islamic Culture and Education Center….
Meanwhile, in Israel, the Mossad has recently published an ad in the newspaper inviting Farsi speakers to apply for “an interesting, challenging position,” which apparently includes listening in on Iranian transmissions and translating materials published in Iran.
Social Media Part II
Filed under: A New Reality, Blogging, Business, Technology
Continuing on the social networking thread, we explore another angle of social media.
This time, the spotlight’s on illuminea blog who asks: Are we reaching the social media saturation point?
New media is fun…But while I am no expert investor, this has all the signs of a bubble to me. A lot of excitement over a quickly shrinking space with diminishing potential.
One thing’s for sure: with everyone betting on ad revenues, it’s clear who’s going to emerge a sure winner in this social media trend…
You’ll have to read the blog entry for the answer…hee hee
How Is It?
This is one of the catchier blog entries I’ve seen in quite some time. Thanks ahead of time to The Muqata for this gem.
According to The Muqata, Israel enacted a law whereby all company vehicles have to stick that silly “How’s My Driving?” message on back bumpers or rear windshields. I HAVE heard, however, that innocents phoning these numbers get telemarketers. Why am I not surprised by this?
Guess what this kid’s shirt sez? 
“How am I behaving? Call now…”
Brill.
The Social Debate
“It’s addictive”
“I’m on all the time”
“I’ve found so many old friends and colleagues!”
Social networking is here to stay.
And Jerusalemite Michael Eisenberg, partner at Benchmark Capital Israel and blogster over at Six Kids and a Full Time Job, comments on Facebook versus LinkedIn:
…Facebook is a huge threat to LinkedIn. I would never have expected this 4 weeks ago. LinkedIn is billed as a business social network. It has even monetized well around that….
…LinkedIn is valuable and connects me to many entrepreneurs and potential recruits but, anecdotally, the “senior staff” is hanging out on Facebook and searching for contacts!
Read here for the full text…
Do you have your social network account in order?
Grand Cross?
A group of wealthy Italian and Israeli businessmen recently decided to build “the mother of all crosses” in Nazareth – 60 meters or 197 feet or 66 yards high. But they hesitated for fear of offending Muslims who make up over 50% of the local population.
Now it turns out that opposition to “The Cross of Nazareth” is being voiced by the church itself, with directives coming from the Vatican.
In a public statement issued by church leaders in the Galilee that was signed, inter alia, by Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the bishop of the Catholic community in Israel, Elias Shakour, and the protector of the holy sites in Israel on behalf of the Vatican, Father Pierre Battista Pizzabella, the church officials wrote that they opposed the project first of all for fear that it would offend the sensibilities of members of other religions. “We, as church leaders, welcome any economic effort, particularly in Nazareth, on condition that it not harm the symbols or religious sensibilities of any faith,” the statement read.
Behind the scenes, the word is that sensibilities are one thing but church leaders also don’t want any attention being grabbed from the Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth’s holy site…Stay tuned for the final edict.
de la Schmatte
Filed under: A New Reality, Immigrant Moments, Israeliness, Life, Pop Culture
When I first moved to Israel, I tried in vain to explain to Israelis what a U.S. style prom is all about…
Uh.. well… we get dressed up in formalwear and go to dinner and wear funny flower arrangements on our wrists…After dinner there’s a dance with a live band and then there are after parties that last all night and generally someone has a breakfast party.
But…Emm…why?
Gee, I dunno. To mark the passing of four years together? To have an excuse for getting glammed? To have a valid reason to freak out over 1) not getting invited 2) getting invited by your dream date 3) what to wear 4) where to dine…etc. etc. Or simply (& most likely) to have an excuse for early onset debauchery?
But…Emmm…why?
Why you ask so many questions? Damn!
Regardless, according to this video clip- aptly titled Beverly Hills de la Schmatte (Kisses to the person who came up with that one) – proms HAVE ARRIVED in Israel, brothers and sisters. And while the video participants refer to it as “Hollywood Style”…well it’s a bit more toned down than that, innit? Take a gander.
Very sweet. So innocent. Not like the blow outs (think: debauchery) we used to hold.
Jerusalem of Wine
Tomorrow is the first day of the Israeli Wine Tasting Festival at the Israel Museum (running until Thursday August 2, from 7pm-midnight). I plan on attending tomorrow night (anyone care to join me?) in honor of my birthday. The Jerusalem Post has a preview:
The Israel Museum will celebrate the Israeli Wine Festival for the fourth consecutive year next week. This is a great opportunity to sample a vast variety of wines from the local produce.
Each year the festival attracts wine enthusiasts from across the country as they make their way to Jerusalem to enjoy the latest crafts of the local wineries, and visit the museum’s exhibits.
The event, initiated by Jerusalemite wine vendors Avi Ben and Shahar’s Liquors, will present some 30 of the leading wineries in Israel with more than 25,000 liters of wine, refrigerators, glasses and wine accessories. Jazz music will be played in the background and guests will be able to sip their way through the wine stands while chatting with the country’s most prestigious vintners and winemakers who will introduce their best harvests. Kosher food stands and many other surprises will also await guests.
….
If you don’t become an expert after all the wines tasted, you will probably learn enough about wine to select an excellent bottle for Rosh Hashana without paying a fortune for it.
Wines.com has some wine tasting tips for first time connoisseurs. It’s about appreciating quality, not getting drunk.
For true aficianados, the Golan Heights Winery will play host to a two day wine fair on August 8 and 9. For 400 shekels, however, I’m just not sophisticated enough.
L’chaim! I will have a full report after the event.
surf’s up
Where are the waves not so gnarly but the surfers show up anyway to escape life that feels despondent and prison-esque?
Gaza, according to The L.A. Times in this story that ran yesterday. 
According to Times writer Louise Roug…
What the Palestinians euphemistically refer to as “the situation” — a dark and intractable reality of violence and poverty — dissolves in the big blue. You can’t ride the waves and worry about factional violence at the same time.
“When we surf, we think about surfing,” said Islam Assar, 17, sounding as Zen as his California brethren. “We don’t think about the situation.”
Then keep riding the waves, men.
No Scorpions, Okay?
Remember how Nicky recently blogged about the scorpions in her house?
Well another blogger – anglosaxy - sez he was supposed to go out for drinks with a friend but the person had to cancel because the guy’s sister had been stung by a scorpion and he had to go to the hospital to see her..
AHHHH!!!! I CAN’T TAKE THIS! I’M MOVING TO ALASKA!!!
Nostalgia Sunday
This post is less about Israeli nostalgia and more about an Israeli, a classic work and feeling nostalgic for cooler days.
A few years ago I had the privilege of profiling Israel-born virtuoso Gil Shaham while he was in San Francisco to perform with the SFSO. I literally hung out with him backstage for two days to glimpse his life. Talent aside, Shaham was selfless, funny and intelligent.
“So how’d you like my shtick?” the internationally acclaimed violinist greeted me backstage, sweat liberally streaming down his face after performing the thorny Berg Violin Concerto.
That was Gil Shaham. Enjoy this classic. And stay cool.
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