Spread a little happiness with a Rosh Ha’Shana competition

September 14, 2009 - 2:01 PM by · 10 Comments
Filed under: General 

Making the desert bloom.

Making the desert bloom.

With Rosh Ha’shana (the Jewish New Year) fast approaching, we are offering a competition for one and all to make Israel a little bit brighter and better, with a $25 JGooders gift token to give to one of eight charities.

All you have to do is to take a look at the charities listed below – all of which appear on the JGooders web site, and choose which one you think should get the money. Then tell us why – in no more than 50 words, and post your suggestion in the comments on this story, with your email address attached.

We’ll choose a winner on Monday next week, and then send the gift token on to you to give to one of the JGooders charities. This is your chance to spread a little happiness this holiday season.

The Nalaga`at Theater

The Nalaga’at Theater provides deaf and blind actors with the opportunity to achieve artistic expression and create awareness and acceptance of the deaf-blind in Israeli society.

100 Ethiopian-Israeli Engineers by 2014

The project is raising engineering college enrollment for young men and women from the Ethiopian Israeli community, to secure their place and success in academic engineering degrees and future careers in Israel.

Make the Desert Bloom – Student Scholarships

The project’s goal is to match government funding for 300 student scholarships of students who live in the Negev. Ayalim students live in the development towns of the Negev and volunteer in the community, with the purpose of building their permanent home in these areas.

Green Processes Center
The Green Process Center’s aim is to lead the assimilation of sustainability in Israel. The center includes research in Green Engineering, Green Chemistry and Clean Technology, and various academic and community programs.

Hug an Abandoned Baby

First Hug received the 2009 Presidential award for volunteerism for providing small, permanent volunteer teams for each child during the time they are hospitalized, providing warmth, love and a homely environment.

Galilee Circus
The circus was set up to create a harmonious family of Jewish and Arab children who learn circus skills and work together as a troupe, bringing the message of peace and coexistence to audiences.

Around the Clock Family Project
Shanti House`s main goal is to absorb 100% of Israel`s run-away and homeless youths.

NATAL’s Social Therapeutic Club

The club aims to empower trauma victims to reintegrate into the Israeli community.

Tags: , , ,

Foto Friday – Paws for Purim

March 6, 2009 - 6:00 AM by · 1 Comment
Filed under: Foto Friday, General, Holidays, Pop Culture 

Dogs never demand to be put in a Purim costume. And yet, since dog owners persist in dressing up their four-legged friends, Israeli pet-owner portal Hav-Hav has decided to put them on show. (“Hav-hav”, by the way, is the Hebrew equivalent of “bow-wow”). The fourth annual Hapess Ta’Kelev competition will be held on March 11th, at the Renanim Mall in Ra’anana. That gives Fido a few more days to come up with a costume idea. It’s definitely worthwhile, because the prize is a year’s worth of gear and food from pet store chain Jungle.

But you have to register by submitting photos – and here’s some of the competition. More can be found here.

havhav_montage

This royal fellow is a winner from a few years back.

havhav_king

Another winner from previous years… clearly channeling “I Dream of Jeanie”…

havhav_genie_400

Okay, this one may be bordering on the inhumane.

havhav_bride

The competition name, by the way, Hapess Ta’Kelev is a play on words with one meaning being something like “dress up yer dog” and the other being “go find yer dog.” Take my word for it – the pun works in Hebrew. And hav-hav a happy Purim, everyone!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Belly dancing on the Red Sea

January 30, 2009 - 2:35 PM by · 2 Comments
Filed under: coexistence, General, History and Culture, Israeliness, Pop Culture 

An Israeli belly dancerIn a trend that runs parallel to the exploding popularity of pole dancing lessons among North American soccer moms, Israeli women – even Baby Boom-generation Ashkenaziot (Jews of Eastern European descent) – have been flocking to belly dancing activities and workshops in recent years.

The art form’s renaissance in Israeli culture, which always seems to be searching for ways to marry Middle Eastern folk arts with contemporary lifestyles, was on display in full force this past weekend in Eilat, where the fifth annual International Belly Dance Festival took place with much fanfare at the Golden Tulip hotel, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Workshops with over 20 instructors from around the world introduced participants to a variety of schools of thought on the subject of abdominal writhing. A wares fair offered goods like Turkish outfits, Indian jewelry and Egyptian recordings. A belly dance-off allowed participants from Russia, France, Germany Belgium and Israel to compete for a slot in an upcoming Berlin competition as part of that city’s Bazar Oriental festival.

And recital performances kept those in attendance entertained, thanks to shimmying from the likes of Egyptian-bred Magdy El-Leisy and Moroccan-raised Mayodi.

Image of an Israeli belly dancer courtesy YanivG from Flickr under a Creative Commons license.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

© 2012 ISRAELITY | Sitemap