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V'Zot Yisrael

Netivot Shalom's Israel Focus Group

What we stand for

  • Israel is the Jewish homeland
  • We approach it with love
  • We are committed to its survival and security

Goals 

  • Promote our community’s identity with Israel 
  • Integrate identity with Israel into the life of our community through prayer, awareness, knowledge, programming and symbolic acts.
  • Bring our community together by emphasizing a positive perspective

Upcoming Events  

  • Sunday, March 14, 10:30 AM: The Honorable Akiva Tor, Consul General of Israel for the Pacific Northwest region will speak about "Diversity, Innovation and Politics in Israel Today".  He is a graduate of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and holds an MA degree from Hebrew University in Jewish political thought and a BA from Columbia University in general philosophy. Tor has written and lectured extensively on Jewish values in the foreign policy of Israel and on ethical considerations in international relations. He served as a paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces and is an infantry captain in the IDF reserves.: Diversity and Innovation in Israeli Society.
  • April 18, 2010 10:00 AM - Noon:  In celebration of Israel's 62nd birthday Rabbi Hanan Alexander will discuss "Israel and its Critics: Toward a Mature Zionism".  This talk will focus on Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. We will discuss the fundamental right of Jews to define themselves as a national culture, with its own national language, and sovereign in its own land, provided that the basic rights of all citizens are recognized under its sovereignty. We will also consider tensions between the preference that the State of Israel shows to Jews on the one hand and the possibility of granting equal rights to all citizens on the other, including Arab or Palestinian Israelis.  Rabbi Alexander is Richard and Rhoda Goldman Visiting Professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California and Professor of Philosophy of Education at the University of Haifa where he heads the Center for Jewish Education.  Refreshments will be available at 9:45, the talk will start promptly at 10:00
  • Tuesday, April 19, 7:00-9:00 PM: Community-Wide Yom HaAtzmaut Celebration at Beth El, 1301 Oxford Street, Berkeley.
  • Sunday, May 2, 2010 Lag B’Omer: Picnic at Laurel Group Picnic Area in Tilden Regional Park. Go down South Park Drive from Grizzly Peak Blvd. and Laurel Group Picnic Area is on the left.

Did you know corner:

 

COEXISTENCE BY MEANS OF THE CIRCUS
 
Israeli, Muslim and Christian High School students, 72 in all met at theIsrael Circus School in Kfar Yoshua, learned to touch and support each other by performing four circus acts;  trapeze, rope climbing, trampoline acrobatics and juggling. At the end, each group put on a performance, and  more importantly, attitudes changed, trust was established and friendships formed.
 
SAFE FOOD GUARANTEED THROUGH ISRAELI TECHNOLOGY
 
FoodScan 3000, an Israeli company,  has developed a hand held advanced sensor  that can detect the presence of contaminants and related chemicals in food in just three seconds before anyone can see or smell them.   It detects a change in quality at any level, and can provide a relative indication of the contamination level of cheese, milk, fruit, vegetables, meat and other foods, protecting the public before someone becomes ill from eating contaminated food.  The device is receiving world wide attention.