Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day) in Israel

Israel's 64th Anniversary: Then and Now

Israeli weather has finally come to our part of the world, at least for this week.

This past week, Israel celebrated the 68th Anniversary of Independence. This anniversary has a deeper meaning for our Family, as my wife, Bonnie's Father landed on the dock in Haifa on the day Israel was created along with a boatload of other Jews who were wanting to return to the homeland.  Elder James McFarlane was called to the Palestinian Syrian Mission and served in the Middle East.  Israel became a state the day he docked.  He recounted that it was really quite a scene with the Arabs not happy with the decision by the United Nations of the creation of a home land for the Jewish people.

David Ben-Gurion, who was the first prime minister of Israel, publicly read the Declaration of Independence of Israel on May 14, 1948. According to the Jewish calendar, this was the fifth day of Iyar, the eighth month of the civil year, in the year 5708. The anniversary of this date on the Jewish calendar is known as Yom Ha'atzmaut and usually falls in April or May of the Gregorian Calendar.

City of Soul

Wanted to share and point you to a wonderful short video by Shai Getzoff that captures the essence of Jerusalem.

Our political world is turning upside down.

Our political world is turning upside down.  Many are calling good evil and evil good.   Leaves you asking why.   This short presentation by Dennis Prager is too good not to pass along.

SUBSCRIBE for more speakers ► http://is.gd/OxfordUnion Oxford Union on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theoxfordunion Oxford Union on Twitter: @OxfordUnion Website: http://www.oxford-union.org/ The Motion: This House Believes that Hamas is a Greater Obstacle to Peace Than Israel. ABOUT THE OXFORD UNION SOCIETY: The Union is the world's most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford.

Beyond all the Headlines, Israel Really is Spectacular

Great video to warm your heart and remind ourselves of what makes Israel special.  Thanks to Roots Israel by Sparring Mediea who provided the video!

http://www.sparringmedia.com/ ROOTS ISRAEL Propose des articles sur tous les aspects de la société israélienne. Si le fond est sérieux, la forme ne manque pas d'humour.

Holy Land in 4K

Bullet shared this video which features the stunning time lapse video by Jared Cook with some outstanding quotes from general authorities about the Savior.  Truly inspirational!

Check out the Behind The Scenes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFeEPnl4ltA This trip was made possible by Tyler Gathro and his project The Living Stones. He will be compiling a full length documentary on our trip in The Holy Land so go check out his work to keep up to date on when that will come out!

Jerusalem The Movie

Since Jerusalem the Movie started showing last year in IMAX and 3D theaters world-wide I have watched with eager anticipation for it to come to a theater in my area.   It had come close (3-4 hrs away) but circumstances didn't allow me to go and see it.    A few weeks ago Union Station announced that they would be showing it in their Extreme Theater starting October 19 through November 21st.     What a treat.

The documentary is narrated through the eyes of three young women who each view Jerusalem as their home with a perspective unique to heir cultures and religions.    The photography and video is absolutely stunning.  It was my first 3D movie which immersed you in the film without becoming distracting.  The director's access to be able to film footage by air offered some exclusive views of the Holy Land that I thought were reserved only for those in the IAF in F-16's.     There were a number of segments that I also thought offered access to sites that are not normally available to the public.    At one point I nudged my son and said "Watch this carefully because this is not something you can go see.   This will be your only chance."

Check the website and find a theater near you.   Those listings do change periodically as it opens in new theaters.   If you are a Kansas City reader, go see this film at Union Station before it leaves.   It will give you with a greater understanding and inspiration about why Jerusalem is and has been one of the most important cities in the world.    For me it was an hour of  the next best thing to being there.   

Am Yisrael Chai!

Last Sunday I attended a Yom HaZikaron ceremony at a local Jewish Community Center.   Yom HaZikaron is the day Israeli's pay honor, tribute and remembesr those that have fallen in establishing and defending the State of Israel.  It is always a solemn and heart felt ceremony.   This year's event was juxtaposed with a tragic event at that same Jewish Community Center a month before when an evil man shot and killed three individuals.   He had targeted them solely because he thought they were Jewish.  He was mistaken.   All three were Christians who just happened to be attending an audition at the center.   It was a sad reminder that anti-Semitism and evil are still too common place in 2014.  

 Yom HaZikaron is followed the next day by Yom Ha'atzmaut or Independence Day in Israel.   From deep sorrow and soberness to celebration and pride.   It is an interesting contrast that says tribute must be paid to those brave men and women who died defending and establishing Israel in order to truly celebrate the freedoms and protections for Jews enjoyed today.

The following video celebrates that Am Yisrael Chai or the nation of  Israel (still) Lives!

Cameron

http://www.nbn.org.il/israel66 - Celebrate Israeli Independence Day with 66 Israeli heroes sharing a powerful message! Hear their stories. Live your dreams. Am Yisrael Chai!

4000 year History of Jerusalem

Jerusalem, a mosaic of different peoples, faiths, and nationalities. Nevertheless, despite this diversity, under the sovereignty of Israel, Jerusalem is a city that works. But has it always been this way?

This short 5-minute narrative of the history of Jerusalem does a great job of putting into context the any conquests for the Holy City and the ultimate return of the Jewish people.   Video produced by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

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Lessons Learned from Auschwitz

Short video that speaks to the things we say taken from a TED Talk given in 2008.

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/lessons-from-auschwitz-the-power-of-our-words-benjamin-zander Classical music mastermind Benjamin Zander concluded his 2008 TED Talk by recounting the heartrending story of an Auschwitz survivor and her brother. This short animated piece highlights that story, reminding us that the words we speak to one another are incredibly powerful tools that we shouldn't take for granted.

Yom HaShoah

Today marks Holocaust Remembrance Day or Yom HaShoah in Hebrew.   The horror and enormity of what occurred can not be overstated and must never be forgotten.    The video below links to the videos of the stories of the six torch lighters chosen for this years ceremony at Yad Vashem.   Remarkable people.   Watch all six and have your faith in the human spirit affirmed.

For more Information: http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/remembrance/2014/torchlighters.asp Zvi Michaeli was born in Thessaloniki (Salonika) in 1917, as Simantov (Saby) Mahel. His father Shimshon was a trader and building contractor, his mother Esther a homemaker. Zvi had three older sisters as well as a younger brother, Tsadiko. Zvi attended a French school; his knowledge of French would eventually save his life.