November 2017
CURRENT PERSPECTIVES                                 

News
 
Israeli technology that captures humidity to supply potable water out of the air will be sent to Puerto Rico to help the island with the water scarcity. According to Israel's Honorary Consul in Puerto Rico David Efron, the machine-which weighs between 1 to 2 tons-uses filters to purify the air and can produce up to 5,000 gallons of water a day. In recent years, a number of Israeli firms have been at the forefront of potable water-producing technology, including the development of atmospheric water-generating devices such as these.
On Saturday, Israel struck three Syrian artillery vehicles  in response to what the army said was errant rocket fire that landed in the Golan Heights earlier in the day. The military said that despite the fact that the rockets that landed in Israel were spillover from the country's internal civil war, the amount of rocket fire necessitated a sharp Israeli response. According to the IDF, five projectiles were observed as having entered Israeli territory in the northern Golan region, however the location of only four rockets have thus far been identified. The rockets all landed in open areas, with no injuries or damage reported.
Netanyahu ally, David Bitan, threatens to break up governing coalition over the Prime Minister Immunity Bill. This bill would shield the prime minister from corruption investigations. Lawmaker Rachel Azaria, wrote on Twitter that the bill "harms the rule of law and puts the prime minister above the law. The bill sends a message to the public of legitimizing corruption, and that offenses of this type won't be taken seriously." The current version of the bill is not expected to exempt Netanyahu from the current corruption investigations plaguing him; one article states that the law would not apply to investigations that began before the law went into effect.

Israel's Political-Security Cabinet decided that Israel will not negotiate with the Palestinians until Hamas is disarmed. The decision was made, unanimously, after the Hamas-Fatah recent reconciliation agreement did not broach the issue of Hamas disarmament. Despite claims that Israel should not completely abdicate its responsibility, the eventual decision reached by all in attendance said Israel's position should negate negotiations to avoid providing Hamas with indirect legitimacy. Hamas chief in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, continues to reject disarmament and Israel recognition.

Israel Antiquity Authority archaeologists announced Monday that for the past two years they have been excavating and exposing a massive eight-meter deep unseen for 1,700 years. In the course of their work, which has been quietly proceeding directly beneath Wilson's Arch, they unexpectedly discovered a small Roman theater. The work is set to continue for another six months, and the expectation is that First Temple-era findings will be uncovered. When the work is completed, the site will be opened to the public. 

American regulators granted approval on Wednesday to an Israeli based gene-altering treatment for patients suffering from lymphoma, the second-ever approval for a gene therapy procedure and one that could revolutionize how we fight cancer. The drug, named Yescarta, was developed by Israeli-founded Kite Pharma. What distinguishes the Israeli-owned drug from other pharmaceuticals is that each dose offers a personalized treatment, made directly from the patient's own immune system to fight the lymphoma.

LETTER FROM KEREN
 
Keren Weisshaus & family
Dear Milwaukee,
This first letter gives me the perfect opportunity to express in words all the thoughts and emotional roller-coaster we went through these last two months. Since we arrived in Milwaukee this summer, we were surrounded by an incredibly warm and loving community who made us feel immediately like part of the family. I am so grateful and thankful for the generous and sensitive way my family and I were welcomed to our new home away from home. When the new ShinShins arrived and settled down with their host families we immediately felt like a team eager to work!
It is a huge honor to be the #17th Shlichah to this community, and after spending these last few months among you, I can appreciate how big it really is. We tried to spend the high holidays with different congregations and still plan on coming to visit all of them during the next few weeks. It was such a cultural and spiritual experience to participate for the first time in a pluralistic and diverse way of celebrating the Jewish holidays. We opened our hearts to learn and got to know the community and it was truly heartwarming and inspiring to see and feel the tremendous love for Israel coming from the people of Milwaukee. We were super excited to welcome the CBINT Hebrew School students and parents as our first Ushpizin to our Sukkah (May this year be as sweet as the Pomegranate jam we prepared together).
Now that the excitement (and concerns) from the new and unfamiliar is starting to relax, we can start making plans for the coming year. This year we are celebrating the 70th independence day of Israel with the theme of 70 Faces to Israel. We will bring to you the diverse voices and multiculturalism of Israel with a wide range of programs and activities, starting with the "Things you didn't know about the 7 decades of Israel" Facebook series, which dedicates every month to a different decade in Israel's cultural history. Next will be the Israeli filmmakers Esti and Elad Wexler, talking at Congregation Sinai about the evolution of Israeli cinema from "The Melting Pot to Multiculturalism". I hope I will get to host many of you at my home over the next few months, it will give me the opportunity to show back a little of the spirit of hospitality you showed my family and me!
Hope to see all of you soon!
Keren, your new community Shlichah from Israel.
     
Keren Weisshaus
Community Shlichah 
 
P.S. Feel free to contact me at KerenW@MilwaukeeJewish.org.    
ISRAEL EVENTS 
    
Painful Hope: Israelis and Palestinians Look to the Future
November 1 * 7 pm
Plymouth Church, 2717 E. Hampshire St.
 
Israeli Filmakers: From the Melting Pot to Multiculturalism
November 2 * 7 pm
Congregation Sinai, 8223 N. Port Washington Rd

Jewish National Fund and Alexander Muss High School Informational Night
November 5 * 7 pm
Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC, 6255 N. Santa Monica Blvd.
 
Duo Recital with Ilana Setapen and Yaniv Dinur
November 19 * 4 pm
Harry & Rose Samson Family JCC, 6255 N. Santa Monica Blvd.

Creating an Urban Ecology Center in Tiberias
November 20 * 7 pm
Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E. Park Place

Author Francine Klagsbrun speaks on her biography of Golda Meir
November 30 * 7 pm
Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, 6255 N Santa Monica Blvd
ABOUT ISRAEL CENTER

 

The Israel Center, a department of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, serves as Israel's central address in the greater Milwaukee community. Our mission is to create connections between the people of Israel and Milwaukee through cultural, professional, educational and travel experiences. These connections are developed in part through Shlichut and Partnership2Gether, two programs that are made possible through the Milwaukee Jewish Federation's partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel. Learn more.

 

Questions? Email or call Rabbi Hannah Greenstein, VP outreach, Israel and overseas, at 414-390-5764. 

ABOUT JCRC
The Jewish Community Relations Council, a department of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, builds strategic relationships to protect and defend Jews, individually and collectively. Our mission is to speak as the representative of the Jewish community on issues of public affairs and public policy by convening and mobilizing the Jewish community through education, advocacy, social justice, and support for Israel.
 
Learn more at www.MilwaukeeJewish.org/JCRC or contact Elana   Kahn through email or by calling 414-390-5736.