Israeli leaders celebrated Shavuot this week, the ritual holiday commemorating the gift of the Torah to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu honored the holiday at a gathering with children from the Valley of Springs Regional Council. Bibi spoke with the children and accepted gifts of locally grown fruit, a traditional food for the holiday, as biblical commandment mandated that farmers bring their “first fruits” to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. "I thank you for …More

As Jerusalemites gathered today to celebrate Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute to the annual commemoration with a special pre-celebration at Mount Herzl. Currently in China on a diplomatic trip, Netanyahu honored the day early, hosting his weekly cabinet meeting at the Mount on Sunday. The meeting inaugurated a new museum at the site, and Bibi invited Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat to the event, using the occasion to highlight the capital’s importance to the Jewish …More

British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking has canceled a planned visit to Israel in June because he feels he should respect a Palestinian call to boycott Israeli academics. Originally believing the decision to be based on health reasons alone, the University of Cambridge released a statement Wednesday explaining that Hawking decided not to attend the fifth annual Israeli Presidential Conference “based on advice from Palestinian academics that he should respect the boycott.” The original statement by the …More

Shimon Peres personally extended an invitation for Pope Francis I to visit Jerusalem, in the first meeting with the new pontiff by an Israeli official. The Israeli president landed in Rome today for the visit, which also included a face to face with Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta. During his time in Italy, Peres is scheduled to meet with leaders of the local Jewish community and receive an honor in the city of Assisi. “I am departing for a special visit to Rome and the Vatican today,” Peres …More

On Wednesday, April 16, as Jews around the world celebrated Israel's independence, President Shimon Peres honored distinguished soldiers who displayed outstanding service to the defense of the State of Israel. Known as the President's Citation of Excellence, the prestigious award is given once a year on Independence Day to 120 soldiers. One of this year's recipients is 24-year-old lone soldier 2nd Lt. Nira Lee. Second Lt. Lee was always a Zionist. She grew up in Tempe, Arizona, in a Zionist household, but she had …More

The world’s largest and most expensive Jewish Museum opened to great fanfare in Russia late last year. And although it has only been open for less than six months, the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center in Moscow has become a must-see for any visitors to the Russian capital. A high profile project, its construction cost around $50 million, to which Russian President Vladimir Putin donated a month’s wages. Israeli President Shimon Peres, who was born in what is now Belarus, flew to Moscow for the …More

To coincide with this year’s Yom Ha’atzmaut theme—Heritage—the Prime Minister’s Office rolled out a special campaign to highlight past prime ministers in private moments. The project began this week and entails photo albums on the PMO’s Facebook page, with archived images of past leaders like David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir and Yitzhak Rabin. The photos range from the mundane, like a haircut for Yitzhak Shamir, to the historic, like Menachem Begin’s accords with Jimmy …More

As Israel celebrated its 65th birthday this week, Israelis and the Diaspora also celebrated another milestone—there are now 6 million Jews living in the State of Israel. Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics released the findings Sunday, also announcing the overall population in the country has reached 8 million, a 1.8 percent increase over last year. The 6 million figure undoubtedly recalls the deficit the Jewish community faced following the Holocaust. “Six million Jews perished in the …More

As Yom Ha’atzmaut came to a close in Israel this evening, Israeli leaders took a moment to share condolences with their allies across the sea, offering sympathies for the victims and families of yesterday’s Boston attack. ”Yesterday, a day of enjoyment in Boston was turned into a day of terror. We send our condolences to President Obama, the American people and the bereaved families,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “Israel stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the …More

Israeli leaders gathered at the President’s residence today for Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations. Shimon Peres hosted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, for a ceremony including musical performances and awards handed out to military soldiers. Peres called the IDF an “army of peace,” saying, “Without you, Israel would not be defended. With you, Israel will know peace. Here and now, you carry a great legacy.” “The dangers from abroad: an …More

Alex Traiman, JNS.org On Israel Independence Day, Israelis take great pride in the hard work and military victories that have built the world’s only Jewish state. At the same time, many detractors of Israel continue push for boycotts and divestment from elements of that state. The accomplishments of 2013 Israel Prize awardee Ron Nachman, however, have managed to transcend much of the contemporary criticism of Israel. Nachman invested his entire life in a barren mountain in Samaria and turned it into a …More

In honor of Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, the Jewish state hosted a series of commemorations and ceremonies to remember victims of terror and soldiers who have fallen in Israel’s defense. “Today, the state of Israel honors the memory of its fallen, our soldiers and our people who fell in Israel's wars and in the terrorist attacks,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday. “From the moment the state was established, it has not ceased to wish for peace with its …More