Israel sending Mei Finegold to Eurovision

Mei Finegold. Will she make it to the final? (Photo: Anat Mosberg)

‘A Star is Born’ finalist chosen to represent Jewish state in European song contest, which will be held in Denmark in May. ‘I believe I can win,’ she tells Ynet

Singer Mei Finegold has been chosen to represent Israel in the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Copenhagen in May.

Israel will participate in the second semi-final on May 8 (the first semi-final will take place on May 6), and hopes to make it to the final on May 10.

Finegold was ranked first by a special committee appointed by the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) out of 16 artists who applied to participate in the competition. Singers Maya Bouskilla and Ella Doron came in second and third, respectively.

“I believe I can win and even more,” Finegold told Ynet in a special interview Saturday evening. “I don’t see an option of losing, and I’m not even preparing for it mentally. I am filled with motivation, and tomorrow morning I will already start working and writing songs.

“I would like to believe that in a singing competition there will be a fair and honest selection, and that the songs will be what counts – not politics. I’m not dealing with that,” she added.

Israelis may remember Finegold, 31, as one of the finalists of the seventh season of reality television show “A Star is Born.” Since then, she has participated in a play based on the songs of singer Shlomo Artzi and in the Cameri Theater’s production of “Kazablan,” for which she won the best supporting actress award in the 2012 Israel Theater Prize ceremony.

She will be the fourth “A Star is Born” finalist to represent Israel in the European song contest, after Shiri Maimon (2005), Boaz Mauda (2008) and Harel Skaat (2010). All three made it to the final.

“I believe that ‘A Star is Born’ has generated a lot of talents which live and breathe and justify their existence in our music industry,” Finegold says.

It’s hard to ignore Israel’s failures in the competition in recent years. Are you really not preparing yourself for not succeeding?

“No. I don’t see an option of not reaching the final. In this competition in particular and in life in general, you must have faith in order to reach high places. I am capable of reaching the final and going all the way.

“It’s true that I may be disappointed, but I’m not considering the option of losing. I have no other intention apart from representing the State in the Eurovision in the most respectable and professional manner with a lot of soul.”

Finegold was chosen to represent Israel despite the fact that she did not serve in the army, a fact which has prevented the selection of other artists in the past. An IBA source explained Saturday that “this is a professional artistic committee, which makes its decision according to artistic criteria only.

“Israel has been represented in the past by artists who did not serve in the army, and each case is examined individually. In the current case, the singer was discharged due to a difficult incident in her past. According to a legal opinion, the IBA cannot disqualify an artist based on whether he or she served or did not serve in the army.”

Raz Shechnik contributed to this report

Source: Ynetnews.com

Israel honors gays and lesbians persecuted by Nazis with Tel Aviv monument

A memorial has been unveiled in Tel Aviv which honors all homosexuals and lesbians who were persecuted by the Nazis during WWII. This marks the first recognition in the country’s history that has been created specifically for non-Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

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A memorial has been unveiled in Tel Aviv which honors all homosexuals and lesbians who were persecuted by the Nazis during WWII. This marks the first recognition in the country's history that has been created specifically for non-Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

Israeli Startup Offers Kids Social Media Training Wheels

Most social networks require users to be at least 13. But Itay Eshet’s daughter, like many kids, wanted to join Facebook when she was just 10. So Eshet created a site just for younger kids, designed to protect them from bullying and other risks while teaching them to navigate social media safely.

Two years ago, Itay Eshet’s daughter told him she wanted a Facebook account. She was 10 years old.

Facebook’s great, Eshet told her, but it’s not for kids. So instead they built a new social network for preteens called Nipagesh, which means “let’s meet” in Hebrew.

Facebook and most other social networks require users to be at least 13 years old, but lots of kids want to join sooner. That leaves many parents struggling with how to manage their kids’ socializing online, not just because of legal barriers, but also concerns over possible inappropriate interactions with strangers and bullying.

Eshet says his network trains future Facebook users to be smart. “Nipagesh is for young kids in elementary school,” he says. “Because we want to build them and to prepare them for using social networks when … they’re old enough to use Facebook, WhatsApp or whatever social network they want to use.”

Trying To Build Something Both Safe And Fun

Eshet knew the network had to be safe. His daughter said it had to be fun. What evolved was a network that signs up schools, not individuals. Once a school is on, every student is a member. Eshet says this makes it easy to learn how to socialize online.

“First of all, all the kid’s friends are inside [the network], which makes it much more interesting for the kid, and he doesn’t have to look for friends outside,” Eshet explains. “Second, every member of the network is authenticated.”

So far, 100 schools in Israel are participating. Users have to use their real names, and kids can chat with and friend any other kid on the network — even strangers at other schools.

“They are strangers, but we know for sure that they are kids,” Eshet says. “And we know what age they are. And we know what are their interests.”

Fifth-graders at Reut Regional Elementary School in central Israel like it. One student says she plays lots of games on Nipagesh and makes new friends there, while another says any bullying is quickly stopped.

Teachers and parents are automatically members too, and on every page there is a “report” button for kids to flag posts that make them feel uncomfortable. Algorithms also help detect inappropriate content and alert administrators.

One fifth-grader using Nipagesh says she used the reporting feature to flag a poll a classmate had posted, asking which girl, of several named, was prettiest.

“Kids like to report,” says Eshet, adding that sometimes teachers have used such alerts to start classroom discussions. “It’s a great way to learn what to report and what not to report. We are here to teach them.”

‘A Very Protected Network’

“I prefer that she will be in this instead of the Facebook. Because in the Facebook I have no control,” says Michal Zaiden, a mother of two. Her 10-year-old is on Nipagesh now, but her 12-year-old lied about her age to open a Facebook account.

“I’m a friend [of hers] on Facebook so I can see what she’s putting on [and] what her friends tell her. But it’s not the same” as the protections Nipagesh offers, Zaiden says.

For example, Zaiden had no idea her 12-year-old had a big fight with her best friend on Facebook. On Nipagesh, Zaiden can’t read her 10-year-old daughter’s private chats, but the system does tell her who the fifth-grader is chatting with and what else she does or posts.

Some of that activity is homework. Teacher Nitza Gerber uses the network to start discussions, create assignments and connect with her students outside class.

“There are two parts,” Gerber explains. “First, it’s a social network — a very protected network. The other thing is the academic possibilities. When there is this combination, I think the sky’s the limit.”

In this early stage, Nipagesh is free for schools in Israel and their students. The company hopes that eventually schools will pay to subscribe. Zaiden isn’t sure she’d personally want to pay for the service, but she adds that if all the other kids are there and are learning something, it might be worth the cost.

Nipagesh’s founder is exploring other ways to make money in addition to school subscriptions. He says the company will never advertise to children, but says there may be financial potential in all those adult eyeballs that are also on the network.

Source: NPR

Greatest IDF Moments of 2013

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2013 was a momentous year for the IDF. Through all of the challenges and celebrations, we remained focused on our supreme goal: to defend the people of Israel.

‘Green Knesset’ project to make Israeli parliament greenest in world

MKs, Knesset speaker launch project ‘Green Knesset’ (Photo: Itzik Harari, Knesset Spokesperson’s Office)

Knesset Speaker Edelstein says launch of environmental initiative part of ‘irreversible policy’ led by parliament; project includes installation of solar panels, LED bulbs, water desalination

As a legislature that passes environmental laws, the Knesset must practice what it preaches, Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein (Likud-Yisrael Beitenu) said Wednesday during the launch of the “Green Knesset” project, which will make the Israeli parliament the greenest in the world.

“Green Knesset,” Speaker Edelstein’s flagship project, is spearheaded by Knesset Members Dov Khenin (Hadash), Zvulun Kalfa (Habayit Hayehudi) and Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz), and it will be implemented under the supervision of Knesset Director-General Ronen Plott.

The multi-year project’s goal is to convert the Knesset into a legislature that is guided in its conduct by the concept of sustainability (a multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary concept which examines our lives, as a whole, in terms of the environment, society and the economy).

Speaker Edelstein said that while the project required a significant financial investment, “it will bear fruit and return the investment,” adding that the “Green Knesset” project constitutes a declaration of an “irreversible policy” led by parliament.

The project will consist of numerous activities, including educating MKs and Knesset employees on the environment and encouraging them to partake in activities related to the environment; publishing position papers on the issue; launching projects that will make the Knesset a more sustainable place; and making the everyday operational activities in the Knesset more sustainable as well.

Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz (Hatnua) said during the event: “At a time when my office is leading an environmental revolution in industry and in the residents’ homes, the symbol of the country must become a leading element in the green revolution, because it is the Knesset’s duty to protect the next generations, and protecting the environment is the way to do it. Those who want to think far must think green.”

Wednesday’s event marked the beginning of the first phase of the project, which will be implemented throughout 2014 and 2015. This phase will be characterized mainly by 13 ventures focusing on energy and water. Among other things, this phase will include the construction of a 4,500 square meter solar field for the production of electricity from renewable energy; replacing hundreds of bulbs with LED bulbs; replacing the air-conditioning systems with an energy center; automatically shutting down all of the computers at the end of the workday; measuring the amount of water used for irrigation in the Knesset and adopting a more economical water consumption model; the desalination of water from the Knesset’s air-conditioning systems and using this water for irrigation and other purposes.

Moreover, the saving of energy will reduce the level of carbon emissions from the Knesset and thus make the Knesset’s ecological footprint smaller.

Some NIS 7 million ($2 million) will be invested in these initiatives, and the average return from saving energy and water is estimated at NIS 1.5 million ($430,000) a year, on average, after about five years.

This sum will be transferred to the “Green Fund,” which will be designated for the continuation of the “Green Knesset” project (meaning the expansion into additional initiatives), as well as for the benefit of the employees, as is customary around the world.

All of the approved projects have been found to be economically feasible.

National Infrastructure, Energy, and Water Minister Silvan Shalom (Likud-Yisrael Beitenu) said the “Green Knesset” project will be a source of pride for Israel and will inspire other countries. “This is a blessed move of great importance. Encouraging energetic efficiency, the saving of electricity and advancing the use of natural gas and renewable energy will reduce pollution, preserve the environment and save a lot of money,” he said, adding that the project’s principles and goals directly coincide with the values and projects being promoted by his office.

Naor Yerushalmi, director of Life and Environment, the umbrella organization for the environmental movement in Israel, said during the event that the environmental groups “welcome the Knesset’s leadership in the sustainability field.” By adopting environmentally conscious practices, Yerushalmi said, parliament “is showing that it is responsive to the concerns of the public and is setting a great example for public institutions and millions of citizens.”

Along with the implementation of the initial phase of “Green Knesset,” the task force in charge of the project continues to work on a multi-year work plan, which will be implemented during the second phase of the initiative. Among other things, the task force will discuss the Knesset’s geographical surroundings, including the planning of a park based on the principles of sustainability, which will include a communal garden – in cooperation with the Jewish National Fund and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. The plan will also be aimed at encouraging the use of public transportation and turning the Knesset into a building that educates on the environment.

It should be noted that the Knesset has already adopted some environmentally conscious practices: Knesset employees recycle paper and bottles and try as much as possible to avoid printing out documents. When they do, they use the duplex printing feature. Moreover, the Knesset’s director general began to encourage employees to save electricity as soon as he assumed his duties.

Source: Ynetnews.com

Israeli Government, Google Sign Collaboration Agreement to Modernize Bureaucracy

The Jewish State and internet search giant Google signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday to increase the implementation of its technology across government systems to improve responsiveness to citizens.

Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Google Israel CEO Meir Brand signed the framework agreement, according to a statement.

The Finance Ministry said, “The MOU was formulated as part of recognition of the importance of technology to access government information and services, to reduce the bureaucratic burden, to improve government services to citizens and businesses, and for economic growth.”

Initiatives to come from the collaboration are set to include “Meet the Government” encounters, a platform for Israeli start-up companies to better understand government policies and work plans, a scholarship program cooperation at Ben Gurion University for engineering, computer studies and public policy students to present innovative ideas and technologies for the public sector, and new data banks that can assist Google.

In 2013, Google acquired Waze, an Israeli navigation app and traffic report start-up,  for $1.3 billion. Part of the profits from the Waze sale were donated to Israeli charities.

In December, Google also launched an Israeli start-up incubator, called Campus Tel Aviv, “a hub for entrepreneurs and developers located in the heart of the start-up nation” which will serve as “a space for developers and entrepreneurs to attend and organize events with speakers, mentors and other entrepreneurs.”

“The ongoing investment in Israel is proof of the extraordinary talent we have here, and we are committed to continue strengthening the Internet’s contribution to the Israeli economy and public,” Google Israel’s Brand said at its inauguration.

Source: Algemeiner.com

Enjoying folk music and camping at the Sea of Galilee

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Three days of folk music and camping at the Sea of Galilee brings out the mellow in folks of all ages.

Some 5,000 people of all ages gathered on the banks of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) for the 37th Jacob's Ladder Festival. This three-day extravaganza features 40 bands playing folk rock, country, Irish and Celtic, blues, bluegrass and world music.

In a very chill atmosphere, festival-goers set up camp and enjoy the performances along with impromptu jam sessions, workshops, dance lessons, a story tent for children, yoga and tai chi, swimming, a crafts fair and a circus tent.

"It's like getting into La-la Land for a few days," says a reveler. "It's fun; it's different."

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Warren Buffett donates $10 million to Israel’s Rambam Hospital

Haifa’s Rambam Hospital. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

American billionaire investor Warren Buffett has donated $10 million to Rambam Hospital in Haifa

Buffett’s friend Eitan Wertheimer announced the donation at a recent event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the hospital, Globes reported.

Buffett and Wertheimer became close friends after Wertheimer sold his family’s 80-percent share of Israeli precision tool manufacturer Iscar to Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway firm in 2006 for $4 billion. Buffett bought the remaining 20 percent of Iscar for $2.05 billion in May, with the Israeli company becoming Buffet’s largest foreign holding.

Besides Iscar, Buffett has also invested in two other Israeli companies—Agrologic, a company that designs and manufactures systems for agricultural use, and Ray-Q Interconnect, an engineering firm.

Source: JNS.org

PM Netanyahu meets with US Secretary of State Kerry

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ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו נפגש עם מזכיר המדינה האמריקני ג'ון קרי.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with US Secretary of State John Kerry


צילום: רועי אברהם; סאונד: איתמר בוטון, לע"מ