Esther Cohen escaped to pre-State Israel in 1938, helped establish IDF Oketz Unit; new apartments in historic Jerusalem neighborhoods, Educating on Zionism in the US, and much more!

By Michael Ordman

THE JEWISH STATE

Refugee from Nazis helped create army dog unit

93-year-old Esther Cohen escaped to mandate Palestine in 1938. She and canine scientist Rudolphina Menzel established Haganah’s canine unit, the forerunner of the modern-day IDF Oketz Unit. The dogs were trained for guard duty, search & rescue, messengers and spying.
https://www.jns.org/a-refugee-from-the-nazis-she-helped-create-the-haganah-and-idf-canine-units/

More homes in Jerusalem

850 new apartments are to be built in the historic Jerusalem neighborhoods of Katamonim, Kiryat HaYovel, and Arnona. Hopefully this (and similar projects) will alleviate some of the demand for accommodation in Israel’s capital – currently home to nearly one million residents.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-moves-forward-with-urban-renewal-plans-in-key-neighborhoods/

How to educate on Zionism in the US

3,000 delegates at the 8th Israeli-American Council (IAC) Summit in Austin, Texas, heard mega-bloggers give advice on how to advocate for Israel. They included Emily Austin (1 million on Instagram), London Lazerson (9.4 million on TikTok) and Nusair Yassin (21 million on Facebook).
https://www.jns.org/pro-israel-online-influencers-preach-subtlety-at-austin-conference/

Reclaim the Narrative

Hurry to register for these online series of classes provided by partners of the JNF-USA. “Israel Explained: Through the Lens of History”, by Laureen Lipsky, CEO & Founder, Taking Back the Narrative; and “Zionism Today”, by Rabbi Uri Pilichowski of Nefesh B’Nefesh.
https://www.jnf.org/events-landing-pages/conversations-on-zionism

UN Ambassador’s son celebrates Bar Mitzvah

Amit Erdan, son of Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan, put on tefillin for the first time as he celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in New York. They were both surprised and overjoyed when the Ambassador’s parents arrived from Israel to celebrate the occasion.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/366711

A historical reminder for Tu BiShvat

This recent article about the non-Jewish soil conservationist Walter Clay Lowdermilk graphically illustrates the transformation of the barren 19th century Land of Israel into one of the most lush, fruit-yielding areas in the world. An appropriate reminder for the Jewish New Year for Trees.
https://mizrachi.org/hamizrachi/lowdermilk-and-the-land/

Prayer for Israel returns from space

At the 11th Israel Space Week, Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe returned to President Herzog the glass cube that he carried to the International Space Station. It was inscribed with the Prayer for the Welfare of State of Israel instituted by Israel’s Chief Rabbi Herzog – The President’s grandfather.
https://www.jns.org/herzog-mankind-must-soar-to-new-heights-to-save-earth-from-terrifying-depths/

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