Good Deeds Day – a day dedicated to volunteering to help the less fortunate in
society – originated in Israel in 2007.
Since then, the event has been adopted in over 50 countries across the
world. Israel starts early – on 5th
March, whilst the rest of the world waits until the 10th. But as you will see below, good deeds are
certainly not restricted to one-day-a-year in the Jewish State.
The organization ALEH runs Israel’s largest
network of facilities for children with severe cognitive and physical
disabilities. It has pioneered a unique
use of virtual reality (VR) at ALEH’s Moriah facility in Gedera where
residents go on field trips in simulated environments. Another charity, the Institute for
the Advancement of the Deaf, together with the national-religious
rabbinic association Tzohar held the first ever sign language reading of the
megila (Book of Esther) for the deaf and hard of hearing during the Jewish
festival of Purim. More than 600 people attended the reading at the Tel Aviv
International Synagogue. Finally, only
in Israel would you find an annual music festival that charges an entrance fee
of one shekel (around 25 US cents). Festival
Bashekel allows residents from marginalized communities to enjoy top
Israeli bands. A nominal fee is charged
to highlight that that the event does indeed have value.
Israel’s neighbors also benefit from the
Jewish State’s good deeds. The ex
Finance Minister of Turkey, Kemal Unakıtan, spent nearly two-and-a-half
months at the International Center for Cell Therapy & Cancer Immunotherapy
in Tel Aviv. He received groundbreaking stem cell treatment to wean him off
dialysis and avoid the need for a kidney transplant. Meanwhile, 42,700
tons of goods (1,397 truckloads) were delivered to Gaza through the
Kerem Shalom crossing, before it had to be closed due to the resumption of
terrorist rocket fire. But your really
must see what Israeli volunteers from www.il4syrians.org
are doing to
help Syrian regugees hurt, hungry and homeless from the civil war in
their country.
The Israel Defense Forces seldom get the
credit they deserve for their good deeds.
For example when they airlifted a Sudanese refugee and her two
premature babies (weighing only 900 grams each) from Eilat to Assaf
Harofeh hospital in Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, although they were exempt from combat duty, three women volunteered to
stand up and be counted when presented with the opportunity to join the IDF and
defend their country. And like the
brave Jewish Queen of the Purim story, their first names are all Esther.
Israeli hi-tech innovations often have a
good deeds “flavor”. Jerusalem-based
UIU encourages individuals who shy away from smartphones to join the
technological revolution. Both the
elderly and those
with visual impairment will appreciate the large fonts and enhanced
security features. Busy shoppers will
benefit from the app from Haifa’s WiseSec to prevent
them getting lost in massive shopping malls. And where in the world is this technology being introduced? In Moscow’s huge 5000-store city mall.
Israel performs many good deeds for the
environment with its Clean Technology.
Israeli wind sensor company Pentalum Technologies is
expanding production of its sensor that allows wind farms to improve
electricity production by up to 10% - equal to millions of
dollars. In another example, Israeli
farmers in the Negev have cut their use of chemical pesticides by about
80%. They use
natural predators – bugs that don’t harm the crops – to get rid of the
pests. Eco-conscious Israelis can now
receive comprehensive
information about recycling centers, air and water pollution, cellular
antennas, open spaces, beaches and various environmental hazards from the new
online website www.svivati.org And the Israeli Transport Ministry is
replacing a dangerous section of Route 1 between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with a
16km new road. The NIS 2.5 billion cost
includes an
eco-friendly bridge, indistinguishable from the surrounding forests,
which will allow animals to cross the highway in safety.
Israel performs good deeds by financing
people to come to the Jewish State. The
appropriately named “Israel
Give & Tech” is a brand-new Taglit-Birthright Israel trip, in
conjunction with Israel Free Spirit. It's designed for people interested in
experiencing how Israel uses its technological innovation for tikkun olam, or
repairing the world. The free 10-day
trip will depart from New York in early July.
Then the charity Shavei Israel has brought seven descendants
of Kaifeng Jews, an ancient community from China’s Henan Province, to
Israel to reclaim their Judaism. At its
height, 5,000 Jews lived in Kaifeng. Today, about 1,000 Chinese can trace their
roots to them. Finally, the Hebrew
University together with the Israeli Government sponsored 250 of the most
talented science students from all over Asia, Australasia and Oceania to Asian
Science Camp Israel - a six-day program, learning, touring and enjoying
the unique atmosphere.
Finally, Iranian-born Israeli diva Rita did
her own good deed by performing “Tunes
for Peace,” at the UN General Assembly Hall on Mar 5 in a first-of-its-kind
event organized by the Israeli Mission to the UN. Just days after her father passed away, Rita
sang in Hebrew, English and Farsi (Persian) in front of UN chief Ban Ki-Moon,
diplomats and Iranian community leaders. "I believe that if we, the people,
will try to reach each other, something will happen," she said. From her mouth, to the Ayatollah’s ears.
Indeed - let’s hope he isn’t UN-grateful.
Michael Ordman writes a free weekly
newsletter containing Good News stories about Israel.
For a free subscription, email a request to
michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
