Jews III

ISRAEL AND JERUSALEM FACTS
1. Israel became a state in 1312 B.C., two millennia before Islam;
2. Arab refugees from Israel began calling themselves "Palestinians" in 1967, two decades after (modern) Israeli statehood in 1948;
3. After conquering the land in 1272 B.C., Jews ruled it for a thousand years and maintained a continuous presence there for 3,300 years;
4. The only Arab rule following conquest in 633 B.C. lasted just 22 years;
5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem was the Jewish capital. It was never the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even under Jordanian rule, (East) Jerusalem was not made the capital, and no Arab leader came to visit it;
6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in the bible, but not once is it mentioned in the Qur'an;
7. King David founded Jerusalem; Mohammed never set foot in it;
8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem; Muslims face Mecca. If between- the- cities, Muslims- pray- facing Mecca, with their backs to Jerusalem;
9. In 1948, Arab leaders urged their people to leave, promising to cleanse the land of Jewish presence. 68% fled without ever seeing an Israeli soldier;
10. Virtually the entire Jewish population of Muslim countries had to flee as the result of violence and pogroms;
11. Some 630,000 Arabs left Israel in 1948, while close to a million Jews were forced to leave the Muslim countries;
12. Despite the vast territories at their disposal, Arab refugees were deliberately prevented from assimilating into their host countries. Of 100 million refugees following WW 2, they are the only group to have never integrated with their co-religionists. Most of the Jewish refugees from Europe and Arab lands were settled in Israel, a country no larger than NJ, USA;
13. There are 22 Muslim countries, excluding Palestine. There’s only one Jewish state. Arabs started/lost all five wars against Israel;
14. Fatah and Hamas constitutions still call for Israel’s destruction. Israel ceded most of the w. bank & all of Gaza to the Palestinian authority, and even armed them;
15. During the Jordanian occupation, Jewish holy sites were vandalized and off limits to Jews. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian holy sites are accessible to all faiths;
16. Out of 175 UN Security Council resolutions up to 1990, 97 were anti Israel; of 690 general assembly resolutions, 429 were against Israel;
17. The U.N. was silent when the Jordanians destroyed 58 synagogues in the old city of Jerusalem. It remained silent while Jordan systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the mount of olives, and it remained silent when Jordan enforced apartheid laws preventing Jews from accessing the temple mount and western wall. These are trying times. We must ask ourselves what we should be doing, and what we will tell our grandchildren about our actions during this crisis, when we had the chance to make a difference.
Start now! Send this message to 20 friends, and ask each of them to send it to 20 more. Jewish or not, it does not matter. Truth and peace are values common to all of us. Everyone must know!
Survival
What -it means to be a Jew, by- an- Israeli- Woman.I am not the least afraid to go any place by bus. I didn't change or stop doing anything I used to do before this mess began! People tend to forget that twice the casualties from terror get killed on the roads! More people still die from heart attack, cancer, etc. They-just don't show them on TV. Don't misunderstand me, there IS a war on, it's unpleasant, but, let’s face it: WE HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER OFF!!!! It's only the media that make people think the world is ending. Only 60 years ago, they were leading Jews to their death like sheep to the slaughter!

No Country or Army 55 years ago!! Seven Arab countries declared war on the little Jewish State, only a few hours old!! We were then 650,000 Jews against the rest of the Arab world! No IDF [Israel Defense Force. No mighty Air Force, just tough people with nowhere- to- go. Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Libya & Saudi Arabia, attacked simultaneously. The country the UN "gave us" was 65% desert. The country started from scratch 35 years ago!!We fought the three strongest armies in the Middle East. And wiped- them- out, in six days. We fought coalitions of Arab Nations, with modern armies & masses of Soviet weapons. And we still won!!! Today we have a country, an army, a strong Air Force, a Hi-Tech Economy, exporting millions. Intel, Microsoft & IBM develop software here. Our doctors win world prizes for medical developments. We made the desert flourish: selling oranges and vegetables to the world. Israel has sent three satellites into Space!! We sit proudly, with the US’ 250 million, Russia’s 200 million, China’s 1.1 billion, France, England & Germany’s combined 350 million as the only countries to shoot something into space!! Today Israel’s in a world nuclear power as is the US, Russia, China, India, France & England. [We don't admit it, but every one knows...]
To think that only 60 years ago, we were led, shameful, with no hope, to our death!! We crawled out of the burning ashes of Europe, won our wars, with less than nothing in our hands.We built an "empire" out of nothing. Who the hell was Arafat to scare & terrify me? You make me laugh! Passover’s celebrated. Let's not forget what it’s about. We overcame Pharaoh, the Greeks & Romans. We overcame the Inquisition in Spain & Pogroms in Russia. We overcame Hitler, the Germans, the Holocaust, the armies of the seven Arab countries & Saddam.So take it easy, folks. We will overcome the present enemies too. No matter which part of human history you check Jews have never been better!!! So, let's lift our heads high & remember any nation or culture that tried to hurt us was destroyed- while we kept going!!! Egypt? Anyone know where their empire or the Greeks’ Alexander of Macedonia disappeared? The- Romans: anyone today speak Latin? The- Third- Reich: anyone heard any news about it lately? Look at us, the nation from the Bible, from Slavery in Egypt. We’re still here, speaking the same language!! Right here, right now. The Arabs don't know it yet, but, they will learn that there is one God. As long as we keep our identity, we’re eternal. So, I’m “sorry” for not worrying, griping, crying or being scared. Things are O.K. here. They surely can be better, but don't fall for the media junk. They won't tell you there are festivals going on, people keep living, are going out, seeing friends. Our morale is low. So what? It's only because we weep for our dead, while they enjoy the blood. This is the same reason why we will win, after all. You can forward this if you choose to the whole Jewish community & the world. They are part of our strength. It might help some of them to keep their heads up high. Tell them there is nothing to worry about, to think BIG, & see the whole picture. ”See you next year in Jerusalem. May the Lord bless & keep you; His face shine upon you.And be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace”. (Shalom)

As 5767 Approaches.... Jews are in our 5767th year on this earth! Who would have believed this possible? If anyone had told Abraham that his people would be around this long he probably would have been astounded.Imagine, we did this without beheading anyone on TV, without a single suicide bomber, without kidnapping and murdering school children, without slaughtering Olympic athletes, and without flying airplanes into skyscrapers.We lasted this long despite 400 years as slaves in Egypt, 40 years of wandering in the desert, the mighty Roman army who nailed us to ten thousand crosses; despite the best efforts of fervent Crusaders, the Spanish Inquisition, Hitler's third Reich, Stalin's gulags, Arab wars of annihilation and 100 years of hateful terrorism, hundreds of hate-filled UN resolutions!How did we Jews do it? We survived by concentrating our efforts on education, love of family, faith, hard work, helping one another and a passionate dedication to life no matter what evil befell us!We hung in there in hope the rest of the world would one day overcome its hatreds, jealousies, violence and join us in a life of cooperation and mutual respect.We're not there yet, but we're still hopeful. And when so many of us enter our places of worship next weekend, this is what we'll pray for with all the strength in our hearts.Best wishes for a New Year filled with health, happiness, laughter, success, joy, and kindness and may- this coming year bring peace and security to Israel and to the Jewish communities in the Diaspora.5767 and counting!


The Mid East has been growing date palms for centuries. The average tree’s about 18-20 feet tall and yields about 38 pounds a year. Israeli date trees are now yielding 400 pounds/year and are short enough to be harvested from the ground or a short ladder Israel the 100th smallest country, with less than 1/1000th of the world's population, can lay claim to the following:
The cell phone was developed in Israel by Israelis in the Israeli branch of Motorola, which has its largest development center in Israel.

Most of the Windows NT and XP operating systems were developed by Microsoft-Israel. The Pentium MMX Chip technology was designed in Israel at Intel Both the Pentium-4 microprocessor and the Centrino processor were entirely designed, developed and produced in Israel. The Pentium microprocessor in your computer was most likely made in Israel Voice mail technology was developed in Israel. Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R&D facilities outside there. The technology for the AOL Instant Messenger ICQ was developed in 1996 by four young Israelis. It has the fourth largest air force in the world (after the U.S, Russia and China). In addition to a large variety of other aircraft, it's air force has an aerial arsenal of over 250 F-16's. This is the largest fleet of F-16 aircraft outside of the U. S. It is $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors, combined Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita. According to industry officials, Israel designed the airline industry's most impenetrable flight security. US officials now look (finally) to Israel, for- advice- on- how –to- handle- airborne- security- threats. It has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world. Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin - 109 per 10,000 people -- as well as one of the highest per capita rates of patents filed. In proportion to its population, it has the largest number of startup companies in the world. In absolute terms, Israel has the largest number of startup companies than any other country in the world, except the U.S. (3,500 companies mostly in hi-tech).With more than 3,000 high-tech companies and startups, Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the world -- apart from the Silicon Valley, U.S. Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the U.S. Outside- the US & Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies. Israel has the highest average living standards in the Middle East. The per capita income in 2000 was over $17,500, exceeding that of the UK.On a per capita basis, Israel has the largest number of biotech startups. 24% of Israel's workforce holds university degrees, ranking third in the industrialized world, after the US & Holland. 12% hold advanced degrees. Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.In 1984 and 1991, Israel airlifted a total of 22,000 Ethiopian Jews (Operation Solomon) at Risk in Ethiopia, to safety in Israel. When Golda Meir was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969, she became the world's second elected female leader in modern times. When the U. S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya was bombed in 1998, Israeli rescue teams were on the scene within a day -- and saved three victims from the rubble. Israel has the third highest rate of entrepreneurship -- and the highest rate among women and among people over 55 - in the world. Relative to its population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants come in search of democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity. (Hundreds of thousands from the former Soviet Union) Israel was the first nation in the world to adopt the Kimberly process, an international standard that certifies diamonds as "conflict free." It has the world's second highest per capita of new books. Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees, made more remarkable because this was achieved in an area considered mainly desert. Israel has more museums per capita than any other country. Medicine... Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation, diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer. An Israeli company developed a computerized system for ensuring proper administration of medications, thus removing human error from medical treatment. Every year in U. S. hospitals 7,000 patients die from treatment mistakes. Israeli company Given Imaging developed the first indigestible video camera, so small it fits inside a pill. Used to view the small intestine from the inside, cancer and digestive disorders. Researchers in Israel developed a new device that directly helps the heart pump blood, an innovation with the potential to save lives among those with heart failure. The new device is synchronized with the camera helps doctors diagnose heart's mechanical operations through a sophisticated system of sensors. Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with 145 per 10,000, as opposed to 85 in the U. S., over 70 in Japan, and less than 60 in Germany. With over 25% of its work force employed in technical professions Israel places first in this category as well. A new acne treatment developed in Israel, the Clear Light device, produces a high-intensity, ultraviolet-light-free, narrow-band blue light that causes acne bacteria to self-destruct--all without damaging surrounding skin or tissue. An Israeli company was the first to develop and install a large-scale solar-powered and fully functional electricity generating plant, in southern California's Mojave Desert. All the above while engaged in regular wars with an implacable enemy that seeks its- destruction, and an economy continuously under strain by having to spend more per capita on its own protection than any other county on earth. . . . . AND THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR IN ENGLAND SAYS: "ISRAEL IS NOTHING BUT A SHITTY LITTLE COUNTRY"

Being a Jew is hard. But we have endured. We are persecuted everywhere. In the south we are called white ‘niggers.’ Miraculously we survived the Holocaust. Now for the first time in history we have a homeland, Israel. We made peace with some neighbors. But unless they concede our right to live there we will never have peace. “All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?” (Mark Twain). We cannot forget that “pessimism is a luxury that a Jew cannot allow himself” (Golda Mier, Israel’s first Prime Minister). One reason we’ll prevail is the religious have big families because The Bible says, “Be fruitful & multiply” ( ) & to try & replace what we lost in the Holocaust. Another reason is “the Jew is the symbol of eternity” (Tolstoy).