Israel Archives | World Jewish Travel

Experience Israel on the River

Israel on the River, Strelecky Island

The Israel on the River event is a vibrant cultural festival that takes place annually in Prague along the banks of the Vltava River. Celebrating Israeli heritage and culture, this event is a splendid blend of music, art, traditional food, and engaging activities. The festival aims to promote cultural exchange and appreciation, fostering a sense of unity and mutual respect among diverse communities.

Israel on the River provides a platform for individuals interested in learning about and experiencing the rich culture and traditions of Israel, making it a must-visit event for those seeking cultural immersion. Join Prague’s Jewish community in celebrating Israeli cuisine and culture by the Vltava River on Strelecky Island!

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“Hallowed Lives” concert

In honor of the 7,000 Polish heroes who rescued Jewish people during the war and received
Israel’s highest award for non-Jews – The Righteous Among the Nations
Join us for this free classical concert. Honor the memory of these Polish heroes and the
Jewish people they rescued.

Name: “Hallowed Lives” concert
Date: Saturday, 27 August 2022
Time: 17:00
Address:
KZ
Sienna 68/70, 00-824 Warszawa, Poland
Admission Free, Free Classical Concert

Seharane Kurdish Holiday

Seharane is a 2000-year-old multi-day holiday, typically celebrated by Kurdish Jews following the last day of Passover. It commemorated the day that hametz could be brought to the temple as a first fruits offering and coincided with Mimouna, traditionally celebrated by North African Jews. The holiday was celebrated with food, drink, walks in nature, singing, and dancing.

The tradition was lost for some time during the 1950’s when the Jews were relocated to Israel , but has recently been revived. Because of the widespread and established Mimouna celebration in Israel, the Seharane celebration was moved to Chol HaMoed of Sukkot.

Before the relocation of Jews to Israel, Seharane was celebrated for 3 days following Passover. Foods and drinks typically enjoyed on this holiday include stuffed grape leaves, Dulama, Kubbah, lamb, meat, and Arak.

Memorial Day for Ethiopian Jews

Each year on the 28th of Iyar, the Israeli Ethiopian community remembers those who perished on their way to Israel. From 1980 to 1984, a mass immigration of Ethiopian Jews took place from their villages in Gundar and through Sudan. Those who managed to flee Ethiopia and walk for long periods, up to several months, arrived at the Ethiopian-Sudanese border and waited in provisional camps to make Aliyah. Immigrants were met at the Sudanese border by the Mossad, who instructed the Ethiopians to hide their Jewish identity.

During their escape from the Sudanese camps in an attempt to arrive at Israel, 4,000 community members died from disease, hunger, and violent robberies. Due to the instructions to hide their Jewish identity, it was difficult for them to observe Jewish law and traditions, for fear of the Sudanese guards.

In November 1984, “Operation Moses” began its the first national operation to bring the Ethiopian Jewry to Israel. This secret operation brought 8,000 Ethiopian Jews over on Israeli aircrafts. However, due to a leak of information, the operation ended before schedule and several families were left behind or torn apart, until May 1991, when 14,324 more immigrants were brought within 36 hours during “Operation Solomon.”

In 2003, the government decided that a national memorial ceremony to honor those who perished would be held each year on the 28th of Iyar, Jerusalem Day.

Global Jewish Unity Day

In June of 2014, Jews from around the world united in solidarity of the families of Eyal Ifrah, Gil-ad Shaer and Naftali Fraeknel, three Israeli teens kidnapped and murdered by terrorists.

In their honor, the Jerusalem Unity Prize was created by Jerusalem Mayor, Nir Barkat. The award acknowledges the efforts of organizations and individuals in Israel and the Jewish world who actively work to advance unity throughout Jewish communities and Israeli society.

Since the creation of the prize 8 years ago, a Jewish Unity Day was added to the calendar. On May 25, over 500,000 students from 32 different countries will be participating in events celebrating Jewish Unity.

Students Abroad Celebrating Jewish Unity Day

You can participate by finding a Unity Day event in your area!

Anzac Day

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations” and “the contribution and suffering of all those who have served. Observed on 25 April each year, Anzac Day was originally devised to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli Campaign, their first engagement in the First World War (1914–1918).

In Israel, a commemorative ceremony is held at Jerusalem British War Cemetery on Anzac Day, attended by the ambassadors of Australia and New Zealand. It is also remembered at The Be’er-Sheva Anzac Memorial Centre.

Photo credit: User:Cfulbright, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Ta’anit Bechorot (Fast of the Firstborn)

It is an ancient and widespread custom for the firstborn to fast on the day before Passover. This commemorates the miracle which spared the firstborn Jewish sons from the plague which struck down the firstborn sons of the Egyptians.The firstborn of the Jews were saved in Egypt because they humbled themselves before God, admitting and declaring that all greatness, power, and sovereignty are His alone.

Ethiopian Sigd Festival

Sigd is a holiday commemorating the acceptance of the Torah by the Ethiopian Jewish community. It is celebrated each year on the 29th of Cheshvan, and is recognized as a national holiday in Israel.

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Overlooking-the-Old-City-of-Jerusalem-Ethiopian-Jews-celebrate-Sigd-571303

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on 27 January and there are many different and meaningful ways you can get involved and play your part to mark HMD. From schools and libraries to workplaces and prisons, HMD activities take place in thousands of diverse settings. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) is the charity, establishedhttps://worldjewishtravel.org/dynamic-page/?id=21437 by the Government, that promotes and supports Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD). HMDT encourages and inspires individuals and organizations across the UK to play their part in learning lessons and challenging hatred and discrimination today.

“Get Inspired” Holocaust Memorial Virtual Tours

Hebrew Language Day

Eliezer Ben Yehuda is known as the father of spoken Hebrew. He came to Palestine in 1881 with a dream to recreate Hebrew as a spoken language, a language which had not been spoken in almost 2,000 years. Every year on the birthday, Israel celebrates Hebrew Language Day to remember Eliezer and his dream to bring the Hebrew language to the Jewish nation.

The Hebrew language remains a fundamental element for Israel society, which unites people from around the world who make Aliyah to the Land of Israel. Even though Eliezer died in 1922 many years before Israel’s Independence, his dream came true and today Hebrew is the official language in the modern State of Israel.

Event Tag: Israel

Experience Israel on the River

Israel on the River, Strelecky Island

“Hallowed Lives” concert

Seharane Kurdish Holiday

Memorial Day for Ethiopian Jews

Global Jewish Unity Day

Global Jewish Unity Day

Anzac Day

Ta’anit Bechorot (Fast of the Firstborn)

Ethiopian Sigd Festival

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Hebrew Language Day

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