The State of Israel’s administrative organization is based on three levels of governance: the central government, districts, and local entities. Source: Wikipedia. Through the Ministry of the Interior, Israel is divided into seven main administrative districts, known in Hebrew as mehozot (singular: mahoz): The Central District, Haifa District, Jerusalem District, Northern District, Southern District, Tel Aviv District, and the Judea and Samaria Area in the West Bank. Each district has a capital, district government offices, a district court, and other institutions. The Judea and Samaria districts, as well as parts of the Jerusalem and Northern districts, are not internationally recognized as part of Israel and are administered by the Ministry of the Interior. The districts do not have elected institutions. However, they do have councils made up of representatives from central government ministries and local authorities for planning and building matters. Administrative structure in Israel Israel’s district system plays an important role in organizing governance, public administration, and regional planning. It helps the central government manage services and development across different parts of the country. Districts and local governance Although the districts themselves are not elected bodies, they coordinate with local authorities and state institutions to support planning, infrastructure, and administrative oversight. Source: https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/מחוזות_ישראל

Nir VeGali (Hebrew: ניר וגלי, meaning “Nir and Gali”) is a well-known Israeli content creation duo specializing in short animated videos that blend humor, satire, and everyday Israeli experiences. Their work stands out for its clever storytelling, cultural references, and accessible visual style, making it appealing to a broad audience across Israel and beyond. Who Are Nir VeGali? Nir VeGali are digital creators who have built a strong presence on social media through short-form animation. Their content often reflects contemporary Israeli life, combining relatable situations with exaggerated humor and creative animation techniques. Their storytelling style relies on: Quick, punchy narratives Visual humor and expressive characters Cultural references familiar to Israeli audiences Light satire on daily routines and social norms Types of Content They Produce The duo’s portfolio is diverse, covering several key categories: Commercial animations: Branded content for major Israeli companies, integrating humor into marketing. Everyday life sketches: Animated takes on common situations such as food, relationships, and daily frustrations. Seasonal and cultural content: Videos tied to Jewish holidays and Israeli traditions. Pure entertainment: Creative, absurd, or imaginative scenarios designed simply to amuse. This mix allows them to remain both commercially relevant and culturally engaging. Notable Videos and Projects Some of their most recognizable works include: What happens inside a fridge? A humorous exploration of the hidden “life” of food items inside a refrigerator, showcasing their imaginative storytelling. Suvganiot for Hanuka A playful take on the iconic holiday treat, blending cultural familiarity with comedic exaggeration. An ad for the restaurant chain Cafe Landwer A branded animation demonstrating how Nir VeGali effectively merge storytelling with marketing. An ad for the Israeli Post A humorous commercial highlighting everyday postal experiences in Israel. Why Nir VeGali Stand Out in Israeli Digital Culture Nir VeGali’s success lies in their ability to translate everyday Israeli experiences into universally relatable humor. Their animations are short, engaging, and optimized for social media consumption, making them highly shareable.

Daily Life in Old Jerusalem: Voices from the Past Jerusalem in the 1960s was a totally different city from what we know today. This video explains how Jerusalem was at that time through the eyes of a photographer called Yitshak Saad. His son (the voice in the video) describes craftsmen working on the street and kids playing outside, and the voices are testimonies of people who lived during that era explaining their daily lives. In those days, Jerusalem was split into two parts: Jordanian and Israeli. These testimonies are a great way to feel how the city has evolved, put things in perspective, and understand how people used to live there. Nostalgia and Memory in “Ani Simon VeMoshe Hakatan” The song heard in the video is called "Me, Simon and the Little Moshe" ("Ani Simon VeMoshe Hakatan") sung by Yossi Banai (Spotify Link). This nostalgic song tells the story of an old man returning to his childhood streets and thinking about Moise and Simon, his childhood friends.

Pioneering the First Aliyah and Founding Rishon LeZion (1882) זZalman David Levontin between 1882 annd 1900. Source: Wikipedia. Public Domain. Born in Belarus (1856 - 1940) to a Chabad Hasidic family, Zalman David Levontin was one of the pioneers of the first aliyah. He was one of the founders of Rishon Lezion and the Jewish Colonial Trust. He was "one of the first" (as defined by D. Yudilovitz) to "preach in newspapers the idea of the restoration of the Land of Israel" in the early 1880s in Russia. In 1882, he began to take practical actions to realize the idea: he established in Russia an association of families who agreed to immigrate to the Land of Israel. That same year, he immigrated there and established the "Vad Halutzei Yessod Ha Ma'ale" (The Pioneers' Committee Ha Ma'ale) and was elected to head it. By doing so, he became the first elected leader of Jewish settlements in Israel. The purpose of the Pioneers' Committee of Yessod Ha'Ma'ala was to redeem the land and settle it. Zalman, armed with a weapon, mounted on a horse and toured the country looking for suitable land. In the summer of 1882, the land of Ayun-Kara (south of Jaffa) was bought with the help of Haim Amzlag, and later that year, "HaMoshav" Rishon LeZion was founded under Levontin's leadership. The guiding principle was sharing work and income. As the head of the first Moshav, Levontin led its activity and development in its founding years. He dealt with the Turkish government's approval of constructing the first houses in the Moshav. He also dealt with the first plantings and solutions to the relationship problems with the Arab neighbors. Building the Jewish Colonial Trust Until his second immigration to Israel in 1903, he continued his Zionist activities. - He was one of the first to join the World Zionist Organization. - Participated in the first Zionist Congress in 1897. - Was invited by Herzl to manage the "Jewish Colonial Trust" in London. This institution, founded in 1898 during the Zionist Congress, called the "Treasure Bank of the Jewish Settlements", was run by Levontin, with the aim of operating in the Land of Israel. In Levontin's wake, the Anglo Palestine Company Bank was established (APAK) and led by him and later became Bank Leumi. When he came back to the Land of Israel, together with his family, Levontin settled in Jaffa. Leading APAK and Navigating World War I For 25 years, he managed the APAK Bank, trying to make it a Zionist-local-educational institution as well as a commercial bank. He worked on educating the public about healthy economic concepts and creating friendly relations with their Arab neighbors. A lot of land was bought with the help of the bank. During World War 1, he risked his life traveling to London and Paris to obtain funds for the bank. He also helped establish the first Hebrew regiment founded by Jabotinsky. Returning to Israel in 1918, he dedicated his time to restoring the APAK Bank, as well as the construction of the Great Synagogue in Tel Aviv. At age 80, Levontin was crowned "Honorary Citizen" of the Rishon LeZion settlement, and a street was named after him. The Municipality of Tel Aviv also awarded him the title of Honorary Citizen. Sources: https://www.rishonlezion.muni.il/TheCity/history/Lists/List/CustomDispForm.aspx?ID=28 https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/זלמן_דוד_ליבונטין https://mida.org.il/2014/03/22/words-of-the-zionist-founders-zalman-david-levontin-on-economics-and-settlement/

Ofra Haza: Israel’s Iconic Voice and Global Music Star Ofra Haza (1957–2000) was an Israeli singer and film and theater actress of Yemeni descent. She remains one of Israel’s most celebrated musical figures and achieved remarkable international success. Haza was named “Singer of the Year” in Israel four consecutive times (1980–1983), and twice in Germany (1988–1989), reflecting her broad appeal across audiences. In 1983, she represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Hai” (“Living”), written by Ehud Manor. You can watch the performance below. International Success, “Im Nin'alu” and Cultural Legacy In 1993, Ofra Haza became the first Israeli artist nominated for a Grammy Award in the “World Music” category, thanks to her successful album Kirya (Spotify link), which topped Billboard’s World Music charts for several weeks. Her 13th album, Shaday, sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide. Building on this success, she released the global hit “Im Nin'alu,” which sold approximately 3 million copies (Spotify link). “Im Nin'alu” is based on a Hebrew poem by Shalom Shabazi, a 17th-century Yemeni rabbi and poet. In Haza’s interpretation, the verses are performed in both English and Hebrew, while the chorus remains entirely in Hebrew. You can also listen to another Shabazi composition she performed on television in this video. Among her many hits are songs that have become classics of Israeli music, including “Yad Beyad,” “Hai,” and “Tefila,” among others (available in our Spotify playlist). In 1994, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin invited her to perform at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, as seen here. She later participated in the musical project for the animated film The Prince of Egypt, recording songs in no fewer than 18 languages. Watch below.

The Musical Journey of Hadag Nahash Hadag Nahash is an Israeli pop music group founded in 1996. The group's logo is a urinating child. The name literally means "The Snake-fish" in Hebrew, and is also a pun since young drivers place a plaque on the back window of their car with the words "Nahag Chadash" ("New Driver"). Hadag Nahash blends Western pop, Oriental, and Hip Hop elements to create an original style, also influenced by funk and world music. The band contributed a lot to the acclimatization of hip-hop and rap in Israel and is considered today one of the most successful bands in the country (with more than 10 albums in total). The group is also a voice for young people in Israel. Social Activism and impact on Israeli Identity Many songs combine messages of tolerance, equality, and peace, and include social and political protest. They condemn Israeli society's ills: corruption (mainly in politics), money and government relationships, minorities, religion, the IDF, Israel's wars, and more. Some of their songs deeply impacted specific parts of Israeli culture due to their political aspect, such as "Zman Lehitorer" ("Time to wake up"), often sung during protests. The "Shirat Hastiker" ("Sticker song") is also famous due to its originality since it is made of political slogans, and its ability to resist time. You can watch the clip below. You can listen to them on our Spotify playlists (Modern Songs). The song clip of "Zman Lehitorer" is available on this YouTube video, and at 2:25 you can listen to the part sung during the protests.

Early Life and Education of Leon Pinsker Leon Pinsker. Source: https://lcdl.library.cofc.edu/lcdl/catalog/lcdl:65189 Leon Pinsker (1821 - 1891), born in Poland, was a prominent 19th-century Jewish leader, Zionist pioneer, physician, and writer. He completed his medical studies at the University of Moscow and, in 1849, was appointed as the senior physician at Odessa Hospital. During this time, Pinsker believed that Russian Jews would gain emancipation due to equal rights movements developing in Western Europe. He initially believed that the problem of antisemitism could be solved through emancipation, granting equal rights and assimilating Jews into their surroundings, in the spirit of the equality achieved by Jews in Germany. In 1860, Pinsker started writing anonymous articles in Russian Jewish newspapers, encouraging Russian Jews to view Russia as their homeland while preserving their Jewish identity. He promoted secular education for Jews and supported translating Hebrew texts, such as the Bible, into Russian. The Shift: From Assimilation to Auto-Emancipation However, a pogrom in Odessa in 1871 and another in 1881, ignored by the government and supported by the press, shook his beliefs. This led him to abandon his assimilationist views and embrace a more conservative approach. In 1882, Pinsker published his influential pamphlet Auto-Emancipation, anonymously written in German, urging Jewish people to pursue independence and national consciousness. This work remains his most renowned contribution. Building on this idea, Pinsker emphasized that the solution for Jews would not come from others but from within themselves. What they needed was not emancipation, but auto-emancipation! He believed that the only solution to anti-Semitism was territorial, where Jews would concentrate in one country where they would be protected and free. Pinsker proposed that Jews establish a national home for themselves, with a Jewish assembly deciding where this home would be: in the Land of Israel, the United States, or elsewhere. As the motto for his booklet, Pinsker chose the words of Hillel the Elder from Pirkei Avot: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?" This text became a fundamental text in the history of Zionism. He joined the Hovevei Zion Association, which promoted the establishment of Jewish settlements in the Land of Israel. In 1884, Pinsker was among the initiators of the Katowice Conference. At this conference, the Hovevei Zion movement was founded with the aim of uniting the activities of dozens of Zionist associations. He was chosen to head the movement. He died in 1891 at 70, six years before the First Zionist Congress, and in 1934, his bones were brought to Israel. Sources: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/judah-leib-quot-leon-quot-pinsker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Pinsker https://www.instagram.com/p/DCd_AbTgT0g/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGu9zhleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHY-p525BBSiv3UElStXFdEOaL-q8POvxMDdHSpOd-xWTBEY6Q0iHMeYmGA_aem_7wOFxLrjXP_F4V4SOtFO6w https://www.nli.org.il/he/discover/israel/figures/yehuda-pinsker

Early Life, Marriage, and Travels to Israel Judith Montefiore (1784 - 1862, born Cohen) was a British linguist, musician, travel writer, philanthropist, and wife of Moshe Montefiore. Lady Judith Montefiore. Source: Wikipedia Born to an Ashkenazi family, she married Moses Montefiore, a Sephardic Jew of Italian origin. At that time, mixed marriages were uncommon. She was also Nathan Mayer Rothschild's sister-in-law. She strongly supported her husband's philanthropic and Zionist activities, often accompanying him on his travels to the Middle East. This included trips to the Land of Israel, where they worked to improve the lives of the local Jewish community. Philanthropic Legacy and The First English-Jewish Cookbook She was also involved in various charitable organizations and was known for her philanthropy and commitment to social justice. On her initiative, the first hospital was established in Jerusalem during one of her five trips to the Land of Israel. In her diary, she wrote about her impressions of visiting places such as Rachel's tomb and riding horseback around Jerusalem's walls. She “was deeply impressed with a feeling of awe and respect, standing as I did, in the sepulcher of a mother in Israel.”* She was fluent in Hebrew, French, German, Italian, and Arabic, and had a background in literature, music, and art. She used her language skills to assist Moshe on his trips. Scholars believe she also wrote the first Jewish cookbook in English, "The Jewish Manual, or, Practical Information in Jewish & Modern Cookery." Judith spent her final years in England due to health problems. After her death, her husband founded Judith Lady Montefiore College in Ramsgate in her memory. He never stopped acknowledging her contribution to his public work. The couple had no known children. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Montefiore https://www.montefioreendowment.org.uk/sirmoses/about/ *https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/montefiore-judith https://peoplepill.com/people/judith-cohen-montefiore

From Biblical Roots to Modern Poetry: The Origins of Zelda’s Poem ''Every Man Has a Name'' is a Hebrew poem penned by the Israeli poet Zelda (1914-1984) and was published in 1974. The poem draws inspiration from an excerpt from the Parasha Vayakhel, elucidating the commandments for establishing the Tabernacle. The paracha articulates: "A person has three names: One that he is called by his father and mother; One that people know him by, And one he acquires for himself.”* A Masterpiece of Remembrance This poem stands out among Zelda's notable works and is often recited or sung during Yom Hashoah ceremonies in Israel. It aims to restore the names and individuality of the millions of people who perished during the Shoah. The song version made its debut through Chava Elberstein on her album "Like a Wild Plant" (1975) and can be enjoyed on the YouTube video below. For the complete lyrics, you can find them in Hebrew on this link. Below are the first two stanzas of the poem. Lechol ish yesh shem shenatan lo elohim venatnu lo aviv ve'imo Lechol ish yesh shem shenatnu lo komato ve'ofen chiyucho venatan lo ha'arig sources: http://hebrewsongs.com/song-lecholishyeshshem.htm *את מוצא שלשה שמות נקראו לו לאדם, אחד מה שקוראים לו אביו ואמו, ואחד מה שקוראין לו בני אדם, ואחד מה שקונה הוא לעצמו. טוב מכולן מה שקונה הוא לעצמו. https://www.tarbuty.org.il/page/35486/3

How Israel Observes Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed in Israel every year on the 27th of (the Hebrew month of) Nisan. It commemorates the Holocaust. The Knesset adopted the law in 1959. Like other holidays in Israel, commemoration begins in the evening and ends at sunrise the next day. On this day, ceremonies and memorial rallies are held, the national flag is lowered to half-mast, and television/radio channels broadcast programs on the Holocaust of European Jews during World War II, their acts of heroism, and their legacy. The commemoration opens at 20:00 with Holocaust survivors lighting six candles in Yad Vashem. The six candles are in memory of the 6 million Jews who died during the tragedy. The ceremony is held with the Israeli president, the Prime Minister, Holocaust survivors, and second/third-generation members. A special "Yizkor" prayer is recited, along with the "El Maleh Rahamim" prayer, and Psalms. You can see in the following video the 2022 ceremony opening. The following day, at 10:00, a civil defense siren echoes through the country for two minutes. This is followed by ceremonies at memorial monuments, national institutions, schools, and in the IDF. Almost everyone in Israel stops their activity at that specific time of the day. Later on, at the Knesset and the Ohel Yizkor (a specific building in Yad Vashem), the song 'Lekol Yish Yesh Shem'('Every man has a name') is sung. During the ceremony, Knesset members and state officials read the names of persons (could be their relatives) who perished in the Holocaust. This part of the memorial aims to give back to the victims their names and identities, as the scale of the event may obscure their uniqueness. The events of Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day finish with the youth movement rally, held in Kibbutz Lohamei Hagheta'ot (close to Acre). From Law to Legacy: The Official Status of Holocaust Remembrance Day The 1959 law stipulates that "on Holocaust Remembrance Day a two-minute silence will be observed throughout the country, during which the state's citizens will suspend all work and all road traffic. The law also states that memorial gatherings, rallies, and commemorative functions are to be held on this day in army camps and educational institutions. Flags are to be flown at half-mast, and broadcasts on media outlets are dedicated to the special character of the day. On this day, public places of entertainment and cafés are closed."* The Chief Rabbinate of Israel did not set a day of remembrance or halachic mourning for the Holocaust. This law, described below, is the 9th section of Israel's Basic Laws: Independence Day and Memorial Days. A. Independence Day is the official national holiday of the state. B. Memorial Day for the Fallen in Israel's Wars and Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day are official memorial days of the State. sources *https://m.knesset.gov.il/en/about/pages/shoah.aspx https://main.knesset.gov.il/About/Lexicon/pages/shoah_intro.aspx https://edu.gov.il/noar/minhal/info/Pages/holidays/events/soldiers-memorial-day.aspx https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_Law:_Israel_as_the_Nation-State_of_the_Jewish_People

A Soldier for Peace: Remembering Yitzhak Rabin's Last Speech Memorial Day for the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin is a national day of remembrance commemorated every year on the 12th of Cheshvan in the Hebrew calendar. Yitzhak Rabin served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Israel Defense Forces during the Six-Day War. He also held the roles of Defense Minister and Prime Minister of Israel and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994. On Saturday evening, November 4, 1995, shortly after Shabbat, Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated at the end of a rally supporting the Oslo Accords (1993/1995). The event took place at Kings of Israel Square in Tel Aviv, now known as Rabin Square. Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish extremist, Yigal Amir, in a tragic event that shocked Israeli society. Thousands of people from across the political spectrum marched in the streets and lit candles in his memory. In the days and months that followed, a public demand emerged to establish an annual commemoration of his murder. Rabin's funeral, held on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on November 6th, gathered leaders from all around the world (USA, Egypt, Jordan, Australia, etc.). A Focus on National Remembrance Two years later, in 1997, the Knesset passed a law to commemorate Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. Memorial Day is observed with state ceremonies on Mount Herzl, at Rabin Square, and across Israel. State flags are lowered to half-mast at all state institutions. You can see in the following YouTube video the official announcement of Yitzhak Rabin's death an hour and a half after the shots. You can also see the atmosphere in the streets at that same moment. This is another live announcement on TV. Rabin's assassination had a profound impact on Israeli society, particularly its political landscape, with consequences that are still felt today. "Violence erodes the basis of Israeli democracy. It must be condemned and isolated. This is not the way of the State of Israel" Words from Yitzhak Rabin's last speech, on November 4, 1995 Later, his granddaughter said, "He never knew it was one of his people who shot him in the back"*. The Song of Peace (composed by Yair Rosenblum) was found in his pocket after his death. Sources: Wikipedia https://www.knesset.gov.il/rabin/heb/speech/rivlin99.htm https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/pm-rabin-remarks-at-tel-aviv-peace-rally *https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/31/assassination-yitzhak-rabin-never-knew-his-people-shot-him-in-back Full speech in English on this link https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/pm-rabin-remarks-at-tel-aviv-peace-rally

Early Life, Journalism, and Zionist Leadership in Greece David Florentin. Source: Wikipedia, public domain. David Florentin (1874 - 1941) was a Jewish journalist and one of the founders of the Zionist movement in Thessaloniki. He was the first Jewish representative from Greece to participate in the World Zionist Congress (the 11th Congress, convened in 1913 in Vienna). David Florentin was raised in Thessaloniki by a family of rabbis who came to Greece from Spain in the early 17th century via Florence, Italy (which explains the family name's origin). As a child, he was expected to have a promising future in the rabbinate, but he left religion to become a journalist. Despite leaving religion, Florentin did not leave Judaism. In his twenties, he edited three pro-Zionist magazines, condemning assimilation. At that time, Thessaloniki and its Jewish community were under Ottoman rule. The sultan granted Jews special rights, but any activity regarding a Jewish state was forbidden. Despite the restrictions, David Florentin kept publishing, undercover, articles in his newspaper on Zionist actions. Florentin was involved in the establishment of Zionist associations, such as the "Bnei Zion Association", which dealt with collecting donations, and the "Kadima" association, which developed various Zionist actions and dealt with education and Hebrew language study. He attended the 11th Zionist Congress (1913). He was a member of the Grand Executive Committee of the Zionist Organization, and the secretary of the Eastern Department of the Zionist Organization in London. For many years he was among the leaders of the Greek Zionist Federation. In addition to his journalistic and public work, Florentin was a well-known translator of several European languages and translated into Ladino some of the best world literature. Immigration to Israel and Continued Legacy In 1933, Florentin immigrated to Israel with his family and settled in Tel Aviv. Florentin did not stop his public activity in Israel. On his initiative, in 1937, 14 young men from Thessaloniki and Kastoria in Greece came up on the land and established the Tzur Moshe settlement (area of Netanya). Besides that, he was the head of the Greek Immigrants organization. David Florentin passed away in 1941 at the age of 67. Florentin Street in Tel Aviv is named after him. The Florentin neighborhood is named after Solomon Florentin and there is no connection between the two. Sources: https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/דוד_פלורנטין http://www.zur-moshe.co.il/gallery/1/%D7%93%D7%95%D7%93-%D7%A4%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%A0%D7%98%D7%99%D7%9F.aspx