For the first the Israeli-American Council was invited to be part of the General Assembly of the Federation of Jewish Community, which adjourns every five years in Jerusalem. It’s a big coup for the Israeli community in the US, which traditionally was not accepted by the mainstream Jewish communities in America. The event included many revelations by Israeli politicians who for the first time came to support Israelis who left the country in public.
It is Israel’s fortieth year participating in the Eurovision Song Contest and IBA, the broadcaster who has been participating in the contest has decided to create a very special broadcast to choose who should represent Israel in Malmo.
So Moran Mazor who just a few years ago won a talent reality show wowed the Israeli tele-voting jury and gets to go to Malmo and perform in front a half a billion people on may 18th.
Israel’s assassination of a suspected terrorist responsible for the missile attack Eilat in Gaza is the first fatal attack since a November cease-fire between Israel and Hamas led Gaza. It is widely seen as a warning shot to Hamas by Israel to get their affairs in order.
It seems that both Israel and the Hamas have a strong interest to keep the ceasefire agreement in tact even though the Hamas has a tougher time explaining why they want peace with Israel to their supporters who grew up knowing the Jewish state as the greatest evil there is.
Twenty-Thousand runners from 52 countries from around the world gathered this week for the annual Jerusalem Marathon.
Major, Nir Barkat, made a personal example and ran the half marathon and so did about a half dozen Knesset members who took time off the coalition negotiations to run in what is shaping to be one of major marathons in the world.
Marathon Day in Jerusalem in without a doubt a huge celebration. Around the city people were parting and at the end of the track everything was focused on a healthy and active lifestyle as thousands from all walks of life, young and old, from all around the world conversed about they keep fit.
Both the women and men’s winners were from Ethiopia; the best Israeli score was achieved by Liran Raz, who got in sixth.
As the festivities will continue at Saker Park until the wee hours of the night… Some athletes are starting to count down for next year’s event…
The Miss Israel pageant has made history this week something you rarely expect from a competition that has been going on for sixty-three-years. 21-year old, Yityish Aynaw, has been crowned the first miss Israel of Ethiopian heritage. Less than twenty-four-hours after her crowning we got to be the first international crew to interview her.
Ron Jacobsohn, JN1 Correspondent:
The Miss Israel pageant has made history this week something you rarely expect from a competition that has been going on for 63-years. 21-year old, Yityish Aynaw, has been crowned the first miss Israel of Ethiopian heritage. Less than 24-hours after her crowning we got to be the first international crew to interview her.
And with this announcement Yityish’s life has changed forever… she has in one minute gone from a beautiful girl from Netanya to a symbol for a whole community, a role model and pride for the over 100,000 members of the Ethiopian immigrants in Israel.
Only a few short hours after her triumphant evening, Yityish was already busy shooting her first magazine cover as Miss Israel for the number one women’s magazine in the country, LaYisha. Slightly overwhelmed of all that has happened to her in the last 24-hours we got to be the first international crew to interview her, as she started to realize that in order to stand in front of an international audience she desperately needs to improve her English…
Yityish Aynaw, Miss Israel 2013:
I was in shock, and it was an unbelievable feeling. And my family is very excited, I am the first queen Ethiopian in Israel it was amazing. I feel very excited to be the first Ethiopian Miss Israel, its history for me.
Although Yityish wasn’t even on the top three girls the polls have predicted would win the pageant, it was her personal story that captured the judges hearts at the evening of the competition.
Yityish Aynaw, Miss Israel 2013:
I made Aaliya (Immigration) and I believe the Jews of the world should be in Israel. It’s our country.
When I came in Israel, my grandpa was here before and he helped me to get used to Israel. It was hard.
And of course no Israeli success story can be complete without a true army anecdote as the cherry on the icing.
Yityish Aynaw, Miss Israel 2013:
It was amazing to me to be an officer in the military police in Zahal (Israeli Army). It changed my life and to be here also.
Ron Jacobsohn, JN1 Correspondent:
Israel is embracing the new Miss Israel with a lot of love as all the headlines already herald her as Queen Titi, her nickname from home. Now we will have to wait and see how the first black Israeli beauty queen will fair once she enters the international stage at the Miss Universe pageant.
For JN1, I am Ron Jacobsohn in Tel-Aviv.