Good News Friday

It seems weird writing a Good News Friday post immediately after writing about the missile attacks on Beer Sheva. But for the moment things are quiet (not necessarily a good thing if it means the government is not taking any action, but we’ll take our blessings where we can find them) and Shabbat comes in whether we like it or not (we like!).

I’m writing this post on Thursday because by Friday we shall be in not-so-sunny London for a family wedding, and I doubt I’ll have the time to sit down and write on Friday.

So before I start I want to wish the Chatan and Kallah, Miles and Abby, heartiest Mazal Tov on their wedding on Sunday. 🙂  I also want to wish mazal tov to my cousins (the proud parents) Nicole and Jason, to Auntie Eva and all the multitudes of cousins that have descended on London for this great occasion. We are really looking forward to the family meals over Shabbat and then the wedding! 🙂

We do not promise not to irritate Jeremy Corbyn 😈 but we shall do our damnedest to stay out of his way! 😛

And now down to “business”. This week Israel marked “Yom Ha’Aliya” – Immigrants Day. I thought this perfectly timed since I celebrated my own 41st Aliya anniversary this week too!

Nefesh b’Nefesh produced this cute and moving video of children asking immigrants how they felt about making Aliya:

 

Kol hakavod to all the millions of Olim who have come home, and in the process enriched the country and themselves. May we keep welcoming and absorbing Olim for many years to come.

The following video doesn’t tell us much that regular readers of this blog don’t know, but I like it for the way it describes all Israel’s innovations and gives credit to the people who invented them. Watch this video and understand why Israel attracts so many immigrants, and also what the immigrants give back to the country:

 

Of course it’s not only immigrants that strengthen our country. We so appreciate the warm support given to us by our non-Jewish friends outside of Israel. A few weeks ago I wrote about a pro-Israel flotilla that was setting sail from Sweden to Israel. Well, the good news is that the flotilla arrived in Herzliya this week to a very warm welcome!

A flotilla standing in solidarity with Israel, which set sail from Sweden just over a month ago, arrived at Herzliya Marina on Israel’s coast on Thursday afternoon.

Its aim: To express support for Israel and present the “other” Sweden.

Swedish pro-Israel flotilla ship “Elida” arrives in Israel

“On the ship are about fifty Evangelical Christians,” explained former Israeli ambassador to Sweden Isaac Bachman.

Swedish businessman Stefan Abrahamsson, a devout Christian who considers himself an Israel supporter, decided to sail his own boat to express solidarity with Israel and in an effort to show a different Sweden.

The ship, named the Elida, will remain at the Herzliya port in the coming days and will be open to the general public, who will be invited aboard to enjoy light refreshments and Swedish music.

The Elida was met by the Israeli navy and a flotilla of Israeli yachts and escorted to the escort it into Herzliya Marina.

The Foreign Ministry hosted the delegation for a lunch in Jerusalem on Sunday, with the participation of the Swedish ambassador.

During their stay in Israel, the members of the flotilla are visiting the Technion in Haifa, and the ship will be anchored at the Ashdod Port from Tuesday.

Bachman described the flotilla “as a solidarity with Israel marine voyage” carrying “Swedes who love Israel.”

“In a political-social climate there, in which it is not common to cry out loud strong support for Israel, they proudly do that,” he added.

The Elida is a refreshing change, as Sweden is usually the port of origin for anti-Israel flotillas which sail for Israel to challenge its sovereignty and express solidarity with the Palestinians.

Isn’t that a lovely idea? Kol hakavod to Mr. Abrahamsson and his friends aboard the Elida. Welcome to Israel! We hope you enjoy our beautiful country and that you become goodwill ambassadors for Israel on your return home.

With these happy thoughts I wish you all Shabbat Shalom. May the citizens of the south of Israel in particular have a safe and peaceful weekend, and may we all continue to celebrate only Smachot.

Shabbat Shalom everyone!