New Tel Aviv NightLife Video

Recent You Tube Videos on Tel Aviv NightLife.

Scopus Video Networks

TEL AVIV, Israel, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Scopus Video Networks , announced today that it will be releasing its first quarter 2008 results on Monday, May 5, 2008.The

Company will also be hosting a conference call later that same day at 1:00pm ET. On the call, management will review and discuss the results, and will be available to answer investor questions.

To participate, please call one of the following teleconferencing numbers. Please begin placing your calls at least 10 minutes before the conference call commences. If you are unable to connect using the toll-free numbers, please try the international dial-in number.

US Dial-in Number: 1-866-652-8972

at:1:00pm Eastern Time, 10:00am Pacific Time, 6:00pm UK Time,8:00pm Israel TimeFor those unable to listen to the live call, a replay of the call will be available from the day after the call in the investor relations section of Scopus's website, at: http://www.scopus.net/About Scopus Video NetworksScopus Video Networks develops, markets, and supports digital video networking solutions that enable network operators to offer advanced video services to their subscribers. Scopus solutions support digital television, HDTV, live event coverage, and content distribution. Scopus' comprehensive digital video networking solutions offer intelligent video gateways, encoders, decoders, and network management platforms.

Scopus' solutions are designed to allow network operators to increase service revenues, improve customer retention, and minimize capital and operating expenses. Scopus customers include satellite, cable, and terrestrial operators; broadcasters; and telecom service providers. Scopus solutions are used by hundreds of network operators worldwide.

For more information visit: http://www.scopus.net/Company Contact: Investor Relations ContactMoshe Eisenberg Ehud Helft / Kenny GreenChief Financial Officer GK Investor RelationsTel: +972-3-900-7100 Tel: (US)+1-646-201-9246Moshee@scopus.net info@gkir.comScopus Video Networks Ltd

The prestigious magazine, Global Finance has chosen Leumi as one of the best banks in the Developed Markets for 2008

Leumi continues to capture international awards. After its recent selection as “Bank of the Year in Israel for 2007,” by the magazine, The Banker, from the Financial Times group, the magazine, Global Finance has chosen it as one of the best banks in the developed markets for 2008.
The magazine has released the names of the 27 banks throughout the world that earned this award in a press announcement in New York. Leumi is the only Israeli bank included in this respected list. A full report on the selection will be featured in the April issue of the magazine. In a press release, the magazine reported, “This year, the award-winning banks were attentive to their customers needs and attained superb results while laying the foundations for future success.”

The Global Finance editors selected the banks after comprehensive consultations with global bankers, financial managers and analysts. When selecting the banks, both objective factors, such as increasing the volume of assets, profitability, geographical extent of operations, strategic relationships, new business development and product innovation and subjective information, including opinions expressed by capital market experts, credit rating experts and banking and other advisers were considered.

Global Finance publisher, Joseph D. Gitapoto said that the banks were selected because of their superb achievements. “While global finance markets are difficult and the conditions in each market could be different, the winning banks are all commendable because of their commitment to providing solutions to customer requirements.”
The winning banks include:

US – J.P. Morgan Chase, Canada – RBC, Hong Kong – HSBC, Singapore – DBS, Japan – Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Holland – ING, Germany – Deutsche Bank, France – BNP Paribas, Italy – UniCredit and Switzerland – Credit Suisse.

Teva to Acquire Bentley Pharmaceuticals

Teva to Acquire Bentley Pharmaceuticals

Acquisition Will Provide Teva with a Strong Platform to Become a Leading Player in SpainJerusalem, Israel and Exeter, NH, March 31, 2008 - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA) and Bentley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: BNT) announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Teva will acquire Bentley.

The acquisition will take place following the spin-off of Bentley's drug delivery business to its shareholders, which Bentley announced on October 23, 2007. Teva will acquire Bentley, which at closing will consist solely of the generic pharmaceutical operations, for an aggregate cash purchase price of approximately $360 million. Shareholders of Bentley will receive approximately $15.02 per share in cash in the acquisition (which price is subject to potential adjustment, as described below), and also will receive shares of CPEX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. pursuant to the spin-off, which will occur before the acquisition. Bentley manufactures and markets a portfolio of approximately 130 pharmaceutical products in various dosages and strengths, as both branded generic and generic products, to physicians, pharmacists and hospitals. Bentley markets its products primarily in Spain, but also sells generic pharmaceuticals in other parts of the European Union. These efforts are supported by finished dosage and active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing facilities. Bentley's generic pharmaceutical operations generated revenues of approximately $114 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Commenting on today's transaction, Shlomo Yanai, Teva's President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "This is an important acquisition for Teva, as the combination of Teva Spain and Bentley will provide us with a platform to capture a leading position in the fast-growing Spanish generic pharmaceutical market. Spain was identified as one of our target markets in the strategic review we conducted last year. We are extremely pleased that we will have Bentley's strong management and work force, complementing our existing management team, to support our growth strategy."

For complete story.

Why Cultural Zionism

The evidence now indicates the following:

Based upon interviews( since 1973 ) of both Arab - Palestinians, and Israeli Students, and an American co - joined interviews of Jewish and Non-Jewish students at various institutions of higher education within Western, New York, and Ontario, Canada, I have established a working perception of the realities which exist within the Middle- East. It was from an article by Avramham Burg, The End of Zionism, republished in The Independent Media, Monday, September 15, 2003, from an article first publsihed in The Guardian, which got me going on this project.

Of course I wrote the only reaction, though sad'ly un-editied, to this, see www.indybay.org/news/2003/09/1646087_comment.php

Sad'der yet it was deleted. as of March 2, 2006, by the radical leftists who I discovered was herself Jewish.Moreover, and largely due to my other past associations with International Student/Scholars, agian within higher education of Western, New York, I have compared their experiences, and informaion reguarding Israel to the Arabs' and Israelis' interviews, especially from those who recieved their under graduate education in the Soviet Union. This comparison revealed a deeper and darker side. This under-lined the real danger in Mr. Avramham Burg's statements, and other similar articles within both the present media, and especially in the internet Independent Media it self. The follow through studies, as a result of all the interviews, which dicated the direction of research, as above proved to be shocking.Foremost discovery was a critical and alarming Judaic studies conducted by the Soviet Union on who or what are The Jewish Peoples', initiated by Joseph Stalin, who was to face a personal anxiety of acquiring a Jewish son - in - law, by his daughter's marriage, and further acknowledging in his eye his grandson is Jewish.

Later on, while Arab students were being educated in the Soviet Union, these Judaic studies were shared, and assisted in the early crafted development of the Soviet pedagogic alumni linkages to the infamous Anti - Zioinist Resolution.What these studies revealed is that in essence, there is a sort of collective vulnerability see more by clicking your mouse now and right here.

Moreover from the above link you can likewise give your own views of your own perceptions of what is cultural zionism.

Kidon.

The Israeli Economy Grows.

The Bank of Israel cuts the interest rate for April 2008 by 0.5 percentage points to 3.25 percent

The Bank of Israel announces that the interest rate for April 2008 will be reduced by 0.5 percentage points, to 3.25 percent. This step is taken in the context of the policy of maintaining price stability, in accordance with the inflation target of 1–3 percent a year.
Background conditions
Inflation data: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell by 0.2 percent in February, in line with earlier estimates, and rose by 3.6 percent in the last twelve months. The easing of energy prices in January and the appreciation of the shekel in the last few weeks acted to lower the February CPI, while the rise in food prices had the reverse effect. In the last twelve months the CPI excluding the energy and food components rose by only 0.9 percent.
Inflation and interest rate forecasts: Israeli forecasters expect, on average, that inflation in the next twelve months will be 2.7 percent, and that the interest rate for April will be cut by between a quarter of a percentage point and one percentage point; on average they expect a reduction of 0.5 percentage points in the interest rate. Inflation expectations for the next twelve months derived from the capital market rose from 2.4 percent in February to 2.7 percent in March. At the same time, expectations regarding the interest rate, derived from the capital market, are for a reduction in the next few months. Since the Bank’s different econometric models indicate differing scenarios, they received less than their usual weight in the discussions prior to this interest rate decision.
Real economic activity: The rapid rate of growth in Israel’s economy in the last few years continued and even strengthened in the last quarter of 2007, when GDP and business sector product increased by 6.1 percent and 7.7 percent respectively, in annual terms. Spearheading the growth in that quarter was the acceleration in exports and in investment. The composite state-of-the-economy index for February rose by 0.4 percent, indicating continued expansion, albeit at a lower rate than in 2007. Global economic developments, on the other hand, increase the probability of a lower rate of growth––less than 3.5 percent––in contrast to the rate of more than 5 percent recorded since the middle of 2003. The expected slowdown in Israel’s growth reflects the decline in exports and in private consumption expected to result from the slowdown in the global economy.
The labor market and wages: In the last quarter of 2007, unemployment fell to 6.7 percent in the last quarter of 2007, and the real wage and unit labor costs remained unchanged. The nominal wage rose by 2.9 percent in that quarter relative to the same quarter in 2006.
Budget policy: In February the domestic deficit totaled NIS 0.5 billion. Based on the seasonal path, the level hitherto is consistent with meeting the deficit target of up to 1.6 percent of GDP. Direct tax revenues fell by 12.1 percent compared with the corresponding period in 2007. The drop in direct tax revenues resulted mainly from unusually high non-recurring tax receipts at the beginning of 2007, and from the cuts in tax rates. Excluding the effect of these factors, tax revenues in the first two months of 2007 are higher than those expected in the budget forecast. The upward trend in revenue from indirect taxes continued.
The foreign exchange market: The strengthening of the shekel that started in mid-December 2007 continued, and in the period between the previous interest rate decision on 25 February and 23 March the shekel appreciated by 5.4 percent against the dollar, and by 1.5 percent against the euro. In the days immediately following the cut in the Bank of Israel interest rate for March 2008, the shekel weakened against those two currencies, but then strengthened again. Between March 10 and 12 it strengthened to an abnormal extent until the Bank’s intervention in the foreign exchange market on 13 and 14 March. Following that intervention, the shekel weakened against both the dollar and the euro. In that period most of the major currencies strengthened against the dollar, by up to 5 percent. Unlike in the previous month, the volatility of the shekel/dollar exchange rate declined this month. Trading in the foreign currency market stayed at about the same level as in the previous month––about $2.1 billion a day. On 20 March the Bank of Israel announced its intention to increase its foreign exchange reserves by about $10 billion by purchases of about $25 million a day on the market over the next two years.

The capital and money markets: Between the previous interest rate discussion on 25 February, and 23 March, the indices of the leading stock exchanges abroad recorded declines of up to 9 percent; the Tel Aviv 100 share price index fell by 8.6 percent. Yields on 10-year unindexed government bonds dropped again this month, to 5.63 percent, compared with 5.77 percent last month. The yield gap between these bonds and comparable US government bonds widened this month to 2.3 percentage points (compared with 1.9 percentage points last month). Israel's sovereign risk premium as measured by the five-year CDS premium continued to rise, and reached 0.9 percent, up from 0.8 percent prior to the previous interest rate decision. The CDS spread widened markedly also in the other emerging markets, and surpassed the levels prevailing at the start of the crisis.

The world economy: Macroeconomic data relating to the US economy indicate a significant deterioration, and expectations are for growth rates of less than one percent in both 2008 and 2009. At the same time commodity and energy prices continued rising steeply. The assessment by the Federal Reserve, however, is that the expected slowdown in the US will lead to a decline in inflation, so that its policy is essentially directed towards counteracting the economic slowdown and the liquidity crisis. At their last meeting, on 18 March, the Fed cut the interest rate by 0.75 percentage points to 2.25 percent, and the markets expect a further cut of about 0.5 percentage points in the next few months. The ECB, on the other hand, continues to regard inflation as the major risk, and it is therefore not expected to cut its interest rate. It should be noted that in contrast to the recent trend, most commodity and energy prices fell sharply in the last few days, and at the same time inflation expectations based on these prices also dropped. Since the beginning of March, the credit markets have deteriorated further.

The main considerations behind the decision

The decision to cut the interest rate for April by 0.5 percentage points is consistent with a return of inflation to within the target range of 1–3 percent inflation in the second half of the year.

The forces that served to moderate price increases last month––mainly the higher probability of a slowdown in the global economy and the strengthening of the shekel––continued to do so this month even more strongly. The increased intensity of these forces derives from the following:

1)
In light of the latest forecasts of a more severe slowdown in growth in the US and in the global economy, and hence of a slower expansion of world trade, the assessments of a slowdown in Israel’s growth rate––and its effect in moderating inflationary pressures, among other things by reducing both the demand for exports, mainly to the US, and domestic demand––have firmed.

2)
The degree of the strengthening of the shekel against other currencies since mid-December 2007 in itself acts to lower the pressures for price increases in the next few months, despite the weakening of the link between changes in the dollar exchange rate and the CPI.

3)
The global interest rate environment has fallen and is expected to continue to fall further. Thus a reduction in the Bank of Israel interest rate is required this month too due to the moderating effect on price rises in Israel of the interest rate differentials between Israel and abroad, via the strengthening of the shekel.

Subject to the reduction in inflationary pressures, as described above, and taking into consideration the Bank of Israel’s assessments that inflation will return to within the target range this year, the 0.5 percentage point cut in the interest rate is likely to support continued economic growth and employment.

The Bank of Israel will continue to monitor domestic and world economic developments closely with the intention of achieving the price stability target. Subject to this, the Bank will continue to support the attainment of a range of objectives of macroeconomic policy, in particular the encouragement of employment and growth. In addition, the Bank will continue to support the stability of the financial system.

Largest Book Fairs in France and Italy to Honor Israel

Nissan Ratzlav-Katz

In recognition of its 60th year of independence, the State of Israel will be the "guest of honor" at two of Europe's largest book fairs this year. Dozens of Israeli authors have been invited to France and Italy for the events. The two fairs, each of which regularly draws upwards of 200,000 people, will feature displays and activities about Hebrew literature and the culture of the Jewish State.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are expected to open the five-day Paris Book Fair on March 14. According to organizers, 39 Israeli authors have been invited to France by the National Book Center and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The central Pavilion of Honor at the book festival is to be draped in the colors of Israel's national flag - blue and white. Within the pavilion, there will be debates, panel discussions, lectures, activities for youth, musical and theatrical performances, and film screenings. Of course, the fair will also feature a wide range of books for sale in French and Hebrew.

Recognition of Israel at the Paris Book Fair was long in coming. The State of Israel first offered itself and its Hebrew literature for consideration by the French organizers in 1998. After a decade of rejections, this year's decision was apparently reached both in recognition of Israeli literature, which has earned a positive global reputation, and in honor of Israel's 60th year.
Italy's largest book exhibition, the Turin International Book Fair, will also be honoring Israel this year. The event will open in the northern Italian city on May 8, which is the equivalent of the Hebrew date of Israel's Independence Day (Iyar 5).

In the promotional material for the fair, Israeli literature is described as having been received with "high favor" for many years. Specifically, the organizers cite four well-known Israeli novelists - David Grossman, Amos Oz, A. B. Yehoshua and Etgar Keret - for their contributions to contemporary culture. "But the cultural background of the country is obviously much more rich...." than any selection of its authors, they note.

"The 2008 fair will be an opportunity to get to know the culture of this country through historians, essayists, artists, musicians and scientists," according to the Turin Book Fair's promotional material. It will be "an opportunity for dialogue with the contribution of disparate voices to discuss and to focus on a possible model of coexistence."

During the fair, the Italian National Cinema Museum will be showing ten films about Israel and hosting musical performances of traditional klezmer music. "Do not miss events related to [Israeli] culinary traditions and kosher cuisine, its rituals and its symbols," the Turin Book Fair website concludes.

America's oldests Jewish residence.

The Mill House, located just off 9W, five miles north of Newburgh, NY, on the Hudson River, is the oldest house on the National Register of Historic Places in Orange County and the earliest surviving Jewish residence in North America. It has been continuously inhabited for more than 280 years.

It would indeed be difficult to find a landmark more richly intertwined with our complex history, or complex fate: site of an ancient Indian ceremonial ground; frontier trading post; earliest extant Jewish residence in North America; center of patriot activity in the American Revolution; home of writers and artists and men of affairs; the Mill House symbolizes and sums up our regional and national history. It is a most dramatic and absolutely irreplaceable incarnation of American history.

In 1714 Luis Moses Gomez, who had fled from the Spanish inquisition, purchased 6,000 acres of land along the Hudson Highlands where several Indian trails converged. Here he built a fieldstone block house into the side of a hill and by a stream that became known as Jews Creek.
The great walls of the house which are about three feet thick still stand today. Native Americans came to hold ceremonial rites at their campground at the Duyfils Danskammer (Devils Dance Chamber) on the shores of the Hudson on Gomezs property. For some thirty years Luis Gomez and his sons conducted a thriving fur trade from the fortress like house. Luis Moses Gomez became the first parnas (president) when the synagogue of New Yorks Spanish and Portuguese congregation was built. Among the family connections were poetess Emma Lazarus and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo.

Before the Revolutionary War, Mill House was purchased Wolfert Acker, a Dutch-American who added a second storey and attic to Mill House with bricks made from clay found nearby. Acker served as a lieutenant in the New Marlborough Company of Minute Men and chairman of the Committee of Safety while General Washingtons army was camped close by in Newburgh. The house became a center for meetings of the new American patriots. After the war, Acker established a landing on the Hudson with a ferry to cross the river and a packet line to carry freight.

In the 19th century, gentleman farmer and William Henry Armstrong with his family made Mill House their home for five decades. They added the kitchen wing and walls to the property. At the Danskammer, painter, statesman and brother D. Maitland Armstrong lived.
The most famous owner in the 20th century was Dard Hunter, renowned craftsman and paper maker who, just before World War I, built a paper mill on the creek in the shape of a Devonshire cottage complete with a thatched roof. Students from all over the world came to learn from him as he made paper by hand, cut and cast type and handprinted his own books. The Gomez Foundation for Mill House has restored Hunters Mill and completed in 1997 the mill dam and bridge.

After World War II, the Starin family purchased the house with a G.I. loan. They raised their children here while Mildred Starin enriched the house, furnishings and garden and placed the site on the National Register.

Shalom TV

That's the message Comcast digital customers will hear when a new network called Shalom TV enters the airways nationwide on Friday.

The network features Jewish foreign films — most in Hebrew with English subtitles — as well as children's shows, lectures and breaking news out of Israel. Also spotlighted are Jewish authors, poets, artists and celebrities, along with an ongoing Israeli television series.

"This is American Jewish history in the making," said Rabbi Mark Golub, the CEO of Shalom TV. "In America there has never been a Jewish television network offered by a cable provider."
Until now, Jewish programming appeared on public-access channels or when somebody "bought the time," he said.

Shalom TV made its debut in Philadelphia, parts of Delaware and the Poconos in 2006. Last year it added Washington, D.C., Baltimore and northern Virginia.

Now the station goes national. On Monday, Comcast confirmed the deal.

Golub is particularly happy that Comcast serves South Florida because it is home to about 600,000 Jews, making the region the third-largest Jewish community in the United States.
Most of the Unites States' 6.4 million Jews live in just a dozen metropolitan areas, Golub said. Among them are Boston, Detroit, San Francisco, portions of New Jersey and Chicago — all served by Comcast, the nation's biggest cable company.

Shalom TV executives, based in New Jersey, said they are in talks with Time Warner Cable, which serves New York City and parts of New Jersey, to pick up the station in February.
Programming will include the kiddie show "Adventures of Agent Emes" about a student-by-day, secret-agent-by-night male student. The youngster wears a trench coat and fedora and teaches Jewish values.

There's the grown-ups movie "Pesya's Necklace," about an 80-year-old woman who travels with her teenage granddaughter to Europe, determined to find a golden necklace she and her sister hid before they were taken to Auschwitz. Also, "Children By Remote Control," about Thai workers living on a kibbutz who maintain loving bonds with their children back home through phone calls and letters.

Golub said he expects the network will attract evangelical Christians, "an enormous non-Jewish population interested in Israel."

He said Shalom TV will not have a religious slant.

"This is a mainstream Jewish cultural channel dealing with the panorama of Jewish life," Golub said. "We represent every movement of Judaism, we are not affiliated with any movement. This is not the equivalent of a Christian evangelical channel."
http://shalomtv.org/

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman was born on Tuesday, June 9th 1981 in Jerusalem, actually on her mother's birthday. A vacuum was used to get her out, so she had a cone-head during the first days of her life. She was the first and only child of her parents. Her Israeli father is an infertility specialist and works as a doctor. Her American mother is a full-time homemaker.

Don't get confused by all the biographies saying she's an artist. In fact, Natalie used to call her an artist for juggling the household and upbringing stuff. I hope the following statement from Natalie about her mother makes it clear: "She always gets mad at me if I say she's, like, a housewife because she says it sounds like... [...] she says it sounds as though she's married to a house. [...] And that doesn't work because, like, that doesn't reflect well on her personality. And so then, I was like, well what should I say. So I started saying, like, she was an artist because that's what she studied in college. So then everyone was asking me, like, oh, what kind of art does she do? And does she paint, what kind of paints? [...] And I was like, I don't know! [...] So then now I just say she's a mom. It works." (The Late Show with David Letterman 2/1996)

This blog will keep up with her movies.

Hamagshimim

Hamagshimim is the University Zionist Movement sponsored by Hadassah. We are a pluralistic student-led organization that works to strengthen students' connection to Israel through a variety of social, cultural and political programs. This connection is cultivated through education, advocacy training, leadership development, long-term Israel programs and facilitation of aliyah. We work in concert with our sibling movement Young Judaea. Hamagshimim's student leaders (Rakazim) currently operate on approximately 25 campuses. The national events and major programs run and supported by Hamagshimim include: Va'ad Hamagshimim - a leadership training seminar for our Rakazim run by the Hamagshimim staff. Kinus Hamagshimim - our annual conference, a 3-day educational seminar facilitated by shlichim and outside speakers and educators. birthright israel - through our special partnership with Hillel, we operate birthright trips for several hundred students each year. Hadassah-Hillel-Hamagshimim Steinhardt JCSC Fellowship - another wonderful partnership with Hillel, we help augment the "engagement programming" carried out by JCSC Fellows with our special brand of Israel programs and resources. Hamagshimim Israel Fellowships - a 6-week Israel Advocacy Seminar peer-led by Hamagshimim students. The Fellows assume leadership roles within the campus pro-Israel community and take seats on the student paper's editorial board.

In the Yahoo Group site with 1245 members its first group message ........

Dear Members,

On Tuesday, December 22, [ 1998 ] at eight p.m., Merkaz Hamagshimim will receive OferBen Dov, a representative of Greenpeace Mediterranean. There will be a lecturegiven by Mr. Dov marking the start of Merkaz Hamagshimim's environmentalinitiative. This will not only be a listener/listened to event. It is also acall to action. After Mr. Dov's speech there will be a community dialoguecentered around all of our environmental concerns and how we might translatethese beliefs into action. We are looking forward in future years to thecommemoration of this event as what might be the beginning of Merkaz Hamagshimimas a hub for environmental action here in Israel.

Subscribe to HamagshimimJERUSALEM
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Arad Ltd

Arad specializes in the design, development and manufacture of top quality precision water meters for applications such as domestic, waterworks, irrigation and water management throughout the world. Arad Metering Technology is a sister company of the well known water meter company - Arad Ltd. Dalia.

Technology: Environmental (Water & Wastewater).

WebSite.

The Sword of Judith

Announcing a call for papers for the spring 2008 multi-disciplinary academic conference The Sword of Judith:

Female Agency and the Aesthetics of Terror for art historians, literary critics and italian renaissance and biblical scholars. A conference on the iconography and sacred traditions of the Biblical heroine Judith funded by the Brine Family Charitable Trust.

This multidisciplinary scholarly conference and publication is designed to promote collaboration and exchange between scholars, writers, and critics working on Judith in biblical studies, literary criticism, feminist and psychoanalytical theory, art history, Italian Renaissance, English, and Hellenistic studies.

The biblical heroine Judith is one of the most challenging and provocative figures in the Judeo-Christian tradition and Western art. Why does Judith continue to receive so much scholarly and critical attention For over 2,200 years the canonicity of The Book of Judith, the historical basis of the narrative, and its authorship has been challenged and disputed. Donatello's sculpture Judith and Holofernes is studied as a metaphor for the de Medici rule of Florence; Artemisia Gentileschi's painting Judith and Holofernes is studied as a metaphor for female resistance to male dominance.

The powerful appeal to the visual imagination of the Judith narrative has inspired and challenged Western scribes, illustrators, draftsman, painters, and sculptors for two millennia. The Judith text is part of the earliest and most complete manuscript of Beowulf. Judith was portrayed by both Dante in The Divine Comedy and Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales. The intellectually influential Lucrezia Tornabuoi de Medici wrote an important religious poem titled "Judith" in the fifteenth century. Donatello, Mantegna, Giorgione, Michelangelo, Artemisia Gentileschi, Caravaggio, Botticelli, Johann Liss, Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, Mozart, Scarlatti, Martha Graham, and Lope de Vegas have all presented us with creative interpretations of Judith. Judith's beheading of Holofernes is a paradigm for female agency; its depiction invokes the aesthetic of sublime terror.

The figure of Judith is kept alive in the Jewish tradition on the festival of Chanukah. Pope John Paul's homily on Judith and Mary reaffirmed Judith's traditional parallel to the mother of Christ. Roman Catholics still chant Judith's liturgy as part of the triennial lectionary on appointed days. Submissions to the Judith conference and publication are encouraged from scholars working from within the Jewish and Christian traditions.

Up to ten university- or operating foundation-administered grants are available from $6,000 to $11,000 for research on the Judith theme. Submissions should include the scholar's CV and a proposal limited to 1,500 words. Grant request submissions must include the administering institution's name, address, federal tax identification number, nonprofit designation, the name of acting department/program chair or director, a detailed pro forma budget request, and the e-mail address of the institution's administrative contact. Grant requests require the signature of the department chair/program director. The budget can include up to 20 percent department allocation. Direct all submissions to Judith2008@rarewildflower.org .

Eva Mendes & Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein, Inc., a wholly ownedsubsidiary of Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (NYSE: PVH) and Calvin KleinFragrances, a division of Coty, Inc., today announced that actress EvaMendes will be featured in an upcoming Calvin Klein Fragrances advertisingcampaign, which will debut Fall 2008. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080201/NYF048 )

The acclaimed actress first captured the attention of moviegoers in"Training Day," and is best known for her work in the hit movie "Hitch"opposite Will Smith, the film adaptation of the Marvel Comic "Ghost Rider"opposite Nicolas Cage, and most recently "We Own the Night" with JoaquinPhoenix, Mark Wahlberg and Robert Duvall. This fall Ms. Mendes will star inthe highly anticipated all-star remake of "The Women" with Meg Ryan,Annette Bening, Debra Messing and Jada Pinkett-Smith and has completed thefantasy thriller, "The Spirit," directed by "Sin City" and "300" creatorFrank Miller, out in early 2009.

Ms. Mendes has a long-standing relationship with the house of CalvinKlein and has been wardrobed by Calvin Klein Collection and worked with theline's award-winning Creative Director, Francisco Costa, for events such asThe CFDA Fashion Awards, The Whitney Art Party, and Fashion Rocks as wellas other personal appearances and premieres. Ms. Mendes joins a memorable group of well-known Calvin Klein Fragrancemodels and actresses who have starred in the brand's legendary and iconicadvertising campaigns, including Kate Moss, Scarlett Johansson, ChristyTurlington, and Natalia Vodianova.

Calvin Klein's renowned advertisingcampaigns have become indelible, pop culture images, provoked controversyand captured the public's imagination the world over. The company'sunparalleled ability to discover new talent has propelled the careers of amyriad of actors and models over the past four decades. Catherine Walsh, Senior Vice President -- American Fragrances, CotyPrestige said, "Eva Mendes is a striking beauty, with a sultry appeal thatresonates globally. She embodies the sexy, provocative essence of theCalvin Klein brand and we are thrilled that she will be the newest iconicbeauty to represent Calvin Klein Fragrances." Said Tom Murry, President & COO, Calvin Klein, Inc., "Eva exudes aneffortless and unpretentious sensuality which is perfectly in line with theCalvin Klein brand DNA."

Coty was created in Paris in 1904 by Francois Coty who is credited withfounding the modern fragrance industry. Today, Coty Inc. is the world'slargest fragrance company and a recognized leader in global beauty withannual net sales of $3.8 billion. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit,passion, innovation and creativity, Coty Inc. has developed an unrivaledportfolio of notable brands and delivers its innovative products toconsumers in 91 markets worldwide.

The Coty Prestige brand portfolio isdistributed in prestige and ultra-prestige stores and includes Baby Phat,Calvin Klein, Cerruti, Chloe, Chopard, Davidoff, Jennifer Lopez, JetteJoop, Jil Sander, JOOP!, Karl Lagerfeld, Kenneth Cole, L.A.M.B. fragranceby Gwen Stefani, Lancaster, Marc Jacobs, Nautica, Nikos, Phat Farm, SarahJessica Parker, Vera Wang and Vivienne Westwood. Coty and Puig have astrategic partnership for the distribution of the perfume lines of NinaRicci, Carolina Herrera, Prada, Paco Rabanne, and Comme des Garcons in theU.S. and Canada. For additional information about Coty Inc., please visithttp://www.coty.com/. On December 7, 2007 Coty Inc. acquired Del Laboratories, Inc. Cotyended the 2007 fiscal year exceeding $3.2 billion in net sales (July 1,2006-June 30, 2007).

Calvin Klein, Inc., Calvin Klein, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary ofPhillips-Van Heusen Corporation (NYSE: PVH), is one of the leading fashiondesign and marketing studios in the world. It designs and markets women'sand men's designer collection apparel and a range of other products thatare manufactured and marketed through an extensive network of licensingagreements and other arrangements worldwide. Brands/lifestyles includeCalvin Klein Collection, ck Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Jeans,and Calvin Klein Underwear. Product lines under the various Calvin Kleinbrands include apparel, accessories, shoes, sleepwear, hosiery, socks,swimwear, belts, eyewear, watches, jewelry, coats, suits, cosmetics, andfragrances, as well as products for the home.

For additional informationabout Calvin Klein, Inc., please visit http://www.calvinklein.com/.

Telecom Israel 2008

SummaryTelecom Israel 2002 will include all aspects of the current telecommunications and information technologies in the sector. Telecommunications companies in Israel continue to expand, developing products and services for the growing telecommunications industry, strengthening Israel's position as one of the leaders in the field worldwide. Our competitive telecommunications market has enabled Israeli companies to flourish, leading the way in innovation and high-tech entrepreneurship, keeping Israel on the cutting edge of emerging technologies and creating a favorable environment for attracting international investments. Next year marks the new millenium, and Telecom Israel 2000 will be the primary event in the local telecommunications industry, and one of the most high profile events ushering in the new century in Israel.

To be held on Nov 04, 2008 - Nov 06, 2008. Where Tel Aviv. Average attendence 150000

We look forward to seeing you at Telecom Israel 2000 and having you witness the new and innovative developments taking place in the telecommunications industry in general and more specifically in Israel.

General InformationTelecom Israel 2008 will include all aspects of the current telecommunications and information technologies in the sector. Telecommunications companies in Israel continue to expand developing products and services for the growing telecommunications industry strengthening Israel's position as one of the leaders in the field worldwide. Our competitive telecommunications market has enabled Israeli companies to flourish leading the way in innovation and high-tech entrepreneurship keeping Israel on the cutting edge of emerging technologies and creating a favorable environment for attracting international investments.

Attendee Information

Exhibitor InformationAs an exhibitor your company will be among some of the leading telecommunications companies in the world.

Crocker Israeli Fashions

Eti and David Levy, the founders and the spirit of Crocker Jeans, are recognized in today's global jeans industry even more than they are in their own Tel Aviv neighborhood.

The Levy's created Crocker in Paris in 1984, and since the day these sassy jeans were born, they knew exactly what they wanted. All cuts and accessories have always been designed by the industry's top fabric, sewing and trimming professionals and manufacturing was handled worldwide (in Japan, USA, Italy, France and more). Crocker's proud parents have made it a point to always be a part of the process, down to the last button. As David Levy says, "If it's only 99%, it's not Crocker!".

Check out their exciting Web Site .

Israeli Electric Cars

Most of us are familiar with how mobile phone plans work.

You get a subsidised handset and sign a contract to pay a monthly fee for a certain number of minutes of talk time and other services. Now apply that model to electric cars, except that instead of a handset you get a subsidised car and instead of minutes you buy kilometres of driving distance. This bold venture is taking place in Israel right now and it has big backers including two global auto makers, a software entrepreneur, an Israeli billionaire and the Israeli Government.

The brains behind the venture is none other than Israeli American Shai Agassi, former president of the product & technology group and executive board member of German business software giant SAP. While the venture is using Israel as its test bed to build an electric car infrastructure, the ideas are coming out of Palo Alto in the heart of Silicon Valley where Agassi's company Project Better Place is based.Under the joint venture arrangement, car makers Nissan and Renault will supply the electric cars, while Project Better Place will supply Lithium Ion batteries and build a ubiquitous electric car infrastructure throughout Israel, which will include 500,000 parking-meter-like charging points on Israeli streets and service stations where spent battery packs will be replaced with freshly charged packs within minutes.

The Project Better Place venture is not unlike the way the mobile telecommunications industry is run today. A carrier provides the base stations and network while through its channels it sells handsets made by Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and others together with usage plans.The battery packs provided by Project Better Place, which are claimed to have a range of about 200km, will not be owned by subscribers to the scheme but will be part of the service infrastructure where users pay for the number of kilometers driven. Users who charge batteries from their home will be given a credit for the kilometers they put back into batteries, not unlike the way electricity users with solar panels are given credit when they supply energy to the grid.Agassi's vision of getting the first electric cars on the road in Israel by 2009 and 100,000 by 2010 is being given plenty of backing in high places. Israeli industrial mogul Idan Ofer is reported to have invested $100 million in Project Better Place and is chairman of the company, while the Israeli Government has promised to keep taxes on electric vehicles at a low 10%.

Travel Grants

When Leah Golberstein’s son was a student at IC, she came to South Hill often and “fell in love with Ithaca College.” Rafi Golberstein graduated in 2006, but Leah is continuing her relationship with Ithaca by establishing the Golberstein Jewish Studies Travel Endowment.

Leah's visits to Rafi always seemed to include spending time with his professors. As she soon discovered, when Rafi’s teachers learned that one of his parents would be on campus, they made themselves available to meet. A former faculty member at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Leah could see that “the level of involvement Ithaca faculty have with their students is exceptional. No student is just a number.”Through Rafi’s involvement as a resident assistant, Hillel board member, and student trustee on the IC Board of Trustees, as well as his activities with student government and the Park School, Leah was aware of the opportunities her son was given to develop and mature, both in and out of the classroom.

“Mostly, I fell in love with Ithaca College,” she says, “and the level of dedication to teaching.” During Rafi’s tenure as a student trustee, Leah met President Peggy R. Williams, and she was extremely impressed by the strong role model President Williams is for women of all ages. She was also inspired by the dedication of Craig Evans ’84, associate vice president for institutional advancement, and Park School dean Dianne Lynch. “With such capable and dedicated administrators and teachers, I wanted to know how I could help them in their endeavors.”Following Rafi’s graduation from the Park School, Leah found that she wanted to continue to support the College and, more specifically, the Jewish studies program. Last October she established the Golberstein Jewish Studies Travel Endowment.

This award grants $1,250 to Ithaca College students minoring in Jewish studies who want to broaden their understanding of the history and survival of the Jewish people through formal study involving travel. Students are encouraged to travel to communities they have never before visited that have historical significance for Jews. Among the topics of study are Inquisition studies in Spain or Portugal; Central and Eastern European Jewish studies at Charles University in Prague, the summer Vilnius Yiddish Institute at Vilnius University in Lithuania, or the Lorenzo de’Medici Institute in Florence; and the history of the Jews in Greece in Thessaloníki or Crete. “Travel enables students to challenge themselves and their personal world in a powerful way.

When it is combined with study, it can revolutionize a student’s life,” Leah says. “I wanted to make that opportunity available for Ithaca College students.”The establishment of the Golberstein Jewish Studies Travel Endowment is one of many educational enhancements included in the $115 million Campaign for Ithaca College: Making a World of Difference. For more information about the campaign, visit www.ithaca.edu/campaign.

Bagir - Israeli Fashions

It's All from recycling.

Bagir specializes in the development, manufacture and marketing of high quality men and women's tailored fashions. Bagir leverages its global presence and vertical structure to provide consumers with the ultimate fashion experience which combines innovation, comfort, performance and value. Bagir's latest fashion concepts include flexible and stretchable clothing, machine-washable suits and light all-climate garments, all stylishly designed. The company's innovation stems from exploring how consumers can better utilize, maintain, and wear the suit.

Bagir Ltd.Address: Head Office: Pollack Rd. Kiryat Gat, 82101, Israel UK: 99 Baker Street London W1U 6FF, UKUSA: 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2525 New York, NY 10118Tel: 972-8-687-3888, USA:1-212-560-9650, UK: 44-20-7486-7833Fax: 972-8-687-3878 USA 1-212-560-9652 UK: 44-20-7486-2950E-mail: Sales@bagir.co.il

West Bank's, Israeli Jewish Population Grows

The Jewish population in Judea and Samaria is rising steadily despite Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's stated freeze on building in the expanding Jewish communities in the stony green hills that carpet the region.

The latest figures released by the Interior Ministry show that the Jewish population growth in Judea and Samaria is triple the 1.7 percent increase in the entire Israeli population.
Efforts by the Olmert government to stifle Jewish growth in the region have proved fruitless. Repeated evictions of young activists from new communities and neighborhoods have not discouraged the pioneers from returning to the sites to rebuild demolished structures as often as necessary.
Harassment and even incarceration of minor teenage activists who help established the new communities has only served to strengthen the resolve of the nationalists who are committed to deepen the Jewish connection to the Biblical region.

Prime Minister Olmert’s promise to the United States and the Palestinian Authority to eliminate "illegal" outposts has also done little to stem the tide of Israelis moving to the region and of a rising birthrate among its residents.

The American-backed edict forbidding new construction, including any addition to existing homes, in Judea and Samaria towns has been equally ineffective. The Jewish population in Judea and Samaria grew by 5.2 percent, rising by 14,000 residents from 268,000 at the end of 2006 to 282,000 at the end of 2007.

The figures do not include citizens who reside in communities that the government has deemed illegal. Nor do the statistics include approximately 250,000 Jewish residents of the Jerusalem suburbs built after the 1967 Six-Day War.

All together, over half a million Jews live in the areas of Judea and Samaria liberated in the 1967 Six Day War.

Birthrates rose significantly in the communities of Beitar Illit, Modi’in Illit and Emmanuel, with major increases also noted in Maale Adumim, Givat Ze’ev and Ariel.