I feel excited at the globalism and multi-culturalism of our contributors in this issue: a new immigrant photographer; a talented 22-year old student, a returning Israeli, who has written two articles and taken the photographs for them –“They are calling it the Love Revolution” where she philosophizes about the summer protest and its aftermath, and “Faltzan for the Kamptzan”, a guide of her favorite and affordable café-bar haunts in Tel Aviv; an overseas volunteer from the UK who is drawn back year after to year to help the army through the Sar El program; “1985–A Chance Meeting” with the then young Dan Shechtman, today a Noble Prize recipient, written by a teacher in the States who at the time spent a sabbatical teaching at the American School in Israel; a South African who reminisces about the Johannesburg Jewish Book Festival 1950 when he was a 15-year old; “Real Estate Investment in US” is by a lawyer living in the States who gave free legal advice for ESRA when she lived for some years in Israel; “Mysterious Anti-Chaos”) is also by an American writer. The quality of our life in Israel is brought into focus through several poignant articles crying out for environmental and social change: How to get out of paying a traffic offence fine and the horrendous impact on road safety; the threat of the government to “destroy” the beautiful natural surroundings of Harish and instead to build a large city; “Manners maketh Man” is a desperate cry for respect of the rights of others and conforming to social norms; “A question worth more than gold” plagues one’s existential soul. Some of Israel’s universities are in their 100th year – Levinsky College of Education is one of them, and boasts a heritage of being the first to teach in Hebrew. Today we witness a new feature – Israeli universities offering also some degree courses in English for overseas students, a few of which appear in adverts in the magazine. There are interesting travel articles for those contemplating where to go: overseas to Japan and Newfoundland; or locally to technological sites, seeing Jerusalem from rooftops; and two museums - Herzliya and an archeological museum on Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek. Reviews on five absorbing books; a bridge article debating whether to draw or not to draw trumps. The Food/Wine section includes an excellent brisket stew with chutney (tried it myself and loved it); learning to pair your wines with your dishes; and introducing Chef Alon Gonen. If you want to chuckle, read “Colorful Customers”, “Ask Avigail” and jokes on grandparents from the mouths of babes in our Humor column. Our health issues are the BRCA gene; signs of a brain tumor; the truths about Vitamin D; and the remarkable cheerfulness of a patient suffering from Gaucher and Parkinson diseases; and seeing anxiety as a challenge. ESRA news heralds a novel project of “Lets Talk” which matches a new immigrant with an Israeli, a senior dilemma forum and our newest branch in Lev Hamifratz.Close