News and Updates

Tel Aviv Museum of Art wins best museum award

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!

Read more: Tel Aviv Museum of Art wins best museum award

(Communicated by Ministry of Defense)

The Israel Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency recently completed a successful test of the joint U.S.-Israel Arrow Weapon System (AWS), designed to protect Israel against short- and medium-range ballistic missile threats, over the Mediterranean Sea.  Data collected from the flight test will be used to verify functionality of the Block 4 AWS.

This test, designated Block 4 System Verification Flight Test (B4SVFT), was a target-only tracking exercise.  During the test, the AWS Super Green Pine Fire Control Radar tracked a Blue Sparrow 2 target, representative of potential ballistic missile threats facing Israel. The radar transferred information to the Citron Tree Battle Management Controller, which prepared a simulated intercept solution.  Elements of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) successfully performed interoperability with the AWS and collected data.

The success of the test is the final test prior to delivery of block 4 Arrow Weapons System.  This was a major milestone in the development of the Arrow Weapon System and provides confidence in operational Israeli capabilities to defeat the developing ballistic missile threat.

The Israel Missile Defense Organization and U.S. Missile Defense Agency personnel conducted the flight test.  The main contractor for the integration and the development of the Arrow Weapon System is MLM of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).  The “Green Pine” Radar is developed by ELTA Industries and the “Citron Tree” BMC is developed by Tadiran Electronic Systems, Ltd.

The recipients of Israel's first Presidential Awards of Distinction were announced on Thursday, February 9, 2012. The award is given to private individuals and organizations that have made unique and outstanding contributions to Israeli society and the State of Israel's image around the world, and which constitute examples of initiative, innovation, creativity and vision.

"I am old enough to know that people are no less important than ideas," siad President Peres at the awards ceremony. "The world has learned to say thank-you and the time has come for us as well to thank great people who have served as examples for the younger generation so that we might pass on the message that every person can be as great as his deeds and his ideas. "

Recipients of Israel's Presidential Awards of Distinction:

• Henry Kissinger, for his unique contribution to Israel and to peace in the Middle East, and for being a statesman with foresight, creativity and vision;
• Attorney Uri Slonim, the President of Variety Israel, for his voluntarism regarding Israel's POWs and MIAs and for his work at Variety Israel;
• Judy Feld Carr, for secretly saving thousands of Syrian Jews, including young people and entire families, for over 25 years;
• The Rashi Foundation, which was established by the Leven family;
• Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, for his unique and extraordinary contribution to Jewish culture and education; and
• Zubin Mehta, Music Director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, for his unique contribution to the world of Israeli music.

Tu B’Shevat, the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar—celebrated this year on Wednesday, February 8, 2012—is the day that marks the beginning of a “New Year for Trees.” This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.

Tu B'Shevat marks the beginning of spring in Israel. Sustaining rains are at the peak of their power and the world responds, brimming with buds of fragrant life. To mark this moment, school children and people all throughout Israel and the world plant trees.

For Jews outside of Israel, Tu B'Shevat is a celebration of the renewal of vision and awareness, a celebration of connections and connectedness--rejoicing in the fruit of the tree and the fruit of the vine, celebrating the splendid, abundant gifts of the natural world which give our senses delight and our bodies life.