Pulitzer Prize Goes to Israeli Author

This past week, Saul Friedlander, a professor of history at UCLA, won the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction work. Here is the transcript of an interview he gave to ynet (translated from the Hebrew).

By: Merav Yudelovich
The announcement that he had won the Pulitzer Prize found Professor Saul Friedlander unprepared. While HarperCollins, his publisher, was busy celebrating the good news, Friedlander was making his way home entirely unaware of the goings-on.
“It came out of nowhere,” he said in an interview with ynet. “I didn’t even know they gave out the Prize in April. When I got home, I saw a message from my publisher in New York. The excitement was almost as great as the surprise.”
It appears, the Pulitzer Prize Committee for nonfiction can surprise him, even at age 75. “I didn’t believe nor did I expect to get the Prize. The Pulitzer is a prize with a very American orientation, especially when it comes to nonfiction. It’s geared to topics that deal, directly or indirectly, with the United States and I always thought my work dealt primarily with Europe,” he said.
Friedlander, a senior lecturer in history at UCLA, is considered a leading historian of the Holocaust. The Pulitzer Prize was awarded for his book The Years of Extermination: Nazi Germany and the Jews, 1939–1945.
Continue reading Pulitzer Prize Goes to Israeli Author…

Solar Power Reaches New Heights

One of the biggest challenges that stands in the way of solar energy is the large spaces needed to set up arrays of solar collectors. Now, researchers at the Technion in Haifa have come up with a way around that barrier–by making solar collection balloons! These contraptions could hover at a height of a few hundred meters and could provide as much energy as a much larger solar panel. Check out the full details of this bright idea on Reuters.

Hatikva with a French Twist

Check out this take on Israel’s national anthem.
(For a translation of the French rap, see the “About This Video” section on the YouTube page.)

Israel’s Best Face Forward

As the world gears up to celebrate Israel’s 60th Anniversary, writer David Kaufman takes a closer look at Israel’s re-branding campaign across North America, including mention of some of our own efforts to help shape Israel’s image. From bikini-clad babes in Maxim magazine to fashion spreads in French Vogue, Israel is becoming a hot cultural destination. But is it all good news?

Read the full story in Adweek.

Israeli Tennis Has Global Bounce

A positive sports update from ESPN:

When it comes to the Israeli delegation of tennis players, they are small in number but strong in loyalty and determination, most especially for their homeland.

For the three Israeli athletes — recent Australian Open doubles champions Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, and top 20-ranked Shahar Peer — fulfilling their naturally appointed role as Israeli world ambassadors is all pleasure and never a burden.

It has become the norm that wherever the ATP or WTA tours might be on a given week, the Israeli players will receive enthusiastic support from the local Jewish community.

On the eve of this week’s Sony Ericsson Open, which got under way Wednesday, the three prominent Israelis gathered to take part in a special ceremony to honor their achievements at Beth David Congregation, a conservative temple located in the heart of Miami.

Erlich and Ram became the first Israelis to win a Grand Slam doubles title with their success Down Under, although it should be mentioned that Ram had previously reeled in two mixed-doubles trophies at majors. As for Peer, she recently made history by becoming the first Israeli player to compete in an Arab country when she played the Doha, Qatar, tournament in February, reaching the quarterfinals.

Continue reading Israeli Tennis Has Global Bounce…

“In production: New life in Israel”

From YNET News, an inside look at the new Haim Buzaglo film. Click on the pick for the video…

In production: New life in Israel
New French-produced film directed by Haim Buzaglo, ‘Live Again’, tells the stories of European and North African Jews who immigrated to Israel after World War II (03.31.08)