As Rosh Hashanah approaches at the end of this week, the Population and Immigration Authority has unveiled its annual list of the most popular baby names in Israel for the past year. This long-standing tradition offers a glimpse into the socio-cultural fabric of Israeli society and is eagerly awaited by parents-to-be pondering names for their newborns. It also serves as an interesting barometer for tracking the influence of religious, cultural, and even political factors on naming trends.

11 September 2023

Read more: Israel's Top Baby Names of the Year: A Glimpse into Socio-cultural Trends

Israel's reputation for technological innovation extends beyond medical and technological fields. The country has also made strides in food technology, agriculture, and even spirits. In fact, Milk & Honey Distillery just won the pinnacle of awards for spirits, something that rarely occurs to a company outside of Scotland. In March, at the World Drinks Awards in London, the Israeli-based company took home the "Best Single Malt in the World" award. Now, one notable venture called "Negave" is aiming to put Israel on the map for an Agave-based spirit known as Mezcal, which they believe will rival and surpass some of the world's best Tequila brands.

Best whiskey in the world is 'Made In Israel'
The most prestigious competition in the world crowned "Elements Sherry" of the Milk & Honey distillery as the "Best Single Malt in the World". #Israel #Whisky pic.twitter.com/MOqvBQvbiL

— Eli Dror (@edrormba) March 31, 2023

02 August 2023

Read more: One Ambitious Startup Seeks To Turn The Negev Into A Mezcal Mecca

The Ministry of Jerusalem signed an agreement with the Society for the Reconstruction and Development of the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem, in the amount of a quarter of a billion shekels ($68 Million) for the next five years, to help bring back life to what was once the most central geographic area of the Jewish people.

06 July 2023

Read more: Israeli Government To Invest Hundreds Of Millions Into Jerusalem's Old City

Occasionally, it seems that the fierce dispute between the schools of Islam on the question of whether it is permissible to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque overshadows the corresponding heated debate between Jewish arbitrators on the question of whether it is permissible to go up to the Temple Mount, where Solomon’s Temple’s ruins lie.

06 July 2023

Read more: Al Jazeera Poll Shows Most Muslims Don't Believe 'Al Aqsa' Should Be Visited

In preparation for the move to its new home, the Israeli National Library acquired a rare and important collection of Kabbalistic manuscripts and illustrations, which join the Kabbalah collection that currently exists on display in the National Library and the Gershom Scholem collection, which is the largest collection of Kabbalah related artifacts and items in the world.

18 June 2023

Read more: Israel's National Library Adds Mystical Kabbalistic Diagrams to Its Collection