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Making baa-liyah. A rare breed of sheep said to be descended from Jacob’s flock referenced in the Bible will be shepherded to Israel with the help of a Jewish couple based out of British Columbia. Israel’s national airline, El Al, will also help by heavily subsidizing the cost of shipping the alleged ‘biblical’ sheep. The flock currently consists of 113 animals — 18 adult rams, 62 adult ewes and the rest lambs. All will be settled on the Golan Heights.
“Experience Auschwitz as a Jew” with Google Play. Google Play has removed from its app store a mobile game that allowed users to “experience Auschwitz as a Jew.” The app, which was reportedly a parody game, was created by a vocational school in Spain and has (naturally) angered the international Jewish community. “We cannot understand how the top management of Google approved such a cynical game, turning the martyrdom of six million Jews into an object for amusement and enjoyment,” said Colette Avital, head of the Center of Holocaust Survivor Organizations.
Three mayors walk into a bar. With Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai by his side, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre announced he will lead an economic mission to Israel and the West Bank this fall, along with Toronto Mayor John Tory. This is only the second economic mission Coderre has led since his election in 2013. Huldai is the first Israeli mayor he’s met in person. The two discussed possible collaboration in information technology, the life sciences and security, areas in which both cities have expertise. They also discussed Coderre’s “zero tolerance” for anti-Semitism and the city’s program to prevent radicalization that leads to violence.
Didn’t they make a movie about this already? A 57-year-old Israeli-Jewish woman who has spent the last 19 days living in the arrivals area of Lima’s international airport finally left today. The woman, known as ‘the wandering Israeli’ by Peruvian media, apparently did not want to return to Israel, nor did she want to stay in a Jewish elderly home. According to reports, her next destination is unclear. I hear Krakozhia is beautiful this time of year.
The cookie monster bomber. A man carrying a suicide belt full of cookies and salt was arrested Tuesday after prompting a major anti-terror operation at a shopping mall in Brussels. The man, who investigators believe has severe psychiatric problems, reportedly lied about being abducted and driven to mall with an explosives belt. He later admitted to lying, investigators say. Authorities are still on high alert in Belgium following the Brussels bombing earlier this year that left 32 people dead.
Brexit strategy. How will Thursday’s referendum play out for Israel if the United Kingdom opts to leave the European Union? Most experts, including British Prime Minister David Cameron, say it would be better for the Holy Land if the U.K. remains a part of the EU. “When Europe is discussing its attitude to Israel, do you want Britain — Israel’s greatest friend — in there opposing boycotts, opposing the campaign for divestment and sanctions, or do you want us outside the room, powerless to affect the discussion that takes place?” Cameron asked during an address to the British Jewish community.
“It is preferable for Israel that Britain remain in the EU, where it is a voice of moderation” in favour of Israel, adds Oded Eran, former Israeli ambassador to the EU.
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