This Week from Israel

* Former Israeli journalist, Shlomo Nakdimon, one of the most respected political correspondents in the history of Israel, will be given a lifetime award by the Israeli Journalists Association. Nakdimon has a major part in the history of Israel, and in the world of media. In his long career, starting in 1957, he has exposed and covered many of Israel's most famous stories. Nakdimon will receive the award in a conference in Eilat next week.

* An original initiative by the Israeli city Haifa, will soon make teachers feel like they're in Hollywood. Haifa's Mayor, Yona Yahav, and his staff, wanted to give teachers the respect they deserve for their hard and dedicated work. Next week, pictures of 80 teachers will be hung at “the boulevard of the star teachers”, almost like Hollywood's Walk of Fame. The teachers who interviewed for Yediot Ahronot newspaper, said they are very excited with the initiative, and that it makes them feel even more proud doing what they do.

* Are you a computer wiz? If the answer is “yes”, you might be exactly what the IDF is looking for! Exclusive units at the IDF are currently searching for “foreign” additions in Diaspora communities in the States. Representatives of those units are looking for young cyber specialists who wish to join the IDF and contribute to Israel. Nowadays, they are visiting high schools in North America and starting the screening process there. The young talented Zionists who would be tracked down as a potential addition to the IDF, will be invited to make Aliyah and start their meaningful service.

* Turns out the U.S is inspiring Israel even when it comes to elections. A new campaign that launched last week is calling Israelis to vote in the Knesset elections in January. Israeli celebrities, including news anchors, musicians, actors and journalists, were photographed wearing t-shirts with the writings: “Vote! Or somebody else will vote for you.” The campaign, under the title: “This time we're all voting,” was initiated by social activists Regev Contes, Shir Nosatzki and Roee Neuman, and is inspired by the U.S 2008 campaign, where stars like Madonna, Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson called US citizens to come and vote for their Presidential candidate. The purpose of this campaign is to get as many people as possible to make a difference by casting their votes. In the past years, the number of voters is decreasing, as people believe their “one vote” will not make a difference, and that the “other candidate will win anyway.”

* French Jewish scientist Serge Haroche, who won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics, is visiting Israel as a guest of the Weizmann Institute of Science. Last week, Haroche attended a special event at the Jaffa residence of the French Ambassador to Israel, where he was greeted by Science and Technology Minister Daniel Hershkowitz, Nobel laureate Prof. Ada Yonath and Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities President Prof. Ruth Arnon, as well as many more scientists from leading Israeli universities. Haroche expressed his objection to the academic boycott of Israel, and showed his great support of the Israeli scientists and academics.

* Most American voters in Israel vote for Romney. So says a survey announced last week by the iVoteIsrael organization. According to the survey, 85% of the 1572 voters participating said they voted for Romney, while 14% chose Obama. This statistic sits right with