Acts News Network

Norway: Sami minority comes to Israel to save language

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:08:35 +0000

By GpoNews staff

Representatives of the Sami minority in Norway have come to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to learn how Hebrew is taught to students from around the world. Their goal is to apply similar teaching methods to revitalize the endangered Sami languages so they can pass them on to future generations.

An estimated 100,000 Sami people live in Lapland, a region in northern Europe stretching across Norway, Finland, Sweden and Russia. Of ten known Sami languages, several have disappeared, and some currently have as few as 30 speakers. Not all of the languages are mutually understandable.

With financial support from the Norwegian government, the Sami have launched several initiatives, such as a Sami-language kindergarten, to promote the use of their traditional languages. But their current objective is to learn how other cultures successfully revived traditional languages and to adopt those methods in their own communities.

“We wanted to learn from the best…”

According to delegation leader Kevin Johansen, “At first we focused on Scotland and Wales, because we had looked at how many people speak the different minority languages in Europe, and while most had declined, Scotland and Wales had some success. But they told us that it’s better for us to go to Israel, because the Israelis are the experts and they had learned from the Israelis. We wanted to learn from the best and so that’s why we decided to come here.” Johansen is an advisor for Sami issues at the University of Nordland in Norway and for the county governor of Nordland.

The delegation was greeted by Hebrew University president Prof. Menahem Ben-Sasson, who told them that the Hebrew University’s name reflected a conscious decision to emphasize the Hebrew language. Ben-Sasson encouraged their efforts to revive the Sami languages, and pointed out that while over 100 years ago few believed it was possible to bring Hebrew back to life, history has proven otherwise.

The delegation also visited the Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School, where they attended an ulpan Beginners-level class, met with teachers and administrators, and learned how the Hebrew University and other institutions have taught Hebrew to vast numbers of immigrants, students and others. (An ulpan is a school for the intensive study of Hebrew.)

“Even though we have been here a short time, we learned a lot and we have started planning for the next trip, to bring Sami teachers for a longer stay so they can learn ulpan teaching methods,” Johansen said, “We want to focus on the spoken language so that our people are able to communicate with each other. We think that will help motivate people and lead to better results.”

Israel: Iran raid a complex task for Israeli jets

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:02:39 +0000

Should Israel decide to launch a strike on Iran, its pilots would have to fly more than 1,000 miles across unfriendly airspace, refuel in the air en route, fight off Iran’s air defenses, attack multiple underground sites simultaneously — and use at least 100 planes.

By Elisabeth Bumiller | posted 2/19/2012

Poland: Educators revive history of Poland’s Jews

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:36:01 +0000

Certain Polish scholars believe that the Jewish heritage in Poland is an integral part of Polish history and that Poles must learn about it to understand contemporary Poland.

By Donald Snyder | Posted 02/18/12

Mexico: Drug violence driving people to Jesus

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:11:05 +0000

The fear of drug violence is driving unprecedented numbers of Mexicans – especially teens and twenty-somethings – into the arms of Christ.

By Evelyn Cook | posted 2/16/2012

Israel: Oldest couple to make aliyah arrives

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:54:38 +0000

The Torah says Abraham was 75 years old when he left his native land of Haran and set out to make his home in Canaan, but he was a spring chicken compared with the couple who arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport on Tuesday.

By Gil Shefler | posted 2/14/2012

Kenya: Twitter saves lives and sheep in remote African village

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:53:50 +0000

Keynan Village chief uses twitter to improve village life, regularly sending tweets about missing children and farm animals, showing that the power of social media has reached even into a dusty African village.

By Tom Odulla | posted 2/15/2012

Mideast: Iran warships enter Mediterranean as Britain warns of nuclear arms race

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:26:38 +0000

Iranian warships entered the Mediterranean Sea after crossing the Suez Canal on Saturday to show Tehran’s “might” to regional countries, the navy commander said, amid simmering tensions with Israel.

By Mohammad Davari | 2/18/2012

USA: Strong faith scores points for rising Asian-American basketball talent

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:14:59 +0000

An undrafted point guard from Harvard who has emerged from seemingly nowhere to become the toast of New York and Asian-Americans everywhere with his surprising star turn for the Knicks.

By Michael Luo | posted 2/11/2012

Science: Redeeming tobacco, success in fighting malaria

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:13:46 +0000

Hebrew University scientists genetically alter fast-growing tobacco to produce a natural compound known to fight drug-resistant malaria.

By Karin Kloosterman | posted 2/12/2012

Israel: IDF on alert following attacks from Gaza

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:55:05 +0000

The IDF has been placed on high alert, after terrorists fire anti-tank missiles at IDF force and rockets at southern Israel.

By Elad Benari | posted 2/17/2012

Ethiopia: Queen of Sheba’s lost gold mine discovered

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 07:03:01 +0000

A British archaeologist claims she may have uncovered the treasure mine from which the fabled Queen of Sheba drew her wealth.

By Rossella Lorenzi | Posted 02/16/12

Israel: IDF fears Syria attack as pressure builds on Assad

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 06:01:58 +0000

Concern is mounting within the IDF over the possibility that Syria will attack Israel as pressure mounts on President Bashar Assad to step down.

By Yaakov Katz | posted 2/16/2012

USA: Heightened security over Iran threat

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:11:19 +0000

With Iran allegedly striking out at Israeli citizens and Jewish targets around the world, Israeli and American security officials in the U.S. are on high alert.

By Richard Esposito | posted 2/14/2012

Israel: In anticipation of Shabbat snow in Jerusalem

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:17:33 +0000

What would it do for the soul to wake up on Shabbat morning and go out and play in the snow?

By David Brin | posted 2/16/2012

Pakistan: Christian sentenced to death, praying in prison

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:30:32 +0000

Christian woman sentenced to death has spent almost three years in solitary confinement on charges that she blasphemed Islam’s prophet Muhammad.

By Voice of the Martyrs | posted 2/2/12