1 May marked the opening of the Shanghai World Expo. The Expo is expected to attract over 70 million visitors over the next six months. Over 200 countries are participating at the Expo.

It is the first time Israel has built a national pavilion at a World Expo, at a cost of US$6 million.

Israel’s pavilion highlights innovation and ancient Jewish culture. The message of Israel to the World Expo is “Innovation for Better Life” and it echoes the theme of the Expo, which is “Better City, Better Life.” Over 3.5 million visitors are expected to go through the pavilion.

Irit Ben-Abba, the State of Israel’s Commissioner General for Expo 2010, said the 2,000 square-metre pavilion symbolizes innovation and technology.

Haim Z. Dotan is the Chief Designer of the Pavilion and explained it consists of three areas – The Whispering Garden, The Hall of Light and The Hall of Innovations. The Whispering Garden is a green orchard that greets visitors as they enter the building with trees that whisper in English and Chinese when you come close to them. The Hall of Light includes a 15-meter high screen that displays films of Israel’s innovations and technological achievements.

The Hall of Innovation is the centerpiece of the pavilion, with a special audio-visual show where Israeli children, scientists, doctors and inventors introduce themselves and share their hopes for a better future via hundreds of screens.

For those visiting the Expo, Rabbi Mendy and Mrs Sara Alevsky will be available to service all their Jewish needs.

They can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

_{(Issue May 2010)}