A Trip to the Holy Land, Online
By Sarah Kricheff
Flying to Israel is costly and time-consuming, but a virtual trip is just a few mouse clicks away. The online world Second Life opened an Israel community last Sunday, and users can now travel to such sites as the Old City in Jerusalem, the Western Wall, the promenade and opera house in Tel Aviv, the Red Sea and the Eilat underwater observatory.
“We wanted to present Israel as a very modern country that is rooted in its history,” Second Life Israel founder Chaim Landau told The Shmooze. “We hope to present Israel outside the box.”
Second Life is an online community and networking site that was opened in 2003 by San Francisco-based technology company Linden Lab. Some 11 million users from around the world are registered. Members create avatars and partake in a variety of activities, including building houses and businesses, purchasing property, traveling, and visiting dance clubs, shopping malls and movie theaters.
Landau, 26, is a New Jersey native who moved to Israel eight years ago. He created Second Life Israel with the help of Beth Brown, a Dallas-based artist. Brown built Second Life’s first synagogue, Temple Beth Israel, in 2006.
Though Landau said that the Israel community is geared toward “everyone and anyone,” he hopes to attract non-Jewish users who wish to learn more about Israel: “Many [users] come from places like South Korea and Japan, and of course there are many Europeans. I want to reach a non-Jewish audience. I think there’s an interest.”
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Wonderful , at last , good job Landau
Nice job. Is there a SLURL?
Interesting, would be great to include the Second Life URL to go there directly from this article
Finally Isreal w\out a fence that needes to be Guarded:-) all of the Hativat HaTzanhanim is greatful Kolakavod!
Let's hope there isn't a Second Israeli-Palestinian conflict!
Mazel Tov. I can't wait to make a visit. I may even consider making aliyah. Yes someone please post the slurl.
Just dont get confused. for jews, this virtual world is a far cry from the experience of returning to their true homeland. every jew belongs in israel; physically, not virtually, me-az v'litamid! coming for real is worth it.
Is this really for "everyone and anyone" What will visitors learn about Palestine?
To get there, just go to Second life search and put in Israel, or Jewish, OR go to the map and go to the region Israel. Thanks for the great Feedback
it,s worth to go and take palastin from their owner and kick them out
its amazing
Since my Last post on this Blog I have gotten some back lash from Anti-semetic residents. an example can be seen here: SophiaOlivia Petrov: you are such a bitter jew SophiaOlivia Petrov: so jealous and so evil...evil jew that is what I am going to call you from now on so my question is Should Religious Areas be set up on Secondlife when obviously some users still bring Hate and Ignorance to a Videogame?
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