Women’s soccer success
Israeli Arab Marian Awad scored the opening goal in Israel’s 2-0 win against . Israel beat Armenia 4-0 in the Women’s Nations League (see the goals). Israel’s U17 women’s team defeated 7-0, and 2-0 in the 2024 Euro qualifiers.
Silent protest
Europe’s soccer ruling body UEFA distastefully refused to allow the Israeli and Polish teams to observe a moment’s silence for the victims of Oct 7 before their Under-21 European Championship match. So, when the referee blew his whistle to start the game, nobody moved! Very moving for the rest of us, though.
Martial artists
Israel’s Jujitsu team won 12 medals at the European championships in Croatia - more than any other team. And at the World kickboxing championships, Druze-Israeli Monia Heno won a silver medal.
Seeds of Hope
KKL-JNF is offering a relaxing, meaningful nature activity for young members of communities in the Golan that have not been evacuated. In its “Seeds of Hope” initiative, volunteers sort rare seeds stored in the Shamir Research Institute for Science, and plant them nearby. Some 60 schools have enrolled.
Wait for it
“The Genius of Israel”, Dan Senor and Saul Singer’s follow-up to their 2009 international bestseller “Start-Up Nation”, was written, edited, and ready for publication but the Oct 7 events put it on hold. Here is Bret Stephen’s review and despite the somewhat untimely title, be patient and uplifted.
New Israeli stamps
Latest (Dec 2023) issue of Israeli stamps includes Springs in Israel, Early wine industry in the Land of Israel, Israel-Guatemala 75 years of friendship, 75 years of printing Israeli stamps, and Israel’s national parks (Baram & Nimrod Fortress).
Where have all the flowers come from
A symbol of hope and renewal blossomed in the Re’im forest - new life in the form of autumn wildflowers. “See the regeneration of nature in one of the greatest disaster areas that the State of Israel has known,” said Amir Balaban, of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.
You’ll never walk alone with Azi
Israeli singer Azi Schwartz is cantor at a synagogue in New York. He was visiting wounded soldiers at Ichilov (Sourasky) Hospital in Tel Aviv where his sister is director of the psychiatric division. Azi gave an impromptu concert in a public area within the hospital where he sang some popular songs.
Magic
Alan Sakowitz has just completed 26 magic shows in Israel, entertaining displaced children and children of Israeli soldiers. He performed in Efrat, Kiryat Gat, Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem and Beitar, from Oct. 26 through Nov. 7. In Efrat, his audience exceeded 960 - nearly 9% of the total city’s population of 10,800.
Free trips for 130 kids and their families
130 children and their families were treated to free flights to Hungary, plus accommodation, to watch the Israeli national soccer team play Romania and Switzerland. It was organized by Yigal Nisell, COO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement. Sponsors included ISRAIR & Fattal.