Israel Active

Sheba Medical Center has opened Israel’s first hospital gift room for long-term elderly patients. Those celebrating a birthday can visit the brightly decorated room, accompanied by volunteers or family members, who help them choose anything from books and puzzles to hats and blankets.

Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh, formerly the first female Druze MK (member of Israel’s parliament) is the Jewish Agency’s new senior shlicha (Israeli emissary). She will represent Israel in Washington, help train and provide support to Israel advocates on campus, plus much more.

The Israeli Kibbutz Movement has established a training course called “The Academy for future CEOs.” Its goal is to help women reach key positions and influence in the kibbutz movement and kibbutz industries, and to promote their integration into key positions in Israeli society at large.

62 women have graduated from the IAF pilots’ course (4 last week). Most became navigators, helicopter pilots, transport pilots or flight deck operators. Four became combat pilots and now there’s a fifth.  (Graduation video TY Yachad L’ma’an HaChayal English branch 0544 267389)

Meet Amitai Itzhari, who takes care of the inventory at the Knesset - Israeli parliament. He is also a selfie fanatic and a friend of every MK.

Shirley Pinto (Yamina) is Israel’s first deaf member of Knesset (Parliament). The daughter of deaf parents, Pinto lectured at Bar-Ilan University’s Sign Language Interpreting program. She joins Energy Minister Karin Elharrar - the first Israeli minister with disabilities.

Israel has sent 1,300 oxygen concentrators and 400 respirators to India to combat Covid (see previously). Israel’s private sector has raised $85,000 for equipment. Israeli technology is diagnosing cases in Indian hospitals and daily new cases have come down from 350,000 to around 60,000.

Mansoor Mohammad bin Shamekh al-Mazooqi was delighted to be the first Emirati to study in Israel. 19-year-old Mansoor from Dubai is studying for a bachelor's degree in government at the IDC (Interdisciplinary Center) in Herzliya. The UAE flag became the 91st national flag flying at the IDC.

Kibbutz Gat manager Ehud is also a volunteer medic for Israel’s United Hatzalah. He recently saved an Arab kibbutz worker who had electrocuted himself by simultaneous contact with electricity and water. Ehud and a colleague used a defibrillator shock to bring the Arab back to life.

Pre-school director Hila, a mother of 7 children jumped at the chance to become an EMT for United Hatzalah. Her husband, Dovie, was so moved by the important work that his wife was doing, that he too became a United Hatzalah volunteer.