Israel Active

The Israeli non-profit ELNET (European Leadership Network) hosted a delegation of Members of the Portuguese Parliament. They visited Oct 7 sites and met a survivor and a hostage family member. They also visited Yad Vashem, the Holy Sepulchre, and the Wailing Wall.

The shares that startups donated to Israel’s Tmura (see previously) resulted in more than NIS 10 million being given to worthy causes in 2024 - the second highest since it was founded in 2002. Most went to groups involved in resilience, rehabilitation, and reducing social disparities.

KKL-JNF’s conservation work (see previously) recently expanded to protect the Tomares Nesimachus, one of Israel’s rarest butterflies. It will only lay its eggs on the large-fruited milk-vetch plant – so KKL-JNF grew seedlings and planted them in the Begin Forest to reintegrate the butterfly.

Some of the recent activities performed by Israeli humanitarian organization SmartAID in Los Angeles include providing power to a dialysis clinic and home-based dialysis patients. They have provided clean water and Wi-Fi Internet; they also coordinate distribution of supplies and donated goods.

Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks, in partnership with Hispasat, swiftly provided additional satellite capacity in the wake of Hurricane Helene.  The extra bandwidth enabled first responders and utility workers to operate effectively during Georgia State’s recovery efforts.

Swedish MEP Alice Teodorescu Mawe is Israel’s top European ally. As Sweden’s sole center-right Christian Democrat member of the European Parliament, the staunch advocate for Jews and Israel is leading the fight against Jew-hatred masquerading as anti-Zionism.

Tel Aviv University has highlighted new and planned museums in the Muslim world commemorating the Holocaust. They include the Shaar Hashamayim Holocaust Museum in Indonesia, a permanent exhibition in Dubai, and a new museum being built in Albania.

Some readers (or their children or grandchildren) may be interested in studying at Tel Aviv University. Degree courses, master’s and MBAs – all taught in English.

Israel’s Ben Gurion University has signed an academic and cultural agreement with Argentina’s Instituto Universitario Isaac Abarbanel. It covers joint research, student partnerships, Zionism & Israel studies, and interfaith relations projects. Additional initiatives are planned.

At the Kibbutz Hannaton Educational Center in the Galilee, the pre-Army (“mechina”) gap year program aims to support lone soldiers - immigrants serving in the IDF without family in Israel - by providing housing and community support.