Israel Active

When 23,000 bees chose to make a home on a Tel Aviv balcony, the owners called Magen Dvorim Adom (see previously) who relocated the entire hive to one of the dozens of bee nesting boxes that the municipality has set up to preserve its pollinators. A kind of “Bee N Bee” (tee hee!)

See this brave Iranian unfurl an Israeli flag in front of the Azadi Tower in Tehran. Ironically, the tower is still standing, although originally commissioned by the Shah of Iran, who was deposed by the regime of the current Islamic Republic.

Israel has 5 new or extended nature and heritage preservation areas. Evrach Marine Reserve (Ashdod to Ashkelon) is extended from 300 meters to 7km. Ramon Crater reserve now includes the whole crater. Sharon Park and Forest Pond in Hadera. Plus Caesarea’s offshore Park (see ).

A delegation of 100 Jewish mothers from eight U.S. cities took part in the Momentum Journey of Growth – a yearlong program, connecting them with their Jewish identity and heritage. It culminated with an 8-day visit to Israel organized by the Momentum organization (see previously).

The apolitical NGO Sharaka (see previously) is leading a delegation of Muslim leaders, journalists, academics, and others, originally from South Asia, on a trip to the Jewish State. Although most now live in North America, they were generally unaware of Israel’s multi-ethnic population.

Dozens of children of foreign workers, who grew up in Israel, are petitioning Israeli ministers and pursuing legal avenues, to be allowed to serve in Israel’s Defense Forces. Many have already volunteered as agricultural laborers and now want to give back to the country via the IDF.

26 haredi Israeli soldiers have graduated as first-level technicians on F-16 fighter jets. They will serve at the operational center for combat aircraft in the Air Force and will ensure that aircraft and weapon systems are ready for operational activity.

The amazing story of Dr Kira Radinsky, CEO of Diagnostic Robotics (see previously) was reported here in 2022.  You can hear Israel’s “Woman of the Year” give more details here. She reveals that her mother was pregnant with her in Kiev when the Chernobyl reactor exploded only 80km away!

Israel’s Ethiopian community celebrated the holiday of Sigd with a prayer gathering at Jerusalem’s Western Wall. Sigd is an official Israeli holiday, celebrated 50 days after Yom Kippur. Moshe Solomon, born in Ethiopia, explains the festival. He is now Deputy Speaker of Israel’s Parliament.

When reporting the success of Israeli universities in the Shanghai Ranking previously (see ) I failed to mention that on a per capita basis Israel came overall fourth in the world, behind only Switzerland, Singapore and Denmark. It outperformed France, Germany, the UK, and Sweden.