Israel Active

The Israeli embassy in majority Muslim Senegal provided poor families sheep for the holiday of Tabaski – the Wolof name for Eid al-Adha. These gifts have been an annual tradition since 2006.

Jerusalem philanthropist David Hager has been awarded the President’s Badge of Volunteering for co-founding the Nachal Haredi unit of the IDF. Also, his work for the Netzach Yehuda Association, which has integrated over 16,000 haredi service graduates into the Israeli economy and society.

Members of Rescuers Without Borders (see previously), together with Judea and Samaria Rescuers Without Borders, visited the city of Sderot as part of their mission to fit and make eyeglasses for survivors of the Shoah.

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska and Israel’s First Lady Michal Herzog visited the rehabilitation department of Sheba Medical Center and patients at the Safra Children’s Hospital. Mrs Zeleneska hopes to model Israel’s program for treating amputees, paralyzed patients, and children in Ukraine.

"Rich cultural heritage, kind people, and abundance of food, shopping, and learning" were cited as the reason why The Travel blog ranked Tel Aviv as the happiest city in the world. It also noted that Tel Aviv has become "a global hot spot for spring break and vacationing as a whole."  

The South Pacific island country of Fiji has announced that its first embassy in Israel will open next year. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen welcomed the announcement, calling Fiji a “true friend” of Israel.  Fiji’s will be the 98th embassy to the Jewish state.

The US National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) honored Tel Aviv University Professor Isaac P. Witz, for his cancer research on how components of the immune system infiltrate the tumor microenvironment (TME) affecting tumor formation, progression, and metastasis.

Capoeira (see previously) is a Brazilian martial art that combines dance, acrobatics, and music. As this video of the first Israeli Capoeira Festival shows, Israel’s capoeira community accepts everyone – Orthodox, Arab, elderly, young and everyone in between.

Latest video featuring Israel’s Dream Doctors – clowns who promote healing through laughter. They “operate” in Israeli hospitals, but also in disaster areas where they bring hope to children, adults, and doctors.

Read about Racheli Ganot (see previously), founder of Israel’s Ready Group, a microchip hardware and software development company of 170 employees (80% women). For her work integrating Orthodox women in hi-tech, Ganot lit a torch at Israel's 70th Independence Day ceremony.