Israel Active

Israeli researchers have analyzed the contents of “cave pearls” discovered in the millennia-old Joweizeh spring tunnel in the Jerusalem hills. The pearls, formed from mineral deposits, encased plaster from a building constructed around the time of the Hasmonean kings.

96-year-old Pearl Kronenberg Sapir has just made Aliya from New York. She was greeted at Ben Gurion airport by many of her 84 descendants from five generations - some of whom she met for the first time.  (see video at link)

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation are holding public candle-lighting ceremonies at the Kotel in Jerusalem every evening during the eight-day holiday of Chanukah. Participants include Rabbis, ambassadors, families of Gaza hostages, bereaved families, wounded IDF soldiers and others.

Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is following through with his promise (in Apr) to donate NIS 100 million to reconstructing Israel’s north. In 2015 Bloomberg also donated $100 million (see previously) to help build the new Cornell-Technion Institute in New York.

For three decades, One Israel Fund been helping 500,000+ residents in Judea and Samaria. It has spent millions on security protection, medical facilities, education, recreational equipment and communal infrastructure. It has just helped raise $1 million for an emergency center.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University found minimal environmental and health impacts at King Solomon's 10th century BCE copper mines in southern Israel's Timna Valley. Lead levels e.g., fell below 200 ppm just meters from the furnaces. They refute 1990’s claims that the mines polluted.

Between Oct 2023 and Sep 2024, Israel's Defense Ministry placed NIS 601 million of orders with 86 startups and small companies - five times more than in the previous year. 58 startups joined the Defense Ministry’s INNOFENSE accelerator program, building AI, navigation and deep tech systems.

Israel’s Tamir Barelko is the founder of the Café Otef chain (see previously) run by Oct 7 2023 survivors. He will shortly be opening Cafe Otef–Sderot (in Rehovot), and also Cafe Otef–Kiryat Shmona, paying tribute to those evacuated from the northern town for 14 months.

In this article from 6Degrees stops phantom pain in amputees. Sheba hospital repaired a soldier’s and also a dog’s. helped remove a bullet. located a bullet inside a Nova survivor’s brain. Also see (for PTSD) and (burns).

Liora Lubovitz Batan has a daughter and a son in the IDF.  Instead of sitting home and worrying, she enlisted in the IDF reserves, decades after completing her army service. she has since served 14 months in logistics positions and in combat support in the northern sector.