Israel Active

Two rabbis from Israel have quietly joined a Jewish delegation in Aleppo, entering synagogues and a former Jewish school that have been locked for decades - a scene that would have been unthinkable under the old Assad regime.

Archaeologists digging underneath the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount recently discovered a metal pendant bearing a symbol of a menorah, raising questions about how a clearly Jewish item reached Jerusalem during a time when Jews were banned from entering the city.

In 1798, on 19th Kislev, Chabad founder Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (author of the book of Tanya) was released from prison in Russia. In his honor, MK Tzvi Succot (Religious Zionists) invited reform rabbi Gilad Kariv (Labor) to study with him. MK Kariv agreed.

Israel is to invest millions of dollars in Jewish education in the U.S. after seven pilot programs showed “unprecedented” growth in enrollment in participating schools. Israel invests in the Diaspora, as it is the “Nation State of the Jewish People” (enshrined in its Declaration of Independence).

The 1,000 pastors reported last week (see ) also went to see the site of the Hebrews’ Tabernacle when it was first brought to the Land of Israel by Joshua. Friends of Zion founder Mike Evans emphasized that Shilo, in Judea & Samaria, preceded Jerusalem as Israel’s first spiritual capital.

Israel’s national tennis team will host a Davis Cup playoff in February for the first time since 7 Oct 2023. The evemt, against Lithuania, is scheduled to take place on Feb. 6-7 at the Arena Hall in Netanya as part of World Group I of the Davis Cup,

Maxim Herkin, recently freed from Hamas captivity, underwent a circumcision ceremony in Moscow. Chief Rabbi of Russia Rabbi Berel Lazar presided over the ceremony, offering a blessing and granting Herkin the name Zalman Zelig in honor of his maternal grandfather.

The Jewish victory that lead to Hanukah also established the Hasmonean dynasty. Israeli archeologists have just discovered remains of a Hasmonean palace at Alexandrium above the Jordan Valley. And a 40-meter wall, built by the Hasmoneans was uncovered in Jerusalem’s City of David.

A thief broke into the car of ex-hostage Bar Kupershtein and stole his cell phone. But he was still upbeat. He was “going to the police station to file a complaint, and not being in the tunnels thinking about what I need to eat now and whether they will bring me food.”

The Jewish holiday of Hanukah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees against the Seleucid Greeks. A survey at Horbat Bet Zecharia, south of Jerusalem, has found objects that match the date and profile of the famous battle described in the Book of Maccabees in 163 BCE.