Israel Active

Noa Argamani, 27, and Hila Rotem Shoshani, 13, who were kidnaped and held hostage by Hamas terrorists on Oct 7 2023, surprised Emily Hand at her home in honor of her 10th birthday. Noa was rescued from Gaza by IDF soldiers, and Hila was released in the same hostage deal as Emily.

The exceptional longevity of Israel’s citizens is often reported , but this newsletter editor was especially pleased to read that the recent 110th birthday celebrations for Tzila Cohen took place  less than a mile down the road at Netanya’s Laniado hospital. Luckily, no candles to blow out!

A group of Golani soldiers on a training run stumbled upon a bride and groom on a photo shoot on their wedding day. To the amazement of the couple, the soldiers interrupted their run to fulfil the mitzvah of Keytzad Merakdim - dancing and singing before the groom and bride at a wedding.

In the global Simchat Torah project, 525 synagogues each selected the name of a fallen IDF soldier to be inscribed on a new Torah cover. Montreal’s Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem (TBDJ) was randomly given Eitan Na’eh. They couldn’t find anything about Eitan, until by chance his best friend walked in.

Mendel Rata, son of the Rebbe of the Ashdod’s "Shomrei Emunim" hasidic court, is enlisting in the new haredi Hashmonaim Brigade, which held its initiation ceremony at the Kotel. Rata posted: “Instead of dragging out different excuses, my conscience tells me I must get up and take action."

Two groundbreaking events in the IDF to empower women. The first was the announcement of Israel’s first religious women-only combat unit, within the Combat Intelligence Corps. And on Nov 18, the Ayit Battalion launched the first IDF operational mission involving female combat soldiers.

Israel’s birth rate, the highest among OECD countries at around 3 children per woman (see previously), has not only defied the global trend of declining births but has also surged during the ongoing conflict, with hospitals reporting up to 40% more deliveries than usual.

Netiv Hasharaya is an agricultural village about 9 miles from the Lebanese border. When a Hezbollah rocket hit a house, it set fire to a row of newly-planted avocado trees. Residents rushed to put out the fire and then replanted the orchard. They are adamant that they are not evacuating.

Videos from “Buy a Piece of Israel” gives readers an insight as to how farming life continues despite the threat of rocket fire and drones from Hezbollah.

The Israeli government’s Tekuma Directorate has allocated NIS 180 million to restore Kibbutz Kfar Aza, which was devasted by Hamas terrorists on Oct 7 2023.