Israel Active

A young Israeli reservist, recently returned from two months of duty in Gaza, discovered he had won a 15 million shekel ($4 million) lottery win. He outlined plans to use a large portion of the winnings to establish a non-profit organization to support fellow soldiers and those impacted by the war.

Days before the fast of Tisha B’Av, archaeologists uncovered 2nd Temple-era relics at ancient Shiloh, including a lavish ritual bath and a purple-dye snail shell once used for sacred garments. It sheds new light on the original site in Israel of the Tabernacle and its Jewish connection.

Lost for decades, a Torah was smuggled by the Kahn family out of Nazi Germany, taken to the USA but lost for nearly 80 years. Finally, it was discovered by the daughter of Rabbi Aaron Adler (whose wife is a Kahn descendant) and re-dedicated at Kibbutz Nahal Oz.

(For Jerusalem Day) For 2,000 years we prayed, cried, and longed “L’shana haba’a b’Yerushalayim” - next year in Jerusalem, and today, we are BLESSED to walk her streets, to see the Israeli flag fly over a united Jerusalem, to live as a sovereign nation in our homeland! (2025 video)

Michael Freund, founder of Shavei Israel writes about the Bnei Menashe community from North East India who for 27 centuries, dreamed of returning to Zion. By 2030, all of them will be living and dreaming in Zion.

Ashkelon, once home to the Philistines, was a vital part of ancient Israel and a key maritime trade hub. The city has hundreds of archaeological sites including where Samson literally brought the house down. And on Jerusalem Day, news of a mysterious ancient tunnel found near Jerusalem.

A national heritage center for aviation planned for construction north of Jerusalem will dedicate a wing to Lt. Col. Yoni Netanyahu, who died in “Operation Thunderbolt” to rescue 102 hostages held in Uganda. This year is the 50th anniversary of the successful Entebbe military operation.

Israel’s Moshe Frei, was trekking Mount Everest with three friends when he completed the Menachot tractate at Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 5,364 meters (17,598 feet). “The timing was right, and it was a great place,” Frei told JNS from Nepal.

This is only a partial list. Thanks to the Almighty for all the miracles.

The Israeli government is to reduce the minimum leave period that entitles furloughed private sector workers to receive 75% of their full salary. The period will now be five consecutive days, down from 10 days.