Israel Active

All of Israel celebrated the news that IDF special forces had rescued two Israeli-Argentinian hostages in a daring overnight operation in Rafah. The President of Argentina had just completed his historic visit to Israel and was also delighted with the outcome.

In-flight “entertainment” on El Al long haul flights now includes religious content, provided by the YUTorah platform. It includes discussions on Halacha (Jewish law), Jewish history, Tefillah (Jewish prayer), dating and marriage, parenting, Parsha (weekly Torah portion), and Daf Yomi.

Back in 2015, archaeologists discovered the remains of a Roman garrison at Megiddo in northern Israel (see previously). 8.5 years of excavations have revealed it to be Legio - a permanent base for more than 5,000 soldiers, and a strategic military hub for more than 180 years.

Some 5,200 children gathered in 42 communities in the Binyamin region of Samaria to pray for the IDF’s success. They also prayed for soldiers wounded during the military campaign and for the return of hostages being held by Hamas.

Several branches of Israel’s largest hamburger fast-food chains McDonald’s, Burger Ranch and BurgerIM, plus Domino’s Pizza are to enforce higher kosher standards. The aim is to support Israel Defense Force soldiers who only eat mehadrin-certified meat.

Israel’s President and Prime Minister spoke at a special event to mark the 75th anniversary of the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament). The session was also attended by the Leader of the Opposition and the acting President of the Supreme Court. A military cantor led a prayer for the safety of IDF soldiers.

The word of the Lord really has gone out from Jerusalem. IDF Battalion 7421 moved all over the Gaza Strip, fighting Hamas terrorists. Everywhere they went, they were accompanied by the battalion's Torah scroll, establishing seven temporary synagogues. (See Numbers Chapter 10 verses 35 & 36.)

The Argentinian President vowed to move his Embassy to Jerusalem and prayed at the Kotel during his recent visit. And the secular family of the two rescued Israeli-Argentinian hostages revealed that they had been lighting Shabbat candles.  Read about the previous hostage to have been rescued.

Military service for members of the Bedouin tribes is not mandatory, yet more than 1,500 are presently serving in the IDF. Public figures came to the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem as a tribute to 13 civilian Bedouin who saved men, women, and small children while being fired at by Hamas.

The President’s Medal for Civilian Heroism is to be awarded to civilians who showed outstanding heroism on October 7. The announcement said it is to honor ordinary citizens, who risked their lives, “out of a sense of unity of fate and mutual Israeli guarantee, with the aim of saving lives.”