Israel Active

Yanky Fachler (based in Ireland) sends out a batch of positive stories, every 2-3 days – many related to Israel.  If anyone wants to be added to his mailing list, please email

Canadian-born Irving Matlow, who fought to ensure Israel's existence in 1948, is finally becoming an Israeli citizen at the age of 96.  His parents made Aliyah in 1955 and he always wanted to, “but life got in my way”. ?

Whatever the annual statistics show, there certainly has been an increase in Aliya since Oct.7. 720 newcomers have arrived in Israel since the onset of the war, with 200 of them landing just in the last week of 2023. And in the 4th quarter of 2023, Aliyah requests were up 142% from the previous year.

These brave soldiers send out such positive inspirational messages.

Not a John le Carre book title, but some of the innovative mobile services that Israelis have developed to provide IDF soldiers with basic necessities. Thanks to Brothers and Sisters for Israel, (see ) the NGO Restart (see ), Rabbi Shai Graucher (see ), and Bentov Ellipsis.

Israel21c’s Word of the Year for 2023 is Resilience. Israeli NGO Eran defines it as “the ability to enlist internal resources such as flexible thinking, creativity and a willingness to receive help, together with external resources, in order to overcome the challenges and obstacles that always face us.”

Parents Beyachad is a worldwide group of parents of IDF soldiers. They have enlisted famous personalities to record 60+ video messages of support.

Brothers Daniel and Neria Sharabi, saved dozens of lives at the Supernova music festival on Oct 7 by providing fire cover for escapees with weapons they found in a tank, while receiving instructions over the phone from an IDF officer. They also treated the wounded who were hiding with them.

Ezra Yachin at 95 years young is the oldest active IDF reservist. Despite losing an eye in 1948, he was called up to active duty in the current war. The New York Post, Al Jazeera, etc., wrote about the elderly IDF soldier who put on a uniform again to defend Israel. And he says the enemy hasn’t changed tactics. (skip video)

There has been a 450% increase in the number of French Jews applying to immigrate to Israel since Oct 7. Nearly 70,000 Jews out of a community of approximately 500,000 have made Aliyah from France since 2000. So, it’s very timely that this newsletter is currently available in French!