Israel Active

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!

Avi Abelow founder of Pulse of Israel has been touring the USA. In this video he inspires youth in Phoenix Arizona about their Jewish identity.  All Jews should hear this, especially to counter the antisemitism in the universities. Am Yisrael Chai!

A rocket fired by Hamas caused significant damage to the roof and interior of a synagogue in the Gaza border community of Kibbutz Sa'ad. Following the impact, a group of Jewish worshippers gathered outside the damaged building to continue their afternoon prayers.

Yaron Avraham was featured in this newsletter in Oct 2020 (see ). In this recent interview, he shares his story from growing up as an Arab Israeli being sent to Gaza for extremist indoctrination, only to leave, convert to Judaism and join the IDF.

IDF forces have uncovered millions of shekels in Gaza and PA cities that were intended to fund terrorism.  Israel will make better use of the money.