Israel Active

Technion alumna Maya Shnur is a business manager at Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. “When the sirens start and I take my little boy down into the bomb shelter, I say ‘thank you Rafael for saving our lives.’” Maya contributes to Israel’s security and raises the profile of women in the workplace.

The world’s oldest journalist, Walter Bingham (see previously), celebrated his 100th birthday by skydiving over Israel – as he had done on his 95th birthday. Before he boarded the plane he said he looked forward to “seeing the country from the River to the Sea”.

Amichay Shindler saved his family by absorbing a bomb planted by Hamas terrorists outside the door to their safe room. Ten months and one prosthetic hand later, it is still not clear how he is alive today. His wife Avital manages a group for the wives of injured Israeli reservists.

Israeli President Herzog launches the Voice of the People initiative on Sun 15th Sep with an inaugural online symposium, featuring Israeli actress Gal Gadot. The event aims to unite Jewish voices from around the world to emphasize the resilience and unity of the Jewish people amid current global challenges.

This week, the Real Jerusalem Streets stretched from Israel’s capital to Sderot to show the unity of Israelis. The Kotel (Western Wall), Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s funeral, wedding photos at the Botanical Gardens, and new buildings for the many people wanting to live in restored Sderot.

A five-year-old girl from Kiryat Gat was released from Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon after falling eight floors and only suffering minor bruising and scratches. She had woken in the night, climbed out onto the balcony and fell into bushes, eight floors below. The parents plan to celebrate the miracle.

The National Library of Israel has received the original version of the Moss Haggadah. The 1980’s masterpiece, by renowned Judaica artist David Moss, is a large-format, handwritten and hand-illuminated rendition of the classical Passover seder liturgy in a traditional style.

Philanthropists Debbie and Michael Flacks have donated $5 million to Colel Chabad to erect a new center dedicated to promoting community service and acts of kindness. The 10-story “Flacks Chessed Tower” will be located next to Jerusalem’s Machaneh Yehudah open-air market.

Miri and her fiancé Roy are both IDF reserve officers and had to postpone their wedding several times due to the war. When they finally fixed the date, they pleaded on Instagram for help getting Miri’s paralyzed, holocaust-survivor grandfather Kim to attend. Thanks to Israel’s Wish Ambulance, he got there.

Rhoda’s great-niece Chana Koenig shows typical Israeli resilience by making gourmet chocolates (without preservatives) in Nahariya, northern Israel. For the last 11 months, she has endured near-incessant aerial attacks by Hezbollah from exploding UAVs and rocket fire. (link in article is incorrect) (link here is correct)