Operation Hug
Some very emotional scenes as Nefesh b’Nefesh flies out parents to Israel to greet their lone soldier children serving in combat units. There is no guarantee that the IDF will release the soldiers to meet up with their parents but just see the reaction when they do!
A Torah scroll of healing and hope
Nogah Safer’s day job may be in hi-tech, but it is his work as a Torah scribe that he really enjoys. In writing his first Torah scroll he has enlisted secular Kibbutz members, survivors of the Nova party, and IDF soldiers serving in Gaza. Over 1,000 added a letter to help complete the scroll.
Jewish presence in the Land of Israel (Part 3)
The final instalment of the series showing that Jews have been in the Land of Israel for over 3,000 years. Just in case anyone tells you that we are colonialists!
Yanky’s Morale-Boosting Doodles
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
He fought in Israel’s War of Independence – now he makes Aliyah
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”.
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End-of-year Aliyah surge
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.
The spirit of wounded soldiers
These brave soldiers send out such positive inspirational messages.
Showers, tailor, laundry, beds
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.
Word of the Year – Resilience
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.”
Support for parents of IDF soldiers
Parents Beyachad is a worldwide group of parents of IDF soldiers. They have enlisted famous personalities to record 60+ video messages of support.