Israel Active

Two articles. The first, an interview with one of United Hatzalah’s Arab volunteer medics, and the second with the Druze Head of Ziv Medical Center in Safed, highlight some of the key factors of what’s good and unique about the Jewish State.

This video features Yossi’s amazing journey from convict to IDF Officer.  An inspiration for the period leading up to the Days of Repentance.

During the recent fast of 9th Av a fox was seen in the ruins of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In the Babylonian Talmud (Tractate Makkot 24b), Rabbi Akiva laughed at seeing a fox in the ruins of the Temple. He said it fulfilled a negative prophecy and meant a positive one will also come true.   (see the video of the fox)

Hundreds of ritual baths (Mikvaot) have been uncovered in the land of Israel, in the desert, in the Galilee, under Jerusalem houses, at construction sites, and ancient towns. The vast majority date back over 2,000 years to the Second Temple period, with at least 50 found adjacent to the Temple Mount.  

A rare silver half-shekel was discovered at the entrance to a Judean desert cave near Ein Gedi. It has been dated to 66-67 C.E. - the time of the first Jewish revolt against the Romans. The words "Holy Jerusalem" are inscribed in ancient Hebrew script on one side of the coin.

Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center delivered a record seven pairs of twins (14 healthy babies) in a single 24-hour period between July 12 and 13. The previous record was five sets of twins. Shaare Zedek is Israel’s busiest maternity hospital, with more than 22,000 births every year.

A highly trained team of divers and archaeologists have been using sand dredgers to excavate relics from 3,000 years ago off the Israeli coast near Dor Beach some 40km north of Netanya. Two shipwrecks from 500-1000 BCE provide a glimpse of Biblical maritime trade.

Tel Aviv has the highest percentage of vegans per capita in the world. Now, Rabbi Avika Gersh (also known as “the Vegan Rabbi”) has launched vegan matchmaking. He managed the speed dating event at the recent Vegan Fest in Tel Aviv, in which 240 vegans participated.

The Augmented Reality app Kotel AR has been launched by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. It overlays the view of the Western Wall with how it would look at the same location 2,000 years ago. It can be downloaded free on Android and Apple devices.

Israel is to spend NIS 250 million developing and reconstructing sites in Jerusalem’s Old City Jewish Quarter over the next 5 years. It will include funds for the Tifaret Israel Synagogue, the Wall Elevator, the Broad Wall, the Davidson Center, and the Cardo complex, plus tours, events, and shows.