Israel Active

An EL AL 787 Dreamliner that landed on Oct 23 in Ben Gurion Airport was filled with 22 tons of supplies donated to assist with the ongoing war effort. Jointly sponsored by the Phoenix Group and NY-based Amudim Community Resources, plus El Al, the cargo hold was full of medical aid and clothing.  

Organizations that only weeks ago were protesting on the streets are now helping victims of Hamas. Some 15,000 volunteers at the Expo Tel Aviv International Convention Center are distributing donated equipment and food, finding accommodation for evacuees, and much more.

On Oct 7, Bedouin Arab minibus driver Youssef Ziadna went to pick up one of his regular customers at the outdoor party near Gaza and came face to face with Hamas’ brutal massacre. He then dodged bullets and drove off-road to rescue 30 Jewish Israelis and bring them to safety.

Less than ten brave young men on Kibbutz Kerem Shalom held 100 Hamas terrorists at bay for more than 6 hours, despite being low on ammunition, until the Israeli Army came in and rescued them.

Here are some sites where newsletter readers can donate to Israeli organizations that provide vital help to Israelis at this difficult time.  Many thanks to those who have already contributed.   Friends of the IDF (US donors): or IDF Soldiers Fund in Israel:  (select the English speakers’ option)   American Friends of Magen David Adom (US donors): or Magen David Adom (Israel):   Zaka (US donors):  or (Israeli donors):   United Hatzalah: Leket Food Israel: JNF USA - Orthodox Union -   Hadassah Hospital Israel: Laniado Hospital (Netanya)

Israeli civilians heroically fought back against Hamas on October 7. Citizens, police officers, and soldiers, at home and on base, scrambled, improvised, and fought back fiercely. These brave citizens not only saved countless lives: These Israelis saved Israel.

Tel Aviv University (TAU) has launched the gap-year program Exploration, Leadership, and Innovation (ELI). Taught in English from Aug 2024, students can choose 5 or 10-months, and from 5 tracks, including Jewish Peoplehood, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

An orthodox Jewish man stood by the counter of El Al Airlines at JFK airport and paid for anyone's flight who presented him with an IDF call-up notice. He paid for 250 tickets.

A Bedouin IDF Lieutenant Colonel saved the lives of the wives and children of IDF officers at the division's Re'im base. He removed his IDF uniform, called to the infiltrating terrorists in Arabic, and then eliminated them when they emerged, thinking he was also a Hamas terrorist.

Instead of sheltering during the Hamas rocket barrage on Oct 7, Inbal Rabin-Liberman, head of the security at Kibbutz Nir Am, armed her 12-person team. They were then able to defend against the infiltrating Hamas terrorists for almost three and a half hours until the IDF arrived.