Israel Active

Rachel and David Edri survived a harrowing 20-hour ordeal, holed up with terrorists in their home in Ofakim. Rachel offered refreshments to the five terrorists, and later a meal, engaged them in small talk, playing for time until an elite IDF unit arrived and eliminated the terrorists.

Lior Raz, Tsahi Halevi and Idan Amedi are among the actors of the popular Israeli TV series Fauda who have joined the hundreds of thousands of IDF reservists. Lior posted “headed down south to join hundreds of brave "brothers in arms" volunteers”. They extracted families from the bombarded town of Sderot.

The family of 23-year-old IDF Lt. Roi Nahari, killed by Hamas, donated his organs to five patients at Israel’s Beilinson Hospital. His liver went to a 44-year-old mother of five, suffering from hepatitis for 30 years.

So many Israelis wanted to donate blood for the wounded that many blood donation centers only accepted those with blood type O, which can be transfused universally.

I “normally” report about Israeli humanitarian organization IsraAID when it responds to global disasters. When the disaster is much closer to home, IsraAID is also there for us. IsraAID CEO Yotam Polizer will be speaking at a free zoom meeting hosted by ESRA on Oct 24.

It’s at these times that the people of Israel come together to help those who have been most impacted by these tragic events.  Not just dedicated humanitarian organizations but hi-tech companies such as Mobileye, OurCrowd, More Foods, and even the Israel Tennis Education Centers.

There are literally thousands of articles describing the help that Israel’s friends overseas are sending to the IDF and Israelis affected by the war in Gaza.  Here are some of them.

US company Tesla is providing free use of its 17 Israel-located superchargers for the estimated 10,000 Israeli Tesla electric car owners. Superchargers are the company’s fastest way of charging its vehicles, able to extend the cars’ range by up to 200 miles in just 15 minutes. More good Tesla PR in 3rd link!

United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Penina had to postpone her wedding in Netivot. UH’s founder Eli Beer, however, organized an alternative wedding in Jerusalem, enlisting local vendors who provided their services to the couple free of charge.

So many examples of Israeli Arabs standing shoulder to shoulder with Israeli Jews. Here is one.