Israel Active

This year’s Lion of Zion prize in memory of Ari Fuld, was awarded to Avi Abelow, Fuld’s friend since childhood and a prominent Israel advocate in his own right. Avi continues Fuld’s legacy through his Pulse of Israel Show and 12Tribe Films Foundation platforms. Well deserved, Avi!

Stephen Pohlmann writes why he is so pleased that he made Aliyah from the UK.

After 7 Oct 2023, many secular Israelis have embraced Jewish rituals and practices. Soldiers have also taken up Jewish activities, singing, and dancing, plus studying Jewish texts. At their request, thousands of Bibles, prayer books, and volumes of Mishna and Gemara have been distributed to soldiers.

The Shabbat Project (Nov 7-8), brings together a million Jews in Israel and millions more worldwide. South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein (founder) says, “a spiritual revolution is happening in Israel, an outpouring of people wanting a deeper connection to Shabbat.”

Ben-Gurion University researchers are developing solar-powered microgrids to meet the needs of Orthodox religious Jews, while cutting pollution. The microgrids store renewable energy (e.g., solar power) during the week and then distribute electricity during Shabbat without human intervention.

I mentioned previously (see ) about Israelis who wanted to dance after suffering severe injuries. Here is a detailed article about Michelle Rukovicin, the most injured survivor of Oct. 7 2023, who came out of a coma to walk to the chuppah and marry her boyfriend of five years.

Manchester UK’s Yoel Levy is “Marathon Batman,”. He runs marathons in honor of Shiri Bibas and her sons, murdered by Hamas.  He also supports Shalva, the Israel Association for the Care and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. His sister has Down syndrome.

Eli Sharabi, a former Israeli hostage held by Hamas in Gaza, is featured on the cover of TIME magazine that hit newsstands on Oct. 27. An excerpt of his memoir, documenting his survival of 491 days of captivity in the Strip, was published online on Oct. 1.

Non-profit Planetherapy provides free therapy sessions to Israelis and Jews affected by Oct. 7 2023. 300+ volunteers from 35 countries, have provided 4,000+ therapy sessions in 22 languages. A dozen therapists are in Israel, counseling first responders, trauma therapists, Nova festival survivors and others.

Since Oct. 7 2023, Israeli non-profit Livnot U’Lehibanot (“To build and to be built” – see previously) has focused on restoring homes damaged in border communities in the north and south. Livnot has completed more than 320 projects in dozens of these communities, with many more underway.