Goodbye Miriam
Netanya’s long-serving Mayor, Miriam Feirberg-Ikar, passed away last week. Her 27-year continuous tenure saw Netanya grow into the seventh largest Israeli city and home to many tech startups and multinationals. The city’s “Iron Lady” had become the public face of Netanya through decades of service.
Healing mission
Some 170 Israeli mothers and children who lost loved ones in the war are being hosted in the USA for an extraordinary healing mission organized by Rabbi Mendy Kenig’s Menucha V'Yeshua charity. It is the largest group of Israeli war-bereaved families ever to travel together for such a program.
Oscar-winning film-maker makes Aliyah
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Richard Trank has made a life-changing move leaving Los Angeles to begin a new chapter in Israel, where he is now focusing his lens on the aftermath of the October 7 attacks. He says that moving to Israel has given him not just purpose, but clarity.
War kickstarted rehab innovation
After 7 Oct 2023, Sheba opened a new rehab center and 85 startups responded with rehab ideas. Sheba founded the Sderot Resilience Incubator, partnering , , and . Other innovative startups are- , , , , and .
No legs, one arm, he dances
Watch this video of Ari Spitz, the heroic IDF soldier who was critically wounded in Gaza and lost both legs and an arm. He was seen last night dancing at a wedding - a powerful display of resilience and unbreakable spirit.
Eden is promoted
Israeli-American Edan Alexander, held hostage in Gaza for 584 days, has been promoted to the rank of Sgt. First Class. The Golani Brigade IDF lone soldier vowed to resume his military service.
Rabbi Doron Perez is WZO Exec Director
The World Zionist Congress elected Rabbi Doron Perez and incumbent Yaakov Hagoel as rotating chairmen for the World Zionist Organization (WZO). Each will serve for half a term. Rabbi Perez’s son Captain Daniel Perez fell fighting Hamas terrorists in Gaza on 7 Oct 2023.
Wine and beer
Jerusalem-based Shapira Brewery and the Bat Shlomo Winery have launched Vinobier. In a first-of-its-kind local version of an ancient genre, Vinobier is made by fermenting a blend of wine must (juice from grapes) and beer wort (unfermented beer). So what blessing should you say on it?
Released hostage fulfils mother’s vow
Ex-hostage Matan Angrest, abducted from his tank on 7 Oct 2023 and released in the recent hostage deal, traveled to pray at the tomb of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes in Tiberias. His mother vowed that when he was freed, she would come with him to pray at the rabbi's tomb.
Emergency measures cancelled
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has cancelled emergency measures in the south that had been in place since Hamas’s Oct 7, 2023 invasion. The IDF can relax restrictions that imposed limits on gatherings and civilian movement.