Israel Active

The Friends of the IDF (FIDF) is once again offering 21 – 39-year-olds the opportunity to experience Israel alongside IDF soldiers on their Young Leadership Mission to Israel. This year’s dates are May 18 – 24. See itinerary, registration, and video links below.

A family found an ornamental 1,400-year-old clay ceramic figure of a face on the ground while hiking through the hills south of the city of Modiin. The Israel Antiquities Authority said the fine object was the decorative end of a candle holder dating from the 6th-7th Century in the Byzantine era.

While waiting for the order to move into the crisis zone, members of the IDF delegation stopped to pray. Then Israel’s Chief Rabbi instructed Israeli Jewish rescue workers to continue operations through the Jewish Sabbath, as Jewish law states that saving life overrides Torah commandments.

The first 2023 flight of “Operation Zur Yisrael” has just brought 120 new immigrants from Ethiopia to Israel. They had spent a long time in Addis Ababa and Gondar but following Ethiopia agreeing to issue exit visas, they can now reunite with their Israeli families.

120+ soldiers from 27 countries participated in the Givati Brigade Association’s Lone Soldiers Day at Metzudat Yoav near Kibbutz Sde Yoav. Personal meetings addressed individual needs. Group workshops explored housing subsidies, living expenses, Shabbat meals and family environments.

For Christian readers living in the UK.

I know it’s a long way off, but readers might wish to plan for the JNF-USA’s Global Conference for Israel Nov 30 – Dec 3 in Denver Colorado. See Israeli innovation up close and take part in one of the largest Shabbat dinners ever.

Ninety Ukrainian Jewish refugees have just arrived in Israel on a chartered flight made possible by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). The refugees originally chose to stay behind in Ukraine but have since been forced out of their former homes by the fighting.

At the 11th Israel Space Week, Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe returned to President Herzog the glass cube that he carried to the International Space Station. It was inscribed with the Prayer for the Welfare of State of Israel instituted by Israel’s Chief Rabbi Herzog – The President’s grandfather.

Amit Erdan, son of Israel's Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan, put on tefillin for the first time as he celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in New York. They were both surprised and overjoyed when the Ambassador’s parents arrived from Israel to celebrate the occasion.