Israel Active

A group of 250 shlichim (“emissaries”) gathered for a ceremony in Jerusalem on July 11 before leaving to represent Israel in dozens of religious communities worldwide. Their aim is to strengthen Israel-Diaspora ties. The event was organized by the Religious Zionist Shlichut Center, founded by World Mizrachi.

More than 600 new olim are scheduled to arrive in Israel on 14 flights between August 22-28. Five Aliyah flights landed in Israel from North America on Aug 22 – the most in one day since Oct 7. Some 2,000 new immigrants are expected to arrive over the summer.

Prior to the Israeli Air Force attack on the Houthis in Yemen, teens from CTeen, USA affixed 100 mezuzot (mezuzahs) to the doors at the Ramon Air Force base in southern Israel. 48 hours later, the IAF conducted one of its longest-range daylight missions. All its aircraft returned safely to base.

Yechiel Stern, a United Hatzalah volunteer emergency medical technician, climbed a burning building in Jerusalem. Stern scaled the building and holding onto the railing with one hand, he helped the family climb down the building. The roof of the building then collapsed in the blaze.

Dozens of volunteers helped the widow of a fallen soldier locate his wedding ring that she wore around her neck, but fell off onto a beach in Ashkelon.  And then Ma'ale Adumim residents found a toddler's implant, worth NIS 40,000, in the garbage at the city’s Magic Kass amusement park.

2nd Lt. Avichail Reuven is another IDF soldier praised publicly by Israel’s Prime Minister during his speech to Congress. On Oct 7 Avichail, who has no car, ran 12 kilometers (8 miles) from his parents’ home in Kiryat Malachi, to the Gaza border to help fight off the terrorists. (Must-see video)

Master Sgt. Ashraf al Bahir said that it was a “great honor” for Israel’s Bedouin community that he was able to travel to Washington with Israel’s Prime Minister, who highlighted his bravery, and that of other non-Jewish soldiers, in his address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress.

Israeli jeweller Alon Mesika has donated over 100 engagement rings in tribute to his son Adir, murdered by Hamas on Oct 7.  Each ring, valued up to 8,000 shekels, went to an IDF soldier planning marriage. “Adir is not going to build a family in Israel, but because of him, a lot of people will”, said Alon.

In a poignant ceremony, a visually impaired grandfather had the unique honor of presenting his grandsons, who serve in the IDF, with their hard-earned berets. Warning - video may cause excessive eye moisture!

Amina Alhasoni, the 7-year-old Bedouin Muslim girl critically wounded in Iran’s April 13 missile attack on the Jewish state (see previously) has been released from Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva. Amina underwent numerous neurosurgeries during her three months in hospital.