Israel Active

Using the discovery of the earth's magnetic field recorded in burnt remnants reported previously, researchers have accurately dated 17 Israeli biblical sites. These findings verify the accounts of the Egyptian, Aramean, Assyrian, and Babylonian military campaigns against the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

The latest Israeli elections revealed some interesting facts. Israel is now first in the world in terms of frequency of elections since 1996. Voter turnout was 71% - the most since 1999.  Voters had the choice of 39 separate parties. And despite being a national holiday, retail sales boomed.

Yossi Barash, 94, has never missed a chance to cast his ballot since Israel’s 1948 inception. Barash was born in Tel Aviv in 1927 and now lives in Kfar Yehoshua. He voted in rain, storms and intense heat and never prioritized vacation plans over voting. He says voting is the most important civic duty.

On Oct 25, I was on a ship with 2,000 Israelis sailing from Haifa. At 2pm I read that a partial eclipse of the Sun would be visible in Israel, peaking at 2pm. I rushed to the top deck and projected the sun’s image onto a black surface. The ship’s Rabbi walked past, and we said the blessing “Osei Maasei Bereisheet”.

Nearly 4,000 men and women ran in this year's International Bible Marathon. The 42.2km race began and finished at Ancient Shiloh, where the original Biblical Tabernacle was sited on entering the Land of Israel over 3,300 years ago. The race always takes place during the Jewish feast of Tabernacles.

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) held its annual Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) for 2 nights by the Sea of Galilee and the next 5 days in Jerusalem. The event was attended by more than 1,700 Christians from over 70 countries.

Sharon captured the colors and crowds of Sukkot (Tabernacles) in Jerusalem; at the Kotel, at the President’s residence and almost everywhere in between. Meanwhile some two million people visited the Western Wall during the holidays.

Some 50,000 people attended the once-in-seven-years’ “Hakhel” communal ceremony at the Kotel (Western Wall in Jerusalem). Israel’s President Isaac Herzog participated with Israeli religious and political leaders in the dedication of three Torah scrolls. In Biblical times the King read the whole scroll.

Surfside, Florida is to establish a twin city relationship with Israel’s Samaria Regional Council. Its purpose is to thank Israel for its help its help in the search and rescue operation at the site of the collapse the 12-storey Champlain Towers South condominium last year.

Two volunteers from Israeli NGO United Hatzalah rescued a wounded 86-year-old Shoah survivor from the fighting in the Ukrainian city of Lyman. Alexander and Vadim traveled over 2,500 km to bring the woman to the Slovakian border, where she received medical treatment.