Israel Active

Elkana Bohbot, released in the latest hostage exchange, saw his children receive dozens of Jurassic Park dinosaur toys from a philanthropist. A touching gesture of love and support.

Ex-hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal was finally reunited with his loyal dog, who had waited faithfully for two years while his master was held captive by Hamas.

The Kibbutz Movement Rehabilitation Fund is distributing homecoming kits to residents of southern Israel returning to kibbutzim. Their kits contain seeds for planting, symbolizing hope and renewal; calming herbal tea; a purification kit; and cards encouraging families to hold a homecoming ceremony.

US-Israeli Eden Alexander, who survived Hamas captivity in Gaza, has returned to IDF service in the Golani Brigade. He was promoted to Sergeant 1st class in a moving ceremony attended by the Head of the IDF Personnel Directorate.

Crowds across Israel waved flags and sang as ex-hostages Evyatar David, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Eitan Mor, Segev Kalfon and Bar Kuperstein made triumphant return to their homes after being discharged from hospital treatment, following their more than two years in captivity.

Archaeologists have unearthed a 2,700-year-old cuneiform Akkadian-language inscription – the first ever found in Jerusalem’s City of David. The inscription specifies the first of Av – a date common to Mesopotamia and Judah. It also mentions an Assyrian chariot officer.

Argentinian soccer legend Lionel Messi gifted two recently released Israeli hostages, Bar Kuperstein and Segev Kaflon, with signed jerseys valued at $10,000 each.

It may be unimportant in most of the countries where newsletter readers reside, but here in Israel we welcomed the first of the season’s rainfall. On 25 Seo, 4 inches of rain fell in Nahariya causing flooding. And on 9 Oct, Netanya on Sea became Netanya in Sea! But the Kinneret is well below the bottom red line.  

David Ben Moshe was born into an evangelical Christian family but was jailed for unlicensed gun selling and drug dealing. In prison he discovered Judaism and on release, he underwent an orthodox conversion. He married, had 4 children, moved to Israel and became a national Jiu-Jitsu champion.

Israel has finally realized that Jews are worried about making Aliyah and finding themselves without a job. The new “Leap to Aliyah” charter commits dozens of companies (hi-tech, medical centers, retailers etc.) to hire immigrants before they arrive in Israel and fill the 35,000 vacancies.