Israel Active

One of the sights on Jerusalem’s city walls is the Lomka Project - an exhibition of portraits of 360 survivors of the Shoah (Holocaust) together with a short biography on each. They include German survivor Sonia Kam whose daughter is now married to the Israeli Ambassador … to Germany!

130 new immigrants from France just arrived in Israel on a flight funded by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. A typical comment “We simply want to live openly as Jews. I dream of the moment when our son will be able to walk outside with his yarmulke on and be able to feel safe.”

Adidas, one of the biggest sportswear companies in the world, has featured Israeli Haredi orthodox marathon runner Beatie Deutsch (see previously) in its “Impossible is Nothing” campaign, which aims to unite people through sports and expand the limits of human possibilities.

172 Olim (new immigrants) from New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ontario have just landed in Israel on four Nefesh B’Nefesh Group Aliyah Flights. And a record-breaking 87 Olim arrived on one flight from South Africa. (TY Geoff) Welcome home to all of them.

When police officer Elior’s grandfather Yehuda was taken to Hadassah hospital suffering from Covid-19, his family asked Leah - an X-ray technician and relative of a friend - to watch over him. Leah and Elior married in Dec with Grandpa Yehuda under the chuppah to bless the couple.

90-year-old Miriam had not left her home for five years. EMTs from United Hatzalah were asked to help give her some fresh air.  So, four UH volunteers took Miriam down her stairs in a special chair and drove her to Rishon LeZion beach. She had a lovely day with her granddaughter.

In the Jewish calendar, the recent three sad weeks are now followed by seven weeks of comfort.  Jerusalem residents are taking the opportunity to enjoy the parks, malls, restaurants, food trucks, beer festival, free music, water fountains and Israeli ice cream.

A Palestinian Arab man saved the lives of three Jews who were shot by Arab terrorists on a road in Judea and Samaria in 2016. He has just been granted permanent residency in Israel. Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked said: "He who saves one life it's as if he saved the entire world.”

Jewish National Fund-USA’s Caravan for Democracy Student Leadership Mission to Israel has brought 40 young non-Jews to Israel to see the country with their own eyes. They explored the country through meetings with political, cultural and communal leaders from different backgrounds and faiths.

Due to the pandemic, this year’s “A Night to Honor Israel” had only 700 physical attendees, although many more watched the live stream. It didn’t impede Pastor John Hagee, whose message was “Israel is not a political issue. Israel is a biblical issue. If you believe the Bible, you will support the Jewish people.”