Israel Active

77 Parents of lone soldiers from the US, Russia and Argentina arrived as an organized group on the Birthright Israel volunteer program to see their children and assist the Jewish state. They had an emotional reunion on Aug 7 at the IDF base in Glilot Junction.

A group of German volunteers, including descendants of Nazi families, went to Metula, a northern Israeli town damaged by war. Their goal: to help rebuild homes and support recovery efforts.  Their message: “We came to fix, not to forget.”

50 young educators from the Hashomer HaTzair Labor Zionist youth movement have relocated to Kibbutz Nir Oz (see previously) that was devastated by Hamas terrorists on 7 Oct 2023. Kibbutz chairman Tzvika Tesler said a prayer at a ceremony marking the start of the rebuilding process.

7-year-old Atala Osma Abu Madian was shot in the stomach and his father was murdered by Hamas on 7 Oct 2023. Atala was saved by MDA paramedic Zvi. They had a very emotional reunion.

A massive dam uncovered in Jerusalem’s City of David has been dated to the reign of the Jewish Kings Joash or Amaziah, showing how Judah’s rulers responded to climate challenges 2,800 years ago. It is the largest dam ever found in Israel, 12m high, 8m wide and over 21m long.

University of Haifa archaeologists have uncovered evidence of bronze production dating back about 3,000 years, in the Biblical kingdom of David and Solomon. The ability to produce bronze reflects far greater technological sophistication than previously believed.

Brandon Korff, a Jewish-American billionaire renowned for orchestrating one of the media industry's landmark deals, the $35 billion sale of Paramount, is in the process of securing Israeli residency. Korff framed his decision as a gesture of solidarity in the face of global boycotts and rising hostility.

Hadas Loewenstern is widow of Rabbi Elisha Loewenstern, who heroically fell in Gaza. Elisha told Hadas that if anything happened to him, she was to “quickly find a new partner.” Hadas is now engaged to Hod Reichert whose wife during childbirth and they will raise their 10 children together.

COGAT: “1,300 aid trucks entered Gaza during past week.” Meanwhile, almost 1,900 trucks waiting inside the Strip were collected and their supplies distributed by the U.N. and other international organizations. And more than 1,000 aid packages have been airdropped into the Strip since late last month.

You will have read here about IsraAid and its relief work in global catastrophes. But it kept quiet about its work in Gaza since early 2024, coordinating international aid organizations with the Israeli government and military. It is now publicizing its work and directly creating a logistics hub for partners.