Israel Active

Nearly two-thirds of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox are now online and half use social media, according to a poll by the Israel Democracy Institute. Email is the most popular app (88%), followed by search engines, digital banking, work, and government services. Very few do online shopping.

Magen David Adom (MDA) and Zichron Menachem held a “Double Donation Day” across Israel, during which many Israelis donated hair for cancer patients and blood for MDA bloodmobiles.

Club Z rallies young American Jews around their people and Israel. Some 200 high schoolers enjoy Club Z’s full menu of seminars, trips, guest lectures, conferences, projects, and hands-on activism. Plus, of course, parties, picnics, day trips and holiday celebrations.

When two Palestinian Arab women arrived at a checkpoint with an unconscious baby, 19-year-old IDF Corporal Adam quickly began CPR on the infant. A few hours later, the family returned to the checkpoint to thank Adam and tell him that the baby was fine.

This year’s Jerusalem Biennale (see previously) included the works of 48 Jewish artists. Each was based on one of the 48 ways that Torah is acquired, as listed in the sixth chapter of Pirkei Avot.

Anyone searching for a deeper reason for Israel’s modern economic miracle should read this blog article.

Avraham works as a supervisor of kosher food for the Rabbinate of the city of Ashdod and is also a volunteer EMT for Israeli NGO United Hatzalah. He had just returned from treating the injured in a motorcycle accident when he was called to save the life of a heart attack patient.

Some rare colored video footage of Jews in Jerusalem in 1928 during the British Mandate period that preceded the State of Israel, between 1918 – 1948.

Jacob Richman has added many links to his Maps of Israel site.  Worth a visit.

Petah Tikva has come a long way since it was founded in 1878 as the first Jewish agricultural village following the resettlement of the Land of Israel. The municipality has approved an outline plan that will increase the city's population from 266,000 to 460,000.