Israel Active

Members of the joint Israeli-US delegation, that negotiated the establishment of diplomatic relations, took time out to pray the afternoon “mincha” service in capital’s Manama synagogue. They also met Ebrahim Nonoo, leader of the Bahrain Jewish community.

Yaron Avraham’s journey to Judaism began in a devout Muslim family in Lod, Israel, and then Gaza where he learned martyrdom. He escaped to Eilat, worked in Tel Aviv and enlisted in the IDF Givati Brigade. After the army he joined the Machon Meir yeshiva where he converted.

Before every Jewish Sabbath, the organization “Sweets for the Soul” delivers 1,000 cakes to elderly Israelis isolated in their homes. The initiative was founded by Tel Aviv baker Itamar Glazer who insists “90% of the world’s problems can be solved with a slice of a good cheesecake.”

A weight, measuring 2 shekels (23 grams) dating to the First Temple period, some 2,700 years ago, was discovered during excavations adjacent to Wilson’s Arch of the Western Wall in Jerusalem. It is marked with a Shin and two lines, signifying 2 shekels.

Jews in Einav, Samaria hired Arab builder Rami Yihya to construct an outside area for prayers as all synagogues were closed during Covid-19 lockdown. Yihya would not accept payment for his time or materials. “This is a holy place,” he said at a post-construction ceremony held in his honor. “God will pay me”.

Israel21c is one of the best sources of positive Israeli news.  Its editor and Israel Director is Nicky Blackburn – a media professional, originally from the UK, with a Masters’ degree from Bar-Ilan University. She describes recent Israeli achievements and the importance of publicizing them.

As can be seen in these photos, Sukkot (Tabernacles) in Jerusalem this year was a much more relaxed and intimate festival than in previous years. Also, Israel21c published some photos of beautiful, scenic or just interesting tabernacles that Israelis built throughout the Jewish state.

Israeli archaeologists believe they have discovered the precise dimensions of ancient biblical measure the ‘tefach’. 370 storage jars from the 7th to 9th century BCE have been scanned and found to have almost identical sized inner rims - 8.9 cm - the average size of a man’s hand today.

60 new immigrants from Argentina arrived in Israel in time for Sukkot and despite the pandemic. They sent many elated messages from the plane including "The truth is, there was almost no need for a pilot or navigator on this flight, we just flew from the intensity of excitement, enthusiasm and joy.”

The Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) has delivered 225 brand-new sukkahs to bases throughout Israel. They will allow soldiers to eat and pray outdoors in a safe space due to coronavirus restrictions.