Israel Active

Hashomer Hachadash brings volunteers from all over the world to help Israeli farmers by protecting their livestock and fields. See Ayelet Kaufman, Director of Hashomer Hachadash’s overseas program on ILTV.

Reservists on Duty (RoD) combat anti-Semitism and anti-Israel activity on US college campuses. Its Minorities Group, comprised of Arabs, Druze, Muslims, Bedouins, Christians and even some Palestinian Arabs. Arab-Israeli citizens speaking positively about Israel makes a big impression.

A 2000-year-old ring with a solitaire gem stone was uncovered recently in archaeological excavations in the City of David National Park in Jerusalem. It was found in a mikvah (ritual bath) on the Pilgrimage Road that dates to the time of the second Temple period.

Thanks to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), 330 Olim (new immigrants) have landed in Israel from the Ukraine. The IFCJ has brought about 4,800 Olim to Israel this year alone (750,000 in 20 years). The immigrants include Jews from 29 different nations.

18 months ago, Yonatan was called Lutz, had been indoctrinated by extremists and was a member of a karate group with a neo-Nazi coach. Then he had a life-changing dream. After studying Kabbalah, he converted to Judaism. He now puts on Tefillin every day and plans to make Aliya in two months’ time.

Excavations at the Zippori National Park have unearthed a public bath which may have been used by famed Jewish leader and scholar Rabbi Judah Hanasi (Judah the Prince). Tractate Megillah states the rabbi, who redacted the Mishna early in the 3rd century CE, bathed on a fast day.

Nefesh B’Nefesh (NbN), which promotes and assists immigration to Israel has launched the 2019 Initiative for Zionist Innovation. It includes funding projects of Olim (new immigrants) that make positive changes in their communities and immediate surroundings.

I reported previously about the hundreds of Torah scrolls that have been presented to IDF bases. Now, Mizrachi Canada has donated 70 Torah scrolls to the Israeli Defense Ministry for distribution to IDF bases all over Israel.

Archaeologists excavating Tall el-Hammam (now in Jordan) say it was the Biblical city of Sodom, destroyed some 3,700 years ago. Its 100-foot-thick, 50-feet-high walls were shattered by an immensely strong directional shock wave from a mid-air explosion followed by intense fires.

Recent heavy rains may be good news to Israel’s farmers and water company but to one female turtle it was nearly fatal. Washed up and nearly dead on Ashkelon beach, she was rescued by Eddy Israel, an alert citizen who called the Nature and Parks Authority. Israelis leave no stone (or turtle) unturned.