Israel Active

Knesset members from across Israel’s political spectrum gave an official salute and thanks to Israel’s United Hatzalah and Israel’s search and rescue teams. MK Nurit Koren said, “The scholars of the Talmud coined the term ‘he who saves a life it’s as if he saved an entire world’.

Nurse Elie Schiff dedicated her Aliya to Israeli nurse Dafna Meir, who was murdered by a Palestinian Arab terrorist in Jan 2015. Her connection to Dafna continues to inspire her now that she has met the family and attended the Bat Mitzva of Dafna’s daughter Noa.

Mosaic United, formerly the Israel-Diaspora Initiative, is investing millions of dollars into strengthening Diaspora Jewry and its engagement with the State of Israel. Its first project is a series of grants to Chabad on Campus, Hillel International and Olami.

The remains of a structure that served as a synagogue during Second Temple times have been unearthed in an archaeological excavation at Tel Rechesh in the heart of the Nahal Tavor Nature Reserve in Israel’s lower Galilee. Eight 2nd Temple synagogues have been discovered in Israel.  

The average Israeli household has three children, nearly double the OECD average.  But it puts a strain on the childcare system.  Israel’s oldest charity, Colel Chabad runs a network of daycare centers across Israel.  They provide children nutritious breakfasts, lunches and snacks six days per week.

The Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem used to be known mostly for its garages.  But as another tech startup initiative opened in the area, the garages are being replaced with modern office buildings and showrooms.

For the first time in nine years, nine new dayanim (Rabbinic judges) were appointed to the Supreme Rabbinical Court - Israel's highest. They include Rabbis who have served in the IDF.  The appointments committee included its first female member, Dr Rachel Levmore.

Arifa and Assad Farajov recently immigrated to Israel from Azerbaijan.  Arifa, the wife, is Jewish and a lecturer in Russian literature. Assad, her husband, is Muslim - a former military judge who says “I've fallen in love with Israel.”  Arifa’s grandmother was a Rabbi’s daughter who also married a Muslim.

Tzvika Cohen returned home from hospital, five and a half months after being brutally attacked by an axe-wielding Arab terrorist.  Doctors had predicted that Tzvika might never wake up (he was comatose for 3 weeks) or be paralyzed for life.  He is now able to walk and shower on his own.

1000 Russian-speaking Birthright Israel participants celebrated Israel as a land of diversity and opportunity at the Wohl Centre in Ramat Gan.  Around 45,000 Russian-speaking young adults have experienced Israel through Taglit-Birthright over the past 16 years.