Israel Active

Around 130 individuals found themselves drawn to Israel after rescuing Jews during the Holocaust. 13 are still alive, rarely telling their stories to the media. All of them were born non-Jews and therefore free from persecution by the Nazis. But they put their lives at risk by helping Jews and later immigrated to the Jewish State where they receive the country’s average salary as a monthly stipend.

An amazing sight of the huge numbers of Jews gathered to celebrate Yom Yerushalayim at the Western Wall.

During the Six-Day War that culminated in the unification of Jerusalem 49 years ago, one particular hour was critical.  As almost the entire Israeli air-force set off to attack Egyptian airfields, all of Egypt’s sophisticated jets and anti-aircraft guns went off-line.  And then even more miracles occurred. (Video has received 26,000 views in one day)

Israeli PM Netanyahu quoted from the Prophets and Psalms in his Jerusalem Day address to Israel’s Parliament.  “Judah will exist forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.” “For he has strengthened the bars of your gates, and blessed your children in your midst.”

Jerusalem Unity Prize and Unity Day are positive events to commemorate the memory of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar, and Naftali Frenkel, kidnapped and murdered in Jun 2014.  2016 prize winners include Kesher Yehudi (facilitating secular & haredi dialogue) and Hapoel Katamon soccer club (promotes youth community outreach). =

Young students participating in an archaeological excavation at the ancient site of Tzipori have discovered a 3,300-year-old Egyptian amulet.  The scarab is from the time of the Ramses, the 19th Dynasty. Scarabs were mostly used as burial amulets, but also worn by the living, on rings. =

Led by the Israel Antiquities Authority, 500 volunteers have re-excavated the Cave of the Skulls - one of the largest caverns at Nahal Tze’elim.  They found many items that shed light on daily life of Judeans sheltering following the Bat Kochba revolt against the Romans in the second century CE.

On 24-25 May 1991, the IDF accomplished a miracle with its Operation Solomon covert mission to airlift 14,325 people and transport them 2,500 miles to a new life in Israel. It was Israel’s largest aerial expedition and included the world record number of passengers in a single plane.  (25 years ago I had the privilege to see some of those 35 planes arrive at Ben Gurion airport.)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a descendant of Lithuania’s Vilna Gaon.  But at the opening of the new wing at Beit Hatfutsot – the Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv – he revealed that DNA tests showed he has Spanish roots.  He said “it shows that all Jews are intertwined”.

Although Israeli Independence Day was over two weeks ago, Israeli flags are still displayed everywhere.  Maybe it’s because Jerusalem Day is approaching – but many say it’s deeper than that.