Israel Active

A huge, 2,200-year-old pyramidal structure from the Ptolemaic and Seleucid period is being unearthed in the Judean Desert, north of Nahal Zohar. The findings include papyrus documents in Greek, bronze coins of the Ptolemies and of Antiochus IV, weapons, wooden tools and fabrics.

Before Oct 7 2023 Keith Siegel would make pancakes for his family. Now he has been freed from his hostage ordeal, he has opened Keith Siegel’s Pancake House, at Sarona Market in Tel Aviv.  And it’s certified kosher.

Many brave young Israelis have sustained life-altering injuries while battling Hamas terrorists in Gaza, yet they refuse to let their wounds stop them from enjoying life.

Israel’s Brothers of Jonathan provides support to soldiers and their families experiencing early to mid-stage post-trauma symptoms to prevent chronic PTSD. It uses horse therapy and trained personnel to help IDF veterans relax, dissolve anxieties, and encourage personal growth and change.

In 2024, despite the war and thanks to grants provided by the Israel Ministry of Tourism to entrepreneurs, 483 new hotel rooms were added to the hotel supply across the country, and four new hotels were established, expanded, or converted. During 2025, 18 new hotels are expected to be added.

More than 100 bicyclists are participating in the ninth annual Geerz “Israel Charity Ride” from March 23-25 - a two-day mountain-biking event aimed at raising funds to offer relief and resilience-building opportunities for 450+ children affected by trauma due to the war.

Dozens of ambassadors from foreign countries in Israel participated in a tour of southern Israel. It exposed them to the damage caused to the Gaza Envelope and rehabilitation efforts. Ambassadors included from the Netherlands, Argentina, Guatemala, Belgium, Greece, Cyprus and others.

Israel completed comprehensive flight tests of the Iron Dome missile defense system. The exercises, conducted by the Israel Missile Defense Organization and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, evaluated the system’s effectiveness against advanced threats, including rockets, cruise missiles and drones.

Israel’s Settlements and National Missions Ministry delivered 21 off-road “Ranger” vehicles to Jewish farmers in the Samaria region. The vehicles were provided in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces’ Central Command, which includes Judea and Samaria.

When Hamas attacked the Nova party revelers on 7 Oct 2023, Barak Nixon hid in a chemical toilet stall for 8 hours. He promised that if he got out of there alive, he would become religious. He subsequently moved to Mea Shearim, the ultra-orthodox area of Jerusalem. This is his story.