Israel Active

Ex-hostage Evyatar David smiled as he formally turned the lights off in the Returning Hostages Recovery Unit at Israel’s Beilinson Medical Center. Evyatar, Avinatan Or, Guy Gilboa Dalal, Eitan Mor, and Alon Ohel - the unit’s last patients - were discharged last week.

Tel Aviv Fashion Week returned after a two-year gap, with former hostage, Eli Sharabi, plus relatives of other freed captives, striding down the runway. The crowd erupted in cheers as Sharabi - decked out in a white suit - appeared among the models.

At the 38th Jüdische Kulturtage in Berlin, Agam Berger - an Israeli soldier who survived 482 days in Hamas captivity - delivered a haunting violin performance of “Hatikvah,” a quiet display of endurance, dignity, and unbroken hope.

Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund has dedicated the “Iron Swords Forest” in memory of all soldiers and civilians who were killed on 7 Oct 2023 or during the subsequent war. Each bereaved family is invited to plant a tree at the 367 dunams (90 acres) forest at Khirbet Mador, southern Israel.

The Elite PALMAR Asaf combat medical extraction team helped the IDF air-rescue unit get wounded soldiers from the Gaza battlefield to Israeli operating rooms in under an hour. Dr Tuvia Book (see previously) explains. Also MDA’s whole blood system has halved battlefield mortality rates.

48 Israeli children who lost a parent serving in the IDF celebrated their coming of age in Jerusalem, in an event organized by the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization. It included a reception at the President’s Residence, where they were welcomed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal.

Former Israeli Chief Rabbi David Lau presided at the ceremony of Israeli female pop star Noa Kirel and Israeli goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. He likened their professions to the Levites’ temple duties: (Noa) singing and (Daniel) guarding the gate. Noa is the daughter of a Levite.

Despite two years of existential war including against Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and the Houthis, Israel’s GDP per capita is higher than Germany, the UK, Canada and France. It is 4th in life expectancy and 8th happiest. It doesn’t make sense unless you believe in something beyond the math.

In contrast to European daffodils, the Israeli variety comes into flower in the fall / autumn. As Israel welcomed home the last remaining hostages from Hamas captivity, nature joined in the celebration and the country was painted yellow.

Eliya Cohen proposed to his girlfriend Ziv Avud on a Tel Aviv hotel rooftop, eight months after his release from Gazan captivity. Before his kidnapping, Eliya had bought a ring and planned to propose. More than two years later, he was finally able to ask, and Ziv said yes.