IDF officer has Bar Mitzvah in Gaza
Reservists of the Israel Defense Forces’ 8110th “Yoav” Infantry Battalion recently celebrated the bar mitzvah of their commander in Rafah, Gaza. The commander, who had got engaged a few days earlier, had never celebrated his bar mitzvah, so his troops decided to surprise him.
The first Hassidic pre-army academy
Netzah Yehuda, the organization behind the founding of the Haredi Nahal unit, is set to launch a unique pre-military program designed for Chabad Hasidim. The new initiative will combine Torah study and Hasidic philosophy with preparation for meaningful military service.
Saving lives on the battlefield
A tragic fact of war is the number of casualties. But even here, Israel is setting global standards. We already know about the record low ratio of civilian to combatant ratios. But the IDF Medical Corps is also achieving the world’s fastest casualty evacuation times, saving hundreds of lives.
From Cochin to Jerusalem
Shmuel Ranganathan’s journey to Judaism began on Jew Street, Cochin, India. Then in Montreal friends invited him to Bar Mitzvah celebrations and Shabbat dinners. He converted in 1983 and made Aliyah. He returned to Canada, but retired to Israel and saw his grandson Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel.
Preparing for Jerusalem Day
Jacob Richman has updated his Jerusalem pages in time for Jerusalem Day on Sunday evening / Monday.
Rings around Jerusalem
Archaeologists have unearthed in Jerusalem another 2,300-year-old gold ring, probably belonging to a child (see previously). There was a Hellenistic period custom in which betrothed women buried childhood objects as a symbol of the transition from childhood to adulthood.
Secret Chinese Jew goes public
When Cormac Lee was growing up in China, his mother revealed his family had Jewish roots and practices. His journey took him to ranches in Washington State, Seatle, and then to Israeli yeshiva. He formally converted with the name Uriah, but is known as the Asian Kosher Cowboy.
Israeli Arabs reject Hamas
After Oct 7, Israel’s 2-million-strong Arab minority didn’t riot, wave Hamas flags or cheer. Arab medics treated the wounded. Arab mayors calmed tensions. Arabs donated blood, delivered aid and helped evacuate families. Arab enlistment in the IDF grew. Israeli Arabs stood with Israel.
German TV features Herzog hospital Jerusalem
The German news network RTL featured how Herzog Medical Center in Jerusalem has helped Israelis cope with trauma during the war. The RTL Foundation also made a significant donation to the hospital. Turn on captions and auto-translate into English.
New El Al plane named “Acheinu”
El Al’s 17th Boeing 787 “Dreamliner” has not been named after an Israeli city, rather “Acheinu Kol Beit Yisrael”, meaning “Our brothers, the entire House of Israel.” It is from the morning prayer, asking G-d to protect and have mercy on Jews in captivity and bring them home in peace.