Israel Active

This video describes how Israel’s Ben Gurion University responded after the devastating events of Oct 7.  BGU and its students are helping the Negev recover and rebuild. From finance to students in the reserves and evacuees, to medical gear, clinics, and many vital cutting-edge innovations.

The Alexander Muss High School has three unique summer programs. Teen Volunteer weeks (choice of 3 dates); Classic Israel (academic history & culture - 18 Jun – 31 Jul); Explore Israel (non-academic) for 11th & 12th graders (25 Jun – 31 Jul).

Archeologists from the University of Haifa, Bar-Ilan University, and the University of California, have published their study of the underwater village of North Habonim, off the coast south of Haifa.  It shows continued ancient settlement during centuries of global climate cooling.

Archeologists have identified an Early Iron Age cemetery at Horvat Tevet in Israel’s Jezreel Valley dating from the monarchy of the biblical King David more than 3,000 years ago. They have not yet identified whether Hebrews or Canaanites were buried at the site.

If you are contacted by Israel’s Guardian General and Director of Inheritance Affairs to say you have a windfall, don’t automatically think it is a phishing scam.  Researchers working for the Israeli government are now busy tracing descendants of early Zionist investors, and you may be one of them!

Before Oct 7, farms near the Gaza border supplied 70 percent of Israel’s fresh produce as well as produce for export. Lack of staff threatens closure of the farms, but volunteers from Israel and overseas has ensured their survival. Grapefruit and clementines are two of the crops being harvested.

Many Israelis were awe-struck by the amazing 99% interception rate of Iran’s 300+ drone and missile attack on 13 / 14 Apr.  It was certainly an opportunity to give thanks.

Some non-Israeli whose post Oct 7 support for Israel has been no less than heroic. This article thanks Douglas Murray, Sen John Fetterman, Rep Mike Johnson, Rep Richie Torres, Rep. Claudia Tenney, Sid Rosenberg, Floyd Mayweather, John Spencer, Richard Kemp, Pete Hegseth, and many others.

An Israeli Arab purchased the entire stock of chametz (leavened products) owned by the State of Israel before the start of Passover. The chametz value was $150 billion, but Hussein Jabar only had to pay a NIS 20,000 deposit. He “passed over” the option to keep the chametz after Pesach and his deposit was refunded.

According to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which administers the holy site, more than 30,000 people came to the Kotel in Jerusalem for the morning priestly blessings on Apr 25 – one of the intermediate days of the festival of Pesach / Passover.