Israel Active

Burger King falsely advertised its Hod Hasharon branch as kosher. An Israeli court’s “sentence” was to order the restaurant chain to distribute $128,000 in meal vouchers to religious and non-religious IDF combat soldiers. The vouchers will be redeemable only at the chain’s kosher branches.

Thanks to Colel Chabad, 123 boys who had lost at least one parent came to the Western Wall to celebrate their 13th birthday (Bar Mitzvah). each one was  danced to the Kotel, made the blessing on the Torah, and received tefillin and new clothing. Afterwards all enjoyed a banquet.

Arkansas is the first US State to ban the Jordan-invented term “West Bank” when referring to the territory recaptured by Israel during the 1967 six-day war. Judea and Samaria are its Biblical names – Judea being the area south of Jerusalem, and Samaria the area to its north.

To celebrate Israel’s birthday, Israel21c publicizes 73 weird, wacky and remarkable things about this tiny country in the Middle East you may not know, unless you’ve studied all these newsletters.

The newly formed IDF Hashmonaim Brigade of Haredi soldiers has embarked on their first-ever mission into Gaza. Before going in, they recited prayers and blew the Shofar just as the Children of Israel did prior to Biblical battles.

Eliya Cohen, who was freed from Hamas captivity earlier this year, returned to the roadside bomb shelter where he was abducted on Oct 7 2023, wrapping tefillin and reciting the Shema prayer at the very spot he was taken.

The IDF has begun limited deployment in Gaza of the Robdozer - the robotic version of Caterpillar’s D9 bulldozer. These are used to clear roads and buildings of Hamas booby traps, plus to build defensive barriers around temporary IDF camps.

26 children and teens, age 6 – 18) have received “Resilience Award for Children and Youth” for their actions promoting strength, persistence and determination during the Swords of Iron war. Half will also receive a personal scholarship. Three youth groups were also recognized.

Operation Hug (see previously) has restarted thanks to Nefesh b’Nefesh, JNF-USA and Friends of the IDF. It brings to Israel parents of lone IDF soldiers, to be reunited with their loved ones. The initiative aims to offer soldiers the unmatched strength and comfort of a long-awaited embrace.

Ziv, a 30-year-old Israeli engineer, overcame a Hezbollah missile attack that cost him his arm and spinal cord damage, defying odds to walk down the aisle and marry his bride Nitzan after intensive rehab.