Israel Active

Ruthie Bloom and Mark Regev dedicate their weekly program during Pesach / Passover to giving positive news. The baby boom, the high happiness level, the economy, innovation driving hi-tech acquisitions, strong family values, deep community bonds, and patriotic youth, leading to resilience in a war.

Sheba Medical Center has successfully replicated its Tel Hashomer “Returning to Life” rehabilitation center (see previously) at Haifa’s Beit Halochem. Therapy includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) plus therapy dogs, physical training, and community integration.

As part of a new FIDF initiative together with the Ministry of Defense, IDF veterans suffering trauma such as PTSD receive a specially trained therapy dog. They are able to sense when the individual begins to suffer panic attacks or nightmares, and calm them down. Please donate. (includes link to US donation site)   (Israelis - select the English speakers’ option)

The residents of Kibbutz Kerem Shalom on the Gaza border defended valiantly against Hamas terrorists on Oct 7 2023. Its religious / secular mix attracted 20 new prospective families to their recent open day.

Israeli surgeons at Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center used a US technique for the first time in Israel, to fix a titanium screw to the bone of a wounded IDF soldier. The technique, called osseointegration, significantly reduces pain and friction from a prosthetic leg. (Hebrew article)

One of the seven International Women of Courage 2025 awarded by the US State Department was Israel’s Amit Sousanna. Amit uses her voice to courageously advocate for survivors by using her own lived example to describe the trauma she suffered as a hostage of the October 7th attack.

The Brand auction house in Bnei Brak is auctioning a Jewish Brigade fighters’ Haggadah, and a Haganah Haggadah, both created for Passover 5708, weeks before Israel’s Declaration of Independence in 1948. Also a 1940 Kibbutz Shefayim Haggadah that refers to the Shoah.

As every year, the Western Wall in Jerusalem is being cleared out of the tens of thousands of prayers that have been inserted between the stones over the past year. These notes will be buried alongside unwanted or damaged sacred writings according to Jewish customs.

Jerusalem’s conference “Ambassadors of Truth” was focused on combatting Antisemitism. The speakers were many of the leading international defenders of Israel and although others boycotted the conference, it was still a great success.

An anonymous donor, through the Israeli Friends of MDA, has donated three ambulances in memory of Lucy, Maia, and Rina Dee, the wife and daughters of Rabbi Leo Dee who were murdered by terrorists on 7 Apr 2023. They will be used in Efrat, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.