Israel Active

A Golani soldier wounded in Gaza, was vacationing in Sri Lanka and read the story of Purim in a synagogue. He suddenly realized that the scroll he was reading from had been dedicated to the memory of 3 IDF soldiers including has own Major, Moshe Bar-On who fell in the same battle.

New York’s Madison Stock is the 10,000th participant in the Birthright Israel volunteer program. Activities include food rescue operations to prevent shortages in the Israeli market and supporting kibbutz restoration projects in areas hardest hit on Oct 7 2023 and the subsequent war.

In a public fundraising campaign, the Lehosheet Yad (Lend a Hand) foundation has raised more than $1.7 million in 24 hours from nearly 31,000 donors. It will help freed hostage Yarden Bibas’s recovery and establish a memorial for his wife, Shiri, and two young sons, Ariel and Kfir.

Heroic former hostages Agam Berger, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy joined Rabbi Asher Levi to bring joy to cancer patients at Schneider Children’s Medical Center, delivering Purim gifts and sharing a powerful message: “Giving to others gives us strength.”

Israel’s first lady Michal Herzog hosted children with disabilities at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem together with their families for a special pre-Purim celebration. Designers from Holon Institute of Technology and Israel’s Wix made costumes for Beit Issie Shapiro’s “Dream Costumes” initiative.

Tel Aviv’s Aviram Carmeli is the king of Purim costumes, and each year his outlandish outfits are more elaborate than the last. They include a bearded Miley Cyrus on a wrecking ball, and Aang “The Last Airbender” on a giant flying buffalo. His video as Aladdin had 200 million views.

The number of annual Jewish births in Israel (including Judea & Samaria) surged by 73% from 1995 to 2024 compared to a 18% increase of annual Arab births in Israel during the same period. The Jewish fertility rate (3 births per woman) is also higher.

Aliyah organization Nefesh b’Nefesh (NbN) has launched its Zionist Education Initiative (ZEI) at its Jerusalem campus. It includes workshops on Zionism, Jewish history, and Aliyah; leadership training; dynamic programming for schools, camps, and communities; and exciting campus activities.   

Some 800 Haredi Jews prayed at the tomb of Rav Ashi on the border between Israel and Lebanon under the protection of the IDF. Rav Ashi (352–427 C.E.) is credited with compiling the Gemara, an essential component of the Talmud. The rare visit was on 7 Adar – the date Moses was born & died.

Religious Jews refrain from carrying items in public areas on Shabbat unless a special boundary is in place, like the one this IDF soldier is constructing at the Mount Hermon base.