Israel Active

A hoard of coins which once belonged to the Hasmonean King Alexander Jannaeus (103 – 76 BCE) was discovered in Israel’s Jordan Valley on the second day of Hanukkah. Alexander Jannaeus was the great-nephew of Judah Maccabee.

Birthright Israel marks its 25th anniversary by bringing 6,500 participants this winter to support the recovery of Israel’s tourism sector. More than 300 international groups will engage in volunteer programs and diverse internships across Israel.

A rare 1,700-year-old oil lamp has been discovered, depicting the Temple menorah. Other articles include six other Chanukah-related archeological discoveries, and a Chanukah tour of Jerusalem.

The largest Hanukkah menorah in the world cannot be lit. It is made of 25,000 balloons and stands in Schneider Children's Medical Center in Petach Tikva. It was constructed by a team of 100 volunteers from the Tikva Umarpe organization, and a rappelling crew.

Israeli police constructed a unique Chanukah menorah from pieces of rockets fired into Israel by Hezbollah over the last year. The symbolic project, dubbed “Lighting up the North,” was carried out by two police sappers who defused thousands of rockets, missiles and drones.

Hadassah Medical Center announces a major improvement in the condition of policewoman Hodaya Halperin, who was shot in the head about a month ago in Pisgat Ze’ev (see ).  She has regained full consciousness and is communicating with her family and the medical staff.

For the past three months, Tal, a convoy driver in the IDF Paratroopers Brigade has been raising Chiquita, a friendly rottweiler dog he rescued from Gaza. Tal paid for Chiquita to be vaccinated, neutered and kept in kennels for eight months until he finished reserve duty.

Good news can be extracted from this Israel Hayom summary of 2024. Aliya surge, Argentine hostages rescued, swimming medal in Doha, top Pizza restaurants, 1st response to Iran, Eurovision, 4 hostages rescued, Haniyeh, Olympic gold, pagers, Nasrallah, Sinwar, 2nd response to Iran, ceasefire & Syria.

Israel21c summarized the positive side of last year. Volunteering, humanitarian aid, rebuilding the south, recovery in the north, air defense, Air Haifa, Olympic medals, Eurovision, medical research, science awards, cybertech, AI, emergency response, wave energy, quantum computing, and more.

In the last week, Israel facilitated the transfer of 127 Gazan patients, mostly children, to the United Arab Emirates. In recent months, Israel has allowed 1,055 patients and caregivers, to pass through the Kerem Shalom Crossing for treatment in 13 countries.