Israel Active

Since Oct 7 2023 Israeli nonprofit RE-SPECS has assisted thousands of evacuees from southern and northern Israel as well as soldiers with subsidized corrective eyewear. RE-SPECS takes inquiries via WhatsApp and after processing, the spectacles are sent to a local volunteer for collection.

The HaShomer HaChadash (“The New Watchman”) agricultural volunteer organization aims to bring at least 100,000 volunteers to help farmers in the north repair hundreds of acres of orchards. The nonprofit has already mobilized some 300,000 volunteers to help farmers in the south.

According to the CEO of Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, "David’s Sling and Iron Dome systems have intercepted more targets than all the other air defense systems worldwide combined over the past 50 years". He also reassured everyone, there is no shortage of interceptors.

The new IDF combat unit for haredi Israelis, (“the Hasmoneans”), will formally be inaugurated on 25 Dec – the first day of the Jewish festival of Chanukah. The festival celebrates the victory of the Jewish Hasmonean army (the Maccabees) over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 BCE.

The latest excavations at Banias national park in the Golan Heights has revealed a cave used by the late 1st century CE by Agrippa II, the great-grandson of King Herod, as an ancient event hall in the Roman style. It reinforces the accounts of his contemporary - the historian Josephus.

The 10th annual Sylvan Adams Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize ceremony honored 12 inspiring Anglo Olim who have made exceptional contributions to Israeli society. Winners included Eylon Levy (see previously) and and Fleur Hassan-Nahoum (see previously).

NGOs Genesis 1-2-3 Foundation and NewPersia.org have brought a group of American Christians to Israel as part of the “Root and Branch” initiative, which brings Christians and Jews together to rebuild livelihoods in Israel. They are currently involved in harvesting olives from century-old trees.

The San Diego Jewish Academy (SDJA) has just welcomed 95 students from the Israeli region of Sha’ar Hanegev, which suffered severely from the Oct 7 2023 Hamas onslaught. The Israelis receive respite and the San Diego students build connections to Israel.

Before Oct 7 2023, Sivan Shefer founded “Dialog with Animals”, just 4 miles from Gaza, training dogs and their handlers to treat people with disabilities. She now runs “Dialog for Life” – one of 15 initiatives of the Restart NGO, designed to help wounded IDF soldiers restart their lives. (self-explanatory video)

Ishay Ribo performed to thousands at Madison Square Gardens (see previously). But he is just as at home playing to the wounded and their families in hospitals, or traveling to numerous military bases, and even funerals to use his talent for good.