Israel Active

Three new bullet-proof ambulances have been donated to Magen David Adom (MDA) for deployment in Samaria communities. Two were donated by the Akiva Fund in Switzerland while the third was donated by the Samaritans Purse organization in memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

El Al is honoring IDF reservists who have served 100 days or more since Oct. 7, 2023 with 100 frequent flyer points for each day of their reserve duty. El Al has already distributed more than 20,000 free flight tickets to reserve IDF soldiers.

The IDF is forming the David Brigades - a reserve division for troops aged 38-58. It will comprise five brigades totalling 15,000 soldiers that will strengthen border defenses. Most of the reservists are volunteers with extensive experience gained during both their military service and civilian lives.

IDF figures show high motivation among recruits, with a high Nov-Dec enlistment rate for combat roles. The number of women joining combat roles rose 28%, attributed in part to a gender-specific unit in field intelligence and a new female infantry mobility training track.

Israeli researchers have analyzed the contents of “cave pearls” discovered in the millennia-old Joweizeh spring tunnel in the Jerusalem hills. The pearls, formed from mineral deposits, encased plaster from a building constructed around the time of the Hasmonean kings.

96-year-old Pearl Kronenberg Sapir has just made Aliya from New York. She was greeted at Ben Gurion airport by many of her 84 descendants from five generations - some of whom she met for the first time.  (see video at link)

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation are holding public candle-lighting ceremonies at the Kotel in Jerusalem every evening during the eight-day holiday of Chanukah. Participants include Rabbis, ambassadors, families of Gaza hostages, bereaved families, wounded IDF soldiers and others.

Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is following through with his promise (in Apr) to donate NIS 100 million to reconstructing Israel’s north. In 2015 Bloomberg also donated $100 million (see previously) to help build the new Cornell-Technion Institute in New York.

For three decades, One Israel Fund been helping 500,000+ residents in Judea and Samaria. It has spent millions on security protection, medical facilities, education, recreational equipment and communal infrastructure. It has just helped raise $1 million for an emergency center.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University found minimal environmental and health impacts at King Solomon's 10th century BCE copper mines in southern Israel's Timna Valley. Lead levels e.g., fell below 200 ppm just meters from the furnaces. They refute 1990’s claims that the mines polluted.