Israel Active

Netiv Hasharaya is an agricultural village about 9 miles from the Lebanese border. When a Hezbollah rocket hit a house, it set fire to a row of newly-planted avocado trees. Residents rushed to put out the fire and then replanted the orchard. They are adamant that they are not evacuating.

Videos from “Buy a Piece of Israel” gives readers an insight as to how farming life continues despite the threat of rocket fire and drones from Hezbollah.

The Israeli government’s Tekuma Directorate has allocated NIS 180 million to restore Kibbutz Kfar Aza, which was devasted by Hamas terrorists on Oct 7 2023.

For the past year, volunteers from all over the world have been running a 24x7 refreshment station for IDF soldiers entering and leaving the Gaza strip. The Shuva brothers’ refreshment stand has served half a million IDF soldiers. It also stocks all the supplies that soldiers need.

Israel’s Chief Rabbis for the next 10 years, Dovid Yosef (Sephardi) and Kalman Ber (Ashkenazi) were officially installed at President Herzog’s residence in Jerusalem. Chief Rabbi Yosef concluded his remarks, “Let’s make the rabbanut great again.”  (It was the day before the US elections).

The first President of Israel, Chaim Weizmann was born on Nov 27 1874. His discovery of synthetic acetone helped the Allies win WW1. His friendship with British Prime Minister Arthur Balfour influenced the publication of the Balfour Declaration (see previously).

Nefesh b’Nefesh has opened an Aliyah center in Tel Aviv, aimed to facilitate the absorption of new immigrants. It will also support the 3,500 “lone soldiers” - those in Israel without close family - from more than 70 countries who are serving in the IDF.

Israel has allocated NIS 12 million for improving the Rachel’s Tomb complex near Bethlehem. It will make the site more accessible, particularly for people with disabilities, and includes a new bus station plus better security. The site has hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Jerusalem’s Zappa Club features a series of special Friday afternoon concerts.  Next event is on Nov 29.

A team led by Tel Aviv University archaeologists analyzed fingerprints on 450 pottery vessels made in Tel Hama in Syria around 2,000 to 2,400 BCE. They found that two-thirds of the vessels were made by children, some only 7 or 8 years old. The children also made figurines for themselves.