Israel Active

Kibbutz Holit has begun to rehabilitate after the Oct 7 Hamas attacks. It will grow the potato developed by Israel’s Rumafeed (see previously) that has eliminated the toxic glycoalkaloids in its foliage. Rumafeed has just been selected for the latest Intel Ignite accelerator group.

The South African branch of the Christian organization Bridges for Peace is spearheading a donation of two $80,000 Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency rapid response vehicles. MDA will use the cars in communities attacked on Oct. 7.

US boxing legend Floyd Mayweather has donated $100,000 to purchase 100 bulletproof vests for Israeli medical volunteers on the front lines. He announced the gift during a sold-out United Hatzalah event in Jerusalem to raise funds for 1,000 protective kits for its volunteer EMTs.

A mezuzah was all that survived on Oct 7 from a home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. To honor the memory of the owners of the home, the mezuzah was placed on the doorpost of the new Israeli embassy in Paraguay.

United Hatzalah emergency medic Rabbi Chaim Sassi was seriously wounded by a Hamas terrorist in Sderot on Oct 7. He has now returned to active service after receiving a custom-made “ambucycle” designed to accommodate his lingering leg injury. Rabbi Chaim was praised as “an inspiration”.

At Sheba hospital’s new “Returning to Life Rehabilitation Center for War Casualties”, over 600 patients have undergone critical rehabilitation since Oct 7. Sheba’s original rehab unit was expanded to meet the increased demand for trauma care and rehabilitation for civilians and soldiers.

The festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles) has more colorful symbols and features than any other Jewish festival. The streets of Jerusalem are full of decorated booths and people rushing around with palm branches and citrons. Despite the war, crowds thronged the Kotel (Western Wall) plaza.

For many Christians, the festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles) has special significance due to its prophetic association with the gathering of nations in Jerusalem. Despite the war, thousands of pilgrims from around the world gathered in Jerusalem for the annual Jerusalem Sukkot March.

A replica of the sacred Ark of the Covenant, made of gold and acacia wood, has been on display for the first time, in the sukkah at Jerusalem’s King David Hotel. Inside was placed a Torah scroll that survived the Holocaust. In Biblical times the Ark was taken into battle, reminding us of our ultimate protector.

It was a privilege to hear Rabbi Leo Dee speak at local Netanya shul (McDonald International). You may remember that Arab terrorists murdered his wife and eldest daughters. Rabbi Dee explains how it is possible to recover from such an event and use it as a springboard for positive work.