Israel Active

Mendel Rata, son of the Rebbe of the Ashdod’s "Shomrei Emunim" hasidic court, is enlisting in the new haredi Hashmonaim Brigade, which held its initiation ceremony at the Kotel. Rata posted: “Instead of dragging out different excuses, my conscience tells me I must get up and take action."

Two groundbreaking events in the IDF to empower women. The first was the announcement of Israel’s first religious women-only combat unit, within the Combat Intelligence Corps. And on Nov 18, the Ayit Battalion launched the first IDF operational mission involving female combat soldiers.

Israel’s birth rate, the highest among OECD countries at around 3 children per woman (see previously), has not only defied the global trend of declining births but has also surged during the ongoing conflict, with hospitals reporting up to 40% more deliveries than usual.

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.