Israel Active

Hila was planning to study at Israel’s Technion Institute on Oct 10, 2023. When Hamas attacked Sderot on Oct. 7, Hila had to evacuate her home, arriving at the Technion without any belongings. The Technion, however, made sure she had everything she needed.

Despite losing their elder siblings at the hands of Hamas terrorists, Yael Eshel, sister of Sgt Roni Eshel, and Yuval Marciano, sister of Cpl Noa Marciano, have just begun their IDF service on the same day.  Their sisters were serving together on Oct 7 at the IDF’s Nahal Oz base near the Gaza border.

Samaritan’s Purse, founded by Franklin Graham, son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, has donated two more armored ambulances to Magen David Adom. They previously donated 14 ambulances and have committed to donate 28 more. They have also donated 1,000 trauma kits.

Despite the war and the anniversary of the events on Simchat Torah last year, Jews joyously celebrated the festivals of Simchat Torah and Sukkot in Jerusalem in defiance of the evil plans of our enemies.

My home city of Netanya was the destination that took most Olim (immigrants) this year with over 4,700 new Olim becoming residents here. It surpassed Tel Aviv (4,480), Haifa (3,870) and Jerusalem (2,260).

Birthright Israel brought 12 adult volunteers to Israel, all either on the autistic spectrum and/or with other non-physical disabilities. In addition to agricultural work, the group’s 10-day visit included volunteer activities where they helped pack up food and supplies.

Native American couple Chief Joseph and Amb. Dr. Laralyn RiverWind understand that Jews are indigenous to the land of Israel. They say the Jews are an example to them for how a people should stay strong and defend their land. Joseph even discovered his ancestors were Jewish.

A 5,000-year-old settlement, providing a view of the beginning of the urbanization process in the Land of Israel, was discovered in the Israel Antiquities Authority excavations near Beit Shemesh at the site of Hurvat Husham.

120 Israeli archeological sites were excavated last year, uncovering tens of thousands of historical relics. Countless artifacts, from the Second Temple era and the Late Roman period, were uncovered across Israel in 2024, including a ship, roads, rings and stone seals.

The Western Wall Elevator project will make the holy site more accessible by saving visitors the effort of negotiating 142 steps or taking a long walk around the city walls. Two elevators, will each carry up to 30 visitors between the 85-foot gap separating the Jewish Quarter from the Kotel.