by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR The first lasers to combat drones During the Swords of Iron War, the IDF successfully intercepted dozens of drones using new laser interception systems operated by air defense personnel. Israel is the first country in the world to field high-powered, operational laser systems at scale. Rafael’s Iron... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Saving lives on the battlefield A tragic fact of war is the number of casualties. But even here, Israel is setting global standards. We already know about the record low ratio of civilian to combatant ratios. But the IDF Medical Corps is also achieving the world’s fastest... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Father and son serve together Reserve Major Professor Nahum Nesher (63) and his son, Koren, have clocked 250 cumulative days of reserve duty in the Hermon outposts. Nahum returns to Syria having been brutally treated as a PoW in 1984. Koren survived a car accident after mandatory... Read more »

By: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR IDF soldier’s Righteous great-grandparents Noah’s great-grandparents hid a Jewish woman in their attic in the Netherlands during WWII. Her great-grandmother’s brother hid a Jewish couple and their three children, earning recognition as “Righteous of the Nations”. Today, Noah is proud to serve as a soldier in the... Read more »

By: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Cutting-edge leg surgery from US to Israel Israeli surgeons at Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center used a US technique for the first time in Israel, to fix a titanium screw to the bone of a wounded IDF soldier. The technique, called osseointegration, significantly reduces pain and friction from... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Woman of Courage One of the seven International Women of Courage 2025 awarded by the US State Department was Israel’s Amit Sousanna. Amit uses her voice to courageously advocate for survivors by using her own lived example to describe the trauma she suffered as a hostage of... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Israel’s baby boom In the midst of war, Israel is experiencing a baby boom. Unlike post-war birth surges, Israel had a 7% increase in births since Sep 2023, with 181,000 babies born in 2024. Maternity wards are overflowing even with economic and security challenges. And the highest... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Ex-hostages give Purim gifts to cancer children Heroic former hostages Agam Berger, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy joined Rabbi Asher Levi to bring joy to cancer patients at Schneider Children’s Medical Center, delivering Purim gifts and sharing a powerful message: “Giving to others gives us strength.” https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-released-female-hostages-give-out-purim-gifts-to-children-battling-cancer/... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR The honey and the sting Naomi Shemer’s song “Al Kol Eleh” (for all these) sums up last week and a half. First, two miracles saved hundreds of Israelis from five bus bombs – an alert passenger, and terrorists set the timers wrongly. A week later, thousands took... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Private concert for freed hostages Hanan Ben Ari, one of Israel’s favorite singers, gave a private performance for Liri, Karina, Daniela and Naama and their families in hospital. The unique 2-hour “welcome home” concert included his latest release, “Today I woke up happy.” https://www.timesofisrael.com/ex-hostage-says-liri-albag-saved-her-life-as-hamas-captors-tortured-threatened-her/ Now it’s personal... Read more »

By: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Reunited! The heartwarming scenes of the three released women hostages greeting their parents. The news of their freedom was announced on every El Al airplane, followed by cheers and applause from passengers. And hot off the press, scenes of the latest 4 female soldier hostages being reunited... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR 150 lone soldiers join the IDF Over 150 young immigrants from the US, Canada, UK, and other countries are currently arriving in Israel as part of the Garin Tzabar Scouts program. After four months in an absorption program they will enlist in the IDF. Garin Tzabar has... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Medical advances from the war The New York Post describes many of Israel’s rehabilitating innovations created as a direct result of the war with Hamas and Hezbollah. It focuses on Israeli reservist and New York native Aaron Bours who was shot in both legs but is now... Read more »

By: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Billionaire survivor gives message of hope 94-year-old Holocaust survivor Sir Frank Lowy gave a powerful and emotional Thanksgiving Day speech to ex-hostages and their friends. The Israeli-Australian multibillionaire drew from his life experiences to give them strength and resilience. (see here previously).   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lowy The most interceptions in... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Rebuilding Kibbutz Kfar Aza 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. https://israfan.com/p/rebuilding-kfar-aza Growing olive trees in challenging times Videos from “Buy a Piece of Israel” gives readers an insight... Read more »

By: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR What to do with captured weapons The IDF is examining the possibility of establishing anti-tank units using the huge number of weapons and missiles seized from the Hezbollah terrorist organization, including tens of thousands of Russian Kornet and Iranian Almas anti-tank missiles. https://www.jns.org/idf-may-form-anti-tank-units-using-captured-hezbollah-materiel/ IDF’s veteran unit The... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Wounded paramedic returns 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... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Sheba hospital’s new rehab center 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.... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR IDF soldier saved by his prayers An IDF soldier was praying in Gaza, wearing tefillin (phylacteries). When warned about a nearby Hamas terrorist, he removed his tefillin, but had no time to remove the metal night vision support plate on his helmet.  The terrorist shot 3 bullets... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR On a mission Technion alumna Maya Shnur is a business manager at Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. “When the sirens start and I take my little boy down into the bomb shelter, I say ‘thank you Rafael for saving our lives.’” Maya contributes to Israel’s security and... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR The breath of life Kfir Zar’s lungs were badly damaged when Hamas fired a rocket at his tank in Gaza. He was put on a heart-lung machine until he received a double lung transplant at Sheba Medical Center from fallen soldier Dor Zimel. Kfir has now been... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR The most moral army in history The High Level International Military Group comprises former NATO chiefs of staff, generals, senior officers, political leaders and officials. Its July 2024 analysis of the IDF’s war against Hamas was sent to the International Criminal Court. It praises the IDF’s moral... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Lifting our spirit Ziv Shilon lost an arm in Gaza in 2012, but he didn’t lose his spirit. Here, he performs hagbah (lifting the Torah scroll) in the Chabad of Savyon, Nothing stops these heroes – they are now a defining and meaningful part of the fabric... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman   POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Wounded paramedic has a strong spirit Tal, an IDF paramedic was wounded when he went to the aid of a soldier shot by Hezbollah, who subsequently fired an anti-tank missile at him. He is in rehabilitation but has returned to manage the Golani distillery that he... Read more »

POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Wounded ICU doctor vows to work again Dr Yoav Bichovsky, of the intensive care unit at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, was wounded beyond recognition by Hamas in Gaza. He is now regaining his speech and motor skills at the Loewenstein Rehabilitation Center in Ra’anana and is resolved to return... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Israel’s largest flag 50 meters above Moshav Netiv HaAsara flies is probably the biggest flag in Israel at 17 meters wide and 12 meters tall. It is visible from Gaza, as a symbol of defiance to the Hamas terrorists who tried to overrun the Moshav on Oct... Read more »

POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR Wounded IDF soldier welcomed at NY rehab center Due to an overload of war casualties Yonatan, an injured IDF soldier had his follow-up surgeries in Israel delayed. A compassionate doctor and Five Towns Premier Rehab Center in Woodmere, NY, agreed to admit him. https://jewishbreakingnews.com/injured-idf-soldier-receives-heros-welcome-at-ny-rehab-center/ https://x.com/LivingLchaim/status/1800218431322783777 96-year-old IDF reservist promoted Ezra... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR “The diamonds are in our hands” In one of the most daring operations since Oct 7, Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Shlomi Ziv, and Andrei Kozlov, who were kidnapped from the Nova party, were rescued in “Operation Arnon.” This is how the action unfolded, minute by minute.... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS Penetrating the BBB The nano-platform technology of Israel’s NanoCarry traverses the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) to deliver potentially life-saving therapies to the brain.  Its initial target is HER2 breast cancer brain metastases for which there is no treatment, even though the original cancer can now effectively be cured. https://nocamels.com/2024/05/penetrating-brains-natural-barrier-to-deliver-life-saving-drugs/... Read more »

POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR IDF heroes speak to the world The Jewish Agency for Israel organized a group of 90 IDF soldiers that fought on the southern and northern fronts to participate in Israel’s Memorial Day (Yom Hazikaron) and Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut) ceremonies across the globe so they could share details of their... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR Gaza border incubator is back in business The attacks on Oct 7 took a severe toll on the SouthUp business incubator (see here previously). But now the Nir Am center has fully reopened. Four new startups have joined the portfolio of 27 companies working in the fields of... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR Remarkable Resilience This video describes how Israel’s Ben Gurion University responded after the devastating events of Oct 7.  BGU and its students are helping the Negev recover and rebuild. From finance to students in the reserves and evacuees, to medical gear, clinics, and many vital cutting-edge innovations.... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR Ari leaves the ICU Ari Spitz, a Givati Brigade soldier, has regained full consciousness one and a half months after being severely injured in Gaza. He is considered one of the most severe casualties of the war. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388392 From battleground to bakery Yedidya Harush has literally fought... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR Fallen soldier saves five lives The family of fallen IDF soldier Sivan Weil donated his organs. His heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and pancreas saved five seriously ill patients at Israel’s Sheba, Hadassah, and Beilinson Medical Centers. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-794971 https://www.timesofi srael.com/liveblog_entry/parents-of-soldier-killed-in-gaza-say-organs-donated/ Protection at sea For the first time, Israel... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR Reserve IDF commander has life-changing surgery 57-year-old Motti Ben-Lulu served 4 months reserve duty as a platoon commander in Gaza. But he was unable to hold a weapon due to tremor. Now, after MRI-guided focused ultrasound treatment from Israel’s Insightec (see here previously) he is a new person.... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR Christian Embassy donates 4 ambulances The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem has donated four new ambulances to help replace the dozens of Israeli ambulances destroyed on and since Oct 7. One is an advanced military  ambulance for Gaza border communities. One will serve Holocaust survivors in the North.... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR Gap-year students mentor displaced kids Israeli high school graduates in a pre-army volunteer program are supporting children evacuated due to the war. 60 joined NGO Bakehila (see here previously) mentoring Jewish and Arab kids relocated from Kiryat Shmona to Haifa. Others helped at Bakehila’s Jerusalem’s communes. https://www.israel21c.org/gap-year-israelis-mentor-kids-impacted-or-displaced-by-war/ Son... Read more »

by: Michael Ordman POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR He lied to his wife to rescue survivors On Oct 7, IDF veteran Eran Masas, from Haifa lied to his wife that he had been called up by the army. He put on a uniform, took his sidearm and drove 220km to the Gaza border. He then... Read more »

POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR Airlifting medical supplies Yad Sarah, Israel’s largest volunteer-run non-profit organization, is circumventing shipping delays of critical equipment caused by attacks by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthis with the arrival of the first airlift to Ben Gurion Airport. Funding was by the Jewish Federations of North America. https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-785799 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOd_HK7oXPA Fly the flag Israel’s... Read more »

Using music to test for dementia; Natural gas revenues soar; ItsMine is a Cool Vendor; and much more!   by: Michael Ordman ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS Once-a-day injection to treat Parkinson’s Israel’s Pharma Two B (see here previously) is presenting the full results of its Phase 3 trial of its once-a-day injection of its P2B001 treatment for... Read more »