Israelis contributed in unique ways to the Jewish chapel at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Israeli artisans chiseled Jerusalem stone that was then shipped to the United States to construct the chapel’s front wall, which is reminiscent of the Kotel in Jerusalem. In the chapel is a Torah scroll that the IDF gave to the Brigade of Midshipmen.
Israelis and Jews worldwide celebrate Lag BaOmer with bonfires. Traditionally, hundreds of thousands of religious Jews gather at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron. Early Zionists associated their bonfires with Simon bar Kokhba, who led a revolt against the Romans. Therefore, Lag BaOmer became a symbol for the fighting Jewish spirit. In 1948, the order establishing the Israel Defense Forces was issued on Lag BaOmer.
While training to be an IDF medic, Bernard Bar-Natan was issued standard bandages and instructed to use stones for extra pressure to stop bleeding. Seeking a better solution, he perfected a field dressing with a built-in pressure applicator. Since its introduction, medics and first responders worldwide have used the “Israeli Bandage” to save countless lives and limbs.
Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror will be especially poignant this year. Most of the nation will stand still – even in the middle of crossing a street – to the sounds of two sirens, one at night and one in the morning. During the day, active-duty soldiers will don their dress uniforms and stand as honor guards beside military graves, even those of soldiers who died in Israel’s War of Independence in 1948.
Israel is the vegan capital of the Middle East and fourth in the world. Five percent of all Israelis do not consume animal products. In the Israel Defense Forces, approximately 1 in 18 soldiers (5.6%) is vegan. In addition to plant-based meals, the IDF offers synthetic leather boots and synthetic wool berets to its vegan troops.
The years 1954-1959 were the height of strategic relations between France and Israel. Not unlike today, the United States would not supply certain arms to the newly established Jewish state. But France was willing to sell Israel high-quality weapons, including Mirage jet fighters. This helped shift the balance of Mideast power toward Israel. Shimon Peres – at the time, the youngest-ever director-general of Israel’s Ministry of Defense – handled the rapprochement.
Despite strong political differences, Israelis know how to unite in an emergency. Immediately after October 7, the IDF called up 360,000 reservists. Israelis flew from all over the world to return to serve. In some units, many reservists reported for duty before receiving their “Tzav 8” call-up orders.
