Israel Beat

Learn about Krav Maga and its founder Imi Lichtenfeld who fought Anti-Semitic gangs in Slovakia. He escaped Europe during World War II on the ill-fated Pancho, an immigration vessel that was shipwrecked near Greece. He eventually made it to Israel where he taught hand-to-hand combat to the newly formed Israel Defense Force. Hear rare audio of this Israeli martial arts expert and his unique story of survival and resilience.

NOTES:

Imi Lichtenfeld news story 1981

Imi Lichtenfeld Wikipedia article (Hebrew)Krav Maga Wikipedia article (Hebrew)

The man who developed Krav Maga to defend against anti-Semitic attacks

Krav Maga history

History and Singularity of Krav-Maga

Imi Lichtenfeld biography

Pancho immigration ship

Odyssey John by Bierman, story of Pancho ship

Yehuda Marcus, author of Practical Judo

Dr. Moshe Feldenkris on the history of marital arts in Israel

Dr. Moshe Feldenkris and Jewish self defense

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A brief review of Jewish and Pro-Israel rallies in Washington DC including the Rabbis March in 1943, the Six Day War rally in 1967, Freedom Sunday for Soviet Jewry in 1987 and the National Rally in Solidarity With Israel in 2002 featuring rare sound audio from Natan Sharansky, Elie Wiesel and more. Did you or a family member attend one of these rallies? Let me know in the comments section.

Notes:

50,000 Jews Participate in Public Rally for Israel in Washington - 1967When the Rabbis Marched on WashingtonWashington Post article on Rabbis MarchThe Day the Rabbis MarchedRabbis March videoHistory is Made At Washington Rally - 2002Thousands Rally for Israel - 2002Tens of thousands rally in support of Israel - 2002National Rally for Israel - 2002 C-Span videoFreedom Sunday 1987Freedom Rally for Soviet Jews 1987 C-Span video

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The history of Israeli tanks includes the locally produced Merkava, the Magach, the secret Pereh missile carrier, and the new AI-powered Barak. Learn about IDF General Israel Tal who developed the Merkava, early armored division head Major General Jackie Even, and the Ma'ale Akrabim massacre and fedayeen infiltrations that preluded the Sinai War and led to Israel liberating the entire Gaza Strip in 1956. 

Notes:

Yad Lashiryon Tank Museum at Latrun

Tanks of the Israel Defense Forces

General Israel Tal

IDF Maj.-Gen. (res.) Israel Tal dies at age 86

Israel Tal - Charioteer of fire

IDF tank commander Jackie Even

Magach tank

Israel unveils AI-assisted next-gen 'Merkava' tank

Pereh anti-tank missile carrier

Israel Producing New Tank, the Merkava Described As Revolutionary

Israeli Tank Crews Have Better Protection Than Any Other Armored Unit

Advanced Weaponry Unveiled

Israel's Merkava crowned one the world's deadliest tanks

Meet the 5 Deadliest Tanks on Planet Earth

Savoy Hotel attack

Ma'ale Akrabim massacre

Shafrir synagogue shooting

List of attacks against Israeli civilians before 1967

Johannes Gassen mentioned in The Shadow War: 25 Intelligence and Security Affairs in Israel by Yosef Argman, Ministry of Defense Publishing, 2007, pages 415-417.

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Times are tough for Israeli tour guides, but Rachel Lazar knows both the joys and challenges that come with showing people the ancient, historic sites in the land of the Bible.

Click here for more information on Rachel Lazar Tours.

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NOTES:

Magen David Adom history

United Hatzalah emergency medical services

ZAKA emergency response team

Dr. Nancy Caroline

Dr. Meshulam Levontin

Dr. Moses Erlanger

Founding of Magen David Adom

Magen David Adom in 2020

Magen David Adom 90th Birthday

Foreign Magen David Adom volunteers reflect on saving lives in Israel

The Origins Of Magen David Adom by Saul Singer

Magen David Adom: History & Overview

To Organize International Red Magen David, JTA, 1923

Einstein One of Chairmen of “oze” Conference, JTA, 1923

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The slogan Am Yisrael Chai — the Nation of Israel Lives — has returned to public consciousness in recent days due to the current war in Israel with Hamas controlled Gaza. This phrase has its roots in the Torah. It was recited by Rabbi Leslie Hardman at the Bergen Belson concentration camp in 1945, heard by Soviet Jews during the visit of Golda Meir in 1948, turned into a song by Shlomo Carlebach for the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry in 1965 and sung at the Western Wall in Jerusalem in 1967.

Below is a collection of Am Yisrael Chai signs on the streets of Jerusalem from October 2023.

NOTES:

Golda Meir biography by Meron Medzini

Am Yisroel Chai origin by Jacob Birnbaum

Leslie Hardman

The Meaning of Am Yisrael Chai

Am Yisrael Chai - A Slogan or a Prayer?

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The famous commentator on the Mishnah, Ovadia of Bartenura sipped wine with the Jews of Gaza in the 1480s. The founder of Wissotzky Tea spearheaded the revival of a thriving Jewish Gazan community in the 1880s. Today, there is still a section of Gaza City known as the Jewish Quarter. Find out about the history of the Jews of Gaza who lived, worked and prayed along Israel’s southern Mediterranean coastline.

NOTES:

Jewish communities in Gaza throughout the yearsThe lost history of Gaza's Jewish quarterGaza, like you never knew itA Brief Historical Review of the Gaza Jewish communityGaza Strip: History of Jewish SettlementRabbi Israel NajaraThe ancient synagogue in GazaBritish military cemetery in Gaza (contains Jewish graves)Maiuma ancient port of GazaHistory Of Yoffe/Yaffe Family of GazaGreat Mosque in Gaza (contains Hebrew inscription)Jewish Travellers by Elkan N. Alder (contains letters from Ovadia of Bartenura and Meshullam of Volterra)

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For more stories by I. L. Peretz see here: https://archive.org/details/stories-and-pictures/page/18/mode/2up

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Before the city of Modi'in, amid the archeological ruins of the Maccabees, there was a small, idealistic community with one road, one phone line and one car that they shared. Also known as Moshav Meor Modiin, the students of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach paved the way.

Video: Early Days on Moshav Mevo Modi'in, 1977

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The classic Yom Kippur story "Tenth man for the Minyan" and the history of the Avraham Avinu synagogue in Hebron.

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