RUTHFULLY YOURS

“For how can I endure to see the evil that will come to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my countrymen?” Esther 8.6

 But Esther’s story is a powerful reminder of faith, conviction and courage in the face of evil  and the importance of  using one’s influence for good even in seemingly impossible situations. That is the story of Israel as Michael Ordman demonstrates in his essential blog. rsk

 www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com

POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
 
100 babies born at missile-damaged Soroka. (TY I24 News) Beer Sheba’s Soroka hospital opened up maternity wards in bomb shelters to deal with the threat of rockets. Despite suffering an Iranian missile hit, Israeli women gave birth to 100 babies in the hospital during the 12 days of Operation Rising Lion.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-soroka-hospital-staff-delivered-over-100-babies-during-missile-attacks/
 
Aid for Iranian missile victims. (TY eJP) Israeli non-profit Ogen (see here previously) has launched a NIS 30 million emergency aid program “Israel’s Financial First Responders,” to support small businesses and families impacted by Iran’s missile attacks on Israel during “Operation Rising Lion.” JNF-USA has also rallied to help.
https://www.jns.org/wire/ogen-launches-30m-relief-fund-for-families-businesses-hit-by-iran-missiles/
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jewish-national-fund-usa-supports-the-people-of-beer-sheva-amid-crisis-with-1-million-emergency-commitment-302490876.html
 
More support here. Colel Chabad, with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) and the Hatzinor Fund, are giving debit cards worth 3,000 shekels to Israeli families left homeless after missile attacks. The JDC (Joint) have also been deploying emergency aid and services to support vulnerable populations.
https://www.jns.org/wire/with-homes-destroyed-in-iran-attack-thousands-of-israeli-families-get-immediate-support/  https://www.jns.org/wire/in-wake-of-iran-attacks-jdc-assists-vulnerable-populations-and-devastated-communities/
 
International support. Foreign aid for Israeli victims has come from Taiwan, which donated $160,000 to the ZAKA emergency response organization. Meanwhile, the Jewish community of Foshan China is donating building materials. Their city is one of the largest suppliers of construction services in the world.
https://worldisraelnews.com/support-from-abroad-pours-in-to-rebuild-israeli-cities-hit-by-irans-missiles/
 
$30 million for Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The U.S. State Department will provide $30 million to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The GHF has replaced the United Nations in delivering humanitarian aid to Gazan civilians and avoiding Hamas looters. GHF has delivered many millions of meals since its launch.
https://www.jns.org/state-dept-announces-30m-in-funding-for-gaza-humanitarian-foundation/
 
Ex-hostage completes IDF service. Karina Ariev, held by Hamas for over a year, has officially completed her service in Israel’s Defense Forces. All of Israel has recognized her courage for both the bravery she displayed during her captivity, and for her decision to return and honor her fallen comrades by completing her duty.
  https://israfan.com/p/karina-ariev-idf-service-after-captivity
 
Ex-hostage gives support to missile victims. Former hostage Yelena Troufanov, spends her days gathering clothing and other supplies for those who have been injured or lost their homes and possessions during Iran’s missile attacks. So many items were donated from Israelis, which “reflects the spirit of our people,” she said.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/released-hostage-helps-victims-of-irans-missile-attacks/
 
Bar-Ilan graduation ceremony in Gaza. Ohad couldn’t attend his medical graduation ceremony at Bar-Ilan University as he was in the IDF serving in Gaza. So the university brought the graduation ceremony to him. He put a hat and gown over his IDF uniform and recited the doctor’s oath (Hippocratic Oath) to his fellow soldiers.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xTmRQezOlJw
 
Unsung heroes. Israeli reservists comprised the bulk of the troops largely responsible for Israel’s successes during the long multi-front war. They are all IDF veterans who completed their full service and then entered civilian life as students, members of the work force, spouses, and parents. Now they are on the front line.
https://mosaicmagazine.com/response/israel-zionism/2025/06/the-unsung-heroes-who-make-israeli-victory-possible/
 
Married couple flew sorties against Iran. (TY Yanky) Combat navigators, identified only as “Yud” and “Bet” both attacked Iran during the 12-day war. “Yud” is the first female deputy commander of a fighter squadron. Husband “Bet,” commands an air squadron and will soon command a fighter squadron. They have 2 children.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/married-couple-both-iaf-combat-navigators-flew-sorties-over-iran-during-12-day-war/

https://www.jns.org/the-cost-of-assumptions-iran-october-7-and-the-power-of-a-conceptzia/

The IDF’s performance against Iran throws into sharp relief the difference a conceptzia can make. The same military that reeled against a Hamas onslaught on Oct. 7, 2023, acted with jaw-dropping efficiency 20 months later.

It was, in large part, due to the way the Israel Defense Forces viewed the threat from Iran vs. that from Gaza. Clear-eyed about the dangers from one, it was blinded by misconceptions about the other.

“When your enemies say something, they usually mean what they say. In Iran’s case, we understood that. In Hamas’s case, we did not,” Or Yissachar, director of research at the Israel Defense and Security Forum (IDSF), told JNS.

The conceptzia that misled the IDF about Hamas consisted of a series of governing assumptions: 1) Hamas had been deterred, particularly after 2021’s “Operation Guardian of the Walls”; 2) Hamas was contained—its rockets by the Iron Dome, its invasion tunnels by the “Iron Wall,” and 3) Hamas, preoccupied with governing Gaza, could be bought off.

“Hamas exploited that belief to conduct a years-long deception campaign, not only misleading Israel’s strategic planners but reinforcing the … conceptzia …, the outdated and unfounded assumptions that Hamas sought calm in exchange for economic relief,” John Spencer, chairman of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, told JNS.

Compounding these assumptions was the belief that Hamas wasn’t capable of a major offensive. Israel believed it could mount a small raiding party at most. “It was a failure of imagination as much as it was a failure of preparation,” Spencer said.