The past couple of months have been challenging for everyone in Israel, as the country seems to be in the midst of an enduring and seemingly never-ending crisis since October 7. Amidst heartache, there are bright spots that remind us once again that the people in the country are the reason it will never be defeated.
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Omer Adam
Like many artists in Israel, Omer Adam has mobilized efforts to uplift military morale and contributed significant amounts of food for the troops. However, his main initiative unfolded a month after the war erupted when the singer recognized the plight of soldiers receiving short furloughs but unable to leave the Gaza Strip.
Adam announced on his Instagram account, followed by 1.1 million followers, a new project: funding special taxis for soldiers returning from furlough to ensure they can travel home conveniently using public transportation. His post, expressing the desire for soldiers not to face difficulties and to return home exactly as they deserve, went viral, garnering thousands of comments and shares.
Since the inception of the project last month, it has seen substantial success, with Adam personally funding a significant portion, and additional contributors joining in. Whether it's regular people contributing or celebrities like Teddy Sagi, who donated NIS one million, hundreds of soldiers can now return home, even if just for a few hours, bringing relief and joy to worried parents.
Gal Gadot
Considerable criticism has been directed towards the Israeli Hollywood star during the recent war. Some accusations claim that she remains on the fence, refrains from leveraging her social media power to explain our side, and fails to do everything within her capacity to garner support. However, all of this was nullified since the events of October 7.
Gal Gadot's 109 million followers in Israel and worldwide have been consuming clear, dynamic, and impactful explanatory content almost every day over the past two months, during which the international actress utilizes the platform and immense influence in her hands to disseminate and convey the message. While Gadot previously treaded carefully not to step on the toes of conservative Hollywood, in the current war, Wonder Woman does not hold back and fights on the explanatory front with full force.
From sharing captured moments and calling for their response on her Instagram, through solidarity conferences where she spoke alongside Noa Tishby, to supporting the organization Crowdsourcing Hate, targeting senior figures in Hollywood—Gadot skillfully and responsibly exploits her considerable power.
Noa Tishby
In April, it was reported that the Foreign Ministry decided to bid farewell to Noa Tishby, who served as a special envoy in the fight against antisemitism. Who would have thought that half a year later, there would be a need to fill her shoes urgently, and yet no one does it better than Tishby, who elucidates more than any minister or diplomat?
Tishby, residing in the United States, an ocean away and a 15-hour flight from the fiery Middle East, could have slept peacefully and said, "I told you so," but instead, she rose above herself, set aside her ego, and embarked on an uncompromising explanatory campaign for the sake of the State of Israel against the entire world, leaving petty politics outside the arena.
Articulate and unapologetic in flawless English, Tishby started her camera rolling on October 7 and hasn't stopped since. Not even for sleep. Her entire Instagram account is focused on explanation, and her videos have garnered millions of views and shares. She understands and harnesses the power of media, consistently giving interviews to international news channels, hosting conferences, and successfully raising funds for the country.
Idan Amedi
For nearly two months, Fauda star Idan Amedi has been in reserve duty. While he tends to be sparing with words, he occasionally shares glimpses into his military service on social media, connecting with his 235,000 Instagram followers and eliciting a collective sigh of relief. "An entire generation of our loved ones is under fire. We won't stop the fight. I am willing not to perform or sing for a year," Amedi posted on social media. "We cannot abandon the citizens of the south and the north for even a moment. Anything other than neutralizing Hamas in Gaza and eradicating Hezbollah's influence in southern Lebanon is an immediate threat to our children."
Nathaniel Buzolic
On the 20th day of the war, Australian actor Nathaniel Buzolic, known for his role in "The Vampire Diaries," landed in Israel. The objective: to show the world the inhumane atrocities of Hamas, particularly against civilians.
Buzolic, an Australian actor with a well-known affection for Israel, flooded social media from the first day of the war and did not despair even when pro-Palestinian followers reported his page, resulting in it being repeatedly blocked. "One thing I want to say is that it's incredibly easy for people to enter social media to spread false information, and hatred, and support a movement with only one goal—to destroy the nation. Despite all the hatred directed at that nation, I decided to come. I decided to come here to show you and the rest of the world the truth and the reality of what is exactly happening here."
For an entire month, Buzolic became one of us. He visited the kibbutzim near Gaza, encouraged IDF soldiers, visited the wounded in the hospital, met with returning prisoners of war, interviewed Knesset members, and along the way managed to open a new chapter in his life with model Leah Nagler. Hopefully, their fresh relationship will continue – we look forward to seeing Buzolic again, who has become part of the Israeli landscape.