Israel and Paraguays Relations

 Nadene Goldfoot                                           

                       The little pea-green state in the middle is Paraguay

Paraguay-Israel relations are strong and consistently pro-Israel, marked by shared values, support in international forums, and a recent re-establishment of Paraguay's embassy in Jerusalem in late 2024, reversing a temporary move to Herzliya. This strong bond, rooted in religious conservatism, historical support for Israel's creation (1947 UN vote), and shared resilience, sees Paraguay designating Hamas as a terrorist group, backing Israel after the October 7 attacks, and strengthening cooperation in tech, agriculture, and security, making it a key ally in South America. 
                                               

   Paraguay President Pena with Benjamin Netanyahu, PM of Israel 

What do we know about Paraguay?  The leaders are young.  

Paraguay, a landlocked South American nation, is roughly the sze of California (around 157,000 sq mi/406,000 sq km) wit a growing population estimated around 7-7.6 million (2025), known for its strong indigenous Guaraní culture, dual Spanish/Guaraní language use, and being an "Upper-middle-income" country with a significant urban population. Paraguay's people are predominantly Mestizo, speaking Spanish and Guarani, with a strong Catholic majority (around 70-90%), balanced with growing Evangelical Protestantism and smaller groups like Mennonites, Jews, and Muslims, all under a constitution guaranteeing religious freedom. This South American nation blends indigenous Guarani culture with Spanish colonial history, creating a unique national identity reflected in its faith and people. 

President:Santiago Peña

Compare that to Israel today:  Israel is a fast growing country in the Middle East with a population of approximately 10.15 million people-far more than recent 7 million,  and a total area of about 22,072 square kilometers (8,522 sq miles).

• Religious Affiliation (2023 est.):
  • 73.7% Judaism
  • 18.3% Islam                                                             VP: Pedro Alliana
  • 1.9% Christianity
  • 1.6% Druze faith 
• Ethnic Groups (2025 est.):
  • 71.9% Jews
  • 21% Arabs
  • 7.1% Others (including non-Arab Christians, Baha'i, etc.)

• 1. Paraguay moved its embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, then briefly back to Herzliya, before President Santiago Peña restored it to Jerusalem in December 2024, signaling renewed commitment
• 2. Paraguay consistently supports Israel at the UN and other bodies, opposing anti-Israel resolutions.
• 3. It officially designated Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as terrorist organizations.
• 4. The relationship is built on shared democratic values, resilience, and a historical connection, including welcoming Jewish immigrants.
• Post-October 7th Stance: Paraguay was a staunch supporter after the 2023 Hamas attacks, with President Peña stating, "We will not abandon Israel," according to Latin America Reports and The Jerusalem Post.
• Cooperation: The partnership extends beyond politics into technology, agriculture, and security, benefiting both nations.
• Historical Roots: Paraguay voted for the 1947 UN Partition Plan for Palestine and opened diplomatic relations in 1949, maintaining strong historical ties. 

American Jewish Immigration To Israel With Naftali Bennett's Family-Short-Time PM

 Nadene Goldfoot                                         

                    Naftali Bennett in 2021 when Prime Minister for a year

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett acknowledged that his Telegram account was hacked by Iranian-linked hackers, who published thousands of phone numbers and private messages attributed to him and his associates.  A Telegram account can be held by anyone in Israel, but the platform has been a battleground for information during the Israel-Hamas conflict, with Hamas-linked channels being restricted or blocked by Telegram (following pressure from Apple/Google) while Iran-linked hackers target Israeli officials, like former PM Bennett, suggesting active cyber warfare involving Telegram accounts. 

Update: 12/18o/25-2:08pm  Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett confirmed that his Telegram account was hacked but insisted his phone was not accessed, the Jerusalem Post reported on Wednesday.

Bennett said in a statement that the device linked to the compromised account is no longer in use, according to the report.

Earlier in the day, the group, calling itself “Handala” and linked to Iran’s intelligence ministry, alleged it had hacked what it described as Bennett’s iPhone 13 as part of what it called “Operation Octopus.”  https://www.iranintl.com/en/202512179919

Naftali Bennett (Hebrew: נַפְתָּלִי בֶּנֶט,  born 25 March 1972) is an Israeli politician and businessman who served as the prime minister of Israel from 13 June 2021 to 30 June 2022, ( 1 year)  and as the alternate prime minister from 1 July to 8 November 2022. (4 months)  Bennett was the leader of the New Right party from 2018 to 2022, having previously led the religious Zionist and far-right political party The Jewish Home between 2012 and 2018 (6 years) .

Bennett's parents were raised in non-Orthodox Jewish homes and were progressive activists during the 1960s. His father was arrested while taking part in an anti-racism sit-in protest in 1964. They later began to observe Modern Orthodox Judaism and embraced right-wing Israeli politics. After moving to Israel in 1967, they volunteered for a few months at kibbutz Dafna, where they studied the Hebrew language, then settled in the Ahuza neighborhood of Haifa.

    Houses on the Carmel - Ahuza neighborhood (Photo: Yaron Karmi)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzv_sPr_12M

    Haifa, where I also lived for a year from 1980-1981 along the sea in an Absorption Center.   Bennett's parents were 13 years ahead of me as immigrants. Immigration from the US to Israel was low before the Six-Day War but spiked afterward; between 1967 and 1973, over 31,000 Americans made Aliyah (immigrated), with many arriving in the immediate aftermath of the war, transforming from anxiety to pride and identification, though the bulk came in the subsequent years, not just that single year. Total immigration to Israel in 1980 was around 20,428, mostly from the Former Soviet Union (FSU), with Americans forming a smaller portion of the overall inflow, though many Jewish Americans have strong ties to Israel, with some studies suggesting hundreds of thousands of Israelis live in the U.S., and significant numbers of Americans residing in Israel long-term. 

Actually, I found very few Americans making aliyah, so we were really inthe minority.  Russians came in large groups.  We found friends among the English, Dutch, people who spoke English.  We were older than  many.

Bennett was born in Haifa, Israel, on 25 March 1972. He is the youngest of three sons born to Jim and Myrna (née Lefko) Bennett, American-Jewish immigrants who moved to Israel from San Francisco in July 1967.  

Both his parents were from Ashkenazi Jewish backgrounds. His father's ancestors were from Poland, Germany, and the Netherlands. Bennett's paternal great-great-great-grandfather Julius Salomonson was from Łobżenica, Poland, and arrived in San Francisco in 1851 during the California Gold Rush. His mother's ancestors lived in Russia and Poland, and her parents immigrated to the United States prior to World War II. They later moved to Israel, joining their daughter's family there, and settled on Vitkin Street in Haifa, close to where Bennett and his brothers grew up. Some of his mother's family members who remained in Poland were murdered in the Holocaust.

Having failed to defeat us militarily, our enemies resort to terror and lies. There's not much that you and I can do about the terror, other than remaining vigilant and making sure our respective governments do the same. But there is much that we can, and must, do to combat the lies, hatred and vile antisemitism being spread throughout the world and poisoning the minds of the youth and so called "educated" classes. IsraelAM is a small, yet important, way we try to spread truth and light - - and a little but of light can illuminate a lot of darkness. Keep spreading the light!

Resource:

israelAM

Mattathias, Father of Maccabeans And How They Kept Judaism Alive

 Nadene Goldfoot                                            

Mattathias (d. 167/6 BCE was a Jewish priest from Modein who sparked the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd century BCE by defying Antiochus IV Epiphanes's Hellenistic decrees, becoming the patriarch of the Hasmonean dynasty; he led guerrilla warfare against the Syrians, eventually passing leadership to his famous son, Judas Maccabeus (Judah Maccabee), after his death. This happened in about 200 BCE to 101 BCE, which means about 2,225 years ago. 

Mattathias was brave.  He slayed the royal official sent to enforce worship of Zeus  and so created a focus for the revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes.  Mattathias also took over the guerilla war on the Syrians.  After his death, he  was succeeded by his son, Judah.  

  You can well imagine that in those days, runners had the job of running to the next town to procure more oil for the lamp in the synagogue at the time the Hellenizers  (Antiochus) had taken over temple, putting in an idol of Zeus, which infuriated the Jews.  

 He had five sons: John (Gaddi), Simon (Thassi), Judas (Maccabeus), Eleazar (Avaran), and Jonathan (Apphus).   Judas Maccabeus was called the hammerer.  

Where Hasmoneans fought in a revolt from hills of Modiin.  

Did you know that the story of Hanukkah isn’t just about the miracle of the oil? It’s also the story of a courageous battle for freedom that took place right here in Judea and Samaria. 🗡

From the hills of Modiin, where the revolt began, to the narrow passes of Beth Horon and the valleys near Beit Tzur, the Hasmoneans fought fiercely against the mighty Seleucid Empire. Their victories weren’t just military—they were spiritual, securing the Jewish people’s right to worship freely in the Holy Land.

If Judaism was smothered to death, there would have been no Christianity. Think about that.

Lighting Chanukah Candles

 Nadene Goldfoot                                           

We say 3 blessings on the first night which is Sunday, and 2 blessings thereafter.  Before lighting the candles (but after placing them in the menorah), we recite the following blessings.  We say the 3 blessings on the first night, and then only and 1st and 2nd blessing on the following 7 nights. 

We say the special blessing for the first night, Shehecheyanu, praising God for bringing us to this season. These blessings thank God for the mitzvah (commandment) to light the candles, the miracle of the oil, and for sustaining us to reach the holiday. 

                                                                          בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה

TRANSLITERATION

1.  Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah. 

 Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who makes us holy with your commandments, commanding us to kindle (light) the Hanukkah lights.

2. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְאִמוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה  Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, she-asah nisim la-avoteinu v’imoteinu bayamim haheim bazman hazeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in those ancient days at this season.

3. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה  Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higiyanu lazman hazeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

Resource:

https://bnaimitzvahacademy.com/hanukkah-blessings-hanukkah-prayer/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20important,for%20the%20following%20seven%20nights.

Hanukkah Begins Sunday Night December 14's Sunday Night (Erev Chanukah)

 Nadene Goldfoot                                            

One of the videos shows the six hostages celebrating Hanukkah in a tunnel in Gaza months before they were killed by Hamas in August 2024. 

Hostages and Missing Families Forum---

Two of the clips show the hostages gingerly lighting makeshift candles on a menorah made of disposable cups. The hostages – Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino, and Alex Lobanov – say the Jewish blessings before lighting the candles in what would have been early-December 2023.

Update 8:56am:  A video of 6 hostages lighting the Hanukkah candles during their captivity in Rafah was released. The video, captured by IDF forces during the war, was filmed by Hamas as part of their psychological warfare campaign. The 6 hostages - Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Carmel Gat - were all murdered by Hamas in the tunnel, after being tortured and starved for months.

The holiday of Hanukkah begins on Sunday night. The holiday represents the willingness of the Jewish People, and all good people regardless of their religion, to fight for the freedom to live according to their beliefs. It is also a time of miracles, the kind that we can all recognize and the kind that we pass off as coincidence or luck. The video of the hostages lighting the candles in the darkest place imaginable reflects both the struggle for freedom and the belief in miraculous salvation. The last 2 years of wars against our enemies does the same. After it all, we can light our Hanukkah lights in freedom, strengthened in our faith that truth and justice will continue to triumph over lies and terror.

What should we do on Sunday night?  

On Erev (the eve of) Chanukah, Jews prepare to celebrate the Festival of Lights by gathering as a family, preparing for the first candle lighting (usually just after sunset), reciting special blessings, and enjoying oil-based foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), alongside playing dreidel and giving gelt (money or chocolate coins), all to commemorate the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days in the ancient Temple.   Remember the runners-young men running to the next town

which was pretty far away if you're a runner, and carrying some

oil back because yours in the Temple had none left.  Talk about

it.  

Resource:

israelAM

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/11/middleeast/hanukkah-israeli-hostages-gaza-tunnel-latam-intl