By: Kobi Arieli Israel Hayom 01/21/2026

Not many have a friend like this, but I do: He serves as the director of a burial society. Every time we meet, I tell him he inspires thoughts of repentance in me. There is a saying in the Talmud: “He shall remind him of the day of death.” What is more reminiscent of the day of death than a person from the burial society? This is what I felt not long ago when I stood before him and twenty others like him, the management teams of burial societies in Jerusalem, who had gathered for a professional conference on behalf of the Cemetery Council.

What I felt there, and also told them, went far beyond jokes about the day of death. What I saw before my eyes was the beginning of a revolution, and what I told them related to the continuation of this revolution. The revolution is a service revolution.

The role of service providers in this sensitive field is incredibly complex and intricate. They meet with the service recipients at their most charged and most difficult moments.

It is clear that they need to be very sensitive and very professional, but that is the public’s concern and the concern of the ministry that employs them.

I am interested in the additional role of people like them, an issue related to all religious service providers, which is their being the ultimate representatives of Judaism and religion in the eyes of a vast portion of their clients.

There are many Israeli Jews, even those who are not religious, who encounter religion in various forms and levels in their daily lives.

They are a little religious, they are traditional, they have religious family members, they live next to a synagogue, they are interested in Torah study, they are friends with Chani and Chizki from the Chabad House in Kathmandu, they are insurance agents specializing in the damage of parokhot, they are architects of mikvahs. There are many. Many more than it seems.

But there are many Israeli Jews who have no connection at all. And even of this type, there are many more than it seems. And for them, the encounter with religion and, to a large extent, with God, is reduced to the mohel who circumcises, the rabbi who marries, the gravedigger who buries, and a few more kashrut supervisors and mikvah attendants along the way. These are men and women who routinely do what they do five times a week for over thirty years, and have long forgotten that besides being professionals, they are also the ultimate representatives of God in the story.

And their smile, their language, and their integrity can forever determine in the heart of the person facing them not only their own image or that of the organization that sent them, but the image of the Torah of Israel and the religion of Israel, and essentially that of the Master of the Universe himself.

The truth is, one shouldn’t need to resort to this. A public servant should perform their duty faithfully regardless of anything.

And what I saw at the conference indicated comprehensive professionalization stemming from great investment, and I am truly proud and happy to report on it; I merely note that beyond the general matter, there is here a Jewish mission of the most sublime kind.

Religious public servants, if there is God in their hearts, are obligated to much higher standards. In their own eyes, they are just clerks, workers, and perhaps hard-working inspectors.

But in reality, they are the vanguard of the state‘s Jewish identity.

Source: https://www.israelhayom.co.il/opinions/article/19723938

The Eilat-Eilot Sustainable Energy Conference 2026, which began today, is being held for the 11th year in Eilat and the Eilot region. The conference serves as the central discussion forum for Israel’s energy sector. The conference brings together decision-makers, senior government and regulatory officials, local authority heads, industry leaders, investors, and researchers to shape the future of Israel’s energy sector.

Yossi Dayan, Director General of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure: “I stood here two years ago, when I took office, and there was a demand to close down the Chief Scientist’s office in the Ministry of Energy. I committed that on my watch, this would not happen – and it did not happen, and it will not happen. On the contrary, we have increased the budgets for the Chief Scientist and support budgets, and in the past year, we supported 19 startup companies and established AI innovation centers. In parallel, 2025 was the first year in which electricity production from renewable energies surpassed electricity production from coal and fuel oil in Israel. renewable energy is no longer just an environmental goal – it is an economic engine and the backbone of energy security, which proved itself during the heatwaves and emergencies of the past year. The goal of 20% renewable energy by 2026 is already on the horizon, and we are working to accelerate dual-use and agri-voltaic facilities.”

The Eilat-Eilot Sustainable Energy Conference 2026 includes dozens of professional sessions, a technology exhibition, B2B meetings, and tours focusing on advanced energy solutions being implemented in the Eilat-Eilot region – Israel’s pioneering area in renewable energy.

For the full list of speakers and the conference program. 

Jerusalem, 21 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli police seized nearly 14 kg of hashish in the Bedouin village of Laqiya during an operation targeting suspected drug trafficking and distribution.

Police officials said the value of the hashish was NIS 300,000 ($94,000).

(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)

Tuesday, 20 January 2026 / 2 Shevat 5786
 

International condemnation of the Iranian regime is not the result of political pressure, but of a simple and undeniable truth: the Iranian regime is the head of the snake that arms, funds, and directs Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist proxies committing crimes against humanity.

While President Herzog represents a democracy that defends its citizens and the free world against murderous terrorism, Iran’s foreign minister represents a brutal and tyrannical regime that attempts to mask its heinous crimes with hollow rhetoric.”

Jerusalem, 21 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Health Ministry released the results of its survey of more than 2,000 medical interns, including preferences and placements from the recent lottery for Israeli graduates. Interns reported the highest satisfaction in internal medicine departments, with lower satisfaction in surgery. Popular specialties include family medicine, pediatrics, and internal medicine, with professional interest and challenge cited as the main factors influencing choices.

Additional specialties preferred by the responding interns were neonatology and gynecology, orthopedic surgery, and anesthesia.

Sixty-six percent of Israeli graduates received their first-choice hospital, and 84% received a top-three placement. The ministry said the survey will guide improvements in training, professional guidance, and internship conditions, aiming to strengthen Israel’s next generation of doctors.

Jerusalem, 21 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Overnight, an Israeli combat team in southern Gaza eliminated a terrorist who crossed the Yellow Line in a manner that posed an immediate threat, the Israel Defense Forces said.

President Herzog will participate in the World Economic Forum’s main plenary session, hold a series of diplomatic meetings, and represent the State of Israel in various international forums to highlight the strengths of the Israeli economy to key audiences and decision-makers.

As stated, this was a private framework that operated without a license to operate as required by law. The rest of the details of the incident are still being studied and examined by the authorized parties.

Under the direction of the Minister of Education, the Director General of the Ministry ordered the establishment of an inter-ministerial team, in cooperation with the police, local government, the prosecution, and other parties, to formulate a systemic plan for identifying, enforcing, and closing private frameworks operating in violation of the law, alongside strengthening control and supervision mechanisms.

It should be noted that the licensing, registration, and supervision process for early childhood frameworks began in 2022, with the transfer of responsibility for the field to the Ministry of Education, and since then the Ministry has been working to establish a nationwide supervision, enforcement, and regulation system.

The following are the data:

1. Early Childhood Budget Analysis: 2023–2026
   The total budget allocated for early childhood across all budget items – including personnel quotas, training, professional development, and various activities (excluding construction budgets) – is presented below:

• 2023 Budget: 217.7 million NIS  
• 2024 Budget: 211.6 million NIS  
• 2025 Budget: 218.7 million NIS  
• 2026 Budget: 220.2 million NIS  

  It should be noted that despite the war and the need for fiscal austerity, which led to broad cuts in government ministry operational budgets, the total base budget for early childhood was not affected. The data indicate stability and even a moderate increase in the total resources allocated to the system, while making internal adjustments such as strengthening the supervision system and transferring budgets to the Gafan (General Fund for Education) for process simplification purposes.

2. As of the 2025-2026 school year, 4,988 approved frameworks with operating licenses are operating in Israel

• Of these, 2,081 are recognized daycare centers and 2,907 are private daycare centers
• In the Central District, 333 recognized daycare centers and 750 private ones are operating
• In the Tel Aviv District, 268 recognized and 785 private ones
• In the Northern District, 502 recognized and 360 private ones
• In the Southern District, 417 recognized and 320 private ones
• In the Haifa District, 179 recognized and 450 private ones
• In the Jerusalem District, 382 recognized daycare centers and 242 private ones

3. In addition, there are currently 226 frameworks in the licensing process, of which 55 are recognized frameworks and 171 are private frameworks.
4. The national and district supervision and control system includes 59 supervisors and 13 advisors in national supervision, alongside 3 dedicated enforcement positions, 6 safety inspectors, and 2 dedicated positions for camera supervision.
5. As part of the enforcement activity against illegal frameworks, 470 frameworks have been transferred to the Enforcement Division for handling.

• Of these, 70 frameworks were closed after control work
• 30 frameworks were regulated and received operating licenses
• 20 institutions received closure orders that are under enforcement action with the police
• 80 frameworks are in warning procedures, of which 10 have already been imposed financial sanctions
• 270 daycare centers are in the stage of examination and information gathering for further action

The Ministry of Education will continue to operate in cooperation with all relevant parties to strengthen enforcement and ensure the operation of educational frameworks that meet the requirements of the law and supervision, in order to safeguard the welfare and safety of toddlers.

The Ministry of Health publishes the results of the interns’ survey in hospitals, as well as the results of preferences and placements from the lottery for Israeli graduate interns.

The highest satisfaction was recorded in internal medicine departments.
Satisfaction varies between hospitals, and there is no advantage in intern satisfaction specifically with the top centers in Israel.
Preferred specialization tracks: Family Medicine, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine.

The survey, conducted throughout 2024, included over 2,000 interns. The survey also shows that the leading factor for choosing a specialization is professional interest and challenge.

The survey provides a broad picture of the incoming generation of doctors joining the healthcare system at the end of 2024. A total of 2,029 participants took part, representing 40% of all Israeli graduate interns and 20% of foreign graduates from that year. The survey included satisfaction questions on a 1-5 scale, as well as informational questions regarding demographics and general attitudes.

 
This week, the Ministry of Health is publishing an intern feedback survey, which addresses interns’ satisfaction with core departments – Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Emergency Medicine – as well as interns’ conditions, training, professional guidance, and their sense of ability to fulfill the internship training process. The survey was sent to all interns from all hospitals. 

The Ministry of Health places great importance on receiving feedback from interns to refine the training process during the internship period, as this period is crucial for the transition from student to doctor and for obtaining a license in the State of Israel. As part of the internship reform that began in recent months, which includes its shortening, training processes and skill acquisition during the internship have been improved and enhanced, with an emphasis on clinical and professional skills. 
 
Currently, the Ministry of Health is working to establish teaching authorities in hospitals across the country, and to implement an enrichment and training program for heads of teaching units. The goal is to enrich learning in core areas of medical education and acquire skills for implementing medical education principles, in order to provide quality training for the future generation of the Israeli healthcare system and to increase the satisfaction of teaching and learning staff with the training processes. Furthermore, this initiative will create a foundation for knowledge sharing, peer learning, and joint coping with professional challenges and dilemmas.
 
The Ministry will continue to improve intern feedback processes, with the aim of addressing various needs in both the medium and long term, while considering the expected changes in the number of doctors in Israel in the coming years. 
 
69% of respondents in the survey reported feeling confident and capable of applying the knowledge they acquired in the department during their internship, and 61% stated that the department invests time in a structured onboarding process for interns and provides general orientation to each new intern. 
 
Satisfaction rates among interns, who gave high scores (4,5) in the breakdown by departments, as shown by the survey, are 71% in internal medicine departments, 67% in emergency medicine departments (ER), 65% in pediatrics departments, and 47% in surgical departments. This figure is significant in light of the internship reform and its shortening, while maintaining the duration of the internal medicine rotation, as the internal medicine department is a significant and important milestone in the training process and the required transition from student to doctor. 
 
Comparing the satisfaction of graduates from medical studies abroad with graduates from studies in Israel, it is evident that while satisfaction rates are similar in internal medicine departments, surgical departments and emergency medicine departments showed higher satisfaction among foreign graduates. Conversely, in pediatrics departments, the satisfaction rate among graduates from studies in Israel is higher. 
 
Regarding the question about the preferred specialization track for interns, among those who chose to respond, three main specializations stood out: Family Medicine, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine. Additional specializations preferred by responding interns included Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery, and Anesthesiology. This data aligns with a growing trend of expanding clinical and therapeutic activity in the community, and the importance of primary care in the healthcare system. It may also be part of the global trend to create a work-life-family balance, as these trends influence future medical workforce. 
 
The survey also included a question regarding the ranking of key factors for choosing a specialization. Among the factors ranked first in their influence on specialization choice were: interest, professional challenge, and satisfaction with the internship rotation in the department. Future earning potential also has a significant impact on specialization choice, albeit to a lesser extent than interest and challenge. 
 
The central region of the country leads in intern preferences for specialization location, followed by the Haifa region. The Jerusalem region, the Galilee region, and the Southern region are lower in priority. 
 
In response to the question “Where do you see yourself professionally in 15 years?”, the following answers were prominent: in the community, in a hospital, in a combination of private practice, and in a management role. Relatively low percentages of respondents indicated they see themselves working abroad or primarily in research. 
 
The results suggest that the new generation of doctors also desires quality training and seeks interest and challenge in their chosen profession. The survey results also indicate that there is no advantage in satisfaction with Israel’s top centers; rather, smaller and medium-sized hospitals are equally prominent in this regard. 
 
Data on preferences and placements from the lottery for Israeli graduate interns held yesterday:
The lottery was held for 865 interns who graduated from medical schools in Israeli universities, where

• 66.71% received their first-choice hospital,
• 84.16% received one of their top three preferred locations.

Dr. Hagar Mizrahi, Head of the Medical Division at the Ministry of Health: “The intern survey reflects a young generation of doctors seeking quality training, professional meaning, and a real ability to develop within the public healthcare system. The data reinforces the importance of continued investment in training, professional guidance, and improving training conditions in all hospitals across the country, with an emphasis on strengthening clinical departments and expanding training in the periphery as well. The Ministry of Health will continue to work to ensure an optimal internship process that will build Israel’s next generation of doctors.”

Dr. Orly Greenfield, Head of the Licensing Department for Medical Professions at the Ministry of Health: “The internship period is a significant stage in the training process for future doctors in Israel, for instilling professional values, and for acquiring and improving relevant skills. Therefore, learning processes and investment in teaching staff, training programs, and evaluation and feedback processes provided to interns are of great importance. We at the Ministry of Health also monitor trends in satisfaction and preferences for specialization selection for the continued planning of a professional and high-quality medical workforce for the healthcare system.”

• For detailed lottery results