As Israel’s Independence Day nears, the country is still embroiled in a multifront war and the Israeli people continue to grieve the events of October 7th, hoping for a return of the hostages and fighting for the nation’s survival. 

And it’s not just Israel that we worry about. US college campuses are exploding with anti-Israel protests, and Jewish communities around the world face a disturbing rise in violence and hatred not seen since the Second World War.

To commemorate this very troubled Israeli Independence Day, our team at ISRAEL21c presents you with this year’s edition of The 48, our annual list of the Israelis uniquely shaping our world.

While we usually find Israelis from all backgrounds making positive changes around the world, this year we’ve turned inward to assemble a list of those who exemplify resilience and who are helping to rebuild the country. 

We encourage you to share this list widely to remind the world just what makes Israel special — its people.