·
Israeli
researchers have discovered a new way to destroy pancreatic tumors.
·
A Tel Aviv
conference featured the latest life-saving Israeli medical technology.
·
Israeli technology
has been positively recognized at the United Nations.
·
An Israeli
system can land planes safely after total engine failure.
·
Derelict
parts of South Tel Aviv are to be redeveloped.
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A new
English-speaking theater has opened in Ra’anana.
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Israelis
save animals and animals save Israelis
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ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Another
breakthrough in pancreatic cancer research. Israeli
scientists and doctors have induced the self-destruction of pancreatic cancer
cells in mice. A small molecule, PJ34, normally used to treat stroke victims, reduced
cancer cells by up to 90 percent a month. There were no adverse effects. Normal
cells were unaffected.
US approvals for AI image
analyses. Israel’s Zebra Medical has received several
approvals from the US FDA. They include detecting heart disease, (see here) pneumothorax
(lung trauma – see here), intercranial
hemorrhages (brain bleeds – see here). It
has just received another for detecting fluid on the lungs.
Green light for finger
prick blood test. As predicted previously, (13th May) the OLO
finger prick blood test device from Israel’s Sight Diagnostics flowed through the
US FDA approval process. It enables use
of the CBC (Complete Blood Test) device in laboratories run by hospitals,
diagnostic providers, and outpatient clinics.
Israeli doctor runs Canadian
AIDS clinic. (TY Robert) To coincide with World
AIDS day, Robert Sarner wrote this article about Israeli-born Dr Neora Pick. As
medical director of Canada’s only multidisciplinary clinic for women and
children with HIV, she treats some of the 63,000 (and increasing) Canadians
with HIV.
Increasing US-Israeli
medical cooperation. (TY Janglo) 21 bipartisan
US lawmakers have requested that the US establishes an FDA office in Israel to facilitate
collaboration in life-saving research. They wrote that Israel’s world class medical
research programs have positively impacted the global health system.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-lawmakers-call-for-a-food-and-drug-administration-office-in-israel/
Teva partners Israeli universities
for new cancer treatments. (TY Nocamels) Israel’s Teva
and Tel Aviv University have signed an R&D agreement in the fields of
cancer and brain studies. Teva has also partnered with Israel’s Weizmann Institute
to identify the next generation of innovative antibodies for cancer treatment.
Showcasing
Israeli digital health tech. Over a thousand
participants gathered in Tel Aviv for the second annual Digital.Health.Now
conference. It focused on showcasing advanced Israeli innovations in
telemedicine, digital healthcare, and general wellness aided by technology.
How blind people use
Smartphones. One Israeli startup at the Digital.Health.Now
conference was RightHear. (see here). This video shows how the blind use its technology to access the functions
on a Smartphone. Also, (TY Jacques) RightHear is supporting the first official
blind-friendly street in Israel, and possibly the world.
Calm down. Another Israeli product showcased at Israel’s Digital.Health.Now conference
was Calmigo. Its advanced technology provides immediate, drug-free relief for
moments of distress, anxiousness, and stress by regulating your breathing patterns
and stimulating your senses.
Reducing injuries. Zone7, founded by IDF veterans, uses AI to foresee and prevent injuries
to sports people. It advertises an 80% reduction in injury days and provides
coaches, trainers and sports scientists with intervention strategies. Zone7 is
partnering its platform with global medical company Garmin Health.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zone7-raises-2-5-million-seed-round-to-help-professional-sports-franchises-and-ncaa-athletic-departments-predict-injury-risk-300803592.html http://zone7.ai/
A day in the life. Last week 50 members of our synagogue were privileged to be given a
tour of Emergency Service United Hatzalah’s headquarters in Jerusalem. United Hatzalah’s volunteer EMTs arrive at the
scene of an incident within three minutes, often saving lives in Israel. Click the link to read a recent typical example.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND
GLOBAL
Accessibility plans for Tomb of the Patriarchs. As reported previously (see here) the Tomb of the Patriarchs in
Hebron is to be made accessible for disabled visitors. Here are more detailed plans and artist
impressions of the new elevator and bridge connecting the elevator to the main
entrance.
Haredi teens train as emergency responders. There are many ultra-orthodox men
and women serving as emergency responders in Israel. Here is one article about 15 yeshiva students
who have completed the MDA course in Yavniel, lower Galilee, to become Emergency
Medical Responders in the Yarden Region.
UN adopts
Israeli resolution. The United Nations General
Assembly adopted a resolution proposed by Israel on "Agricultural
Technologies for Development" to eradicate poverty and hunger worldwide.
It targets agriculture, water management and youth job creation. 147 countries
voted in favor; the Arab League abstained.
Making
the UN more accessible. On the International Day of
Persons with Disabilities, the Israel mission to the UN donated to United
Nations Other Groups Director-General Tatiana Valovaya, three pediatric
wheelchairs made by the Israeli NGO ‘Wheelchairs of Hope’ (see
here).
Bolivia renews ties with
Israel. Following recent elections in Bolivia, the
foreign minister of the country’s transitional government, Karen Longaric, announced
that Bolivia will renew ties with Israel, after a break of more than a decade. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Bolivia-renews-ties-with-Israel-609316
Transforming India’s
water supplies. (TY Hazel) Excellent write-up of
Israel’s role in helping India’s goal of providing water to all citizens. It includes
some 32 Israeli-led water projects in 13 states; water management training in
28 Centers of Excellence; and seven coastal desalination plants use Israeli
desalination technology.
Ethiopians meet medics who
saved their lives. Over 100 Ethiopian young adults
met 30 surgeons, nurses and technicians from Israeli NGO Save A Child’s Heart in
Addis Ababa. Decades earlier, SACH
doctors performed heart surgery on them as young children to save their lives. The
medics saved another 31 children on this visit.
Israel’s rescue mission
to Albania.
This video has been released to highlight the work of the Israeli Defense
Forces team that responded to Albania’s plea for help following its devastating
earthquake (reported last week). It also highlights Israel’s previous responses to requests for
help after global natural disasters.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
See Israel’s best inventions. Last week’s newsletter (link here).included
news of the nine Israeli innovations included in Time Magazine’s 100 Best
Inventions of 2019 Here is a short video
compilation featuring all nine.
Olympiad medalists meet the
President. (TY Sharon) Many Israelis won medals at the 2019 International Olympiads in Physics,
Chemistry, Mathematical and Informatics. They were congratulated by Israeli President
Reuven Rivlin and Education Minister Rabbi Rafi Peretz at a ceremony held at
the President’s Jerusalem home.
Safe
landing. (TY Hazel) Engine shutdown is one of the
major causes of flight accidents. Students at Israel’s Technion Institute have built
a safe landing guidance system for aircraft with disabled engines. The system (algorithm,
interfaces with pilot display, sensors etc.) was successfully tested on an
actual flight in Israel.
Transforming pathology. Israeli startup Augmentiqs has developed software and hardware to
turn existing microscopes into smart connected instruments. The innovative
system enhancements use Augmented Reality (AR), digital overlays and computer connectivity
to generate a whole new hi-tech pathology environment.
One step at a time. Israeli startup Selfit has
developed a robot and augmented reality-based system to facilitate rehabilitation
for many physical and neurological conditions. It also aids physical therapy and
slow down the deterioration in cognitive functions for a variety of chronic conditions,
including aging.
IBM partners Israeli
imaging analysis startup. As reported previously, (see here) Israel’s DiA is marketing its AI ultrasound imaging analysis systems
with US giants GE Medical and Terason. Now, IBM Watson’s new Imaging AI
Marketplace will offer DiA’s software to help clinicians analyze cardiac images
automatically.
Training bacteria to eat CO2. Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have genetically
engineered bacteria to live on carbon dioxide rather than sugar. Over a 10-year
period, the researchers induced evolutionary changes in E. coli bacteria so it
can survive on CO2. It could eventually be used to reduce CO2 levels in the
atmosphere.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-possible-climate-breakthrough-israel-scientists-engineer-bacteria-to-eat-co%e2%82%82/ https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-11/cp-leb112019.php
Jerusalem is a smart
transportation city. Jerusalem was one of 28 finalists
out of 450 entries for the smartest transportation city in the Smart City Expo competition
in Barcelona, Spain. It was also runner-up for the Mobility Award for integrating
the light rail train system with Axilion’s AI-based traffic light system.
Protecting NYC emergency security
networks. (TY UWI) The
New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the New York City Fire Department
(FDNY) will be using security software from Israel’s Indeni to protect their
computer networks. Indeni customers include Mastercard, Bloomberg, Boston
Scientific and soon NASA.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Upbeat assessment from Moody’s. (TY Janglo) International credit rating agency Moody's has reaffirmed Israel’s A1
sovereign debt rating with a positive outlook. Its report went even further, stating,
"Israel's economic growth has outpaced most other advanced industrial countries
over the past decade.”
Currency reserves at new record. The Bank of Israel increased its
reserves of foreign currency by a massive $1 billion last month. Their value at the end of November was over $122
billion – a new record.
Urban renewal of South Tel Aviv. (TY Jacques) The Tel Aviv-Jaffa
Local Planning and Building Commission recently approved an urban development
plan for the derelict area of South Tel Aviv. It will add many apartments and offices,
plus large amounts of public and open space.
Hundreds attend GoForIsrael conference. Over 700 participants from across
the world, including 100 from China, attended the 2019 GoforIsrael conference
in Tel Aviv. The business summit brought together global investors, business
leaders, and entrepreneurs for investment and collaboration opportunities in
Israel.
http://nocamels.com/2019/12/chinese-investors-tel-aviv-israel-trade-war-balancing-act/
https://goforisrael.com/
Olympus Corp to open Israeli innovation office. Japanese life science company
Olympus Corp is to open an innovation office in Tel Aviv. Olympus is looking for
Israeli technologies and startups in the digital health and med-tech fields, particularly
in prostate stent technologies. Over 70 Japanese companies have offices in
Israel.
Lumenis exits for $1.2 billion. Israel’s medical-device pioneer
Lumenis (reported here previously) is being acquired by Baring Private Equity Asia for approximately
$1.2 billion. Subject to the customary
regulatory approval process, it will be one of the 15 biggest acquisitions in
Israeli history.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
New
Israeli stamps show Torah scroll in space. (TY Janglo) A new limited set of Israeli stamps shows the first Torah that was
flown in space. They also feature Jeffrey Hoffman, the astronaut who first
brought the Torah into space in 1985. He was the first Jewish-American man to enter
space.
Eight
restaurants in 50 Best Discovery list. The World’s
50 Best Restaurants has ranked eight Israeli establishments in its 50 Best
Discovery database. They comprise four restaurants and three bars in Tel Aviv
and one Jerusalem restaurant. http://nocamels.com/2019/11/israel-restaurants-50-best-discovery-bars/
Tel
Aviv in BBC top 10 food destinations. The BBC’s
Good Food magazine ranked Tel Aviv 7th in its top 10 destinations for foodies
in 2020. It specially mentioned Tel Aviv’s “slick vegan coffee shops” and
street food such as hummus, falafel and shakshuka.
Curtain rises on Center Stage. (TY
Grant & Daniella) Grant and Daniella Crankshaw’s new, professional theater
in Ra'anana - Center Stage - is now open and rolling out quality English
theater productions. Against the odds, English theater now has a permanent
Israeli home. (Click links below for details of performances)
Maccabi
Tel Aviv win again. (TY Nevet) Israeli hoops champions Maccabi
Tel-Aviv beat Baskonia (83-113) in Spain, to earn its sixth straight win. It
moved Maccabi Tel Aviv up to fourth place in the Euroleague table.
https://www.talkbasket.net/58240-maccabi-tel-aviv-crushed-baskonia-earned-its-sixth-straight-victory
Two Iranian judokas to compete in Israel. Two Iranian judokas have deserted
Iran after being bullied into boycotting Israeli athletes. 2018 World Champion Saeid
Mollaei and Mohammad Rashnonezhad have signed to compete in January’s Tel Aviv
Grand Prix as members of the Mongolian and IJF refugee teams respectively.
THE JEWISH STATE
The ultimate Zionist festival. Thousands of Ethiopian-Israeli Jews traveled from across the country
to the Haas Promenade facing the Old City of Jerusalem to celebrate the Sigd
holiday. With its roots in the biblical Book of Nehemiah, Sigd rededicates the
community’s links to Torah, Jerusalem and Jewish unity.
Israeli
EMTs save a family with falafel. (TY Janglo)
After United Hatzalah volunteer paramedic Tal was badly injured in an accident,
EMT colleagues including CEO Eli Beer worked shifts at Tal’s falafel shop. Their
dedication kept Tal’s business going and supported his family while he recuperated.
Four
recent archaeological discoveries. This video highlights the excavation in Israel of a 7th century BCE (First
Temple) Biblical seal found in Jerusalem; a 5,000-year-old Canaanite city at
Ein Azur, Harish; a 6th century CE Byzantine church in Bet Shemesh and a 1,400-year-old
hammer and nails at Usha in Kiryat Atta.
Mosaics
uncovered in ancient Golan synagogue. Rare colorful mosaic fragments dating back
to the third century CE have been uncovered in an ancient synagogue at Majdulia
in the Golan Heights. They shed light on the transformation of synagogues, after
the Temple was destroyed, from places of study to prayer centers.
It’s
never too late to make Aliya. Michael Okunieff fought the Nazis
and rescued 75 Jewish children from Poland during WW2. At the age of 96 he has just
fulfilled his dream of making Aliya from Chicago, with a little help from the
Ministry of Aliya and Integration and the Nefesh B'Nefesh organization.
Egyptian
discovers the truth about Israel. Please read this article about Egyptian-born
Hussein Aboubakr who searched for information about Israel and discovered much
of what he had been told previously was a lie. He is now a pro-Israel advocate,
living in the United States. If only
there were a lot more people like him.
A sanctuary for donkeys. A previous newsletter article (7th
Apr) highlighted Israel’s animal sanctuary at Moshav Olesh, which was
caring for a 3-legged donkey. Here is website for an Israeli sanctuary that
looks after unwanted and abused donkeys. Its mobile clinic also treats hundreds
of working donkeys in the PA territories.
Israeli thanks rescue dog that saved his life. When Daniel was fired from his
job, in a lapse of sanity he tried to take his own life. After going missing for two days he was
found unconscious by Eishela from the Israel Dog Unit. Daniel made a miraculous recovery and was finally
able to thank Eishela and her handler.
IDF rescues unusual Syrian refugee. In a joint operation, the IDF and
Israel's Nature and Parks Authority, extracted a badger, one of Israel’s rarest
predators, from the metal border fence between Israel and Syria on the Golan
Heights. It had been trying to escape from Syria and was released near a water
source on the Israeli side.
