In the 27th Dec 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
· A woman and a Druze Arab make Israeli Air Force history.
· Historic signing of agreements between Israel and Morocco.
· Two new Israeli fabric coatings protect against Covid-19.
· Europeans are buying millions of Israeli flowers this month.
· “They will all come to Jerusalem.”
· Click here to see the 20th Dec newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, San Diego Jewish World, Jewish Business News and United With Israel with extra feature on Entertainment (and with 2,000 shares on previous Inclusive & Global). Also (TY Sandra) in German here and here. Also (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here and here. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
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ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Rolling out the vaccine. 140,000 Israelis were vaccinated in the first three days of the Pfizer vaccine rollout. (This editor received his first dose of vaccine on the sixth day). In addition, Magen David Adom are deploying unique mobile vaccination caravans, made by Israel’s Caravila.
https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-prepares-vehicles-for-mobile-covid-and-flu-shots/
Fat treatment proved to kill Covid-19. Hebrew University scientists have completed a study of 1500 Covid-19 patients receiving anti-cholesterol treatments. The study showed fast recovery and no deaths. Now a full clinical trial is to commence on the fat-busting treatment Fenofibrate (Tricor) (reported here previously).
https://campaign.huji.ac.il/news/could-fibrates-turn-effects-corona-little-more-common-cold
Microbiota shrinks melanoma tumors. A small Phase 1 trial of 10 terminally ill melanoma patients at Israel’s Sheba Medical Center resulted in the lives of two patients being extended and one cured completely. Doctors transplanted fecal material from the gut microbiome of previously cured melanoma patients.
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/12/09/science.abb5920
New approach to Dry Eye Disease. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Azura Ophthalmics is tackling Dry Eye Disease (DED) by preventing its root cause – Dysfunction of the Meibomian Gland or MGD. Azura has reported good results during the Phase 2 clinical trials of its AZR-MD-001 ointment, applied to the lower eyelid.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-dry-eye-treatment-co-azura-ophthalmics-raises-20m-1001346802
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/azura-ophthalmics-announces-primary-endpoints-130000591.html
https://azuraophthalmics.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfjkv7Qxymc
Blood test detects early-stage lung cancer. (TY Atid-EDI) In tests, the Lung EpiCheck blood test developed by Israel’s Nucleix (reported here previously) detected 85% of early stage lung cancers among smokers and ex-smokers with a high risk for developing the disease. On low-risk individuals, the accuracy increased to 91%.
The sight of blood. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Scopio Labs (reported here previously) has added software to its next generation of high-powered microscopes. It uses AI to scan, digitize and analyze blood for hematological diagnosis. Scopio has just received FDA clearance for its Full Field Peripheral Blood Smear Application.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scopio-labs-receives-fda-clearance-for-its-ai-powered-full-field-peripheral-blood-smear-full-field-pbs-application-301156907.html https://scopiolabs.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOdglVTX150
Senior’s cancer prize. Israel’s Nutek has won the Merage 45+ Entrepreneurs’ Competition. Founder and Exec Chairman, Dov Cohen received the $100,000 prize, which rewards Israeli entrepreneurs aged 45 and over. Cohen’s Nutek has developed probes that locate cancer cells remaining in a patient during tumor removal.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/12/22/startups-not-only-for-gen-z/ https://nutekmedtech.com/
Interfaith charity donates medical kits and more. The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) recently donated 160 emergency medical kits for the volunteer medics of Israeli NGO United Hatzalah. The IFCJ also donated personal protection equipment and communication devices, for use by first responders.
Donation to complete blood center. The Marcus Foundation is donating $10 million to ensure completion of Israel’s new MDA shielded national blood services center at Ramla (reported here previously), that will protect Israel’s strategic blood reserves against missile, chemical, and biological attack.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/293532
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Kibbutz supports special needs adults. Israeli NGO Shai Asher has partnered Kibbutz Shluchot in Northern Israel to employ adults with special needs who work at its plant nursery and vegetable garden. They gain useful experience, independence and self-esteem, in a therapeutic environment while earning a regular salary.
https://www.israel21c.org/special-needs-adults-find-meaningful-work-on-kibbutz-farm/
http://kayitz.com/kibbutz-shluchot--our-home.html#
Museums accessibility forum. The Israel Council of Museums has held on-line the first National Forum on Accessibility and Inclusiveness in Museums. Its aim is to create a nationwide network for sharing best practices for those with special needs and disabilities at museums, galleries and heritage sites.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-museum-staff-hold-forum-to-boost-accessibility-during-pandemic/
First US-born woman to complete IAF pilot course. On Dec 24, Lt. O (name concealed), originally from Boston USA, became the first U.S.-born woman to complete the Israel Air Force’s prestigious pilot course. She was one of just 39 participants (two of them women) who completed the course, that began with 500 entrants.
Israel’s first Druze Air Force Colonel. The Israeli Air Force has promoted Druze officer Awad Suleiman to the rank of full Colonel – the first member of Israel’s Druze community to achieve that rank in the IAF. Colonel Suleiman will head one of the IAF's elite drone units. (See article for other top Druze IDF officers.)
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/12/23/israeli-air-force-appoints-its-first-druze-colonel/
Haredi hackathon tackles coronavirus. Religious NGO KamaTech brought 300+ tech professionals from Israel’s orthodox Jewish communities to participate in a 24-hour event to help in the fight against coronavirus. Several solutions attracted the attention of Google, Pitango, Poalim Hi-Tech and Science Minister Izhar Shay.
https://worldisraelnews.com/haredi-hackathon-targets-solutions-to-coronavirus-crisis/
Allies in 50 parliaments. The Israel Allies Foundation (IAF) has achieved its goal of establishing 50 member countries by the end of 2020. The latest pro-Israel parliamentary caucuses were formed in Honduras, Central Africa Republic, South Sudan and Cameroon. The 50th caucus, Honduras, is moving its embassy to Jerusalem.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/293259
Rice for Myanmar refugees. (TY Hazel) The Embassy of Israel in Yangon Myanmar has donated 320 50-kg. bags of rice to support for a month over 1,000 people in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Myanmar’s Paletwa district.
https://www.mmtimes.com/news/israel-donates-rice-idps-strife-torn-paletwa.html
Israeli Chief Rabbi visits UAE. Israel’s Chief Sephardi Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef flew to the United Arab Emirates and after meeting Emirati officials he invested Rabbi Levi Duchman as rabbi of the Emirati Jewish community. Rabbi Yosef then toured the Jewish nursery school, community center and KAF restaurant in the Burj Khalifa.
Israel & Morocco sign agreements. A US-Israeli delegation flew direct from Tel Aviv to Rabat and signed normalization agreements with Morocco. Israel’s head of the National Security Council, Meir Ben Shabbat (son of Moroccan émigrés) made a special Jewish blessing when he met the King of Morocco, Muhammad VI.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/293623
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZg7ratpeWc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB4pfwU_29g
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Electronics medal of honor. Professor Jacob Ziv of Israel’s Technion Institute is the first Israeli to be awarded the Medal of Honor by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Among his achievements, he co-invented the Wyner-Ziv algorithm and the Lempel-Ziv algorithm used to compress data (ZIP, GIF etc.).
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2020/11/ieee-medal-of-honor-to-technion-living-legend-dist-prof-ziv/
TechFestNW. Cutting edge Israeli solutions were showcased at Oregon’s annual TechFestNW, held on-line this year. Sonarax, Diagnostic Robotics and TytoCare promoted their Covid-19 related technologies. In addition, for the first time, 10 Israeli companies participated in the event’s PitchfestNW pitch competition.
https://www.israel21c.org/techfestnw-showcases-cutting-edge-israeli-solutions/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im7AfHtUtW0
Great minds. (TY Jacques) 100 students from the Jerusalem College of Technology attended virtually the 5th LevTech Great Minds Hackathon. It was won by a team of four ex-US immigrants who created software for Hebrew predicative text. The software autocorrects and adds vowels to Hebrew words. (I need this!)
https://levtech.jct.ac.il/greatminds/5 (Hebrew site)
Surgical mask is 99.999% effective. Nothing is 100% perfect, but the “Germs Over” surgical mask made by the Israel Institute of Biological Research (IIBR), together with Hadassah and the start-up Tera Novel, is good enough to protect against Covid-19. The mask has just been verified and approved by Israel’s Health Ministry.
https://www.jpost.com/health-science/israel-makes-anti-coronavirus-mask-from-biological-warfare-disinfectant-652565 https://www.teranovel.com/
Anti-microbial fabric keeps clothes fresh. (TY Atid-EDI) Israeli-based NILIT manufactures fabric made with its Sensil BodyFresh additive. Microbe Investigations AG (MIS), a microbiological testing services lab showed that the fabric demonstrated a 99.85% reduction in viral activity. http://www.nilit.com/fibers/pr-00160.asp
Airships are on the rise. Israel’s Atlas LTA is developing a new innovative generation of airships. Their uses include transporting heavy cargo (especially offshore), fighting fires, construction cranes, humanitarian aid delivery and tourism. They are eco-friendly, low cost, require no runways and can fly up to 120km / hour.
https://atlas-lta.com/the-rise-of-airships-in-israel/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqM0h4AammU
Advanced drones for civilian purposes. Israel’s Xtend (reported here previously) previously made drones only for military purposes, for example, to intercept some 2500 arson kites and balloons from Gaza. Its latest use, though, was civilian – delivering coronavirus test kits to a ship at sea so it could safely dock at Haifa.
Drone, drone on the range! (Sorry for the pun) Instead of using cowboys, whips and barking dogs, Israeli startup BeeFree Agro uses buzzing drones to herd cows. It says it produces a calmer, less stressful environment for cattle. BeeFree have had interest from the UAE who want to use the technology to herd camels.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-israeli-farmers-use-drones-to-herd-cattle/ https://www.beefreeagro.com/
Food for thought. Israel’s Technion Institute hosted the 34th annual conference of the European Federation of Food Science and Technology (EFFoST) - the first to be held on-line. This year’s theme was “Bridging High-tech, Food-tech and Health: Consumer-oriented Innovations” and focused on the future of world food.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2020/12/food-for-thought-and-thoughts-on-the-food-of-the-future/
Using nature to preserve fruit juice. Students at Israel’s Technion Institute won the MicroBiome-Push project of “Food Solutions” - an educational program of the European food consortium, EIT Food. They used a naturally occurring bacteriophage (safe to humans) to destroy the bacteria that spoils natural fruit juice.
Saving the vine. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Lavie-Bio (reported here previously) has reported successful vineyard trials of its two leading bio-fungicides LAV311 and LAV312 for bunch rot diseases.
https://www.evogene.com/press_release/lavie-bio-announces-positive-results-for-lav311-and-lav312-in-its-bio-fungicide-program/ https://www.lavie-bio.com/
Printed meat. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Meat-Tech 3D is developing a unique, proprietary 3D bioprinter for printing slaughter-free cultured meat. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meat-tech-announces-further-advancement-of-3d-printing-technology-for-food-products-by-bioprinting-cultured-beef-fat-structure-301181563.html https://meatech3d.com/
Space camera success. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s ScoutCam (reported here previously) has announced the success of its micro ScoutCam 8.0 HD in NASA’s third Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM3) of the International Space Station. The camera was used during the mission which went into orbit on October 19th.
High power wireless recharging. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Powermat (reported here previously) has unveiled its upgraded wireless charging platform. It can provide up to 50W of power charge devices wirelessly up to 20 cm through thick surfaces such as walls, glass (windows), and various other non-metallic materials.
https://news.yahoo.com/powermat-unveils-breakthrough-50w-mid-010000452.html
“Waze” for cranes. Israel’s UltraWis has transformed the cockpit of the construction site crane into that of an aircraft. Cranes are controlled from hi-tech cabins on the ground, with no on-board operator. The technology includes image processing, 3D-modeling and Augmented Reality. It is currently being trialed in Israel.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Eight joint US-Israel clean energy projects. The US-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy program is granting $7.15 million to eight US-Israel clean energy projects. The Israelis are Addionics, ECOncrete, Eviation, POCellTech (Hydrolite), StoreDot, Tadiran Batteries, TurboGen and VisIC.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-israel-fund-to-invest-7-15-million-in-eight-clean-energy-projects/
Israeli in Dubai for diamonds and organics. For the first time, Israelis took part in the largest rough diamond tender by the Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC). Meanwhile Eco Friend and Arugot were among three companies in the Israeli booth at the Middle East Organic and Natural Products Expo in Dubai.
https://organicandnatural.com/
Germany seeks Israeli startups. The non-profit Elnet is dedicated to strengthening Europe-Israel ties. Its German office is launching GINSUM - the German Israeli Network of Startups and Mittelstand (small and medium-size businesses). The German Government uniquely is giving GINSUM a grant of $850,000.
https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/german-government-funds-new-initiative-to-connect-with-israeli-startups-652796 https://elnetwork.eu/country/germany/ginsum/
Israel sent 10 million flowers to Europe. Israel's 250 flower growers sent 10 million flowers to European and Scandinavian flower markets during December in preparation for the holiday season. Israeli flowers are sought after for their high quality and long shelf life, the results of Israeli research and innovation.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israel-ships-10-million-flowers-to-europe-for-christmas-652789
Almost too fast. Good article listing some of Israel’s recent business changes. They include Credit card PIN codes, contactless payments, contactless ATMs, home delivery and … the wearing of face masks!
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/5-positive-changes-ive-observed-in-israel-this-year/
Doubling up on a takeaway boom. Israeli-founded 10bis (reported here previously) is now owned by Dutch company Just Eat Takeaway, but still based in Israel. The Covid-19 pandemic has increased demand for meal card and food delivery services and 10bis is recruiting to double staff numbers at its Tel Aviv R&D center.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3883353,00.html
The Japanese can breathe easier. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Aura Smart Air (see here) has signed a $30 million deal with Japanese distributor J-TEC to supply the Japanese market with its air filtration and disinfection systems. It is hoped that the air purifiers can help re-open Japan’s 100,000 karaoke bars, closed due to Covid-19.
Investment in Israeli startups: Trigo raised $60 million; Superpedestrian raised $60 million; Toka raised $25 million; Azure Opthalmics raised $20 million; Evogene raised $12 million; BlazePod raised $8.5 million; Meat-Tech 3D raised $7 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Updating the Tower of David. Excavations at Jerusalem’s Tower of David have revealed a 13th century inscription, redating at least part of the citadel. Cutting-edge methodology is used to date each of its walls, which span from the reign of the 8th century BCE Biblical King Hezekiah to the 16th century CE Ottomans.
Jerusalema in Jerusalem. (TY WIN) The Jerusalema dance challenge craze has reached its destination - Israel’s capital. Performers in this video include the mayor of Jerusalem, university students, holocaust survivors, municipality workers, school children and Arab and Jewish youth from across the united city.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tHdpzkenLw (ILTV news report)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBUhDDeCkiQ (Full 2-minute video)
Tour Jerusalem on a treadmill. Three Jerusalem-based travel professionals have developed a virtual treadmill program called Running Around Jerusalem (RAJ). The free 30-minute YouTube videos allow anyone exercising on a treadmill to simulate running through Jerusalem. Two running “buddies” explain the sites.
THE JEWISH STATE
Huge increase in Masa Israel applications. There are currently 7,500 Masa Israel Journey participants from over 60 countries on programs to learn, teach, volunteer and intern in the Jewish state. In its 16th programming year, despite the pandemic, Masa has seen a 36% increase in applications for its programs.
https://www.jns.org/israel-program-sees-spike-in-applications-despite-pandemic/
Ari Fuld Z”L award. Herut North America presented its Ari Fuld Z”L Zionist Activist Of the Year Award to Ben Goldstein. Ben made Aliya in 1996 as a lone soldier; his Goldstein Experience website shows the beauty and history of Israel; his security expertise, videos and Unity Warriors website help protect the Jewish State.
https://lidblog.com/herut-na-honored-ben-goldstein/ https://www.goldsteinexperience.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGxW3vjgYUg
Kushner Garden of Peace inaugurated. The Kushner Garden of Peace at the KKl/JNF Grove of Nations in the Jerusalem Forest was inaugurated by planting 18 olive trees to symbolize life (Chai) and Peace. After the ceremony, Jared Kushner flew to Morocco for the historic normalization agreement signing.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-netanyahu-kushner-plant-olive-trees-in-grove-of-nations-expressing-desire-for-peace/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeYoLMoRxOg
Three religious Israeli Jews in Dubai. Israelis Michael Sussman, David Weinberg and Joseph Kohan gave positive accounts of their visits to the United Arab Emirates. They were warmly greeted everywhere in Dubai, especially as Israeli Jews. Until the latest lockdown, eight flights arrived from Tel Aviv each weekday.
https://www.jns.org/opinion/my-multicultural-shabbat-in-a-muslim-arab-country/
https://www.jns.org/opinion/what-dubai-taught-me-about-israel/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/did-ultra-orthodox-jew-became-130000687.html
A pandemic through an EMT’s eyes. 10 volunteer medics from diverse backgrounds working for Israeli NGO United Hatzalah explain what they have learned on the frontlines. They share how they have become better EMTs and what has kept them going, through each obstacle they have faced over the last 9 months.
201220
In the 20th Dec 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israeli Covid-19 vaccine goes into Phase 2 trials as Israel rolls out the Pfizer vaccine.
· Israel and Bhutan have established full diplomatic relations.
· An Israeli smart color sensor can prevent massive food waste.
· Israeli irrigation of rice crops saves water and the environment.
· An Israeli company won a contract for its robots to clean a million solar panels.
· Israel’s Wonder Woman won the first MTV “She-Ro” award.
· A lost tribe’s return to Israel is one of three Israeli Chanukah “miracles”.
· Click here to see the 13th Dec newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, San Diego Jewish World, Jewish Business News and United With Israel, with over 1,700 shares for previous Jewish State extract. Also (TY Sandra) in German. Also (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me publicize VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here to keyword SEARCH almost any topic in the IsraelActive archives (17,500+ news articles).
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Mutating cancer cells. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute, working with others in the Netherlands and Norway, have discovered that melanoma cells can “frameshift” to grow whilst avoiding the immune system. The process, however, generates new peptides (short proteins) that scientists can now target with new therapies.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/how-cancers-hurt-themselves-hurt-immune-cells-more
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03054-1
Gastro sensor gets “breakthrough” designation. (TY Nevet & UWI) Israel’s Exero Medical (reported here previously) has received Breakthrough device designation by the US FDA for its implantable biodegradable wireless sensor designed to continuously monitor for gastrointestinal leaks and healing status after surgery.
Covid-19 vaccine progress. The Israeli-developed BriLife Covid-19 vaccine is moving into Phase 2 trials. Hospitals including Sheba and Hadassah will test the vaccine on 1,000 volunteers including seniors and those with previous conditions. Meanwhile rollout of the Pfizer vaccine began - the Israeli PM first to be vaccinated.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-corona-vaccine-approved-for-phase-2-trials/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/293351 https://youtu.be/SuNJQ85eG6o
One ventilator for 3 patients. Israel’s Yehonatan Medical together with Sheba Medical Center have devised a ventilation system with a high-power output and built-in disinfecting mechanism that can treat between three and five patients simultaneously. It includes AI technology for alerting and adjusting to patient responsiveness.
More intelligent Covid-19 treatment. Israel’s Iguazio (reported here previously) is to provide Israel’s Sheba Medical Center with clinical, real-time predictive insights from its AI Data Science Platform to help optimize care for Covid-19 patients. Iguazio’s systems will also help Sheba reduce delays in transporting patients.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3882399,00.html
Doctors arrive to help fight Covid-19. The Israel Experience Doctors' Program has just brought 50 qualified doctors to Israel to help alleviate the coronavirus crisis. The doctors intend to make Aliya and simultaneously will prepare for Israeli medical licensing. 700 graduates of the program are already working in Israeli hospitals.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/293141
UV wavelength Covid-19 discovery. The ability of UV light to kill Covid-19 is well known. However, Tel Aviv University tests show UV with a wavelength of 285 nanometers kills 99.9% of the virus in 30 seconds - nearly as good as UV at 265nm. 285nm UV LED bulbs are cheaper and more readily available than 265nm.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-corona-discovery-uv-led-lights-kill-covid-19/
Brain-monitoring app tests for post-Covid symptoms. Israel’s Montfort (reported here previously) has enhanced its AI smartphone app that monitors neurological conditions. After six months of trials in Brazil, it now offers a test protocol for patients who have recovered from Covid-19 but still suffer long-lasting effects.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3881692,00.html https://www.mon4t.com/covid-19/
$30 million for emergency department. Philanthropist Sylvan Adams has donated $30 million to fund a new Emergency Medicine department at Tel Aviv’s Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center. A similar amount was allocated by the Israeli government. It will take two years to construct and will be the largest ER in Israel.
https://www.jns.org/sylvan-adams-donates-30-million-for-new-emergency-department-in-tel-aviv/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Caring for children at risk. Orr Shalom (“light of peace) cares for 1,400 children who have been removed from their homes following severe abuse and neglect. In 40 years, Orr Shalom has provided some 56,000 children with professional help, warm and loving homes, and an opportunity for a better future.
https://orr-shalom.org.il/en/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3US9J4S8cE
Two years of co-existence podcasts. (TY Diana Bletter) For two years, Israeli award-winning reporter Dina Kraft has been producing her podcast “The Branch” about Jews and Arabs forging connections. Sponsored by Hadassah, 25 podcasts shine a light on the lives of the many Arabs and Jews who have developed deep bonds.
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/podcast-offers-branch-of-hope-651701
https://www.hadassah.org/multi-media/podcasts/the-branch-podcast.html
DiploTech 2020. The first global diplomatic-technology summit, DiploTech, looked at the world beyond COVID. Ambassador Nikki Haley praised Israel for its technology and innovation and highlighted the recognition from Arab countries of the importance of a partnership with Israel.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/293230
Masks for millions of children. Israel-based humanitarian organization SmartAID (see here) has launched a unique US initiative, “Millions of Masks for Children”. SmartAID (founded by IsraAID’s Shachar Zahavi) is distributing facemasks to kids on childcare and youth programs, beginning with those in Washington state.
https://www.israel21c.org/smartaid-masks-up-millions-of-children-across-usa/
Israel normalizes ties with Bhutan. Israel has established full diplomatic ties with Bhutan, a small, majority-Buddhist landlocked kingdom in the Himalayas neighboring India and China. Bhutan has diplomatic relations with some 50 countries (not US or UK). Israel will help Bhutan with water management, agriculture and health.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-inks-deal-establishing-diplomatic-relations-with-bhutan/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
A third of electricity from solar by 2030. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the 2020 Climate Ambition Summit that by 2030 solar energy will provide one third of all Israel’s electricity. It currently generates 10% of power from solar, up from 2% just 5 years ago. By 2025, Israel would cease burning any coal.
https://www.jns.org/netanyahu-israel-is-a-global-leader-in-cutting-coal-consumption/
An inside look at the INCD. (TY Stuart Palmer) The INCD - Israel’s National Cyber Directorate (reported here previously) is the government body charged with ensuring that Israel is defended against the myriad of cyber threats that lurk across our networks. It is the Iron Dome equivalent of the cyber world.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/the-coming-cyber-winter-is-worse-than-all-estimates-651696
First graduates of Quantum SPARK. Five Israeli startups presented their Proofs of Concepts after 3 months in Quantum Hub’s SPARK incubator (see here). They are AutoTrust (vehicle ADAS), ThermoTerra (air-con), IntellAct (airport efficiency), SafeMode (driver safety) and Siraj Technologies (IoT machinery).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3880056,00.html
Colored sensors to prevent food waste. Israel’s Evigence develops visual freshness sensors with “smart” chemicals that change color to alert if a product is nearing its expiry date. In Q1 2021, Russia’s largest food retailer, X5 Retail Group, is to pilot the Green Dot label in several of its 910 Perekrestok supermarket stores.
https://www.retailtimes.co.uk/russias-x5-retail-group-to-use-israeli-tech-to-fight-food-waste-and-improve-customer-experience/ https://evigence.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl50LZf48D4
EIT Food Accelerator winner. Israel’s The Mediterranean Food Lab, which develops natural plant-based flavor bases for the alternative meat sector, won the EIT Food Accelerator Network Program with an award of €100,000 ($119,000). https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/11/27/the-mediterranean-food-lab-wins-eit-food-accelerator-network-program/ https://www.med-food-lab.com/
AI to write better reports. Israel’s AI21 Labs (reported here previously) has further developed its Artificially Intelligent word text skills into Wordtune. AI21 calls it “a writing companion product, designed to reduce the gap between our thoughts and what we end up writing”. Could be a useful tool for this newsletter editor.
https://www.israel21c.org/want-to-improve-your-email-ai-writing-companion-can-help/
https://www.wordtune.com/ https://www.ai21.com/
Conserve water and lower bills. Israel’s DrizzleX is a water metering system that detect leaks and overuse for properties sharing a single water meter. They include rental apartments, office buildings, hospitals, educational dormitories and army bases. The article focuses on DrizzleX’s CEO - an orthodox, Jewish grandmother.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3881630,00.html https://www.drizzlex.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kP-WEAdH8M
The strongest car air purifier. Israel’s Vootto has developed an air filtration system that is 99.9% efficient at removing pollutants, including Covid-19, from moving vehicles. Vootto replaces the vehicle’s air every 5 minutes; it has a 4-stage filtration system, plus, it contains an anti-odor material made from herbs and plants.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3881916,00.html https://www.vootto.com/
Photographing moving objects with no blur. Tel Aviv University researchers have developed a process that enables clear, sharp photography of moving objects without motion blur. Computational photography encodes motion information, and a digital image processing algorithm decodes it to restore the image’s sharpness.
https://english.m.tau.ac.il/news/photographing-moving-objects
Revolutionizing rice agriculture. Rice sustains half of humanity, but its cultivation uses 30% - 40% of global freshwater and causes 10% of world methane emissions. Israel’s Netafim has just tested drip-irrigation of 2,470 acres of rice fields in Europe and Asia. For the same yield it used 70% less water and caused zero emissions.
https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/BJsOVxU2D?prof=3085.EMoney-10006.Technology
https://www.netafim.com/en/crop-knowledge/rice/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHT9DvyTziU
Autonomous driving through Munich. Israel’s Mobileye (owned by Intel) has released a one-hour video showing an autonomous car maneuvering its way through the German city of Munich using Mobileye’s camera-based system. It used data crowdsourced from cars, automatically processed into high-definition maps.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/mobileye-releases-video-of-self-driving-car-on-munich-roads/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1qNdHPyHu4
Giving customers the answer. When a company’s documentation is in a form that is not very user-friendly, Israel’s Zoomin Software will provide customers and potential customers with easy-to-use search and display facilities. So, they can find exactly what they are looking for without knowing where the documentation is held.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3882230,00.html https://www.zoominsoftware.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr_eBNsNOA4
Take back control of application chaos. Israel’s Bionic has developed an application intelligence platform to help companies control complex computer systems. It analyzes applications to deliver a comprehensive systems inventory, architecture and data flows. It then monitors and controls any changes made to production systems.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3880776,00.html https://www.bionic.ai/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Cleaning a million solar panels in India. Israel’s Ecoppia (reported here previously) has won a contract from India’s Azure Power for its robotic solar panel cleaning system to be installed on an estimated one million panels in its latest 450MW project. In the last year, Ecoppia has sold systems for over 10GW of solar projects.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3882512,00.html
Made in Israel. In a pilot project, Israeli supermarket chains Shufersal, Victory and Hetzi Hinam are labeling locally produced fruit, vegetables, fish and meat ‘Israeli agriculture’. Surveys and research show most Israelis want to know the source of their produce and to buy “blue and white products,” i.e., products made in Israel,
Marketing Israeli hi-tech to the UAE. Israel’s Levent develops a customized trading platform enabling banks, investment companies, and traders to produce a trading platform for all their customers without writing code. Levent is partnering Zurich Capital who will promote Levent and other Israeli tech companies to UAE banks.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3880135,00.html https://levent.io/
Incentivize your sales force. Israel’s Incentives Solutions (reported here previously) is launching JOOPY Tech, a high-tech version of its incentives and commission planning and management systems. It has been tailored for the complex commission arrangements for compensation and benefits in the high-tech industry.
https://www.incentives-solutions.com/news/time-israel-groundbreaking-technological-solution-calculating-volume-commissions-insurance-agents/ https://www.incentives-solutions.com/
Share English books in Israel. Maia Dori is a new Olah (immigrant to Israel). She has already set-up a startup called Rebook - an English book subscription service that offers members the opportunity to rent English books on a monthly basis. Many books (fiction and non-fiction) to choose from. Mentioned in the Jerusalem Post.
https://www.shoprebook.com/?page=2 https://www.shoprebook.com/bookstore
Protecting data is a billion-dollar business. Israeli-founded BigID uses advanced machine learning and identity intelligence to help enterprises better protect their customer and employee data. BigID has just raised $70 million, giving it a market valuation of $1 billion and the financial industry status of a “Unicorn”.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3882255,00.html https://bigid.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_JugjeSQtQ
Israeli partnership for safer journeys. Israel’s Gett (see here) and Israel’s Carbyne (see here) have partnered to make a safer taxi service, linking Israel’s 10,000 Gett taxis to Carbyne’s 911 gateway. Passengers press a button to provide location details and enable either live video or silent chat to medics, police or the IDF.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3882375,00.html
Insurance for the digital age. Israel’s At-Bay is one of several Israeli companies addressing the modern-day area of cybersecurity insurance, where companies need to be protected financially against cyberattack. (see here for previous reporting). In addition to providing insurance, At-Bay helps companies improve their IT security.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3880130,00.html https://www.at-bay.com/
Investment in Israeli startups: BigID raised $70 million; Hibob raised $70 million; Orca raised $55 million; At-Bay raised $34 million; Noname Security raised $25 million; Zoomin Software raised $14 million; Bionic raised $13 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
The Abu Dhabi donut. The bakers at Jerusalem’s Café Kadosh have devised the Abu Dhabi donut, “to appreciate the peace process”. Filled with cream made from dates shipped by the UAE’s Jewish community, it has a nougat crown topped with an edible gold leaf and sells for 22 shekels.
Boy George records duet with Israeli singer. (TY Hazel) UK pop star Boy George (Culture Club) streamed his new single "Rainbow in the Dark", recorded in English & Hebrew with Israeli performer Asaf Goren. Boy George said, “I look forward to being in Israel sometime soon and playing live. Shalom, peace and love."
https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/Syy9XPjiD
Gal Gadot is MTV’s first “She-Ro”. Israeli “Wonder Woman” actress Gal Gadot won the first “She-Ro” in film history award at the MTV Movie & TV Awards: Greatest of All Time (GOAT) awards ceremony.
https://www.israel21c.org/gal-gadot-named-best-she-ro-and-wins-8-figure-film-deal/
European medals at Taekwondo. Israel’s Emuna Samuels was runner-up in the over 59kg category at the 2020 European Taekwondo Cadet Championships in Bosnia. Also (not publicized) Israel’s Ariel Vigdor won Gold in the under 37kg category at the same event.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/293021
https://worldtaekwondoeurope.org/files/RESULTS_BY_EIGHT_DAY_2_CADET_FEMALE.pdf
Israeli wins European gymnastics gold. Israeli gymnast Artem Dolgopyat made history after winning the gold medal in the floor exercise at the 2020 European Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Turkey. He also won the bronze in the vault. In addition, Israel’s Alexander Myakinin won the bronze medal on the high bar.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_European_Men%27s_Artistic_Gymnastics_Championships#Floor
https://www.jns.org/israeli-athlete-makes-history-after-winning-two-medals-in-europe/
THE JEWISH STATE
Ancient oil lamp workshop re-discovered. A huge 3rd-4th century CE ceramic oil-lamp workshop has been discovered during excavations by Israeli archaeologists in Beit Shemesh. Lamps and molds bore both Jewish and Christian symbols. The site was originally discovered in 1934 but the location was subsequently forgotten.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/293050
Florida moves with Israel. Daniel Ackerman from Boca Raton has won a competition sponsored by the Israeli-American Council to design a specialty vehicle license plate saying that “Florida Stands with Israel.” The competition’s judges included Florida lawmakers from both the Democrat and Republican parties.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/293153
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article247853790.html
World Zionist Village project launched. The project to build the first World Zionist Village (reported here previously) was launched virtually on 2nd Dec. with over 500 JNF-USA donors attending. A competition was also initiated to design key elements including dormitories, classrooms, conference center and gardens.
https://www.jnf.org/menu-3/press-releases/press-release-stories/december-3-2020
https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-national-fund-to-build-world-zionist-village-in-beersheba/
https://zionistvillage.jnf.org/
International Jewish Media Summit. Israel hosted (virtually) the fourth International Jewish Media Summit. Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin said, “The role of the Jewish media is so important, not only for helping us all stay connected to our communities but for being the voice of the communities ….”
Chanukah on the streets of Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) Despite the pandemic, Jerusalem was illuminated by Chanukiot (Chanukah candelabras) everywhere – in public areas, shopping malls, parks, outdoor cafes and on gates to private houses. The festival may now be over, but its light remains with us.
http://rjstreets.com/2020/12/13/its-hanukkah-in-jerusalem/
“Thrilled to be in Yerushalayim”. These words were said by the first Bahraini woman to make an official visit to the Jewish State. Mashael Al-Shemeri is a member of an Emirati and Bahraini delegation visiting Israel. “I won’t say Al-Quds or Jerusalem, but Yerushalayim. Thank God this dream has become a reality,” she said.
“Lost tribe” arrive in their hundreds. (TY TPS) 252 members of the Bnei Menashe community from India, who retain their tradition of being a “lost tribe” of Israel, landed at Ben Gurion Airport during Chanukah. It follows months of preparation by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and the Shavei Israel organization.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israel-brings-home-hundreds-from-lost-tribe-in-india/
A Kuwaiti Muslim’s journey to Chanukah. Mark Halawa lights his Chanukiah in Jerusalem and recalls his unique journey as a Kuwaiti Muslim to Orthodox Judaism. Mark’s Jewish maternal grandmother married a Jordanian Muslim. The family moved to Kuwait and then Canada where Mark approached a Chabad Rabbi.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/a-kuwaiti-muslims-journey-to-chanukah/
The light of Peace at Kotel. Some special guests attended the Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony at the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem on Monday. Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch said, “It is a Hanukkah miracle to see a delegation from the Emirates and Bahrain that is taking part in the candle-lighting.”
201213
In the 13th Dec 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· A new Israeli stem cell treatment can halt and reverse MS.
· Israel has received its first deliveries of coronavirus vaccines.
· An Israeli-Ethiopian immigrant has won a scholarship to Oxford University.
· Over 130 Israeli hi-tech companies have been exhibiting in Dubai.
· New investment in Israeli startups is at record levels.
· An Israeli has won the NASCAR European championship for the 3rd time.
· Morocco and Israel are to establish diplomatic relations.
· Click here to see the 6th Dec newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours (with another great intro), San Diego Jewish World, Jewish Business News and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German here and here. Also (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here and here. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here to keyword SEARCH almost any topic in the IsraelActive archives (17,500+ news articles).
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Stem cell treatment can help MS patients. (TY Nevet) Jerusalem’s Hadassah-University Medical Center and Israel’s NeuroGenesis have developed a stem cell treatment for patients with progressive multiple sclerosis. A Phase II human trial not only halted progression of the disease but led to improvement in neurological ability.
https://www.hadassah.org/news-stories/hadassah-and-neurogenesis-announce-groundbreaking-results-ms-study.html https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/brain/awaa333/6012789
https://www.neurogenesis-cell.com/
Hope for stroke and dementia patients. Israel’s BrainsGate (reported briefly here previously) has developed a technology for the treatment of ischemic strokes and vascular dementia. The Ischemic Stroke System is based on an implantable electrode stimulator that increases blood flow to the brain. Clinical trials are in progress.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3879615,00.html http://www.brainsgate.com/eng/
Hackathon for autism. Israeli innovators and entrepreneurs participated in Hackautism 2.0 - a virtual tech marathon to create innovative technological solutions for the challenges of children and adults on the Autism Spectrum. The winning teams addressed sleep quality, non-verbal communication and job finding,
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3879838,00.html
Israeli blood tests for the Gulf. The OLO finger-prick blood tests from Israel’s Sight Diagnostics (reported here previously) will soon be available in medical centers across the Gulf region. The Israeli company is partnering with Dubai’s Phoenix Capital who will install OLO initially in the UAE and then other Gulf states.
https://elwatanelarabynews.com/archives/67584
Games to fight diabetes and cognitive decline. Israel’s Maccabi Healthcare Services research and innovation center has initiated KSM Playzone – focusing on the field of health gaming. KSM has awarded $25,000 to the developers of two health education games – Diabattle (for diabetics) and Memento (cognitive rehabilitation).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3879792,00.html
http://www.diabattle.mobi/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-ibwc4ziBw
https://humanfirst.hac.ac.il/neuro-and-social/neuro-and-social-nofar-laor/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvGzkofWzTA
Israeli doctors in Gaza. (TY Hazel) Israeli-Arab orthopaedists, neurologists, heart surgeons, and mental health experts are in the Gaza Strip relieving the strain on hospitals fighting coronavirus. They are conducting urgent (previously postponed) surgeries on non-Covid-19 patients and training up Palestinian Arab medical teams.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-medical-delegation-heads-to-gaza-to-provide-essential-care/
First vaccines arrive in Israel. An end to the coronavirus pandemic is in sight as hundreds of thousands of doses of Pfizer vaccines were flown into Tel Aviv. Vaccinations are due to begin on Dec 27. Israel is scheduled to receive 4 million doses of the vaccine by end Dec.
Israel’s vaccine is vital. Progress has been made with the Israeli-developed vaccines and treatments. The MigVax oral vaccine is ideal for developing countries as it easy to transport and distribute. It is also much safer, e.g., for those who have allergies or compromised immune systems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK7u5e922f0
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Restarting after injury. Israeli NGO Restart’s project “Makers for Heroes” (reported here previously) has volunteer professionals build devices so wounded IDF veterans can restart their lives. Here, one of the injured soldiers tells how Restart helped him restore his musical skills after shrapnel tore the nerves in his hand.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/292665
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IA1IVBVLeo
Joining with UAE to improve access for disabled. Michal Rimon, CEO of Access Israel, attended the virtual two-day Tolerance & Inclusivity Week at Dubai’s Expo 2020. She participated on the panel “Accessibility Spotlight: The Value of Difference”. She is working with Ayesha Hussaini of Manzil, her UAE equivalent.
First female IAF Bureau Chief. (TY JNS) In a first, a female officer will serve as bureau chief to the Israel Air Force. Maj. N., currently deputy commander of the 119th Air Force Squadron, will be the first female officer to serve in the role, for which only the corps’ top officers are selected.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/12/08/in-first-iaf-chief-names-female-officer-as-bureau-chief/
Israelis donate medical fees for Gaza boy. (TY Hazel) Surgeons at Israel’s Schneider Hospital saved the life of 4-year-old Ahmad from Gaza with a hemorrhaging tumor. The Palestinian Authority refused to pay for his treatment in an Israeli hospital. Now generous Israelis are funding an account set up for Ahmad by the hospital.
http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-palestinian-authority-wont-pay-to.html
Israeli-Ethiopian goes to Oxford University. Eden Amare Yitbarek is one of two Israelis selected for the Rhodes scholarship program that offers exceptional international candidates the opportunity to study at Oxford University in England. Eden was raised in Ethiopia and completed her BA at the IDC Herzliya.
Israeli scientist’s revelation. Prof. Haim Eshed was head of Israel’s security space program (1981 to 2010) and received the Israel Security Award 3 times (twice for confidential technological inventions). But in his latest book “The Universe beyond the Horizon” and interviews, he may have gone too far. Make your own minds up!
New UK-Israel defense agreement. Israel and Britain have signed an agreement for further cooperation between the IDF and the British Armed Forces that will see the two militaries cooperate in a variety of fields, including training and defense education. Cooperation will include defense-oriented medical training
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israel-bolsters-uk-alliance-with-new-military-agreement/
Israel to join International Energy Agency. The State of Israel has been accepted into the International Energy Agency (IEA) after members of the agency voted unanimously in favor of the move. It recognizes Israel’s role in regional and international energy and gives it access to important sources of industry research.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/292896
What the IDF did in Albania. Last year, the IDF dispatched a humanitarian aid delegation to Muslim-majority Albania after a 6.4-magnitude quake devastated the capital city of Tirana. See and hear one of the IDF soldiers describe how the operation helped some 1,600 Albanian families return to their homes and saved many lives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-qIhUbzvLA
Israel launches new Moon project. Israel has begun Beresheet 2, the country’s second lunar project. In 2024, SpaceIL, the Israel Space Agency and others plan to launch a mission to put a spacecraft in lunar orbit and two landing craft on the Moon’s surface. Seven countries including the UAE want to participate in the project.
https://www.jns.org/israel-launches-second-program-to-put-a-lander-on-the-moon/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Israeli hi-tech on display in Dubai. For the first time, Israel participated at Dubai’s Gitex exhibition - the world’s largest digital exhibition. Export Institute Director Gadi Arieli called it “a milestone in building a platform for developing economic relations between us and the Emirates.” 130+ Israeli companies exhibited.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/292659
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4bv1j7rWWk
Smart city winner. Israel’s Zencity (reported here previously) has won the governance and economy prize at the 2020 Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC). SCEWC awards are granted to “pioneering projects,” innovations, ideas and strategies that make cities more livable, sustainable, inclusive and economically viable.
Cultivated meat – who can tell? Israel’s Prime Minister tasted cultivated steak at Israel’s Aleph Farms (reported here previously). He said it was “unbelievable, delicious and compassionate.” He could not tell the difference from animal-produced meat. He saw Israel at the forefront of a global alternative protein ecosystem.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/292660
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDY6vpsy_hM
Autonomous driving to Tel Aviv. Tech business analyst Hillel Fuld posted a video clip of his morning ride to Tel Aviv. It was no ordinary commute, due to the self-driving system that was piloting his vehicle along the Ayalon’s fast lane. https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-self-driving-suv-takes-the-fast-lane-to-tel-aviv/
Six robotic projects. Israel’s SixAI has six projects involving robotics. They comprise inspecting parts for defects, autonomous transport by forklift, autonomous microchip manufacture, goods delivery, recruitment and perimeter security.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3879839,00.html https://www.sixai.tech/
Arcade games go online. Israel’s Gigantic is behind the game Clawee, which enables virtual playing of claw machines through live video streaming. Prizes are delivered to the winner’s doorstep. Players operate one of 220 real claw machines located at Gigantic’s Petah Tikva studio. Other games include soccer, hoops and golf.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3879832,00.html https://clawee.com/
Solving the problem of textile waste. Israeli organization Re-born Textiles is piloting its solutions for preventing unwanted clothes ending up in landfills. New/nearly new are returned to retail for ReUse; older products are “ReMade” into new clothes; those in poor condition are “ReCycled” into industrial products.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-company-launches-pilot-program-to-help-solve-problem-of-textile-waste/
Antimicrobial fabric for new cars. Israel’s Sonovia Tech, makers of the facemasks that neutralize the Covid-19 virus, has partnered Italian car component manufacturer Adler Group. Sonovia will develop textiles using their antimicrobial fabric, to be used by Adler in carpets and other interior features for many makes of car.
https://www.israel21c.org/sonovia-antimicrobial-fabrics-will-be-going-into-new-cars/
Manage security in the cloud. Israel’s Wiz provides companies with complete visibility of the security of its computer infrastructure in the Cloud. It enables risk management of networks, identities, applications and vulnerabilities. Easy to install, focusing on the critical issues and providing speedy analysis of the root causes.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3880455,00.html https://wiz.io/
Fast analysis of data. The high-performance technology from Israel’s Firebolt allows companies to analyze much larger volumes of up-to-date data than previously possible. Firebolt combines the simplicity, elasticity and low cost of the cloud with the latest innovations in analytics.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3880374,00.html https://www.firebolt.io/
https://www.firebolt.io/resources/live-product-showdown-recording
An AI marketing assistant. Israeli-founded Exceed.ai uses Artificial Intelligence to work alongside sales reps. It emails and web chats with prospective customers, handling the mundane tasks 24x7 while reps close deals. It personalizes answers to queries just like a human assistant, books meetings for the reps and ensures follow-up.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3880336,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AeJpybx00c https://exceed.ai/
Monitoring 50 million trees. Israel’s SeeTree (reported here previously) now monitors over fifty million trees globally for their health and productivity. SeeTree extracts data using high-resolution, multi-dimensional sensing imagery obtained from drones, paired with ground sensors and samples taken by forest rangers.
https://nocamels.com/2020/12/agtech-seetree-30m-ai-network-trees/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Investment up 20% with a month to go. Start-Up Nation Central reports that capital raised by Israeli startup companies is breaking records in 2020 despite the Covid-19 crisis. Israeli companies raised $9.5 billion in the 11 months of 2020, eclipsing 2019’s $7.7 billion total for the whole 12 months.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3879857,00.html
New record for currency reserves. Israel’s reserves of foreign currency soared again last month. At the end of November, Israel held nearly $167 billion of foreign currency – over $6 billion more than at the end of October.
https://www.boi.org.il/en/NewsAndPublications/PressReleases/Pages/07-12-2020.aspx
Lower housing costs. The Israeli government has approved plans to lower housing costs throughout the country. Housing units subsidized by the government will be listed alongside properties on the free market. It will create competition and lower the cost of living for eligible Israelis on low income.
InvestiNation. Israel’s InvestiNation is a new equity crowdfunding platform, offering accredited US investors access to Israeli early-stage startups in fintech, ed-tech, construction and property technology.
https://www.israel21c.org/new-equity-crowdfunding-platform-launched-in-israel/
eToro value soars. An unnamed US institution just bought $50 million of shares in Israel’s eToro (reported here previously). It values the company at a staggering $2.5 billion, turning it into another Israeli Unicorn. eToro’s clients now number over 16 million, who use eToro’s platform to trade stocks, commodities, FX etc.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/12/08/new-israeli-unicorn-etoros-value-soared-to-2-5-billion/
Reacting to Covid-19. Israeli medical AI triage platform Diagnostic Robotics (reported here previously) used the coronavirus pandemic to successfully change its focus and operations. It split its workforce into two, to reduce the risk of infections and formed a digital health partnership with Israel’s Ministry of Health.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3878174,00.html
Predicting property values. Israel’s Propdo AI develops technology capable of predicting residential real estate property prices. Its algorithm and data-based tools produce a projected valuation of a prospective purchase. The company will initially operate in the Israeli real estate market.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3877897,00.html https://ai.propdo.com/
Hiring staff? Watch the video. Israel’s myInterview allows companies to see and hear recruitment candidates without the need for face-to-face meetings - useful in these coronavirus times. Candidates record videos to promote themselves and the recruitment team can watch, review and agree whom to invite to a live interview.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3880390,00.html https://www.myinterview.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03g-smH7vxU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYlHfMhSj9Q
Investment in Israeli startups: Wiz raised $100 million; Firebolt raised $32 million; Salt Security raised $30 million; SeeTree raised $30 million; Biosight raised $27million; Brainsgate raised $14 million; Gigantic raised $7 million; Cylus raised $7 million; SixAI raised $5 million; myInterview raised $5 million; Exceed.ai raised $4 million; Propdo AI raised $2 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Music for Peace in Eilat. The Music for Peace Festival in Eilat celebrated Israel's normalization deals with UAE and Bahrain. Its location was significant – next to the pillars of Solomon, whose Hebrew name means Peace. The event, on UAE’s National Day, was uniquely broadcast live on an Abu Dhabi TV channel.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/292657
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fPBh7x42y4
Endings and Beginnings. Center Stage – the only permanent English language theater in Israel – is holding a live music online event on Dec 27. It is entitled “Endings and Beginnings” and features songs from the stage and charts that celebrate endings and beginnings.
https://pay.tranzila.com/ttxcstagchd1/UGJMYTI3Q3YvTDQzZGdGZmlmaUowQT09
Imagine – John Lennon sang about Jerusalem. (TY Hazel) On the 40th anniversary of his death, a recording has surfaced of ex-Beatle John Lennon. He is singing in Hebrew, “Jerusalem, we have all sworn for eternity, we will not abandon you from here and forever”. Although an anti-religionist, he did claim to have a spiritual side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSLk1hznZmc
Israel Philharmonic on Chanukah. (TY Hazel) Just a few more evenings to watch the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra perform at 5pm Israeli time (10am ESD, 3pm UK time) every night of Chanukah.
https://www.ipo.co.il/en/live-streaming/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1EOrHdZl7cDhXdLJRwrySA
New role for Israel’s wonder woman. Israeli actress Gal Gadot (reported here previously) is to play a James Bond type super spy in the upcoming movie Heart of Stone. Meanwhile, her latest acclaimed movie Wonder Woman 1984 is now to be released on Dec 25 on the HBO Max live streaming service.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/12/07/gal-gadot-to-star-as-a-new-james-bond/
NASCAR record win & championship. Israeli NASCAR driver Alon Day has won the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Championship for the 3rd time in 4 years. He won a record 23 races this season with two still to go. Day is looking for a partnership so he can compete in NASCAR’s premier division, the Cup Series, in 2021.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israels-alon-day-sets-nascar-record-wins-3rd-championship/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASCAR_Whelen_Euro_Series#Champions
THE JEWISH STATE
Israel wins award for skillful archaeology. The International Tunneling and Underground Space Association (ITA) normally awards prizes for railroads and road construction. But it was so impressed with the way Israel carefully constructs tunnels to uncover its history, that it gave Israel the “Oddities of the Underground” award.
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/israel-wins-international-tunneling-award-for-archaeology-651274
https://ita-aites.6connex.eu/event/ITAVirtualEvents/login
Map of the Land of Israel. Israeli researcher Michal Eshed has developed a map in Hebrew and English of the settlement of the people of Israel in the Land of Israel. It contains some 700 ancient Israelite settlements and holy sites across the entire historic Land of Israel. It highlights that the Jews are indigenous to the land.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/new-map-reveals-truth-about-occupation-in-the-land-of-israel/
https://eretzil.net/english.html#!/home-english (Then click on “The Map” to preview before registering.)
Be a light. Great new song for Chanukah from Raanana Capella group Kippalive. They teamed up with Raanana-based charity Beit Issie Shapiro - one of the world's leaders in the field of helping people with special needs and disabilities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isSSA0fBMj0
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/292568
Hasmonean oil lamp discovered. Just in time for Chanukah. A City of David archaeologist has discovered an intact oil lamp from the Second Temple Hasmonean period, over 2,000 years ago. It was found while excavating Jerusalem’s ancient Pilgrimage Road, adjacent to the Western Wall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECFxs0pv-UU
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-2000-year-old-chanukah-lamp-found-intact-in-jerusalem/
Chanukah miracle. Morocco has agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. At the Kotel Chanukah lighting, Israel’s PM said, “The light of peace has never shone brighter than today”. Each country will open diplomatic offices in each other’s country. There will also be direct flights between the two countries.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/292882
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/292879
201206
In the 6th Dec 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israel’s top hospitals all use Israeli AI technology to analyze CT-scans.
· Israelis are helping Honduras hurricane victims and Italian coronavirus patients.
· New Israeli vegan milk is regular milk without the cows.
· A satellite build by students from Israel’s newest university is now in orbit.
· Citizens of Arab states will soon be drinking Israeli-produced water from the air.
· Israelis won international gold medals in gymnastics, windsurfing and taekwondo.
· Hundreds of new Ethiopian citizens have arrived in Israel.
· Two 100-year-old Israelis prove that age is not a barrier in the Jewish State.
· Click here to see the 29th Nov newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, San Diego Jewish World and United With Israel (over 2,000 shares last week) with extra feature on Medical, and new this week Jewish Business News. Also (TY Sandra) in German here and here. Also (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here and here. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here to keyword SEARCH almost any topic in the IsraelActive archives (17,500+ news articles).
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
More accessible cancer treatment. The Car-T cancer therapy invented by Israel’s Professor Zelig Eshhar (see here) is curing thousands of blood cancer patients. But the manual effort is hugely expensive. Now Israel’s ADVA Biotechnologies is developing a simpler, automated process. More lives will be saved with less cost.
https://www.advabio.com/ https://www.jpost.com/health-science/adva-biotechnology-643385
AI in Israeli hospitals. Good to see that Israel’s six largest medical centers are using AI-based software from Israel’s Aidoc (see here) to analyze CT scans and pinpoint cerebral hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism, stroke and C-spine fractures. They are Sheba, Hadassah, Sourasky (Ichilov), Rabin, Shaare Zedek and Assuta centers.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israelis-discover-brain-injuries-in-record-time-with-new-ai-tech/
Go barefoot to reduce foot pain. Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered a simple cure for people suffering from osteophytes (bone spurs) - lumps that grow on the heels of the feet. A 1-month controlled study of 50 patients found a 10-30 minute daily barefoot walk at home, or on a treadmill, significantly reduced pain.
Not heart-stopping at all. Israel’s Mitrassist Medical (reported here previously) has advanced to human trials of its innovative heart valve implant that avoids the risks of stopping the heart during open heart surgery. Mitrassist has just raised funds to recruit more employees and tackle additional structural heart diseases.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3878551,00.html http://mitrassist.com/
Blood test analyzers for Australia. (TY Hazel) Israel’s PixCell Medical (reported here previously) will be deploying its blood test analyzers in labs and emergency departments in New South Wales, Australia. PixCell’s HemoScreen low-cost portable hematology analyzer can perform a complete blood count at the point of care.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/pixcell-to-deploy-blood-test-analyzers-in-australias-new-south-wales/
Relieving the pressure on Cypriot hospitals. (TY Hazel) Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem will accept non-Covid patients from Cyprus with serious and life-threatening medical conditions to relieve local hospitals under strain from Covid-19. Hadassah also wants to build a hospital complex and rehabilitation center in Cyprus.
Israeli masks are good for you. (TY Uri) Nice article in TravelTrend about how the SonoMask facemasks from Israel’s Sonovia (reported here previously) protect their wearers and the public against the coronavirus.
https://www.trvltrend.com/technology/sonovia-antiviral-facemask/ https://sonoviatech.com/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Women are the peacemakers. Israeli, UAE and Bahraini female diplomats held a "Women in Diplomacy Network" panel event to examine the role of women in diplomacy. It marked 20 years since UN Resolution 1325, which calls for the active inclusion and participation of women in promoting peace and security.
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/female-diplomats-from-israel-bahrain-uae-discuss-equality-in-diplomacy-651139 https://www.jns.org/top-women-diplomats-from-israel-uae-bahrain-stress-need-for-mideast-peace/
Israeli elected to UN disability committee. Odelia Fitoussi, born with muscular dystrophy, is the first Israeli to be elected to the prestigious U.N. Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
https://www.jns.org/israeli-advocate-for-disability-rights-to-serve-on-expert-un-committee/
Trade agreements with Bahrain. Bahrain’s Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Zayed bin Rashid Al-Zayani made a 2-day visit to Jerusalem. Three deals were signed to boost trade and tourism. The Minister said the agreements would lead to economic prosperity for both countries and more stability in the region.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/peace-prosperity-and-friendship-israel-signs-3-agreements-during-bahraini-ministers-visit/ https://www.jns.org/netanyahu-welcomes-bahraini-tourism-minister-in-jerusalem/
Partnering with UAE to save endangered bird. (TY UWI & ILTV) Abu Dhabi-based International Houbara Conservation fund is working with Israel’s Nature & Parks Authority and the Nature & Heritage Foundation to save the endangered Houbara species from extinction. There are some 400 Houbaras in Israel’s Arava Desert.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZiyJ_grfn8
Aid to victims of Honduras hurricanes. Israel’s Defense and Foreign Ministers have sent an aid delegation of 15 IDF Home Front Command officers to Honduras. They are providing emergency response to the populations in the areas devastated by Hurricanes Eta and Iota, hand in hand with local volunteers. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/292566
Helping battle Covid-19 in Italy. (TY Stuart Pl) Israel’s Sheba Medical Center has sent a team of 20 doctors and nurses to assist the Piedmont District of Northern Italy, where 169,000 patients are infected with Covid-19. The 10-day mission followed an appeal from Piedmont’s governor to Israel’s Ambassador to Italy.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-medical-team-aiding-covid-battle-in-northern-italy/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfWv5zxqMMk
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Czech-Israeli science co-operation. There are many current Czech-Israeli research projects using robots and AI in different fields. They include in autonomous vehicles, maneuvering with drones and physiotherapy treatment. The article humorously links fascination with robots to the Jewish tradition of the Golem of Prague!
https://www.jpost.com/international/from-the-golem-of-prague-to-artificial-intelligence-650713
Healthy milk without cows. (TY UWI & Nas) Israel’s Remilk has developed a product, chemically identical to milk, but without cholesterol or lactose. Remilk uses microbes to produce milk proteins. No cows, no animal abuse, no huge land use, no waste products. Remilk tastes the same and is easily made into cheese, yogurt etc.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/dont-have-a-cow-israels-remilk-serves-up-dairy-products-made-without-animals/ https://www.re-milk.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq0btKzqYk4
Tech to make tourism safe. Israel’s Arieli Capital is partnering tourism giants Booking.com, Spain’s travel firm Amadeus and Etihad Airways to launch a NIS 10 million accelerator program. Called OnBoard, it will foster Israeli and international startups developing tech solutions that reduce pandemic risks for travelers.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/uaes-etihad-airways-joins-new-israeli-program-to-foster-travel-tech/
Israeli tech protects Spanish VIPs from Covid-19. Madrid’s Pardo Palace, where the Spanish Monarchy accommodates guests of the government, has installed air purifiers from Israel’s Aura Smart Air (reported here previously). The system kills 99.9% of viruses in the air, including the coronavirus.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/12/01/spains-royal-palace-chooses-israeli-technology-to-purify-the-air-from-covid-19/ https://techtime.news/2020/10/15/aura-air/
Synthetic biology winners. At the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) Competition for Synthetic Biology, Tel Aviv University’s team won the “Best Software Tool” category. Israel’s Technion won gold for its active gel that captures SARS-CoV-2 viruses and prevents them from entering body cells.
https://biotech.technion.ac.il/congratulations-to-igem-2020-team-for-winning-the-gold-medal/
https://english.m.tau.ac.il/news/igem-2020
Recycling plastic for car parts. Almost every month there is a new use for the thermoplastic from recycled plastic waste made by Israel’s UBQ Materials (reported here previously). UBQ’s new partner is Indian vehicle component manufacturer Motherson Group, who will use the material in the manufacture of automotive parts.
https://nocamels.com/2020/11/waste-ubq-materials-auto-conversion/
An electric car for the elderly. (TY Hazel) Students at Israel’s Ariel University have developed an electric car that can park perpendicular to the sidewalk and disembark its passengers to a standing position. It was the only Israeli project chosen for the 2020 Global Grad Show - a virtual social impact exhibition hosted in Dubai.
Warehouse robots that adapt. Israel’s Caja Robotics installs robotic warehouse Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems (ASRS). Caja’s advantage is that it can be installed in almost any warehouse, as it adapts to existing infrastructure. It consists of two types of robot, plus cloud-based Artificially Intelligent software.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/12/01/israels-caja-robotics-makes-warehouse-management-easier/
Gel powered rocket engines. (TY UWI) Israel’s NewRocket (reported here previously) has unveiled its “new generation” rocket engines for satellites, propelled by its PowerGel low-cost and environmentally friendly gel fuel. Satellite engines currently use highly toxic hydrazine-based fuel - soon expected to be banned in Europe.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/startup-unveils-new-generation-rocket-engines-with-powergel-fuel/
Tracing problems in the data pipeline. Companies these days regard their data as important as their electricity or water supply. Israel’s Databand helps scientists and data engineers resolve problems with their data, such as failed processes, why data updates are running late, and how system changes affect the quality of data outputs.
https://databand.ai/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3878320,00.html
Powering Amazon’s AWS customers. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is to offer its customers Gaudi AI accelerators developed by Intel’s Israel-based subsidiary Habana Labs. They will soon be able to use AWS machine learning cloud services at a much lower cost. Intel bought Israel’s Habana Labs for $2 billion in 2019.
Ariel’s first satellite. Ariel University’s first nanosatellite SATLLA-1 has been launched from the International Space Station and is now orbiting the Earth every 97 minutes. Eventually, three SATLLA nanosatellites will work as a “swarm” enabling affordable research, controlled and tracked by an Ariel-developed ground station.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-university-nanosatellites-aim-to-democratize-space/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIUZZvE5yl4
Testing restaurant for vegan meat. Israel’s Supermeat (reported here previously) has opened a restaurant near its production factory in Ness Tziona, south of Tel Aviv. It is a testing kitchen for Supermeat’s lab-grown “cultured chicken”. Diners are not required to pay for their meal but are asked to give feedback.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Projects to strengthen business economy. The Israeli Economy Ministry is investing some NIS 50 million in ventures to help businesses recover from the pandemic. They include a crowdfunding platform that provides loans to small businesses and a company helping to establish an online trading platform for businesses.
Israeli education centers for UAE. In January, the United Arab Emirates is to open an Educational Hebrew Institute in 4 locations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Israelis will teach the Hebrew language and Israeli culture to
acquaint local businesspeople with Israeli-style communication and cuisine in “a fun and interactive way.”
https://www.israel21c.org/hebrew-language-and-israeli-culture-institute-opens-in-uae/
Dubai commodities center opens Israel office. The Dubai Multi Commodities Center Authority has opened a representative office inside the Israel Diamond Center in Ramat Gan, north Tel Aviv. The new office will support Israeli businesses, from all industries and sectors, interested in setting up a presence in Dubai.
Free trade agreement with Ukraine. The expanded Free Trade Agreement between Israel and Ukraine (reported here previously) will go into effect on 1st Jan 2021. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky praised the closer cooperation with Israel. “Relations between our countries are rising to a new level,” he wrote.
Next stop is Tulsa. Tulsa, Oklahoma is seeking to help Israeli startups with remote hiring and US market entry. Tulsa has diversified from oil & gas into hi-tech. Its work from home (WFH) program “Remote” has attracted skilled professionals escaping from crowded coastal cities. Several Israeli startups have already moved in.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-surprising-us-city-where-israeli-tech-is-heading-next/
$125 million for Israeli-founded startups. Venture capital firm Entrée Capital has now fully raised its $125 million Israel Opportunity Fund. The new fund will target early growth Israeli-founded startups, focusing on areas such as deep technology, SaaS, fintech and digital health.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3878810,00.html
Water from the air to the Gulf. Israel’s Watergen is bringing its revolutionary water solutions to the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the region. Watergen’s partnership with Emirati Al-Dahra will cover hotels, offices and apartment buildings, agriculture, industry and more.
https://www.jns.org/abu-dhabi-company-to-bring-israeli-drinking-water-technologies-to-gulf/
People of the Books. A 1980 Hebrew University of Jerusalem library management project was commercialized into Aleph-Yissum and taken over several times. Now called Ex-Libris, it is still headquartered in Jerusalem. Ex-Libris’ remote learning systems are used by 7,500 academic institutions in 90 countries.
https://nocamels.com/2020/12/ex-libris-remote-education-covid/
Investment in Israeli startups: Bizzabo raised $138 million; Envoy raised $81 million; Mitrassist Medical raised $50 million; Logz.io raised $23 million; Databand raised $14.5 million; Caja Robotics raised $12 million; Tipa raised $4 million; NewRocket raised $1 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Jerusalem sights and colors. (TY Sharon) Sharon took a stroll in beautiful end-November sunshine through the streets, gardens and parks of Israel’s capital. http://rjstreets.com/2020/11/29/jerusalem-sights-and-colors/
No stopping. Tel Aviv’s “The Non-Stop City Refuses to Stop” campaign has hundreds of events, all Health Ministry compliant. Rooftop performances, outdoor art and photography festivals, activities for the elderly, beach yoga classes, gyms on wheels, free city tours and this week’s best dating place is a lifeguard station.
https://www.telavivpress.com/refuses-to-stop
https://nocamels.com/2020/11/tel-aviv-city-date-beach-lifeguard-tower-coronavirus/
Go online for Jaffa Fest. The 2020 Jaffa International Theater Festival (Dec 3 – 8) will consist of all digital content in Hebrew, Russian and English. The festival includes plays and a day-long Hebrew audio tour in the footsteps of Israeli playwright Nissim Aloni through the streets of Tel Aviv.
https://www.israel21c.org/2020-jaffa-fest-takes-off-online-this-winter/ https://www.jaffafest.com/
Walk the walk and tread the boards. For those wishing to get out of their homes following the end of lockdown, here are 10 recommended boardwalks and beach hikes in Israel. Enjoy Israel’s winter sunshine.
https://www.israel21c.org/top-10-boardwalks-and-beach-hikes-in-israel/
Golden gymnasts. Israeli rhythmic gymnast Linoy Ashram won the individual all-around title at the European Championships in Kiev. Israel’s rhythmic gymnastics team took gold in the group all-around category. Daria Atamanov won gold in the Junior clubs event. Apologies - last week’s Judoka gold medalist was Peter Paltchik.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-gymnast-linoy-ashram-wins-gold-at-european-championships/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm57ebVD5CM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka_N6B_ZHS0
Champion windsurfer. Israeli windsurfer Yoav Cohen, 21, won the 2020 European Windsurfing Champion, held in Portugal. Shahar Zubari, a member of Israel’s Olympic sailing team, won a silver, as did Israeli teammate Katy Spychakov in the women’s category. This was Zubari’s fifth European Championship medal.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israelis-rake-in-the-gold-medals-at-international-competitions/amp/
More medals and sports winners. Israeli Taekwondo warrior Avishag Samberg won gold in the European Clubs Championship in Croatia. Nimrod Krivishkiy won silver, while Ori Patishi and Alon Katz won bronzes. Finally, Israeli grandmaster Evgeny Postny, won an online chess solidarity event with Arab states.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-contenders-rake-in-international-gold-medals/
Slam Dunk. Israel qualified for its 14th consecutive EuroBasket tournament, beating Poland 78-72. Due to coronavirus, Israel’s “home” match had to be played in Spain. With two matches to play, the team has a 4-0 record in the group having previously beaten Romania, Spain and Poland (away). EuroBasket begins Sep 2022.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/israel-clinches-eurobasket-2022-berth-650763
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/israel-breezes-into-eurobasket-in-style-651099
THE JEWISH STATE
400 years of US-Israel bond. (TY Yoram Ettinger) The Founding Fathers set sail from England to America in 1620, inspired by the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land of Israel. Symbols of America’s Biblical heritage can be seen right across the USA and most US Presidents have championed the Jewish State.
Making their way home. A couple who made Aliyah in 1989 have returned to visit the former Soviet Union. They found empty synagogues and remnants of large communities that have since relocated to the Jewish State.
https://www.aish.com/jw/s/Jews-in-Exile-Making-their-Way-Home.html
Operation Rock of Israel. In the opening flight of Operation Rock of Israel, 316 members of the Falash Mura community from Ethiopia landed in Israel on Thursday morning on a flight from Gondar. Approximately 100 more were due to arrive on Friday, and a total of 2,000 new Olim by end Jan 2021. Even the BBC reported it.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/first-ethiopian-falash-mura-land-in-israel-watch-651019
https://unitedwithisrael.org/joyful-ethiopians-kiss-the-ground-after-making-aliyah-to-israel/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55171742
Helping French medics make Aliya. KKL-JNF, Nahariya Municipality and NGO Kehilot Yisrael have begun a NIS 3 million project to bring hundreds of doctors and healthcare professionals from France and settling them in the Galilee. In a pilot project 14 doctors and their families moved to Nahariya three months ago.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/kkl-jnf-helps-doctors-make-aliyah-from-france-651044
Canadian defender of Israel honored. Toronto non-Jewish lawyer Jacques Gauthier was awarded the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation’s inaugural Advocate Award of Excellence. His 1,100-page doctoral thesis supports and proves Jewish sovereignty over all of Jerusalem. It took him 25 years to complete.
Israeli 100-year-old hero has return flight. (TY Algemeiner) South African-born Harold “Smoky” Simon, who flew in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence, celebrated his 100th birthday by flying a vintage Tiger Moth around the Sde Te’eman airfield, near Beersheva. His two sons, both ex-IAF pilots, went with him for the ride.
100 years young. Kurt Rothschild, President of World Mizrachi, will hopefully mark his 100th birthday on the first day of Chanukah. Every day, until the coronavirus pandemic hit earlier this year, he reported for duty in his Jerusalem office. Every institution in the religious Zionist world, has benefitted from his assistance.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/11/29/honoring-kurt-rothschild-at-100/
On a roll. (TY WIN) With so many recent discoveries of ancient Jewish artifacts in Israel it was only a matter of time before archaeologists chanced upon part of a game that Jews might have played during Chanukah 2,000 years ago. A die cube from the second Temple period was unearthed at the Khirbet Kfar Mor site in Beit El.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/292027
201129
In the 29th Nov 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An Israeli-developed eye scanner can detect early signs of Alzheimer’s.
· Israel is the top country in the world for women entrepreneurs.
· Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2020 include 5 Israeli innovations.
· An Israeli supermarket chain is to grow fruit and vegetables at its stores.
· The 3-day Israel-Dubai business conference was a huge success.
· An Israeli judoka won Gold in the European championships.
· A 9-year-old boy found a 1st Temple period gold bead in Jerusalem.
· Click here to see the 22nd Nov newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit, San Diego Jewish World and United With Israel with extra feature on Science & Technology. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here and here. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of more than 17,500 previous news articles.
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Retinal scanner for early Alzheimer’s test. Israeli-founded Canadian-based RetiSpec has developed the RS1, which uses hyperspectral retinal imaging and AI to examine the back of the eye. It can identify harmful amyloid proteins and other evidence that indicate Alzheimer’s Disease, even before the patient shows symptoms.
Osteoporosis screening for Scotland. Israel’s Zebra Medical Vision (reported here previously) is to trial its technology at the National Health Service in Glasgow and Assuta Medical Centers in Israel. It will be used to detect people at risk of developing osteoporosis.
Pacemaker for the brain. For the first time in Israel, surgeons at Israel’s Sourasky (Ichilov) medical center implanted a Medtronic Percept DBS pacemaker in an epileptic patient. It records brain activity in addition to performing electrical stimulation. Medtronic owns several Israeli companies and has an Israeli R&D center.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/first-epileptic-patient-in-israel-gets-innovative-pacemaker/
Clinical psychology on your phone. (TY Stuart Palmer) Israel’s GGTUDE (mentioned here previously) has 7 free apps in its digital mental-health platform. It has now added GG Self Care, which provides a research-backed, personalized digital intervention for Covid-19-related psychological difficulties. Just 3 minutes a day.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bt58YY0FI2f2oRNpl_IctNIFu2TnYQej/view https://ggtude.com/
Crystal clear hearing. (TY Janglo) Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered that the hair cells in the inner ear, vital for hearing, develop before birth in the same way that crystals form. They proved this using new 3D time-lapse imaging technology and computational simulations of the development of atoms in the hair cells.
https://english.m.tau.ac.il/news/ear-spiral
Use your phone to check your skin. Israel’s Derma Detect has developed an algorithm and AI applications for analyzing digital images to detect, treat, and manage non-pigmented skin lesions. The company’s platform analyzes images of the skin using deep learning and computer vision. Currently being trialed in Israel.
https://www.dermadetect.com/ https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/company_page/derma-detect
German insurance gets Israeli vital signs. Israel’s Binah.ai (reported here previously) is partnering Europe’s largest insurance group, Generali Deutschland. The German company will integrate Binah's health status vital signs monitoring technology in its new mobile application named VitalSigns&Care.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3876299,00.html
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Youth supporting the elderly. When Yakov Pizenberg was 17 he began delivering left-over pastries from an Ashkelon bakery to elderly people and Holocaust survivors in the city. Now 21, he has founded “Youth for an Equal Society” which, mostly via the telephone and zoom, aids some 400 lonely, elderly people in Ashkelon.
https://www.israel21c.org/this-soldier-leaves-no-lonely-old-person-behind/
Number One for women entrepreneurs. Israel is the best country for women entrepreneurs worldwide, according to the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE) for 2020. Israel tops the charts for the first time, advancing from fourth place in 2019. Israel plans to double the number of female entrepreneurs by 2022.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3875511,00.html
https://mastercardcontentexchange.com/media/cjij11eh/mc_miwe-2020-infographic_final.pdf
International Day of Persons with Disabilities. On Dec 3rd, the city of Jerusalem and other Israeli cities will illuminate iconic buildings in purple in honor of the International Day of Disabled Persons. The Jerusalem buildings include the Chords Bridge, City Hall and Teddy Stadium.
Israeli-Arab party leader is deputy speaker. I had not realized previously that Mansour Abbas, head of the Arab-Israeli Ra’am party, is deputy speaker of Israel’s Parliament – the Knesset. And he seems much more moderate than the other parties in the Joint Arab List, as this latest news article shows.
Building co-existing bridges in Jerusalem. The first Jewish-Arab-Jerusalem Hackathon took place in Margalit Startup City (reported here previously), home to dozens of high-tech companies. 20 young entrepreneurs took part in a new initiative by Jewish and Arab entrepreneurs to build new projects for the benefit of Jerusalem.
https://www.jns.org/jewish-arab-hackathon-aims-to-model-new-projects-and-ties-in-jerusalem/
Caring for wildlife during Covid-19. (TY I24 News & UWI) Israel is home to the largest collection of animals in the Middle East. At Ramat Gan Safari, 1,600 animals no longer have any visitors; some enjoy the peace and quiet, but others really appreciate the extra attention from their keepers and conservationists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQxxbrXbOSQ
Agricultural academy in India. Israel’s Ben Gurion University, together with Indian firm Aban Offshore, is establishing an agricultural research institute in Chennai, India. It will allow Indian students to earn degrees in agriculture from BGU including hydrology and water quality, desert studies, and ecology and conservation.
https://www.israel21c.org/israel-and-india-to-open-agriculture-research-institute/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Seriously solar. The Israeli government has assembled its team tasked with achieving Israel’s 2030 goal of 30% of its energy sources from solar. It is currently examining existing potential roadblocks and policy changes necessary to advance solar energy. Reaching the goal is expected to save Israel up to NIS 8 billion a year.
Microsoft’s green new Israeli campus. Microsoft’s new Herzliya 46,000 sqm building will support innovation and accessibility. It is the first Israeli office to carry a ‘LEED V4 Gold certification’ for its environmentally friendly design. It includes a 3,500 sqm garden, WaterGen’s water from air and a GreenWall vegetation wall.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3874995,00.html
Best inventions. The hifold fit-and-fold highback booster, the world’s most adjustable and portable car booster seat, from Israel’s mifold, was named in Time Magazine’s annual list of “The 100 Best Inventions of 2020”. Four other Israeli inventions are listed: Beehome, Trialjectory, Augmedics, City Transformer and DouxMatok.
https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2020/5911401/mifold-hifold-booster-seat/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8nL8Aa78Qk
https://nocamels.com/2020/11/5-israeli-time-100-best-inventions-2020/
Technion UK’s virtual gala. One of Israel’s Technion Institute’s four Nobel Prize Winners, Professor Aaron Ciechanover, is the keynote speaker at Technion UK’s virtual gala event on Dec 10th. His live talk entitled “Corona Days: New-Old Challenges” will include his visionary and very timely views on Science and Ethics.
https://technionuk.org/event/virtual-gala-event/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1w_sGahFoc
A smartphone in space. Israel’s next satellite, the Dror 1 being built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will be Israel’s most advanced communication satellite. Fully digital with upgradable computers, communications and memory technology at the forefront of high-tech. IAI views it like a smartphone, with many applications.
https://www.jns.org/an-insiders-look-at-israels-next-satellite-a-smartphone-in-space/
Reinventing insurance. Israeli insurtech company Novidea has developed a platform that translates insurance data into business insights in real-time. It has advanced analytic capabilities and information for brokers and agents to act upon. Research firm FinTech Global selected Novidea in its InsurTech100 for 2020.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3875873,00.html https://vimeo.com/219412574
https://www.novideasoft.com/novidea-selected-for-global-insurtech100
Shaping agriculture around the world. Israel’s Azrom has specialized in designing, building and installing customized greenhouse systems since 1979. It has completed some 1,500 projects in more than 70 countries. Hydroponics, flowers, watermelon, pineapple and mango. Recycling the water and using hardly any pesticides.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-technologies-helping-move-agriculture-indoors/ https://azrom.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr-Q4pFHmzw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOPFOCzBVJY
A vertical farm at the supermarket. Israeli supermarket chain Rami Levy will soon be growing eco-friendly fruit and vegetables in its stores for direct sale to customers. It has partnered Israel’s Vertical Fields for the geoponic vertical farm technology and Israel’s BIOLED for eco-lighting and growing containers.
Using AI to increase manufacturing efficiency. (TY JBN) Israel’s Vanti Analytics uses Machine-Learning AI technologies to significantly reduce ramp-up time, errors and test time for electronics manufacturers. Its SaaS software platform requires no prior data-science education to quickly and autonomously optimize production.
https://www.geektime.com/israeli-ai-startup-raises-4-5m/ https://www.vanti-analytics.com/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Peace for economic reasons. The first Israel-Dubai conference focused on the prospects of a prosperous partnership between Israel and the UAE. The Emirates is a gateway for Israeli tech companies to expand to the Middle East. The 3-day conference had many inspiring presentations, of which these are just a sample.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3876851,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3876971,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3876692,00.html
Tech salaries are rising. The effect of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on salaries in Israel's tech sector was minimal compared to other sectors. A survey of 60 Israeli tech companies by HR analytics startup Piplwize has shown that 84% of them intend to increase salaries in 2021 and half of them by at least 6%.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3875051,00.html
Israel and Turkey do business. The first-ever online conference: “Uniting hi-tech from two nations – Turkey and Israel” attracted dozens of participants, including Turkish entrepreneurs and investors. The organizers included Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Technology Development Foundation of Turkey.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-online-event-links-israeli-and-turkish-tech-industries-1001350640
Ships for Senegal. (TY Hazel) Israel Shipyards delivered the last of four patrol ships for the Senegalese Navy, fulfilling an agreement signed in November 2019. The Shaldag MK V patrol ship follows the earlier supply of three Shaldag MK II patrol ships. The agreement includes training, maintenance and technical support.
https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/46482
New fund to invest in Israeli tech. US Venture Capital firm Ibex Investors has raised its second fund in Israel amounting to $100 million. Ibex Investors has previously invested in many Israeli startups, helping them enter the global market. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3875553,00.html
A travel agent for investing in Israel. Israel’s Tech It Forward, founded by two immigrant women, is a bridge between investors and Israeli entrepreneurs. It organizes trips, conferences, networking events, pitching events, meetings and mentorship programs to connect global investors with the Israeli startup ecosystem.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/11/22/jessica-rosner-and-jennifer-elias-promote-startup-nation-with-tech-it-forward/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVJEsc3QP8E https://www.techitforward.com/
Streaming ahead. Israel’s Qwilt (reported here previously) has signed a substantial deal with entertainment giant Disney, just a month after a similar deal with British Telecom. Qwilt’s technology will be integrated into the Disney+ streaming service, which was launched in 2019 and now has more than 75 million subscribers.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3875416,00.html
Flying high. Israel’s Appsflyer (see here) became a Unicorn (value over $1 billion) in January. It is now worth $2 billion after an investment from Salesforce. Appsflyer integrates with Salesforce and Salesforce Ventures. Its marketing measurement platform was included in the Forbes 2020 Cloud 100 list for the 2nd year in a row.
How to make your customers stick with you. (TY JBN) Israeli startup Glue offers a loyalty management platform for small businesses. With Glue, each company can retain its customers using incentives such as coupons, loyalty cards, a points earning system, subscriptions, prepaid passes and even play-to-win games.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3875771,00.html https://glueloyalty.com/#
The first TASE food-tech IPO. Israeli food-tech startup SavorEat (reported here previously) brought in NIS 42.6 million (about $13 million) in an IPO on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). It was the first time that a food-tech firm went public on the Israeli exchange.
Investment in Israeli startups: Hippo raised $350 million; Inuitive raised $106 million; Novidea raised $15 million; SavorEat raised $13 million; Aquarius Engines raised $10 million; Glue Loyalty raised $8 million; Zesty raised $6.6 million; Zero Egg raised £5 million; Vanti Analytics raised $4.5 million; Lightspin raised $4 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
The hidden gardens of Jerusalem. This article describes 5 little-known landscaped gems in Israel’s capital. In contrast to the Botanical Gardens and the Wohl Rose Garden, look for Mount Scopus Botanical Garden, the Andalusian Garden, the YMCA Garden, the Orson Hyde Memorial Park and the Hadassah Healing Garden.
https://www.israel21c.org/israel21cs-guide-to-5-secret-gardens-of-jerusalem/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cItBl6ks84c (Orson Hyde)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IghRY4O67ls (Mount Scopus)
Tel Aviv never stops. Tel Aviv's annual Samsung run on 19th Feb will have some coronavirus adaptations. Each runner will start from a different point and run a unique, localized course, the motto being "All Running Together Separately." An app will include instructions, a starting ceremony, progress monitoring and more.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/annual-tel-aviv-run-to-take-place-digitally-649999
Israeli judokas win Euro medals. Israeli judoka won gold in the under-100 kg division at the European Championships in Prague. His countryman Tal Flicker won silver in the under-66kg category.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-peter-paltchik-wins-gold-at-european-judo-championships/
THE JEWISH STATE
History, education and spirituality in a water tower. (TY DH) An abandoned water tower in Jerusalem is being converted into a synagogue, Torah learning center and a museum commemorating Sir Moses Montefiore. It will also house a visitor educational center for medicine, science and halacha (Jewish religious law).
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-towering-montefiore-vision/
Ben Gurion day. In celebration of Ben-Gurion Day, Prof. Paula Kabalo, the director of the Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism, provides a rare glimpse into the Ben-Gurion Archives. Hear excerpts from Ben-Gurion’s personal diary about the days preceding Israel’s declaration of independence.
https://aabgu.org/video/an-inside-look-into-the-ben-gurion-archives/#
Handwriting connects soulmates. For the last two decades, Israeli graphologist (handwriting expert) Shaul Halali has been helping religious Jews find potential marriage partners. Handwriting can reveal a person’s character traits and state of mind – vital in coronavirus times when face-to-face meetings are difficult.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-handwriting-expert-helps-people-choose-their-soulmates/
Boy finds 3,000-year-old jewelry in Jerusalem. A nine-year-old boy discovered a First Temple-era piece of gold jewelry during wet sifting of earth from the Temple Mount. The minute cylinder bead was originally found in August in such good condition that it was initially dismissed as modern and only verified 3 months later.
201122
In the 22nd Nov 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· In a human trial, Israeli scientists have reversed the aging process.
· The UN overwhelmingly approved an Israeli-led resolution on sustainable solutions.
· A 62-year-old ex-Air Force pilot will be the next Israeli astronaut.
· An Israeli company has solved the problem of recycling dirty plastics.
· Joint US-Israeli agriculture projects give the world huge economic benefits.
· Two Israelis basketball players were selected in the NBA drafts
· Click here to see the 15th Nov newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit, San Diego Jewish World and United With Israel with extra feature on Medical. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here and here. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of more than 17,500 previous news articles.
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Israeli scientists reverse aging process. In the first trial on humans, Israeli scientists have shown hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can reduce two key biological hallmarks of aging - telomere length shortening and accumulation of senescent cells. These factors lower the risk of cancer, dementia, Alzheimer’s and much more.
https://www.aging-us.com/article/103571
Gene editing to prevent cancers. (TY Janglo) Scientists at Tel Aviv University have used CRISPR gene editing in the lab to treat some of the most aggressive of cancers. They improved Glioblastoma (brain cancer) survival rates by 30%, but for metastatic (secondary) ovarian cancer, survival was increased by a huge 80%.
A Prophet for predicting cancer treatment. Israel’s Oncohost (reported here previously) presented the results of its latest proteomic (proteins) cancer study to the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer’s (SITC). Oncohost’s PROphet host response profiling platform can predict the best therapy to use for specific cancer patients.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/11/15/oncohost-offers-new-hope-for-pancreatic-cancer-sufferers/
https://www.sitcancer.org/2020/program/annual-meeting-schedule-2020#tab6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihPi8YYRvLM
Hands-free diagnostics. Two Israeli companies OutSense and Olive Diagnostics have developed innovative devices that remove the embarrassing and potentially unhygienic procedure of collecting urine and fecal samples for disease diagnosis. Their real-time passive diagnostic sensors can be fixed to any toilet.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/startups-smart-toilet-bowl-scans-poop-and-urine-for-medical-insights/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cME7i4EfITk https://outsense.co.il/ https://www.olivek2.com/
https://www.israel21c.org/keep-track-of-your-health-by-simply-peeing-as-usual/
Partnership to get fast medical advice. Israel’s K Health (reported here previously) has partnered with the Mayo Clinic to improve and accelerate deployment of K Health’s virtual therapy models. K Health enables people to receive comprehensive medical insights and immediate treatment in their homes.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3873713,00.html https://khealth.ai/
Vaccine connections. Mikael Dolsten, Chief Scientist of Covid-19 vaccine front-runner Pfizer, studied at Israel’s Weizmann Institute during his doctoral studies. (Pfizer’s CEO is also Jewish.) Meanwhile, Israeli Chief Medical Officer Tal Zaks of top Covid-19 vaccine prospect Moderna, has just received a Ben Gurion Award.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-immigrant-and-top-pfizer-scientist-hails-role-of-us-immigrants-in-vaccine/ https://www.jns.org/ben-gurion-university-taps-moderna-chief-medical-officer-with-namesake-award/
34 lives saved in one month. Israeli NGO Ezer Mizion’s bone marrow database enabled 34 life-saving stem cell transplants in October. The transplants took place across the USA, plus in Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and of course Israel. Thousands of new donors join every month.
https://ezermizion.org/blog/because-of-you-78/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Promoting female entrepreneurs. The 12th annual Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020 in Israel starting Nov 16, focused on promoting female entrepreneurship. Top international and Israeli female entrepreneurs hosted dozens of virtual panels. Female led Israeli companies represented included Nurami and HT BioImaging.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3872291,00.html
An intelligent decision. Israel’s Military Intelligence Unit 9900, one of the most highly classified intelligence units in the IDF, has allocated a room dedicated for nursing mothers. Many of its officers return from maternity and paternity leave and the unit’s work-life balance policy supports their family and professional activities.
Wheelchair friendly. (TY Hazel) Tel Aviv has been ranked as one of the seven most wheelchair-friendly cities in the world by London-based “Truly Belong” magazine. It reported that: “The eclectic city has made great strides in recent years to become fully accessible to people with disabilities.”
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/tel-aviv-named-among-worlds-most-wheelchair-friendly-cities-649456
UN adopts Israeli “green” resolution. An Israeli-led resolution, “Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development,” was passed by an overwhelming majority of 144 nations by the United Nations Second Committee. The resolution calls for efforts to incentivize environmentally and socially sustainable solutions.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/291546
Endangered salamander surfaces in Israel. (TY Arutz 7) Recent Israeli rains encouraged the appearance of some rare species of animals. They included the almost extinct poisonous fire salamander, which was spotted in the Northern Israel’s Banias nature reserve. https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/ryQOQGwFP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkgFGkjQVg8
New Green Plan. Israel’s Energy Ministry has presented a NIS 1.5 billion national energy efficiency plan to cut emissions by 17% by 2030. It also aims to improve energy efficiency and create thousands of new jobs. It includes investment in renewables, transition to electric vehicles and better construction and appliances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwpbi47HpjE
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Desertification conference begins. The world’s leading desertification conference (reported here previously) has attracted nearly 2,000 delegates from 103 countries including the UAE and Iran. The free event is hosted on-line by Israel’s Ben Gurion University. https://dddconf.org/
Nine Israeli hi-techs in emerging top 100. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) included 9 Israelis in its 2020 list of top tech “global challenger” companies from emerging markets. For more details on CyberArk, IronSource, Landa, Monday.com, Or Cam, Payoneer, Playtika, SolarEdge and Wix, visit www.IsraelActive.com.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3872871,00.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/9-israeli-companies-among-100-tech-emerging-market-challengers/
Israel’s next astronaut. Eytan Stibbe will be Israel’s second astronaut, following the path of Ilan Ramon, when he launches to the International Space Station in 2021. Stibbe, 62, served in Israel’s Air Force for 43 years. He co-founded Israel’s Ramon Foundation which is financing his space mission plus Israel’s space experiments.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/291326
Israeli scientist wins $2.5 million “wild ideas” award. Israeli neurobiologist Professor Oded Rechavi, of Tel Aviv University, has been awarded one of the first two $2.5 million Polymath Awards. Funded by the Schmidt Futures Initiative, the award encourages scientists to take risks and investigate new wild ideas. Amazing video.
https://www.israel21c.org/tel-aviv-university-researcher-wins-first-polymath-award/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMbrASDmXXk
At the forefront of research. Here are some virtual opportunities to watch webinars about what Israel’s Ben Gurion University scientists have been doing to save Eilat’s coral reef, and to combat cancer.
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_INmHoirYTXqkPGalKY0ObA
https://aabgu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BtyIu9q5QzqKCpyZaVBOtw
Watt a car! (TY JBN) Israel’s Watt Car is developing a two-seater electric urban vehicle that has the flexibility of a motorcycle with the comfort of a sports car. Shaped like a wheel, the vehicle weighs some 450 kg, can reach a speed of around 120 kph (75 mph) and has a range of 200 km (120 miles). Four re-charging methods.
https://www.watt-ecar.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/WATT-compressed-movie.mp4
Are you listening? Israel’s Noveto (reported here previously) has launched its SoundBeamer 1.0 desktop device that beams sound directly to a listener without the need for headphones. You can now have your own personal sound bubble, listen to music, lectures, watch movies etc. without disturbing others in the room.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/futuristic-device-from-israeli-firm-puts-music-in-your-head-without-headphones/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zHxwUJR8dQ
Making the future accessible. Israel’s Wheelshare provides mobility and independence to people with movement issues. It has installed wheelchair lending stations at most Israeli hospitals, accessible through a multilingual digital app. Its aim is to extend the service globally to include airports, shopping centers and more.
https://www.wheel-share.com/?lang=en https://socialimpactil.com/wheelshare-making-the-future-accessible/
New drone R&D center. Israeli-Canadian drone startup SkyX (reported here previously) is opening a research and development center in Israel. It is recruiting 50 employees, most in the fields of software development and image processing. SkyX’s UAVs inspect energy and rail sites, patrol borders and support search and rescue.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3872370,00.html
Making shopping fun. Walmart’s partnership with Israeli startup EKO (reported here previously) was explained by Walmart’s Chief Customer Officer Janey Whiteside at the “Mind The Tech” conference in New York. EKO uses storytelling to make retailers’ products appeal to consumers.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3873290,00.html
Where security is key. Israel’s Unbound Tech has solved a key problem for companies wanting to expand to new locations or into the Cloud - where to store all their security access keys? Unbound does it with software, cryptographically splitting a key into separate parts and then protecting each part in a different location.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3873372,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5WRQeLjHtc https://www.unboundtech.com/
Cybersecurity for your car. Israel’s C2A Security (reported here previously) has launched Autosec a security platform for car-makers and car-part providers. Autosec technology allows manufacturer to continually track all cybersecurity issues in their vehicles and fix any vulnerabilities automatically. C2A has also joined AUTOSAR.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/a-cyber-seatbelt-to-keep-your-car-safe-from-hackers/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVRvI4Er7k4 https://www.ourcrowd.com/companies/c2a-security
Content that matters. (TY JBN) Israel’s Listory claims to be the world’s first content refinery. It allows the user to save time when reading information on the Internet. Listory aggregates and handpicks the most relevant stories, articles, podcasts, or videos that are based on your personal taste.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMKSTK3t7SI https://www.listory.com/en/
Recycling dirty plastics. 91% of plastic put into recycling bins ends up in landfills because it is dirty. But Israel’s KB-Recycling (being rebranded as Alkemy) has developed a method of turning dirty plastic into plastic sheeting used in construction to seal surfaces, for protecting floors during renovation work and much more.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-company-solving-the-dirty-secret-of-recycled-plastic/ http://kb-recycling.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZYGWvB6rN0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgDnqIr2I68
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
S&P maintains Israel’s high credit rating. As predicted here previously, financial ratings agency Standard & Poor’s affirmed their high AA- credit rating for the Jewish State with a stable outlook. S&P cited Israel’s robust financial system and access to capital markets. They also noted Israel’s recent agreements with Arab states.
IMF positive on Bank of Israel’s pandemic performance. Several compliments in the latest report from the International Monetary Fund. Timely and decisive measures helped preserve market and financial stability and access to credit. Support to the health system, households and businesses helped soften the economic impact.
Success of Joint US-Israeli agriculture projects. Since 1979, the US-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund (BARD) has invested $1.06 billion in 1,330 projects. A review of just 20 case studies shows an economic benefit of $2.7 billion to the US, $500 million Israel, and another $13.3 billion globally.
Etihad to fly Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv. Etihad Airways, the second largest airline in the UAE after Emirates, has announced that it will begin operating flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv on March 28, 2021. In the announcement, Etihad said it would fly to Tel Aviv "the economic and technological center of Israel."
Fresh Israeli produce in Dubai. This article has a nice photo of an Israeli display at Dubai’s Ras Al Khor fresh market. Shlomi Fogel, Chairman of Carmel Agrexco, one of Israel’s largest exporters of agricultural produce said, “we are beginning to see the ‘fruits of peace’ today”.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/dubais-fresh-market-displays-israeli-produce-for-the-first-time/
RunYoung. Chinese venture capital fund RunYoung Technology Transfer Center has launched a $50 million fund dedicated to investing in Israeli early-stage life sciences companies that are interested in entering the Chinese market. It will invest up to $5 million in each Israeli startup.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3873378,00.html
Google AI’s first Israeli investment. Israeli online data ownership startup Mine (reported here previously) has completed a $9.5 million funding round led by Gradient Ventures – the first time Google’s AI-focused venture fund has invested in an Israeli company. Mine has just launched its data privacy product in the United States.
https://www.israel21c.org/google-ai-venture-fund-invests-in-first-israeli-startup/
Bridging the gap. Israel’s Dynamic Infrastructure (reported here previously) has extended its pilot project in Suffolk County, New York. It will now assess the structured integrity of 74 bridges in the county. Dynamic monitors over 900 bridges in the USA, Germany, Switzerland, Greece and Israel. http://diglobal.tech/
https://www.world-today-news.com/new-york-74-bridges-under-surveillance-in-suffolk-county/
Making motorcyclists safer. Israel’s Ride Vision (reported here previously) has partnered German automotive giant Continental AG and raised $7 million from investors including Israel’s OurCrowd. Ride Vision said that in 2021 its products will be available in Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain, France, Greece, Israel, and the UK.
Israeli driving tech for Japanese giant. The world's second-largest mobility supplier, Denso, has selected the technology of Israel’s Foretellix (reported here previously) for its next-generation automated driving and ADAS (advanced driver-assistance systems) solutions. Denso’s components are in nearly every vehicle on the road.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3873213,00.html
More Israeli Unicorns. Israeli cybersecurity Cato Networks (reported here previously) has just raised another $130 million of funds, bringing its market value to $1 billion. Israeli fraud preventer Forter (reported here previously) has raised another $125 million, taking its market value to $1.3 billion.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3873311,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3874232,00.html
Say goodbye to security deposits. Israel’s Obligo allows tenants to avoid having to hand over large cash deposits to landlords and property managers. Obligo’s Billing Authorization system sets up a secure and limited connection to a resident's bank account in case the owner / manager needs to charge for damages or missed rent.
Managing Bond portfolios. Israel’s BondIT has just acquired Germany’s Scorable to offer their combined innovative technologies to asset & wealth managers. They can build and analyze fixed-income portfolios in minutes, and then use the information to rebalance existing client portfolios.
https://bonditglobal.com/bondit-and-scorable-have-joined-forces-introducing-portfolio-management-research-as-a-service/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3874050,00.html https://bonditglobal.com/
Investment in Israeli startups: Cato Networks raised $130 million; Forter raised $125 million; GenCell raised $61 million; Verbit raised $60 million; K Health raised $42 million; Fireblocks raised $30 million; AI21 raised $25 million; Unbound Tech raised $20 million; Obligo raised $15.5 million; BeyondMinds raised $15 million; Intelligo raised $15 million; Mine raised $9.5 million; Ride Vision raised $7 million; Build.security raised $6 million; Resec raised $4 million; Listory raised $4 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Jerusalem pianos festival. The Jerusalem Theater's eighth annual Pianos Festival was held online and free of charge to all who registered. Each performance was broadcast live on both Youtube and Facebook. The festival was dedicated to Ludwig van Beethoven, marking 250 years since the famed composer's birth.
https://www.jerusalem.muni.il/en/events-and-culture/allevents/pianos-festival/
Oud Festival goes virtual. The Jerusalem International Oud Festival Nov 19 – 28 will be online, free of charge on the Confederation House Youtube channel and on Facebook. This year’s festival will focus on Israel artists.
https://www.midnighteast.com/mag/?p=52006 http://www.confederationhouse.org/en/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPkD9PtB1oNpWeeSUJpCDpQ
Loving Art Making Art. Tel Aviv’s annual "Loving Art. Making Art" festival (Nov 12 -14) exhibited the works of some 150 artists in public open spaces, 30 galleries and four museums around the city.
Successful virtual Israeli cultural festivals. Several Israeli cultural events have attracted large paying on-line audiences. These include the Haifa International Film Festival (30,000), the Docaviv International Documentary Film Festival (61,000) and the Haifa International Children's Theatre Festival (2,500).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3872854,00.html
Two Israelis selected in NBA draft. 19-year-old Israeli Deni Avdija was ninth overall in the prestigious first round of the National Basketball Association draft of new players. He will play next season for the Washington Wizards. Israeli Yam Madar was drafted 47th overall and selected in the second round by Boston Celtics.
https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-basketball-sensation-deni-avdija-picked-in-nba-draft/
THE JEWISH STATE
The top advocates for Israel on-line. Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) has compiled a list of 40 individuals, Jews and non-Jews from all walks of life, from around the world who are making a real difference as a fearless and tireless on-line advocate for the Jewish state. Kol Hakavod!
https://www.jns.org/jns-top-40-global-advocates-for-israel-online/
Jerusalem comes back to life. (TY Sharon) Israel’s capital was a mixture of on-line and in-line this week as stores opened, some with long lines of customers waiting outside. Meanwhile Chabad, ALYN wheels and the Jerusalem Pianos festival (mentioned above) all connected virtually with their audiences.
http://rjstreets.com/2020/11/15/online-in-line-jerusalem/ https://www.midnighteast.com/mag/?p=52006
http://rjstreets.com/2015/12/27/pianos-in-jerusalem/
Israel Philharmonic’s virtual Hanukkah. The “Israel Philharmonic Pre-Hanukkah Global Celebration,” on Dec 6, will stream globally free of charge. It features compositions by Hans Zimmer with special guest stars.
Register using the second link below.
https://www.jns.org/israel-philharmonic-to-host-virtual-pre-hanukkah-global-music-celebration/
https://www.afipo.org/event/israel-philharmonic-pre-hanukkah-global-celebration/
L’Hayim. Mike Pompeo was the first US Secretary of State to visit Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and the Golan Heights. He visited the Samaria Psagot winery, which named a red wine “Pompeo” in his honor and presented him with a 1st century CE Jewish coin depicting a wine vessel, found in a cave near the winery.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/pompeo-makes-unprecedented-golan-heights-visit-this-is-israel/
201115
In the 15th Nov 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· A new Israeli endoscopy device takes better biopsies for diagnosing cancer.
· Saudi Arabia diverted an Israeli plane to fly near Mecca, to avoid a storm.
· An Israeli’s learning difficulties led him to develop an educational app.
· Israelis helped build Apple’s new microprocessor.
· Latest figures show Israel is the highest spender on R&D as a proportion of GDP.
· Israeli hi-tech is the subject of the new TrueFuture TV series.
· An on-line Israeli course on Islam has hundreds of students across the Muslim world.
· Click here to see the 8th Nov newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit, San Diego Jewish World and United With Israel with extra feature on Medical. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of more than 17,500 previous news articles.
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Inflammatory eye diseases. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Tarsius (see here) reported positive results in a study of its TRS01 treatment of Active Anterior Non-Infectious Uveitis – an inflammatory eye disease. It shows promise for saving the eyesight of patients with uveitic glaucoma, which has no current approved treatment.
https://tarsiuspharma.com/2020/10/08/october-5-2020/
Better biopsies. Israel’s Limaca Medical has developed a precision instrument which improves endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsies. The needle pinpoints the exact location of a patient’s tumor, to extract good quality biopsies for genetic profiling analysis. The device is currently aimed at pancreatic cancer patients.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3870950,00.html https://www.limaca-medical.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBUjejPbFHg
Rehabilitate during the pandemic. Israel’s WizeCare (reported here previously) has become popular as a physical therapy tool during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some 23,000 patients in Israel and the United States have used WizeCare’s product in their recovery. It improves adherence to treatment regimes by around 80%.
https://www.israel21c.org/how-a-serious-car-accident-led-to-a-home-rehab-platform/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPvuhNzEuAE
Preventing suicide. Researchers at Israel’s Technion Institute and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed an innovative technology for early detection of suicidal tendencies based on automatic text analysis of social network content. They check for negative words and other factors. Newsletter readers should be safe!
European grant for mental health startup. Israel’s Taliaz (reported here previously) has just received a $2.7 million grant from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program. It will help Taliaz expand its clinical research using its PREDICTIX products to help psychiatrists treat and manage patient depression in EU countries.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/11/13/israeli-mental-health-startup-taliaz-awarded-3-million-eu-horizon-2020-grant/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3870692,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n4ab9UCK60
Center of Excellence for cardiology. Newsweek magazine has placed Sheba Medical Center’s Department of Cardiology prestigiously in the top 50 heart centers in the world for 2020-2021. As reported here, Newsweek previously listed Israel’s Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer as the world’s ninth-best hospital.
https://www.shebaonline.org/sheba-is-proud-to-be-chosen-as-a-center-of-excellence-in-cardiology/
Toddler from Gaza is NGO’s 5,555th heart patient. Israeli charity Save A Child’s Heart has just performed its 5,555th life-saving heart operation. The patient was Mahmad - a two-year-old Palestinian Arab boy from Gaza. SACH doctors gave him his first life-saving heart surgery when he was just 5 months old.
New grandfather delivers 3 babies. Daniel, a United Hatzalah volunteer EMT, was happy when his daughter called to say she had given birth to a boy. On his way to visit his new grandson, he had to divert to help deliver a baby girl. After seeing his grandson, he then got further calls and brought another two babies into the world.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
A healthy state for Arabs. Some interesting statistics here. Over the last 50 years, the average lifespan for both Israeli Arabs living within the pre-1967 borders and Palestinian Arabs in Judea and Samaria has increased by over 20 years. Over 35% of doctors in Israel are Arab, far higher than the 20% proportion of Arabs in Israel.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290679
Israeli drone helps fight fires in Washington. (TY JBN) US communications giant Verizon used a drone from Israel’s Percepto (reported here previously) to check critical infrastructure for damage by fires in the US State of Washington. The US FAA gave permission for the drone to fly remote – i.e. beyond line of sight.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-drone-kept-tabs-on-spread-of-fire-in-washington-state/
International rescuer. Dr. Elhanan Bar-On, director of the Israel Center for Disaster Medicine and Humanitarian Response at Sheba Medical Center, is always travelling. His missions include Haiti (earthquake), Lesbos (fire), Zambia (cholera), Guatemala (volcano), Mozambique (cyclone) and Samoa (measles).
https://www.israel21c.org/this-doctor-travels-the-world-treating-people-in-disasters/
Training for female Italian entrepreneurs. 20 Italian startups attended a 3-day virtual training course, with experienced Israeli mentors, to learn about Israel’s approach to scaling up startups for a global audience and market. It culminated in a one-day pitch event to a panel of Israeli judges.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3870714,00.html
Cyber skills for African refugees. (TY Hazel) Israeli cybersecurity startup Cybint has partnered Southern New Hampshire University’s (SNHU). It provides a free 12-week on-line cyber education training course for refugees in Africa to find employment and reduce the shortage of qualified cyber professionals in Africa.
https://www.cybintsolutions.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXvPQxYeGE8
Saudis reroute Israeli plane via Mecca. Saudi air traffic controllers helped an Israir plane from Tel Aviv to India avoid a storm in the Red Sea by re-routing it on a flight path close to the Muslim holy city of Mecca. The Saudis even said passengers could take aerial photos of Mecca at night.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-air-traffic-control-guides-israeli-plane-through-bad-weather/
https://unitedwithisrael.org/saudi-arabia-saves-israeli-plane-from-storm-reroutes-it-over-mecca/
Educating for peace. An extremely positive UAE media article, stating that just two weeks after the peace agreement between the UAE and Israel was announced, the UAE adapted its school textbooks to include the new treaty. Also, a “young ambassadors” program between Emirati and Israeli children is being developed.
Fighting locust epidemic in Ethiopia. (TY Hazell) Israel has sent a task force of locust fighters and experts to Ethiopia to help control the spread of locust swarms in the country. They brought equipment and advanced appliances and will train hundreds of Ethiopian locust fighters, governmental agencies and international NGOs.
https://allafrica.com/stories/202011100748.html
Aid for storm-hit Guatemala. (TY Hazel) Volunteers from Israeli relief aid agency IsraAID are now in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala – the worst affected area of the Central American country hit by tropical storm Eta. They are providing medical first aid, psychological support, relief items, hygiene kits, and water filters.
https://www.israel21c.org/israaid-guatemala-brings-relief-in-wake-of-storm-eta/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Rutgers and Tel Aviv University symposium. The first joint symposium between New Jersey’s Rutgers University and Tel Aviv University importantly focused on the most pressing matter of our time: innovations and discoveries around Covid-19.
https://en-med.tau.ac.il/events/Rutgers/TAU/COVID/2020
Weizmann in top 10 for research quality. The Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) of Leiden University in the Netherlands ranked Israel’s Weizmann Institute number 8 in the world for the quality of its research. Weizmann was the top institution outside of the US. The ranking measured impact of science papers.
Ex-dyslexic develops learning app. (TY UWI) Ori’s dyslexia prevented him from reading until he was 12 years old. Now 33, he is CEO of GiantLeap, an Israeli startup developing the very tool that could have helped him. The iPad system combines video games with a questionnaire plus AI to produce an improvement plan.
https://www.israel21c.org/he-overcame-dyslexia-and-built-a-learning-assessment-app/
European grant for electron research. A team of international physicists, including Ben Gurion University Professor Yigal Meir, have been awarded a $16 million European Research Council Synergy grant. It will allow them to study quantum thermodynamic properties (especially entropy) of electrons and parts of electrons.
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/synergy_grant.aspx
Add hot water for nutritious meals. Israel’s Cham Foods has launched a line of dry pulses and grains for instant meals and soups. Add hot water and the ingredients are ready to eat in minutes. Cham’s sophisticated freeze-drying technology maintains the full flavor, texture and nutritional value of the grains and legumes.
Healthy snacks. Israeli startup Torr Foodtech uses “unique” technology to combine real food ingredients together in a natural, healthier and better way. Torr was founded by Israeli food scientists and culinary experts. Its CEO used to work for Israel’s Sodastream and US Mondelez International, who have invested in Torr.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/11/12/israeli-startup-torr-foodtech-makes-healthy-snacks/
https://torrfoodtech.com/ https://newsopener.com/food-drinks/mondelez-invests-in-israel-food-tech-startup/
How will it smell? Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute can now predict how any complex odorant will smell from its molecular structure alone. It will revolutionize the perfume industry and could lead to digitizing and reproducing smells on demand.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/measure-smell
A drone-free environment. Israel’s MCTech (featured on the I24 News program about the ISBF below) has developed anti-drone systems that stop attacks by jamming the radio frequencies used by the UAV and its operators, creating a screen around the protected area. MCTech has worked in the Gulf region for 3 years.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-israeli-anti-drone-tech-jams-attackers-signals/
AI makes music. Students at Israel’s Technion Institute have developed a computer system, named BepopNet, to improvise jazz based on any given chord progression. They have then used Artificial Intelligence to optimize the music (i.e. learn) and generate personalized variants to suit a user’s specific musical taste.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/11/10/technion-researchers-use-artificial-intelligence-to-generate-jazz-solos/ https://shunithaviv.github.io/bebopnet/ https://program.ismir2020.net/static/final_papers/132.pdf
Building the first proactive security chip. Israel’s Kameleon has partnered chip giant Xilinx to develop the computer industry’s first proactive security processing unit (ProSPU). It will protect systems from the moment they start-up and then will send an alert if someone tries to make changes.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3870610,00.html https://kameleonsec.com/
Israelis help build new Apple chip. Development of Apple’s M1 microprocessor for desktops and laptops was led by Israeli Johny Srouji with part of his team based in Israel. The M1 is Apple’s first in-house built laptop chip in its 36-year history. It powers Apple’s new laptops, the MacBook Air, Mac mini and MacBook Pro.
Boosting 5G projects. (TY JBN) Israel’s Cellwize has developed CHIME - a smart Radio Access Network (RAN) automation and orchestration platform that can help speed up the implementation of 5G networks. Cellwize is helping Verizon set up the infrastructure in Israel with new sites.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3870235,00.html https://www.cellwize.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQUY0pfxmfE
Keep your distance. (TY Hazel) A group of Israeli entrepreneurs, together with experts from Sourasky Medical Center’s Ichilov Hospital, have developed a personal device that helps to maintain a social distance of 2 meters. Myzone uses a laser beam to display an arc on the ground showing the personal space of each person.
https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/sayeret-matkal-alumni-ichilov-experts-make-mobileye-of-social-distance-648662 https://myzone-kyd.com/ https://vimeo.com/453338882
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
The highest spender on R&D. According to the latest World Economic Forum and World Bank report, Israel spent 4.95% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP on research and technology in 2018 – the highest in the world. Most went into computer systems, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and medical research.
https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/start-up-nation-israel-spends-most-money-in-the-world-on-r-and-d-wef-648192 https://data.oecd.org/rd/gross-domestic-spending-on-r-d.htm (Great chart - select Israel to highlight)
An Israeli Ocean innovation center in China. Israel’s Arieli Capital, which has setup several innovation centers in Israel, is now involved in establishing an Ocean technology innovation center in the Chinese city of Sanya. Its aim is to support Israeli and international companies focusing on ocean technologies and shipping.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3868137,00.html
Partnering Israelis with Indonesians. The non-profit Israel-Asia Center is initiating Israel-Indonesia Futures Program. It will connect young Israeli and Indonesian leaders from different sectors to develop solutions in the spheres of health, food security and education, to address challenges in the post-pandemic era.
https://nocamels.com/2020/11/program-partner-israel-indonesia-tech/
http://israelasiacenter.org/israel-indonesia-futures-home/ http://israelasiacenter.org/
Israeli startups help Visa’s European clients. Israeli startups ChargeAfter (reported here previously) and Personetics (reported here previously) are two of the 13 “carefully selected” fintech partners in a Visa Inc. initiative to equip its banking clients in Europe with a suite of new payment technologies.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-israeli-fintech-startups-in-visas-digital-payments-push/
Israeli cybersecurity chiefs are talking. (TY I24 News) The Israel Security Business Forum (ISBF) is a new channel in which CEOs from hundreds of Israel’s cybersecurity companies meet and discuss relevant issues. The ISBF provides opportunities to brainstorm ideas and develop new ways to protect systems, data and people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpEARFQ3g00
SentinelOne is worth $3 billion. Israeli-founded cybersecurity SentinelOne (reported here previously) has just raised $267 million, valuing the company at $3 billion. SentinelOne develops artificial intelligence technology for identifying abnormal behavior in enterprise networks and is planning to go public in the US next year.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3870915,00.html
Investment in Israeli startups: SentinelOne raised $267 million; Cellwize raised $32 million; Lightico raised $13 million; OutSense raised $2.2 million; Limaca Medical raised $1.25 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Documentary Film Festival. The National Library of Israel’s sixth annual Docu.Text Film Festival (Nov 15-25) is going digital, with a special track for English-speaking international audiences. It features award-winning documentary films, Q&A sessions, and an array of special events. Free of charge with Zoom registration.
https://www.israel21c.org/free-online-intl-festival-of-best-israeli-documentaries/
https://docutext.nli.org.il/program-en
New Hannah Senesh Museum. A new heritage museum honoring hero and poet Hannah Senesh has just opened just south of Haifa at Kibbutz Sdot Yam - the kibbutz that Hannah Senesh belonged to. Hannah was only 23 years old when she parachuted into occupied Europe to try and help Hungarian Jews during WWII.
https://www.loveloveisrael.com/post/new-hannah-senesh-museum
https://shimur.org/sites/hana-senesh-house-kibbutz-sdot-yam/?lang=en
Israeli hi-tech on TV. (TY UWI) As reported here previously, TrueFuture TV’s new season features the Startup Nation and its innovative technologies that save and change lives. TrueFuture’s host Joe Mullings was interviewed on I24 News. Also, a link to the on-going Season 4 (episodes 1, 2 and more). Keep watching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoGrf_P0sgE https://truefuture.tv/start-up-nation-israel/start-up-season-4/
Covid-free islands. Israel’s Knesset has approved a plan allowing hotels and other venues to re-open in Eilat and the Dead Sea resort of Ein Bokek, transforming them into coronavirus-free “tourism islands.” Tourists will need to present a negative COVID-19 test result from no more than 72 hours prior to entry into the “island”.
Israeli Euro judoka medalists. Israel’s Inbar Lanir is the new women’s European Judo Champion in the Under-78kg category, having won the gold medal at the Under-23 European Championships in Croatia. Her compatriot Maya Goshen won the Under-70kg silver. Yehonatan Elbaz won the Under-73kg men’s bronze.
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/israeli-judoka-wins-bronze-medal-in-european-championship-648681
https://www.eju.net/event/u23-european-judo-championships-6/2437/
THE JEWISH STATE
Kristallnacht. On 9th Nov, the walls of Jerusalem were illuminated with projections on the anniversary of Kristallnacht – the Night of the Broken Glass, in 1938. Thousands of people around the world took part in March of the Living’s global interfaith campaign “Let There Be Light”. Houses of worship were lit up all night.
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/world-leaders-join-march-of-the-living-kristallnacht-campaign-648506
https://kristallnacht.motl.org/
First UK Royal donation to Israeli charity. HRH Charles, Prince of Wales has made a private donation to Israel’s Peres Center for Peace and Innovation. “It is a great honor to be the first Israeli non-profit to receive support from a member of the Royal Family,” said Chairman of the center, Chemi Peres, Shimon Peres’ son.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3870972,00.html
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/prince-charles-makes-a-donation-to-israels-peres-centre-648742
3000-year-old fortress in the Golan. Archaeologists have discovered a fortified complex in the Golan Heights from the time of King David (1000-1100 BCE). They believe the fort was built by the kingdom of Geshur, ally of King David, to control the region. One of David’s wives, Maachah, was King Talmai of Geshur’s daughter.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/291007
The first World Zionist Village. The Jewish National Fund is building the Israel Education and Technology Campus in the Be’er Sheva River Park. See the video and description for details of its three components: tech center, tourist education and Israeli school. Register here for the launch event on 2nd Dec.
Israeli course on Islam gets global Muslim acclaim. (TY Janglo) 20,000 students from 155 countries have registered and paid for a Tel Aviv University on-line course on Islamic history. They include from Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan the PA and more.
Brit Milah at Ben Gurion Airport. Despite coronavirus restrictions, the Austrian grandfather of a new Israeli baby boy was able to be Sandak (holding the baby) at his grandson’s Brit Milah ceremony. The Fattal terminal hotel at Ben Gurion airport provided a sterile room so the grandfather could attend without entering the country.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290685
201108
In the 8th Nov 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israel begins human trials of Israeli Covid-19 vaccine.
· A new Israeli breath test detects Covid-19 carriers even without symptoms.
· An Israeli groundbreaking way to produce X-rays.
· An Israeli app prevents drivers from texting while driving.
· Twice-daily low-cost flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai.
· Israeli maritime technology is protecting most of the world’s ships.
· A new museum of Jewish history is being built in Jerusalem.
· Click here to see the 1st Nov newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, San Diego Jewish World and United With Israel with extra feature on Jewish State. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of more than 17,500 previous news articles.
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
First human tests of Israeli Covid-19 vaccine. On Nov 1, two Israelis received the first doses of Israel’s coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by the Israel Institute of Biological Research. The volunteers were inoculated at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer and Hadassah’s Jerusalem Ein Kerem Medical Center.
https://www.jpost.com/health-science/israel-launches-coronavirus-vaccine-human-trials-647631
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJiEVoP-Hs8
The next generation of antibiotics. Israel’s Omnix Medical (reported here previously( is developing novel antibiotic agents for the treatment of hospital-acquired infections involving resistant bacteria. Omnix has successfully completed lab testing and has now raised funding to allow it to commence human clinical trials.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3868294,00.html https://www.omnixmedical.com/
How the brain learns movement. Scientists at Israel’s Technion Institute have discovered which of the brain’s neurons are involved in learning complex movements of the body. These neurons remember success or failure and adjust their initial state for the next trial, so that the body’s movement can adapt.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2020/10/skilled-movement-the-brain/
Monitoring high blood pressure in the voice. Israel’s Vocalis (reported here previously) has partnered with the Mayo Clinic to detect and monitor pulmonary hypertension (PH) from analyzing a person’s voice. Initially, they will identify PH vocal biomarkers indicating an increase in blood pressure within the arteries of the lungs.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-vocalis-mayo-clinic-to-develop-voice-based-medical-biomarkers/
New microcatheter saves patient. Doctors at Israel’s Sheba Neuro-Interventional & Stroke Center performed a unique procedure using the BENDIT steerable microcatheter. They saved a 74-year-old Israeli who had a giant brain aneurysm that was compressing his brainstem and had a high risk of brain hemorrhage.
Joint Israeli-UAE stem cells project. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Pluristem (reported here previously) and the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC) have unveiled their first joint projects. One - a potential Covid-19 treatment - is the first time Pluristem’s PLX cells will have been administered via a nebulizer.
Diabetes treatment in US. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s DreaMed Diabetes (see here) has partnered a number of US health clinics. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford; Billings Clinic Montana; Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, NYU Langone and UF Health will provide diabetes patients with DreaMed’s personalized solutions.
Knee cartilage implant is a breakthrough. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s CartiHeal (reported here previously) has received US FDA breakthrough device designation for its Agili-C implant. Agili-C has been implanted in over 500 study patients with knee, ankle and big toe cartilage lesions in trials at leading centers in Europe and Israel.
Diagnosing complex medical conditions. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Navina is an AI platform for primary care physicians to get an intelligent view of patient data. It assembles an intuitive Patient Portrait - a logical grid that results in faster assessment (less risk of Covid-19 transmission), reduced missed diagnoses and better treatment.
30-minute Covid-19 tests for Israel. Israeli-founded, US-based Visby Medical has shipped to Israel hundreds of its 30-minute Covid-19 PCR tests. Israel’s Minister of Science and Technology, Israel is trying to persuade Visby to manufacture the kits locally. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3853631,00.html
Breath test detects asymptomatic Covid-19 carriers. Israel’s Flanimus has developed a breath test that can detect Covid-19 infected individuals, even if they never display symptoms. 20,000 nano antennas absorb material from the mouth. These are then scanned with a terahertz spectrometer to identify Covid-19’s signature.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjqQJC3DdzQ
Send in the clowns. Doctors and nurses save lives of many Covid-19 patients in Northern Israel’s Poriya hospital. But it is the “Dream Doctors” therapeutic clowns that save their sanity. Some patients deteriorate due to their emotional state, even though their vitals seem fine. They are much better after a Dream Doctor’s visit.
https://www.israel21c.org/why-israel-is-sending-in-the-clowns-to-the-covid-ward/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Religious Jewish teen helps the homeless. Tova Safranai’s religious background inspired her to start helping homeless and at-risk youth. She setup the charity “Ahavat Hinam” when just 16. It supports Jewish, Arab, Christian, religious and secular youth living on the streets of Jerusalem.
https://www.israel21c.org/meet-the-religious-teen-aiding-jerusalems-homeless/
Jordanian officer airlifted to Israel. A senior Jordanian army officer was airlifted to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem for urgent medical care after apparently contracting COVID-19. His condition had deteriorated and posed "serious concern for his life." He is said now to be stable but not yet out of danger.
Coastline clean-up. 18,000 Israelis participated in the massive clean-up of Israeli beaches (reported here previously). Together, they collected 62 tons of trash along the Israeli shores of the Mediterranean, Red Sea and Sea of Galilee. Their world record attempt is waiting to be ratified by Guinness World Records.
https://www.israel21c.org/18000-people-pick-up-62-tons-of-trash-on-israeli-shores/
Israeli innovation institute in Cyprus. The Israeli-founded Pafos Innovation Institute has been launched in Cyprus. It is modelled on Herzliya’s IDC and will offer graduate degrees, as well as innovation programs. Both Israeli and Cypriot Presidents made speeches, saying they looked forward to increased Middle East cooperation.
Helping Czech Republic fight Covid-19. The Czech government has requested help fighting a large outbreak of the coronavirus in the city of Brno. A team of 8 Israeli medical experts from Sheba, Hadassah, Shaare Zedek, and Bene Zion hospitals, as well as MDA paramedics is on its way to the Czech Republic.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290422
Respirators for Myanmar. Israel’s Ambassador to Myanmar, Ronen Gil-Or, donated three respirators to Myanmar to help counter a recent spike in the country’s Covid-19 cases.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israel-sends-respirators-to-help-myanmar-fight-corona-spike/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Showcasing startups on Zoom. Yazamut 360 – the entrepreneurship center of Israel’s Ben Gurion University (reported here previously) has launched the Oazis accelerator. Six startups will showcase on Zoom: NeuroHelp; Panacea; 3D Green; Flanimus; Testory; and MirageDynamics
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/09/15/ben-gurion-university-startups-debut-in-zoom-showcase/
Smart lighting to inactivate Covid-19. Israel’s Juganu (reported here previously) has enhanced its smart city lighting from just illuminating spaces into disinfecting them. J.Protect now uses surface light mixed with ultraviolet A (UV-A) plus UV-C light to kill Covid-19. It says “it could be the light at the end of the tunnel”.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3867662,00.html
Fast crawling and hovering robot. Scientists at Israel’s Ben Gurion University have built some very clever robots (see here previously). The latest was inspired by cockroaches and lizards and can move super-fast over difficult terrain and water. It has many potential agricultural, search and rescue and excavation applications.
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/cockroaches_lizards.aspx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXgPQ7_yld0
Breakthrough X-ray generator. Scientists at Israel’s Technion Institute have developed a new, cheap method of producing radiation. They sent electron beams through 2D (single-atom thick) materials to generate X-rays in a controlled manner. It has huge implications for chemical analysis, medical imaging and security screening.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2020/10/new-sources-of-radiation/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-020-0689-7
Foundations of Quantum computing. Can you be in two places at the same time? Yes, if you attended Israel Technion’s Quantum computing summer school. 220 students took the 6-day course. It introduced them to the foundations of quantum computing theory and to practical programming on the IBM quantum minicomputer.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2020/10/opening-the-quantum-revolution/
Preventing airborne attacks on the network. Israeli startup AirEye protects company networks from threats via the airspace surrounding an organization’s infrastructure. AirEye’s sensors detect airborne threats from nearby unprotected devices or local cyber cafes, from which wireless attacks can be launched on the network.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/10/20/serial-entrepreneurs-launch-startup-to-protect-corporate-network-airspace/ https://www.aireye.tech/
Detecting toxins in food. (TY UWI & I24 News) Israel’s Inspecto (reported here previously) has developed a nanotechnology device to detect contaminated food. It has partnered with food producing giant Strauss but it is also useful to farmers, supermarkets and regulators. Co-founder Yair Moneta explained further on I24 News.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-innovative-israeli-technology-prevents-food-contamination/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgOYH8fwzgk
Eco-friendly garment hangers. Israel’s UBQ (reported here previously) is to use its bio-based thermoplastic from recycled trash to improve sustainability in the fashion industry. UBQ is partnering US Mainetti Group, which makes clothes hangers for retail chains globally. Billions of hangers are produced globally each year.
Bio-degrading plastics. The technology transfer company of Israel’s Ben Gurion University has announced a research collaboration with ECOIBÉRIA, a Portuguese plastic waste recycling company. The research will focus on bacterial biodegradation of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for the purpose of plastic recycling.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3868623,00.html
Preventing texting while driving. (TY Jacques) Over three thousand five hundred people die every year because of texting while driving. Israel’s SaverOne saves a driver from the temptation to text. The app plus sensors are installed into the car system, making only GPS apps and phone calls available to the driver.
https://israelbetweenthelines.com/2020/11/05/a-life-saving-app-for-distracted-drivers/
http://saver.one/en/home/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT6mhkdVQ78
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Another NIS 60 million for retraining. The Israeli government is launching a stimulus program to increase employment in hi-tech and industrial sectors. The program’s initial budget stands at NIS 60 million with the goal of training 3,000 local job seekers. Grants up to NIS 45,000 will be available to eligible employees.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3853311,00.html
Trade with India is zooming. The increased use of zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic is helping Israelis conduct business with India. Not only are travel costs saved, but Indian companies have adopted digital platforms and it is now quite easy to set up introductory meetings. India accounts for 3.5% of all Israeli trade.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3867230,00.html
More business deals in the UAE. A group of 13 Israeli company CEOs have just completed a four-day trip to the UAE organized by Jerusalem Venture Partners. Israeli companies represented included Agrint (pest sensing), InnovoPro, and Morphisec, https://www.agrint.net/
Cheap flights to Dubai. Budget airline flydubai has added Tel Aviv to its routes. In a statement, it said it will operate 14 flights a week, offering a twice-daily service between Dubai International Airport and Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport. Flights will start on 26th November.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290543
Israeli-Japanese insurance hub. Israel’s IDI Insurance has partnered Japan’s Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (MSI) to establish an innovation hub in Israel. “The HUB”, soon be renamed “GDH TLV” will focus on finding and fostering startups that help the direct and digital insurance sector.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3868312,00.html
Citi’s 10th set of startups. Financial giant Citi has begun the 10th cohort of Citi Accelerator TLV, its program for Israeli startups in the fintech, cyber, and data space. There have been more than 100 participants of its accelerator since it was launched in 2013. Those startups have since raised more than $1.3 billion of funds.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3868222,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3853130,00.html
Amazon is recruiting in Israel. Retail giant Amazon is recruiting 150 more employees for its research centers and offices in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Herzliya. This will raise its workforce in Israel to 1,300. Amazon’s General Manager said it “will enable us to tap into the amazing technology talent pool here in Israel”.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3851049,00.html
Intel acquires Cnvrg. U.S. chip giant Intel has purchased Jerusalem-based startup Cnvrg.io for a reported price of $60 million. Cnvrg, develops a service for managing, speeding up, and scaling data science workflows, enabling clients to quickly develop, test, deploy, and refine machine learning models.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3868574,00.html
Israel helps US Army to speak. Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks, through its subsidiary Wavestream, has received multi-million-dollar orders from the US Department of Defense (DoD). Wavestream's 50W Ka-band military Block Upconverter (BUC) will power the DoD military communications program.
3D printers for Italy. Israel’s MASSIVit 3D (reported here previously) has won a contract to supply Italy’s Biesse Group with 20 to 40 3D printers annually. The deal is said to be worth $60 - $80 million over 5 years. MASSIVit will also work on combining its technology with Biesse’s computer numerical control system.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3867637,00.html https://massivit3d.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KB6adT3VR0
Turning sports fans into customers. Haifa-based Pico (not the Jerusalem Pico) has developed technology to turn engaged, anonymous sports and entertainment fans into marketable customers. It is working with 60 global sports teams such as LA Clippers and Borussia Dortmund. It has just joined the SAP.io foundry in Munich.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3867813,00.html https://www.picogp.com/
Safeguarding maritime shipping. Israel’s Windward (reported here previously) has partnered four major maritime companies plus seven member Clubs, including The American Club, Britannia P&I, and Steamship. Windward’s predictive AI platform will give liability coverage to almost 65% of the world’s maritime trade.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3867792,00.html
Correction: (TY Frank) Last week’s newsletter reported that there are 41 Israeli-founded Unicorns (companies valued more than $1 billion. It should have included “14 are based in Israel”, which equates to 1.58 per (100,000) capita.
Investment in Israeli startups: ION Acquisition raised $225 million; Else Nutrition raised C$25.7 million; BioProtect raised $25 million; Omnix Medical raised $8.5 million; Navina raised $7 million; Nurami raised $6 million; CAPS Medical raised $3.5 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
New Jerusalem museum. Jerusalem’s Beit Hakehillot museum under construction will take visitors on a tour of Jewish history, using multimedia and virtual reality, plus Jewish ritual objects and manuscripts. The $50 million renovation of an abandoned Protestant orphanage is Jerusalem’s largest landmark renovation of its kind.
A towering update. (TY Sharon) This article compliments last week’s article (see here) about the $40 million update for the Tower of David in Jerusalem. Sharon has included several photos of the renovation work.
https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=137230
Pandemic handbags. When Israeli designer Koi Levi saw people walking in the street carrying their facemasks as if they were handbags, he decided to design a handbag that looked like a facemask. He also designed one shaped like a padlock, as a play on the word “lockdown”.
https://nocamels.com/2020/11/israeli-designer-kobi-levi-bags-pandemic/
IAC Coast to Coast Gala. “Dare to Dream”, is the title of the Israeli American Council's first global gala on 15 Nov. Israeli stars include the amazing “special” Shalva Band, Eurovision singer Eden Alene, mentalist Lior Suchard and many more. https://app.mobilecause.com/e/GlNouw?vid=dnzzv
THE JEWISH STATE
Israel sponsors Limmud Labs. The Israeli government is co-sponsoring a $2.5 million project Limmud Labs. It aims to enlist former Soviet Jews to bolster Jewish community life in the FSU. Celebrities like Sergey Brin (Google) Jan Koum (WhatsApp) and Max Levchin (PayPal) can forge bridges between the FSU and Israel.
Family values. 26-year-old Effi from Jerusalem said he volunteered to test the new Israeli Covid-19 vaccine because he had not seen his 89-year-old grandfather for almost a year. “I’m doing this COVID vaccine trial for every Jewish grandparent cut off from their family, and for every Jewish family divided by the pandemic”
Groundbreaking digital ambassadors. ISRAEL21c’s 32 Digital Ambassadors from 23 university campuses are launching “Groundbreaking Israel” - a social-media campaign that focuses on the diverse people of Israel and their vision, accomplishments and tenacity. I hope they subscribe to this newsletter.
https://www.israel21c.org/social-media-campaign-celebrates-amazing-israeli-achievers/
Jerusalem salutes Veterans. The JNF is celebrating Veterans Day on 11th Nov with a virtual tour of Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem, the historic site of the battle for the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. The Wall of Honor at the site bears the names of more than 500 Jewish veterans who have served their countries.
A day of lifesaving. United Hatzalah volunteers respond to an average of 1,800 calls every 24 hours. On 1st Nov the NGO launched its 24 by 24 campaign to raise two months’ worth of lifesaving by 24th Nov. Each $1800 dollars will fund 24 hours of lifesaving.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7iUgpOWY6U https://israelrescue.org/24by24
201101
In the 1st Nov 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israeli scientists have discovered how to prevent patients dying from Acute Liver Failure.
· The first female Israeli F35 pilot.
· An IDF rescue team has mobilized to help Turkey search for earthquake victims.
· An Israeli startup is clearing toxic algae from Florida’s lakes and rivers.
· Israeli wines from the Golan Heights are on sale in UAE stores.
· Jerusalem food is praised in a popular British TV cookery program.
· The US issues its first-ever passport documenting that Jerusalem is in Israel.
· Click here to see the 25th Oct newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours (with an amazing intro), IsraPundit and San Diego Jewish World and United With Israel with extra feature on Culture (re-published here). Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of nearly 17,500 previous news articles.
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ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Starving leukemia cells to protect the brain. Israeli and Scottish scientists have found that the brain can be protected from metastatic leukemia by blocking the production of the fatty acid stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD). The discovery is particularly important for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2020/10/leukemia-and-the-brain/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43018-020-00115-2
Prospective treatment for liver failure. There are some 2,000 cases (80% fatal) of Acute Liver Failure (ALF) in the US each year. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have managed to control the severity of ALF in the lab by blocking signals from the gut microbiome to the MYC protein in the liver.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-1102-2
Early stroke detection. The Scan&Sound app developed by students at Israel’s Technion Institute uses AI to analyze subtle changes in a potential stroke victim’s voice and facial expressions. Scan&Sound won 2nd place at John Hopkins University MedHacks in the category “Personalized Medicine Using Data-Driven Healthcare.”
https://www.israel21c.org/hackers-build-prize-winning-early-stroke-detection-app/ https://medhacks.io/
Track the eyes to reduce stress. Israel’s Umoove (reported here previously) has partnered British behavioral change consultant Matt Hudson to reduce stress and anxiety. The app MindReset uses the mobile camera and Umoove’s mobile eye tracking technology to observe the user's nonverbal responses to stress.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/289974 http://www.umoove.me/press.html
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.umoove.mindreset
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyE1q0B8Ov8
Radiotherapy institute for Jerusalem. Construction is underway on a new innovative radiotherapy institute at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. It will serve as a national center for cancer treatment, with advanced treatment methods and technologies. https://www.jpost.com/health-science/new-innovative-radiotherapy-institute-approved-for-shaare-zedek-646876
https://www.szmc.org.il/eng/article/news,217/ https://shaarezedek.org.uk/cutting-edge-cancer-treatment/
Better clinical trials. The race to produce a Covid-19 vaccine has spurred researchers at Israel’s Ben Gurion University to partner with Israeli startup Panacea to speed up the human test phases. They have developed an AI tool to help select participants and markers, improve the analysis of results and presentation of findings.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3865794,00.html
A new way to diagnose infections. Israel’s MeMed (reported here previously) has received clearance in Israel, Europe and Switzerland for its MeMed BV and MeMed Key infection analyzers. They measure 3 biomarker proteins and use AI algorithms to determine if an infection is viral or bacterial and whether to use antibiotics.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3865516,00.html
Femtech telemedicine at Sheba. A follow-up to the article reported here previously about the new Women’s Health Innovation Center at Israel’s Sheba Medical Center. The pioneering femtech (female technology) center, was originally set up to promote patient and doctor safety during COVID-19.
https://nocamels.com/2020/10/women-health-innovation-center-sheba-femtech/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Legislating to help visually impaired. Israel’s Accessibe (reported here previously) is in the news again. Its CEO, Shir Ekerling, says that Israel was one of the first countries to legislate regulations for web accessibility. Accessibe helps make websites comply with International guidelines for the 1.5 billion people with disabilities.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-israeli-breakthrough-helps-blind-use-internet/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieO2hYD18fs
Emergency sports fund to help children. The Israeli charity Value Sports has set up a new fund to support 100 sports clubs. It will provide financial grants for the clubs and scholarships for children whose families cannot afford participation payments. Sponsors include the Israeli Government and Sylvan Adams’ foundation.
https://www.jpost.com/health-science/emergency-sports-fund-to-help-israeli-children-during-coronavirus-pandemic-647539 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km_7AMqU5Do https://www.valuesports.org/en/home/
Female F35 pilot takes to the air. The Adir F351 squadron has welcomed Israel’s first female F-35 pilot, 26-year-old Captain S graduated from the IAF flight course in Dec 2016. She previously flew F-16s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNbnTAtvg4o
Economic program for Israeli Arabs extended. The Israeli government is extending by 12 months Plan 922 - a multibillion-dollar program that aims to close economic gaps between Jews and Arabs in the country. $3 billion (a third of the budget) was unused. In addition, a further $1.7 billion will be added to the program.
Private fund to support struggling startups. MobileEye CEO Prof. Amnon Shashua and his wife Anat have launched the WE-19 foundation. It aims to grant NIS 100 million to small businesses and entrepreneurs who have suffered from the Covid-19 pandemic. NIS 50,000 will go to 2,000 startups, to give them a new lifeline.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3866610,00.html
German tram in Israeli colors. Germany’s public transportation company put Star of David stickers and “Shalom” on a Cologne tram, in blue and white, to mark 1,700 years of Jewish life in Germany next year.
Why Israelis are leading the vegan revolution. Nov 1st is World Vegan Day and begins World Vegan Month, aimed at raising awareness of some of the unpalatable issues with meat / fish production and other animal-derived products. Latest statistics indicate that 5% of Israelis are vegan, 4% vegetarian and 8% “flexitarian”.
https://www.israel21c.org/why-israelis-are-leading-the-vegan-revolution/
Firefighters are like brothers. Ten of Israel’s best firefighters spent two weeks in September fighting fires in California. At a recent America Israel Friendship League online presentation, the extraordinary cooperative firefighting experience was described in terms of a battalion of US and Israeli brothers.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-californian-firefighters-become-band-of-brothers/
Arabs in Gulf rush to learn Hebrew. Citizen Café Hebrew language and Israeli culture school was founded in 2015. Since the signing of the Abraham accords, there has been a surge in enrolments from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Bahrain. They include many in the business and tourism sector, plus Arabs who have Israeli friends.
https://www.israel21c.org/arabs-from-gulf-states-rush-to-learn-hebrew/
Israel offers rescue team to Turkey. Israel offered to send an IDF search and rescue team to Turkey after an magnitude 7 earthquake collapsed buildings in the city of Izmir. Turkey’s military attaché in Israel, was told that Israel was immediately ready to dispatch a rescue team and set up a field hospital to treat the wounded.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Stay in lane. Israel’s Fortellix (reported here previously) is partnering Mobileye to demonstrate its Foretify Automatic Lane-Keeping System (ALKS). It will allow car makers to comply with the United Nations’ ALKS regulations (see here). https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3862892,00.html
https://www.foretellix.com/foretellix-releases-the-worlds-first-alks-regulation-verification-package-for-automated-driving-systems/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1VBfaapLp0
Thousands train in hi-tech. Some 36,000 Israelis have completed online courses in 3 months of Microsoft's global skills initiative. The most popular courses in Israel are practical and professional, such as software development, client management and data analysis.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3865850,00.html
Checking wastewater for Covid-19. The Israeli Ministry of Health has tasked Ben Gurion University to detect and monitor SARS-CoV-2, the virus that leads to Covid-19, in sewage samples from 14 Israeli cities. Monitoring wastewater can give an early warning of Covid-19 infection outbreaks (reported here previously).
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/sewage_monitor.aspx
Helping athletes to develop. Israel’s GoHeja develops and markets a system for endurance coaches, sports clubs, and athletes to help with their long-term goals. In the Covid-19 pandemic GoHeja’s GamePlan through organizations such as OpenValley is helping athletes adapt training plans to changing restrictions.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3865791,00.html https://www.goheja.site/
https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/program_page/openvalley
Award-winning insurance tech. Israel’s The Jones Agency has won the Insurance category in the CRETech Real Estate Tech Awards (RETA) 2020. It is the first time an Israeli company has been awarded first place in the award’s 7-year history. Jones’ technology automates property & developer insurance liability compliance.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3865292,00.html https://getjones.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g20S6fdUN3o
Using AI to implement AI. Many companies now develop Artificial Intelligent (AI) products. Now, Israel’s Deci is using its AI expertise to help those companies implement those products. Deci has partnered companies in sectors including autonomous vehicles, manufacturing, communication, video editing, healthcare, and more.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3866275,00.html https://deci.ai/
Mellanox’s super microprocessor. Israel’s Mellanox, which was acquired by Nvidia in 2019 for $7 billion, has just launched a new microprocessor that transfers a data center’s infrastructure services onto a single chip. One BlueField-2 DPU chip replaces 125 old CPU cores, freeing spare capacity to run data center applications.
Saving Florida lakes and rivers. Israel’s BlueGreen Water Technologies (reported here previously) has been selected to save Florida’s Lake Okeechobee water basin from a plague of toxic algae. BlueGreen already saved millions of fish and thousands of animals by purifying reservoirs and lakes in South Africa, Ohio and Orlando.
All quiet in Jaguar and Land Rover. Israel’s Silentium (reported here previously) has announced that customers of Jaguar and Land Rover will be able to enjoy Silentium’s Active Road Noise Cancelation (ARNC) system in the Jaguar F-PACE, Jaguar XF and Range Rover Velar.
https://www.silentium.com/silentium-is-on-in-jaguar-and-land-rover-cars/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
The most Unicorns. A Unicorn is the business term for a company that is worth more than one billion dollars. There are currently 41 Israeli-founded private companies worth $1 billion or more. 14 have HQs in Israel. With a population of just 8.9 million, that comes to 1.58 unicorns per capita, making Israel No. 1 in the world.
https://www.israel21c.org/guess-what-nation-has-the-most-unicorns-per-capita-israel/
The first Israel-Dubai conference. The Israel-Dubai Conference is set to take place in Dubai on Nov 24-26. The joint initiative by Bank Leumi, Reshet 13 and Calcalist aims to encourage business cooperation between the two countries in the fields of finance, technology, industry, agriculture, health, and tourism.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3864510,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t1R89KvJi4
What the UAE needs Israel for. The UAE-Israel peace deal is not just for political reasons. The Gulf state seeks Israel’s innovative technology and solutions. Food-tech and agri-tech are the top priorities as the UAE imports more than 90 percent of its food and the pandemic has disrupted transportation of vital supplies.
https://www.israel21c.org/why-the-uae-is-looking-to-israel-to-secure-its-food-supplies/
More startups for Visa hub. Four new startups will join Visa’s Tel Aviv innovation studio (reported here previously). GetHere (personalized ordering & payment); Spendl (payment by cryptocurrency); Pinch (debit card swipe fee distributor); GoGo Getter (affordable childcare financing).
https://www.timesofisrael.com/four-startups-join-visas-innovation-center-in-tel-aviv/ https://gogo-getter.com/
https://gethe.re/ https://getspendl.com/ https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/company_page/pinch
Japanese VC fund for Israeli tech startups. Japanese asset management firm Aristagora Advisors has launched a new venture capital fund Aristagora VC dedicated to investment in early-stage Israeli startups. The $60 million fund will focus on deep tech companies and will initially invest up to $1.5 million in each startup.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3866332,00.html
12 Israeli startups in Forbes Cloud 100 list. Twelve Israeli-founded companies were among 100 startups in Forbes Magazine’s “The Cloud 100”, ranking the world’s top private cloud companies. The list “recognizes standouts in tech’s hottest category, from small startups to private-equity-backed giants”.