In the 20th Mar 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israel expands medical and humanitarian aid for Ukrainians.
· Pepsico promotes Israeli water-saving technology globally.
· Israel boosts economic ties with Canada, Morocco, and Egypt.
· Israelis are the 9th happiest people in the world.
· The Jewish festival of Purim gave hope to many Ukrainian Jews.
· Click here to see the 13th Mar newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours with another great intro, and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German here and (TY Stuart Palmer) re-posted here. Also, (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here. Please pass on this newsletter to German and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://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 (20,200+ 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
Tons of equipment for Israeli Ukraine field hospital. Israel airlifted some 17 tons of equipment to build its $6.5 million “Kochav Meir” (Shining Star) Ukraine field hospital (see here previously), which is expected to treat around 100 patients per day. Also, Magen David Adom is sending 4 bullet-proof ambulances to Ukraine.
Dental NGO relieves pain for Ukrainian child. 4-year-old Feiga arrived in Israel from Ukraine, unable to eat due to her poor dental condition. Just 24 hours after contacting Dental Volunteers for Israel, Feiga had root canal treatment to alleviate her pain, while pediatric dentists gently prepared her for further treatment.
https://dental-dvi.org.il/feige-a-4-year-old-jewish-refugee-from-ukraine-newly-arrived-in-jerusalem/
New Covid treatment available. Ziv Medical Center in Tzfat (Safed) is currently offering AMOR-18 from Israel’s Amorphical (see here previously) to all moderate to serious COVID-19 patients. It is also undergoing clinical trials at four Israeli hospitals. All 18 patients in Ziv’s trials of AMOR-18 recovered quickly.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/new-israeli-covid-drug-offered-to-ziv-medical-center-patients/
Diagnostic blood test advances. Israel’s OncoHost (see here previously) has opened a new laboratory in North Carolina for its PROphet blood test to identify which cancer treatments are likely to work. Israeli Nobel Prize winner Aaron Ciechanover is an OncoHost’s advisor. PROphet may also help autoimmune disease sufferers.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/lifting-the-veil-of-uncertainty-around-cancer-treatments/
Remote monitoring pilot success. Israel’s Essence SmartCare has completed a successful pilot of its VitalOn remote patient monitoring system. Patients of Clalit Health Services and homecare provider Sharan Medical Center were monitored at home on transfer from hospital. VitalOn even saved a patient suffering low oxygen.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-701244 https://www.essencesmartcare.com/
A fierce medical company. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s MeMed (see here previously) has been named as one of the “Fierce MedTech Fierce 15” most promising medical technology companies. The annual list is produced by the prestigious medical magazine and resource Fierce Biotech.
https://www.me-med.com/_files/ugd/6a0f21_298b9f7e9e074852a576b8bf12773912.pdf
https://www.fiercebiotech.com/special-reports/fierce-medtechs-2021-fierce-15
A breath test for any disease. Israel’s Breath of Health (BOH – see here previously) was featured on I24 News. Its trial at Israeli hospitals showed that it could replace the PCR test for COVID detection. Its blow test pattern analysis can be adapted to detect any pathogen – e.g., different cancers, Alzheimer’s, or diabetes etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIpBD_5Hk_U
Improving outcomes for cancer patients. The Israeli-developed Intelligent Care platform of US-based Canopy improves life-saving care provided to cancer patients. Canopy’s suite of intelligent, electronic health-record integrated tools helps cancer centers engage with their patients and streamline clinical processes.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkgqe9lfc https://www.canopycare.us/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Helping Israeli Druze with Hebrew. Israel’s Education Ministry is opening classes at 64 Israeli elementary schools to provide intensive Hebrew language instruction to Israel’s Druze community. It will improve the opportunities for the Druze to advance academically in Israel and acquire better jobs.
Druze woman connects Arabs and Jews. (TY JNS) Janan Faraj Falah was the first Israeli Druze woman to receive a PhD and the first non-Jew to receive the Jerusalem Unity Prize for contributions to Israel. She founded the Akko Women Vision Association, to advance the status of women and connect Arabs and Jews
https://www.israel21c.org/the-druze-woman-helping-israelis-learn-to-live-together/
Breaking the sound barrier. (TY WIN) The first Royal Air Maroc flight from Morocco to Israel landed in Tel Aviv last week. Its pilot Karim Taiser is also the founder of the Moroccan Symphonyat Orchestra and was in the Jewish state a week earlier for a unique performance in Timna with Jerusalem’s East & West Orchestra.
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/culture/1647188615-israeli-conductor-moroccan-pilot-break-sound-barriers https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-693889
UAE visit to National Library. The UAE’s National Archives directors made their first visit to the National Library of Israel, where they were shown rare artifacts recording the life of Persian Gulf inhabitants in the early-20th century. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-700831
Academic co-operation with UAE. The University of Haifa signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UAE’s National Library and Archives. It focuses on the exchange of researchers, experts and collections; archival research; access to library resources; and joint events and conferences.
https://www.jns.org/uae-israel-sign-academic-cooperation-agreement-in-another-move-to-enrich-ties/
Protection against ISIS drones. (TY Hazel) Mozambique has reported that it used its MC-Horizon D360BP V3 tactical system, built by Israel’s MCTECH RF (see here previously), to intercept and neutralize three ISIS drone squads in the north of the country. The systems were supplied to Mozambique at the end of 2021.
https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/53816
Rescuing Arabs in Ukraine. (TY Stuart Palmer) At the start of the conflict, Israel tweeted a warning in Arabic to warn all Israelis to leave Ukraine. Israel was praised for rescuing hundreds of its Arab citizens, including many Israeli Bedouin Moslems. Israel also rescued a Gazan, an Iranian, a Syrian and several Moroccans.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14x3oZyQbKuQSdy44BEC7wBe4-sbvFZlf/view
Haredim aid Ukrainians. 12 haredi members of Israel’s ZAKA rescue organization have been working in Lviv, providing food to all who need it and evacuating Jews to Israel. At their Israel IT building, refugees can sleep, shower, and take their kids to playrooms. https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-haredi-volunteers-an-israeli-entrepreneur-28-rescues-jewish-refugees-in-lviv/
El Al passengers bring aid for Ukrainians. (TY Hazel) El Al passengers flying from Tel Aviv to Bucharest acted as couriers, taking boxes containing items from medicine to baby food and diapers for delivery to Ukrainian refugees arriving in Romania. The flight also carried two doctors and two Russian-speaking nurses.
IDF help for Ukrainian arrivals. (WIN) Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking IDF soldiers will assist new immigrants and refugees from Ukraine and Russia in the absorption process when arriving at Ben Gurion Airport. Some 8,000 refugees have arrived in Israel in the past two weeks, and thousands more are expected.
https://tps.co.il/articles/idf-deploying-troops-to-help-with-ukrainian-refugees/
Benefits for Ukrainian refugees. (TY WIN) Israel will provide medical services to the thousands of Ukrainian refugees in Israel (and expected) but ineligible for immigration. They will also receive temporary housing, food assistance, social services, health insurance, enrollment in the education system, and more.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-offer-healthcare-temporary-housing-to-ukrainian-refugees/
More scholarships for Ukrainian refugees. Following the initiatives of Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (see here previously), now Haifa University has launched a fund for 100 Ukrainians to receive scholarships, accommodation, and access to counseling.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Connecting Israel to Saudi Arabia. A high-speed data cable is being laid under the Red Sea that will connect (for the first time) Israel to Saudi Arabia. Part of the France to India link, it promises to improve the speed and lower the cost of transmitting data between Europe and Asia and improve relations between former enemies.
Israel’s cyber women. Israeli security researcher and industry analyst Keren Elazari founded Leading Cyber Ladies, a global movement of top women in cyber tech. Starting with 30 Israelis, it now numbers around 3,000 globally of which 1,000 are Israelis. Its goal is to increase the numbers and impact of women in cybersecurity.
https://nocamels.com/2022/03/cyber-ladies-network-women/
Science kindergartens in Northern Israel. (TY Hazel) Lockheed Martin has launched three more MadaKids science kindergartens, this time in the Israeli northern city of Beit She’an. It brings to seven the number of science-based kindergartens opened in Israel by the global aerospace giant (see here for previous).
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/all-news/article-701419
Powering an IoT revolution. Israel’s Ayecka (see here previously) has developed an Internet of Things (IoT) communications platform, embedded in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and ground terminals. Its algorithms can help control autonomous vehicles, irrigate crops, transfer movie files, and much more - all from space.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/skg33yd11q
Award-winning fraud prevention. Israel’s AU10TIX (see here previously) has won a silver Globee award for Company of the Year in Artificial Intelligence in Security in the 2022 Cyber Security Global Excellence Awards. In Jan-Aug 2021, AU10TIX’s INSTINCT prevented over $700 million in fraud-related losses.
https://www.au10tix.com/press-releases/au10tix-recognized-with-silver-globee-award-in-the-2022-cyber-security-global-excellence-awards/ https://globeeawards.com/cyber-security-global-excellence-awards/winners/
On the diamond map. Three examples of Israeli tech startups that have put Israel back on the diamond map. Lusix (see here previously) creates diamonds in the lab. Mazalit’s website evaluates the price of diamonds and makes it easy for merchants to receive financing. Sarine uses 3D scanning to design diamond cuts.
https://nocamels.com/2022/03/israel-innovation-diamonds-jewlery/ http://mazalit.com/ https://sarine.com/
Storing data in space. Israel’s Ramon.Space (see here previously) has developed NuStream - radiation-hardened, high-density solid-state storage that can store the immense amount of data required for multi-year space missions. Ramon.Space’s technology has been deployed in 50+ space missions across the Solar System.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hjmoozaw9
Flexible workspaces. Forget going to the office or working from home. Israel’s anywell’s “Workspace-as-a-Service” platform allows companies to have their employees working from spaces in their local communities. anywell has partnered with 200+ cafes, workspaces, hotels, gyms etc., in New York, New Jersey, and Israel.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjyi61azc https://www.anywell.com/
Israeli saffron bears fruit. Israel’s Saffron Tech (part of Israel’s Seedo now Sativus Tech) is partnering Israel’s Naveh to produce supplements and cosmetics from saffron. Saffron Tech (see here previously) is using cutting-edge indoor vertical farm technology to grow the rare expensive spice flower (crocus sativus).
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-700384 https://navehpharma.com/
Global water-saving partnership. (TY Hazel) PepsiCo has partnered Israeli low-cost irrigation tech company N-Drip (see here previously) to help farmers worldwide adopt water efficiency technology. N-Drip is currently being used in farms in 17 countries around the world, including several in the crops of PepsiCo suppliers.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-701580
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Most innovative 2022. US magazine Fast Company’s “most innovative companies” in 2022 include 11 Israelis (see here for previous years). They included Liveperson (see here), at 21st in the overall top 50 and an AI top spot. Israeli digital banking platform Lili (see here) was 41st overall and first in the personal finance category.
https://nocamels.com/2022/03/israeli-companies-fast-company-innovative/
https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2022
Most promising fintech startups. Israel’s leading VC’s and financial institutions were asked to rank Israel’s Most Promising Fintech Startups - sponsored by Citi and Israel Discount Bank. The 8 categories were headed by Balance, Access Fintech, 8Fig, Parametrix Insurance, Graulate, Noname Security, ZenGo and Sedric.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjny671zq
Israel Emerging. Good article from Shoshana Bryen on Israel’s increasing impact diplomatically and economically. It cites negotiating between Russia and Ukraine, relations with Turkey, joint military exercises, and the EastMed pipeline. https://www.jns.org/opinion/israel-emerging/
Fruitful visit by Canadian trade minister. Mary Ng, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, completed a 3-day visit to Israel. She had productive meetings with Israel’s Economy & Industry Minister and its Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology. Discussions centered on building up trade and technology relations.
First Royal Air Maroc flight does the business. Royal Air Maroc (RAM) is now operating four direct flights a week between Casablanca and Tel Aviv. The inaugural flight carried a Moroccan business delegation which was very positive about developing economic ties between the two countries (see Youtube video).
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/323879 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0BoXeUXXuI
Direct flights to Sharm el Sheikh. Warming ties between Israel and Egypt have led to the expansion of air travel between the two countries. A new route from Tel Aviv to southern Sinai resort of Sharm el Sheikh will commence in April. It follows the recent meeting between the Israeli Prime Minister and Egyptian President.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324060
More trade with New Jersey. Trade between New Jersey and Israel has soared during the pandemic. Exports to Israel increased by 41% to $461 million. Imports rose to 1.9 million. New Jersey exports to Israel consumer products, medical supplies, and natural products. Imports include energy supplies and minerals.
https://www.jns.org/trade-between-new-jersey-israel-burgeons-in-past-two-years-despite-pandemic/
A maritime tech accelerator. Ashdod Port Company has partnered with global venture capital firm 500 Global to launch a new accelerator program dedicated to maritime tech. Local startups include DockTech (see here previously), Naval Dome (cybersecurity at sea) and Eco Wave Power (see here previously).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bybw5kizq https://navaldome.com/
AI voice recognition for drive-thrus. Checkers Drive-In Restaurants has selected Presto’s automated voice ordering for all its corporate-owned drive-thru restaurants. Developed using the conversational AI technology from Israel’s Hi Auto (see here) it aims to be deployed at all Checkers & Rally’s US restaurants in 2022.
https://hospitalitytech.com/checkers-rallys-rollout-drive-thru-ai-voice-assistant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX_NcqN67Zs
Israel’s most valuable Unicorn. Israeli fintech company Rapyd (see here previously) has reached a valuation of $15 billion, making it Israel’s highest value private company. Rapyd employs 600 people globally, including 330 in Israel. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkyicgswc
Takeovers and mergers. Israeli-founded SentinelOne is to acquire US-based Attivo Networks for $616.5 million. Israel’s Overwolf has acquired UK’s Tebex for $29 million.
Investment in Israeli startups to 20/3/22: Run:AI raised $75 million; SupPlant raised $27 million; Bright Security (NeuraLegion) raised $20 million; Competewith.com raised $15 million; Canopy raised $13 million; anywell raised $10 million; Affogata raised $4 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Israel is the 9th happiest country. Israelis have again displayed a high sense of well-being. Israel rose to ninth, in the annual UN-sponsored World Happiness index, its highest-ever placing. It was 12th in 2021 and 14th in 2020. The index also takes account of GDP, social support, personal freedom, and corruption levels.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-jumps-to-9th-in-world-happiness-index-its-highest-ever-ranking/
The world’s largest collection of Esther scrolls. As the nation marks the Jewish festival of Purim, Israel’s National Library provided a rare glimpse of its huge collection of Megallot Esther – the scroll of Esther.
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/article-701355
Animal Equilibrium. (TY Sharon) Jerusalem’s Biblical Zoo held a photo exhibition of the works of recent Israeli immigrant Gavriel Rosenfeld entitled “Animal Equilibrium”. At age four, Gavriel was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and is confined to a wheelchair. It has not restricted his achievements.
https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=152947
THE JEWISH STATE
Siloam inscription could return. One of the results of the warming of diplomatic ties between Turkey and Israel is that Turkey may return the Siloam inscription. It was written on the wall of Hezekiah’s tunnel, dug some 2,700 years ago to protect Jerusalem’s water source. The Ottomans took the inscription to Turkey.
https://worldisraelnews.com/turkey-to-return-israels-most-important-ancient-inscription/
How Israel is leading the future of energy sourcing. (TY Betelinstitutions.com) The full 23-minute TBN Israel episode. It connects Biblical prophecies to Israel’s future in solar, oil, and gas energies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQNtDvqeKeE
Jerusalem - the week before Purim. Before the Purim festivities, Sharon captured photos of the visits of Mike and Karen Pence, the Jerusalem Gateway project, new art displays in the Mamilla Mall, the new Paris Fountain at French Square, lightning, “Tourists Welcome”, “Love” and “Sports Expo” signs, and beautiful flowers.
http://rjstreets.com/2022/03/13/11-firsts-the-week-before-purim-in-jerusalem/
Whacky Purim costumes. As Covid restrictions are lifted in Israel, costumed festivities were set to commence in full force throughout the country. Those making special, original, and unique custom outfits from scratch, began the process months in advance. https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/society/1647290112-israelis-prepare-for-purim-festivities-with-custom-costumes
Christians help rescue Jews from Ukraine. Israel’s friends are also helping to bring Ukrainian Jews to Israel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5J9EFIFKjk https://www.cufi.org.uk/ukraine/
The megillah of hope. Watch the Jews of Dnirpo Ukraine broadcast their Purim reading of the Scroll of Esther. Then see volunteers from Israeli NGO Makom, read a special megillah on their flight to the Ukraine border to set up an aid center for refugees. Finally, Ukrainian refugees in Jerusalem celebrated their first Purim in Israel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRqce6uSv2I&t=826s
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324091 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324167
Rescued from Ukraine. More heartwarming stories. Israel rescued the Ukrainian father of an IDF lone soldier who fell in battle 20 years ago. And the Israeli granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor enabled the rescue from Ukraine of two granddaughters of the non-Jewish woman who saved her grandmother during the Holocaust.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKzttbkQNGs
13/3/22
In the 13th Mar 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Huge Israeli effort to provide medical assistance to Ukrainian refugees.
· Three Israeli Arab women promote Israel’s inclusiveness.
· A new era in Israeli-Turkish diplomatic relations.
· An Israeli NGO is training Israeli youths to become hi-tech entrepreneurs.
· Record profit for an Israeli company.
· Four heartwarming stories about Ukrainian refugees who reached Israel.
· Click here to see the 6th Mar newsletter on IsraelSeen and United With Israel with extra feature on the Jewish State. Also (TY Sandra) in German here and (TY Stuart Palmer) re-posted here. Also, (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here and (TY Stuart Palmer) re-posted here. Please pass on this newsletter to German and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://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 (20,150+ 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
Medics rush to Ukraine. Israeli emergency NGO United Hatzalah chartered a plane and sent 40 paramedics, EMTs, doctors, psychologists, and therapists, to join its volunteers already treating local Ukrainians. The plane also delivered tons of medical supplies, donated food, plus other aid, and brought back 150 refugees to Israel.
10 seriously ill children rescued from Ukraine. The Israeli embassy in Bucharest, Romania helped rescue 10 Ukrainian children with serious illnesses and bring them to Israel for treatment. Israeli medical personnel flew on a special plane to safely transport the children to Schneider Children’s hospital in Petah Tikvah, Israel.
https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-airlifts-10-hospitalized-kids-from-ukraine-for-care/
https://www.jns.org/israels-romanian-embassy-evacuates-pediatric-cancer-patients-to-israel/
Health monitoring for Ukrainian women. (TY UWI & I24 News) The Gynescope from Israel’s Illumigyn (see here previously) is being used by medics from Israel’s Sheba Medical Center to diagnose cervical cancer in Ukrainian women. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqw1VZ2IUjo
Israeli field hospital for Ukraine. Israel is sending a medical delegation to Ukraine, to set up a field hospital. It will be operated by Sheba Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, and medics from other hospitals. The field hospital will include wards for children and adults, an emergency room, a delivery room, and a first aid clinic.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/323322 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4ulTXTmM2c
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-israel-sets-up-virtual-hospital-in-ukraine/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH59FSvDNHU
Delegation from Moldovia visits Israel. To help understand how a hospital is run during an emergency, a delegation of senior medical officials from Moldova visited Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa. The visit had been planned long before the start of the recent Russian / Ukrainian conflict.
https://www.rambam.org.il/en/rambam_news/Moldovan_delegation_at_Rambam.aspx
MS patient regains ability to walk. Malia Litman, from Dallas Texas, was unable to walk due to her MS condition. Then she discovered the stem cell treatment being trialed at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem. Thanks to the treatment, she was able to dance with her son Zachary at his wedding.
https://tjpnews.com/malia-litman-a-hadassah-medical-miracle/
Linking diet, bacteria, and the heart. An international study, led by Ben Gurion University Professor Iris Shai, has shown that the green Mediterranean (MED) diet modifies the bacterial population in the gut. These changes in the microbiome can bring substantial health benefits, including reduced cardiac risk.
https://genomemedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13073-022-01015-z
Space medicine course. Professor Sara Eyal of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has launched Israel’s first university course for therapy development research in space, or “space medicine.” Her first session attracted some 40 students from different disciplines such as medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and biology.
Healthcare agreement with Bahrain. Israel and Bahrain have signed an agreement for health care cooperation in epidemics and emergency management, education, and research. It will cover the fields of information sharing, digital health, medical innovation, and genetic research.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israel-and-bahrain-sign-agreement-on-health-collaboration/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Four female Israeli professors. On International Women’s Day, Technion UK emailed 4 videos featuring Professor Kira Radinsky (big medical data), Professor Marcelle Machluf (cancer - amazing video), Professor Shulamit Levenberg (cultured meat – BBC video) & Professor Asya Rolls (brain-activated immune responses).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu1MY-odhj8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru2Ke-syBJU
https://vimeo.com/643910768 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-t9n3FNrg4
Innovation teams in mixed cities. The Israeli Hazira program (see here previously) is bringing innovation to mixed Jewish-Arab cities. Around a dozen “Innovation Teams” have now been established in Acre, Bat Yam, Ashdod, Sakhnin, Beit Shemesh, Netanya, Ashkelon, Umm al-Fahm, Lod, Eilat, and in the Negev.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/03/07/new-program-brings-innovation-to-jewish-arab-cities-in-israel/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/hazira/
Israeli Arab professor explains diversity. Professor Mona Khoury-Kassbari, Vice President of Diversity and Strategy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (see here previously), led a discussion with 40 top officials and professionals in Chicago. She focused on innovative strategies that Israel implements to integrate minorities.
Jews & Arabs thrive together. More about Israel’s Unistream Association (see here previously) - a three-year program bringing together Jewish and Arab youth from all over Israel to learn about business and hi-tech. Arab Unistream graduate Lara Musalem describes her inclusive startup in in the mixed city of Nof HaGalil.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rylcxk8115
The Bedouin woman who empowers others. Amal Al-Sana had a hard upbringing as the fifth daughter in an Israeli Bedouin family of girls. But she studied for a PhD and helped found the Ajeek Arab-Jewish Center for Empowerment and Cooperation. Later she cofounded the Desert Embroidery Project in her Bedouin village.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-bedouin-woman-who-refused-to-be-pitied-and-now-empowers-others/
Israel opens border to reunite mother and daughter. On International Women’s Day, Israel allowed a Druze student to return to Israel and be reunited with her mother. Nadine Beriq left Israel in 2008 to study dentistry in Damascus but was unable to return when Syria took away her passport and the border was shut in 2015.
Israel’s President in Turkey. Israel’s President Herzog was greeted by Turkey’s President Edogan at the Presidential Palace in Turkey’s capital Ankara. The Israeli President received a warm welcome, despite arriving in the middle of a snowfall. https://www.youtube.com/embed/igubITCTl08/?start=1866
Israel to train students from Arab states. Israel has launched the “Abraham Works” project that offers hi-tech training to students from the Arab states that signed the Abraham Accords, plus Egypt and Jordan. The plan was unveiled by Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister in a meeting with Morocco’s ambassador to Israel.
Free scholarships for Ukrainian students. Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are offering scholarships worth millions of shekels to Ukrainian academics whose studies and research have been disrupted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Funds include tuition fees as well as living expenses in Israel.
Israeli hi-techs help Ukrainians. Many Israeli startups have employees unable to leave Ukraine. Israel’s Natural Intelligence, for example, offered its Ukrainian employees up to $3000 in emergency grants. Several members of Wix in Israel flew to Poland to meet some of Wix’s 1,000 Ukrainian workers, many now refugees.
https://nocamels.com/2022/02/tech-israel-ukraine-staff-embrace/
Israel’s life-saving border clinic. This article describes the vital work performed at the Polish border with Ukraine by NATAN, Mashav, Sheba medical center, Clalit Health Services, Schneider Children’s Medical Center, and Hadassah Medical Center. Just some of the many Israeli organizations saving refugees lives.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
R&D agreement with UK. (TY Nevet) UK Science Minister George Freeman met key players in the Israeli scientific community. He tweeted: “Thank you to all the brilliant scientists, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers in Israel for a brilliant visit and agreement on a new UK-Israel R&D collaboration.”
Tech movement for youth. Israeli-founded Loop is a tech academy for global youth. It teaches coding to children aged 7 – 18 and is a unique combination of a youth movement and a tech incubator. Its student “loopers” learn computer science so they can become part of the hi-tech industry and build their own startups.
https://www.loop.org.il/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJFaIlVa6dk
Developing tech talent in Nazareth. Altooro is a startup that assesses the talent of developers and gives numerical and statistical values to their abilities. Its founder, Mo Mitwaly is also a mentor for Loop, helping to educate young Arab tech students in Nazareth so that they can eventually create their own startups.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hyhuqrrwq https://www.altooro.com/
Transforming transport in Seoul City. Israel’s Autotalks (see here previously) has deployed its V2X (Vehicle to anything) systems on nearly 2,000 buses and related infrastructure in Seoul City. The advanced system alerts drivers of pedestrian collision, school zones, road and weather conditions warnings, and more.
5G networks for smart cities. Israel’s Juganu (see here previously) is partnering Qualcomm and Nokia to build 5G networks for smart cities. Juganu’s technology has been deployed in 15 countries including Israel, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, the U.S, and Greece.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sym7gmlb9
How the continents were formed. Professor Roi Granot of Israel’s Ben Gurion University pioneered the use of magnetometer data (the magnetic field of rocks) to date the oceanic crust. In a recent study, Gronot together with Dutch scientists have shown that an event 105 million years ago shaped how the world looks today.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-academics-time-travel-adventure-in-earths-crust-may-explain-worlds-layout/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-022-00893-7
Joint archaeological research. The University of Haifa (UofH) and Israel’s Technion Institute are launching a joint archaeology research fund. It follows the UofH establishing the School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures, which will revolutionize archaeological research in Israel.
Legal path to driverless Israeli cars. Israel’s parliament (Knesset) has passed legislation to allow autonomous shared taxis on Israeli roads, carrying passengers but without a safety driver. It paves the way for Mobileye, Intel’s Jerusalem-based subsidiary, to roll out “robo-taxis” and ride-hailing services in Tel Aviv this year.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Government debt cut in half. Israel’s budget deficit fell to 2.2% of GDP for the 12 months to Feb 2022, compared to 4.5% at the end of 2021. In the month of Feb itself, the government had a rare budgetary surplus of NIS 4 billion due to high revenues from taxes, although Israel’s tax burden is the sixth lowest in the OECD.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israels-fiscal-deficit-narrows-further-1001404825
100 Turkish businesspeople visit Tel Aviv. A delegation of more than 100 senior Turkish businesspeople arrived in Tel Aviv for meetings with their Israeli counterparts. During the visit, the Turkish Exporters Assembly signed a cooperation agreement with Israel's Federation of International Chambers of Commerce.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-and-turkey-sign-business-cooperation-mou-1001404580
Finland buys Israeli. Finland’s defense ministry has decided to purchase defense systems from one of two Israeli companies, either Israel Aerospace Industries or Rafael Advanced Systems. Both companies beat competition from Germany, Norway, and the UK. Finland wants to protect its long border with Russia.
Preparing for a busy Passover. The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) estimates that 1.5 million passengers will pass through Ben Gurion airport around the time of the Passover holiday in April. It will certainly be the busiest holiday season for two years, as the tourist industry recovers from the impact of the Covid pandemic.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-ben-gurion-airport-preparing-for-busy-passover-1001404814
The largest ever profit by an Israeli company. Israeli shipping giant Zim has just reported the largest ever annual net profit ($4.65 billion) achieved by an Israeli company. It will also pay out the biggest ever dividend – $2.04 billion. Since its Jan 2021 IPO, Zim’s market value has increased five-fold to $8.9 billion.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-zim-reports-biggest-ever-profit-by-israeli-co-1001405054
Carrefour comes to Israel. French corporation Carrefour has signed an agreement to gradually convert over 150 branches of the Yeinot Bitan supermarket chain to Carrefour branches. Its franchise is for a minimum of 20 years. Carrefour is the largest international retailer to enter Israel.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-global-retailing-giant-carrefour-to-enter-israel-1001404489
Another Israeli takeover by Nvidia. US computer giant Nvidia, has just acquired Israel’s Excelero, a provider of enterprise data storage and block storage solutions. Nvidia employs 2,800 Israelis at seven 7 R&D centers – the most outside the US. Sites include Yoknean (Mellanox), Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ra’anana, and Beersheba.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-chip-giant-nvidia-acquires-israeli-data-storage-company-excelero/
Brewing beer delivered results. Just after the launch of Israel’s BeerBazaar the Coronavirus pandemic caused a massive surge in home delivery orders. With no software available, founder Avi Moskowitz developed PrettyDamnQuick to handle delivery logistics. It has now processed over 100,000 orders for many merchants.
https://www.israel21c.org/how-a-rush-on-beer-led-to-a-shipping-software-startup/
https://beerbazaar.co.il/ https://www.prettydamnquick.io/ https://vimeo.com/625382175
Investment in Israeli startups to 13/3/22: Axonius raised $200 million; StarkWare raised $100+ million; DataRails raised $50 million; Cybersixgill raised $35 million; Cider Security raised $32 million; Blinkops raised $26 million; Autobrains raised $19 million; Lendai raised $13+ million; Urecsys raised $7 million; Maverick Medical raised $5 million; Fortvision raised $850,000;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Things to do in Israel this month. March in Israel is the start of spring; the days get longer, the air warmer, and the sea calmer. It is the start of many festivals across the country, and the third week of March 2022 is Purim-time, when Israel becomes overrun with parties and special events. March is a great time to be in Israel.
https://www.touristisrael.com/things-to-do-events-in-israel-in-march/5302/
Accelerating TV format startups. Jerusalem Development Authority’s Jerusalem Film & Television Fund, together with specialist VC Fund New Legend, have launched a new accelerator to support 12 projects creating TV and film content in Jerusalem. Senior executives from Netflix and HBO plan to scout it for talent.
https://www.israel21c.org/jerusalem-launches-new-accelerator-for-tv-formats/
Daily videos about Israel. Bet El Institutions has launched Daily Israel Videos - a daily email containing two videos on topics relating to Israel including Hi-tech & innovation and the Beauty of Israel. Subscribers can choose which days or topics they want to receive videos.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/323635 https://forms.aweber.com/form/45/2001958045.htm
Israel from above. Two examples of the Daily Israel Videos – beautiful scenery of Mount Hermon in winter, contrasting with that of the Negev. Both filmed from a drone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVgNY2-FUZQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNhBIzgxkQ4
THE JEWISH STATE
Final flight of IAF’s founder. (TY UWI) Harold “Smoky” Simon who just passed away, close to his 102nd birthday, was one of the legendary founders of the Israeli Air Force. He flew a Bonanza aircraft, one week after arriving in Israel from South Africa in May 1948. After the War of Independence, he set up several squadrons.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/03/04/harold-smoky-simon-one-of-the-iafs-founders-dies-at-101/
The women who built Israel. On International Women’s Day this article celebrates the women who helped turn Israel into a flourishing country. Highlights include the Women’s Farm established in 1911; women of the Kibbutz movement; the world’s first women’s political party; and the largest proportion of female doctors.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-women-who-built-israel-with-hands-and-hearts/
Friends of Zion. Dr. Michael Evans, founder of Friends of Zion, presented the Friends of Zion award to former US Vice President Mike Pence for his support for the State of Israel. The Jerusalem event was also attended by former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and former Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/323545
Fanfare for Israeli President at Istanbul synagogue. President Herzog’s arrival at the historic Neve Shalom Istanbul synagogue was met with music and loud blasts of the shofar (ram’s horn). The President followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who visited the synagogue.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/323669 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmUHNLhAzcw
550 Bnei Menashe return to Jerusalem. Some 550 new immigrants from India’s Bnei Menashe community visited the Western Wall for the first time, accompanied by Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi David Lau. The community claims descent from one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel and is converting back to Judaism.
https://www.jns.org/550-bnei-menashe-from-india-visit-western-wall-with-israels-chief-rabbi/
550+ community Purim Megillah readings. The organizers of “Megillah in the Community” have scheduled more than 550 in-person group Purim readings of the Esther Megillah across Israel. The initiative will take place in community centers, public parks, hospitals and more, and geared to all ages and levels of Judaism.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/323687
Chabad’s mobile crisis center for Ukrainian Jews. In the Israeli village of Kfar Chabad, dozens of Russian-speaking Chabad volunteers work in a high-tech crisis-management center. They use emergency hotlines to provide the Jews of Ukraine with food, evacuation, refugee aid, housing, or access to medical assistance.
Welcome to the world. Jewish schoolteacher Chani Kochav Lev and her husband Eliezer fled Kyiv, Ukraine, just in time for their baby boy to be born safely at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/323223
100 Jewish Ukraine orphans arrive in Israel. (TY UWI) 100 children, ages 2-18, traveled more than 400 miles by bus from the northern Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr to Romania before flying to Israel, where they were greeted by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Refugees on another flight showed their delight on landing in Israel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysdnXdYBfBg
https://www.jns.org/ukrainian-refugees-burst-into-applause-upon-arrival-in-israel/
Animal therapy for Ukrainian refugees. Israeli NGO MyIsrael is publicizing the efforts of its 18 adopted charities to help refugees arriving in Israel from Ukraine. The first charity to be called upon is Animal Angels (HAMA) that is taking animals that have been rescued from abuse to unite them with traumatized Ukrainians.
https://myisraelcharity.org/project/ukrainian-refugees-urgent-assistance
https://myisraelcharity.org/project/animal-angels-hama https://hama-israel.org/
Discovery on the way to Israel. When an official from the Jewish Agency called the names of two Ukrainian women with the same surname waiting to fly to Israel, they discovered they had the same father. Valentina’s father had previously divorced Mariana’s mother. Both half-sisters have sons who have already made Aliyah.
6/3/22
In the 6th Mar 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Three major Israeli advances in cancer research and treatment.
· Israel’s Sheba Medical Center is saving lives in Israel, Ukraine and globally.
· An Israeli hydroponics system is uniting Israelis and Arabs across the Middle East.
· Vast amount of (mostly unreported) Israeli aid for Ukraine.
· An Israeli startup has produced ammonia at low cost and with zero emissions.
· It’s official – Israelis are the hardest working employees.
· Israelis get ready to celebrate the happiest Jewish festival of the year.
· Israel rescued 100 Jewish orphans from Ukraine.
· Click here to see the 27th Feb newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours with great intro, and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German here. Also, (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here. Please pass on this newsletter to German and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://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 (20,100+ 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
Stopping cancer spreading during chemotherapy. A Technion doctorate student has discovered that the LOX enzyme plays a major role in helping cancer spread (metastasis) when the patient is having chemotherapy. Inhibiting LOX protects the patient from this deadly effect.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2022/02/world-cancer-day-chemotherapy-metastasis/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34666995/
Hope for when cancer has spread. Israel’s New Phase has developed hyperthermic treatment that kills up to 50% of metastatic cancer. In animal and human trials, iron-oxide nanoparticles, produced in a lab managed by three Druze Arab women, are injected into stage 4 cancer patients, and then heated to 45º C using RF radiation.
https://www.israel21c.org/novel-hyperthermic-treatment-offers-hope-for-stage-4-metastatic-cancer/
https://newphase.co.il/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ6h6szr4eM
Prostate cancer treatment is saving lives. (TY Don) Although not an Israeli treatment, Israel’s Sheba Medical Center is one of the few global hospitals treating prostate cancer patients with Lutetium-177 therapy. It attaches to prostate-specific membrane antigens (PSMAs) on tumors and emits beta radiation to neutralize them.
https://www.shebaonline.org/how-does-lutetium-177-therapy-work/
We have the cure inside us. Scientists at Israel’s Technion Institute have found that misfolding proteins in the brain cells of ALS and Huntingdon’s sufferers can be corrected by other proteins already in the cell, called “chaperones”. But the cell doesn’t activate them or activates the wrong ones! New treatments are anticipated.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2022/02/huntingtons-als-chaperone/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-27982-w
Longer-lasting heart valves. An Israeli-led team of researchers has prevented the deterioration of bioprosthetic heart valves (of animal origin). These last only 10 years due to calcification of the tissues. They used hearts from pigs that were engineered to stop expressing foreign sugars and this prevented calcification.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01682-w
Repairing heart valves without replacing. The calcification of heart valves is currently resolved by transplanting a new prosthetic valve (see above). Israel’s Pi-Cardia (see here previously) has been developing the Leaflex system to treat the calcification, and is currently conducting human clinical trials across Europe.
https://www.israel21c.org/novel-non-surgical-solutions-for-aortic-valve-stenosis/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NXQQ-Zqnes
Gut bacteria could prevent heart attacks. Scientists from Israel’s Rabin Medical Center and the Weizmann Institute studied the microbiome of 200 patients just hours after a heart attack. They found most were missing a Clostridiaceae family bacterium that was present in a control group. They are now isolating it into pill form.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-01686-6
Helping preemies absorb food. The ELGN-GI insulin formulation developed by Israel’s Elgan can save the lives of preterm babies with immature stomachs that cause feeding intolerance. It will avoid the adverse effects of intravenous nutrition, which often leads to infection and liver problems. A Phase 3 trial is being planned.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/pregnancy-and-birth/article-699123 https://www.elganpharma.com/
http://www.ngt3vc.com/elgan-pharma/
A physical therapist on your smartphone. Israel’s OneStep uses the power of the smartphone to analyze gait (how you walk) and provide feedback directly to patients and their physical therapists. OneStep is partnering with Kinomatic in the US to bring OneStep’s app to all patients using Kinomatic's Virtual Reality solution.
https://www.onestep.co/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=335FEpK2y7Y
Successful trials for portable eye test. Israel’s AEYE Health (see here previously) has just completed Phase 3 clinical trials of its hand-held retinal analysis system. The hand-held fundus camera and single-image AI software detected diabetic retinopathy with high accuracy, far better than current expensive specialist cameras.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/seeing-straight-with-the-help-of-artificial-intelligence/
The best partners for innovation. Israel’s Sheba Medical Center has again been ranked as the 10th best hospital in the world by Newsweek Magazine. Sheba also announced a partnership with GE Healthcare to develop digital healthcare solutions in cardiology, remote pregnancy monitoring and molecular imaging.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/323198
https://www.jns.org/israels-sheba-ge-team-up-to-advance-digital-healthcare/
Global DNA sequencing center. Illumina - the world's leading DNA sequencing company, worth over $50 billion, is opening a Center of Excellence in Tel Aviv. It will develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions that dramatically shorten genome analysis time for diagnosing rare diseases and transform lives.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ryfdj7ce5
Advanced Materials. Several issues of the international journal Advanced Materials, including cover pages, feature the breakthrough skin patches developed in the lab of Israel’s Technion Arab Professor Hossam Haick (see here previously). They include Strain sensors, Wound dressing (and cover), Micro-needles sensor, Electronic skin and more. https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2022/02/hossam-haick-diagnosis-micro-needles/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Empowering women scientists. Another chance to watch the Ben Gurion University webinar “Empowering Young Women in Science” on Weds 23rd March at noon Eastern Time. BGU’s SheSpace program encourages female high school students to be involved in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
https://americansforbgu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6ejHekG5Sw64EOcP3Rmnsg
https://americansforbgu.org/events/
Arab Israelis speak. Israeli Arab Yoseph Haddad, an ex-Commander in the IDF, speaks at an event in Australia about the lives of Arab Israelis in Israel. And Israeli cabinet minister Issawi Frej, who is Muslim, gave an important message to journalists at a briefing for journalists at the Knesset – Israel’s parliament.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWKwLORvxQk https://www.israelhayom.com/writer/yoseph-haddad/
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-arab-israeli-mk-slams-apartheid-lies/
Gaza exports to Israel doubles. (TY Hazel) Exports of agricultural produce from Gaza to Israel jumped by 142% in the first two months of 2022. The Jan-Feb export figure amounted to 2,501 metric tons, up from 1,033 metric tons in the first two months of 2021. The increase was primarily due to better facilitation by Israel.
https://english.news.cn/20220302/d60c0512083f489ea1396cc8a731329e/c.html
Partners from the ground up. (TY UWI & I24) Amazing video featuring Israel-based Ariel Global Links, which has developed a technique in which hydroponic farming recycles its own water. But the real news is how the technology is being adopted in the United Arab Emirates with Arabs and Israelis working together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrWCWH0uoGM
2022 Dan David prizes. Every year, the Tel Aviv University based Dan David Foundation awards prizes of $300,000 each, to nine international outstanding early-and-mid-career scholars. Philanthropist Dan David escaped from Romania to Israel in 1960 and became a successful photographer and businessman.
https://english.tau.ac.il/news/dan_david_2022 https://www.dandavid.org/
Israel rescues its Arab citizens from Ukraine. Israeli aircraft carrying many Israeli Arabs fleeing Ukraine landed in Israel. Good articles showing how Israel makes efforts for all its people, takes care of every Israeli citizen of every religion, and finds them in any corner of the world. All were happy to be back home.
https://www.israelunwired.com/watch-israeli-arabs-fleeing-ukraine-land-safely-in-israel/
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-jews-in-ukraine-chabad-house-help-palestinian-doctor-flee/
Aid to Ukraine. Israel is sending to the Ukraine 100 tons of water purification kits, medical equipment and treatments, tents, blankets, sleeping bags and more for displaced civilians. Meanwhile United Hatzalah (see last week) is now set up on Ukraine’s border with Moldovia together with Sheba hospital’s telemedicine facility.
https://worldisraelnews.com/measured-and-responsible-policy-israel-sends-100-tons-of-aid-to-ukraine/
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-virtual-hospital-is-caring-for-ukrainian-refugees/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwoXiVtM--I
Food for Ukrainian refugees. Several Israeli NGOs are currently distributing food to displaced Ukrainians at border crossings. They include Yad Ezer L’Haver (Helping Hand to a Friend), Rescuers Without Borders, SID-Israel - Society for International Development (Israel branch) and NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief.
https://www.israel21c.org/haifa-humanitarian-aid-group-distributing-food-in-ukraine/
https://sid-israel.org/en/israeli-and-jewish-response-to-the-crisis-in-ukraine/
https://www.jns.org/israeli-trauma-care-team-led-by-former-top-who-official-heads-to-poland/
Telemedicine for Ukrainians. Israel’s TytoCare (see here previously) has donated 50 of its telemedicine devices to hospitals in isolated Ukrainian villages. Also, doctors in Israel’s Sheba Medical Center are treating Ukrainians 2,000 miles away on the Moldovan border with telemedicine systems such as Israel’s Pulsenmore.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-medical-kits-donated-to-remote-ukrainian-villages/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Joint US-Israel cybersecurity. Several joint US-Israel cybersecurity initiatives have been launched recently. They include up to $12 million for ICRDE - a new consortium, to protect critical energy facilities. It will be led by Israel’s Ben Gurion University and Arizona State University. Also, research with US Homeland Security.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-us-ink-new-cybersecurity-collaboration-deals-to-combat-threats-bolster-rd/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rym4apnlc
Beating the blues. Israeli food-tech startup Gavan has created a wide array of natural blue colorings for hot-and cold drinks. Derived from spirulina from blue-green algae, the kosher, vegan colorings are stable under high-heat processing and in low pH, enabling full pasteurization. https://www.gavan.bio/natural-colors
Intelligent visual shopping. Israel’s Selectika provides shoppers with their own optimal digital assortment and provides retailers with real-time data and analytics and trends. Originally developed to help people buy clothes using advanced technology, it has grown to a full intelligence system for brands and retailers.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkq7t75gq
https://selectika.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Mw13700y4
Intelligent video transmission. Israel’s Maris-Tech develops and markets intelligent communications and monitoring systems for homeland security and the autonomous car industry. Customers include Elbit Systems, Israel's Defense Ministry, Rafael, and Israel Aerospace Industries. It just raised $17.8 million in a Nasdaq IPO.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-co-maris-tech-completes-nasdaq-ipo-1001401243
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-khXUdC37PE&t=2s https://www.maris-tech.com/
Hydrogen trucks for Israel. Israeli vehicle retailer Colmobil is to import hydrogen-fueled trucks built by Hyundai for Israeli companies Bazan and Sonol. Hyundai has been testing its hydrogen trucks in Israel and has invested in Israel’s H2Pro, which is producing hydrogen at scale using electrolysis (see here previously).
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-699114
Dry no more. The water level of Israel’s Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) should never again drop to dangerous levels once Israel implements its next major water project. Excess water produced by Israel’s desalination plants will be pumped into the Kinneret. Two more plants are being built and water may also help replenish the Dead Sea.
https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/analysis-how-israel-will-finally-solve-its-water-problem/
Green ammonia. Israel’s GenCell Energy has made a scientific breakthrough by producing ammonia with zero emissions, direct from water at very low temperature and pressure compared to traditional ammonia production processes. The project began a year ago and Japan’s TDK Corporation will help CenCell to the next milestone.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-698872
How plants grow roots in the air. Scientists at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University have found the mechanism that enables some plants to grow aerial roots, e.g., ivy and fiscus trees. They identified the genes that instruct root cells to grow upwards. It will help grow crops that resist soil disease and make best use of valuable land.
Connecting low-tech workers with hi-tech. Israel’s Connecteam (see here previously) allows companies to share computer facilities with low tech workers who don’t have a computer or email. Its software is designed to help manage the more than 2.7 billion workers or 80% of the global workforce that are not tied to a desk.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hk3a00j6x9 https://connecteam.com/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sjg6vjpxc
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israelis take fewest sick days worldwide. UK business information organization Small Business Prices found that in 2020, Israeli employees took an average of 3.9 sick days from work due to illness – the lowest of the 28 countries analyzed, suggesting a strong work ethic. The UK was 2nd (4.4 days) and Germany last (16.3 days).
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-study-israelis-take-fewest-sick-days-worldwide-1001404065
Tnuva launches food-tech fund. (TY ToI) Israeli food giant Tnuva has launched a Tnuva NEXT - new venture capital fund focused on investments in food tech startups and companies. Tnuva invested some NIS 30 million in 2021 including the Fresh.Start incubator in Kiryat Shmona (see here previously).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjsswftl5
Investing in 3D printing. Israeli crowdfunding platform OurCrowd is hosting a virtual event “New Frontiers in 3D Printing” on 8th March at 6pm Israel time (11am ET). Speakers include from Israeli 3D startups Plantish, Nexa3D and Largix and features a new Nas Daily video about the Plantish 3D-printed vegan salmon.
https://events.blackthorn.io/en/20Cp3W6/preview/new-frontiers-in-3d-printing-4a4f3gkU4E/overview
More money for cybersecurity. Israeli Venture Capital firm Cyberstarts (see here previously) has launched its third VC fund - a $200 million Opportunity Fund, for follow-on investments in growing cybersecurity companies. Cyberstarts’ first fund is one of the world's best performing funds, averaging 300% annual return.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjtim45l9
Walmart helps Israeli health shakes to grow. Israel’s Nutritional Growth Solutions (see here previously has announced that US giant retailer Walmart will sell NGS’s Healthy Heights line of children’s growth-support protein shakes on its on-line platform. They will also be available via the RangeMe online marketplace.
Hit by fraud, so founded a startup. When the founders of Israel’s nSure.ai started their previous company, they were pleased with initial sales, only to find that 40% involved fraudulent credit cards. Exiting approval systems were ineffective, so they so they decided to solve the problem by building their own.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sk2lh62gq https://www.nsureai.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_3naTY37kc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnJUK-bbBN0
Israel’s latest Unicorn. Israeli homebuilding tech company Veev (see here previously) has just raised $400 million at a valuation of over $1 billion.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-tech-homebuilding-co-veev-raises-400m-1001404020
Exits, acquisitions and mergers. Israeli fintech startup Finaro, formerly known as Credorax, has been acquired by US payments company Shift4 for $575 million.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ry8tvrjeq
Investment in Israeli startups to 6/3/22: Veev raised $400 million; Connecteam raised $120 million; Agritask raised $26 million; Maris-Tech raised $17.8 million (IPO); Tastewise raised $17 million; nSure.ai raised $13 million; Propel (PR) raised $4.5 million; Vensica raised $3 million; Visionary.ai raised $2.5 million; MedHub raised $1 million; Selectika raised $0.5 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Promoting diverse culture in Jerusalem. The Jerusalem International Fellows’ 10-week residency program brings leading international visual & performing artists, choreographers, architects, and urban planners, to work with local independent artists, ensembles, and cultural institutions in East and West Jerusalem.
https://jerusaleminternationalfellows.org/
Return to Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) The Conference of Presidents returned to Jerusalem, featuring global VIPs including from the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco. The Shaon Horef (Winter Noise) street festival is back. There are many tourists on Jerusalem’s Streets, and we look forward to Purim festivities and the Jerusalem Marathon.
http://rjstreets.com/2022/02/27/back-on-the-jerusalem-streets/
Making a splash. (TY Nevet) In a historic first, the Israeli national men's water polo team qualified for the European Championship to be held in Split, Croatia in the summer. They defeated Turkey 9:7 in the qualifying tournament at Wingate Institute in Netanya. The women’s team have qualified several times in the past.
THE JEWISH STATE
Biblical discoveries of 2021. Good summary of ancient Jewish archaeological finds in Israel last year. They include a 2nd Temple period synagogue, more Dead Sea scrolls, King David’s purple die, Gideon’s inscription, an 8th century BCE earthquake site. Plus the Yavne site of the Sanhedrin, a Temple shekel and a royal toilet.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/off-the-beaten-track-israels-top-10-archeological-discoveries-of-2021/
Purim extravaganza for special kids. The ADI Negev Nahalat Eran Rehabilitation Village in southern Israel held a special early Purim celebration for children with disabilities. The children’s specially designed Purim costumes were made thanks to volunteers with the Israeli nonprofit TOM - Tikkun Olam Makers.
Celebrate Purim with Israel. For readers of this newsletter in the US, this link will help you find events organized by the Israeli American Council to enjoy the Jewish festival of Purim.
https://iac360.org/event/purim-2022/
Falafel kerfuffle. An 80-year-old man collapsed in Petach Tikvah after a falafel (fried chickpea ball) got stuck in his lungs. Two passing paramedics tried CPR, the Heimlich Maneuver, fluids, and a respirator, to restore the man’s pulse. Finally, they used an intracanal tube, removed the falafel, and his pulse returned.
32 lives saved in one month. In Dec 2021, Israel’s largest health support organization Ezer Mizion facilitated transplants that saved 32 lives in 10 countries. Nearly 400 lives were saved in 2021. Over 1.1 million donors are now registered in the world’s largest Jewish bone marrow registry database.
https://ezermizion.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/bmr-12-21-month-only-scaled.jpg
https://ezermizion.org/donatenow.html
“This time we have a country”. Many of the 200,000 Ukrainian citizens eligible to immigrate under Israel’s law of return will be transported to Israel, thanks to funding from The Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod and other global donors. Israel also rescued 100 Jewish orphans and is bringing them to Israel.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/thousands-of-ukrainians-inquire-about-moving-to-israel-jewish-agency-official-says/ https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-team-rescues-100-jewish-orphans-from-ukraine/
27/2/22
In the 27th Feb 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israeli scientists successfully treated PTSD patients using high-pressure oxygen.
· Israel is ranked as the 23rd most democratic country in the world.
· Three major initiatives to preserve Israel’s flora and fauna.
· An Israeli-built solar power plant is providing electricity to Spain.
· More new trade agreements between Israel and Arab states.
· Volunteers from Israeli emergency medical NGO arrive in Ukraine.
· Click here to see the 20th Jan newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit, and United With Israel with extra feature on Inclusive & Global. Also (TY Sandra) in German here and (TY Stuart Palmer) posted here. Also, (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here and (TY Stuart Palmer) posted here. Please pass on this newsletter to German and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://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 (20,000+ 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
Innovative heart treatment. After 68 years, Yair’s complex congenital heart defect finally caught up with him. Luckily, the years also brought new advances and, for the first time in Israel, instead of open-heart surgery, his irregular pulse could be resolved at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center using cardiac catheterization.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-698121
Portable lung tests. Israel’s PulmOne (see here previously) has developed the MiniBox+, a revolutionary lung function device about the size of a desktop computer. It has the potential to help diagnose many of the half a billion people around the world who suffer from lung disease. The MiniBox+ is FDA approved.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/portable-lung-tests-help-patients-breathe-easier/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvUadvOJb3U https://www.pulm-one.com/
Hyperbaric oxygen relieves PTSD. Israeli scientists are the first to have used hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The pressurized pure oxygen treatment successfully relieved IDF veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD that had lasted for at least four years.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/world-first-israeli-study-shows-oxygen-therapy-can-dramatically-reduce-ptsd-symptoms/ https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-698327
Electric pulses to fight cancer. Technion Professor Yoram Palti has been awarded the Israel Prize in the Field of Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation. Prof Palti founded Israel’s Novocure (see here previously) that developed a groundbreaking cancer treatment (especially brain cancer) using electric pulses.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/yoram-palti-awarded-israel-prize-for-groundbreaking-cancer-treatment/
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-novocure-uses-electrodes-to-treat-brain-tumors-1001120662
Using nanotech to create the impossible. (TY WIN) Great feature by VeryGoodNewsIsrael subscriber Diana Bletter about Technion Professor Hossam Haick (see here previously). His expertise in nanotechnology has led to 42 patents and the inventions of the cancer SniffPhone, NaNose, molecular sutures, skin sensors and more.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-scientist-using-nanotech-to-create-the-impossible/
Robots to help rehabilitation. Ben Gurion University’s 46th Webinar Wednesday featured BGU Professor Shelly Levy-Tzedek, who discussed how robots can help in the process of rehabilitation. This includes physical assistance (e.g., post-stroke, Parkinson’s, or aging) and social assistance. The video also stars Pepper the robot. https://americansforbgu.org/video/future-of-rehabilitation/#
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms6wFLmnqNg https://shelly453.wixsite.com/levy-tzedek-lab
Relaxation to boost radiation benefits. (TY UWI) Neuroscientist Amir Amedi from Israel’s Reichman University, has invented multisensory devices to relax patients awaiting cancer radiation therapy at Israeli hospitals. These include 3D VR glasses, smart tables and chairs, breathing sensors, and in-ear recordings.
https://www.israel21c.org/futuristic-tech-brings-healing-relaxation-to-radiotherapy/
Siblings of special needs children may be more empathic. Researchers at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University studied 1,657 families of twins born in 2004/5. In 63 cases, one of the twins had a development delay or disability. The other twin was found to have a higher cognitive empathy than those with a normal twin.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-698420
https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdev.13740
How the immune system sets priorities. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute discovered some remarkable actions of the immune system when faced with multiple viral or bacterial infections. Two mechanisms – innate and adaptive immunity are deployed and may change vaccines production and autoimmune disease therapies.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/matter-survival-how-immune-system-sets-priorities
Nearly his last shot. Ilan, the official photographer for the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team, suffered a heart attack shortly before his team’s hoops game with Hapoel Tel Aviv. With only minutes of life left, Gal, an MDA paramedic, used a defibrillator to restart his heart. Great story for National Public Defibrillator Awareness Day.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/photographer-meets-medic-who-saved-his-life-at-basketball-game/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Helping minorities enter the hi-tech market. The mission of Israeli NGO itworks (see here previously) is to fill some of the 18,500 vacancies in Israeli hi-tech with talented single mothers, Arabs, ultra-Orthodox Jews, people with disabilities and citizens in Israel’s periphery.
https://www.israel21c.org/helping-israels-minorities-find-jobs-in-high-tech/
Front & Center – Arabs & Muslims in Israel. (TY UWI) New video on Israeli Arabs who include 14 members of Parliament, 9% of judges (one in the Supreme Court), 26% of undergraduates, 1,500 Muslim IDF volunteers, and the captain of the Israeli soccer team. NIS 30 billion is budgeted for Arab sector development.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-DkHEKr3L4
Diversity in the Supreme Court. (TY Algemeiner) Israel has appointed four new Supreme Court justices, among them the court’s first Muslim (Khaled Kabub) and first Mizrahi (West Asian) Jewish woman (Gila Kanfi-Steinitz). https://www.timesofisrael.com/muslim-man-mizrahi-woman-picked-to-serve-as-supreme-court-justices-both-firsts/
Minorities champion Israeli co-existence. Israeli-Arab Yoseph Haddad (see here previously) is preparing to present the truth about Israeli minorities at the Parliament of Ireland. Another social activist, Israeli Druze Lorena Khateeb describes how Muslims, Christians, Druze, and Jews enjoy equal rights.
More democratic than 143 countries. The prestigious Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Democracy Index ranked Israel at 23 out of 167 countries, ahead of Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the United States. Last year, Israel was ranked 27 and it has improved steadily since 2006. The next highest Middle East country is Tunisia at 75.
El Al pilot lands in UK storm. (TY INN) Plane spotters at London’s Heathrow airport were impressed with the skill of the Israeli pilot who landed his El Al plane during Storm Eunice. Other planes had more difficulty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghv6xOOjD88
More aid to the Philippines. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, until recently only three local IsraAID workers were able to help Philippine victims of Typhoon Odette (see here previously). Now five more experts from the Israeli NGO have arrived to help with relief work. Some of this involves cutting-edge Israeli technology.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-aid-experts-reach-typhoon-hit-philippines/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Israel’s talented scientists. The winners of the 2022 Blavatnik Awards for Israel’s top young scientists are Noam Stern-Ginossar (Weizmann – viral gene profiling), Menny Shalom (BGU - alternative energy sources), and Ronen Eldan (Weizmann - math probability & machine learning). Each laureate also won $100,000.
http://blavatnikawards.org/honorees/israel-laureates/
$1 million for IDF cyber training for women. The Friends of the IDF and the Zalik Foundation have raised $1 million to fund a new program that integrates young women into IDF cyber units. The IDF Mamriot (taking off) program aims to increase the number of women in IDF tech units and in Israel’s tech sector overall.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-696886
Growing Israeli talent in the lab. Four times a year, Israel’s AION Labs (see here previously) invites teams of scientists to Rehovot to solve a treatment development challenge. The winning team gets 4 years of funding to set up a startup, plus mentoring. Israelis living abroad are finding this an attractive reason to return home.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-698534
New Mediterranean nature reserve. Israel has established the Evtach Marine Reserve, a protected offshore nature reserve, between Ashdod and Ashkelon. The site is 10km wide and extends 7km out to sea. Its purpose is to protect 700 species, including dolphins, rays, and flying fish.
Keeping an eye on wildlife. The ATLAS wildlife reverse GPS telemetry system tracks animals as small as 15g to help reduce conflicts with humans and protect endangered species. ATLAS was jointly developed by Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Professor Ran Nathan and Tel Aviv University’s Professor Sivan Toledo.
http://move-ecol-minerva.huji.ac.il/page/3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdLdMt9mmHg
Israel’s foresters of the future. Israeli charity KKL-JNF has launched a program “Forester of the Future” that is training young adults (mostly women) in ecosystem management and then putting them in the field. They learn the use of modern tools to prevent, detect fires, and assess and repair damage to the vegetation.
https://www.jns.org/israels-future-foresters-are-mostly-women/
Long-life, vertical Basil for Europe. Israeli-Dutch startup Future Crops (see here previously) is commercially producing high-yielding, long-lasting basil crop at its vertical farm in Westland, Netherlands. The proprietary seeds were developed at Israel’s Volcani Agricultural Research Organization near Tel Aviv.
Good news for Chilean cherries. The automated modified atmosphere packaging solutions from Israel’s StePac (see here previously) are bringing major benefits to farmers in Chile. They require less manual labor, use less plastic, reduce food waste, lower shipping costs, and increase the shelf-life of the cherries.
The fastest possible recovery. Israel’s Salvador Technologies markets a product that provides a 30-second recovery from cyber-attacks (e.g., ransomware) or IT failures. The innovative patented technology, designed for critical systems, is based on sophisticated data corruption detection and “air-gapped” protected storage.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929918,00.html
https://www.salvador-tech.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I67THkRPvqw
A secure bubble around your network. Israel’s Zero Networks has developed a scalable method to prevent unauthorized access to computer assets. Each piece of equipment is protected with Multi-Factor Authentication that makes them impervious to ransomware attacks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdbuD1XV2Q4
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hyd9bwmgq https://zeronetworks.com/
More reliable vehicles. Israel’s Aurora Labs (see here previously) use machine learning, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity to improve car software quality, safety, and security. Its products Auto Detect, Auto Validate, and Auto Update are able to reduce the numbers of vehicle recalls and lower production costs.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929897,00.html https://www.auroralabs.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-Ub3yYKt2E
Self-driving EV shuttles for the US. Israel-based Mobileye has announced plans to deploy its systems on self-driving electric vehicles in the US during 2024. Mobileye and its partners Germany’s Benteler EV Systems and Florida’s Beep will launch driverless on-demand 12-14 seater shuttles, with no steering wheel or pedal.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-696469
Solar power for Spain. Israel’s Solaer Renewable Energies has connected its Alizursun solar power bank, in the Aragon region of central Spain, to the Spanish national electricity grid. Alizursun is the inaugural project of Solaer’s 1,362 MW project pipeline. Solaer expects to generate a GigaWatt of power by the end of 2023.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-696505
https://www.solaer.co.il/?lang=en
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Still A+ with Fitch. Fitch Ratings has reaffirmed Israel’s A+ rating with a stable outlook. It noted the huge 8.1% increase in GDP for 2021, and a reduced budget deficit from 11.4% of GDP in 2020 to 4.5% in 2021.
https://www.fitchratings.com/research/sovereigns/fitch-affirms-israel-at-a-outlook-stable-29-07-2021
Developing trade ties with Morocco. Israel’s Economy Minister, Orna Barbivai, visited Morocco to sign "a historic cooperation agreement", aiming to establish the economic foundations of trade relations between the two countries. Barbivai (see here previously) is an ex-IDF Major General. Her husband was born in Morocco.
More gas for Egypt. (TY UWI) Israel to begin exporting gas to Egypt via Jordan. The new route, in addition to the existing Ashkelon-El Arish pipeline, will increase current 5 billion cubic meters of gas exports to Egypt by more than 50% It will generate an extra NIS 100 million of annual revenue.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-to-begin-exporting-gas-to-egypt-via-jordan-1001402590
UAE bank buys Israeli anti-fraud tools. Mashreq Bank in the United Arab Emirates is to use the fraud detection tools of Israel’s ThetaRay (see here previously) to secure cross-border payments between financial institutions. Mashreq is the Emirates’ oldest private banking institution and ThetaRay’s first UAE customer.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/uae-bank-taps-israeli-fintech-firm-thetaray-for-fraud-detection-tools/
Google to help diversify Israeli workforce. Google is investing $25 million over 5 years, to extend its existing initiatives for attracting minorities to Israel’s hi-tech sector. They include Adva, a two-year computer science training program for Jewish seminary girls, and a new Tsofen program to integrate Arab engineering students.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/google-to-fund-25m-tech-skills-programs-for-israels-underrepresented-communities/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929936,00.html
Winning incubators. Israel’s Innovation Authority has awarded a total of NIS 500 million to five Israeli incubators operating in the fields of health tech, food tech, space tech and energy. Startups operating in each incubator will each receive up to NIS 6.5 million per project. It will promote early-stage technical projects.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ryzd4hfx9
Incubating space-tech startups. Israeli satellite communications provider Spacecom and its partners are investing NIS 400 million to launch its “Earth & Beyond” incubator to support Israeli startups developing deep tech space technology. The Israeli government will also fund up to 85% of the costs of those startups.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjnkma4gq
Lego to open its first Israeli store. (TY Hazel & NoCamels) Danish toymaker Lego has announced plans to open its first store dedicated to Legos in Tel Aviv “before the summer”. There are 628 Lego stores worldwide, planned and designed by Lego in a consistent way. Israeli stores will be identical to those overseas.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-lego-to-open-first-israel-store-1001403168
The latest Israeli Unicorn. Israel’s Cheq (see here previously) has joined the Unicorn club by raising $150 million at a valuation of $1 billion. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkq00augg9
Investment in Israeli startups to 27/2/22: Cheq raised $150 million; Pontera (FeeX) raised $45 million; anecdotes.ai raised $25 million; Aporia raised $25 million; Zero Networks raised $20.3 million; Valerann raised $17 million; Astrix Security raised $15 million; Kenbi raised $5 million; Varos raised $4 million; Salvador Technologies raised $3 million; Island.io raised 0.5 million.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
The Israel Museum. There is so much to see currently at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. In addition to those reported previously, you can visit exhibits on Divine food, Abstract art, Market Day in Europe, works by Dani Karavan, Painted eggs by Hilla Havkin, Islamic art, Gold & gemstones, and works by Jasper Johns.
https://www.imj.org.il/en/current-exhibitions
Very Mature. Israeli industrial designers Adi Azar and Yotam Shifroni have created quirky, but useful, upcycled and repurposed household objects. The collection, including light fixtures, musical instruments, toys, furniture and accessories, can be seen at the “Very Mature” exhibit at Holon’s Hava Gallery, Feb 19 to May 31.
https://www.studioknob.com/en/
Israel Opera. The 2022 Season at the Israeli Opera includes Pagliacci (Feb-Mar), Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (Mar-Apr), Handel’s Alcina (May), and Verdi’s Aida (Jun-July) and La Traviata (July/Aug).
https://www.israel-opera.co.il/eng/?CategoryID=1262
A mature young spirit. Whisky magazine has just named Israeli whisky distillery Milk & Honey (see here previously) as Brand Innovator of the year (Rest of the World) in its Icons of Whisky 2022 awards. Last year, Milk & Honey won the magazine’s Craft Producer of the Year award.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/p0ir5ZME3YE?start=1068&end=1097 https://mh-distillery.com/
https://whiskymag.com/taste-bottling/milk-honey-classic
THE JEWISH STATE
Key U.S. support. Good article about the USIEA and its role in establishing Israel’s Iron Dome defense system. The US Israel Education Association, comprised of non-Jews, aims to educate, and serve government leaders who are directly involved in advancing important dialogue between the United States and Israel.
https://www.jns.org/nimble-pro-israel-organization-key-to-us-israel-missile-defense-funding/
Shipwreck reveals ancient trade. Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers examining a shipwreck off the Israeli coast have been able to trace 3,200-year-old trade links. Lead ingots show that Cyprus imported metals from Western Mediterranean ports 1,500+ miles away, to create luxury goods for sale throughout the Levant.
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-698175
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352409X21005332?via%3Dihub
Look what the rains uncovered. Two Israeli policemen spotted an object protruding from the Ashdod beach after recent heavy rains. What eventually emerged was an impressive, 1,500-year-old marble pillar that was probably part of a Byzantine church originally on that site.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-police-discover-1500-year-old-marble-treasure-on-the-beach/
The most US immigrants in decades. 2021 saw 4,000 US Olim (new immigrants to Israel) – the most since 1973. The 3,500 arrivals from France were the most in the last 4 years. Other large increases were from Russia (7,500), Ukraine (3,000), Ethiopia (1,636), Argentina (900) UK (650), Brazil (550) and South Africa (550).
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/12/23/2021-sees-record-breaking-immigration-from-us-to-israel/
Preparing to save lives in Ukraine. Due to the current tense security situation, Israeli emergency NGO United Hatzalah is strengthening its volunteer teams in Kyiv, Uman, and Odessa, to provide a continuous medical response in the Jewish communities as the needs arise. Israel’s SmartAID is also flying in relief
https://israelrescue.org/safetyukraine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xniIpRkTegU
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-ngo-sends-aid-to-refugees-pouring-out-of-ukraine/
Israel Ambassadors. Here is the write-up of VeryGoodNewsIsrael’s visit to the “Hadar Young Ambassadors” at Haifa’s Hebrew Reali School. The “ambassadors” previously had visits from Dr Noga Cochavi of Haifa University and IDF Spokesperson Kelly Odes, each promoting positive images of Israel around the world.
https://netanyareflections.blogspot.com/2022/02/realis-student-ambassadors.html
https://netanyareflections.blogspot.com/2022/02/hebrew-reali-school-haifa-hadars-young.html
20/2/22
In the 20th Feb 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An unobtrusive eye test can detect Covid-19 in 40-seconds.
· A woman is the first Druze to set an Israeli athletics record.
· Israeli ministers are honored in Bahrain and Egypt.
· Israeli technology can 3D-print giant industrial products.
· An Israeli startup converts carbon dioxide into oxygen.
· Visit the Dead Sea for a healthy vacation.
· VeryGoodNewsIsrael milestone - 20,000 articles in www.IsraelActive.com
· Click here to see the 13th Jan newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours with excellent intro, IsraPundit, and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German here and (TY Stuart Palmer) posted here. Also, (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here and (TY Stuart Palmer) posted here. Please pass on this newsletter to German and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://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 (20,000+ 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
Non-invasive eye test for Covid-19. (TY UWI) Israel’s AdOM Advanced Optical Technologies has developed the Tear Film Imager (TFI) which, in 40 seconds, measures the tear film layer of the eye to detect if someone has coronavirus. Israel’s Sheba Medical Center is now recruiting volunteers for a clinical study of the TFI.
https://www.jns.org/israel-to-test-for-covid-19-using-non-invasive-eye-exam/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTuQ1R7nZjU
Nasal spray effective against coronavirus. Phase 3 clinical trials confirmed that the Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray (NONS) from Israel’s SaNOtize represents a safe and effective antiviral treatment that shortens the course of COVID-19 and could prevent the transmission of COVID-19. It also received regulatory approval in India.
Cutting the cost of cancer laser treatment. Israel’s HIL Applied Medical (see here previously) is poised to deliver proton-beam radiotherapy to millions of cancer patients who cannot afford it today. HIL plans to produce 200-250 much lower cost proton therapy rooms every year.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/israeli-startup-uses-hebrew-u-breakthrough-to-cut-the-cost-of-treating-cancer/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MA-9Rh1EE8
Routine prenatal ultrasound to detect autism. Researchers from Ben Gurion University have shown that routine prenatal ultrasound in the second trimester can identify early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Anomalies occurred in 30% of fetuses who later developed ASD. It means autism could be treated from birth.
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/autism_ultrasound.aspx
https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awac008/6509260
Brain Monitor rolls out. Israel’s Montfort (Mon4t – see here previously) is expanding the operation of its brain monitor device in the US. It is already in use at Baltimore’s John Hopkins Medicine and the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. It could benefit the million and more Parkinson’s sufferers in the US.
https://www.jns.org/the-israeli-company-turning-smartphones-into-brain-monitors/
Taking smart health tech to the UAE. Israel’s Healthy.io (see here previously) has been authorized to deploy its smartphone image diagnostic technology in the United Arab Emirates. It has finalized a deal with Dubai’s Royal family-founded Seed Group, to sell its self-performed kidney disease urine analysis kits in the UAE.
A boot camp for wellness tech. Several Israeli health-tech startups have applied to participate in the Wellness Tech Bootcamp, an international program supporting startups developing technologies to improve physical and mental health. New to this newsletter include Happy Things, CoBe Labs, and Kai (personal wellness coach)
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929332,00.html
https://www.happythings.app/ https://www.cobelabs.com/ https://kai.ai/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
The supermarket where people shop for free. (TY JNS) Shani and Osher run a store in Petah Tikvah full of donated items that those in need can take for free. They have set up special WhatsApp groups and invite needy families, single parents, elderly etc. to visit once or twice a month. The only limit is just one item of each kind.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-supermarket-where-you-can-shop-for-food-for-free/
Help for victims of abuse. Google Israel has launched a life-saving search engine feature that will help victims of abuse to get help. It recognizes search words and highlights helplines. After testing locally, Google will roll this innovation to other countries. Global incidents have increased by 300% during the coronavirus pandemic.
Israel’s doctor with Cerebral Palsy. Worth reading these two articles describing how Hodaya Oliel (see here previously) overcame challenges to become the first Israeli with Cerebral Palsy to qualify as a medical doctor.
https://www.jpost.com/health-science/pediatricians-parable-meet-israels-first-doctor-with-cerebral-palsy-676445 https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-woman-with-cerebral-palsy-graduates-technion-medical-school/
No age limit at this “special” summer camp. (TY JNS) Camp Eitan is a unique Israeli camp for older teens and adults with cerebral palsy or Down syndrome. It is run by volunteers from Avnei Eitan - a village in the Golan Heights. Whilst there is an age 21 limit at most other camps, there is no upper limit at Camp Eitan.
https://www.israel21c.org/at-this-special-needs-summer-camp-nobody-ever-ages-out/
Druze woman sets new Israeli athletics record. Karawan Halabi, from Daliat el-Carmel, set a time of 2:43:99 in the 1,000-meter race, shattering the 25-year Israeli national record. She became the first Druze athlete to set an Israeli track and field record.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-woman-becomes-first-druze-athlete-to-set-national-track-record/
World record strawberry. (TY Nevet) An Israeli berry has won the Guinness record for the world’s largest strawberry. The 289-gram giant was grown at the Strawberries in the Field plantation run by the Ariel family in Kadima-Zoran, central Israel. The weather and late season caused multiple berries to combine, over 45 days.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-strawberry-wins-guinness-record-as-worlds-largest/
Global conferences. While I was in Haifa last week I mingled with Bar-Ilan University students attending a conference on nanotechnology. I then discovered that the city was hosting 30 international conferences next week. Thanks also to Sharon for her article that included conferences and events in Jerusalem.
https://internationalconferencealerts.com/conferences/Haifa
http://rjstreets.com/2022/02/13/jerusalem-inside-and-out/
The first ever Israeli PM visit to Bahrain. (TY Myer) Great video showing the warm welcome that Israel’s Prime Minister received in his groundbreaking meeting with Bahrain’s Crown Prince.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkCwcqw07nE
Personal greeting for Energy Minister. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi crossed the room at the Middle East Energy Conference to greet Israeli Energy Minister Karine Elharrar, who is confined to a wheelchair. She is the first Israeli Minister to participate in the conference and the Egyptian President warmly welcomed her.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Israeli tech in first US autonomous store. (TY Hazel) The world's first fully autonomous store Nourish + Bloom Market has opened in Fayetteville, Georgia. It features the Smart Shelf weighing system developed by Israel’s Shekel (see here previously). https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-695169
Grow your own vegetables in a box. A previous newsletter (see here) featured the Living Box hydroponic farm in a box. Now another Israeli company AgwaFarm has developed the AgwaGarden with 59 seed “slots” LEDs and AI for tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, arugula, and even strawberries - enough for a small family.
https://www.israel21c.org/growing-vegetables-at-home-has-never-been-so-easy/ https://www.agwafarm.com/
Another reduced-sugar juice. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Better Juice (see here previously) is being challenged by Israel’s Blue Tree. Its innovative technology selectively removes sugars from sucrose without affecting taste.
https://nocamels.com/2022/02/israel-sugar-reduce-tech-fruit-juice/ https://bluetree-tech.com/
Sugar-reduced chocolate chip. Incredo Sugar from Israel’s DouxMatok (see here previously) makes Blommer Chocolate Company’s chocolate-flavored chips 50% less sugar and fewer calories compared to traditional chocolate chips. Blommer is the largest cocoa processor and chocolate ingredient supplier in North America.
https://www.israel21c.org/chocolate-chips-sweetened-with-half-the-sugar/ https://www.incredosugar.com/
A sustainable partnership. Israel’s UBQ (see here previously) has partnered Mexican plastic polymer producer, Resirene, to create a sustainable, UBQ-infused polystyrene material. UBQ will now be able to recycle waste plastic into new end-products, in addition to those produced from its current thermoplastic material.
https://nocamels.com/2022/02/ubq-materials-resirene-polystyrene/
3D printing of large industrial products. Israel’s Largix has developed the first 3D printer able to produce large industrial-strength items from common and recycled polymers. Its robotic systems, sensors and machine learning can produce room-size objects such as storage tanks, with the required bonding and welding strengths.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/israeli-startup-grows-3d-printing-to-larger-than-life-size/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmCS2N-mTAM http://largix.com/
A good clean fight. (TY JNS) New York is holding another Smart Energy Challenge for Israeli startup technology companies to help solve the state’s utility challenges. Last year’s winner was Israel’s Prisma Photonics (see here previously) with its “real-time transmission line issue” detection system.
Bringing products to life. Israel’s Verto has developed AI-driven 3D visualization technology that creates a fully-fledged 360-degrees 3D video image of any item from just a few pictures taken from any smartphone. Verto has begun a 2-month joint venture with the Israel Diamond Exchange.
https://www.verto.ai/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929372,00.html
The first unmanned hybrid helicopter. Israel’s Steadicopter has unveiled Black Eagle 50H - the first unmanned hybrid helicopter of its kind. Powered by a combination of gas and electricity, it is on display at the Singapore Air show (Feb 15 - 18). Its uses include search and rescue, cyber, offshore rigs etc.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-company-unveils-first-unmanned-hybrid-helicopter-of-its-kind/
UAVs authorized for civilian airspace. Israel’s aviation authority has given the go-ahead for the Starliner Unmanned Aerial System (drone) made by Israel’s Elbit, to fly in civilian airspace “as any other civilian airplane” without any restrictions. The certification process took six years to complete.
https://www.jns.org/israels-aviation-authority-green-lights-unmanned-aircraft-for-civil-flight/
Earthquake warning app. Israel’s Geological Survey have launched a new earthquake alert system. Its name “Teruah” is the same as one of the notes blown on the shofar (religious ram’s horn). It can send a warning to your smartphone just 10 seconds after the first tremor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFLBc3bjuuM
The camera that sees through walls. (TY Hazel) Another article about the amazing new camera developed by Israel’s Camero-Tech (see here previously) that can see through walls, even from more than 300 feet away.
Kinneret Innovation Center. The Kinneret Innovation Center’s purpose is to create an engine of growth in the north of Israel. It is aims to help startups and entrepreneurs in agriculture technology, water technology, and sustainability. It bridges the gap between academia, industrial and agricultural communities.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929098,00.html
https://www.kinneretinnovation.com/
To save water she founded a startup. Esther Altura is the founder of DrizzleX (see here previously) and its water metering system that detect leaks and water overuse. She said that saving precious water was an Israeli characteristic – part of her “Israeli DNA”.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929083,00.html
The EnergyTech map. There are now nearly 100 Israel startups working in the field of renewable energy and carbon capture – a 20% increase from 2020. Start-Up Nation Central has unveiled the 2022 Israel EnergyTech map to help multinational companies and VC investors identify relevant Israeli companies and solutions.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929429,00.html https://startupnationcentral.org/
Turning polluted air into oxygen. Some 8.8 million people die every year from respiratory illnesses resulting from air pollution. Israel’s Airovation Technologies turns indoor air pollution into oxygen, while eliminating viruses (e.g., coronavirus) and bacteria.
https://blog.startupnationcentral.org/general/finder-focus/sky-mining-airovation-technologies-converts-co2-into-valuable-minerals/ https://airovation-tech.com/
3D imaging of buried assets. Israel’s Exodigo (see here previously) has developed a subterranean mapping platform for construction, mining, and utility companies. It can create a digital geolocated 3D map of buried assets – from man-made pipes and cables to soil layers, rocks, minerals, and groundwater across any terrain.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929722,00.html
“Limited only by your imagination”. That’s the marketing slogan for Israel’s Classiq, which develops solutions for the quantum software market. It says it helps build complex quantum circuits that could not be created otherwise. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929733,00.html
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
EU to fund Israel, Cyprus, Greece power cable link. (TY Hazel) Cyprus’ Energy Minister has announced that the European Union has earmarked 657 million euros ($736 million) for the construction of a 2,000MW undersea electricity cable that will link the power grids of Israel, Cyprus and Greece (see here previously).
2021 GDP shatters forecasts. Israel's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 8.1% in 2021, beating the Bank of Israel forecast of 7.5% and the OECD forecast (see here previously) of 6.3%. GDP in Q4 was over 16%.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israels-economy-grew-81-in-2021-1001402524
UK Trade Secretary seeks even stronger partnership. Secretary of State for International Trade, Rt. Hon. Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, made her first visit to Israel. She enjoyed the “huge opportunity” to deepen ties with a fellow democracy and tech superpower, to boost trade and strengthen cooperation in science and tech.
https://cfoi.co.uk/international-trade-secretary-takes-first-trip-to-israel-to-kick-off-trade-talks/
A Unicorn in one step. Israel’s Cloudinary has just raised its first funds at a valuation of $2 billion. Cloudinary allows users to “quickly and easily create, manage, and deliver their digital experiences across any browser, device, and bandwidth”. I don’t understand that either, but 9,000 customers and a million developers do.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929533,00.html https://cloudinary.com/
Stock lending for all. Maybe not for all, but those with more than £0.5 million in shares, bonds and ETFs may wish to take advantage of the services of Israel’s Sharegain. It says it offers the private individual the ability to emulate large financial companies and lend out their holdings. (Warning – take financial advice first.)
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929508,00.html https://sharegain.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjvcExTDgOs
Check out your ideas. ESRA (English Speaking Residents Association) is hosting Revital Rauchwerger, Head of the Gvahim Entrepreneurship Center. She will be giving a Zoom lecture on Mon 21st Feb entitled “How to Validate Your Business Idea in Israel”. It is part of their joint “Get it Right in Israel” program.
https://www.nbn.org.il/events/how-to-validate-your-business-idea-in-israel/
Takeovers and exits. Intel is acquiring Israel’s Tower Semiconductor (TowerJazz) for $5.4 billion; Nintex of the US is acquiring Israel’s Kryon for $100 million; Israel’s Fireblocks acquired Israel’s First Digital for $100 million;
Investment in Israeli startups to 20/2/22: Cloudinary raised $110 million; WSC Sports raised $100 million; Sharegain raised $64 million; Classiq raised $33 million; Exodigo raised $29 million; Legit Security raised $26.5 million; Deepdub raised $20 million; Trullion raised $15 million; Vee (volunteering) raised $12 million; Vanilla Vida raised $11.5 million; Permit.io raised $6 million; Verto raised $1.2 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
NbN Events Calendar. See what activities are available for English-speaking immigrants by viewing the Nefesh b’Nefesh Events Calendar. It provides information on virtual and in-person programs, including Hebrew lessons, lectures, performances, tiyulim (tours), job fairs, social and financial advice, and much more.
https://www.nbn.org.il/israel-calendar/?mc_cid=23212b116b&mc_eid=15465044d8
Lecture about Maronite Christians in Israel. Great opportunity to hear a presentation by Israeli Aramaic Maronite Christian Shadi Khalloul. IDF Captain (reserves) and former IDF Spokesman of 160,000 Israeli Christian soldiers integrated into Israeli society. Mon 21st Feb @ 12:30pm ET; 17:30 UK; 19:30 Israel.
https://esra.org.il/events-listing-view/details/2022-02-21/325-the-current-situation-of-maronite-christians-in-israel-with-shadi-khalloul.html https://philosproject.org/
The history of Israeli fashion. A recorded lecture, available through ESRA, by fashion manager and historian Liraz Cohen Mordechai available on Sun 27th Feb after advance registration. Liraz founded “Fashionating by Liri”, a social enterprise that tells the story of Israel while promoting Israeli fashion designers and brands.
Netflix supports budding Israeli film makers. Netflix is supporting a new program at the Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film School. Series Lab will help up-and-coming creators in the field of scripted television. Netflix’s producer and screenwriter Jill Condon will lead workshops on script development and mentor participants.
The world’s best healing spot. (TY Hazel) The Dead Sea has taken the top spot on the top ten list of the prestigious tourist "Travel and Leisure" magazine as the most recommended "healing" destination. It wrote that the Dead Sea’s black mud can treat psoriasis, cure asthma, joint inflammation, osteoporosis, and more.
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/bktqfuqy5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qorcFYIAM4M
THE JEWISH STATE
Training on how to defend Israel. (TY JNS) A new initiative has just been launched to train key influencers in countering antisemites, especially those who hate and demonize Israel as the State of Jewish people. The ProZ course is designed to empower young people who want to defend Israel on social media.
https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/article-694574
A family reunion 77 years after the Shoah. An old photograph started Suzanne Hecker on a 25-year quest to find family members. Thanks to Yad Vashem, a Jewish Genealogy site and a school project, it culminated in a reunion in Israel with over 30 cousins.
https://www.aish.com/jw/s/77-Years-After-the-Holocaust-A-Family-Reunion.html
I have everything. An Israeli business owner won the NIS 80 million jackpot on the Israel lottery with the first ticket he ever bought. When he heard of his win he still went to work, only collecting his prize after finishing work. He said he already had everything he needed, but it was great that his children’s futures are now assured.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/321817
Only in Israel. Last week I gave a talk to students at the Reali Hebrew school in Haifa. Before the lecture, I attended the morning (Shacharit) service in a Haifa hotel that coincidentally was hosting the Bar-Ilan University Conference on Nanotechnology. After prayers, dozens of young scientists learned about VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
13/2/22
In the 13th Feb 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israeli scientists can predict and treat Alzheimer’s before symptoms occur.
· An Israeli 3D-printed spinal implant gives hope to the paralyzed.
· An Israeli was commissioned to compose music for Queen Elisabeth’s Jubilee.
· An Israeli discovery could help end the plagues of locusts.
· Two Israeli schoolboys develop app to help teens learn.
· Merck adopts Israeli medication “testing on a chip” technology.
· House excavated in Jerusalem stood at the same time as the 1st Temple.
· Click here to see the 6th Jan newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours (with another great intro) and United With Israel with extra feature on Economy & Business. Also (TY Sandra) in German here and (TY Stuart Palmer) posted here. Also, (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here and (TY Stuart Palmer) posted here. Please pass on this newsletter to German and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://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 (19,900+ 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
Alzheimer’s breakthrough. Tel Aviv University scientists have identified pathological activity in the brain that precedes initial Alzheimer’s symptoms by many years. A systemic failure causes high activity in the hippocampus even during sleep. They also found that an existing MS treatment suppresses this activity.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-695244
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124721017800
The future of cancer therapy. Israel’s ImmPACT Bio is developing transformative logic-gate-based CAR-T cell therapies for cancer patients who have exhausted their treatment options. The technology is designed to distinguish cancerous cells from normal cells, thereby eliminating tumors without damaging normal tissues. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-cancer-therapy-co-immpact-bio-raises-111m-1001399387
Vitamin D and Covid-19. Researchers from Israel’s Bar Ilan University and the Galilee Medical Center have confirmed and now published their conclusions regarding their June study (see here previously) that showed increased vitamin D levels can help COVID-19 patients reduce the risk of serious illness or death.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0263069
A strategy for tackling Covid-19. Israel’s Pangea (see here previously) has launched a comprehensive portfolio of services and products aimed at helping government authorities over the globe tackle the COVID-19 crisis in their country. Pangea set up Test2Fly at Ben Gurion airport and Green Pass entry systems for offices.
Passive detection of diseases. Israel’s Olive Diagnostics (see here previously) has completed a successful clinical trial of its KG hands-free, non-invasive, AI-based optical device for 100% passive and seamless urinalysis. In continuous testing, the device accurately detected biomarkers associated with kidney stones.
https://www.startuphub.ai/olive-diagnostics-100-passive-urine-analysis-device-accurately-detects-biomarkers-for-kidney-stones-uti-and-heart-failure/ https://www.olive.earth/
A high fat diet can repair brain damage. A Tel Aviv University study indicates that a ketogenic diet may reduce the effects of brain damage after traumatic injury. High-fat products such as meat, fish, eggs, avocado, butter etc., are eaten while restricting carbohydrates e.g., bread, sugar, grains, legumes, pastries and even fruits.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/320622 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34876621/
Is DNA talking to us? Researchers at Israel’s Ben Gurion University applied linguistics to the study of how DNA protein letter groups repeat. They then generated an algorithm that revealed their functions and now believe this approach can help plan the development of innovative new treatments.
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/dna_text.aspx https://academic.oup.com/nar/article/49/20/11447/6414050
Spinal implant could help paralyzed to walk. (TY WIN) A first-of-its-kind 3D-printed spinal cord tissue implant developed in Prof. Tal Dvir’s regenerative biotechnology lab at Tel Aviv University, has enabled paralyzed lab mice to walk again. Startup Matricelf (see here previously) is now working on a human version.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-lab-made-spinal-cords-get-paralyzed-mice-walking-human-trial-in-3-years/ https://english.tau.ac.il/news/artificial-spine https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202105694
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZQ0-KoaFDE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swAIomwbZvw
Pursue an MD degree in Israel. Do you know of someone interested in pursuing their M.D. or MBA degree in Israel? This video features Lynne M. Quittell, M.D., director of the North American office of BGU’s Medical School for International Health. https://americansforbgu.org/video/md-or-mba-degree-in-english/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGkH7dTKy84
How an insensitive doctor spurred on an EU award-winner. Dr. Daphne Haim-Langford was just 16 when a doctor told her not to study as she was going blind with Uveitis. It pushed her to get a PhD at Israel’s Technion Institute, found medical startup Tarsier and win the EU 2021 prize for female innovators (see here previously).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928585,00.html
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Groundbreaking women scientists. (TY UWI) 3 Israeli women scientists have won Na’amat Prizes. Prof. Beena Kalisky of Bar-Ilan University won NIS 100,000 for her sensors to detect magnetic nanoparticles (even a single electron). Other winners were Prof. Shiri Artstein (Tel Aviv Uni) and Dr. Yonit Hochberg (Hebrew Uni).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928594,00.html
Israel’s female Attorney General. Israel’s new Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has officially taken up her post following the unanimous cabinet confirmation of her appointment. The former Tel Aviv district attorney for civil affairs is the first woman to assume Israel’s top justice role.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/amid-wiretap-scandal-gali-baharav-miara-officially-enters-attorney-generals-office/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/321872
Together on the farm. Jonny Kuritsky is the husband of Newsletter supporter and Israel21C writer Diana Bletter. Jonny has been farming the fields of Shavei Zion for 46 years. His workers comprise 4 Israeli Arabs, 4 Israeli Jews, and 4 Thai workers. They speak to one another in a mixture of Hebrew, Arabic, Thai, and English.
https://www.israel21c.org/tales-from-the-heart-out-on-the-tractor-at-dawn/
Trade increases with Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority (PA) announced exports to Israel increased 10% in Nov 2021 compared to the previous month. Imports from Israel also increased. Israel accounts for over 80% of the PA’s exports and provides over half of its imports.
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/01/palestinian-economic-activity-israel-increases
Arab Health conference features Israeli innovations. The annual Arab Health conference in Dubai featured 11 Israeli startups showcasing their healthcare innovations. It is the second time Israel has participated in the largest medical exhibition in the Middle East since the signing of the Abraham Accords in August 2020.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-startups-head-to-dubai-to-tout-medical-health-technologies/
https://www.export.gov.il/en/exhibition/exhibitions_arab-health_eng
World number 2 for cleantech startups. (TY Nevet) Tel Aviv ranked second globally as a Cleantech ecosystem on the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) at the CleanTech Forum San Francisco. Tel Aviv came a close second after Silicon Valley and before key global hubs Stockholm, London, and Los Angeles.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-694910
Music for Queens 70th jubilee. UK-born Israeli Loretta Kay-Feld was commissioned to create two pieces of music for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. She said that tears were shed in the Royal Family when they heard her compositions “70 Years a Queen” and “The Queen's Soliloquy”. Loretta also wrote music for US presidents.
https://www.thejc.com/news/news/british-israeli-composer-behind-queens-platinum-jubilee-music-says-royals-moved-to-tears-2Z6xnlWEAKpjux23DFdids https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-60153456
Celebrating 30 years of relations with India. Israel and India celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations with each country lighting up historic sites and their leaders making special video addresses.
https://www.jns.org/israel-and-india-celebrate-30-years-of-diplomatic-relations/
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/gehri-dosti-says-pm-bennett-as-israel-and-india-mark-30-years-of-diplomatic-ties/article38348739.ece https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/34778/
Coronavirus aid to Sri Lanka. (TY Hazel) The Israeli Ambassador to Sri Lanka handed over aid including ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPEs) and pulse oximeters to Foreign Secretary Adm. Prof. Jayanath Colombage in Colombo. (See here and here for examples of previous Israeli aid to Sri Lanka.)
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
European grants for Technion scientists. The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded more starting grants (see here previously) this time to 4 scientists from Israel’s Technion. Dr. Ayala Shiber, Dr. Shay Moran, Dr. Aviv Tamar, and Dr. Ron Rothblum received at least 1.5 million euros each to support their projects.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2022/01/technion-researchers-erc-grants/
Tech Behemoths. The TechBehemoths platform has given 2021 awards for excellence, hard work and positive feedback to 10 Israeli companies. Shooker, Webpals, Penguin Strategies, Booya Digital, Press on It, SRY Digital, Marketing Envy, SunHouse Marketing, Ranky, and Pixel/Point Press. A newsletter first for all.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/01/18/10-israeli-companies-named-tech-behemoths/
https://techbehemoths.com/awards/israel
Discovery may help combat locust swarms. Researchers at Tel Aviv University and Haifa University have found that a locust’s bacterial composition in its gut, called a microbiome, goes through drastic changes when the host insect joins a larger group. The discovery could help develop new ways to prevent plagues of locusts.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/biblical-plague-explained-israeli-study-suggests-why-locusts-form-massive-swarms/ https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1462-2920.15883
AI Week Online. The virtual conference AI Week Online (Feb 7 – 9) sponsored by the Cyber Research Center at Tel Aviv University, highlighted how Israeli Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is revolutionizing business strategy, government policy, operations and product development in every imaginable field.
https://www.israel21c.org/ai-week-online-coming-to-you-from-tel-aviv/
https://aiweek2022.b2b-wizard.com/expo
Hear sights and feel sounds. (TY JNS) At the Reichman University (formerly IDC) in Herzliya, Israeli scientists are creating portals between the senses and even reprogramming our senses. It’s where they invented EyeMusic (see here previously) to help the blind use sound to “see” shapes.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-israeli-lab-where-you-can-hear-sights-and-feel-sounds/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU2E6Bw6Ado
An eye into the cosmos. Israel’s Elbit is to build a space telescope for Israel’s Weizmann Institute. The highly sensitive wide-view instrument is part of Israel’s Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite (“ULTRASAT”) program, to observe and research deep space, from an orbit 36,000km above the Earth.
https://www.jns.org/elbit-awarded-16-million-to-build-new-space-telescope-for-weizmann-institute/
Space Hummus. Israel’s SpaceIL co-founder Yonatan Winetraub has devised an experiment to grow Israeli chickpeas in space. A miniature greenhouse containing the seeds will arrive at the International Space Station on 19th Feb. Scientists will use special LEDs to test if they can grow the superfood without sunlight or gravity.
https://www.jns.org/chickpea-seeds-headed-to-international-space-station-for-use-in-mini-greenhouse/
Laser defense shield. Israel’s PM Naftali Bennett has announced that the IDF is building a laser interception system to protect Israel from missiles, rockets, UAVs, and other threats. It could also be supplied to Israel’s regional allies and globally. https://www.timesofisrael.com/laser-based-defense-system-to-be-deployed-within-year-bennett-says-speeding-rollout/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/321548
An electric road in Detroit. Israel’s ElectReon (see here previously) has won a bid to build an Electric Road System (ERS) on a public road in Detroit, USA. The Motor City will test electrified roads and aims to increase the use of electric vehicles and advance environmental sustainability.
Oil and water do mix. The Israeli-developed technology of Capsoil Foodtech (part of the global Prodalim Group) has advanced the capacity for mixing oil and water by developing ultra-fine, water-soluble powders out of natural oils. It opens the door for new functional foods and supplements.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/capsoil-foodtechs-innovative-platform-converts-bioactive-oils-into-water-soluble-powders-301473691.html https://prodalim.com/ https://www.capsoil.com/
More water, less oils. Dr Ran Suckeveriene is Head of the Water Industry Engineering department of the Kinneret Academic College. He talks about his work at the college. But he is also CTO of Israel’s Obvislim, whose oral beverage limits absorption of fats and sugars in the small intestine, to combat obesity and diabetes.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929058,00.html
https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/company_page/obvislim
Treating wastewater with bacteria. Israel’s BioCastle has developed pocket-sized capsules for treating wastewater. The treatment uses safe bacteria to biodegrade pollutants in both domestic and industrial environments.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929054,00.html https://www.bio-castle.com/
What’s the damage? Two Israeli startups are using imaging technology to help assess damage on rental cars. Click-ins (see here previously) uses AI to compare pre- and post-rental pictures. Spinframe Technologies provides 360-degree photo tech for vehicle marketing and operations, including visual damage monitoring.
https://www.israel21c.org/automated-vehicle-damage-inspection-relies-on-imaging/
https://spinframe.com/ https://vimeo.com/542351094
Teens develop “learn by video” app. After school, two Israelis, Yaniv (15) and Eyal (17) have developed the app LOLstudy, which could change education as we know it. They realized that today’s generation learns through videos. Any textbook is uploaded to a TikTok-like website where teenagers turn it into a fun video.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-israeli-teens-develop-app-to-help-kids-learn/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3C5FnZlbYg&t=324s
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Joint R&D fund with UAE. Israel is to establish a joint hi-tech investment fund with the United Arab Emirates. The binational industrial R&D fund will support requests for joint activities between Israeli and Emirati companies. Israel and the UAE will each allocate NIS 15 million per year to the fund over ten years.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-approves-multimillion-dollar-joint-rd-fund-with-uae/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/320986
How did Israeli tech do so well in a pandemic? (TY WIN) Interesting article – in summary, Israelis were not afraid to launch or expand technological solutions when most of the world was sheltering from a crisis.
https://www.israel21c.org/how-did-israeli-tech-do-so-well-during-a-pandemic/
Calling Israel. European call center Webhelp is establishing a Tel Aviv office this year and is recruiting 500 local employees. Webhelp currently employs more than 95,000 employees in over 50 countries.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3927776,00.html
Business intelligence for non-profits. Israel’s Impala has developed an Impact Intelligence product for locating non-profits. Similar to LinkedIn, users can analyze any non-profit ecosystem anywhere in the U.S by searching for specific traits such as geographies, causes, funders etc.
https://impala.digital/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3927602,00.html
Merck to test new treatments using Israeli chips. Global giant Merck has signed an agreement worth many millions of dollars with Israel’s Quris (see here previously). Merck will be able to use the Quris “human on a chip” platform to test its new medicines and identify those that are safe to use.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929060,00.html
Takeovers and exits. Israel’s Innovid has acquired UK competitor TVSquared for $160 million. Meanwhile, Israel’s Testim was acquired by Austria’s Tricentis for $200 million.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928959,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3929092,00.html
Investment in Israeli startups to 13/2/21: Gauzy raised $60 million; Scopio Labs raised $50 million; Rewire raised $25 million; Sidelines raised $25 million; Vicarius raised $24 million; Qwak raised $15 million; Amplication raised $6.6 million; Canonic Security raised $6 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Songs and places. (TY Jacob Richman) Jacob has added several Hebrew songs to his valuable website. I especially enjoyed Chai – Israel’s runner-up at the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest sung by Ofra Haza. Jacob has also added whole new sections on Israel Museums, Parks and Natural Reserves, Zoos and Aquariums.
https://jr.co.il/links/#hebrew-songs https://jr.co.il/links/index.html#israel-museums
https://jr.co.il/links/index.html#israel-parks https://jr.co.il/links/index.html#israel-zoos
Art from plastic waste. (TY Sharon) Beverly Barkat has opened her solo Earth Poetica exhibition at the Israel Aquarium in Jerusalem. It centers around a huge colorful sphere made from plastic waste, to increase awareness of the damage it causes to the marine environment. Beverly’s husband is former Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.
https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=152046
Pilates with paper. Hilla Ben Ari’s art installation at Jerusalem’s Ticho House echoes the work of 1930’s artist Moshe Reifer, who lived in Kibbutz Yagur, where Hilla grew up. In Hilla’s six nearly full-size video works, 3 dancers hold their bodies in almost impossible poses while using white paper to display shapes and shadows.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/fantastical-papercuts-from-pre-state-israel-inspire-video-art/
Six of the best. Thanks to the Abraham Accords, Israeli restaurants are now included in the prestigious Abu Dhabi-sponsored "50 best in the Middle East" ranking. Tel Aviv’s OCD was third on the list. George and John (9), HaBasta (14), Animar (17), Pescado Ashdod (kosher) (24) and Milgo & Milbar (40).
https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/02/08/made-the-cut-6-israeli-restaurants-rank-on-50-best-in-the-middle-east/ https://www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News/mena-restaurants-2022-list-in-pictures.html
Russian Israeli wins tennis tournament. (TY Nevet) Aslan Karatsev, won the Sydney Classic tennis tournament, beating UK’s Andy Murray in the final with a near flawless performance. Karatsev plays for the Russian national side but grew up and trained in Israel and speaks fluent Hebrew.
Israelis of iron. (TY Nevet) 1,700 athletes from 12 countries participated in the annual Israman triathlon events inside and around the Israel’s Red Sea resort city of Eilat. Israelis won both the men’s and women’s triathlons - 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, and a full marathon 42.2km run. They won prizes worth NIS 10,000 each.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/20220129/9b066231a79c4c6984b70e0ad576b43d/c.html
THE JEWISH STATE
The moment of discovery. (TY IsraelUnwired) Israeli archaeologists thought they were unearthing a Persian era building in Jerusalem’s City of David. Then they reached the floor of the building and saw on it a crushed vessel that dated from the destruction of the first Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BCE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3LCbCz9lWs
Snow excuses. When the on-call surgeon at Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospital got stuck in the recent snowstorm, the Department director stepped in to save the life of a 3-year-old toddler. And volunteers from Israeli NGO United Hatzalah came in an emergency all-terrain vehicle to rescue a bride and groom stranded by the snow.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/321273 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/321275
60 years of the Chagall windows. (TY JNS) Marc Chagall’s stained-glass windows at the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center were dedicated on 6th Feb 1962. Chagall said on that day, “This is my modest gift to the Jewish people who have always dreamt of biblical love, friendship and peace among all peoples.”
https://www.israel21c.org/magnificent-chagall-windows-mark-60-years-in-jerusalem/
An answer to the loneliness epidemic. The Chabad youth movement in Israel has expanded its “Get Chesed” program. Teens and university students volunteer for weekly visits to thousands of survivors and other elderly Israelis, helping to distribute food packages, run errands, and spend time to help ease their loneliness.
https://www.jns.org/colel-chabad-get-chesed-program-connects-youth-with-holocaust-survivors/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiKJqGXcTIU
Top pick of Israeli crop of charities. Israeli charity Leket’s 2021 achievements include salvaging 25 million kg of unwanted crops from 600 farmers to feed over 55,000 poor families. They and their partners also rescued over 1.3 million surplus hot meals to deliver to the needy. 18,000 volunteers helped in this life-preserving work.
https://www.leket.org/en/2021-summary-report/
6/2/22
In the 6th Feb 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An Israeli discovery could save thousands of premature babies.
· Successful Israeli women – a judge, a journalist and university deans.
· Israel’s President is honored in the United Arab Emirates.
· Multiple Israeli initiatives and innovations to improve the environment.
· Increased tax breaks for new Israeli immigrants.
· Record revenues and unlimited employee holidays at Israel’s Amdocs.
· Orthodox Jewish volunteers, and Tess the dog, save a life on Shabbat.
· Click here to see the 30th Jan newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours (with great introduction), and United With Israel with extra feature on The Jewish State with 3,300 shares. Also (TY Sandra) in German here and (TY Stuart Palmer) posted here. Also, (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here. Please pass on this newsletter to German and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://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 (19,800+ 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
ALS treatment trial success. (TY I24 News) The cellular therapy from Israel’s Kadimastem (see here previously) was able to slow down the progression of ALS in its first human clinical trial on ten patients. Kadimastem’s Vice President of R&D Michal Izrael describes the treatment and the next trial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHbjiBZepC8
Eradicating cancer. To mark World Cancer Day on 4th Feb, these articles describe some of the latest developments of Israeli scientists at the Technion Institute, Ben Gurion University, and Tel Aviv University.
https://nocamels.com/2022/02/cancer-innovative-therapy-strategies/
https://www.vpklab.sites.tau.ac.il/
Anti-viral treatment has promise. (TY WIN) Israel’s Todos (see here previously) completed a Phase 2 study of its Tollovir treatment on 31 hospitalized Covid-19 patients. Their clinical improvement was 2.7 days faster than the placebo group. Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek hospital is now allowing Tollovir for compassionate use.
https://www.israel21c.org/covid-19-antiviral-drug-shows-promising-results/
Repairing livers for transplant. Tel Aviv Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center performed, for the first time in Israel, a donor liver machine perfusion (MP) to improve a dilapidated liver and successfully transplant it into a patient. By repairing aged and damaged livers, it will reduce the shortage of livers from deceased donors.
Protecting preemies’ first breath. A previous newsletter (see here) featured a monitor to detect if premature babies were damaged by their ventilator. Now scientists at Israel’s Technion have discovered the underlying reason for the damage and successfully tested a treatment that could save thousands of young lives.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2022/01/mechanical-ventilation-preterm-babies/
More IVF patients to self-monitor. IVF patients of Israel’s Clalit Heathcare have performed nearly 15,000 UV scans using Israel’s Pulsenmore (see here previously) to monitor their pregnancies. Clalit are purchasing thousands more Pulsenmore remote hand-held devices – especially important during the coronavirus pandemic.
https://nocamels.com/2022/01/pulsenmore-clalit-ivf-ultrasound-home/
Sweet Victory over sugar cravings. Israel’s Sweet Victory (see here previously) has completed a successful pilot study of its innovative chewing gum at the Obesity Research Center of Israel’s Sheba Medical Center. In just two minutes it blocks the sugar receptors on the tongue. Available in Israel, France and soon the USA.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/sweet-victory-over-sugar-cravings-822460508.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaetu-zwHiw
A window into the body. Researchers from Israel’s Weizmann Institute have shown how to monitor genes deep inside the body. They used a genetic dye and engineered cells to light up when those genes are expressed. One day it will help monitor the success of cell therapy for cancer or the success of transplanted organs.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/chemistry/tracking-multiple-genes-flying-colors
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-israeli-imaging-technique-gives-unprecedented-window-into-genes-deep-in-body/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-021-01162-5
Home visits for your pet. Israel’s The Vets has established a startup for owners of pets in over 10 cities across the USA. It offers a full range of home treatments for pets, including wellness exams, home lab tests, vaccinations, travel certificates, microchipping, and more. The Vets’ product and R&D centers are in Tel Aviv.
https://thevets.com/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928196,00.html
First among equals. Having just donated an ambulance to United Hatzalah, EMT volunteer Kenneth was proudly driving it on its first shift in Beitar Illit. Suddenly he received an emergency call and seconds later was using equipment from the ambulance to successfully help resuscitate a patient without any vital signs.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Record number of female deans at the Technion. Israel’s Technion Institute is a leader in promoting women's empowerment. Seven out of 13 deans are women, as well as 44% of new students who enrolled since the beginning of the academic year. Women are also the majority on many of the Technion’s top committees.
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/bkx5zaf2t
First female Muslim District Court Judge. (TY Hazel) Osaila Abu Assad has been appointed Israel’s first female Muslim district court judge, sitting at Nazareth Magistrates’ Court. She graduated in law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1996 and was previously a court registrar at the Northern Magistrate’s Court.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-695012
Druze innovation center. The Technological Innovation Center of the Druze Community has just been inaugurated at Israel’s Technion Institute. The new center is training young Druze men and women in Quality Assurance (QA) - one of the most popular fields in hi-tech.
Diplomatic spouses love Israel. (TY Sharon) Israel’s First Lady Michal Herzog welcomed some 30 members of the Diplomatic Spouses and Partners Club in Israel to the President’s residence in Jerusalem. Very moving speech from the Moroccan rep and Michal Herzog responded to the Brazilian rep in fluent Portuguese!
https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=151908
The first Israeli UAE journalist. Israel’s Michal Divon (a woman) is the first Israeli to work for an Emirati newspaper. She is a senior editor and producer for Khaleej Times, the UAE’s longest-running English language daily newspaper. She has already become an active member of the Jewish community in Dubai.
Abraham Accords Peace Institute. The new Israel office of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute (AAPI) has just been opened in Israel. The AAPI has a small team in place in Washington, with plans to open offices in each member country. It is working on commercial and academic projects.
Hatikvah played for Israeli President in Abu Dhabi. (TY Hazel) More history is being made in the UAE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTk7FDRR8HI
https://www.albawaba.com/node/uae-palace-plays-israeli-national-anthem-hatikva-herzog-visit-1464433
Israel’s innovations in UAE. Israeli President Isaac Herzog officially opened the Israeli pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai. “Israel is a country in which obstacles become opportunities, and where the impossible is a tantalizing challenge,” he said. 600,000+ have already visited the pavilion and heard Israel’s national anthem played there.
https://www.jns.org/herzog-at-expo-2020-dubai-in-israel-the-impossible-is-a-tantalizing-challenge/
FEMA & World Bank use Israeli maps. (TY UWI) Israel’s GeoX (see here previously) has a database of 3D maps covering 340 million global properties. The US Federal Management Emergency Agency (FEMA) uses them to evaluate damage after disasters. The World Bank uses them to identify flood-prone housing in Ghana.
https://www.israel21c.org/would-your-building-survive-an-extreme-weather-event/
Aid to Tonga. (TY Hazel) The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs has donated a substantial amount of food aid to the children of Tonga, impacted by the devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami on 15th Jan.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO2202/S00023/israel-sends-aid-to-tonga.htm
Supplying vaccination syringes to Nepal. Israel donated 563,000 syringes to support Nepal’s immunization drive, which had been put on hold due to a shortage of syringes. Israel has previously sent supplies to support Nepal in its fight against Covid-19 on several occasions. https://kathmandupost.com/health/2022/02/01/israel-donates-half-million-syringes-for-covid-19-vaccines-to-nepal
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Other fishy alternatives. Following last week’s article on Israel’s Plantish (see here), at least four more Israeli startups were founded in the food alternatives fish market over the past year. Sea2cell (cultured blue tuna), Wanda Fish (cell-based fish fillets), Forsea (cultured eels for Japan), E-Fishient (cultured tilapia).
https://fresh-start.co.il/portfolio/ https://forseafoods.com/
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-startups-tackle-fish-alternatives-1001399613
360-degree 3D on-line shopping. Israeli-founded Hexa uses AI plus tools from Microsoft and Snap Inc. to help retailers and brands convert their images and product information into immersive content, including 3D, AR, and VR. The LA Lakers basketball team uses Hexa’s platform to sell branded jerseys and sports apparel.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/01/18/israels-hexa-partners-with-microsoft-to-leverage-snaps-tech-for-3d-retail-shopping/ https://nocamels.com/2022/01/hexa-microsoft-ar-snap/ https://www.hexa3d.io/
Know your customers. Israel’s Onebeat uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help retailers understand their customers in real-time. The system’s algorithm predicts the types and quantities of products sold in each store. Sales increase while reducing stock levels in stores. Used by American Eagle, Toys R Us, TATA and more.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928575,00.html https://1beat.com/
https://1beat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OneBeat_v07.mp4
A robot cleaner. Robotize is an independent division of Mittwoch - Israel’s sole distributor of smart robots developed by Gaussian Robotics to act as cleaners in office buildings, hospitals, and public spaces. The fully autonomous robots can scrub, sweep, replenish their water, recharge, and operate 24 hours a day.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3927992,00.html
AI to analyze medical records. Israel’s DigitalOwl (see here previously) uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology to read, summarize, and analyze medical records for insurance and legal companies. It saves time and resources, reducing costs and errors. Thousands of pages can be transformed into a focused summary.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3927995,00.html
https://www.digitalowl.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQPy21MZ1hc
MDA ambulances get air purifiers. (TY UWI) Magen David Adom ambulances in Israel are being fitted with IN-EX filtration units donated by AVVIR, a division Israel’s A.L. Group. IN-EX initiates a chemical reaction with ultrasonic energy. It was developed at Bar-Ilan University by the inventors of Sonovia facemasks.
https://www.israel21c.org/filter-turns-ambulances-a-c-unit-into-an-air-purifier/
450,000 trees to keep Israelis cool. (TY UWI) Israel’s government has approved a plan to plant 450,000 trees along some 30,000 kilometers of road in urban areas to provide shade and help cool temperatures. The plan achieves a double objective - protecting the environment and improving the urban space.
Removing “forever chemicals”. Researchers from Israel’s Technion Institute have managed to remove dangerous pollutants called PFAS or “forever chemicals” from drinking water. They used clay-iron-polymer composites to accelerate the oxidation process that turns the pollutants into non-toxic substances.
Better use of plastics. Israel’s Tosaf develops additives and solutions to give plastic color, plus properties such as anti-static, anti-fog, and flame retardant. In addition, they make plastic reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLHW-gBMMbE https://www.tosaf.com/sustainability/
Sustainability in space. At the Ramon Space Conference during Israeli Space Week, private and public groups focused on technology to ensure food security, help protect the environment, and predict the weather, while allowing the commercial sector to flourish. Speakers included Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe from Axiom Space.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928116,00.html (Video in Arabic for Israeli Arabs!)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/KKLk6WiM1sI/?start=2760 https://www.space.gov.il/israeli-space-week
Data from space. Israel’s Asterra (formerly Utilis) specializes in microwave-sensing resiliency technology for utilities such as water, highways, or mining. It has been used on satellites and planes to identify over 10,000 confirmed water leaks in the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom, Chile, China, South Africa, and more.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3927608,00.html https://asterra.io/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Unemployment keeps falling. Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported that Israel’s rate of unemployment fell to 4.1% in December from 4.6% in November, as the economy continued to recover from the Covid crisis. There was a continuing rise in the number of job vacancies, with salaries also on the rise.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-unemployment-in-israel-continues-falling-1001398834
Billions more investments. Israeli startups raised a total of $2.1 billion in Jan 2020. And the UAE has just confirmed it is to invest $10 billion in Israeli companies. It includes the ADG (Abu Dhabi Growth) Fund which plans to invest $200 million in Israeli companies each year for 10 years.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-startups-raised-21b-in-january-1001400680
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-uae-moving-forward-with-planned-10b-israel-investments-1001400617
Increased tax incentives for new immigrants. New immigrants (Olim) are currently eligible for income-tax deductions for up to three and a half years. A new bill going through the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) will add NIS 223 per month to the amount that Olim can earn before tax and extend its validity to four and a half years.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-693849
Record-breaking cybersecurity. Israeli cybersecurity firms raised a record $8.8b in 2021, eclipsing the $2.9 billion raised in 2020. Meanwhile, Israeli Export Institute estimated Israeli cybersecurity exports at $11 billion in 2021. Israel’s cyber directorate stated that a third of all cybersecurity unicorns in the world was now Israeli.
Shop-and-Go. (TY UWI) Israel’s Trigo Vision (see here previously) has launched a pilot of its checkout-free shopping technology with Wakefern Food Corp, the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States. Shoppers will be able to fill their carts with groceries and then just walk out of the New Jersey store.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3927119,00.html
Spiral Tower gets green light. Tel Aviv has given approval for the construction of the Spiral Tower (see here and here previously). The 91-floor 350-meter-high skyscraper will be Israel’s 2nd tallest. Its 150,000 sq meters of space is equal to the combined total of the three existing towers on the site of Tel Aviv’s Azrieli Mall.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tel-aviv-greenlights-construction-of-one-of-israels-tallest-towers/
Israeli cybersecurity consolidates. Israeli cybersecurity giant Check Point Software has bought Israel’s Spectral for $60 million. Check Point will use Spectral’s security tools to extend its cloud solution, Check Point CloudGuard. Meanwhile Israeli-founded Forescout is acquiring Israel’s CyberMDX for $80 million.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928399,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928397,00.html
Neat takeover in Rapyd time. Two puns for the price of one, as Israel’s Rapyd (see here previously) has completed the acquisition of Hong Kong-based NEAT, a cross-border trade-enabling platform for SMBs (Small/Medium Businesses) and startups. It will help expand Rapyd’s Fintech-as-a-Service business.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928361,00.html
Cybersecurity chairman is out of this world. Lane Bess is the new chairperson of Israeli cybersecurity Sepio (see here previously). Together with his son Cameron, they are the only parent/child duo to go to space, having taken an 11-minute flight aboard Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin ship in December.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928082,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqFAxmQGtQc
Record revenues and unlimited holidays. Israel’s Amdocs reported record revenue totaling $1.1 billion in the last quarter of 2021, 11% higher than Q4 2020. It has also given its 29,000 employees a flexible vacation model that means they can take an unlimited number of vacation days.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928478,00.html
Investment in Israeli startups to 6/2/21: Pecan.ai raised $66 million; Torii raised $50 million; The Vets raised $40 million; Talon Cyber Security raised $17 million; Bizi raised $7.5 million; Onebeat raised $5 million; Blyp raised $4 million; Cynomi raised $3.5 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Tea-time in Jerusalem. Afternoon tea can be taken at several locations in Jerusalem, from high-end versions at Jerusalem’s Waldorf Astoria and King David hotels to a cozier option at Kumkum in Jerusalem’s Baka neighborhood. They include scones, pastries, sandwiches, and cakes, all elegantly served on porcelain china.
“Blossom of snow”. (TY Sharon) Jerusalem was recently transformed from Spring to Winter and then back to Spring. Two weeks ago, its almond trees (the symbol of Tu Bishvat - the Jewish New Year for Trees) were in full bloom. Then for less than a day, they were covered in deep snow. “Bless my homeland forever”.
http://rjstreets.com/2022/01/16/10-facts-for-tu-bishvat-all-about-almonds/
http://rjstreets.com/2022/01/30/snow-in-jerusalem-photos/
Watch Israeli Unicorns at the Super Bowl. Israeli billion-dollar companies Gong.io and monday.com will advertise during the NFL Super Bowl LV1 2022 on Sun Feb 13. Each ad costs an estimated $5 million to create and broadcast. Let’s hope they get seen - the event will broadcast some 80-90 commercials during the breaks.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928472,00.html
THE JEWISH STATE
Holocaust Remembrance Day at Kosovo Embassy. (TY Sharon) The Kosovo Embassy in Jerusalem hosted a commemorative event for International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Kosovo’s Ambassador to Israel, Ines Demiri, is Jewish. Kosovo is 95% Muslim, and Muslim Albanian-Kosovars rescued many Jews from the Shoah.
https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=151897
https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/besa/index.asp
Reason for pain – a bullet in the back. Doctors finally traced the cause of Adi’s back pain that began 3 months after she attended her friend’s wedding in Psagot, Samaria. A CT scan revealed that she had been hit by a 5.56mm bullet that narrowly missed vital organs. Doctors surgically removed the bullet.
Historic scroll discovered at Ben Gurion House. A JNF-KKL scroll presented to David Ben-Gurion in 1949 has been found at the Ben-Gurion House in Tel Aviv. It describes key events in the history of Zionism but was never seen before, having been closed in its wrapping for years. It will now be put on display for the public.
A new force on social media. The new US-based nonprofit TalkIsrael Foundation aims to help Israel improve its image in the world. It will engage young pro-Israel activists to promote accurate, truthful, and positive coverage and news about Israel on social media and positively influence the hearts and minds of young people.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-694069
Saving life on Shabbat. Hadera police awarded certificates to volunteers from the Israel Dog Unit (IDU), for helping save the life of 84-year-old Pavel who went missing in nearby Or Akiva. The orthodox Jewish team, with Tess the dog, located Pavel on Shabbat morning and summoned the emergency services to save him.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/321351 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/321684
http://israeldogs.blogspot.com/2020/08/emergency-crowd-funding-campaign-for.html
220130
In the 30th Jan 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israeli scientists have discovered how pancreatic cancer spreads.
· Two Israeli startups partner to help the blind use public transport.
· Top Indonesian health official visits Israel for advice on pandemic.
· Dozens of Israeli tech innovations exhibited at CES in Las Vegas.
· Israeli startup prints amazing objects from recycled wood.
· DHL opens hi-tech facility to handle surge in Israeli business.
· Israel’s first Winter Paralympian is a female Lubavitch skier.
· An amulet found at Joshua’s altar in Samaria may have Biblical significance.
· Click here to see the 16th Jan newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, and United With Israel with extra feature on Culture, Entertainment & Sport (with 1,000+ shares). Also (TY Sandra) in German here and (TY Stuart Palmer) posted here. Also, (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here and (TY Stuart Palmer) posted here. Please pass on this newsletter to German and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://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 (19,800+ 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
The next booster could be Israeli. The CEO of NRx - the US company in charge of trials of Israel’s BriLife coronavirus vaccine – said NRx is designing a Phase II study of BriLife as a booster to protect against COVID-19 variants. The study will be led by the research heads of Israel’s Hadassah and Sourasky (Ichilov) hospitals.
https://www.jns.org/israel-aims-to-test-brilife-vaccine-candidate-as-booster-dose/
92% recovery after 3 days. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Maccabi Healthcare has treated 850 of its high-risk coronavirus-infected customers with the new Pfizer Paxlovid pills. 60% significantly improved on the first day, rising to 92% within 3 days. All recovered. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-692757
Pancreatic cancer breakthrough. (TY UWI) Researchers at Tel Aviv’s Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center studied the data of 17,000 pancreatic cancer patients. They discovered that a mutation resulting in the absence of two proteins P15 and P16 allows the cancer to spread to the liver. The findings can help treat such patients.
Non-invasive test for IBD. Israel’s Weizmann Institute, working together with Israel’s Sheba Medical Center can detect inflammation in the intestines by analyzing a fecal sample for the genes expressed in the cells. It can help diagnose gastric disorders such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and monitor their treatment.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/noninvasive-test-gut-inflammation
https://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2022/01/18/gutjnl-2021-325516?rss=1
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/320979
Look into my eyes. A great article about Israel’s Neurolight (see here previously) and its amazing ocular technology that extracts microscopic eye movement measurements to help diagnose neurological disorders. The platform aims to help developers of treatments for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and multiple sclerosis patients.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-answer-to-parkinsons-and-alzheimers-is-all-in-your-eyes/
AI management approved for type 2 diabetes. Israel’s DreaMed (see here previously) has now received US FDA approval for use with Type 2 diabetes sufferers as well as Type 1. It will relieve the strain on endocrinologist who each have on average some 46,000 patients.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/israeli-startup-offers-hope-in-global-diabetes-crisis/
Israelis live longer. The latest report of life expectancy for Israeli men is 81 years – 8th in the OECD. For Israeli women it’s 84.8 – 11th in the OECD (see here for previous years). Both exceed the OECD average. Israel’s birth rate is by far the highest in the OECD and infant mortality is well below the OECD average.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Empowering the blind on public transport. (TY UWI) Israel’s Moovit (see here previously) has partnered UK’s WeWALK to enable blind and partially sighted users to navigate public transportation independently. It provides step-by-step guidance to bus and train stops, real-time arrival info, and audio / text “get off” alerts.
https://www.israel21c.org/moovit-powers-public-transport-independence-for-the-blind/
Promoting tech in the Arab sector. Israel’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Israel Innovation Authority have launched an economic program to encourage Israeli Arabs and minorities to enter the hi-tech sector. It includes NIS 225 million over 5 years for incubators, tech centers and local tech startups.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928008,00.html
Peace through olive oil. (TY WIN) A new video featuring Israeli non-profit Sindyanna of Galilee (see here previously) in which Arab and Jewish women work together to produce and market fair trade olive oil. Instead of labels stating, “Extra Virgin olive oil”, they read “Extra Peaceful”, “Unified”, “Hopeful”, and “Positive”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZAJMrpJ_CU https://www.sindyanna.com/
Afghan refugees meet their rescuers. (TY Hazel) 87 Afghan refugees, rescued by Israel’s IsraAID in October, finally got the chance to meet their rescuers in Albania, as they prepared to begin the process of resettlement in Canada. The refugees include judges, journalists, cyclists, families of diplomats, artists, police and scientists.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/afghan-refugees-saved-by-israelis-finally-meet-their-rescuers/
Teaching tech to girls in Ghana. (TY Hazel) World ORT’s Israeli Kadima Mada implements technology curriculums for disadvantaged populations in Israel and in more than 30 other countries. The Ghana program, first piloted in 2020, uses female instructors to teach young girls coding skills, game design and animation.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-stem-program-empowers-girls-in-ghana/
Indonesian delegation visits Israel. A delegation from Indonesia recently visited Israel to learn about its COVID-19 response. It included National Board for Disaster Management and National COVID Task Force head Suharyanto. Indonesia’s Defense minister previously said talks with Israel were in the national interest.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-692795
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Israel shines at CES. Over 22 Israeli startups exhibited at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas. New to me (see below) were Cecilia, Iromascents, Moodo Air, Oorym, Visionary.ai and Tikbag, Others include Imagery (car awareness), Indoor Robotics (drone security), Resight (metaverse), and VBox (TV streaming).
https://www.israel21c.org/22-israeli-startups-that-shone-at-ces-2022/ https://www.indoor-robotics.com/ https://imagry.co/ https://resight.io/ https://vboxcomm.com/
Shaken not stirred. Israel’s GKI has launched Cecilia - the world’s first robotic bartender. The first youtube video is totally true. The second one is just humorous (hopefully you will appreciate it). A very amusing team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnRk6kDoL24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_TwtHuaD0Q
https://cecilia.ai/ https://gkigroup.com/team/
They make scents! Israel’s Iromascents has developed a scent delivery mechanism that allows movie goers to experience odors connected with the action on the screen. The system also can also be used inside shops and even installed at home to enhance TV movies. Moodo Air is similar, controlled by smartphone, Alexa or Siri.
https://iromascents.com/ https://moodo.co/ https://moodo.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Moodo_MAIN.mp4
Seeing is believing. Israel’s Oorym has perfected smart glasses for viewing Artificial Reality (AR). The best visual quality, lightweight, low-cost, and simple manufacture. Based on the research of Yaakov Amitai, a graduate of Israel’s Weizmann, who invented the “waveguide” technology used in most of today’s AR systems.
http://oorym.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6IqsjeYE2k
See the unseen. Israel’s visionary.ai applies computer vision, artificial intelligence, and algorithms to improve the quality of images and videos taken from any camera. It removes blur, provides true night vision, and facial recognition. Visionary.ai has just partnered with Israel’s Inuitive to integrate with its cutting-edge AI processor.
https://www.visionary.ai/news/real-time-video-enhancement-reaches-new-standard-with-visionary-ai-and-inuitive-partnership https://www.visionary.ai/
Smart school bags. Israel’s Tikbag has developed interactive “smart bags” that monitor and notify the wearer via an app if the backpack is too heavy in relation to body weight. It can also check if the bag is unbalanced. Tikbag was developed to help schoolchildren avoid back pain and protect against future damage to their spine.
Environmental tech projects. Israel has awarded a total of NIS 5.3 million to five projects that benefit the environment. They are Agrint (pesticides), Daika Wood (wall cladding), Diptera.ai (mosquitoes), Clean Flare (burning gases) and Emma Sensing (corrosion in pipes).
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-692288
https://www.oktopuscloud.com/terralab-daika https://www.cleanflare.co.uk/
Would you believe it? 3 billion tons of wood is wasted every year, but now it can be avoided. Israel’s Daika Wood recycles waste wood, molding or 3D-printing it into shapes that would be impossible to carve, even with machines. Imagine your computer keyboard made of 100% natural wood – now it can, with Israeli technology.
https://www.oktopuscloud.com/terralab-daika
Vegan fish. Israel’s Plantish, unveiled the prototype of a plant-based whole-cut salmon fillet, announcing that it was developing 3D printing technology - to make plant-based fish alternatives at a low cost and at scale. The structured, boneless salmon fillet has the same nutritional value as the actual fish. https://plantish.com/
TopGum. Israel’s TopGum launched its sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan line of “gummiceuticals” in 2021. It is investing $30 million in a new production facility to triple its essential vitamins, minerals, natural extracts, pre and probiotics, and superfood supplements to strengthen the immune system, vision, urinary health and more.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/topgum-triples-capacity-with-30m-investment-in-new-plant-301466415.html https://topgummiceuticals.com/
Precision agriculture. Israel’s Alta provides agricultural solutions for farmers using drone / UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology. These include crop surveillance, safe and cost-effective spraying, eradication of pests and rodents while reducing the use of toxic pesticides, etc. https://alta.team/en/2019/12/16/alta-is-the-biggest-company-in-israel-in-the-field-of-pesticides-application-in-agriculture-by-uavs/ https://alta.team/en/
Your personal electric plane. (TY WIN & I24 News) The CEO of Israeli start-up AIR describes its AIR ONE electric plane. It will be so safe and simple to operate that you don’t have to be a pilot to fly it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvuTSk2zM0s
Preparing to land on the Moon again. SpaceIL co-founder Kfir Damari discusses the Beresheet 1 mission, his hopes to spark children’s interest in space and plans for Beresheet 2 to launch in 2024 or 2025. Also, SpaceIL and the Parasol Foundation Women just co-launched a NIS 1 million program promoting women in space tech.
https://www.israel21c.org/getting-ready-to-land-on-the-moon-again/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3927873,00.html
Israeli astronaut’s 35 experiments. During his mission on the International Space Station in February, Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe (see here previously) will perform 35 experiments, designed by schools, leading Israeli institutions, companies, universities, and hospitals. He will also give science lectures to Israeli schoolchildren.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/space-meat-and-hummus-israel-finalizes-experiments-for-upcoming-iss-mission/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3927811,00.html
Israel joins NASA’s human mission to the Moon. Israel is the 15th country to join the NASA-led Artemis space program. Artemis aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface in 2025 and establish a long-term human presence on the moon as a warm-up for future missions to Mars. A test flight is expected this summer.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israeli investment keeps getting better. (TY WIN) Israeli venture capital firm Viola has just published its report “Israel Tech Ecosystem 2021: Breaking Records in a Record-Breaking Year”. It highlights that the $8.1 billion of funding in startups in the last 3 months of 2021 was the highest investment quarter of all time.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3927712,00.html
Boosting food security startups. Israel has awarded a total of NIS 8.6 million to six agro-tech startups engaged in ensuring the regular supply of fresh food (food security). They are BioFishency, Agrint Sensing Solutions, Tosaf Compounds, ALTA drones, FruitSpec and Salicrop. https://www.tosaf.com/ https://alta.team/en/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3927980,00.html
Direct flights from Philippines. Philippine Airlines is to launch a direct route to Israel in April and has already started selling tickets. Initially, it will operate two weekly flights between Tel Aviv and Manila. The expected flight time is about 11 and a half hours on the Airbus A350 aircraft.
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-694286
Nvidia to expand Israeli R&D. US giant Nvidia, which acquired Israel’s Mellanox in 2020 for $7 billion, is to establish a new Israel-based design and engineering group. Its aim is to develop the next-gen Nvidia CPUs for powering the revolution in AI, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and virtual world simulations.
https://nocamels.com/2022/01/nvidia-expands-cpu-israel/
More partners to remove CO2. Israel’s Albo (see here previously) has now partnered with Israel’s Taranis to help farmers in the US, Canada, Brazil, Russia, Ukraine, and Australia prove they are CO2 “sinks” and can receive carbon credits. Another partner is Tembo Climate of Mauritius, which works with Sub-Saharan farmers.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-startup-making-sense-of-carbon-credits/
Growth for pure plant protein. Israel’s ChickP has doubled its annual production of concentrated allergen-free, non-GMO chickpea protein isolate. It has also opened a new R&D center, appointed Liat Lachish Levy as CEO, and raised $8 million of funds. It now plans to expand its marketing into the US, Europe, and Asia.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3927870,00.html https://www.chickp-protein.com/
DHL opens Israeli robotic sorting center. (TY WIN) DHL has just made its biggest Middle East investment – opening an $80 million automated processing center in Israel. It can ship 20,000 packages every hour – vital, due to the growth in Israel’s economy since the beginning of the pandemic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSoSgFua1nY
This week’s Unicorn. Israel’s Firebolt, developer of cloud data warehouses for engineering teams, has just raised $100 million ($1.4 billion valuation) to join the Unicorn club of private companies worth over $1 billion.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3928013,00.html
Investment in Israeli startups: Redefine Meat raised $135 million; Immpact Bio raised $111 million; FireBolt raised $100 million; Island.io raised $100 million; Personetics raised $85 million; Hunters cybersecurity raised $68 million; Sayata raised $35 million; Walnut raised $35 million; Addionics raised $27 million; Portnex raised $22 million; DigitalOwl raised $20 million; Vanti Analytics raised $16 million; Honeycomb insuretech raised $15.4 million; SiteAware raised $15 million; Sensi.ai raised $14 million; Ridge raised $12 million; Redefine security raised $11 million; GetApril raised $10 million; Polar Security raised $8.5 million; ChickP raised $8 million; Scribe Security raised $7 million; Spring Games raised $7 million; Supersmart has raised $5+ million; Impala raised $1 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Art to promote unity. (TY Sharon) The Mayor of Israeli city Beit Shemesh is using Jewish artwork to unite the city’s diverse population. Exhibits in the lobby of the local municipality buildings include the works of local artist Naama Goldberg and her husband Asher, portraying Rabbis from almost every branch of Jewish culture.
https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=151727
One of the earliest printed Hebrew books. The National Library of Israel (NLI) has acquired 90 pages from Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher’s “Arba’ah Turim”. The 1492 Soncino edition is from the earliest period of Hebrew printing. No complete copies have survived, and these 90 pages cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/israels-national-library-acquires-90-pages-of-one-of-earliest-printed-hebrew-books/2022/01/18/ https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/article-693909
Snow in Jerusalem. Children in Israel’s capital enjoyed a brief morning playing in 10 inches of snow that fell during storm Elpis. Even President Herzog and his wife joined in.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-694734 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdiCFsK5oLw
Israel’s first paralympic skier. (TY UWI) 20-year-old downhill skier Sheina Vaspi will be Israel’s first and only competitor at the Winter Paralympics in Beijing, March 4-13. She is from a Lubavitch family in the Hula Valley and was the first Israeli to compete in the recent Para World Alpine Skiing Championships in Norway.
https://www.israel21c.org/israels-first-winter-paralympics-athlete-is-alpine-skier/
THE JEWISH STATE
Dig for a day, at Maresha. Israeli licensed tour guide Nosson Shulman writes about Maresha, a city mentioned in the Book of Joshua, where visitors can help excavate houses that are millennia old. When they find an object, Nosson tells them that they are the first people to be holding it in over 2,000 years.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/off-the-beaten-track-biblical-maresha-and-beit-guvrin/
Ancient Hebrew amulet found at site of Joshua’s Altar. Israeli archeologists recently discovered an ancient Hebrew amulet on Mount Ebal, overlooking Shechem (Nablus), at the site of Joshua’s Altar. It is inscribed with the Hebrew letter Alef and a popular Egyptian motif. The Israelites may even have brought it from Egypt!
https://worldisraelnews.com/ancient-hebrew-amulet-discovered-in-samaria/
Digital Media Warriors. Episode 13 of the JNF’s Conversations on Zionism (Reclaiming the Narrative) will be shown on Tues 1st Feb at 7:30pm ET (4.30pm PT). Register today and then tune in on 1st Feb to hear 4 dynamic panelists who use social media to empower Jews to expose the world to the miraculous story of Israel.
https://www.jnf.org/events-landing-pages/conversations-on-zionism
NASA veteran makes Aliya. Jerry Wittenstein, the CEO of NASA’s International Space Systems who worked alongside US astronaut Neil Armstrong and developed half of Apollo 11’s trajectories, has just made Aliyah with his wife Carol. They regularly flew on Delta Airlines, which gave them an emotional on-board send-off.
https://worldisraelnews.com/we-have-liftoff-senior-nasa-veteran-makes-aliya-to-israel/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOzd8wICxLc
Jewish woman escapes Iran for Israeli medical treatment. (TY WIN) After Iranian doctors had given her no hope, Iranian Jew Zehava fled Iran, via Turkey, to get life-saving treatment in Israel. One month later, Zehava can walk again, and is no longer constantly connected to an oxygen tank.
https://www.jns.org/jewish-mother-flees-iran-for-life-saving-treatment-in-israel/
VeryGoodNews zooms to Massachusetts. Your editor gave a virtual presentation last week to members of Temple Israel of Natick and others, entitled “Israel – Beyond Imagination”. Watch the recording here.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/steJNQx0pEg?start=930
More publicity for Israeli good news. Student “Ambassadors” at Haifa’s Reali Hebrew School have been posting selected articles from the VeryGoodNewsIsrael newsletter onto their website. Read them here.
https://www.medioq.com/XX/Unknown/233385837507023/Very-Good-News-Israel
Israel’s youngest lifesaver. At his recent Bar Mitzvah, Rafael was presented with a certificate of appreciation and excellence by Israel’s United Hatzalah. A week earlier, Rafael, the son of a UH volunteer, successfully performed the Heimlich Maneuver to save his 4-year-old sister when she choked on a piece of candy.
https://israelrescue.org/blog/youngest-life-saver-in-israel/
220116
In the 16th Jan 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israel is building a $265 million cancer treatment center in Tel Aviv.
· Israeli schoolchildren watch eight of their satellites launch into space.
· Intel launches its Israeli-developed 12th generation microprocessor.
· Driving a car is easy – Israeli scientists get a goldfish to do it!
· One week - three more $1 billion Israeli companies.
· The Best Guitar of the Year is made in Israel.
· Two major Jewish ancient archaeological discoveries.
· Israel gets ready for Tu Bishvat – the New Year for Trees.
· Click here to see the 9th Jan newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit, and United With Israel with extra feature on Jewish State. Also (TY Sandra) in German here, and posted by Stuart Palmer here. Also, (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here and (TY Stuart Palmer) posted here. Please pass on this newsletter to German and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://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 (19,800+ 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
Lupus treatment is right on target. Current treatments for lupus nephritis shut down much of the immune system, with many adverse side effects. A new therapy developed by researchers, including Israel’s Professor Chaim Putterman, targets only the relevant T-cells and is therefore much safer.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319884
How we adapt to our environment. Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered that our physical bodies react to electrical voltage changes within nerve cells in the brain. So, if we encounter strong smell, a voltage change tells our G-protein voltage-sensitive receptors to reduce sensitivity to the smell.
https://www.jpost.com/science/article-691568 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-27593-x
Diet can slow brain aging. A green Mediterranean diet, high in polyphenols and low in red and processed meat, seems to slow age-related brain atrophy. Ben Gurion University researchers led an 18-month international randomized control trial on 300 participants - one of the world’s longest and largest brain MRI trials.
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/green_med.aspx
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ajcn/nqac001/6503596?login=true
Diagnosing autism in infants. Researchers from Bar-Ilan University have been able to diagnose symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in babies up to 15 months old. They then treated those symptoms using Bar-Ilan’s pioneer Mifne Approach to avert severe deviations in the neurodevelopment of the infants identified.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/mind-and-spirit/article-689985
An Israeli coronavirus expert. Latest webinar featuring Dr. Asher Salmon, of Israel’s Ministry of Health. (2nd link gives his background.) Start from 19 minutes 50 seconds (main talk from 23 mins). At 1 hour 12 mins, the moderator mentions one of my local surgery’s doctors, sent by Israel to Croatia, to advise on vaccinations.
https://mfafiles.azurewebsites.net/Shares/ca4af3c2-41d8-42e2-9870-206c581ab995
https://socialimpactil.com/dr-asher-salmon-health-for-israelis-the-world/
New cancer treatment center. (TY WIN) Construction has begun on a $265 million cancer treatment center at Tel Aviv Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center. Philanthropist Sheldon Adelson donated $40 million towards the project prior to his death. The center will contain in-patients, proton therapy, rehabilitation, research, and more.
All hands to the pump. United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Avinoam revived 40-year-old Yankel, who suffered a cardiac arrest in Be’er Sheva. Passers-by helped with CPR and assisted ventilation. Avinoam’s defibrillator delivered 4 shocks and Yankel’s heart restarted. Next day, Avinoam visited a very grateful Yankel in hospital.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319904
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Global award for best kids’ space. (TY UWI) Israel’s Sarit Shani Hay Studio has won the Dezeen reader award for outstanding projects and exhibitions that foster child-centric experiences. It includes the desert-themed playroom at the new Six Senses Shaharut hotel and a Jerusalem-themed playroom at the David Citadel.
https://www.israel21c.org/award-for-cool-kids-spaces-in-hospitals-hotels-museums/
Arab MKs become Knesset deputy speakers. Deputy Speakers of Israel’s parliament include Arabs Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi (Meretz), Mansour Abbas (Ra'am - United Arab List), and Ahmad Tibi (Arab Joint List). Photo in second article shows Mansour Abbas in the Speaker’s chair conducting a main Knesset plenary session.
https://main.knesset.gov.il/EN/News/PressReleases/Pages/press4121q.aspx
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-691814
Millions access National Library in Arabic. In 2021 there were over 2 million online visits to the National Library of Israel in Arabic – 125% more than in 2020. Over half of those visits were from outside of Israel.
Israeli women win EU research grants. Two Hebrew University of Jerusalem female researchers have won €1.5 million European Research Council Starting Grants. Dr. Yonit Hochberg (Project: Light Dark Matter: New Directions) and Dr. Mor Nitzan (Decoding the Multi-facets of Cellular Identity from Single-Cell Data).
Israeli female doctors fly out to help Indian women. A group of female Israeli doctors spent 8 days in India helping women with health issues, as part of a special delegation organized by Israel’s Foreign Ministry. They examined approximately 1,000 women, providing services such as pap smears, ultrasounds, and breast exams.
$500,000 for Afghan refugees. Israel has donated $500,000 to the United Nations for food, medical aid, and other assistance for Afghan refugees in Tajikistan. Alon Ushpiz, director general of Israel’s Foreign ministry, said the aid was part of Israel’s commitment to the international community.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-donates-500000-for-afghan-refugees-in-tajikistan/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
8 satellites launched into space. (TY Jacob Richman) See the excitement of the Israeli students as they watch their eight tiny satellites launched into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. Students from schools across Israel gathered in Herzliya to see the culmination of their 3 years of work.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/8-tiny-satellites-built-by-israeli-students-launched-into-space/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sjQxRZgko4&t=5032s
Going out with a bang. Professor Avishay Gal-Yam and colleagues at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have just published their findings of their 2019 discovery of a supernova that had never been observed before. A Wolf-Rayet Star exploded nearly 1 billion light years from Earth, emitting cosmic radiation and heavy elements.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/space-physics/going-out-bang
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04155-1
Nano satellite will test cosmic radiation. The TauSat-3 nano satellite, built by Tel Aviv University scientists, has arrived at the International Space Station. It contains the “COTS-Capsule” experiment that Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe will perform in March, to analyze mechanisms to protect electronics from cosmic radiation.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3926853,00.html https://www.eng.rakiamission.co.il/
Out of this world. Israel has awarded a total of NIS 18.5 million to 11 Israeli space tech startups - Eicha, Paxis, Terra Space Lab, NSLComm, GorillaLink, GreenOnyx, Helios, SCD, Space Plasmatics, NewRocket, and Ramon.Space. The program aims to help grow space tech startups and bolster the Israeli space tech market.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3926773,00.html https://www.ayecka.com/
https://www.paxisceramics.com/ https://www.paxisceramics.com/ https://www.gorilla.link/
https://www.greenonyx.ag/ https://space-plasmatics.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/terra-space-lab/
Turning a single lens into multifocal. Israel’s Addon Optics has developed a technology platform that integrates an off-the-shelf single-focal lens with a proprietary flexible lens to create a high-quality progressive lens. Using a low-cost machine, it can make affordable multifocal spectacles available to those that need them.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3926799,00.html
https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/company_page/addon-optics
41 new wind turbines. Israel’s Energix Renewable Energies is to build 41 wind turbines in the Golan Heights. Each turbine will be 200 meters tall, creating the largest and most advanced wind farm in Israel to date. The project will enable the supply of clean energy to tens of thousands of Israeli homes.
https://www.jns.org/defense-ministry-teams-up-with-renewable-energy-company-to-build-41-wind-turbines-in-the-golan/ https://www.energix-group.com/
Fighting fire with technology. TeleFire is Israel’s largest manufacturer of fire safety systems. It provides the hardware and software needed to help prevent, detect, and extinguish fires. It enables fast building evacuation with voice, horns, and firefighter support. It features fire suppression, smoke management and cybersecurity.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3926640,00.html https://telefire.com/en/
Virtual events at BGU. Register for up to 3 free web events hosted by Israel’s Ben Gurion University. Jan 26 – “Pursue an M.D. or MBA Degree in English”; Feb 9 – “SheSpace – Empowering Young Women in Science”; Feb 16 – “Are Robots the Future of Physical Therapy?” All start at noon US Eastern Time.
https://americansforbgu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eon5KeHoSaabRJTz-SYQ3g
https://americansforbgu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FWFQOzd-T_eYkD9zTC5t3w
https://americansforbgu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9tUDSvp3SUKEUcURMLuXcA
Superfood from discarded milk. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Maolac (see here previously) is the first company in the world to produce a nutrient-rich food supplement from bovine pre-milk colostrum – a by-product of the dairy industry, of which 5 billion liters are currently dumped down the drain at dairies every year.
12th-gen Intel-Israel chip launched. Intel launched the Israeli-developed Core i9 12900HK 12th generation mobile processor for laptops at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Intel also is to install the versatile synchronization product from newly acquired Israel’s Screenovate into its premium Evo PCs.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-intel-unveils-two-israel-developed-products-at-ces-1001397666
Automated circuit checking. Israel’s CADY uses AI technology to perform automatic inspections of PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) in cars, computers, phones etc. It cross-checks the datasheets of chips and electrical components in the electrical schematic against connections in the design to detect errors at an early stage.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3926875,00.html http://cadysolutions.com/
A self-driving super-chip. Intel’s Israeli-based Mobileye has unveiled a “super-computer” chip to power autonomous driving. Mobileye says the EyeQ Ultra system-on-chip (SOC) will perform 176 trillion operations per second (TOPS) and will handle all the needs and applications of ADAS Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving.
Solving rush hour traffic jams. (TY WIN & I24 News) Israel’s Intelligent Traffic Control (ITC – see here previously) aims to ease the problem of rush hour traffic jams by responding quickly to them. ITC accumulates data, analyzes & predicts traffic patterns, and implements a traffic light plan as soon as the pattern is detected.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRr57oMEXh0
Can a goldfish drive a car? A goldfish has successfully navigated a robotic car in new research from Israel’s Ben-Gurion University. The goldfish in a water tank was able to steer a robotic vehicle across a room to obtain a reward. It was even able to maneuver a vehicle on a public road. Like a fish on a bicycle? Not anymore.
https://imagelibrary.bgu.ac.il/pf.tlx/O6ORSOx-nut https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/goldfish_drive.aspx
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0166432821005994?via%3Dihub
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Japanese investment triples. According to consulting firm Harel-Hertz, Japanese firms invested some $2.9 billion across 85 deals in Israeli companies last year, almost triple that in 2020. Japan accounts for 15.8% of all foreign investment in Israeli high-tech, compared just 1.8% in 2016.
$8 million for 9 US-Israeli projects. The BIRD Foundation is granting $8 million to nine new joint US-Israeli projects. The Israeli companies are Civan Lasers, TempraMed, Cordio Medical, Mego Afek, Kav-Medida, Sixgill, Agridrones, HIL Applied Medical, and SirT6 (Ness Ziona).
https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/01/11/bird-to-invest-in-8m-in-9-new-israeli-us-projects/
https://www.civanlasers.com/ https://tempramed.com/ https://www.megoafek.com/
https://kav-medida.co.il/en/home-eng/ https://www.agridrones.co.il/
Exports to Ireland increase by “insane” percentage. Israel’s exports to Ireland increased by a massive 517% in the first nine months of 2021. The surprising numbers show that all countries need Israeli technology.
https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-exports-to-ireland-increased-by-517-in-2021/
https://irelandisraelbiz.com/en/ https://irelandisraelbiz.com/en/2021/04/01/leprechaun-economics/
Budget deficit slashed. Israel’s budget deficit for 2021 was just 4.5% of GDP, compared to 11.7% for 2020. The improvement was due to higher tax revenue and lower Covid related expenditure.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israels-2021-budget-deficit-narrowed-to-45-1001397999
Upgrading Israel. An interesting idea - global index provider MSCI is considering reassigning Israel from the Middle East, to a new region, likely Europe. It would open the door to large amounts of passive inflows for the Israeli capital markets. It would benefit Israel more than when MSCI upgraded Israel to “developed” in 2010.
More Israeli hotels. Despite low occupancy due to Covid, construction of Israeli hotels is at a five year high. Half of the 148,000 sqm being built is in Tel Aviv, with other sites in Jerusalem, the Kinneret, Haifa and the North. The Israeli tourist industry hopes for a speedy return to the record 4.55 million foreign visitors in 2019.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-hotel-construction-in-israel-booming-1001397875
Virgin Atlantic resume flights. The re-opening of Israel for foreign tourists has encouraged foreign airlines to restart their Tel Aviv services. Virgin Atlantic resumes its London UK operation on Jan 20. The airline offers free unlimited date changes, one transfer to a different passenger, plus other benefits.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/transport-and-infrastructure/article-691998
How the IDF helps get you a job. Video interview that explains how Israel's army service shapes post-military careers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXxApRhoMNc
OurCrowd’s job fair. OurCrowd, Israel’s most active venture firm, will host its Virtual Job Fair on Monday, Jan 17 (5-7pm Israel time). The online event will highlight thousands of vacancies across OurCrowd’s portfolio companies. CEOs and HR experts will advise on resumes, interviews, self-marketing, and use of LinkedIn.
https://events.ourcrowd.com/ourcrowd-job-fair/
Israel’s latest Unicorns. Pentera (cybersecurity) raised $150 million ($1 billion valuation). Placer.ai (analytics) raised $100 million ($1 billion valuation). BigPanda (Israeli R&D AI Ops) raised $190 million ($1.2 billion valuation).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3926960,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3927078,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3927085,00.html
Investment in Israeli startups: BigPanda raised $190 million; Pentera raised $150 million; Placer.ai raised $100 million; MeMed raised $93 million; WEKA.io raised $73 million; Quris raised $28 million; Nucleix raised $22 million; Shield raised $15 million; Second Nature raised $12.5 million; Addon Optics raised $12 million; Eureka raised $8 million; CADY Solutions raised $3 million; ProfiSea Labs raised $2 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Film archive of Israeli history. The digitized archive of the Jerusalem Cinematheque now contains two sections. A pay-on-demand, “Artistic View,” contains 300 Israeli feature films. The free “Historical View” has every newsreel created in Israel from 1927 through 1972, plus home movies and family collections.
https://www.jta.org/2022/01/02/culture/the-israel-film-archive-collects-more-than-a-century-of-israeli-historical-footage-online-here-are-the-highlights https://www.jta.org/2021/10/18/culture/on-netflix-and-elsewhere-new-collections-of-palestinian-and-israeli-films-are-now-available-for-streaming
Jerusalem colors and hope. (TY Sharon) Art can be seen all around sunny Jerusalem streets. Art at Municipal Square, about forbidden Shabbat work. Art all around the Jerusalem Theater. An exhibit by painter Ilan Baruch at the Mishkanot Sha’ananim gallery. Plus, beautiful skies & flowers. We hope tourists come soon to see it all.
http://rjstreets.com/2022/01/09/jerusalem-colors-and-hopes/
Israel will “rock” in May. Australian rock music duo Air Supply are returning to Israel for the 5th time, to perform two shows, on May 27 in Haifa and May 28 in Rishon Lezion. Also, rock legends Deep Purple, iconic pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, visit for the 6th time for a concert in Tel Aviv on May 22.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/320029
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/12/14/hard-rock-icons-deep-purple-to-perform-in-israel/
The best guitar. (TY Hazel) Guitar Magazine has chosen an Israeli-manufactured guitar as their “Best Electric Guitar of the Year”. The Stinger is made by Macmull Custom Guitars in Ma’aleh Adumim, near Jerusalem.
https://www.israel21c.org/guitar-mag-picks-an-israeli-instrument-as-the-best-of-2021/
https://www.macmull-guitars.com/
Israeli to play in Moroccan basketball league. Mohamed Abu Arisha, a former player in the Israeli national basketball team, is the first Arab Israeli to play in Morocco's national top-level league. The 24-year-old forward signed a one-year contract with Morocco's Association Michlifen Ifrane Basketball, also known as AMI Basket.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/320269
THE JEWISH STATE
The seal of the Temple treasurer. Dozens of clay seal impressions (bullae) excavated near Temple Mount show evidence of the Jerusalem Temple treasury in the late 8th century BCE. Some have patterns of woven bags that would have contained silver coins. One has the name of treasury manager Hisilyahu son of Immer.
The copper startup of the ancient world. A new Tel Aviv University study has determined that about three thousand years ago, the Arava Valley’s copper industry became the largest and most advanced smelting center in the ancient world. This was due to advanced management methods and impressive technological creativity.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/320154
Women-only IDF unit. In March, the Israel Defense Forces plans to launch a new company for female soldiers only, to cater to religious women. It follows requests from the heads of women’s religious studies colleges, whose students want to serve in combat units but are unable, due to their religious background.
https://www.jns.org/idf-to-open-new-unit-for-religious-female-soldiers/
Birthright initiatives. Onward Israel, and its 6 to 10-week work & study programs, is merging with Birthright Israel and its free 10-day Israel trips. Birthright has also launched ‘Birthright Israel Labs’, to bring Israel and Jewish content to alumni and potential future trip participants, in a language and format they can relate to.
https://www.jns.org/with-travel-largely-on-hold-due-to-covid-19-birthright-israel-disseminates-content-in-new-ways/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8yrqyRy4m2qrcIo5_MdMCQ
The REAL history of Israel. Fast exciting (17 min) video showing all the facts that tells the story about the Jewish people and their eternal connection to the Land of Israel. The only nation on earth that inhabits the same land, bears the same name, speaks the same language, and worships the same God that it did 3,000 years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9kj-h1w2tA https://therealhistoryofisrael.com/
Conversations on Zionism - Reclaiming the narrative. Jewish National Fund-USA is hosting on zoom a series of interviews, panel discussions and more – to highlight the beautiful and diverse facets of modern Zionism, and its positive impact on many aspects of our lives. View details and register at.
https://www.jnf.org/events-landing-pages/conversations-on-zionism (episodes 13 onwards)
https://www.youtube.com/zionismstudios (previous episodes)
Educational resources for Tu Bishvat. (TY Jacob Richman) Despite it being a Shmitta year in Israel (e.g., no tree planting in the Biblical borders of Israel) there are many activities that can be conducted to celebrate Tu Bishvat – the New Year for Trees. Also, see how Israel celebrated Tu Bishvat in the past.
https://jr.co.il/hotsites/tu-b-shvat.htm
220109
In the 9th Jan 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An Israeli professor makes a cancer breakthrough in a gene with her name on it.
· Jewish, Muslim, and Christian doctors save Myanmar girl in Israeli hospital.
· More good news about the Moslem and Christian citizens of Israel.
· Israeli scientists have produced electricity from seaweed.
· 2021 shattered previous records for investment in Israeli companies.
· Israeli biodegradable plastic has now reached Australasia.
· A blind Israeli took part in the Abu Dhabi marathon.
· Take a virtual tour of the City of David.
· Click here to see the 2nd Jan newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit, and United With Israel with extra feature on Jewish State with 3,000+ shares. TY Sandra for the 2nd Jan German translation here, and posted by Stuart Palmer here. Also, (TY Zachy) in Hebrew for 26th Dec (here) and 2nd Jan (here) and (TY Stuart Palmer) posted here. Please pass on this newsletter to German and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://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 (19,700+ 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
Etta’s cancer breakthrough. Professor Etta Livneh of Israel’s Ben Gurion University has found a peptide (uPEP2) in the body’s messenger RNA that inhibits cancer cell survival, tumor progression, metastasis and more. Amazingly, uPEP2 originates from a gene classified with the Greek letter Eta (Prof Livneh’s forename).
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/hetta_livne.aspx https://www.pnas.org/content/118/40/e2018899118
Unraveling the genetics of ADHD. Israeli scientists at Ben-Gurion University and Soroka Medical Center have proved that a mutation in a single gene, CDH2, can cause ADHD. Molecular analysis of neurons in mutant mice demonstrated the precise effects of the mutation on the activity of synapses in the brain.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/mind-and-spirit/what-causes-adhd-new-israeli-study-may-have-found-out-687668 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-26426-1
First Israeli to receive new Alzheimer’s treatment. (TY WIN) Yirmiyahu Kozari, 57, recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, is the first Israeli to receive Aduhelm (Aducanumab) from Biogen, at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. The treatment removes beta-amyloid from the brain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz39Zt5HZcw
First shipment of anti-Covid pill. Israel has received its first consignment of tens of thousands of Pfizer’s COVID-fighting Paxlovid pills – the first country outside the USA to take delivery. Israel has authorized use of the treatment, which is effective if taken within five days of the onset of coronavirus symptoms.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-first-shipment-of-pfizer-covid-pills-set-to-arrive/
Dormant insulin-producing cells. Israeli scientists have discovered that babies make insulin in their intestines before birth. The responsible cells are present after birth, but they no longer produce insulin. This means that adults may have a “backup” system that could be reactivated to treat diabetes.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-scientists-say-humans-may-have-backup-insulin-system-diabetics-could-use/ https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/while-waiting-food-surprising-fetal-gut-cells-make-insulin
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01586-1
Haifa’s digital health accelerator launched. Plans to promote tech innovation in Haifa (see here previously) have come to fruition with the launch of Startup City Haifa - Digital Health Accelerator. Led by JVP, Margalit Startup City and others, it will support startups working on advanced medical technology and cybersecurity.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3926027,00.html
Coexistence saves Myanmar girl. 8-year-old Hannah from Myanmar was brought to Israel for an urgent operation by Jewish, Muslim and Christian doctors from Israeli non-profit Save A Child’s Heart. The surgeons were led by Dr Hagi Dekel and included Dr Mervat El-Faraha from the PA and Dr Ziwa Modniso from Zambia.
Brain surgery under local anesthetic. (TY WIN) Israel’s Rabin Medical Center recently completed the world’s first ever operation on a patient’s brain, using ketamine as a local anesthetic. They performed Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), implanting an electrode to cure the tremors of a patient with Parkinson’s disease.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1TYsT0tJoo
The world’s smallest needles. Israel’s NanoPass (see here) is partnering Korea’s Micro2Nano to mass-produce the world’s smallest needles. The tiny needle uses standard syringes, allowing intradermal (between the skin layers) injections, including for coronavirus. These are painless and elicit a better immune response.
Two in a million. An Israeli woman gave birth to healthy twins at the Tel Aviv Sourasky (Ichilov) hospital. The boy and girl only encountered each other after the birth, as the mother was born with a double uterus - a rare condition, known as Uterus didelphys. Less than 15 cases of similar births have ever been reported.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Especially intelligent. 14 special needs volunteers from a school in Petah Tikva have joined the Telem Unit in the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate. Telem is responsible for infrastructure, logistics, and for relocating Military Intelligence to its new campus in the Negev region of southern Israel.
https://www.jns.org/14-special-need-volunteers-join-idf-military-intelligence-directorate/
The Moslems who serve in the IDF. There are around 5,000 Israeli Circassians, mostly Sunni Muslims, who converted from Christianity and have chosen to serve in the IDF. Israel’s soccer captain is a Circassian. Also (TY UWI) please see Arab Israeli Yoseph Haddad’s video featuring Arab Israelis who volunteer for the IDF.
https://blog.nli.org.il/en/hoi_circassians-in-israel/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r9KvtCGsug
Empowering Israeli Christian Arabs. (TY I24 news) The non-profit Jerusalemite Initiative organization empowers Arabic-speaking Christian Israelis in the Jewish state. Jews and Arabs work side by side, teaching the Hebrew language to help Christian Arabs integrate in Israel. See video of co-founder Elias Zarina.
The Palestinian Arabs in Israel. (TY WIN & I24 News) An estimated 500 to 1,000 Palestinian Arabs work in Israeli hi-tech companies - many are graduates from Israeli universities. In the video, Inas Awad describes her job at Israeli hi-tech Colabo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l0uq10nbv8 https://colabo.com/
A pro-Israeli Arab blogger. Good feature article about Nuseir Yassin, better known to his 40 million Facebook followers as “Nas Daily” (see here). He famously produced 1000 one-minute videos in 1000 days. Born in Arraba near Nazareth, he has since opened Nas Academy, to teach others how to become viral stars.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3925888,00.html
UAE astronaut takes Israeli flag to ISS. Hazzaa al-Mansoori, the first Emirati astronaut in space, revealed he brought an Israeli flag to his first space flight in 2019. He then presented the same flag to delegates of the Israeli pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020. “This is my gift to all Israelis," he said, and plans to visit Israel this year.
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-689625
Clearing trash from the Red Sea. Volunteer divers in the Red Sea Port of Eilat removed 1.6 tons of discarded tires and other waste from the seabed in their annual cleanup operation. The divers belong to Israeli non-profit
The Coast Patrol, and Eilat’s Palamida diving club.
Israeli Ambassador presents to King of Bahrain. Israel's first ambassador to Bahrain, Eitan Na'eh, handed his credentials to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the Al-Sakhir Palace in Manama. The event included the hoisting of the Israeli flag and the playing of the Israeli anthem "Hatikva".
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319455
More aid to the Philippines. (TY UWI) Israeli NGO IsraAID has deployed an emergency response team in the Philippines following Super Typhoon Rai (Odette - see here). It is delivering safe water, hygiene kits and trauma aid, to many of the 2.4 million Filipinos affected, focusing on Southern Leyte and Cebu provinces.
https://www.israel21c.org/israaid-supplies-urgent-needs-in-typhoon-hit-philippines/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Disinfecting with Ozone. (TY UWI & I24 News) Israel’s MyCleanBit has developed an eco-friendly disinfectant that uses ozone to get surfaces germ-free in just a few seconds. (See here for other Israeli disinfectants that use ozone.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNQGIYaNSs
Rolling out from the sewers. Israel’s Kando (see here previously) has been conducting a two-year pilot study of coronavirus infections using the wastewater in the sewers of several Israeli cities. The project will now be rolled out nationally to predict and help counter future Covid-19 outbreaks.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3926405,00.html
4th phase of Israel’s drone program. Israel’s National Drone Initiative reached its fourth phase (see here previously) with day and night flights above Gush Dan and Yeruham to integrate drones in routine activities such as transporting basic products and first aid. Drones will also be used for real-time monitoring of traffic.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/318959
Protection against Internet bad actors. Israel’s ActiveFence (see here previously) has built an artificial intelligence-powered platform to proactively uncover and flag malicious content and activity “at scale” worldwide. ActiveFence’s 240 employees help global clients protect themselves and their users.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/game-of-foes-israeli-ai-startup-hunts-bad-actors-across-the-internet/
New technologies to solve real-world problems. This article showcases several Israeli startups (previously unreported in this newsletter) that are transforming their industries. They include CrymBo (digital assets enabler), Simpool (what if? AI Simulator), and Storycards (user engagement generator).
https://crymbo.com/ https://simpool.io/ https://story-cards.com/
https://worldisraelnews.com/these-israeli-startups-are-transforming-their-industries/
Creating tomorrow’s smart cities and mobility solutions. A panel of Israeli experts have selected the five most promising Israeli startups in the smart city and mobility sectors. Valerann, Ottopia, and Addionics featured previously in VeryGoodNewsIsrael. Urbanleap and Click-ins are new to this newsletter.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3925870,00.html
https://www.urbanleap.io/ https://stageonevc.com/our-succeses/urbanleap/
https://www.click-ins.com/ (see also Ravin)
Your robot-printed vegi-burger. Israel’s SavorEat has revealed its flagship product at the BBB burger restaurant chain in Herzliya. The plant-based 3D-printed burgers were ordered by members of the press via their mobile phones, printed by Robot Chef and presented alongside fries, onion rings, and fried cauliflower.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3925953,00.html
Electricity from seaweed. Researchers from Israel’s Technion Institute have developed a method of harvesting an electrical current directly from seaweed. The Ulva algae (sea lettuce) is already being researched as a Covid treatment (see here previously) and it now appears to be able to generate currents on a par with solar panels.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-israeli-researchers-create-electricity-from-seaweed/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY1gnlgdo4M
Bringing books to life. Israel’s Zoog (see here previously) has advanced significantly with its virtual storybooks for children. Zoog has just partnered with Snap (previously Snapchat) and its Camera Kit to make Zoog’s Alternate Reality masks, machine learning, and animation-creation technologies even more exciting.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3926260,00.html
Teaching sustainable fashion. The fashion industry is notoriously wasteful of resources. Now Israel’s Browzwear (see here previously) has set-up “Digi-hub” centers in China and Bangladesh to help garment manufacturers go digital, reduce pollution, and become more sustainable.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-company-to-train-garment-workers-in-far-east/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HN7FGFflVI
The AI solution to recruitment. Israel’s Paradox has developed Olivia - a virtual personal assistant, who joins human recruitment teams and helps them automate all recruitment processes. Paradox has just raised $200 million of funds to give it a market valuation of $1.5 billion and make it Israel’s first “unicorn” of 2022.
https://www.paradox.ai/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBGHz2DJBJQ
Self-repairing materials. Scientists at Israel’s Technion Institute have produced eco-friendly self-healing nanocrystal semiconductors. They have shown how these materials, known as double perovskites, exhibit self-healing capabilities after being injured by electron beam radiation.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2022/01/02/breakthrough-self-repairing-materials-are-already-here/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adfm.202110421
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOJaxhLB0iY
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
An extraordinary year. The IVC Research Center and the law firm Meitar have published their 2021 Israel Tech Review. It shows Israeli companies raised an “exceptional” $25.6 billion in private investments, shattering 2020’s previous record of $10.3 billion in funding. Q4 was the strongest, with investments totaling $8 billion.
Entrepreneurial companies of the year. (TY JBS) Independent research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan has named two Israeli companies in its 2021 Entrepreneurial Company of the Year list. Windward was recognized for its AI maritime systems and Aura Air for its technology to counter coronavirus.
The $55 billion Israeli-founded company. Palo Alto Networks (see here previously), founded by Israel’s Nir Zuk, trades at a $55 billion market cap, an all-time high. The cybersecurity giant has just entered the prestigious Nasdaq-100 index, ironically replacing Israel’s Check Point, where Zuk was among the first employees.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3925876,00.html
From little seeds. Israeli startups Nirit Seeds and TomaTech have been acquired by Israel’s AP Partners Fund and Discount Capital to merge them into Israel’s largest vegetable breeding seeds company. The 80 employees will continue operations in Israel, Spain, Mexico, and Italy, expanding into the Netherlands and North America.
https://www.freshplaza.com/article/9387286/nirit-seeds-and-tomatech-acquired-and-merged-at-a-value-of-over-60-million/ https://www.niritseeds.com/ https://israelactive.com/?s=TomaTech
10 Israelis become top Intel global executives. Intel Corporation has appointed 10 Israeli executives to senior international positions. They include Karin Eibschitz-Segal who led development in Israel and Validation Engineering globally, overseeing the work of 10,000 people. She becomes global Corporate Vice President.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/intel-appoints-10-israeli-executives-to-senior-global-positions/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3926050,00.html
The future of marketing. Israeli startup, Drill, has developed a technology to monitor real-time implied responses by consumers while shopping. Drill develops neuromarketing tools, aimed at improving the buying experience and communication with customers.
https://drill-d.co.il/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3925939,00.html
The largest dairy farm in the Middle East. JNF-USA is supporting the ‘Halutza’ project (‘halutz’ is Hebrew for pioneer) to expand the Negev towns of Naveh, Bnei Netzarim, and Shlomit. They have established a hi-tech sustainable dairy farm that will grow to 1,500 cows and produce 900 million liters of milk a year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEUmM2Nk__s https://www.jpost.com/judaism/jewish-holidays/udderly-brilliant-your-cheesecake-could-soon-come-from-this-dairy-668088
Biodegradable plastic goes Down Under. Israel’s Tipa (see here previously) works with several global companies like Scotch & Soda, Stella McCartney, Woolworths, and UK’s Waitrose. Now Swiss packaging giant AMCOR will use Tipa to make compostable packaging in Australia and New Zealand.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/07/28/amcor-tipa-partner-to-bring-compostable-packaging-to-australia-and-nz/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3926236,00.html
Four dozen Unicorns in 2021. Some 48 Israeli and Israeli-founded companies reached unicorn status ($1 billion market value) in 2021. In 2020, the number was only16. 41 of those companies have a CEO and key management in Israel. https://nocamels.com/2021/12/unicorns-2021-israeli-record/
Where are they now? This article explains what happened to Israeli startups Argo (Rewalk), Better Place, Brainsway, CartiHeal, Cupron, IceCure, Insightec, Kamada, MediWound, Moovit, Paulee, Powermat, Pythagoras Solar, Seambiotic, Urban Aeronautics and more. Even some of the failures have happy endings.
Israeli exits: (TY WIN) Google has bought Israeli cybersecurity Siemplify for an estimated $500 million.
Investment in Israeli startups: Paradox raised $200 million; Remilk raised $120 million; Tipa raised $70 million; Drill raised $1.25 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
The rise of the ibex. One of the first new laws of the State of Israel was to ban hunting. This saved the Nubian ibex, which is native to the Middle East and mentioned in the Bible. There are now some 1,200 to 1,400 ibex and numbers are growing. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority works to ensure their continued protection.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-rise-and-hopefully-continued-rise-of-israels-iconic-ibex/
Fauda releases trailer for season 4. (TY UWI) The trailer for Season 4 of the hit Israeli TV series Fauda has just been released. The series is planned to air on Yes and Netflix in mid-2022. “Fauda,” means “chaos” in Arabic, and is an international hit, including among audiences in Arab countries.
https://www.israel21c.org/fauda-drops-season-4-teaser-and-it-looks-mind-blowing/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCrMy90M59w
Running blind. (TY UWI) Israeli marathon runner Avi Solomon was born in Ethiopia. He suffered from glaucoma and went blind, aged only 14. Despite (or because of) many personal tragedies, he took up running and helps raise his seven children. He came 62nd of 12,000 in November’s Abu Dhabi marathon.
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/blind-israeli-runner-comes-62-out-of-12000-in-abu-dhabi-marathon/
THE JEWISH STATE
Club Z - Standing up for Israel. Club Z rallies young American Jews around their people and Israel. Some 200 high schoolers enjoy Club Z’s full menu of seminars, trips, guest lectures, conferences, projects, and hands-on activism. Plus, of course, parties, picnics, day trips and holiday celebrations.
https://www.jns.org/club-z-rallies-young-jews-around-their-people-and-their-homeland/
Double donations. Magen David Adom (MDA) and Zichron Menachem held a “Double Donation Day” across Israel, during which many Israelis donated hair for cancer patients and blood for MDA bloodmobiles.
https://worldisraelnews.com/israelis-across-the-country-donate-hair-braids-to-cancer-patients/
64% of Haredim use the Internet. Nearly two-thirds of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox are now online and half use social media, according to a poll by the Israel Democracy Institute. Email is the most popular app (88%), followed by search engines, digital banking, work, and government services. Very few do online shopping.
Where it all began. For a limited time, the City of David Foundation is offering free premium access to its virtual “Unearthed” tour of the City of David in Jerusalem. It is fascinating. Free registration is required. Then watch Israel’s Ambassador to Italy give a tour in Italian (English subtitles).
https://my.matter.co.il/tour/city-of-david-4b2ef4f0 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319794
BDS Fail. An anti-Israel group in Canada promoting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel has been found to be using software from Israel’s Wix to circulate its message. The response to the hypocritic organization went viral and the BDS site no longer exists.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319878
Israel’s image. Israel’s Public Diplomacy Forum has met for the first time in several years, “to lead a unified, precise and clear message on significant issues and events”. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated that Israel’s image is “a main component of our national security and our national strength”.
https://www.jns.org/israels-public-diplomacy-forum-convenes-for-first-time-in-years/
220102
In the 2nd Jan 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An Israeli implant will transform the lives of heart failure patients.
· Analyze your sleep with an Israeli wireless home monitor.
· Israel’s National Library publishes 1,600 ancient Christian manuscripts.
· Israel is installing wave power systems and compressed air energy storage.
· Israeli soil sensors reduce pollution from overuse of nitrate fertilizers.
· Unique video to celebrate 85th birthday of Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra.
· Two extra-ordinary but typical examples of Israeli life-saving.
· Click here to see the 26th Dec newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, and United With Israel with extra feature on Medical. TY Sandra for the German translation here, and posted by Stuart Palmer here. Also, 12th Nov (TY Zachy) in Hebrew (here) and posted by Stuart Palmer here. Please pass on this newsletter to German and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://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 (19,700+ 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
Implant for congestive heart failure patients. Israel's Restore Medical develops the ContraBand implant that uses the patient’s Left Ventrical to assist a failing Right Ventrical for the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF). It has just announced promising preliminary results of its First-in-Human clinical trials.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/12/01/israels-restore-medical-announces-first-in-human-trial-of-heart-failure-treatment/ https://restoremedical.co/
Boost for Parkinson’s treatment. Back in 2013 (see here previously) Tel Aviv University researchers found that the sugar substitute mannitol could protect the brain against Parkinson’s disease. But a trial could not get funding. So, entrepreneur and Parkinson’s sufferer Dan Vesely co-founded and crowdfunded CliniCrowd.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/318928 https://clinicrowd.info/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo6z6OQsBRM
Israel starts trial of 4th vaccination. Israel’s Sheba Medical Center has begun the first study in the world of the efficacy of administering a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine. The 6,000 participants include 150 medical personnel who had a 3rd dose in August. They will receive the Pfizer vaccine.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-hospital-to-begin-study-on-efficacy-of-4th-covid-vaccine-dose/
How plants fight infections. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have identified the complex way that plant bacteria fight off infections from viruses known as phages. A protein in the bacteria calls another protein to destroy a molecule inside itself that the phage needs to replicate. The cell dies but it stops the infection.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/bacteria-and-plants-fight-alike
Monitor your sleep at home. (TY Hazel) No need to go to a sleep lab to analyze your sleep problems. The electrophysiological measurement solution from Israel’s X-trodes (see here previously) is ideal for home use. Its smart skin electrodes measure brainwaves, eye movement, skeletal muscles, cardiac activity and more.
https://www.israel21c.org/skip-the-sleep-lab-and-go-wireless-at-home/
9 top digital health companies. (TY Hazel) CB Insights has named nine Israeli-based
health-tech startups in its 2021 Top 150 Digital Health Companies transforming
healthcare. They include Vocalis,
Sweetch, DiA Imaging,
B.Well, C2I Genomics, Lumen, Nym Health, Theator and Empathy.
https://www.israel21c.org/8-israeli-startups-make-cb-insights-top-150-list/
https://b-well.co.il/ (Hebrew)
Israeli startups transforming telehealth. Some more innovative Israeli healthcare startups. Those not previously reported in this newsletter are medFlyt (caregiver management) and Sivan Innovation (Moovcare patient / physician communications) https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3921246,00.html
https://www.medflyt.com/ https://vimeo.com/469424965 https://www.sivan-innovation.com/
$17 million for digital health. Israel has budgeted NIS 55 million for hospitals and health organizations etc., to build the digital infrastructure required for anonymized medical data sharing. It will spearhead major advances in groundbreaking research and innovative development by Israeli healthcare startups and research scientists.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-earmarks-17m-for-new-digital-health-innovation-program/
Cancer treatment goes into space. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off for the International Space Station carrying a smart laboratory developed by Israel’s SpacePharma. It will test Doxil from Israel’s Ayana to see its effect on cells in zero gravity. Doxil is the first nanotechnology cancer treatment approved by the US FDA.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3925795,00.html
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
More actors with disabilities. Four of Israel’s biggest TV companies KAN, RESHET, HOT, and YES have pledged that they will audition actors with disabilities with each new studio production. They have also committed to a more inclusive selection process for all jobs across the film industry.
Soccer for disabled children. A new Israeli soccer team, Hapoel Special Olympics, coaches youths with special needs, including autism and mental disabilities, with the participation of professional soccer players.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFbfmxoWC3Q
Ethiopian Israeli, female, pianist and IDF soldier. (TY UWI) Elisabeth has been playing piano since the age of nine and has even played at the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. This prodigy pianist from Jerusalem has continued playing all the way through her service in the IDF.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4PGtL0GMCA
Together. Arab Israeli Yoseph Haddad has founded Together – Vouch for Each Other which bridges gaps between Jews and Arabs, connecting Israeli Arab society to Israeli society. Arabs can be proud Arabs and proud Israelis. The Arab Israeli NGO also works outside of Israel to combat antisemitism and the BDS movement.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/318593 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IJ0BqFU0ZY
https://worldisraelnews.com/arab-influencers-advocate-for-israel-on-social-media/
Israel puts Christian manuscripts online. Israel’s National Library has added 1,600 ancient Christian manuscripts to its online archive. The collection originates from Saint Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula, includes items from the 12th century and is said to be priceless for scholars of Greek Orthodoxy.
Israeli & UAE students solve problems together. (TY UWI) Jerusalem-based PICO Kids Ambassadors program flew 16 Jerusalemite students to a “Makeathon” at the Dubai Future Foundation. With UAE students they built prototypes for desalination facilities, vertical farms, and portable bottle caps with integrated filters.
https://www.jns.org/academic-mission-for-jerusalem-emirati-students-addresses-global-challenges/
UN Ambassadors see the real Israel. A delegation of 12 ambassadors to the United Nations recently visited Israel. On a tour of the Entrepreneurship Center of the Unistream Association in Be’er Sheva, the students (from all social and geographical fringes of Israel) presented the startup companies that they developed.
https://www.jns.org/12-un-ambassadors-tour-israel-to-visit-key-sites-get-briefings-from-officials/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3925786,00.html
European lawmakers see the real Israel. Israel hosted a group of 16 young lawmakers from Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Sweden. Their itinerary included the Gaza periphery (Sderot & Iron Dome), Jerusalem (Old City, Knesset & Yad Vashem) and Tel Aviv’s startups.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/young-european-lawmakers-explore-startup-nation-gaza-border/
An EU scholarship to Israeli university. A consortium of ten universities - nine in Europe and Bar-Ilan University in Israel - has won the EU’s prestigious Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree (EMJMD) grant, valued at more than €4.5m. It will help students study for a MSc in Chemoinformatics (Chemistry and AI).
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319151
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Next Gen solar cells. Israel’s SOLRA is developing solar cells based on thin film materials derived from perovskite, a crystalline substance that efficiently absorbs light. Perovskite-based solar cells have higher cell power conversion efficiencies, cheaper to manufacture and have far more uses than existing PV solar cells.
https://nocamels.com/2021/11/solra-light-energy-half-cost-silicon-solar-cells/
http://www.yissum.co.il/technologies/project/2870
Wave power for Israel. (TY UWI) At Jaffa Port, Israel’s Eco Wave Power (see here previously) is installing its system to produce clean energy from ocean and sea waves. It will be the first time in Israeli history that wave energy will officially connect to the national electrical grid. Israel’s government is funding 50% of the project.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3924117,00.html
Storing renewable energy. (TY WIN) Israel’s Augwind (see here previously) has signed an $8 million agreement with the Israel Electricity Corporation to build a 40-megawatt hours AirBattery (the world’s first) to store solar or wind energy as compressed air (see here also). See videos for details of the technology.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j0qAbXC3VA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBF5EnK9MPs
Mobileye takes to Parisian streets. (TY WIN) Employees of the Galeries Lafayette store on Paris’ Haussmann Boulevard will be able to ride to work in an autonomous car controlled by Israel’s Mobileye. The trial service will also feature a Mobileye safety driver and a “co-pilot” from French transportation operator RATP Group.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/mobileye-rolls-out-trial-for-on-demand-autonomous-car-rides-in-paris/
Two awards for Cognata. Israeli autonomous car simulator Cognata (see here previously) won two CES 2022 Innovation Awards recently. First, for its Smart City Digital Twin product (see video). Also, for helping accelerate the global program for ADAS validation to meet global regulatory requirements.
https://www.cognata.com/press-release-cognata-named-ces-2022-innovation-awards-honoree-for-its-smart-cities-digital-twin-product/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIz9aFjvqbI
https://nocamels.com/2021/12/cognata-simulation-road-terrain-smart/
How Israel is changing the way we travel. The Smart Mobility summit in Tel Aviv was a global event with 5,000 attendees, including automakers and government leaders. The speakers discussed vehicle electrification, artificial intelligence, big data and their influence on transportation, Mobility as a Service (MAAS), and more.
https://gulfbusiness.com/heres-how-israel-is-changing-the-way-we-travel/
On the fast track. Israel has approved a project to build a high-speed rail connection between Haifa and Tel Aviv for a travel time of 30 minutes. Also, Nahariya to Tel Aviv would be shortened to 54 minutes instead of more than hour-and-a-half. The trains will travel at up to 155 mph and the project will cost NIS 12 billion.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/transport-and-infrastructure/article-689596
https://www.jns.org/israel-plans-30-minute-high-speed-train-from-haifa-to-tel-aviv/
The largest cultivated steak to date. Israel’s MeaTech 3D (see here previously) has successfully bio-printed the largest cultivated steak to date, producing a 3.67 oz (104-gram) product made with real muscle and fat cells.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/food-tech-startup-meatech-unveils-largest-cultivated-steak-to-date/
https://meatech3d.com/3-67oz-achievement/
Accidental breakthrough in cultivating meat. (TY UWI) Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute stumbled onto a fast process for growing lab-grown meat. They found that cultivated meat grows much faster when the enzyme ERK is blocked. They have formed the Israeli startup ProFuse to take this further.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/318886
https://www.israel21c.org/surprise-discovery-may-lead-to-affordable-cultivated-steak/
https://www.cell.com/developmental-cell/fulltext/S1534-5807(21)00946-1#secsectitle0220
Filtering the air in the classroom. (TY Hazel) Israel’s health and education ministries have selected Israel’s Aura Smart Air (see here previously) to pilot its filtration systems in 700 classrooms across Jerusalem to stop the spread of coronavirus. 150+ global educational institutions use Aura Smart Air filters in their classrooms.
https://nocamels.com/2021/12/israel-jerusalem-aura-air-covid/
Maintaining healthy soil. Scientists at Israel’s Ben Gurion University have founded DOTS (Data of the Soil), which has developed an electro-optical nitrate sensor based on absorption spectroscopy, for continuous monitoring of nitrate levels in the soil. It prevents over-fertilization and reduces water resource pollution.
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/BGN_DOTS.aspx https://dotsoil.com/
Zero waste optical lenses. Researchers from Israel’s Technion Institute have discovered an innovative and comparably cheap, way to make optical lenses. It avoids the 80% waste of grinding and shaping glass slabs. A polymer is injected into a ring-shaped frame under water. Its benefits range from spectacles to telescopes.
https://israelbetweenthelines.com/2021/12/15/researchers-create-zero-waste-optical-lenses/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8FAy4q6vjQ
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Economy grew 7% in 2021. Dun & Bradstreet reported that Israel’s economy grew by seven percent in 2021, beating a global average of 5.9%. 17,000 more businesses opened or re-opened than closed during the year.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-economy-grew-by-7-in-2021-beating-global-average-study-finds/
University innovation grants. Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology has launched a new "Knowledge Accelerator" program to promote research for industry. It awarded NIS 10.8 million to Ben Gurion University to create “The Lab Pre-acceleration Program” within its Yazamut 360° Oazis accelerator (see here).
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/4year_grant.aspx
https://innovationisrael.org.il/en/program/promoting-applied-research-academia
New Unicorn knows its salt. Israel’s Salt Security (see here previously) has just raised $120 – 150 million at a valuation of $1.5 billion, becoming Israel’s latest startup with the investment status of a Unicorn.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3925778,00.html
Drone delivery expands. (TY WIN)
Since February, Israel’s Flytrex (see here previously) has increased
its drone delivery business in North Carolina, USA more than tenfold. Its three
drone stations at the Holly Springs Town Center make dozens of food orders deliveries
a day for restaurants and retail chains.
Boost for sugar-reduced juices. Israel’s Better Juice (see here previously) has sealed its first commercial deal. GEA Group, AG, Germany, a major US fruit juice manufacturer will help to bring Better Juice’s reduced-sugar juices one step closer to supermarket beverage aisles. Better Juice was also granted a new European patent.
Broadcasting in the UAE. Israel’s Pixellot (see here previously) has signed a deal with Dubai-based sports broadcast system integrator Cam Plus Sport to “enable sports clubs and schools across the United Arab Emirates to create high-quality livestreams and on-demand recordings of sports matches.
https://nocamels.com/2021/12/sports-tech-pixellot-broadcast-uae/
Israeli exits: US Gilbarco Veeder-Root is acquiring Israel’s Driivz for $200 million;
Investment in Israeli startups: Salt Security raised $120+ million; Torq raised $50 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
85th Anniversary of the IPO. The Israel Philharmonic celebrates 85 years with this unique virtual event. It includes never-before seen archive material with musical legends Arturo Toscanini, Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, and Isaac Stern and much more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP1d60-RafA
What’s on at Center Stage. January events at Israel’s only dedicated theater for English speakers include 8th Jan Broadway with a Twist; 12th Jan Fun Innovation; 31st Jan Sorcerer’s Night.
https://www.centerstageisrael.com/
Listen to Israel. (TY JR) Jacob Richman has created a website with links to dozens of regularly updated podcasts of Israeli news, technology, culture, entertainment and more. Visit https://jr.co.il/links/#podcasts
Record breaking Israeli salad. A salad with 99 ingredients (not including spices) broke the Israeli record at the 12th annual Israel Agriculture Summit. The Noi HaSadeh food chain provided the fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and herbs for the salad, displaying the strength of Israeli agriculture from the Galilee to the Negev.
Anti-microbial basketball nets. Ex-pro American Israeli basketball player Tamir Goodman (“the Jewish Jordan”) has launched “Aviv” – a new sports-equipment innovation company. Its basketball nets dry the basketball from sweat and disinfects its surface every time the ball goes through the hoop.
https://avivsports.com/product/net/
The ski slopes are open. With the recent heavy precipitation from the Carmel Storm, sufficient snow (25cm) landed on Mount Hermon to enable the resort to be opened to Israeli skiers and sledding. In the first four hours of the site’s opening on Thursday, some 2,000 visitors arrived. And this week is the resort’s 50th anniversary.
https://nocamels.com/2021/12/mount-hermon-50-years-israel/
Israeli gold medal in Oman. 18-year-old Gal Zuckerman won a gold medal in kiteboarding event at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Oman. She came first in every one of the competition’s 18 rounds. The Omani organizers treated the Israelis very well, but failed to play the Israeli anthem or raise its flag.
https://worldisraelnews.com/no-flag-raised-or-anthem-played-for-israeli-gold-medalist-in-oman/
THE JEWISH STATE
No longer a village. Petah Tikva has come a long way since it was founded in 1878 as the first Jewish agricultural village following the resettlement of the Land of Israel. The municipality has approved an outline plan that will increase the city's population from 266,000 to 460,000.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-petah-tikva-to-nearly-double-in-size-1001395715
Maps of Israel. (TY JR) Jacob Richman has added many links to his Maps of Israel site. Worth a visit.
Praying at the Kotel in 1928. Some rare colored video footage of Jews in Jerusalem in 1928 during the British Mandate period that preceded the State of Israel, between 1918 – 1948.
https://www.israelunwired.com/unbelievable-rare-color-footage-of-jerusalem-from-1928/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4DuPDGw8FM
48 ways. (TY Sharon) This year’s Jerusalem Biennale (see here previously) included the works of 48 Jewish artists. Each was based on one of the 48 ways that Torah is acquired, as listed in the sixth chapter of Pirkei Avot. http://rjstreets.com/2021/12/26/torah-in-our-times-48-plus-7-ways-to-learn/
IDF medic saves Palestinian Arab baby. When two Palestinian Arab women arrived at a checkpoint with an unconscious baby, 19-year-old IDF Corporal Adam quickly began CPR on the infant. A few hours later, the family returned to the checkpoint to thank Adam and tell him that the baby was fine.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/what-mainstream-media-wont-show-you-idf-medic-saves-palestinian-baby/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc9lmGdXhlU
Kashrut supervisor saves lives in Ashdod. Avraham works as a supervisor of kosher food for the Rabbinate of the city of Ashdod and is also a volunteer EMT for Israeli NGO United Hatzalah. He had just returned from treating the injured in a motorcycle accident when he was called to save the life of a heart attack patient.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/318246
Israel’s success is no accident. Anyone searching for a deeper reason for Israel’s modern economic miracle should read this blog article. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319019
