26/6/22
In the 26th Jun 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An Israeli startup uses AI and dogs to sniff out cancer.
· Two videos featuring top women IDF officers – one Jewish, one Muslim.
· Israel leads the world in Research & Development.
· 100,000 Israeli students took part in the national “Space Olympics”.
· The first Israeli company to be registered in the UAE.
· Israeli gymnasts won European gold medals in Israel.
· Israelis used hi-tech to locate and return valuable lost property.
· Click here to see the 19th Jun newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German here, plus posted by Stuart Palmer here. Also (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here, plus 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. (Please note that the donate link is now working and a PayPal account is not necessary!)
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ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Center for Translational Medicine. Rambam Health Care and Israel’s Technion Institute have established the Wolfe Center for Translational Medicine and Engineering. Doctors, scientists, and engineers will work together from bench to bedside, translating research into tools and train the next generation of doctors and engineers.
https://aforam.org/establishment-of-the-wolfe-center-for-translational-medicine-and-engineering/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTJUJgXGgQA
Israel’s first organoid bank. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Hadassah University Medical Center in Ein Kerem has established Israel's first organoid (mini organs) bank. The 3D multicellular structures are grown from stem cells and can be used in personalized transplant operations. https://www.jpost.com/science/article-710052
Moving further in brain research. Twenty months ago (see here previously) scientists at Israel’s Technion Institute discovered how neurons in the brain stored memories of how to make the body move. Now they have identified what parts of the neuron (dendrites and axons) are responsible, and the sequence in which they work.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/mind-and-spirit/article-709099
Healing after sinus surgery. The ArchSinus from Israel’s StStent (see here previously) improves the healing process for patients who undergo functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) to cure chronic sinusitis. The flexible stent (funded via ExitValley - see here) has undergone successful clinical trials in Israel and the US.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-709287
European approval for gastric cancer detection. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Ibex Medical (see here previously) has received the CE Mark for its Galen Gastric system, to detect gastrointestinal cancer – one of the most common malignant diseases worldwide, with over a million new cases every year and relatively poor prognosis.
https://ibex-ai.com/galen-gastric-ce/
Sniffing out cancer. Israeli biotechnology startup SpotitEarly is developing a technique for early detection of cancer (lung, prostate, breast, and colon). Trained dogs sniff the patient’s breath and within seconds an AI system gives the result. SpoitEarly is conducting extensive trials at Israel’s Sourasky and Hadassah hospitals.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-710191 https://spotitearly.com/
Feel young to stay young. Researchers from Israel’s Bar-Ilan University have proved the saying “You’re only as young as you feel”. They tracked 194 Israelis aged 73-84 rehabilitating from osteoporotic fractures or stroke. Patients who felt younger (their subjective age) at admission had better functional independence at discharge.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355333 https://www.biu.ac.il/en/article/11377
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35613557/
Saving a life at their own gym. Two volunteer paramedic EMTs from Israeli NGO United Hatzalah were very familiar with the location they were sent to save a heart-attack sufferer. It was the gym where they frequently worked out. They arrived to find a trainer performing CPR. They soon had the patient’s heart “up and running”.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355167
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Promoting rights at the UN of people with disabilities. Israel and Germany joined forces to host an event at the United Nations to promote the rights of people with disabilities. They sent a strong message to the international community regarding the ability of sports to connect communities and individuals.
Climb every mountain. Danielle Wolfson, the first Israeli woman to climb Mt Everest (see here previously), is now aiming for Mt Denali, the highest peak in North America. She has already scaled Mt Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe. Danielle is sponsored by Israeli air-conditioner manufacturer Tadiran.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-tadiran-adopts-first-israeli-woman-to-climb-everest-1001414824
The first female combat brigade commander. The IDF has appointed the first woman to command a brigade. Colonel Reut Rettig-Weiss will command the 99th Division's Artillery Brigade. She was previously the first woman to become battalion commander of the IDF’s Artillery Corps' SkyRiders drone unit.
https://www.jpost.com/israeli-women/article-709713 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poRnsbZAeaM
A female Muslim IDF officer. Very interesting to watch this video about Ella Waweya. Interviewed by Yoseph Haddad in Arabic with English subtitles, Ella is the ideal spokesperson to emphasize that Israel is an amazing inclusive country for all its minorities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8FVSsAxNP8
A coexistence garden. 300+ Arab and Jewish Israeli children have created a sustainable garden at the Al-Hayat School in the Israeli Arab town of Kfar Qassem. Jewish kids from nearby Kfar Saba joined the Kfar Qassem kids in the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation “Green Roofs” project, funded by USAID.
https://www.israel21c.org/arab-and-jewish-kids-in-israel-plant-a-coexistence-garden/
Jews, Moslems & Christians. Israeli archaeologists working in the Negev Bedouin city of Rahat have identified and excavated a 7th century mosque - one of the oldest in the world. It is located 2km from another 7th-century rural mosque that was excavated in 2019 and 5km from a 7th century abandoned monastery.
Number 1 for R&D investment. In the latest IMD World Competitiveness Rankings, Israel is 25th overall of the 63 countries surveyed but World Number One for its total expenditure on Research & Development. Also 2nd for cybersecurity, 3rd for public expenditure on education, and 5th for women with degrees.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-reverses-decline-in-imd-competitiveness-ranking-1001415107
https://worldcompetitiveness.imd.org/countryprofile/overview/IL
Protecting millions in Ghana from floods. The 3D mapping and analysis technology from Israel’s GeoX (see here previously) is being used by a World Bank project to help Ghanaians avoid floods and mudslides. It is also helping design a dam for the Odaw River to protect 4 million people from its repeated floods.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-tech-protecting-millions-in-ghana-from-floods/
Battling wildfires in Cyprus. Israel is sending two special planes, 17 firefighters, and equipment to Cyprus to help the country combat blazes ravaging the north of the island. The decision was made following a request from the Turkish Cypriot authorities. The fire brigades of Israel, Cyprus, and Greece train together periodically.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-firefighters-battle-massive-blazes-in-cyprus/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-helps-battle-forest-fire-in-turkey-backed-north-cyprus/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Israel Space Olympics. 100,000 students from 400 schools nationwide took part in the eighth annual Israel Space Olympics, the flagship educational event of the Israel Space Agency and the Science and Technology Ministry. 20 teams competed in the finals at the Israel Center for Excellence through Education in Jerusalem.
https://www.jpost.com/science/article-709483
Center for inventors. Israel’s Technion Institute has inaugurated the Mehoudar Center for Inventors. It will help Israeli school children, university students, and faculty members create, build and test engineering prototypes. The center is named after Rafi Mehoudar, the developer of Netafim’s drip irrigation system.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2022/06/mehoudar-center-inventors-inauguration/
Israeli drones can deliver. As part of the ongoing National Drone Network Initiative Israel’s Innovation Authority has teamed up with Israeli company Strix Drones to test the latest technology for delivery of commercial goods. Drones deliver to automated pick-up points and mailboxes and an app alerts the recipient.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355023
Preventing motorcycle accidents. I24 News video featuring Israel’s Ride Vision (see here previously) which can prevent many of the hundreds of thousands of motorcycle crashes every year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFxXzP_oMpg
Reducing road congestion in Jerusalem. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Axilion (see here previously) has successfully completed a pilot of its X Way Twin system along Rabin Blvd. in Jerusalem. It significantly reduced traffic congestion and emission of pollutants. More sensors will be installed, and tests scheduled.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/axilion-has-successfully-completed-a-pilot-of-the-x-way-twin-system-in-jerusalem-301567337.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrMGtN5Ocng
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yzBkJZOGUk
Engines for robots. The Robotics Engine Platform from Israel’s MOV.AI is to be integrated into autonomous mobile robots being developed by Taiwan’s Qisda. MOV.AI won the “Smart Robotics Innovation Award” in the 2021 AI Breakthrough Awards program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0T_2A2bQ7I
https://www.mov.ai/news-and-updates/qisda-selects-mov-ai-robotics-engine-platform-to-power-its-autonomous-mobile-robots/ https://www.mov.ai/news-and-updates/mov-ai-takes-home-the-smart-robotics-innovation-award-in-the-ai-breakthrough-awards-program/ https://www.mov.ai/
UK visit to hydrogen charging stations. UK Trade envoy to Israel Lord Ian Austin was in Israel to see EV-Gencell’s unique hydrogen-based hybrid charging stations. It is the world’s only solution for charging electric vehicles without carbon emissions and without relying on the power grid. A UK pilot is now being examined.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-709737
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-702892
Italian water companies visit. 22 Italian water utility companies and three Italian engineering firms attended the Israel Water Innovation Technology Summit. They toured Israel’s water desalination, purification, and conservation plants to look for solutions to Italy’s current severe drought.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/italy-scouts-for-israeli-water-tech-as-drought-concerns-mount/
Clearly see the water. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Watersight is a joint venture of Mekorot, Israel's national water company, and Israel’s Newsight Imaging (see here previously). Its Aquaring lab-on-a-chip monitors water’s quality in real time. It uses spectroscopy and AI to detect chemicals, metals, and biological pollutants.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/watersight-releases-the-aquaring---a-complete-real-time-sensing-device-for-online-water-condition-monitoring-301568084.html https://watersight.ai/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2Q2510oVa4
“Eat it All” cauliflower. (TY Atid-EDI) The iStem no-waste cauliflower from Israel’s Syngenta Seeds won the bronze trophy in Fruit Logistica’s prestigious Innovation Awards. iStem is the first edible stem cauliflower - the sweet, high fiber, high yield, nutritious vegetable can be eaten whole, with no preparation.
https://www.syngentavegetables.com/news/vegetables/istemr-cauliflower-wins-bronze-innovation-award-fruit-logistica https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVnv5tJw9uE
Shapeshifting pasta. (TY Hazel) Hebrew University of Jerusalem scientists have developed a method to manufacture dried pasta sheets, which are “preprogrammed” to mold into a 3D shape upon boiling. The self-morphing technology has the potential to save costs and transform the entire pasta industry.
https://nocamels.com/2022/06/pasta-shape-shifting-hebrew-university/
http://www.yissum.co.il/technologies/project/10874
Protecting crops from disease. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s CropX (see here previously) now monitors crops for up to 320 crop and fungal disease combinations. It advises farmers when best to spray, reducing costs and overuse of harmful chemicals. CropX has thousands of customers in over 50 countries.
Products from recycled plastic bags. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Alkemy (see here previously) is acquiring Germany’s oceansix, to incorporate its technology for generating products from recovered materials. The deal fits perfectly with Alkemy’s unique “waste to product” process for recycling plastic bags and plastic sheets.
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/alkemy-announces-closing-of-the-transaction-to-purchase-oceansix-840315199.html https://www.alkemy.solutions/
The most innovative startup. Israel’s Talon Cyber Security (see here previously) won the Innovation Sandbox Contest at the 2022 RSA Conference for information security in San Francisco. The contest is considered the leading platform for showcasing groundbreaking technologies that could transform the cybersecurity industry.
https://www.israel21c.org/talon-cyber-security-named-most-innovative-startup-at-rsa/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
The most building starts in 27 years. There were 68,970 building starts in Israel between April 2021 and March 2022, up from 63,274 in 2021 and the highest figure since 1995. In the year to March 2022, there were 159,900 new homes under construction in Israel - an all-time record.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-building-starts-in-israel-hit-30-year-high-1001415650
Promoting trade with Egypt and Morocco. (TY TPS) For the first time in about a decade, an Egyptian delegation of 12 textiles and clothing industrialists and businesspeople met senior officials and business leaders in Israel. Meanwhile Israeli Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked flew to Morocco to invite Arab nurses to Israel.
https://worldisraelnews.com/for-first-time-in-10-years-egyptian-trade-delegation-arrives-in-israel/
https://www.jns.org/israeli-interior-minister-ayelet-shaked-kicks-off-official-visit-to-morocco/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355312 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-710084
The first Israeli company to be registered in Dubai. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Rapyd (see here previously) has been registered at the Dubai International Centre (DIFC) and is set to become the first Israeli company set to be regulated in the UAE. The Dubai Financial Services Authority has granted an in-principle approval to Rapyd.
A million shekels each for 3 energy projects. Israel’s Ministry of Energy and the Israel Innovation Authority have awarded a total of NIS 3.3 million to three Israeli startups. They are Augwind (compressed air energy storage), ZOOZ Power (previously Chakratec – EV charging), and Seosol (drone scans to check solar panels).
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355166
More funds investing in Israeli startups. US based Vine Ventures has opened a new office in Tel Aviv’s Sarona Market and said it will invest half of its new $140 million fund in Israeli startups. Meanwhile, the unrelated Sarona Ventures has launched a new $20 million fund focused on early-stage Israeli startups.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hjxspylc5
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hkywxrl99
Samsung invests in Israeli AI. Samsung Ventures has invested in Israeli AI systems and semiconductor startup NeuReality (see here previously). Samsung stated that NeuReality’s technologies “… are critical for the ability to adopt and grow AI solutions.” Israeli crowdfunding platform OurCrowd is also backing NeuReality.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adrianbridgwater/2022/06/20/samsung-ventures-eyes-israeli-ai-its-a-neureality/?sh=36cd3d236e3e https://www.ourcrowd.com/companies/neureality
Crowdfunding interest-free loans. The interest-free loans from Israel’s SparkIL support worthy, business opportunities that are good for society. The loans are sourced from altruistic lenders in the US who wish to strengthen small businesses from Israel’s socioeconomic periphery who are underserved by the banks.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355273 https://www.sparkil.org/
Tackling obesity in children. Israel’s Sweet Victory (see here previously) has produced a children’s version of its chewing gum designed to stop sugary treat cravings. Sweet Victory partnered Swiss flavor manufacturer Givaudan to create a supplement that fits kids’ taste buds.
https://innovationsfood.com/sweet-victory-botanical-gum-targets-kids-sweet-tooth/
Takeovers, mergers & exits. Israel’s Priority Software (see here previously) has acquired Israel’s SilverByte for NIS 120 million. US telecom giant Comcast is acquiring US-Israeli Levl for around $50 million. Levl will become the basis for Comcast’s first R&D center in Israel. Israel’s Global-e Online is acquiring Borderfree from US Pitney Bowes for $100 million. US-Italian company Leonardo has merged with Israel’s RADA Electronic Industries in a $670 million deal. US Starburst has acquired Israel’s data lake analytics solutions startup Varada for $60 million.
Investment in Israeli startups to 26/6/22: Lusix raised $90 million; Playmaker raised $40 million; Evinced raised $38 million; Cyberint raised $28 million; SpearUAV raised $17 million; RevealSecurity raised $16 million; Crowdvocate (Base) raised $15 million; Fairtility raised $15 million; Dig.security raised $11 million; Wilco raised $7 million; SpotitEarly raised $6.2 million; Amy raised $6 million; DSG raised $6 million; Sunday Security raised $4 million; Fairgen raised $2.5 million.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Israeli culture around the world. Israel’s Foreign Ministry, together with The Jerusalem Post, have launched a website “365 Days of Israeli Culture Around the World”. “Our goal in creating this site is to show the positive side of Israel,” said Nurit Tinari, head of the Foreign Ministry’s Cultural Relations Bureau. At last, check it out!
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-708821 https://www.jpost.com/365days
London Design Biennale winner. The Jerusalem Post has just reported that the Israeli Pavilion’s exhibit “The Boiler Room” won the Public Medal at the third London Design Biennale at Somerset House in London. The Biennale took place last year and the exhibit is now on display at the Holon Museum of Design in Israel.
https://www.jpost.com/365days/visual_arts/article-708156
https://www.londondesignbiennale.com/participant/israel-1
More gold for Israeli para-swimmer. (TY UWI) Last week Israel’s Ami Dadaon won the 50-meter freestyle at the Para Swimming World Championships in Portugal, setting a new world record. He continued his success this week, winning gold medals in the150-meter individual medley and 200-meter freestyle.
https://www.israel21c.org/3-golds-for-israeli-swimmer-at-para-world-championships/
Gold medal gymnasts. 16-year-old Israeli gymnast Daria Atmanov won a gold medal and three silvers at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Tel Aviv. The Israeli team also won a gold medal in the group competition. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-709784
https://www.jns.org/israeli-rhythmic-gymnastics-team-takes-gold-at-european-championships/
THE JEWISH STATE
Whatever happened to Judea & Samaria? (TY Israel Unwired) Excellent video explaining how the name “West Bank” originated. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcLEhylrH6k
Clouds, cactus, color, crowds, and cats. (TY Sharon) As you can “see” there were many atmospheric photo opportunities beginning with the letter “C” on Jerusalem’s streets last week.
http://rjstreets.com/2022/06/19/jerusalem-clouds-cactus-color-crowds-and-cats/
Coming of age in Netanya. Emunah Bet Elazraki Children’s Home was the venue for a mass bar-bat mitzvah event the likes of which had never been seen before in Netanya. While organizing the event, many of the women volunteers realized that they also never had a bat mitvah. They proved that it is never too late!
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/355331
Bag of diamonds found at recycling plant. A Ramat Gan company found an unusual way to reduce its carbon footprint. It dropped a bag of diamonds into the recycling bin. Employees contacted the Hiriya Recycling Park who located the refuge truck. A scan revealed the diamonds, which were returned to their grateful owners.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/06/21/how-did-a-bag-of-diamonds-end-up-in-a-recycling-plant/
19/6/22
In the 19th Jun 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israel has opened its most advanced cardiology hospital.
· Egypt and Israel signed agreement to produce liquid gas for Europe.
· Three refreshing new Israeli water innovations.
· Huge private funds raised for investment in Israeli startups.
· Toyota racing is to use Israeli 3D-printed spare parts.
· Israeli paralympic swimmer breaks world record.
· Israeli archaeologists discover the earliest evidence of the use of fire.
· Click here to see the 12th Jun newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German here, plus posted by Stuart Palmer here. Also (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here, plus 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 (20,700+ 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
Israel’s most advanced cardiology hospital. The new NIS 200 million Eyal Ofer Heart Hospital has just opened on the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa. Besides “normal” cardiology treatments, it will advance research into the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and disorders, benefiting the whole world.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-708300 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btNFNOOf9Ok
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-709383
Coming soon - 3D-printed skin. (TY UWI) Hebrew University Professor Oded Shoseyov is developing Second Skin - a nano-thin 3D-printed film that mimics natural healthy skin. Burn victims or scarred patients can avoid painful skin grafts, simply applying the film like a tattoo.
https://www.israel21c.org/coming-soon-human-skin-you-can-print-at-home/
Better heart imaging. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s DiA Imaging (see here previously) is partnering California's ScImage to integrate DiA’s LVivo Seamless AI-based automated cardiac ultrasound solution into ScImage's unique Cloud architecture and improve the efficiency of echocardiography (heart) analysis.
The stuttering birth of a special education learning startup. To treat the stutter of their son, Niv, Biomedical Engineers Yair and Shirley believed they could develop a hi-tech solution. The result was Israel’s Amplio (see here previously). Their groundbreaking system now helps hundreds of thousands of special needs children.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sku3g7hf5 https://ampliolearning.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4BZJc3OCrk
The first AI med-tech research institute. Israel’s Technion Institute is establishing the Zimin Institute for AI Solutions in Healthcare. Headed by Professor Shai Shen-Orr, it will research human health and medicine, using big data and computational learning. It aims to benefit hospitals, new treatments, home therapy and wearables.
Heart ops on International Children's Day. Four children from different countries were brought to Israel on International Children's Day to undergo life-saving heart surgeries by Israeli NGO Save a Child's Heart. They were Florim from Kosovo, Robert from Ghana, Kauthar from Zanzibar and Kidus from Ethiopia.
https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/bkd2kqro5
Land of milk, honey, and magic. In the same hour, volunteer EMTs from Israel’s United Hatzalah used their Epipens to save the lives of two Israelis who suffered anaphylactic shock from severe allergic reactions to dairy products. One paramedic was Aharon, whose main profession is a children’s magician (see here previously).
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/354926
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
More books by women than men. For the first time ever, female authors in Israel published more books of prose and poetry. Statistics released by the National Library of Israel just ahead of Hebrew Book Week show that of the 7,344 new books registered with the library in 2021, 52%, were credited to female authors.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/354808
The best tech in the Middle East. Research firm Startup Genome has ranked Tel Aviv and Jerusalem together as the fourth best startup ecosystem in the world for agriculture technology in a global survey - the only Middle East country in the top 35. Tel Aviv was also ranked as the seventh best global tech ecosystem.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tel-aviv-ranked-7th-in-annual-list-of-best-global-tech-ecosystems/
https://startupgenome.com/article/global-agtech-and-new-food-ranking-top-25-plus-10-runners-up
Egypt and Israel sign EU liquid gas deal. (TY WIN) Israel and Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Cairo that allows Israel to export natural gas to Europe via Egyptian ports. Israeli gas will be piped to Egypt, liquified to LNG and then brought to the European Union.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-eu-egypt-agree-deal-to-export-natural-gas-to-europe/
EU President praises partnership. President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen was in Israel to strengthen the EU’s relationship with Israel. “I came to Israel to make our unique partnership even stronger, by deepening our bilateral cooperation on many topics, from energy to health and innovation,” she said.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/354904
Food for preemies. The shortage of infant food in the USA is extremely serious for premature babies and for infants dealing with food allergies and sensitivities. Israel’s MyOr (see here previously) has applied to the US FDA for approval to ship 200,000 cans of formula immediately, with plans for a further 250,000 cans a month
https://www.jns.org/israeli-based-company-seeks-approval-to-ease-us-shortage-of-baby-formula/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Superfood from fungi. (TY NoCamels) One of the Israeli startups showcasing its technology at Tel Aviv’s recent Vegan Fest was Kinoko Tech. At the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Kinoko team discovered a way to grow mushrooms into a product that has a meat-like taste and texture with high nutritional value.
https://kinoko-tech.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCulzGb5nvA
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/354931
Solar-powered water purification. Scientists at Tel Aviv University have developed SoLED - a solar-powered UV LED-based water disinfection device designed to purify water in rural communities. The device uses UV light to change the DNA of microbe bacteria, preventing it from replicating. SoLED-treated water is harmless.
https://nocamels.com/2022/06/soled-water-disinfection/
Clean water initiative. Tel Aviv University has inaugurated the Asper Clean Water Fund, thanks to a $407,000 gift from The Asper Foundation, one of Canada’s largest private foundations. The funds will bolster the work of TAU’s Water Energy (WE) Lab that is developing the SoLED water purification system above.
https://english.tau.ac.il/impact/asper_clean_water_fund_launch
Plants that water themselves. (TY UWI) Israel’s TomGrow has developed Selfgrow - technology that self-waters houseplants and delivers all the nutrients needed for six months. Instead of soil, Selfgrow’s patented MediumX comprises gel cubes filled with water and nutrients that allows the plants to drink on demand.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/indoor-agriculture-sprouts-new-possibilities-with-israeli-gel-cubes/
https://tomgrow.io/ https://vimeo.com/548889956
Storing green energy. Israel’s Energy Minister Karin Elharrar visited Ashdod port to see the energy storage system developed by Israel’s Storage Drop (see here previously). It is the world’s first solar energy system to compress air to 80 bars (1 bar = atmospheric pressure) and provides on-demand, emissions-free electricity.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-708893
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ2O-dZ0Iro
Taking the helm. More about Israel’s Orca AI which is being marketed as “the Waze of the Seas”. Its innovative autonomous technology prevents ships from colliding, even in dense fog. There are some 4,000 maritime accidents each year, claiming lives and causing environmental and economic damage.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkzfitvtc https://www.orca-ai.io/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yApICE8ryaE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1BezS_2Jbs
The best cybersecurity for railways. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Cervello was awarded “Best Solution in Railway Cybersecurity” by Cyber Defense Magazine at the Annual Global InfoSec Awards. Cervello’s system monitors a railway's mission-critical assets, alerting staff to counter cyber threats as they arise and avoid disruption.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cervello-named-best-solution-in-railway-cybersecurity-at-the-2022-global-infosec-awards-301561984.html https://cervello.security/
New radar system makes all others obsolete. Israel’s Elbit Systems has unveiled an innovative tactical radar, at the Eurostory exhibition in Paris. "Raketa" (rocket) can simultaneously detect and track thousands of objects. A small drone at 12 km, a person at 15km or swarms of drones and, of course, much larger objects.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/354758
Radar to detect insects. (TY Hazel) Scientists at Haifa University have developed a first-of-its-kind radar that accurately detects the size and direction of insect swarms, to help forewarn farmers and save crops. It has been installed near the Agamon Hula nature reserve in northern Israel.
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/farmers-abuzz-as-israeli-researchers-unveil-worlds-first-insect-radar/
Brain science in space. If you were unable to join Ben Gurion University’s recent Zoom webinar “BGU’s Brain Science Launches into Space”, here is the link to the recorded event. Dr. Oren Shriki, head of BGU’s Department of Cognitive and Brain Science, describes his latest experiment with Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe.
https://americansforbgu.org/video/bgus-brain-science-launches-into-space/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wic5iq98cN0
Global impact challenge. The THRIVE Global Impact Challenge is a global search for the most innovative startups who are advancing a sustainable future for agriculture. The launch event was hosted in Tel Aviv, in partnership with Israel’s ICL Planet Startup Hub, THRIVE’s headline partner for the Challenge.
https://thriveagrifood.com/thrive-global-impact-challenge/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AocEv3uhVI
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Deficit drops to almost zero. Israel’s budget deficit as a percentage of GDP was a mere 0.04% for the 12 months till the end of May - the lowest in 14 years. Government revenues increased and expenditures fell amid the ongoing rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/deficit-drops-to-nearly-zero-for-the-first-time-in-14-years/
Dubai commerce comes to Tel Aviv. The Dubai International Chamber of Commerce is to open an office in Tel Aviv. Its President and CEO, Hamad Buamim, said that Israel was a “strategically important” market for Dubai, and was expected to become one of Dubai’s top 10 trading partners “within a few years.”
https://www.jns.org/dubai-international-chamber-of-commerce-to-open-office-in-tel-aviv/
Billions to invest. Israeli financial companies have raised huge funds to invest mostly in Israeli startups. They include Titan Capital Partners ($100 million), US-Israel’s Greenfield Partners ($200 million), Israel Secondary Fund ($312 million) and Viola Credit ($700 million). More details of their plans in the following links.
https://nocamels.com/2022/06/investment-fund-titan-launch/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hj1qbsokq
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkrjr84yq
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/b1qseyadq
Partnering the Startup Nation. Israel’s ExitValley launched in 2015 (see here) as a mechanism for the general public to invest in early-stage Israeli startups. Seven years later it has dozens of successful companies in its portfolio. The founders say that Israeli start-ups are still a significant growth engine in Israel and globally.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-708888
Travel insurance that really looks after you. The insurtech platform of Israel’s Faye (see here previously) for US citizens, includes a smartphone app that sends real-time alerts, 24 x 7 expert help, plus fast, digital claims processing. It will resolve missed connections, cancelled flights, lost passports and much more.
https://nocamels.com/2022/06/faye-navigate-travel-insurance/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEgnYcOYs5c
Smart return of online products. Israel’s ReturnGO has developed an exchange-first returns platform for web-based retailers that simultaneously reduces refunds and waste. It offers to turn the returns process from a painful financial problem into a lever of revenue, and to improve the relationship with customers.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/skg00nkuy5 https://returngo.ai/
Funds for cultivated meat. Israel’s SuperMeat (see here previously) has received a grant from Israel’s Innovation Authority. It will finance a high-throughput screening system for feed ingredients and supplements, plus cell scaffolds for cultivated meat, The project will benefit the entire cultivated meat industry.
https://nocamels.com/2022/06/supermeat-cultivated-meat-scale/
3D-printing parts for Toyota racing. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Stratasys (see here previously) has been named an official partner of Toyota Racing Development (TRD). End-use parts printed using Stratasys additive manufacturing technology will be used for production vehicles in the upcoming Toyota GR Cup Series.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220601005324/en/
Electric road for Italy. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Electreon (see here previously) has been testing a 1km recharging circuit in Brescia, Italy, since Nov 2020. Electreon is now on track to install an electric lane for shuttles and service vehicles at Milan Bergamo Airport. Maserati is also interested in using the technology at its factories.
Takeovers & Mergers. U.S. chip giant Qualcomm is acquiring Israel’s Cellwize for $350 million. Hong-Kong based Animoca Brands has bought control of Israel’s educational games startup TinyTap for nearly $39 million.
Investment in Israeli startups to 19/6/22: Aidoc raised $110 million; DealHub raised $60 million; Jit raised $38.5 million; Tabnine raised $15.5 million; FinOut raised $14 million; Canditech raised $9 million; Odeeo raised $9 million; ReturnGO raised $6.5 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Bocelli serenades Tel Aviv, and more. (TY WIN) World renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli performed to over 20,000 people at Bloomfield Stadium, including some famous dignitaries. He performed duets with two of his children, plus top Israeli pop singer Shiri Maimon. After the concert he visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-709058 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZHuCH4jbaE
Most liked books. Israel's Ministry of Education listed the 12 most favorite books favored by Israeli students in honor of Hebrew Book Week. They included translations of Guide to Superheros 2 by Wagens Elias Wolund and J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Several books chosen were in their original Hebrew.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-709332
Visiting Israel with children? The Children’s Museum in Holon, Southeast of Tel Aviv, is an ideal place for families wishing to cool off in the summer. There are special routes for children from two-and-a-half up to eleven. Adults and children over nine can have some exciting experiences in the dark, in silence, and in time.
https://www.childrensmuseum.org.il/eng/
Comedy for Koby week. There are six opportunities to see four hilarious comedians perform in Israel in support of the work of the Koby Mandell Foundation and the Kids of Camp Koby. From Jun 20 – 28 (except Friday) they will perform in Modiin, Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Gush Etzion, Tel Aviv, and Raanana.
https://www.comedyforkoby.com/ https://www.comedyforkoby.com/buytickets
Jerusalem Community Woodstock Festival. On Jun 23 outside the Silo Café next to First Station, Baka Jerusalem. Featuring music from the 60’s with live bands. Partnering the Emunah women’s organization, to help support their work with children and at-risk young women in Israel.
https://www.nbn.org.il/events/third-annual-jerusalem-community-woodstock-festival/
Jazz band for religious women. Bereshit, a haredi all-female band, opened to a sellout all-women audience at the Khan Theatre in Jerusalem, with the rhythmic beat of American jazz. They played their own original compositions, plus hits such as “Stand by Me” and “No Woman, No Cry”.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/354902
Israel joins the Invictus Games. Israel has joined the Invictus Community of Nations. The Invictus Games Foundation provides recovery and rehabilitation programs for wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans. Israel will participate, with 20 other countries, in the Invictus Games 2023 in Dusseldorf.
https://www.jwire.com.au/israel-joins-the-invictus-games/
Israel plays Morocco at women’s basketball. The Moroccan women’s basketball team hosted their Israeli counterparts for the first time ever, in a friendly in front of invited guests. The match followed a recent agreement between the Royal Moroccan and Israeli Basketball Federations to develop sports exchanges.
Israel to host ice hockey championships. Israel has been awarded the hosting of the 2023 Women's Ice Hockey World Championship for Division III for the first time ever. The tournament is planned to begin on 27 March 2023 at the Canada Center in Metula in northern Israel.
New world record for paralympic swimmer. Israel’s Ami Omer Dadaon won his second gold medal and set a new world record in the men’s 50m freestyle S4 final at the World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira. His 36.25 time was half a second faster than New Zealand’s Cameron Leslie who broke the record in the heats.
https://www.paralympic.org/news/madeira-2022-ami-omer-dadaon-pulls-plot-twist-day-world-records
THE JEWISH STATE
98-year-old survivor rescued. 98-year-old Shoah survivor Yelena was rescued from Ukraine and brought to Israel. She said, “I am excited to immigrate to Israel, the nation state of the Jewish people, where I can experience Shabbats and Jewish holidays and be happy in the years I still have left to live here in this world."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqgA18wRb0g
Israel's new and growing breed of farmers. My friend Yoel is going from strength to strength with his mission to bring Jews to the Galilee. Here he interviews two new Olim from London who have bought land in Yavniel and plan to breed fish, and (after the Shmitta year) grow fruit and herbs. Kol Hakavod and b’Hatzlacha.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deslZnPsiqQ https://www.buyapieceofisrael.com/
Fuel For Truth. The mission of US organization Fuel For Truth (FFT) is to empower young American Jews to stand by Israel, and to equip them with tools to combat misinformation surrounding the Jewish State. Its motto is “Israel Education for a New Generation”. Feel confident discussing Israel in the real world. Great video intro.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrnNJF0Oo9g https://fuelfortruth.org/
Summer in Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) The sun in Jerusalem’s skies was shining over clean streets, President’s residence ceremonies, preparations for Hebrew Book week, posters for Islamic Art Museum exhibit, Jerusalem Design Week, and Jerusalem Beer fest, and, of course, the flowers in bloom.
http://rjstreets.com/2022/06/12/summer-in-jerusalem-building-books-and-paisley/
Ancient fire discovered in Israel. Researchers from Israel’s Weizmann Institute have used advanced AI and molecular spectroscopy to reveal the earliest evidence of early humans’ use of fire. Evron Quarry, in the Western Galilee, contains Paleolithic tools that were deliberately heated - over 800,000 years ago.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/354814
The Pilgrimage Road. On Jerusalem Day, the City of David and the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs produced this video to give an inside look at the never-before-seen Pilgrimage Road where the ancestors of today’s Jews walked thousands of years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NULJCEC8IB4
12/6/22
In the 12th Jun 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An Israeli AI system diagnoses complex diseases.
· Israel’s UN Ambassador will chair General Assembly meetings.
· 10 Israelis received top Math and Science awards.
· An Israeli startup makes useful products from greenhouse gas.
· Israel is building hotels to receive more tourists.
· The world’s largest vegan fest returns to Tel Aviv.
· Liberia is to open an embassy in Jerusalem.
· Click here to see the 5th Jun newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit, and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German here, plus posted by Stuart Palmer here. Also (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here, plus 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 (20,600+ news articles).
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ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Using AI to identify autoimmune diseases. After winning a medical contest to detect celiac disease, Shlomit Steinberg-Koch founded Predicta Med. Its Artificial Intelligence is 84% accurate in detecting Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus.
https://www.israel21c.org/new-technology-speeds-up-diagnosis-of-7-autoimmune-diseases/
Breakthrough dry eye treatment. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Lumenis (see here previously) has won a MedTech Breakthrough award for “Best New Technology Solution for Ophthalmology.” Its OptiLight Optimal Pulse Technology (OPT) is the only FDA approved light treatment for dry eye disease, with 49 million US sufferers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VlXaDQKQTY
https://lumenis.com/medical/eye-care-products/optilight/
Breakthrough Innovation. (TY Hazel) Two Israeli health tech startups Sanolla (ultrasound stethoscope - see here) and Naor (a.k.a. Rapid Diagnostics) saliva-based Covid-19 detection (see here), were awarded the Breakthrough Innovation Award at the InoVEX 2022 Pitch Contest held in Taiwan.
https://nocamels.com/2022/06/health-tech-startups-taiwan/ https://sanolla.com/ https://naordia.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF1sOOTf_3Q
Protecting heart patients from stroke. Israel’s Filterex Medical has completed successful trials of its CAPTIS device. The easily deployed device protected 20 patients during Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedures, preventing any embolic particles (debris) entering the bloodstream and causing a stroke.
https://filterlex.com/2022/06/02/filterlex-medical-announces-positive-results-from-a-first-in-human-study-for-the-captis-full-body-embolic-protection-device/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFv7QZNsch8
Treating OPMD. Israel’s Sheba Medical Center has opened a specialized clinic to diagnose, treat and follow-up Bukharan Jews suffering from the life-shortening genetic disease oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). The team includes ENTs, neurologists, oral and maxillofacial physicians, and ophthalmologists.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-708582
Genome sequencing for $100. Israeli-founded, US-based Ultima Genomics has emerged from secrecy to announce it has developed a sequencing machine that allows genome sequencing for a fraction of the cost of rival companies. With five Israelis in the leadership team, it has just raised $600 million in funding.
https://www.ultimagenomics.com/ https://www.ultimagenomics.com/about-ultima-genomics
Powering healthcare. The goal of Israel’s Vim is to help change US medical care from “sick care” to “health care”. Vim links the payer to the provider to improve quality of patient care at lower cost, with efficient workflow, fast diagnoses, and proactive prevention. Read how the Israeli system differs from the US system.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sfm2tp56a https://getvim.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trAprwk6aPI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p67ZX0620lk
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Israel’s first female mine cleaner. 20-year-old Eden is making history as the first-ever woman to work as a mine clearer in the Jewish state. “My boyfriend and I saw a job opening for mine clearers, applied, and were accepted,” she explained. She had extensive previous experience in the IDF’s engineering corps.
https://worldisraelnews.com/a-story-to-tell-my-grandkids-meet-israels-first-female-mine-sweeper/
European diplomats clean up Bat Yam beach. On World Oceans Day, the European Union delegation to the State of Israel, the French Embassy, the Municipality of Bat Yam, and hundreds of Israeli volunteers performed an official clean-up of Bat Yam beach, south of Tel Aviv, as part of the annual #EUBeachCleanup campaign.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/354556
Chalk Over Hate. Artists 4 Israel (see here previously) sponsored an event in a National Day of Action against hate and anti-Semitism, inspired by the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. Artists all over the world spread messages of tolerance and love using just chalk and stencils.
https://www.jns.org/chalk-over-hate-fighting-hate-speech-anti-semitism-with-positive-public-art/
https://www.artists4israel.org/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ1Bor1mLjc
The “Imam of Peace”. I don’t often include blogs in my newsletter, but the positive messages in this interview by Jonny Gould with Mohammad Tawhidi are well worth reading.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/tawhidi-without-israel-islam-floats-in-the-air/
400 under 30. Israel hosted 400 young leaders from 34 countries at the 2022 Forbes Under 30 Summit EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa). One of the four days had Israeli Arabs, Jews, and Palestinian Arabs, working together, and with Israeli startups, on 10 projects to address challenges facing the Middle East.
https://nocamels.com/2022/06/forbes-innovation-summit-jvp/
Disabled veterans’ games. (TY JNS) 70 Israeli and 70 British disabled veterans competed against each other in the fourth annual Veteran Games in Tel Aviv. As part of the program, the participants also went on tours of Israel, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and the Dead Sea. https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/06/01/israeli-british-disabled-veterans-square-off-in-fourth-annual-veteran-games/
Israeli Ambassador is VP of UN Assembly. Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, has been elected Vice President of the UN General Assembly. As part of this role, Ambassador Erdan will chair General Assembly meetings and take part in setting the agenda for General Assembly deliberations.
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy/1654621341-israel-s-un-ambassador-elected-vp-of-general-assembly https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/354483
Israel-Africa conference. The Paris Conference “Israel Back in Africa? Challenges and Opportunities,” hosted diplomats from Senegal, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, and Somaliland. There were entrepreneurs from Nigeria and Cameroon and Nigeria’s Releaf signed an agreement with Israeli NGO VIP (see last week).
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-is-back-revitalized-ties-in-africa-touted-at-paris-conference/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
UN Ambassadors see Israeli innovations. (TY ILTV) At Israel’s Startup Nation Central, eleven UN ambassadors saw the products of SGTech (zero-carbon sustainable farming), Biotic (biodegradable replacement for plastic) and Ecowave Power (clean electricity from waves).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INz-xklkWV8&t=9s https://www.biotic-labs.com/
Israeli mathematicians share Shaw Prize. The 2022 Shaw Prize in Mathematical Sciences has been awarded to Israelis Noga Alon and Ehud Hrushovski for “their remarkable contributions to discrete mathematics and model theory; with interaction notably with algebraic geometry, topology, and computer sciences”.
https://www.shawprize.org/laureates/mathematical-sciences
Eight top Israeli scientists. The 2022 Blavatnik Prizes for Computer Science have been awarded to eight outstanding Israeli doctoral students from the Weizmann Institute, Hebrew University and Tel Aviv University. Sir Leonard Blavatnik said that Israeli computer science increasingly affects everyday lives around the world.
https://english.tau.ac.il/events/2022_blavatnik_prizes_computer_science
Hack the galaxy to get into space. Israel’s Rapyd (see here previously) has launched its Hack the Galaxy challenge. Developers who solve all 42 challenges can win tickets to ride to the edge of space aboard the Space Perspective Spaceship Neptune. They may, however, opt for a cash alternative prize of $130,000.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hkxqptn00c
Making CO2 useful. How do you dispose of excess carbon dioxide (CO2)? Israel’s Carbonade converts it into reusable carbon byproducts. The co-founders found a chemical catalyst, developed by Israel’s Weizmann Institute that, when used with water, converts CO2 into anything from detergents to plastic to building material.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkbvo78u5 https://www.carbonade-sys.com/
The best biochemical product of the year. The World BioProtection Forum (WBF) has awarded Best Biochemical Product to Israel’s STK Bio-Ag Technologies for REGEV, the first 'hybrid' foliar fungicide (see here previously). https://stk-ag.com/stks-regev-wins-the-best-biochemical-product-award-at-the-the-world-bioprotection-conference-and-award-ceremony/
Defending the planet. Scientists from Israel’s Weizmann Institute joined 100+ astronomers worldwide in a recent NASA planetary defense exercise. Weizmann’s David Polishook, director of Weizmann’s observatory, played a key role in the exercise’s mission to discover and assess the threat of a “near-Earth object” asteroid.
https://www.jns.org/israels-weizmann-institute-joins-nasa-planetary-defense-exercise/
See 14 Israeli cybersecurity companies. Southern California-Israel Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Elite Entrepreneur Organization is welcoming the "Merage-Homeland/Cybersecurity" presentation featuring 14 Israeli companies on June 15th, 2022 in Beverly Hills.
https://www.scicc.biz/news/merage-homeland-cybersecurity.htm
Welcome to the age of the drone. More about Israel’s Airwayz, (see here previously) whose software has been used to test the management and control of fleets of autonomous drones from multiple companies flying across Israel. See here for previous articles about Israel’s National Drone Network Initiative.
https://www.israel21c.org/promo/welcome-to-the-age-of-the-drone/
Everyone uses Israeli technology. Quote from the CEO of ETF Managers Group, “Most technology users, from online shoppers to Fortune 500 companies, are unaware that they use Israeli technology applications and solutions every day… Israeli innovations power some of the biggest names in the technology industry today.”
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1467831/000089418919003504/etfmg_n-csrs.htm
Solving the world’s traffic problems. Article featuring Israeli startups with hi-tech solutions to prevent traffic jams and parking nightmares. Those not previously reported in this newsletter include Mobi a.k.a. Mobility Insight (AI traffic management) and Trailze (navigation for urban micro-mobility providers).
https://www.israel21c.org/11-startups-trying-to-solve-the-worlds-traffic-problems/ https://www.trailze.com/
https://www.mobilityinsight.net/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk7Ly5D06OA
Time moves on. An update on the time management app 24me (reported here Jun 2014) which has now been downloaded millions of times. Hillel Fuld interviews its co-founder and inventor of the smart personal assistant for busy individuals. https://www.israel21c.org/24mes-liat-mordechay-hertanu-on-managing-our-hectic-lives/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26PGvL52ytI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtFGghaATZ0
https://www.twentyfour.me/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlxGp1xOSJU
Revolutionizing rail ticketing. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Save A Train is the leader in digital B2B Rail ticketing worldwide and the largest global rail distributor. It operates services in over 12 European countries, plus China and is expanding to the USA, Canada, Australia etc., with features including dynamic pricing for train tickets.
https://www.railway-technology.com/analysis/rail-ticketing-in-europe/ https://www.saveatrain.com/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israel’s outlook is better than most. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has slashed its predictions for global economic growth due to the Ukraine situation and the Covid-19 pandemic. But the OECD expects that Israel will maintain a healthy 4.8% growth in 2022, compared to 3% in the OECD.
The fastest free trade agreement in Israel’s history. Just two years after the historic Abraham Accords, the new UAE-Israel free-trade agreement removes tariffs on 96% of goods between the two countries. It is expected to increase bilateral non-oil trade to over $10 billion within five years.
Upgrading a Unicorn to a Centaur. The large number Unicorns (private companies valued at $1 billion+) is making it difficult to identify promising stable ventures. A new term “Centaur” should be used to designate those Unicorns with an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of at least $100 million. There are 25 Israeli ones.
Entrepreneurship, Israel, and Ivy League students. Princeton’s Center for Jewish Life-Hillel is a partner in the planning and funding of Israel Tiger Trek, which is focused on Israeli entrepreneurs based in New York. It has led to startups like chef app WoodSpoon, and urban sharing platform TULU (see here previously).
https://www.jns.org/opinion/entrepreneurship-israel-and-ivy-league-students/ https://www.eatwoodspoon.com/
Surge of interest in the hotel business. Israel’s Tourism Ministry has received 107 applications for grants to build new hotels or expand existing ones. The ministry has a budget of NIS 165 million for such grants, to support the rehabilitation of the country’s tourism industry in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.jns.org/107-entrepreneurs-apply-to-israeli-tourism-ministry-to-establish-new-hotels/
Pangea to upgrade Jamaican voter registry. Israel-based Pangea has won a contract to supply technology to the Electoral Commission of Jamaica to support the establishment and maintenance of a biometric voter registry. Jamaica has four million voters and Pangea will help eliminate the risk of voter fraud.
A personalized hotel experience. Israel’s Duve helps hoteliers and hospitality professionals customize guest journeys and build a digital personalized experience. Prospective guests allow Duve to pass on details such as reason of visit, type (e.g., family/business/romantic) interests, language, travel method, food preferences etc.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hkevv4ju5 https://duve.com/
The Video Exchange. (TY Omri Hurwitz) Israel’s Truvid is an online video platform that connects content creators with media providers such as websites, applications, connected TV etc. Publishers use Truvid to monetize their sites and distribute content around the globe. Truvid gets the right video to the right audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAUQB20N3Qo
https://entrepreneurstudio.substack.com/p/startups-on-demand-truvid-video-marketplace?s=r
Takeovers and mergers. Israel’s Elementor has acquired Israel’s Strattic, a web development and hosting solutions company for several million dollars. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjdyl0t005
Investment in Israeli startups to 12/6/22: Vayyar Imaging raised $108 million; Perimeter 81 raised $100 million (new Unicorn); Laminar raised $30 million; Duve raised $10 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
"Paths of the Righteous”. Ari Mittleman is the author of "Paths of the Righteous" about eight non-Jews who have gone above and beyond for Israel and the Jewish people. They include an African American who fought fires on the Gaza border and a Latino evangelical who convinced Guatemala to open an embassy in Jerusalem.
Paths of the Righteous: Stories of Heroism, Humanity and Hope: Mittleman, Ari: 9789657023730: Books - Amazon https://arimittleman.com/ https://gefenpublishing.com/product.asp?productid=3061
Israel’s Ecovillages. Clil, Adama, and Kadita are just some of the villages in Israel’s Galilee that preserve the land in its wild nature. The houses are self-built, solar-powered, and the villagers grow fruit, grapes, and olives, raise goats and chickens, and process their products traditionally. For new residents there is a long waiting list.
Latest Israeli stamps. (TY JR) Jacob Richman has posted images of Israel’s new stamps – issued to celebrate the Jewish festival of Shavuot (Pentacost). https://jr.co.il/stamps/shavuot-stamps.htm
World’s largest vegan festival. Tel Aviv’s Vegan Fest, the largest vegan gathering when it began in 2019, has returned after the pandemic. 100+ food stalls offered dishes from vegan restaurants, and featured free cooking workshops, live music, children’s activities, plus workshops on everything from yoga to natural soap-making,
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/environment/1654633428-world-s-biggest-vegan-food-festival-underway-in-tel-aviv https://www.israel21c.org/largest-vegan-festival-in-the-world-returns-to-tel-aviv/
Top officials visit Israeli sports expo. Future Sport Israel Expo in Tel Aviv attracted delegates from the most popular sports leagues in the world. They included the NFL, Spanish & Italian soccer leagues and basketball top divisions. They saw Israeli innovations in broadcasting, performance analysis, players' fitness and more.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-708596
THE JEWISH STATE
An Odyssey from Odessa to Israel. Last summer, a new Ukrainian immigrant to Israel went back to visit Ukraine and was tempted to return as it was bursting with life, while Israel had many restrictions. Several months later, Ukraine was at war and her children needed to be rescued. That’s when Chabad stepped in.
https://israelbetweenthelines.com/2022/05/31/an-odyssey-from-odessa-to-israel/
A heart-stopping Talmud lesson. A 70-year-old Israeli lost consciousness while studying Talmud in Kfar Chabad. Luckily Yitzchak, a United Hatzalah volunteer EMT, was in the same synagogue. He started CPR and called for backup. More paramedics arrived, successfully resuscitated the patient, and took him to hospital.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/354236
Education, education. (TY Sharon) It has been Israeli Education Week and Sharon’s camera focused on Jerusalem’s centers of learning. There was certainly much activity (mostly physical) at the Jerusalem College of Technology and the groundbreaking ceremony for its new Machon Lev campus for 3,000 women.
http://rjstreets.com/2022/06/07/number-one-in-jerusalem-education/
Thousands of North Americans making Aliyah. Some 1,000 North Americans have immigrated to the Jewish State this year. Another 2,000+ are already registered to make Aliyah during the summer. Nefesh b’Nefesh have arranged 10 group flights, hosted a celebratory “Homecoming BBQ” and held a virtual “Mega” job fair.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/354321
Jerusalem in numbers. Imaginative video that counts down from 55 (years since Jerusalem was united) with 55 facts about Israel’s capital. Each number equates to one of the facts. All in 2 minutes and 20 seconds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR4JUSMCo1I
Liberia to open embassy in Jerusalem. (TY Algemeiner) Liberia announced it will open an official office in Jerusalem that will serve as a precursor to a full-fledged embassy in the future. This makes the West African nation the fifth country to open a mission in the Israeli capital after the U.S, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Honduras.
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy/1654703761-liberia-to-open-official-office-in-jerusalem-for-first-time https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bymagsa009
5/6/22
In the 5th Jun 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Celebrating the life of a groundbreaking immunologist.
· New Israeli Arab firefighters and Muslim home guards.
· Israeli natural gas is heading to Europe.
· More Israeli solutions to global hunger and drought.
· Two more countries that used to boycott Israel now invest in it.
· Deep Purple delights fans in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
· Suriname has announced it will open an embassy in Jerusalem.
· Click here to see the 29th May newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German here, plus posted by Stuart Palmer 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 (20,600+ 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
Ketamine as an antidepressant. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute and in Germany, have clarified the molecular cascade triggered by ketamine, that leads to its sustained antidepressant effects. They found that the gene Kcnq2 enables potassium ions to pass through the brain, maintaining the activity and stability of neurons.
Hi-tech blood cell analysis. Report and fascinating new video showing the features of the X100 Microscope and Decision Support System from Israel’s Scopio Labs (see here previously).
https://nocamels.com/2022/05/scopio-labs-cell-microscope/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT3vF1UT4HM
$30 million for digital health. Israel has selected 19 programs for a new digital health initiative. They include test sharing, endoscopy videos for R&D, and making data on mental health and midwifery more accessible. The databases used are anonymized and better access should contribute to more breakthroughs in Israeli health tech.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-approves-19-programs-for-30-million-digital-health-initiative/
An amazing life - Michael Sela. Professor Michael Sela, formerly the sixth president of Israel’s Weizmann Institute, has passed away at the age of 98. Prof Sela co-invented Copaxone to treat MS, Erbitux for cancer, and other treatments. He helped create the field of immunology, won numerous awards, and spoke nine languages.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328454
Identical twins give birth on same day. Identical twin sisters, Yael and Avital gave birth at Shaare Zedek Medical Center to their fourth babies (both boys) on the same day. Each already had two girls and a boy. And previously, a set of twins were born at Hadassah Medical Center, at 2:22am on the 22nd of February 2022.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328464 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/322774
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
New JCT campus for women. (TY Sharon) Building has begun on Jerusalem College of Technology’s Tal Campus for women. It will provide higher education for 3,000 female students in nursing, computer science, industrial engineering, accounting, and management and will help religious women break the cycle of poverty.
https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=154643
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328533
Arab firefighters. 31 members of the national service from Israel’s Arab community have completed the course to become assistant firefighters and will now serve at fire stations throughout Israel. A ceremony held in their honor was attended by Israel’s Minister of Internal Security and the Fire and Rescue Commissioner.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/arab-israeli-integration-continues-with-31-new-arab-firefighters/
Israeli Home Guard is 12% Muslim. Israel’s Police and Defense Ministry have launched a ‘Home Guard’ campaign, training civilians to patrol their hometowns and be first responders in case of incidents. Approximately 4,000 civilians have signed up so far – 12% of them Muslims.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1lafggwq
Morocco’s “leaders of tomorrow” visit Israel. 40 young people - 20 Israelis and 20 Moroccans - took part in the Leaders of Tomorrow program, which seeks to build on the long-standing historical and cultural roots between the two countries. They saw the “real Israel, the heart of Israel, not the one that we see in the media”.
3rd Israel visit for Arizona Governor. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey was in Israel for five days of talks with political and business leaders. As in 2015 and 2019, his focus was trade, with additional interest in Israel’s water technology and its expertise in border security.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/arizona-governor-visits-israel-for-talks-on-trade-water-and-security/
The first Israel-Greece conference. Entrepreneurs, politicians, and business experts gathered in Greece for the first Israel-Greece conference hosted by Calcalist and Brown Hotels. Speakers included Israeli President Isaac Herzog plus Greek and Israeli Ministers. Topics included real estate, innovation, and travel.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1hqufg00q
https://newmedia.calcalist.co.il/conferences/2022/greece/index.html
OECD Education Innovation Conference. Israel is again hosting the OECD International Education Innovation Conference (see here previously) – this time in Israel’s capital, Jerusalem. 15,000 participants are expected from 48 countries including leading educational professionals from around the world.
https://www.jns.org/israel-hosts-oecd-international-education-innovation-conference-in-jerusalem/
https://www.jerusalem.muni.il/en/events-and-culture/allevents/education-week/ https://www.jlmedweek.co.il/
Europe requests Israeli gas. Israel’s Energy Ministry Director-General Lior Schillat said the European Union is negotiating to import Israeli natural gas via Egypt’s two gas liquefaction facilities. He said that Israel’s exploration for new natural gas fields will continue until Europe’s gas crisis is over.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-issue-new-gas-exploration-bids-in-reversal-amid-europe-supply-crunch/ https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-707371
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjwvA43kwg0
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
High School is robotics contest runner-up. Team Steampunk1577 from Ra’anana’s Aviv High School came second overall of 9,000 teams in the First Championships international robotics competition in Houston, Texas. Nine Israeli teams reached the semi-final stage and Steampunk1577 won through to the “Einstein” final.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1h11w0xrq
Robot companions for New York seniors. The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) is partnering Israel’s Intuition Robotics (see here previously) to supply ElliQ voice-operated robots to 800 older people who live alone. ElliQ performs daily check-ins and can send texts, conduct video calls and display photos.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-robots-to-be-care-companions-for-800-new-york-seniors/
Revamping R&D partnership with Greece. Israel and Greece are to strengthen cooperation in science, technology and innovation. It involves partnerships in the European Union’s Horizon Europe research program, and PRIMA (the Partnership for Research and Innovation solutions in the Mediterranean Area).
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/all-news/article-708425
Boosting African agriculture. Africa-based Releaf and Volcani International Partnerships (VIP) US are to address African food security challenges with the assistance of Israeli expertise and innovation. VIP-US Board Member Lord Stuart Polak said he hoped that Israeli innovations would transform agriculture across Africa.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rykd3xmoc
A spider to catch the spider. Israel’s BioBee (see here previously) develops natural solutions to agricultural pests. Its latest target is the red spider mite, which destroys strawberry plants. BioBee uses drones to drop millions of Phytoseiulus persimilis, a minuscule spider, whose favorite food is… red spider mites.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-companys-tiny-arachnids-provide-alternative-to-pesticide/
Recycling waste to grow seafood. Israel’s Mermade Seafoods is cutting the price of lab-grown seafood, such as scallops, by feeding the waste products of the cell culture process to microalgae. The microalgae is then upcycled into the seafood. But is it kosher?
https://nocamels.com/2022/05/mermade-seafoods-process-lab-cells-scallops/ https://mermadefoods.com/
Water from Indian air. Israel’s Watergen is partnering India’s SMV Jaipuria Group to bring Watergen’s “GENius” patented AWG technology to India. SMV will build Watergen’s water-from-air machines locally to help to 30% of Indian districts reporting critical or overexploited groundwater levels.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-707711
Floating solar power plants. Several Israeli startups have developed solar panels that float on water (see here previously). Here is another – Xfloat. Its Artificial Intelligence controlled panels move and track the sun while floating. They will be installed on the water reservoirs of Mekorot – Israel’s national water company.
https://nocamels.com/2022/05/xfloat-mekorot-solar-panels-energy-floating/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py4xy2FuyuI
Powering into energy storage. (TY NoCamels) Israeli renewable energy company Solegreen, signed a $130 million agreement with Israel’s Tadiran Group (see here previously) to buy energy storage systems totaling 600MW hours for its solar energy installation projects. It is the largest ever Israeli energy storage deal.
Combining music and hi-tech. “Music is essentially the connection between math and emotion” says Yoni Bloch, founder of Israeli interactive video startup Eko. This article features musicians who merged their musical and technology skills to enhance their creativity.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1xhau0wq
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israel launches Sovereign Wealth fund. Israel's sovereign wealth fund will start operating on June 1st, now that taxes on profits from natural gas and other resources have passed the 1-billion-shekel minimum. Profits from the fund will be allocated for Israel’s social, economic, and educational purposes.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/funds/israels-sovereign-wealth-fund-begin-june-1-finmin-2022-05-30/
Israeli financial companies invest in Israel. Israeli institutional investors increased their allocation to
the Israeli start-up scene, for the first time in decades. Astoundingly, the capital allocated to the Israeli tech start-up sector in 2021 increased 6.5-fold and is estimated at $864m, compared with just $134m in 2020.
https://www.ivc-online.com/Insights/Industry-Maps
Ben Gurion Airport fully reopens. Over 60,000 passengers departed from Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion Airport on its first day of re-opening after being shuttered due to the Covid-19 pandemic and reduced air traffic. 75,000 were due to leave from Terminal 1 the following day. https://video.i24news.tv/details/_6307085127112
A $2 billion fund. Israel’s Liquidity Group is partnering with Japan’s MUFG Group and US Spark Group to set up a $2 billion investment fund. It plans to invest $25 - $30 million in individual growth companies, mainly late-stage tech startups. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bkfmz11lo9
Soaring trade with the UAE. In the last year, trade with the United Arab Emirates has increased from $270 million (see here previously) to 2.5 billion. The two countries have just signed a Free Trade Agreement.
https://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/uae-israel-bilateral-trade-crosses-2-5bn-within-two-years-of-abraham-accords-uae-minister https://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/uae-israel-sign-trade-agreement-to-boost-non-oil-trade-to-over-10bn-in-five-years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYov1P-BJqU
Saudi Arabia and Israel. (TY Hazel) Saudi Arabia has lifted its ban on Israelis entering the country on Israeli passports. Dozens of Israeli hi-tech businesspeople have since visited Riyad and Neom and have concluded two multimillion-dollar desert agriculture deals, in addition to a medical equipment contract.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-passport-saudi-arabia-welcomes-you-1001413475
Qatar Airways invests in Israeli startup. Prior to a planned IPO, Israel’s Freightos (see here previously) has received private funds including from Qatar Airways, the world's largest air cargo carrier. Freightos’s platform connects multiple airlines, shipping and trucking companies, freight forwarders, importers and exporters.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ryzdg54dq
Telifonica invests in Israel. (TY WIN) Wayra, the innovation arm of Spanish telecom giant Telefónica has made its first investment in Israel, by funding Upword, an AI tool that creates a summary of a much longer document. The company is also offering to provide capital and test facilities to other Israeli startups.
https://www.israel21c.org/telefonica-makes-first-israeli-investment-more-to-come/ https://www.upword.ai/
Wolt opens Tel Aviv grocery store. Finnish delivery giant Wolt has opened its first Israeli grocery store in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood of Tel Aviv. Customers can order any of its 3,000 products on-line and pay NIS 16 for delivery or free pick-up at the store. Wolt already delivers for 2,500+ businesses to 28 Israel cities.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/wolt-launches-grocery-delivery-from-new-market-store-in-tel-aviv/
Fundbox launches debit card. Israel’s Fundbox (see here previously) is partnering with Visa to strengthen its digital payments platform. The first result of the partnership is the launch of the Fundbox Flex Visa Debit Card, which will help small business customers better manage their cash outflows.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/b1g4kqvoq
Investment in Israeli startups to 5/6/22: Pixellot raised $161 million; Coralogix raised $142 million; Freightos raised $80 million; Hourly.io raised $27 million; Seemplicity raised $26 million; Air Doctor raised $20 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Agam museum reopens. Recently reopened after more than a year of pandemic closure, the Agam museum in Rishon Lezion is filled with examples of Yaacov Agam’s unique and colorful kinetic art created over the past six decades. It is one of only a few museums in the world dedicated to Kinetic Art.
https://www.jns.org/unique-colorful-kinetic-yaacov-agam-museum-in-rishon-letzion/
Shiloh winery, where it all started. Shiloh was the capital of Israel for 369 years before King David established Jerusalem. Now, a local winery, Shiloh Wines, has harnessed the history of the Jewish people in their land to develop one of the finest wines in the country and maybe in the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqZh37rYbUg
Beauty meets social responsibility. At the Yvel Design Center in Motza, a few miles west of Jerusalem, beauty, creativity, and social responsibility combine. At the peaceful location, some 22 Ethiopian Israelis train to produce gold-plated pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings and even a diamond & solid gold Covid-19 mask.
https://www.jns.org/beauty-meets-social-responsibility-at-yvel-design-center/
Pianist prodigy wows the world. (TY UWI) Up-to-date article about 18-year-old Israeli pianist Yoav Levanon whose amazing piano-playing talent has won him numerous awards. He has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Verbier Festival in Switzerland and just released his debut album “Monument to Beethoven”.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-modest-18-year-old-piano-prodigy-wowing-the-world/
Deep Purple is timeless. British rock band Deep Purple played to a sold-out Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv. They also played in Jerusalem. Formed in 1968, they played all-time classics plus from their 2020 and 2021 albums. Don Airey even did a keyboard solo rendition of Naomi Shemer’s “Jerusalem of Gold”.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-707477
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgXkNhUM-kY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdhNidN-yq8
Israel is recommended – by CNN. (TY UWI) CNN Travel has named Israel as one of the top eleven destinations to visit this summer. It singles out Eilat, the Dead Sea, Masada, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and a classic Israeli breakfast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REkGC5xbvUA
18 cool things to do for free in Tel Aviv. Though Tel Aviv ranks as one of the world’s most expensive city to live in, visitors will find plenty of activities that don’t cost a shekel. And read below about the street names.
https://www.israel21c.org/18-cool-things-to-do-in-tel-aviv-for-free-2/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1dBivg7Z0Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN_pJmuTtzw
https://www.israel21c.org/tracing-the-history-of-tel-aviv-through-its-street-names/
Martial Artist honors survivors. (TY Nevet) Israeli lightweight mixed martial artist (MMA) Natan Levy has just won his first top-level Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) match. In recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day, he is to auction off his equipment from the fight to raise funds for Holocaust survivors.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-fighter-secures-his-first-victory-in-top-level-ufc/
THE JEWISH STATE
Section of 2000-year-old aqueduct uncovered. Excavations in Jerusalem’s Armon Hanatziv neighborhood have revealed a 40-meter piece of the capital’s ancient main water carrier dating back to the Hasmonean era 2100+ years ago. The complete 21 km aqueduct was in use until the British replaced it with electric pumps.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-segment-of-jerusalems-2000-year-old-low-level-aqueduct-revealed/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328406
A drone over Judea on Independence Day. As Israel celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Ezri Tubi captured these beautiful views of Judea and Samaria from the air, using his drone and camera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRuS5nBGhY4
Independence Day in Bahrain. In Bahrain, hundreds celebrated Israel Independence Day for the first time. The event attracted members of the government, the Shura Council, military personnel from the ministries of Defense and Interior and the Bahrain Defense Force, and ambassadors to Bahrain from other countries.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328301
Suriname to open Embassy in Jerusalem. The South American republic of Suriname will open an embassy in Israel’s capital. In return, Israel has offered to send humanitarian workers to northern Suriname, to help with aid efforts after severe flooding left many residents homeless. Suriname is eight times the size of Israel.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328452
Jerusalem Day. Enjoy some of the excitement of Israel’s 55th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. Over 50,000 participated in the Flag March.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328421 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYpJDdaGmHY
Saving a life on Jerusalem Day. A school worker suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in Petach Tikvah. United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Sariel abandoned Jerusalem Day prayers and together with fellow paramedics restored the man’s pulse and breathing. Sariel returned to his synagogue in time to sing Hallel – praise and thanks.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328420
Ethiopian immigration resumes. 181 Ethiopian immigrants landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Jun 1st as Israel resumed flights bringing new immigrants from Ethiopia to Israel. Another 160 were scheduled to arrive on Jun 2nd with a total of 3,000 expected by end November. Most are relatives of Ethiopians already in Israel.
https://worldisraelnews.com/ethiopian-immigration-to-restart-wednesday-3000-expected-this-year/
Cleaner finds and returns NIS 1 million bank check. One of the cleaning staff of the Yitzhak Navon train station in Jerusalem found a wallet containing a bank check for one million shekels. After trying to contact the owner, Israel Railways’ lost items department phoned the bank, who came after Shabbat to collect the check.
https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-707965
29/5/22
In the 29th May 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israeli Virtual Reality can save hundreds of thousands of lives.
· Israeli innovation features at four major international conferences.
· Onwards and upwards for Israel’s sustainable hi-tech startups.
· Billions of shekels for working parents and the disabled.
· Israeli vegan alternative to baby formula shortage.
· The first Israeli orchestra to perform in Egypt in 40 years.
· Fifth Avenue Manhattan erupts in a sea of Blue and White.
· Click here to see the 22nd May newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German here, plus posted by Stuart Palmer here. Also (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here, plus 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 (20,500+ news articles).
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Neurological discovery. Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that a mutation in genes ADNP and SHANK3 causes conditions such as autism, schizophrenia, and neuro-degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. They also found that an experimental therapy Davunetide can counter the effects of the mutation.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328097 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01603-w
Gene therapy can treat AHDS. A team of international scientists, led by Dr. Gad Vatine of Ben Gurion University, discovered a thyroid hormone MCT8 mutation causes Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS). Sufferers cannot walk or talk. They developed a gene therapy AAV9-MCT8 to restore the hormone’s function.
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/AHDS_neurology.aspx
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/thy.2022.0034
Less than 100 serious Covid-19 cases. According to new data from Israel’s Health Ministry, the number of serious coronavirus cases in Israel has dipped below 100 for the first time since end Dec 2021. On 15th May there were only some 15,500 active Covid-19 infections in Israel.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/serious-covid-cases-in-israel-drop-below-100-for-first-time-in-months/
Rare heart valve transplant saves heart patient. (TY Yehoshua) Surgeons at Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospital performed a “first time in Israel” aortic valve transplant to save a patient unsuitable for open-heart surgery. The hybrid team of catheterization specialists and cardiac surgeons used the carotid artery as the point of entry.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-707289
How to avoid 400,000 US deaths a year. Excellent article about Israel’s DecideVR (see here previously) - the most advanced Virtual Reality simulator for reducing errors and saving lives in Intensive Care Units. It was developed by Prof Alex Mintz, Director of the Computerized Decision-Making Lab at Reichman University.
https://www.israel21c.org/virtual-reality-could-help-avoid-deadly-medical-errors/
https://www.runi.ac.il/en/research-institutes/government/cdm/
https://www.decidevr-simulation.com/
Israel’s first mental health expo. Some 1,000 people registered to attend Israel’s first mental health expo. It was conducted entirely in English and tailored to the needs of English-speaking immigrants. Its aim was to give a sense of what’s available in Israel to help and treat people facing mental health challenges.
Medical incubator launches in the north. Israel’s MEDX Xelerator (see here previously) has partnered with the Portland Trust to launch an incubator branch in the Sakhnin Valley region in northern Israel. It will support health and medical startups in the Galilee and northern Arab and Jewish regions.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjat9g5d9
Saving Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Since March, volunteer doctors (Jews & Arabs) from the Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem, have been running the medical clinic at the Przemyśl Humanitarian Aid Center, near the Medyka border crossing in southeastern Poland. Also, at a refugee center in nearby Korczowa.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/327886
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Safer schools. Israel’s Safe School Analytics is a content streaming platform that works with some 600 Israeli schools to combat and reduce bullying and cyberbullying. The company produces videos about online safety, empowerment, empathy, teamwork, and more. Israeli actress Gal Gadot and her husband are recent investors.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hkl80079p5 https://www.safeschool.co.il/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/safe-school-analytics/
Thousands of Gazans enter Israel to work. Israel opened the Erez crossing allowing 4,600 Palestinian Arabs workers from Gaza to enter Israel – the highest single day number at the border crossing in 15 years.
Impact for Good. The “Impact for Good” conference in Jerusalem on May 30 is a joint initiative of the Society for International Development (SID) Israel and the parliamentary lobby for Israel’s positive impact in the developing world. It focuses on how Israeli innovation and world Jewry can address global challenges.
https://www.nbn.org.il/events/impact-for-good-conference/
Jerusalem – city of innovation. 1000+ people attended the 2022 Arutz Sheva-Israel National News Jerusalem Conference in Manhattan. See all the ceremonies and speeches here, especially the discussion about Business Development in the city. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/tags/Jerusalem_Conference_in_NYC
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328193
Innovation conference in Casablanca. (TY WIN & ILTV) Israeli non-profit Startup Nation Central launched “Connect to Innovate” – an historic conference attended by 150 Israeli and Moroccan government and business leaders in Casablanca. 13 agreements were signed, especially in food tech & agriculture tech.
https://www.jns.org/israel-morocco-business-and-tech-ties-flourish-post-innovation-conference/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-casablanca-morocco-and-israel-see-the-beginning-of-a-beautiful-tech-friendship/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqaulhT3esQ
Israel at Davos. Israel’s President Herzog spoke at the World Economic Forum - "I call on all countries and nations from near and far to join these winds of change, partner with Israel, lead the future & make history! By working with all countries and nations in the region, we can build a future of peace, prosperity, and progress."
https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-davos-herzog-issues-sweeping-call-for-renewable-middle-east/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328196
Israeli food tech at the UN. On Israel’s Independence Day, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan presented, to dozens of UN ambassadors, food produced by Israeli sustainable food tech. They included vegan milk, protein from chickpeas and cultivated meat.
https://www.jns.org/israels-un-ambassador-turns-to-food-tech-to-win-hearts-minds-and-stomachs/
Ukrainian sings to help MDA relief efforts. Ukrainian-born singer Viktoria Leléka lives in Berlin and was able to help rescue all her family from Ukraine. Leléka made her first visit to Israel to perform with her band and Israel singer Ivri Lider in a concert that benefited Magen David Adom’s emergency efforts in Ukraine.
https://www.jns.org/ukrainian-singer-performs-in-israel-to-raise-funds-for-mda-relief-efforts/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Education for energy and sustainability. Israel’s Bar-Ilan University has inaugurated a Center for Energy and Sustainability and launched a Multidisciplinary School for Sustainability and the Environment. It plans to invest hundreds of millions of shekels in research and environmental projects in Israel and around the world.
https://www.jns.org/bar-ilan-launches-research-center-for-energy-school-for-sustainability/
Israel is buzzing! To coincide with World Bee Day on May 20, here is the latest news on the Beehome from Israel’s Beewise that is reversing the decline of one of the most important species on the planet. Each Beehome houses 2 million bees and some one hundred of these high-tech hives are already functioning in Israel.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/kibbutz-employs-new-smart-hive-tech-to-keep-its-bees-buzzing/
Transforming the desert. How is it possible that the deserts of Israel are producing high-quality produce for global export? Watch as Moshav Hatzeva’s CEO Nadav Eylon explains how Israelis use hi-tech to harness the land’s rich farming potential. Israel is also exporting the technology and knowhow to the rest of the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZLVBVkeyCg
More startups doing good work. Microsoft for Startups Israel has selected 15 startups for the third round of its AI For Good Accelerator Program (see here previously). Trellis, Strasa.tech, BioShade, QRGenetics, Hexa3D, Agrinoze, BeeFreeAgro, GeoX, HAAT, Maolac, Emnotion, Neolithics, Viridian, OtailO and Brightmerge.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/03ih9sh9k
Accelerator is out of this world. Starburst Aerospace has just launched its ASTRA Israel-focused accelerator with three startups that develop innovative technologies for space applications. They are Tehiru (sustainable propulsion), CrystalEn (electronics & energy storage), and CSpace (nanosatellite telescopes).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hjpap1tdc https://starburst.aero/astra/ https://crystalen.com/
https://starburst.aero/news/starburst-is-proud-to-announce-the-launch-of-its-1st-cohort-for-astra/
Brain Science in Space. Ben Gurion University is hosting a Zoom webinar entitled “BGU’s Brain Science Launches into Space” on June 8th. BGU’s Dr. Oren Shriki will discuss his neuro-wellness monitoring experiment that Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe tested on his mission to the International Space Station.
https://americansforbgu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_25L59daMSUWLhRm_nFxMdw
AI user interface for Dell laptops. The WizeEye low-power user sensing AI technology from Israel’s Emza (see here previously) has now been installed in Dell Latitude, Inspiron, and Precision laptops. Features include dimming the screen when no one is looking at it; and blurring display of sensitive data if a user is unauthorized.
https://www.israel21c.org/wiseeye-from-israels-emza-is-baked-into-new-dell-laptops/
All-robotic assembly for hi-tech wheels. Israel’s REE Automotive (see here previously) is to build a 130,000 sq ft UK manufacturing center for its revolutionary wheel chassis for electric vehicles. It features a commercial assembly line operated by autonomous robots and will supply REE’s European customers.
https://nocamels.com/2022/05/ree-to-build-first-uk-facility-with-all-robotic-assembly-line/
DNA protection for vehicles. Enigmatos is another Israeli startup that stops cyber-attacks on a vehicle’s computer systems. Enigmatos creates a “deep car identity profile” of a vehicle and recognizes any changes to that “DNA”. It is working with Israeli mobile operator Pelephone and is already protecting vehicle fleets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa_a64jwDXo https://www.enigmatos.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtLXAcz3cL0
All round vision. (TY UWI) A detailed description of the innovative technology of Israel’s Addon Optics (see here previously) that can produce multifocal spectacles in just six minutes at a fraction of the cost of traditional manufacturing processes. https://www.israel21c.org/cheap-multifocal-eyeglasses-in-minutes-not-days/
Prize-winning neuroscientist. Professor Haim Sompolinsky of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is the first Israeli to win the prestigious Gruber Neuroscience Prize. He shares the $500,000 prize with 3 other scientists. Prof Sompolinsky’s research helps scientists understand the behavior of complex neural circuits in the brain.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/327778
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Employment incentives. (TY JNS) 600,000+ Israeli working parents will benefit from increased tax credits worth nearly NIS 2,800 for each child – some NIS 2.1 billion in total. An additional NIS 500 million will be distributed to low-income working families.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-knesset-passes-bill-giving-parents-extra-tax-credits-1001412173
NIS 2 billion for the disabled. The Israeli government is allocating 2 billion shekels to help integrate the disabled into the wider community. It will finance a range of new services including assistance from social workers, guidance in running a household, stenographic and translation services into sign language and more.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-government-approves-2-billion-shekel-disabilities-law/
Funds to train haredim in hi-tech. The Israeli government is investing NIS 10 million to fund up to 70 percent of the cost of new innovative high-tech training and placement programs designed to encourage Israel’s haredi population to join the high-tech industry. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328027
1,600+ European funded Israeli projects. Israeli companies and researchers received 1,666 grants totaling over $1.35 billion from Europe’s Horizon 2020 seven-year research and innovation program. Startups mentioned in the article include Optima Design, Triox Nano, Vectorious, NanoPack, and the SniffPhone.
Re-charging deal for more Israeli buses. Israel’s Electreon (see here previously) has signed a $1.9 million agreement with Israel’s fourth-largest bus operator Electra Afikim, to supply its wireless, dynamic charging infrastructure to simultaneously charge 30 buses. Electreon already signed with Israel’s Dan Buses (see here).
https://nocamels.com/2022/05/electreon-agreement-israel/
Investing in mobile ultrasound. GE Healthcare is to invest up to $50 million in mobile ultrasound products of Israel’s Pulsenmore (see here previously). GE will also distribute Pulsenmore’s home pregnancy monitors. Pulsenmore is now developing monitors for chronic heart failure, end-stage renal disease and more.
From TV medical drama to startup. Israeli Emily Levi discovered the reason for her chronic pain while watching the TV drama Greys Anatomy. It inspired her to launch her own medical startup Prolo Cure which uses prolotherapy (injections into a joint) to treat chronic pain.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-diagnoses-her-rare-condition-while-watching-greys-anatomy/
At the heart of a $2 billion revenue company. US digital printing giant Shutterfly acquired Haifa-based Photoccino, its 8 employees, and AI photographic algorithm in 2012. The Haifa operation now has 150 Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze employees and contributes much of Shutterfly’s $2.3 billion annual revenue.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/woo6532y7
No baby formula, try something Else. (TY Nevet) The safe, pure, plant-based baby food products of Israel’s Else Nutrition (see here previously) are reshaping the industry. It is filling a market gap caused by the shortage of baby formula, and a desperate need for products free of heavy metals.
https://www.ibtimes.com/recent-baby-formula-shortage-else-nutrition-well-positioned-leadership-space-3511011 https://www.marketwatch.com/amp/story/else-nutrition-sees-jump-in-revenue-amid-formula-shortage-271652873488
Foreign owners flock back to Israel. Some 385,000 foreigners have visited Israel since Covid-19 entry rules were eased on 1st March. They include the overseas owners of some 83,000 Israeli properties, who last visited before March 2020. Many other “second home” owners made Aliyah, so they could visit during the pandemic.
Investment in Israeli startups to 29/5/22: Semperis raised $200 million; StarkWare raised $100 million; Rivery raised $30 million; NeuraLight raised $25 million; Circles raised $16.5 million; buywith raised $9.5 million; Red Access raised $6 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Cool places to see art in Jerusalem. Good article featuring several creative arts experiences and shops that should attract many of the visitors returning to Jerusalem’s Old City. They include The Jerusalem Scribe, Chabad Street, the Museum of Psalms, Hadaya, the Cardo Charm, Guitart, and Rina.
https://www.israel21c.org/cool-places-to-experience-art-in-jerusalems-old-city/
https://thejerusalemscribe.com/ http://themuseumofpsalms.com/
Tour Beit She’arim. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Beit She’arim has been updated. It is well worth visiting its remnants of an ancient city, mysterious inscriptions, caves and catacombs, and a six-feet high stone menorah. The city became the center of Torah study in 165 CE after the Romans quashed the Jewish revolt.
https://www.jns.org/wander-among-the-ancients-at-an-israeli-world-heritage-site/
Sweet music in Egypt. Firqat Alnoor, an Israeli orchestra of Jewish, Muslim, Druze, and Christian musicians from across Israel, performed in Cairo – the first Israeli orchestra to perform in Egypt in 40 years. Under conductor Ariel Cohen, a Haredi Jew, the orchestra played classical Arabic and Middle Eastern music.
Israel’s largest food festival. “Tel Aviv Eats” is Israel’s largest food festival, showcasing top restaurants, chefs, and live performances. Admission was free, with dishes ranging from gourmet to street food at a maximum price of 40 shekels each. Tourists and locals came to enjoy the excitement and the food.
https://video.i24news.tv/details/_6306684638112 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bje0tnrbbWk
Dylan at 81 – a Bohemian Zionist. Interesting article celebrating the 81st birthday of singer/songwriter Bob Dylan – born Robert Zimmerman. It describes his 1983 song “Neighborhood Bully” as a Zionist anthem. “He took the crumbs of the world and he turned it into wealth, took sickness and disease and turned it into health.”
https://jewishjournal.com/commentary/opinion/348603/bob-dylans-bohemian-zionism/
TV series is a massive hit. (TY UWI) The popular 10-part Israeli TV series “The Girl from Oslo” has become the fourth most-watched series internationally on Netflix, soon after its April 11 debut. It ranked in the top 10 in 36 countries, including the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-hit-girl-from-oslo-ranks-4-on-netflix/
EuroLeague goes Israeli for a piece of the action. Europe’s top basketball league, EuroLeague, has selected Israel’s MindFly to install its live AI-powered bodycams on league players. Fans will, for first time, be able to watch, hear, and experience a first-person point of view (FPV) that captures everything the players do on court.
https://www.israel21c.org/ai-bodycams-on-players-about-to-change-basketball-forever/
THE JEWISH STATE
Untold positive PR. Latest news about Marcella Rosen and her Untold News team which is launching a media campaign oriented toward college students. It will highlight positive stories about Israel to counter negative sentiment on campus. The previous campaign “Israel Is On It” attracted 3.5 million regular viewers.
https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/article-705911
20,000 new European immigrants. (TY TPS) In the last 3 months, Israel’s Ministry of Immigration and Absorption has welcomed 20,000 Olim (new immigrants) from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. They include 678 Holocaust survivors who have been housed in sheltered accommodation throughout Israel.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israel-welcomes-20000-european-olim-since-outbreak-of-ukraine-war/
Israel parade in New York City. (TY JNS) The Celebrate Israel Parade on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue took place for the first time since 2019. Tens of thousands of spectators and participants included UN Ambassadors and diplomats from Australia, Bhutan, Nauru, Bulgaria, Guatemala, the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Brazil.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328002 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sink-tR9mAw
See Jerusalem more clearly. (TY Sharon) There was much to see in the streets and buildings of Israel’s capital last week. Blue skies, flowers, Austrian diplomats, the Knesset, the Jerusalem Bird Observatory, the first Mental Health Expo, the Kraft Family Sports Campus, the International Writers’ Festival, and more.
http://rjstreets.com/2022/05/22/a-day-in-jerusalem-what-you-did-not-see/
Anniversary of Operation Solomon. During May 24-25, 1991, over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews were airlifted to Israel in 36 hours aboard 34 Israeli aircraft including Hercules C130s and Boeing 747s.
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/ejhist.html https://www.jdc.org/operation-solomon/
The untold story of Judea. This is the story of how a couple with six children, sold their home and most of their possessions to build the Arugot Farm - the flagship of Jewish settlement today in the land of Judea. And to coincide with the release of the video, a 2100-year-old Jewish farmstead has just been uncovered in Israel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z72A6Y4gzE https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-707627
22/5/22
· An Israeli therapy saves the lives of both Covid-19 and cancer patients.
· Israelis are building smart classrooms for displaced Ukrainian children.
· Huge interest in Israeli hi-tech transportation innovations at Ecomotion 2022.
· For the first time, more than half of Israel’s exports are hi-tech.
· Israel’s latest groundbreaking billion-dollar companies.
· Israeli Arab World kickboxing champion waves Israeli flag.
· Four US-born sisters are currently IDF Lone Soldiers.
· Click here to see the 15th May newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, and United With Israel with extra feature on Medical. Also (TY Sandra) in German here, plus posted by Stuart Palmer here. Also (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here, plus 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 (20,500+ news articles).
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ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Covid-19 therapy also helps cancer patients. MesenCure – the life-saving Covid-19 treatment from Israel’s Bonus BioGroup (see here) also prevents a lethal inflammatory response that affects cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. In California trials MesenCure significantly reduced an overreaction of the immune system.
https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-covid-drug-also-aids-cancer-immunotherapy-patients/
Slowing the progress of ALS. Israel’s Neuromagen (see here previously) has received US FDA Orphan designation for its AGS-499 candidate treatment of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. AGS-499 has shown outstanding promise in lab tests, including using human cells.
Life-changing 5-min blood test device. (TY UWI) Israel’s PixCell Medical (see here previously) has donated a HemoScreen 5-minute blood test device, along with hundreds of cartridges, to Ukraine, as it is ideal for “extreme point of care” use. It is also essential for emergencies and for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
https://www.israel21c.org/new-blood-test-device-saves-chemo-patients-time-and-energy/
Fast DNA sequencing. Israel’s Sequentify, a spinoff of Israel’s Weizmann Institute, enables fast and focused DNA sequencing, by combining tools from synthetic biology and artificial intelligence. Its Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) products include Covid-19 surveillance, cancer diagnostics, carrier screening and more.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjemsap8c https://www.sequentify.com/
Speeding development of treatments. Israel’s Code Ocean has developed a consistent, secure, digital lab that integrates research in the cloud and helps speed medical and scientific discoveries to market. It enhances computational science and aims to boost the rapid development of treatments including personalized medicine.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bye5fdfw9 https://codeocean.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnloe01lxD8
Herbal medicine in a chocolate bar. Israel’s Solveat has manufactured health bars that are adapted to take herbal medicine extracts to treat specific medical conditions. The medicine can be eaten with a meal like ordinary food in the form of chocolate, crackers, or health bars.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjut6t1p9
Honor for biochemist. Professor Nahum Sonenberg has been awarded an honorary doctorate at Israel’s Ben Gurion University. Born in a DP camp, his came to Israel in 1949, eventually studying biochemistry at Tel Aviv University. His groundbreaking work on proteins has advanced research into memory, cancer, autism and more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhbgBrkoYKI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nahum_Sonenberg
An implant to relieve back pain. Ofer Levy, CEO at Israel’s ZygoFix (see here previously) explains how his company’s implant can relieve lower back and leg pain caused by pressure on the spine. The ZygoFix solution is far less invasive than current screws and bridge fusion surgery and is performed in the outpatient department.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bkavsfgd9
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Inclusive, innovative, and sustainable. Another chance to see Israeli-Arab journalist Lucy Aharish from Nazareth, (see here previously), taking us on a whistle-stop tour of Israeli technology, involving all sections of Israel’s talented and diverse population. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv_jXw1FNwM
Peace through ice cream. (TY UWI) Alaa, an Israeli-Arab from Tarshiha in the Galilee opened Buza Ice-Cream with his Jewish business partner Adam. Buza (see here previously) employs Arabs, Jews, Christians and Musims. Alaa is motivated by the Abraham Accords and hopes to expand across Israel and Arab countries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPunRiJcir8
Relations with Turkish universities. Tel Aviv University and three Turkish universities are to advance the Academic Bridge Initiative, which comprises a series of academic collaborations, including student and faculty exchange programs and joint research initiatives. The move comes amidst warming Israel-Turkey relations.
Women-only business program. This fall, Jerusalem College of Technology (JCT) begins a 3-year Business Administration program at its Tal Campus for women. It will be the first English-speaking business degree course in Jerusalem exclusively for women, enabling more religious women to participate in higher education.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/327741
Reducing pollution from the fashion industry. (TY ILTV) Israel’s Startup Nation Central (SNC) is promoting its Climate Solutions Prize competition (see last week) to the 750+ Israeli startups that advance Israel’s green agenda. Here, SNC emphasizes their huge positive impact on the high-polluting fashion industry.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-israeli-startups-are-saving-the-planet-one-dress-at-a-time/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RYzTpMq7M0
New Israeli Ambassador to Chad. Israel’s ambassador to Chad, Ben Bourgel, presented his credentials to the country’s president, Mahamat Idriss Deby Into. He is the first Israeli envoy to Chad in 50 years and pledged that Israel will work with Chad on activities related to climate, agriculture, water management and health.
https://www.jns.org/first-israeli-envoy-to-chad-in-50-years-presents-credentials-in-senegal/
Bedridden Ukrainian refugees airlifted to Israel. Three bedridden elderly Ukrainian refugees have been evacuated from their war-torn country to receive proper medical care in Israel. The rescue operation involved the Jewish Agency, the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), and Israeli NGO United Hatzalah.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/327433
Smart classrooms for smart refugee children. (TY JNS) Israel’s SmartAID is opening hundreds of online smart classrooms in Moldova, Poland and other neighboring countries. They allow first- to 12th-graders fleeing the war in Ukraine to continue learning with their geographically scattered classmates and teachers.
https://www.israel21c.org/aid-group-opens-smart-classrooms-for-refugee-ukrainian-kids/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Helping to speak better English. Israeli startup Speak has created a marketplace that enables students to connect with language teachers worldwide at any given moment. Its AI machine learning system helps students track their progress to see where they could benefit from live instruction.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/P6IM8B5GE https://www.speaknow.co/
Protecting heavy equipment. Israeli startup Ception has unveiled MineCept - an AI-based system that reduces accidents and improves productivity and profitability of heavy equipment at construction sites, mines, quarries, and industrial plants. MineCept comprises hardware & sensors, a central control, and a site awareness system.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/israeli-startup-ception-unveils-new-ai-based-system-to-improve-safety-productivity-and-profitability-of-heavy-equipment-301525656.html https://www.ception.ai/
Partnering South Korea to develop robotics tech. Israel’s Innovation Authority has launched the Lighthouse Program together with the Korea-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation. It will fund joint Israel-Korean robotics projects up to $5.3 million in sectors including health, social and agriculture. Also, see here previously.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-south-korea-launch-new-program-for-robotics-tech-cooperation/
Enabling intelligent decision-making. Israel’s Pyramid Analytics (see here previously) has developed a decision intelligence platform that aims to help business managers make faster, more intelligent decisions. Clients include Liberty of London, Siemens, VW, London Stock Exchange, and Deloitte.
https://www.pyramidanalytics.com/blog/120-million-series-e-funding/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ryujhp8uc
Detecting wildfires before they spread. Israel’s Terra Space Lab aims to alert firefighters to forest fires before they “explode”, wreaking havoc on biodiversity and people’s homes. It will launch some 25 tiny CubeSats into space, each with remote sensing Earth Observation technology to scan large areas of the planet in real-time.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjo6bmyic
Expanding universe of SpaceTech. The Israel Space Agency and Innovation Authority is investing NIS 600 million over 5 years to boost Israel’s space industry. It also plans to launch the Shalom satellite for commercial research, in partnership with the Italian space agency. And Tel Aviv held the ISP-TYPE5 SpaceTech Summit.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/s1qnxvai5
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hjq7znyvq
Showcasing futuristic transportation. 3,000 people attended each day of EcoMotion Week 2022 in Tel Aviv. They saw autonomous vehicles, algorithm-based traffic control, cybersecurity, and small-scale aviation solutions, such as drones and flying cars. Israel’s StoreDot demo’d recharging an EV battery in 10 minutes.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-706721
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsZlCqMguNM
No driver needed to park your car. Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Road Safety has decided following testing, to allow vehicles to identify a space and park independently of the driver. The automated parking option is available on the Tesla, and a similar function is on Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 electric vehicles sold in Israel.
https://www.jns.org/israels-ministry-of-transport-and-road-safety-to-allow-driverless-parking/
Leading the in-tree intelligence revolution. Anat Halgoa, Co-Founder and CEO at Israel’s Saturas (see here previously) discuss its device that can monitor the health and needs of trees.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/s1c9lgzw5
Prefab housing goes hi-tech. In contrast to Jerusalem’s Amir center (see last week), Israel’s Veev (see here previously) constructs beautiful, modern pre-fabricated houses. Veev built 78 units for the homeless in San Jose, in a fraction of the time, cost and carbon footprint of traditional housing.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-construction-tech-unicorn-hopes-to-transform-home-building/
Israel seeks new heights. Informative article on the plans to build skyscrapers in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv (Azrieli and Ramat Gan). Plus, the view in Haifa, where obscuring the skyline is definitely over the limit.
Study hi-tech now, pay later. Israel’s Masterschool has developed a network of schools that train students for careers in software development, data analysis, cybersecurity, and more. Students only pay the fees when they get a suitable job. There are currently 30 schools in 20 countries and plans for 70 more in the current year.
https://www.masterschool.com/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hy5l08fv5
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
S&P affirms Israel’s AA- rating. Credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has kept Israel’s favorable rating unchanged at AA- with a “stable” outlook. It cited Israel’s strong 2021 performance, a robust economy, and fiscal outturns that helped “net general government debt fall below its pre-pandemic level more quickly,”
54% of exports are hi-tech. (TY JNS) For the first time in Israel’s history, high tech exports accounted for more than 50% of the country’s exports in 2021. In another first, more than 10% of all Israelis now work in the high-tech industry – some 362.000 employees. https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/05/11/israel-is-world-leader-in-percentage-of-citizens-working-in-high-tech/
Lucky 13. The EIT Hub Israel (see here previously), which bridges the Israeli and European tech ecosystems, has selected 6 Israeli & 7 European startups to take part in its scale-up program. Calling2Scale is a project that helps firms with working products to reach global markets through grants and industry connections.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/eu-israel-innovation-hub-taps-13-startups-for-growth-program/
Urban renewal in 12 cities. Israel is to provide about NIS 500 million to support urban renewal initiatives in 12 Israeli cities. It will benefit Ashdod, Bet Shemesh, Bat Yam, Givatayim, Hadera, Haifa, Jerusalem, Lod, Netanya, Kiryat Ono, Kiryat Yam, and Ramat Gan. Municipalities now must submit appropriate plans.
Grants for smarter construction. The Israeli government is offering substantial grants and opportunities for companies that can deliver technologies and products to streamline the construction process and transform building sites. It includes new methods, materials, automation, robotics, and waste reduction.
Radar for Philippine Navy. Israel Aerospace Industries is to supply the Philippine Navy with IAI’s Alpha 3D radar systems. The deal was concluded thanks to IAI’s partnership with Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Drone in a box rolls out in Florida. (TY UWI) Israel’s Percepto (see here previously) is implementing what it calls “the largest commercial autonomous drone project in the world”. In Phase 1, it will deploy 13 drones to monitor power plants at Florida Power & Light, increasing to hundreds more drones in the next 5 years.
https://www.israel21c.org/percepto-drones-to-monitor-florida-power-plants-for-damage/
Saudis to invest in Israel? Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners private-equity fund has raised over $3 billion and has reportedly already selected the first two Israeli firms to invest in. The fund includes a $2 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign-wealth fund.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10793105/amp/Jared-Kushner-secures-Saudi-Arabias-investment-Israel.html https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/327128
Holograms on ice. Israel’s TetaVi (see here previously) has partnered with the National Hockey League’s (NHL) LA Kings to bring thrilling 3D experiences to the ice. The LA Kings are the first team in the NHL to use volumetric capture technology to create immersive content and experiences for their fans.
https://nocamels.com/2022/05/tetavi-nhl-la-kings-volumetric/
Developing Saffron in the Gaza envelope. Israel’s Saffron Tech (see here previously) has opened a NIS 1.5 million Research & Development center in Moshav Mavki’im, north of Gaza. Saffron Tech expects to open its first commercial plant next year. https://nocamels.com/2022/05/saffron-tech-center/
Israeli engines for India. Israel’s EVR Motors (see here previously) is to manufacture light-weight electric motors for India’s Badve’s 2-wheeler and 3-wheeler electric vehicles. Badve’s EV President stated, “This partnership is in line with our core vision of sustainability and net zero emissions through green mobility.”
https://www.electricmotornews.com/gb/eventi/motori-evr-motors-badve-group/
Investment for all. Investment company Peak is launching its operations in Israel and will allow the general public to invest in Israeli startups alongside venture capital funds. Peak plans to invest only in early-stage startups, with low-value funding rounds, suitable for small investors.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/b1uioj11w5 https://www.peakgroup.com/
First Unicorns. Israel’s Optibus (see here previously) is Israel’s first public transportation industry Unicorn, raising $100 million in funds to reach a valuation of $1.3 billion. Unit.co (see here previously) also raised $100 million for a valuation of $1.2 billion and the first banking-as-service platform to gain Unicorn status.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/b1mtotkdq
Investment in Israeli startups to 22/5/22: Masterschool raised $100 million; Optibus raised $100 million; Unit raised $100 million; Buildots raised $60 million; A.Team raised $55 million; Imagindairy raised $15 million; Kissterra raised $10 million (plus $66 million in July 2021); ProDrops raised $5 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Who by fire? Matti Friedman discusses his new book on Leonard Cohen’s extraordinary tour for IDF troops on the Yom Kippur War front lines in 1973. The event will be held on Tuesday, May 24 at 19:30 at Jerusalem’s First Station (Tachana Rishona) and will be accompanied by a live band playing Leonard Cohen standards.
https://www.nbn.org.il/events/toi-10-who-by-fire-leonard-cohen-and-the-yom-kippur-war/
VR experience at Jerusalem’s First Station. Israel’s Yaturu, in partnership with the Aspaklaria Theatre, have opened a new VR interactive experience at the First Station in Jerusalem. It tells the story of Jerusalem throughout the generations and includes an interactive game.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325790
Arab-Israeli wins kickboxing world championship. Loai Sakas, an Israeli Christian Arab won the under-75 kg kickboxing gold medal at the world championship kickboxing championships in Turkey. After his victory, Sakas draped himself with the Israeli flag, saying that his goal in representing Israel is to promote coexistence.
THE JEWISH STATE
Another beautiful morning in Jerusalem. A positive message for the times when not everything is perfect.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/326712
The streets are busy again. (TY Sharon) Jerusalem’s events include the annual bike ride, visits by Ecuador’s President and Kosova’s Foreign Minister, Lone Soldier Sefer Torah dedication, Nefesh b’Nefesh Bonei awards, and the International Book Forum. Sharon also toured the new MDA National Blood Services Center in Ramle.
http://rjstreets.com/2022/05/15/jerusalem-streets-busy-again/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtetMeCMAPw
Take a tour under Jerusalem. See the result of the latest excavations underneath the City of David in Jerusalem. Uniquely, as opposed to most tourist attractions, the City of David site changes constantly and reveals more of the fascinating history of the Bible.
https://www.israelunwired.com/take-an-unforgettable-tour-underneath-jerusalem/
Herzl’s manuscript displayed in Jerusalem. On the 120th anniversary of its publication, the priceless original German manuscript of Theodor Herzl's novel "Altneuland" is on display for the first time in public at the Herzl Center in Jerusalem. The novel describes the modern Zionism founder’s vision of the Jewish State.
Planting the seeds of content. The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and KKL-JNF held a special tree-planting ceremony at the Eshtaol Nursery in the Jerusalem Hills. The seedlings were planted in pots and will only be transferred to the ground after the end of the Shemitta year during which the Land of Israel rests.
https://www.jns.org/icej-joins-with-kkl-jnf-to-invest-in-israels-green-future/
4 sisters are Lone Soldiers. (TY UWI) A Boston family just made history when its 4th and youngest daughter made Aliyah, serving in the Israel Defense Forces at the same time as her three older sisters. It is the first recorded occurrence of a family from the U.S. having four daughters serving in the IDF simultaneously.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/327377
15/5/22
In the 15th May 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Fast Israeli biopsy system can save lives of cancer patients.
· Israel has inaugurated its first Muslim Supreme Court Judge.
· Refugees in Syria are drinking Israeli-produced “water from the air”.
· Free hi-tech training for young prospective Israeli immigrants.
· Israeli defense lasers counter threats from missiles and drones.
· A new discovery of natural gas off Israel’s coast.
· Israeli chess prodigy wins World Championship.
· Ukrainian orphans celebrate their Bar Mitzvah in Jerusalem.
· Click here to see the 8th May newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German here, plus posted by Stuart Palmer here. Also (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here, plus 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 (20,500+ news articles).
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
How a Covid-19 variant is created. Most research related to Coronavirus mutations looks at the virus and how it infects a vaccinated individual. But researchers at Israel’s Technion have been analyzing how the mutation is formed. This provides a new opportunity for spotting weaknesses in the virus that can be exploited.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2022/01/covid19-variant-individual-patient/
Curing blood flow blockages. Israel’s BioGenCell (see here previously) has completed Phase 1 clinical trials at Israel’s Laniado Medical Center, of its stem cell therapy to cure chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLI). Nine patients have had their legs saved from amputation. BioGenCell will now proceed to Phase 2 trials.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sywu8eil5
A biopsy in two minutes. Israel’s Imagene AI develops fast AI-based cancer diagnostics to help identify personalized treatment. Using a digitized biopsy image, Imagene delivers real-time precision-based molecular analysis, increased accuracy and reducing the time required for results, from several weeks to just two minutes.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjduunabc
More than just a thermometer. Israel’s OmnySense has upgraded its telemedicine thermometer (see here previously) into a health-tracking device that measures respiratory rate, pulse rate, ECG, and blood oxygen. It is currently undergoing clinical trials with doctors at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, to detect lung conditions.
https://www.israel21c.org/smart-thermometer-also-checks-heart-lungs-blood-oxygen/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgX8C5UzPWM
Three mothers saved. Volunteer EMTs from Israel’s United Hatzalah saved three Israelis thanks to their 3-minute response. Firstly, a 105-year-old Haifa woman who choked on her breakfast. Then a kindergarten teacher in Ashdod who collapsed in front of her class. Finally, an 86-year-old grandmother on Mother’s Day.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/326857 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/326938
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/327194
Doctors fix hole in preemie’s heart. A cardiac catheterization, the first of its kind in Israel, was successfully performed at Hadassah Ein Kerem to close the aorta of a 4-week-old baby born 14 weeks premature. The Hadassah team had trained for precisely this kind of operation at several hospitals and conferences worldwide.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/263116
Biomed Israel. The 20th annual 3-day Biomed Israel summit has 10 different tracks including infectious diseases, robotics in the medical field, AI and machine learning, precision cancer diagnostics and therapies, and “bio food”. Some 6,000 scientists, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors will attend.
https://www.israel21c.org/biomed-israel-intl-health-tech-confab-opens-may-10/
Documentary celebrates Israeli paramedics. A new documentary, Tel Aviv 911, is a firsthand, behind-the-scenes account of Martin Himel’s 22-year experience as a volunteer senior medic with Israel’s elite paramedic organization Magen David Adom (MDA). Tel Aviv 911 debuts on May 16 at 9pm ET on Vision TV in Canada.
https://www.jns.org/spotlight/new-documentary-celebrates-israels-paramedics/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HMp8VR1gOc
Praise for Israeli health system. (TY Hazel) UK Member of Parliament and Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting visited Israel as a member of Labour Friends of Israel. He praised Israel’s “remarkable advances in medical technology” and how they could be used to improve NHS care in Britain.
Israel’s new Russian & Ukrainian doctors. A few months before the start of the war in Ukraine, a group of medical students immigrated to Israel from Eastern Europe. This video shows how the young doctors, now qualified, were able to study together despite the anxiety about the conflict in the lands of their birth.
https://video.i24news.tv/details/_6305551341112
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Cooking Shabbat meals for the elderly. Israeli charity Heart to Plate was launched in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, delivering Shabbat meals to 60 needy elderly people. The NGO now has 400 volunteers, regularly cooking meals for hundreds of elderly people in five Israeli cities. https://www.hearttoplate.org.il/?lang=en
https://www.israel21c.org/heart-to-plate-volunteers-cook-shabbat-meals-for-elderly/
Training Israeli mayors. Tel Aviv University has launched the Bloomberg-Sagol Center for City Leadership program to develop the leadership skills of Israeli mayors. Up to 20 mayors and their key municipal aids will be enrolled in each annual class. https://www.timesofisrael.com/bloomberg-announces-tel-aviv-university-program-to-upskill-israeli-municipal-leaders/
World class universities. Four Israeli institutions are included in the world’s 100 best universities, compiled by academicinfluence.com. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (18), Tel Aviv Uni (29), Weizmann Institute (96) and the Technion Institute (97). https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/04/14/4-israeli-universities-make-list-of-worlds-100-best-academic-institutions/
Muslim Supreme Court judge inducted. (TY Hazel) Khaled Kabub (see here previously) has now been sworn in as Israeli Supreme Court’s first Muslim Justice. In June 2003, he was appointed a judge of the Tel Aviv District Court, and in September 2017 was appointed its vice president.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/khaled-kabub-sworn-in-as-supreme-courts-first-muslim-justice/
Medical treatment for Palestinian Arabs. (TY I24 News & Israel Unwired) New video of how Israel’s Sheba Medical Center provides life-saving surgery, including heart transplants, for Palestinian Arabs – even from Gaza. Hear the parents of sick children express surprise and gratitude to Israel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUjE5jlgfkA
Ukrainian students begin arriving. As part of the donor-funded emergency aid program at Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ), 18 refugees have been accepted to continue their studies and 10 have already begun. And at Bar-Ilan University, 10 Ukrainian high-school math prodigies are now starting a specially created program.
https://www.afhu.org/2022/04/13/ukrainian-refugee-academics-and-students-begin-arriving-at-hebrew-university-under-emergency-aid-program/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/327199
Water from the air to Syrian refugees. (TY TPS & UWI) Israel’s Watergen (see here previously) has installed the first of nine Water-from-Air Generators to displaced Syrians camp in Raqqa province. The solar-powered generator offers a clean water alternative to the unsafe wells that the refugees have been using.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-watergen-provides-water-from-air-units-in-former-is-hq-raqqa/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsFpb_Zk4qg
30 years of friendship with India. India and Israel are celebrating 30 years of full diplomatic relations. The two countries have active governmental, corporate, and academic cooperation in fields including health, agriculture, water, trade, scientific research, security, and technology. This article highlights much more.
https://www.israel21c.org/israel-and-india-mark-30-years-of-deepening-friendship/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Free hi-tech training for prospective new immigrants. Birthright Israel is launching Brightcode - a free, six-month, 40-hours-a-week, in-depth programming training course, worth $15,000, for eligible Jewish adults aged 18 to 32. It is followed by two-years paid work experience in Israel with a high-tech company.
https://www.jns.org/everyone-jump-into-the-pool-the-high-tech-talent-one-called-brightcode-that-is/
Using AI to create art. Israel’s ART AI has developed an interface that allows users to create art, in seconds. It uses a "text-to-art" generator that uses AI to create new designs based on the users' texts. ART AI’s algorithms produce unique otherworldly images that are sold and printed only once.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkmokw6r9 https://www.artaigallery.com/pages/about-art-ai
The world’s first pilotless flying robo-taxi. (TY WIN) Israel’s Pentaxi is developing an electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle. Available in cargo and 4-passenger models, they will be able to carry up to 880lbs for nearly 200 miles at around 150 mph. It has 5 engines (hence Pentaxi) for safety purposes.
https://www.israel21c.org/pilotless-electric-robo-taxis-getting-ready-to-take-off/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajqYyB_CsBQ
What Robo-taxis will look like. Mobileye announced that its autonomous vehicles are on track to launch in Israel and Germany later this year. the company released a 40-minute video showing its Robotaxi driving around Jerusalem at night. https://www.jns.org/mobileyes-self-driving-taxi-service-set-to-start-this-year/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDyMzz8HMIc
Successful test of Iron Beam. Israel’s Defense Ministry reported that its laser air defense system under development successfully shot down drones, rockets, mortars, and anti-tank missiles in its latest trials. Iron Beam is “effective, accurate, easy-to-operate” and significantly cheaper than current protective measures.
Cyberweek – Jun 27 – 30. (TY SCICC) Cyber Week at Tel Aviv University is internationally acclaimed as one of the top cybersecurity events in the world, with 9,000+ attendees from more than 80 countries. South California organizations wishing to participate or join a delegation, should contact SCICC asap.
https://cyberweek.tau.ac.il/2022/#
Green tech competition. (TY UWI) To mark International Earth Day 2022, this ILTV video describes the Climate Solutions Prize competition. Created by Startup Nation Central with KKL-JNF and the Peres Peace Center, it promotes the development of Israeli technology and innovations to address environmental challenges.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5tvPqK699E
Patent for CO2 capturing balloons. A detailed report about Israel’s High Hopes Lab (see here previously). The US Patent and Trademark Office has just informed the lab that its innovative carbon-capture balloon technology will be receiving a patent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gA3dkG4Thw
Vegan smoked salmon from algae. Israel’s SimpliiGood (see here previously) has partnered International food conglomerate IFF to develop the first commercial smoked salmon analog made entirely from a single ingredient: whole fresh spirulina - a high-protein sustainable algae “superfood”, grown in Israel’s Negev desert.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iff-dupont-join-simpliigood-to-develop-smoked-salmon-from-spirulina-301532829.html https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/simpliigood-spirulina-salmon/
3D printing to save coral reefs. Researchers from four of Israel’s leading universities have developed a process to preserve coral reefs. It involves taking thousands of photos, collecting genetic data, generating a 3D model, and printing a ceramic reef. The lifelike model attracts fish and corals to re-generate the natural reef.
https://worldisraelnews.com/did-israeli-researchers-find-way-to-save-global-ecosystems/
Preventing drowning. Israel’s SoSense aims to save lives and prevent harm to swimmers, especially children, in private and public pools. SOSense’s FLOW constantly “listens” to underwater pool sounds, learning each pool’s unique environmental noises (e.g. pumps) in order to filter out those sounds for better human detection.
https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/company_page/sosense https://sosense.co/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rk8xihclq
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
More gas discovered. A new natural gas reservoir has recently been discovered at the Athena exploration well off Israel’s coast. It will provide another 58 billion cubic meters of natural gas, giving another significant boost to Israel’s rapidly developing energy industry.
https://worldisraelnews.com/another-significant-gas-discovery-found-off-israels-coast/
Easier to visit Israel. From May 20, Israel has dropped the time-consuming mandatory PCR test for passengers arriving at Ben Gurion airport. Also, non-Israelis will be allowed to take a rapid (antigen) test at an authorized site in the 24 hours before boarding their incoming flight as an alternative to a PCR test within 72 hours.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-scrap-mandatory-airport-covid-testing-on-may-20/
Demolition for Jerusalem’s “ugliest building”. The Amir Center in Jerusalem’s King George St, dubbed “the ugliest building in the city”, is set for demolition later this year. Innovative when built in 1961, the prize-winning design integrated prefabricated building parts, allowing an entire floor to be finished in a day.
Putting Yeruham on the tourism map. (TY WIN) Yeruham and its first woman mayor (see here previously) are keen to put the once neglected Negev town on the hospitality map. One of the initiatives is Culinary Queens in which non-profit Atid BaMidbar (Future of the desert) empowers women to run home-based food businesses.
https://www.israel21c.org/culinary-queens-put-negev-desert-hospitality-on-the-map/
Re-wilding the wetlands. Israeli NGO Terra is partnering the Society for Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) to rehabilitate Israel’s wetlands by re-wilding many of its fishponds. It has major environmental and business benefits, creating a nature-based, carbon removal credit project, saving wild fowl and financing kibbutzim.
Live in Israel, work in the USA. Some American Jewish tech workers won’t ever return to their US office. Instead, thanks to the new flexible policy that many firms have employed because of Covid-19, they’ve moved to Israel. Even a Facebook Vice President is among those taking the plunge.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/some-jewish-tech-workers-wont-ever-return-to-the-office-theyve-moved-to-israel/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/326028
Animal-free milk wins US patent. Israel’s Wilk (formerly Biomilk – see here previously) has received a US patent for its animal-free cultured milk and cell-based infant formula. The processes are based on a decade of proprietary research by Dr. Nurit Argov-Argaman of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The largest cybersecurity seed fund. Israel’s YL Ventures has just launched a $400 million fund – YLV V, bringing its total capital under management to $800 million. The new fund is the largest cybersecurity-focused Seed stage fund ever raised. Of YLV’s 25 startups since 2007, 11 have exited and 13 are still active.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ry8adawuc https://www.ylventures.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ha3AkbcJi0
Cybersecurity company’s cybersecurity fund. Israel’s CyberArk (see here previously) is so big (valued at $4 billion) that it can afford to launch its own cybersecurity investment fund. CyberArk Ventures is to invest $30 million in early-stage cyber startups and already has funded Dig Security, Enso Security and Zero Networks.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hkfsl2ci9
Takeovers and mergers: Israel’s Augury has acquired Israel’s Seebo for $100 million.
Investment in Israeli startups to 15/5/22: Pyramid Analytics raised $120 million; Nexite raised $67 million; proteanTecs raised $45 million; Solidus Labs raised $45 million; Komodor raised $42 million; BookAway raised $35 million; BioGenCell raised $16 million; Oriient raised $11 million; Faye raised $8 million; Sequentify raised $7 million; Novu raised $6.6 million; BridgerPay raised $6 million; devOcean raised $6 million; SOSense raised $4 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Tel Aviv – read all about it. The easyJet magazine’s introduction to Tel Aviv: “Tel Aviv is a whirlwind. It’s a city that never relents, with friendly locals who love a good time. You can go from grazing over delicious mezze to drinking cocktails on a rooftop to partying at a pop-up beach club – and that’s all before sundown.”
https://traveller.easyjet.com/israel/tel-aviv/
Maroon 5 shows their love for Israel. (TY Hazel) It was a lovefest for Adam Levine and the crowd at the first of their two Tel Aviv concerts, with the Maroon 5 lead singer raving about his reception by the estimated 55,000 concertgoers. “I’ve never been in Tel Aviv and Israel and I have to tell you, this place is amazing.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/maroon-5-shows-love-for-tel-aviv-crowd-at-first-of-two-shows/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0pjeevHCec
Elite Ukrainian athletes train in Israel. Seven elite Ukrainian athletes who fled their war-torn country with two coaches are continuing to train in Israel for competitions in Europe and South America. They are using facilities at Israel’s Neurim Youth Village, run by Hadassah Women’s Zionist Organization of America.
https://www.israel21c.org/ukrainian-athlete-refugees-train-at-israeli-youth-villages/
Israel hosts Euro U17 soccer finals. 16 European soccer teams including Israel are competing in the Under 17 European soccer finals in Israel. There will be 31 games involving 345 soccer players beginning May 16 at stadiums in Ness Ziona, Lod, Ramat Gan, Netanya, and Rishon LeZion.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/promising-young-soccer-players-head-to-israel-for-u17-euro-finals/
10-year-old wins World Chess Championship. Eliran Shilon Rahav is considered the greatest Israeli promise in the field of chess, with a historic victory in the world championship up to the age of 10. His coach, Moshe Katzir, said of Eliran, “he is a chess player at a level that Israeli chess has never known”.
https://time.news/history-the-israeli-boy-is-the-world-champion-at-the-age-of-10/
THE JEWISH STATE
Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel for Ukrainian orphans. Several of the 100 orphans evacuated to Israel from Zhytomyr, Ukraine, celebrated their B’nei Mitzvah at the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem. They were given tefillin sets and gift certificates for presents and new clothing. The girls had a B’not Mitzvah event last month.
https://www.jns.org/refugee-orphan-boys-from-zhytomyr-celebrate-bar-mitzvah-at-western-wall/
Outstanding Israelis. Seven Israelis received the 2021 Sylvan Adams Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Prize at a special ceremony at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. The prize honors English-speaking Olim who have made a notable impact on Israeli society.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-705775
Especially excellent. Gal Shavi, 22, of Yavneh may have a disability, but he received the coveted President’s Award for Excellence for his outstanding contribution to the IDF and the State of Israel. Gal serves in the IDF’s “Special In Uniform” program, working at the warehouse department of Home Front Command’s Arad Base.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/326797
David Ben Gurion’s escape room. Imagine it's May 14, 1948, and David Ben Gurion has sent you to his room to collect a very important speech he needs to give. You are then trapped and must open 9 locks by solving clues & doing quizzes. Already teaching about Israel’s history to students in NYC, Australia and the UK.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/326891 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_6q1adIb-w
The best of Jerusalem, as Israel turns 74. (TY Sharon) Nowhere can the contrast between Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom Haatzmaut (Independence Day) be seen than on the streets and sites of Jerusalem.
http://rjstreets.com/2022/05/08/the-best-of-jerusalem-as-israel-turns-74/
Evidence of Jewish revolt against the Romans. (TY INN & I24 News) Israeli archaeologists have discovered caves in the Tekoa valley that were refuge to Jewish rebels during the Bar Kochba revolt against the Romans in the 2nd century CE. They found pottery and a silver coin showing the Temple and Bar Kochba’s initials.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=305vaauJXto
8/5/22
In the 8th May 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Two Israeli research discoveries give hope to sufferers of brain diseases.
· WHO report reveals that Israelis donate the most kidneys.
· Israeli tech produces electricity from moving objects.
· Israel’s economy is at pre-pandemic strength.
· A huge Israeli vegan milk factory is to open in Denmark.
· Four new Israeli international sports champions.
· Happy 74th birthday to Israel.
· Click here to see the 1st May newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours with a terrific Yom Haatzmaut intro, and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German here, posted by Stuart Palmer here, plus 17 Apr version here. Also (TY Zachy) in Hebrew here, plus 17 Apr version 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 (20,400+ 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
Field hospital treated 6,000. Israel’s Kochav Meir (Shining Star) field hospital in Ukraine has closed after six weeks, having treated 6,000 patients. The hospital was originally planned to operate for one month. The initial 100 staff (80 doctors & nurses) were then replaced by new staff from Israel’s Sheba Medical Center.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/326670
Life-saving heart treatment for Ukrainian girl. Israeli NGO Save A Child’s Heart brought 5-year-old Karina from Ukraine to Israel for surgery to fix her atrial septal (hole in the heart) defect. Following the catheterization operation, Karina is expected to enjoy a normal life.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/5-year-old-ukrainian-girl-receives-lifesaving-treatment-in-israel/
Gene in “junk” DNA protects against ALS. Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have found a gene in the non-coding (“junk”) part of the genome that reduces five-fold the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The gene IL18RAP can contain mutations that reduce inflammation in the brain.
Breakthrough brain research. Israeli scientists have published a peer-reviewed paper that identifies the dendrites in the brain’s neurons as the learning center of the brain, rather than currently regarded synapses. It could help develop new types of treatments for degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-10466-8
Phase 3 trial of oral insulin begins. Israel’s Oramed (see here previously) has completed enrollment of patients for the Phase 3 trial of its oral insulin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Topline results of the trial are expected early 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oramed-completes-patient-enrollment-in-pivotal-phase-3-oral-insulin-study-ora-d-013-1-301538222.html
The world’s most protected blood bank. (TY Sharon) After 4 years’ construction, Magen David Adom has opened its new $135 million Marcus National Blood Services Center (see here previously). The underground facility doubles current capacity and is shielded from terrorism, rocket attacks, earthquakes, and cyber-attack.
https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=154008
Israeli space medical experiments. Enlightening article about some of the ground-breaking medical experiments performed by Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe aboard the International Space Station. It features the miniaturized, remotely controlled lab on a chip developed by Israel’s SpacePharma (see here previously).
https://www.jpost.com/science/article-705829
Hear this. (TY JNS) Plastic surgeons at Israel’s Galilee Medical Center attached a 3D-printed prosthetic ear to a six-year-old boy, born with microtia, to correct his birth defect. Although the ear will never be functional, the landmark operation will reduce pain, prevent future complications and is socially, aesthetically important.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-surgeons-print-an-ear-to-correct-boys-deformity/
A happy return. When United Hatzalah paramedic Leah helped deliver a baby girl in Jerusalem, she remembered the address. Three years previously it had taken 40 minutes of CPR and several shocks from a defibrillator, to restore the pulse of the baby’s father after he had suffered cardiac arrest.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/326507
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Teddy bear treatment. Bar-Ilan University's Azrieli Faculty of Medicine complex in Safed was transformed into a Teddy Bear Hospital when some 500 children brought their teddy bears and dolls in for “treatment”. The annual event included ER, surgery, pharmacy, cardiology, ENT, MDA, Israeli police, the IDF and more.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/326851
Joint feast to mark end of Passover and Ramadan. More than 300 Jews and Arabs in Beersheba celebrated at a joint Iftar and Mimouna feast to mark the end of the daily Ramadan fast and the traditional Moroccan Jewish celebration at the conclusion of Passover. It was organized by Beersheba’s Hagar Association.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-arab-feast-marks-coinciding-of-passover-and-ramadan/
Over 100 Israeli Arabs visit Auschwitz. 103 Arab-Israeli teenagers from across the country marched alongside Holocaust survivors and their progeny in the March of the Living. Before leaving Israel, they visited Yad Vashem and the Ghetto-fighters Museum, prior to flying to Poland and touring the Auschwitz site.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-705316
Druze commander of Israel’s Fire Control Center. Lt.-Col. A., the first Druze to complete the Israel Air Force flight school, now serves as commander of Israel’s Southern Command’s Fire Center. Ironically, his grandfather served in the Syrian Arab Army forces that invaded Israel in 1948, before switching sides.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-705814
The world’s top healing spot. (TY UWI) International travel magazine Travel + Leisure’s put the Dead Sea top of its 2022 list of 10 recommended global healing destinations. Benefits include as a remedy for asthma, arthritis, and osteoporosis; its mud alleviates psoriasis, and the UV-filtered sun as a safe source of vitamin D.
https://www.israel21c.org/travel-leisure-names-dead-sea-1-healing-spot-for-2022/
The world’s most live kidney donors. (TY Stuart Palmer) Israel is the country with the most living kidney donors worldwide per capita, according to a recent World Health Organization report of 2020 data. Israeli non-profit Matnat Chaim (see here) facilitated the donation of 1,170 kidneys – two thirds of all Israeli donations.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-694257
http://www.transplant-observatory.org/2020-international-activities-report/ (see yellow bar on page 13)
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
The end is in sight to “range anxiety”. Israel’s StoreDot (see here previously, and a BloombergNEF award winner in 2020) is well on the way to creating a future where drivers of electric vehicles can fully charge a flat battery in 5 minutes. It will initiate huge benefits to global transportation and a cleaner planet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2NS9xWwgOI
Converting movement into electricity. Israel’s Enervibe develops and produces lithium-free kinetic energy harvesters that convert movement into electrical energy. Its innovative, environmentally friendly technology can power wireless sensors and IoT devices in many industries, e.g., automotive, electronics and wearables.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rj6fc3ubq https://enervibe.co/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QboEre0npNs
Partnering Indian institute for hi-tech. Tel Aviv University and India’s Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET) are to build a joint research center - the Thapar-Tel Aviv University Center of Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing. It will promote research including for biomedical, automotive, space and defense.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-704047
https://tautrust.org/tau-launches-manufacturing-research-center-in-india/
AI to forecast solar storms. Scientists at Israel’s Ariel University have invented a new solar storm forecasting method, dubbed the Convolutional Neural Network. It combines AI deep learning of past radiation bursts with X-ray measurements from Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) satellites.
https://www.israel21c.org/artificial-intelligence-can-forecast-damaging-solar-storms/
Magnetism on the edge. Hebrew University of Jerusalem scientists studying nanomaterials just 100 atoms thick, discovered that they retain magnetism only some 10 nanometers from their edge. The discovery could lead to the development of low energy, high functioning nano-electronic devices.
https://campaign.huji.ac.il/news/working-tiniest-magnets-hebrew-u-discovers-new-magnetic-phenomenon-industrial https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c04665
Sonovia is dyeing. Israel’s Sonovia (see here previously), manufacturer of Coronavirus-killing facemasks, is diversifying. It is partnering Italian denim manufacturer PureDenim to develop an eco-friendly reduced energy, water, and chemical manufacturing dyeing process to transform the outdated, polluting, indigo dyeing industry.
https://www.israel21c.org/denim-set-to-be-disrupted-by-ecofriendly-indigo-dyeing/
https://fashionforgood.com/accelerator-programme/
A wheelchair for hiking. Omer Zur, founder of Israel’s Paratrek (see here previously) has developed the Trekker, so that his wheelchair-bound father can enjoy hiking. The slogan of the Paratrek is “Where there’s a wheel, there’s a way.” https://www.israel21c.org/a-hiking-wheelchair-that-is-changing-peoples-lives/ https://www.paratrek.org/home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zfLNKTIAQg
An app to get you off the couch. Israel’s Sency uses AI, computer vision, and mobile technologies to target ways to “improve human body conditions.” Sency’s tech gets to know the person by tracking and charting his or her movements in real-time. The tracking is done via the use of a smartphone camera.
https://nocamels.com/2022/05/sency-tech-sports-computer-vision/ https://www.sency.ai/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Economy at pre-Covid strength. With the end of the fifth morbidity wave (the Omicron wave) Israeli economic activity has returned to the strong level before the COVID-19 crisis. Industrial production, Imports of production inputs and Services revenues all increased and job vacancies remain at a record high.
https://www.boi.org.il/en/NewsAndPublications/PressReleases/Pages/1-5-22.aspx
Unemployment at 50-year low. Israel’s underlying unemployment rate dropped to 2.9% in April from 3.7% in March, the lowest in 50 years. There were 120,000 job seekers and 150,000 vacancies. The overall rate, including those affected by the pandemic, dropped to 4.4% in April from 4.8% in March, the lowest since 2020.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-unemployment-rate-drops-to-its-lowest-since-onset-of-covid/
https://www.jns.org/unemployment-rate-in-jewish-state-hits-50-year-low/
Volkswagen to test Israeli cooling tech. (TY Hazel) Israel’s SoCold (see here previously) is partnering Volkswagen to test its eco-friendly cooling technology and jointly develop a concept vehicle. At its demo site, SoCold’s product reduced the temperature of a Volkswagen Polo by 12-14 °C (53.6-57.2 °F).
Israeli on-demand buses on the BBC. (TY Hazel) BBC Radio 4’s Sangita Myska featured Israel’s Via ride-sharing taxis on her “Positive Thinking” program about key innovators on a mission to change our world for the better. Via redefines urban transportation by matching multiple passengers travelling in the same direction.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0016prv https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0016prv
Innoviz lands $4 billion order. Israel’s Innoviz Technologies (see here previously) has won a $4 billion deal by one of the largest vehicle manufacturers in the world to become its direct LiDAR sensors supplier across multiple brands. The new Innoviz 360 sensors have improved resolution and 360-degree peripheral vision.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hjlrortb5
The world’s largest cow-free milk facility. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Remilk (see here previously) is to open a 750,000 square feet cow-free milk production facility in an eco-park in Kalundborg Denmark. Its proteins will make cheese, yogurt, ice cream etc., in volumes equivalent to that produced by 50,000 cows each year.
From NBA to VC. Israel’s Omri Casspi has transitioned from retired NBA basketball star to Venture Capital Fund manager. He has just launched "Sheva", a new VC fund, raising $30 million of its $50 million target, for investing $1 - $2 million in each of 20 early-stage startups.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hyfm4u6s5
America’s Israeli Unicorns. California now hosts the global or U.S. headquarters for 32 Israeli-founded Unicorns – privately held companies valued at $1 billion or more. 17 of those companies became Unicorns in the last 12 months. Most are in Silicon Valley. Meanwhile, New York City hosts 26 Israeli Unicorns.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sjvefwdhq
https://nocamels.com/2022/05/new-york-israel-unicorns-home/
Investment in Israeli startups to 8/5/22: Hello Heart raised $70 million; LinearB raised $50 million; Imagene raised $21.5 million; Salignostics raised $8 million; Kahoona raised $4.5 million; Enervibe raised $3.4 million; ART AI raised $1.8 million.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Building a home for art in the Shomron. (TY Arnie) Ophra Shoshtari has founded the Mar’eh Center for the Art of Judea and Samaria. It aims to provide a permanent public art space for local artists, and an art education center for residents of the Shomron. Ophra works with the Ariel Development Fund and some 250 artists.
https://unorthoboxed.com/2022/04/01/under-the-radar-ophra-shoshtari/
Exodus 91 in NYC & Chicago. Reserve a seat to see Exodus 91, the remarkable docu-drama about the mission to bring thousands Ethiopian Jews to Israel. Featuring a Q&A with the director and cast members, screenings will help raise funds to distribute the film to schools across the globe. (NYC May 19; Chicago May 23)
https://exodus91.com/new-york-annual-gala-lincoln-center/
https://exodus91.com/chicago-annual-gala-holocaust-museum/
This month at Center Stage. May events at Israel’s permanent theater in Raanana for English-speakers include Eli & The Chocolate Factory (14th), Songtalk III Jokers & Thieves (23rd), Summer Nights Wine and Art Festival (26th), Cabaret Evening (28th), and Sorcerer's Night (30th). https://www.centerstageisrael.com/
Other things to do in May. Some events on this month’s calendar include Maroon 5 Tel Aviv concert (9-10); Israel International Yoga Festival (12-14); Deep Purple Tel Aviv concert (22nd); Houses From Within, Batim Tel Aviv (26-28); Jerusalem Day (28-29) and Docaviv Film Festival Tel Aviv (May 26 - Jun 5).
https://www.touristisrael.com/things-to-do-in-israel-in-may/6138/
Netflix to screen “Beauty Queen of Jerusalem”. The Netflix streaming platform is to air Israeli historical melodrama “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem” (see here previously). The first 10 (of 20) episodes will be available on May 20 in selected locations, including the US, UK, France, and Spain.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/netflix-picks-up-ottoman-era-israeli-drama-beauty-queen-of-jerusalem/
8-year-old European chess champion. Israel’s Noam Sason has won the European school chess championship for under 9-year-olds in Rhodes, Greece. Playing for the club “Chess4All”, he won seven out of nine games against competitors from Turkey, Greece, Georgia, Romania, and Ukraine.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/8-year-old-israeli-wins-european-chess-championship/
Judoka medalists. Israeli judoka Timna Nelson-Levy won a gold medal (under 57kg) at the European Judo Championships in Bulgaria, only the second Israeli female judoka ever to do so. Israel’s Raz Hershko (over 78kg) won a silver medal, while Gili Sharir (under 63kg) and Shira Rishony (under 48kg) won bronze medals.
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/sport/1651424648-four-israelis-bring-home-medals-in-european-judo-championships https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/326672
Gold medal special needs judokas. (TY UWI) Israel’s Nir Abelson, age 12, won gold at the Special Needs Judo World Games in The Netherlands. He won in the 12-15 age group, overcoming older opponents. Shilo Omer also won a gold plus two bronze medals, while Reem Freiberger and Or Hodeda both won a bronze.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-boy-wins-gold-at-special-needs-judo-world-games/
https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/skfxmghxq
THE JEWISH STATE
Jewish Jennifer Lopez has “miracle” baby in Jerusalem. After suffering a stroke, 29-year-old Jennifer Lopez (no not that one) was told by doctors that another pregnancy would be fatal. But thanks to Professor Jose Cohen, Director of Hadassah Ein Kerem’s Cerebral Catheterization Unit, Jennifer now has a son.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325800
Mitzva heroes and non-profits. Arnie Draiman of Draiman Consulting has recorded his favorite charitable individuals and organizations that he ranks as among the most efficient and most effective Israeli non-profits. Essential for donors, philanthropists and anyone wishing to give tzedakah wisely. See also his home page.
https://draimanconsulting.com/my-favorite-mitzvah-heroes/ https://draimanconsulting.com/
Aliya at 20-year high. Depending on the source of information, the number of new Israeli Olim (immigrants) in the 12 months prior to Yom Ha’Atzmaut was 38,000 (Jewish Agency) or 42,675 (Ministry of Immigration and Absorption). Either way, it was the highest level for two decades. Most came from Russia and Ukraine.
https://worldisraelnews.com/peak-year-for-aliyah-42000-immigrants-will-celebrate-first-independence-day-in-israel/ https://www.jns.org/ahead-of-israels-74th-birthday-immigration-smashes-20-year-record/
NbN’s 74,000th Oleh Hadash. Just ahead of Israel’s 74th birthday, Aliyah organization Nefesh B’Nefesh welcomed its 74,000th new immigrant. Charley, from Florida, said “It is incredibly special to finally be here, and we are looking forward to beginning this new chapter in our lives and growing our family here,”
https://www.jns.org/nefesh-bnefesh-welcomes-74000th-new-immigrant-ahead-of-israels-74th-year/
Look who’s visiting Israel. Taglit Birthright summer trips to Israel began on 1st May. Some 14,000 participants from 900 universities and colleges in North America are expected to arrive from May to Sep. For those under 32, it’s not too late to join them. https://israeloutdoors.com/choose-your-trip/trip-dates/
Revisiting the Egyptian exodus. While many of us were celebrating the Jewish festival of Pesach, a group of Israeli Jews were strictly observing the commandment “to view themself as though they personally left Egypt”. Led by Bar-Ilan Professor Joshua Berman, they literally retraced their steps from slavery some 3,300 years ago.
https://www.jns.org/journeying-back-to-where-it-all-started-revisiting-the-egyptian-exodus/
Growing the Negev. Israel is to build a new Jewish city in the Negev, with the working name of Tela, located near Lehavim, to the north of Beersheba along Route 25. This, plus plans for 5 other new communities and the expansion of Ir Ovot, would boost the Negev population by 80,000.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israel-green-lights-new-jewish-city-in-the-negev/
Declaring a State – The Quorum that changed Jewish History. A new video by World Mizrachi of the historic events that led to the declaration of the State of Israel on 14 May 1948, 5th Iyar 5708.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkPya3GQYR8
Enjoy the airshow. (TY WIN) If you missed the Israel Air Force Yom Ha’Atzmaut display and fly-past, watch it here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuT-e0Baxh4
At 74, “no dream is out of reach”. (TY Nevet) This statement by Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe introduces several articles summarizing Israel’s positive future as a progressive, hi-tech, democratic, Jewish State.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-705831 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8tsqUDerLM
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-at-74-economy-shows-resilience-though-clouds-loom-large-on-the-horizon/ https://files.webversion.net/i/i38RLnnt/Israel_Island_of_Success___2022-compress0.pdf
1/5/22
In the 1st May 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An Israeli startup has a solution to the shortage of blood for transfusions.
· Israeli leaders hosted post-Ramadan fast meals for Israeli Muslims.
· Israeli smart battery developer won a “low-carbon tech pioneer” award.
· Israel’s astronaut landed safely back on Earth.
· Three more leading multinationals invested in Israel’s economy.
· An Israeli gymnast won a World gold medal in Egypt.
· Science and Judaism are revealed, 400km above the Earth.
· Click here to see the 17th Apr newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours with another great intro, IsraPundit, 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 (20,300+ news articles).
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ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
A good place. The latest Coronavirus wave is over as far as Israel is concerned. Experts say the reasons include immunity from the previous Omicron wave, plus behavioral factors such as protecting the elderly. If there are no significant variants on the horizon, Israel is in a good place (and is a good place to visit!)
Protection against Covid-19. Experts from Tel Aviv University have shown that common dietary supplements can help protect us against the Covid virus as well as several common winter illnesses. They include Zinc and Copper, combined with flavonoids – polyphenolic compounds found in vegetables such as pumpkins & peas.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325628 https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/3/377/htm
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/15/3/377/htm
Smart sensors to ensure vaccine safety. Tel Aviv University researchers used smart sensors from Israel’s BioBeat to measure physiological reactions of 160 subjects to the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. They showed that side effects increased over a 48-hour period, often contradicting reports of the patients themselves.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-703840
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-022-00090-y
Severed ear reconstructed. Doctors at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center saved the severed ear of a carpenter who suffered a serious work accident. To prevent rejection, they used tissue from his scalp and leg to create an artificial cartilage mold of the severed part of the ear and grafted it onto the remaining part.
https://worldisraelnews.com/miracle-surgery-israeli-doctors-save-mans-severed-ear/
AI finds source of mystery heart problem. Israeli Meidan Schwartzman faced life-altering surgery to trace a mystery heart arrhythmia. Then he read about Dr. Itzik Biton, a senior cardiologist at Hadassah's Heart Institute who subsequently used Artificial Intelligence to locate and fix the problem in the sinus area of Meidan’s heart.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325140
Getting under the skin of an autoimmune disease. Researchers from Weizmann, Hadassah and Rambam medical centers have discovered a significant drop in a specific type of fibroblast (cell scaffold) occurs with the onset of scleroderma - a rare autoimmune disease. The research can shed light on the origin of other diseases.
https://weizmann-usa.org/news-media/news-releases/getting-under-the-skin-of-an-autoimmune-disorder/
Stethoscope detects sounds that no human can hear. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Sanolla (see here previously) has received US FDA approval for its VoqX, the first and only stethoscope that can listen to infrasound - acoustic sound waves (3 to 40 Hz) that aren’t detectable by the human ear but provide important diagnostic information.
https://nocamels.com/2022/04/sanolla-fda-infrasound-stethoscope/ https://sanolla.com/
US approval for steerable microcatheter. The Bendit21 microcatheter from Israel’s Bendit Technologies (see here previously) has just received US FDA approval. The device has already been used to save two lives in the US and is described as a game-changer in endovascular medicine.
https://nocamels.com/2022/04/bendit-microcatheter-fda/
No more blood shortages. Israel’s RedC Biotech is developing a process for mass-production of red blood cells for transfusions. Working with Accellta, a spin-off startup from Israel’s Technion Institute, they use stem cells from O-negative donors to mass-produce red blood cells for most humans, even without testing.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-startup-aiming-to-make-blood-donations-a-thing-of-the-past/
https://www.redcbiotech.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DChkGXSFVbA
Relief for swollen legs. The Robotic stocking from Israel’s ElastiMed (see here previously) for treating lymphatic and venous leg diseases is being tested in a clinical study at Sheba Medical Center. It already shows a 5-fold improvement in leg volume reduction, compared to the hospital’s standard compression bandages.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjjz4csec
Field hospital uses VR to treat refugees. Medics at Israel’s Kohav Meir field hospital brought Virtual Reality goggles and telehealth devices when they visited a refugee camp for Ukrainians. They used the VR goggles to diagnose patients remotely. And the goggles also provided relief for the trauma-affected refugee children.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/skbbgulnc
Physician cure thyself. Six years ago, Israel’s ex-Chief Scientist Dr. Orna Berry was diagnosed with cervical, ovarian, and thyroid cancer with six-months to live. Israeli startup Curesponse used genome sequencing to find her best treatment. Dr Berry is now cancer free and at the age of 72 is Google Cloud’s Director of Technology.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sk7fwvbv5 https://www.curesponse.com/
A very good spot. (TY UWI) 15-year-old MDA volunteer Ido spotted a bus strangely stopped in the middle of the road. He then noticed that the bus driver was clutching his chest. Ido immediately alerted his colleagues who spent 20 minutes administering CPR and 11 defibrillator shocks until the driver regained consciousness.
https://www.israel21c.org/teen-emts-quick-action-helps-save-tel-aviv-bus-driver/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Upgrading properties to house refugees. The Israeli government is offering cities and regional councils grant money to upgrade housing projects for immigrants from Ukraine, Russia, and other countries in the region. Some 10,000 new immigrants have arrived in Israel in recent weeks, of which two-thirds are from Ukraine.
Israelis host Iftar meals for Muslim Arabs. (TY Hazel) Some 200 guests attended Israel’s President Herzog’s annual Iftar dinner, the traditional meal to break the Ramadan fast, at his official residence. And Yossi Dagan, Chairman of the Samaria Regional Council, hosted local Palestinian Arab leaders for the Iftar break-fast.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ramadan-meal-brings-together-unlikely-group-of-jewish-settlers-and-palestinians/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/politics-and-security-mar-the-festivities-at-herzogs-iftar-meal/
100,000+ Muslims pray on Temple Mount. (TY Hazel) Over 100,000 Muslim worshipers took part in mass prayers on the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif / Al-Aqsa complex) in Jerusalem on the night of Apr 27, for Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Destiny) during Ramadan. https://www.timesofisrael.com/over-100000-muslim-worshippers-gather-on-temple-mount-for-nighttime-prayers/
Yoseph stuns Irish Parliament. Israeli Arab Yoseph Haddad made a brilliant speech to the Irish Parliament. Members of the Oireachtas were stunned by Haddad’s eloquence and rhetoric. His talk included his childhood, army service, freedom of religion and speech, Israeli Arab leaders, democracy, the judicial system, and the PA.
https://vinnews.com/2022/03/01/yoseph-haddads-brilliant-defense-of-israel-in-the-irish-parliament/
Abraham Accords brings global benefits. An international delegation visited the UAE, Bahrain, and Israel to see how the Abraham Accords model can spread economic benefits far and wide. They include new ties between the UAE and both Paraguay and Liberia. And between Bahrain and the Central African Republic.
https://www.jns.org/international-delegation-visits-israel-to-take-abraham-accords-to-next-level/
Mission to aid Ethiopia. (TY JNS) Most of the world has forgotten the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia. Not Israel, though, which has sent a medical team to Gondar and Addis Ababa to create a program where Israeli hospitals will adopt, train, equip, and support hospitals near the 2-year ongoing Ethiopian civil war zone.
https://www.israel21c.org/israelis-fly-to-ethiopia-to-alleviate-humanitarian-crisis/
MDA responds. Israel’s Magen David Adom has responded to the Ukrainian crisis with six more ambulances to add to the four it had already donated (see here previously). MDA has also set up an emergency field clinic in Moldova. https://mdauk.org/mda-responds-to-humaintarian-crisis-in-ukraine/
Ukrainian boy brought to Israel to save his eyesight. Corridor – Israel Aid for Ukraine has brought 7-year-old Mykhailo from Ukraine to Sheba Medical Center, together with his mother and twin brother. Mykhailo suffers from an aggressive form of retinopathy and Israeli doctors will try to save his eyesight.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israel-evacuates-ukrainian-boy-for-eyesight-saving-treatment/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Four medals at Math Olympiad. Israel’s four competitors in the 2022 European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) in Hungary won a gold medal and three bronze medals. Overall, the Israeli team came nineth out of 56 countries. Gold medalist Nogah Friedman is now ranked third in the world.
https://www.jns.org/israel-takes-home-four-medals-in-mathematics-competition/
Addionics wins ecology award. Israeli smart battery developer Addionics (see here previously) has won a BloombergNEF award (see here previously) for pioneering technology for a low carbon economy. Addionics was one of 12 winners from 270 applicants from 27 countries. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-maker-of-smart-3d-battery-tech-among-12-winners-of-bloombergnef-award/
Lightening up Tel Aviv. Visitors to Tel Aviv’s Atidim hi-tech park will benefit from the innovative Lumiweave fabric created by Israel’s Anai Green (see here previously). The environmentally friendly system will provide shade during the day and serve as a lighting installation once the sun sets.
Saving the bee and its honey. Israel’s Bee-IO (see here previously) makes bee-free honey in the lab, removing the bee from industrialized honey production. The busy creatures can now focus on pollinating plants so that humans can continue to eat the real “fruits” of their labor. This Nas video has over 4.4 million Facebook views.
https://nocamels.com/2022/04/bee-honey-cultivated-startup/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6uC8pEQKag
Smart transportation. Interesting short video featuring some of the Israeli startups that are revolutionizing the transportation arena. Plus, the Navon railway station and the new Jerusalem to Modiin line have turned Jerusalem into a transportation hub that provides access to the whole country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzyr3WzUEbY
https://betelfriends.blogspot.com/2022/04/new-train-puts-jerusalem-in-center.html?m=1
A virtual model. Fashion designers work with Israel’s Styletech to showcase their designs using an AI virtual model. No need for stylist, makeup, hair, photographer, or location. Select from a database of 20,000+ AI models plus the appropriate gender, shape, age, height, weight, hair color, skin tone, and even expression.
https://nocamels.com/2022/04/alon-livne-virtual-model-fashion/ https://styletech.ai/
Speeding up blockchain transactions. Israel’s bloXroute increases the processing speed of blockchain transactions by a factor of one hundred. It solves the scalability issue that is preventing blockchain’s secure trading mechanism from being more widely adopted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEWU9CFv43E
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkuvolvvq https://bloxroute.com/
The story of Ariel University. Israel’s 8th and latest University began as a college in 1982. Its school of Architecture opened in 1995; the Particle Accelerator Center (1999); Wine Research Center (2010); University status (2012); School of Medicine (2019); Autonomous Vehicle Lab (2020) and Satellites launched (2022).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM7xI8YG97s
The oldest star ever seen. Ben-Gurion University Professor Adi Zitrin was a key member of the US-Israeli team that identified Earendel - the most distant star ever seen. Light from Earendel has taken 12.9 billion years to reach Earth, via the Hubble space telescope.
Splashdown! (TY JNS) Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe and his Ax-1 colleagues safely landed off the Florida coast after an extended 17-day mission, including 15 days on the International Space Station. Read also about some of the Israeli Rakia Mission’s experiments and activities that he conducted and managed.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-astronaut-splashes-down-safely-from-17-day-mission/
https://www.eng.rakiamission.co.il/all-in-space https://www.eng.rakiamission.co.il/blog
https://www.eng.rakiamission.co.il/post/zero-gravity-hovering-eytan-stibbe
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
$5.6 billion raised in first quarter. Israeli tech companies raised $5.6 billion in 212 deals in the first quarter of 2022 – slightly more than the $5.4 billion raised in the same quarter last year. There were also 39 exits (including 7 IPOs) that raised nearly $9 billion. https://nocamels.com/2022/04/quater-funding-first-startups/
The skies are open. Over 50 countries participated in Tel Aviv’s 28th International Mediterranean Tourism Market. At the expo, Israel’s President Herzog declared, “Israel offers a truly unmatched experience of ancient holy sites, cities that never sleep, exquisite natural beauty, a mosaic of cultures, and an innovative society.”
https://www.jns.org/at-tourism-fair-in-tel-aviv-israeli-minister-announces-skies-are-open/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324831
Lab-grown meat industry partnership. Israeli-based Tnuva is investing $7.5 million in partnering Israeli biotech Pluristem Therapeutics. They have formed a joint company NewCo to create meat and dairy products from animal cells, using sustainable technology.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tnuva-beefs-up-food-tech-operations-with-new-cultured-meat-venture/
Smart distribution partners. Israel’s largest supermarket chain Shufersal has partnered Israel’s Via to create an efficient digital distribution system. This is the first time that Via will move from smart (ridesharing) transportation into the logistics space. It will help Shufersal reduce cost, fuel use and air pollution.
https://nocamels.com/2022/04/via-supermarket-shufersal-distribution/
Amazon invests in Israeli robotic warehouse system. Israel’s BionicHIVE (see here previously) has received funding from the new Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, which invests in emerging technologies. Previously Elon Musk recommended BionicHIVE to his 42 million Twitter followers.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1qg2lkbq
General Atlantic to open in Israel. Leading US investment firm General Atlantic is opening a Tel Aviv office. General Atlantic manages some $84 billion of assets and has invested $750 million in eight Israeli tech companies since 2019. It says Israel “stands out as a hub of global entrepreneurship and digital transformation”.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/leading-us-investment-firm-general-atlantic-opens-tel-aviv-office/
New hotel in Tel Aviv. The David Kempinski luxury hotel has opened overlooking the beach on Hayarkon Street in Tel Aviv. It is the 80th hotel in the Kempinski European hotel group, with 34 floors and 250 rooms. It includes 43 suites, massive, floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, to bring in the sea air and views.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tel-aviv-welcomes-latest-luxury-hotel-david-kempinski/
More startups ignited. Intel has selected another 10 Israeli startups for its sixth Intel Ignite Tel Aviv acceleration program. Redefine.dev, Verobotics, Xyte, Senser, Predicta Med, Kahoona, Volumez, PxE, Dual Bird Technologies, and Oligo Security. This is the first mention in this newsletter for all these startups.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sygls4bhc
Takeovers and mergers. Israel’s OpenWeb acquired France’s ADYOULIKE for $100 million;
Investment in Israeli startups to 1/5/22: bloXroute raised $70 million; Silverfort raised $65 million; FundGuard raised $40 million; Riverside.fm raised $35 million; Demostack raised $34 million; ARMO raised $30 million; RiseUp raised $30 million; Source Defense raised $27 million; Sentra raised $23 million; TULU raised $20 million; The Cultivated Meat Consortium received $18 million from the Israel Innovation Authority; Noogata raised $16 million; Loris.ai raised $12 million; Copyleaks raised $6 million; ElastiMed raised 0.85 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Art with Israel as a model. Chaya Esther Ort opened the Kiyor Studio in Nachlaot, Jerusalem in 2019 to spread the beauty and light of Israel’s land and spirit into the world. She uses the clay of the land so that her customers can have a beautiful, useable, and meaningful piece of Israel with them, materially and spiritually.
https://www.jns.org/the-art-of-making-art-using-israel-as-a-model/
Celebrate Israel’s birthday in London. If you are in the UK and unable to get to Israel for Yom Ha’atzmaut, you may wish to join the Technion UK’s lunch event on 5th May. Click below to register.
https://technionuk.org/event/israel74/
One million hours of football. Israel’s Pixellot (see here previously) celebrated the milestone of broadcasting one million live hours of AI-automated football. The event featured retired Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho. Pixellot broadcasts 150,000+ games a month from 67 countries, without camera operators or production crew.
https://nocamels.com/2022/04/pixellot-ronaldinho-sports-tech/
Israeli gymnast wins gold in Cairo. (TY Nevet) Israeli Olympic gold-medal gymnast Artem Dolgopyat took home the gold in the floor routine at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Cairo. The win secures Dolgopyat’s place at October’s World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool, England.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-gymnast-artem-dolgopyat-takes-gold-at-world-cup-in-cairo/
Israel’s team to the Deaflympics. Israel’s President Herzog hosted the Israeli delegation to the Deaflympics at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. The Deaflympics will take place in May in Brazil, with an Israeli delegation of deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes who have won medals in international sports tournaments.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325354
THE JEWISH STATE
Luxury imports by the first Jewish kingdom. Israeli archeologists have discovered remnants of vanilla spice in wine jars bearing the symbol of trade from the Kingdom of Judah during the 7th century BCE first Temple period. The exotic spice originated in the far East and was unknown in the West until the time of Columbus.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/6th-century-bce-jerusalemite-oenophiles-had-a-taste-for-exotic-vanilla-spice-wine/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324890
The Haredi team protecting Iron Dome. (TY Algemeiner) Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has a special cyber division in Jerusalem that includes 55 ultra-Orthodox employees, some former yeshiva students, that help make sure no one penetrates the air defense system. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rylojgre9
Adelsons sponsor 500 Ukrainian refugees. Members of the Adelson family, children of Dr. Miriam Adelson and the late Sheldon Adelson, recently sponsored flights for more than 500 Jewish Ukrainian refugees to find sanctuary in Israel. The flights were part of United Hatzalah’s Operation Orange Wings.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325350
Coming home. Four years ago, Eliyahu emigrated from Ukraine to Israel, leaving his parents behind. Thanks to Chabad of Kyiv the family had a long-awaited, tearful reunion at Ben Gurion Airport. Also, just before Yom HaShoah, 21 Holocaust survivors were rescued from Ukraine and flown to Israel.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/fleeing-a-war-yet-again-9-holocaust-survivors-touch-down-in-israel-on-rescue-flight/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/326540 https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-703448
Can you light Shabbat candles in space? Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe gave fourth graders a lesson called “Lighting Shabbat Candles in Space – the Halacha and Science Challenge.” Scientists are still learning how fire behaves in zero-gravity and may use the knowledge to develop more efficient combustion engines.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-kids-test-shabbat-in-space-with-candle-experiment/
Freedom in Free-fall. Eytan Stibbe, the first Jew to celebrate Passover in space, reveals how he relates to children the meaning of the Exodus story in the current technological age.
https://www.eng.rakiamission.co.il/post/the-first-passover-in-space-eytan-stibbe.
17/4/22
In the 17th Apr 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Three Israeli breakthroughs in the battle against cancer.
· Doctors at Israel’s field hospital deliver their first Ukrainian baby.
· Jews and Moslems open Jerusalem’s top church to Christians for Easter.
· Israel’s Eytan Stibbe journeys to the International Space Station.
· Israeli scientists are using tobacco plants to make animal-free meat.
· Israel has agreed a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the UAE.
· Israel’s astronaut is spending Passover in outer space.
· Click here to see the 3rd Apr newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit, and United With Israel plus additional feature on 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 (20,200+ 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
Cancer therapy “double-whammy”. (TY UWI) Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a 2-in-1 anti-cancer nanoparticle. It is the world’ first RNA-based treatment to combine chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells and immunotherapy to stimulate the immune system to identify and attack the remaining cancer cells.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-2-in-1-cancer-drug-shows-promise-in-boosting-chemo-and-immunotherapy/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q88d4GVq9KM
Natural antibodies fight cancer too. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have discovered that in addition to cancer-fighting T-cells, the immune system’s B-lymphocytes also produce antibodies that take part in battles against cancer cells. They target the enzyme MMP14, a cause of metastasis and can be used in future therapies.
https://weizmann-usa.org/news-media/news-releases/antibodies-fight-cancer-too/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324515
Toxic cancer treatment made safe. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have improved a cancer therapy that killed tumors but was too toxic for use. They added a specially created antibody that targets only the CD40 receptor protein molecule which stimulates the immune system to fight the cancer.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-lab-says-its-made-a-powerful-but-toxic-cancer-treatment-safe/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43018-022-00329-6
US approval for fast diagnosis of collapsed lung. Israel’s Aidoc (see here previously) has received US FDA approval for its newly developed X-ray solution that detects cases of pneumothorax (collapsed lung) on X-rays for more efficient triage. Fast diagnosis of the condition can prevent subsequent respiratory or cardiac failures.
https://nocamels.com/2022/04/aidoc-pneumothorax-lung-x-ray/
Eye-opening breakthrough. Doctors at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center have performed the first implant of the thinnest artificial cornea ever printed in the world. The 50-micron thick EndoArt implant (see here previously) reduces recovery time and risk of rejection. The patient had a previous human cornea rejected.
The first “shining star” baby. (TY Hazel) Israeli doctors delivered by Caesarian section the first baby born at the “Shining Star” Israeli field hospital in Ukraine. Mother and baby are doing well.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/first-baby-born-at-israeli-field-hospital-in-ukraine/
Israeli Arab leads Ukraine field hospital lab. Arab-Israeli Amir Zoabi heads up the laboratory at the Israeli field hospital in Ukraine. Set-up in an unused schoolroom, his lab can conduct any required test. In this article Amir shares his feelings about being part of the Israeli humanitarian delegation.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-arab-israeli-leads-lifesaving-lab-in-war-torn-ukraine/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
The first Ethiopian female Israeli military judges. Two female IDF officers have become the first Israeli women of Ethiopian origin to be appointed IDF military court judges. Major Tamar Bekia Adgach and Major Mazi Mekonen were appointed to military courts in Judea and Samaria.
Jerusalem church re-opens for Easter. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the most important Christian church in Jerusalem, is open for the first time since the pandemic began, as pilgrims return. Meanwhile, the project to restore its ancient stone floor is being led by Osama Hamdan, a Palestinian Arab Muslim architect.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-703755
https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/03/18/christians-find-unity-in-restoring-holiest-jerusalem-church/
UAE publishes book on achievements of Zionism. The Israeli book “Zionism in Arab Discourse,” by Prof. Uriya Shavit of Tel Aviv University and Dr. Ofir Winter of the Institute for National Security Studies, has been translated into Arabic and published in the United Arab Emirates.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/03/22/israeli-academic-study-of-zionism-published-in-uae-amid-expanding-ties/ https://www.jpost.com/international/article-702438
MKs visit Indonesia. (TY TPS & WIN) Members of Knesset Avi Dichter and Nira Shpak made history when they participated in the 144th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference in Bali. It was the first time MKs visited Indonesia, a country with which Israel has no diplomatic relations.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-knesset-members-make-first-official-visit-to-indonesia/
Warm relations with UK. (TY Hazel) Positive report from the recent Jerusalem Post Conference in London. Israeli ministers and leaders met with Britain’s Prime Minister, Home Secretary, Trade Envoy, Undersecretary of State for Justice, and many more VIPs. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-703040
2022 Mobility Innovator. Israel’s Amnon Shashua, President and CEO of Mobileye has won the 2022 Mobility Innovation Award from The Automotive Hall of Fame. The non-profit recognizes individuals responsible for new, groundbreaking mobility technologies and services.
https://nocamels.com/2022/04/mobileye-ceo-amnon-shashua-award/
Treating burns victims in Haiti. (TY JNS) Professor Josef Haik of Sheba Medical Center is leading a mission to help local doctors struggling to treat dozens of burns victims from a fuel truck exploding in northern Haiti in December. Some Israelis have arrived directly from serving in Israel’s field hospital in Ukraine.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-medical-team-heads-to-haiti-to-treat-burn-victims/
Water for Philippines. (TY Hazel) Israel donated NUF water filtration systems for Typhoon Odette-stricken areas in Mindanao, Philippines. Israeli Ambassador in the Philippines Ilan Fluss said, “Water is life. This donation is Israel's initiative to support and promote access to potable water in the Philippines.”
https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/04/04/expats-diplomats/israel-donates-water-filtration-systems-to-minda/1838692 https://www.jns.org/israel-donates-water-filtration-systems-to-typhoon-hit-philippines/
Rescuing thousands from Ukraine. In the first 3 weeks of the crisis, Israeli emergency services organization United Hatzalah (UH) has brought more than 2,000 Ukrainian refugees to Israel as part of Operation Orange Wings. UH volunteers accompany the refugees on each flight, providing medical aid if necessary.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324424
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Out of this world. Watch the launch of AX-1 with Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe on board on route to the International Space Station. Eytan sent messages in Hebrew, before and after the Space-X Dragon capsule docked safely with the ISS. He also had a long conversation with Israel’s President Herzog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nLk_Vqp7nw&t=12420s
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-astronaut-stibbe-arrives-at-the-international-space-station/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/325593
Israeli space cargo is “impossible”. One of the items transported to the International Space Station was Tel Aviv University’s “Impossible Object” – a 3D sculpture made entirely of water that can only exist in zero gravity and combines art with physics. See also a summary of the 35 Israeli on-board space experiments.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-experiments-in-space-will-lead-to-major-breakthroughs/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFG8oLoT5cI
Israel’s first quantum computer. (TY NoCamels) After several years of research, scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have built Israel’s first quantum computer (see here previously). The 5-qubit machine is one of only 30 quantum computers in the world and less than 10 that use ion trap technology.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-huge-leap-israeli-researchers-build-countrys-first-quantum-computer/
https://weizmann-usa.org/news-media/news-releases/israel-joins-quantum-computing-club/
Israeli scientist receives top honor. Tel Aviv University Ehud Gazit is the first Israeli to be selected for the International Solvay Chair in Chemistry and the first chemist outside of the US and Europe to be so honored. The Solvay Chair has been won by 15 of the world’s top scientists, including three Nobel laureates.
https://english.tau.ac.il/news/gazit-solvay-2022
Tactical robotics competition. (TY UWI) A team from Ariel University won Israel’s first-of-its-kind Mobile Standoff Autonomous Indoor Capabilities )MoSAIC) Challenge. Twenty US & Israeli startups and other organizations participated. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBX-UZE4uMA
https://www.jns.org/ariel-university-wins-first-place-in-tactical-robotics-competition/
https://mosaichallenge.com/partners/
The world’s thinnest lenses. (TY Hazel) Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed low-cost, lightweight flat lenses – around a thousandth of the thickness of a human hair. They will revolutionize products, such as consumer electronics, cellphones, VR headsets, and drones that need to be as light as possible.
https://www.afhu.org/2022/03/28/super-thin-lenses-coming-to-cell-phones-glasses-and-more/
https://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-news2/newsid=60296.php
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-022-00963-7
Climate-saving science. An opportunity to attend Ben Gurion University’s free virtual event on Sun 1st May at 1pm Eastern Time (8pm Israel time). Celebrate BGU’s remarkable science and discover how the university is creating a sustainable future. Hosted by Noa Tishby, Israeli-American actress, producer, activist and author.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrating-the-remarkable-2-registration-243949648967?aff=Eblast
https://americansforbgu.org/video/ctr2-teaser/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm79qIgaaKA
Futuristic digital printing. At TLV Fashion Week, top designers used revolutionary printing technology from Israel’s Kornit Digital (see here previously) to create amazing fashions. It included Direct-to-garment (DTG) for blended color, Direct-to-fabric (DTF) for neon prints, and Kornit’s XDi to print on spandex for bodysuits.
https://nocamels.com/2022/04/kornit-printing-tech-fashion-week/
Fast charging for Indian scooters. India’s Ola Electric has made a multi-million-dollar investment in Israel’s StoreDot (see here previously). Ola will manufacture and integrate StoreDot’s lithium ion-based battery tech in its future electric vehicles in India. The funding is part of StoreDot’s latest $80 million investment round.
Tobacco plants for vegan meat. Israel’s BioBetter repurposes tobacco plants to accelerate development of cultivated meat. The plants become bioreactors to boost production of proteins and potentially significantly reduce the cost of cultivated meat. BioBetter was co-founded by Prof. Oded Shoseyov (see here previously).
https://biobetter.bio/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNR_vI0ImDs https://www.galilofek.com/biobetter/
Transformative technology. 15 Israeli startups presented at Axis Tel Aviv 2022. They pitched during panels featuring investors and business leaders from the key sectors of fintech, health and sports, retail, and mobility. Products included medical clothing, car cyber security, a robotic operating system and payment fraud analysis.
https://nocamels.com/2022/03/startups-tech-israel-axis-innovation/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Even more positive. Rating agency Moody’s affirmed Israel’s credit rating as A1 and upgraded its economic outlook from stable to positive. Israel’s 2021 exports beat all forecasts, with an unprecedented volume of $143 billion – over 20% more than in 2020. For the first time, the exports of services exceeded the exports of goods.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-exports-in-2021-reach-an-all-time-high/
Free Trade Agreement with UAE. Israel and the United Arab Emirates have finalized details for a massive free trade agreement worth hundreds of millions of dollars. It covers 95% of all traded products, leading the way to customs-free import-export of food, agricultural products, medical equipment, medicine, and cosmetics.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israel-lands-700-million-trade-agreement-with-arab-ally/
https://worldisraelnews.com/historic-israel-uae-conclude-free-trade-agreement/
OurCrowd to open in Abu Dhabi. Israel’s OurCrowd is to open a global AI innovation and research center in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. It will provide finance-focused, AI-based research as a service. OurCrowd’s Jon Medved spoke at an Abu Dhabi investor conference in early 2020 (see here).
Azerbaijan opens official tourism office in Israel. On the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Israel, Azerbaijan has opened its first tourism office in Israel and signed a cooperation agreement to work together to further the industry.
https://www.jns.org/azerbaijan-opens-official-tourism-office-in-israel-signs-cooperation-agreement/
Massive hiring spree planned. The OurCrowd High-Tech Jobs Index for the last 3 months of 2021show that Israeli high-tech startups are planning a hiring spree in 2022 as the Coronavirus pandemic recedes. 72% of OurCrowd’s 177 portfolio companies report hiring more staff in Q4 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.
https://blog.ourcrowd.com/ourcrowd-high-tech-jobs-index-q4-2021/
Defending Europe. (TY Hazel) Four recent examples of Israeli defense systems purchased by Czech Republic, by Sweden, and (two) by Germany.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-703284
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-elbit-wins-swedish-tank-ammunition-deal-1001406539
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-germany-to-arm-uavs-leased-from-israel-1001408437
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-703266
Twelve Tel Aviv Techstars. 12 Israeli startups were selected for the sixth group of the Tel Aviv Techstars accelerator. They are Valid.it, +SCALE, Pledger Giving App, Platera.ai, Synergym.Ai, Testory, Beez Tech, Dodo Smart, Luzverde, Calosense, Eco-Price, and Price backers. Each receives $120,000 of matched funds.
https://nocamels.com/2022/03/startups-techstars-accelerator-program/
Israel’s first American whiskey distillery. (TY WIN & I24 News) Noam and Alan work by day in finance and architecture. But by night they run Legends, Israel’s first American-style whiskey distillery. Located near the site where David defeated Goliath, they named their first product “slingshot”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WniSRimdxWI
Takeovers and mergers. Israeli mobile security startup Zimperium has been acquired by US-based Liberty Strategic Capital (Steven Mnuchin) for $525 million. LinkedIn (the world’s largest professional network) purchased Israel’s Oribi for $80 million; Israeli cybersecurity Tufin is being acquired by Turn/River Capital for $570 million; US-based ITT has acquired Israeli valve manufacturer Habonim for $140 million.
The latest Unicorn. Israel’s Viz.ai has raised $100 million at a valuation of $1.2 billion. Meanwhile the revenue of Israel’s Pagaya grew by 379% in 2021 to $475 million, and is now valued at $8.5 billion.
Investment in Israeli startups to 17/4/22: Viz.ai raised $100 million; Coro.net raised $80 million; StoreDot raised $80 million; Appwrite raised $27 million; vHive raised $25 million; Antidote Health raised $22 million; Eleos Health raised $20 million; Radiaction Medical raised $10 million; NOVOS.gg raised $6 million; SeeMetrics raised $6 million; Solveat raised $1 million; Paypal invested in Cymbio;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Art raises funds for Ukrainian refugees. Dasha, a Russian new Israeli immigrant has opened an art exhibit at a South Tel Aviv nightclub to raise awareness and funds for Ukraine. 90% of the exhibits in “Vse Bude Ukraina״ (“Everything will be Ukraine”) is by Ukrainian and Russian Israelis.
“Israel Calling”. (TY UWI) Ahead of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, dozens of the artists performed their songs in Israel as part of “Israel Calling,” an event organized by Israel’s Tourism Ministry. The Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra even filmed its Eurovision “postcard” in Jerusalem instead of in its war-torn country.
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/culture/1649660985-eurovision-artists-perform-in-israel-ahead-of-song-contest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0K49xUkxoY
Two prizes at Cannes. (TY Hazel) The Israeli social drama series "The Lesson," won the prize for best long series and the prize for interpretation at the Canneseries festival. Maya Landsmann, who plays one of the show's main characters, received the prize for best performance. https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/bydrfgh79
Maroon 5 adds second Tel Aviv concert. US Grammy award-winning pop band Maroon 5 has added a second concert in Tel Aviv this spring after quickly selling out their Israel debut in Hayarkon Park. They will now perform on May 9th and 10th. They arrive in Israel following their first show in Abu Dhabi.
Abraham Games. A team of soccer stars from the Abraham Accords countries faced off against stars from world teams during the first Abraham Accords Games at the Dubai Expo. Following the match, the Ministers of Culture joined famous chefs from all four countries to prepare meals in their national styles.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324561
https://www.aapeaceinstitute.org/latest/aapi-newsletter-march-2022
Sport center for IDF soldiers. The Chicago-based Herrendorf Family Foundation partnered with Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) to construct a state-of-the-art sports facility at an IDF 8200 Intelligence Unit Base. The $4.5 donation helped construct a 16,000-square-foot sports center, to support the unit.
Veteran Games. (TY Hazel) Once again, dozens of British Armed Forces and IDF personnel injured during their service are to compete in this year’s Veteran Games in Israel (see here previously) from 29 May to 3 June. The games will use Israel’s state-of-the-art rehab facilities in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/israel-to-host-the-2022-veteran-games-and-conference/
World debut for women’s ice hockey team. Israel’s women’s ice-hockey team made its international debut by competing for the first time ever in the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship for Division III on in Belgrade, Serbia. The team is made up of women of four religions.
https://www.jns.org/israel-womens-ice-hockey-team-makes-world-debut-at-championships-in-serbia/
THE JEWISH STATE
Pesach in space. Israeli Astronaut Eytan Stibbe has taken a box of handmade shmurah (guarded) matzah and 4 cartons of grape juice to the International Space Station to observe the Jewish festival of Passover. He was given provisions by Rabbi Zvi Konikov of Chabad of the Space & Treasure Coasts. See also UWI link below.
https://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/5486713/jewish/Passover-in-Space-Astronaut-to-Blast-Off-With-Matzah-in-Hand.htm https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-astronauts-passover-seder-will-be-out-of-this-world/
Record-breaking matzah. Israeli President Isaac Herzog displayed at his Jerusalem residence the longest matzah in Israel and maybe the world. It is 6 meters long, 106 cm wide, 4 mm thick, weighs around 6 kg, contains over 119,000 perforations it took three hours to bake.
https://www.jns.org/biggest-matzah-in-israel-displayed-at-the-presidents-residence/
Doctor and dentist start their journey. Drs. Tova and Josh Lennon have decided to be “part of Jewish history” and make Aliyah with their four children. They attended the Nefesh b’Nefesh MedEx conference which simplified the process of getting licensed in Israel.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324626
Faith-based diplomacy. Two dozen Christian parliamentarians from as far as Malawi, Guatemala and the United States made their first Israel Allies Foundation (IAF) mission since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. https://www.jns.org/the-strongest-weapon-in-israels-arsenal-faith-based-diplomacy/
New in Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) See the new sites and events on the Real Jerusalem Streets prior to Passover, Ramadan, Easter, and Orthodox Palm Sunday. Excavations, France Square; Gush Etzion tunnel, festival activities, Butterfly house, and much more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKiEEyTmL5U
http://rjstreets.com/2022/04/10/old-and-new-in-jerusalem-before-passover/
http://rjstreets.com/2022/04/03/tips-for-touring-in-jerusalem/
3/4/22
In the 3rd Apr 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israelis are treating thousands at its field hospital in Ukraine.
· Five positive news items about Jewish and Arab Israeli women.
· Israel summit with foreign ministers of UAE, Morocco, Bahrain and Egypt.
· Three Israeli environmentally friendly successes.
· Three new billion-dollar Israeli companies.
· Jerusalem’s women’s marathon was won by a Ukrainian refugee.
· An excavated lead amulet is a 3,200-year-old Biblical relic.
· In one month, Israel has absorbed 10,000 immigrants from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.
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ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Medical clowns aid Ukrainian refugees. (TY JNS) The huge numbers of Israeli volunteers aiding refugees from Ukraine in Moldova include the medical clowns of Dream Doctors (see here previously). Their costumes, big red noses and funny antics light up the faces of exhausted Ukrainian women, children, and elderly men.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-medical-clowns-bring-smiles-relieve-stress-for-ukraine-refugees-in-moldova/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfYFumNRjLA
Ukraine field hospital treats thousands. Israel’s “Shining Star” field hospital has been established by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and Sheba Medical Centre, assisted by Israel’s healthcare system. In its first week it treated 1,100+ adults and children, including a 10-year-old heart patient.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324428 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWOB3FNuP6U
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ukrainian-girl-and-her-hamster-reach-israels-field-hospital-after-escaping-bombings/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324853
Second booster reduced deaths by 78%. Israeli HMO Clalit, Sapir College and Ben-Gurion University studied 563,465 Israelis aged 60-100 who were eligible for the fourth coronavirus vaccine. They reported a 78% decrease in COVID deaths. In a 40-day period.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/study-indicates-4th-shots-were-key-to-saving-lives-among-over-60s-in-omicron-wave/ https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/coronavirus/article-702441
Hope for advanced head & neck cancer patients. (TY WIN) Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have developed an innovative treatment for Head & Neck Cancer (HNC) sufferers. It blocks the hyper-activation of a specific cell-signaling pathway that is found in over 40% of HNC patients.
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/head_neck.aspx
Accurate diagnosis. (TY UWI) Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered that after a minor head injury many children later displayed symptoms that were often misdiagnosed as ADHD. 200 children were monitored and 25% were found to suffer chronic persistent post-concussion syndrome, requiring much different treatment.
https://www.israel21c.org/minor-head-injury-leads-to-chronic-syndrome-in-1-of-4-kids/
International research grants. Ben Gurion University’s Dr. Shai Pilosof has won a $100,000 grant from the International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSP) for researching animals and environment. His colleague Dr Benjamin Palmer is investigating the diversity of color in the natural world.
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/pilosof_palmer.aspx
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Mentoring for women in hi-tech. Israel’s Melio (see here previously) recently launched MentorMe - its mentoring program for female developers that brings together highly-experienced women with those at the beginning of their careers, to learn and discuss the challenges they face. 50 women were selected to participate.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1tpewkq9
Women move up in the IDF. Good video showing the opportunities for women in the Israel Defense Forces.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl3HTEpeKhM&t=256s
Israel’s Arab sector is modernizing. Dr Nasreen Haddad Haj-Yahyais director of the Arab Society in Israel program at the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI). She highlights Arab students, graduates and PhD candidates at university compared to 2010. Other positives include the medical profession and Arab women in employment.
https://www.jns.org/revolution-taking-place-among-arab-sector-in-israel-report-shows/
Arab women learn Hebrew. (TY JNS) Israeli nonprofit Lissan (Arabic for “language” or “tongue”) promotes gender and social equality in Jerusalem. It oversees the “Women Speaking Hebrew” program where 40 volunteers teach Hebrew to some 400 Arab women, empowering them and giving them more independence.
https://www.israel21c.org/arab-women-in-jerusalem-study-hebrew-for-a-stronger-future/
Israeli woman to host UAE lifestyle TV program. The Khaleej Times, the United Arab Emirates’ longest-running English newspaper, has named Israeli broadcast host Michal Divon, as host and executive producer of its new digital show “Dubai This Week.” It promises unique access to the Emirates and celebrity interviews.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/323906
Singapore to open embassy in Israel. Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it will upgrade its consulate in Israel to a full embassy, as part of a series of agreements reached between the two governments. The two countries are keen to conduct joint projects in Artificial Intelligence.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324374
From war in Ukraine to studies at Israeli university. Tel Aviv University welcomes Maryana Sytar - the first Ukrainian graduate research student to arrive as part of TAU's emergency scholarship program. Maryana was working towards her PhD at the Koretsky Institute of State and Law of Ukraine before the war broke out.
https://english.tau.ac.il/news/scholarships-ukraine-sytar
Israelis donate aid to Ukrainians. The Jewish Agency is leading Operation Out Turn, involving 110 local authorities and organizations from all over Israel. It includes an air train of 23,000 boxes (sone 230 tons) of humanitarian aid donated by the Israeli public for the victims of the war in Ukraine.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/star-of-david-shines-in-ukraine-israeli-field-hospital-installed/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThOEQYYczYI&t=34s
Helping refugees in their own language. Israel is sending a delegation of 15 Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking police officers to Poland to assist Ukrainian refugees who want to come to Israel (see here previously). Additionally, police will reserve rooms at Israel’s National Police Academy to host some 100 refugees.
“The Orange Ones”. The car being driven by volunteers from United Hatzalah broke down twice in Moldova. Each time local citizens helped fix the problem but wouldn’t accept payment. The reason? “We recognized your jackets – you are “The Orange Ones” who have come from Israel to help the Ukrainian refugees”.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324357
Four Arab nations at Israeli summit. (TY UWI) Israel hosted the “Negev Summit” comprising the Foreign Ministers of the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain and Egypt, plus the US Secretary of State and Israel’s Foreign Minister. They stated that the conference would be the first of a regular regional forum.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Intelligent Apple scholars. Two Israelis (out of 15 worldwide) have been selected as Apple Scholars in AI / Machine Learning for 2022. Moshe Shenfeld is studying privacy-preserving machine learning at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Also, Noam Razin of Tel Aviv University for fundamentals of machine learning
https://machinelearning.apple.com/updates/apple-scholars-aiml-2022
https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/article-701651
More sea turtles hatching. (TY Hazel) For the second year in row, Israel Nature and Parks Authority reports a sharp increase in the number of sea turtle nests along the Israeli coast. The 449 sites are nearly double that five years prior. The improvement is attributed to fishing bans, and more monitoring.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/sea-turtle-nest-tallies-surging-along-israels-beaches-report-finds/
Using nature for nature. (TY SCICC LA) Israel’s Ayala Water & Ecology (see here previously) has 26 years of experience in the field of phytoremediation - the use of plants to extract and remove elemental pollutants from water. Ayala received an EU Horizon 2020 innovation award to adapt its technology for the EU market.
http://www.ayala-aqua.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4lWEGYjQY
https://sme.easme-web.eu/?b=973648462
UBQ wins innovation award. Israel’s UBQ Materials has won an innovation award in the Speculative Design category at this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) event. Its recycled waste-derived thermoplastic can be used in the 3D printing industry, which currently relies on non-recycled oil-based thermoplastic.
https://nocamels.com/2022/03/ubq-materials-sxsw-innovation-award/
Leading the waterways. On 13th Apr (at noon ET) Ben Gurion University is hosting a Zoom webinar entitled “How Israel is Leading the Way in Water Renewal” featuring BGU’s Professor Edo Bar-Zeev. He will share his latest research on desalination and the aquatic environment.
https://americansforbgu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RrTeoBjiRVGtQepoGxTvxQ
https://americansforbgu.org/events/
Weathering the storm. (TY SCICC LA) Israel’s PLANETech and KKL-JNF are launching the Climate Solutions Prize, aiming to identify technologies that tackle extreme weather events. Israeli companies can present their solutions to predict, prevent, manage & recover from wildfires, floods, storms, extreme heat, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sttq_LmYvdI https://climatesolutionsprize.com/competitions.asp?id=84
Technion tractors are transforming agriculture. On International Day of Forests (21st Mar) Israel’s Technion Institute reported on Israel’s Blue White Robotics (see here previously), founded by two graduates of the Technion. The latest article explains how its tractors use sensor technology to operate autonomously.
https://technionuk.org/press-release/how-technion-tractors-are-transforming-agriculture/
https://www.bluewhiterobotics.com/ouster-lidar-creates-a-clear-vision/
Filling up. Israel’s TankU uses AI and computer vision to monitor vehicles and enable refueling, charging, and washing. At Israel’s Sonol's gas stations, a customer selects to pay through the app, is identified next to the pump or charge point, confirms the operation with a click and then begins refueling. Totally self-service.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/syjdtdlx9 https://www.tanku.com/
Headset is out of this world. (TY UWI) Israel’s Brain.Space will test its electroencephalogram (EEG) enabled helmet on astronauts (including Israel’s Eytan Stibbe) on the 3rd April SpaceX shuttle flight to the International Space Station (ISS). It will be the world’s first test of the effect of microgravity on the brain.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-702526
See the Internet as you want to see it. Israel’s Bright Data (see here previously) helps companies gather commercial information on the internet. Its product enables customers to see the internet how they choose. So, a farmer can monitor customers, analyze weather conditions and view consumer sentiment about its products.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bypmbjcm5
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Opportunities in Bahrain. A team from Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), led by Executive Chairman Erel Margalit, completed a 4-day visit to Bahrain as guests of the Bahrain Economic Development Board. They met Bahrain’s top business leaders to promote a new economic chapter in Bahrain-Israel relations.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1cwkdvfq
Flying cars for Australia. Israel’s AIR (see here previously) has just partnered with Australian electric aircraft distributor, FlyOnE, to supply 25 AIR ONE eVTOL vehicles, worth $150,000 each, in 2025. FlyOnE will serve as AIR’s local distribution, service, and maintenance partner.
https://nocamels.com/2022/03/evtol-delivery-israel-ausralia-air/
Discounted housing. Israel’s Ministry of Housing and Construction and the Israel Land Authority are listing 30,000 dwellings at 20% discount to market value. The first 10,028 units will be sold by lottery in 31 cities including Acre, Dimona, Ofakim, Be’er Ya’akov, Eilat, Ashdod, Haifa, Jerusalem, and Rishon Lezion.
Global demand for V2X tech. Israel’s Autotalks (see here previously) has received three large orders for its V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) communications solutions. It will provide its V2X chipsets to three top auto manufacturers in Europe, Japan, and China. It doubles Autotalks orders pipeline to $200 million.
More funds for startups. Israel’s Glilot Capital Partners (see here previously) has raised $220 million for its fourth Seed fund. It is double the size of its previous fund and will invest in Israeli startups in the areas of cybersecurity, enterprise software and developer tools. Meanwhile, Israel’s Vertex VC has raised $400 million.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkrlk71q9
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/h1vzekkm5
Cutting the cost of self-funded health care. Israel’s Marpai is a third-party administrator (TPA) for firms that manage a self-funded health insurance program. It acquired Continental Benefits, cutting its claim costs from $8 to $3 and now aims for $1. Marpai uses AI to predict and improve the health of a member firm’s employees.
https://www.israel21c.org/this-tech-will-cut-the-cost-of-self-funded-health-coverage/
Mentoring entrepreneurs. Israel’s Qumra Capital is launching a second cohort in its mentorship program to help guide new startup CEOs. During the six-month program, 10 participants will receive first-hand insight and tools to help them set and achieve growth goals and milestones.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/skysgjtgc
Keeping Croatia safe. Israel’s SuperCom (see here previously) has just won another European contract, this time with Croatia. The Ministry of Justice and Administration of Croatia will deploy SuperCom's PureSecurity Electronic Monitoring (EM) Suite to track offenders outside of the prison system.
100 “Israeli” electric trucks in London. Asher Bennett (brother to the Israeli PM), is founder of Tevva Electric Trucks (see here previously). “We're trying to do something good for the world," he told Calcalist's “Mind the Tech London” conference. Tevva now operates 100 electric delivery trucks in and around London.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/h1zex6dfc
This week’s Unicorns. Cybersecurity Island.io (see here previously) has just become Israel’s latest financial Unicorn by raising $115 million at a valuation of $1.3 billion. Israel’s RapidAPI (see here) raised $150 million at a $1 billion valuation. Capitolis (see here) raised $110 million at a valuation of $1.6 billion.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rj0jtc00m5
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/s145hjwf9
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/b14dhfdf9
Takeovers and mergers. Israel’s Perception Point (see here previously) has acquired Israel’s fellow cybersecurity Hysolate (see here previously). Intel is to acquire Israel’s Granulate (see here previously) for $650 million.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bk0g6jz79
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/h1zywmmmc
Investment in Israeli startups to 3/4/22: RapidAPI raised $150 million; Island.io raised $115 million; Capitolis raised $110 million; Beewise raised $80 million; Bionic.ai raised $65 million; Cyera raised $56 million; Datagen raised $50 million; ChargeAfter raised $44 million; Nucleai raised $33 million; Pinecone raised $28 million; Cyberpion raised $27 million; Home365 raised $26 million; Lightlytics raised $26 million; D-ID raised $25 million; Wing Security raised $20 million; Highcon raised $18.5 million; Kooply raised $18 million; BeamUP raised $15 million; Reigo raised $13 million; Brew (GetBrew.com) raised $12 million; Plantish raised $12 million; TankU raised $8 million; REACH raised $7 million; Skyline Robotics raised $6.5 million; Apono raised $5 million; Radd raised $700,000.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
I will give you this land. Jacob Richman has added new song pages to his hot-sites. This one features several versions of Lecha Etain et HaAretz Hazot (I Will Give You This Land) featuring historical and interesting videos. My favorite is the 2022 Bnei Akiva version (see YouTube below).
https://jr.co.il/lecha-etain.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3W_2273Rkk
Your guide to Tel Aviv. I was pleased to read this article prior to my easyJet flight to London to see family.
https://traveller.easyjet.com/israel/tel-aviv/guide-tel-aviv-markets-how-to-haggle/
Upcoming pop concerts. There are at least 10 big name concerts to enjoy in Israel this year. They include Justin Bieber (Oct 13), Jethro Tull (Apr 19-20), Air Supply (May 27-28), Deep Purple (May 22), Nick Cave (Aug 23) and Pixies (July 11).
https://www.israel21c.org/10-concerts-you-can-rock-out-to-in-israel-this-summer/
Ukrainian refugee wins Jerusalem marathon. (TY UWI & Sharon) Valentyna Veretska, who fled Ukraine along with her daughter, won the women’s race in the 25th March Jerusalem Marathon. Celebrating her victory, Veretska held up the flags of both Israel and Ukraine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWrpx79wQGs
https://www.timesofisrael.com/valentyna-veretska-ukrainian-refugee-wins-womens-race-at-jerusalem-marathon/ http://rjstreets.com/2022/03/27/jerusalem-marathon-2022/
THE JEWISH STATE
Ancient amulet deciphered. (TY UWI) An ancient amulet (see here previously) has been dated to 1,200 BCE and contains the oldest Hebrew script ever found. It contains a curse and the holy name of God. It was found on Mount Ebal, where the Children of Israel issued curses in the Bible (Deut. Ch.27/28 & Joshua ch.8 v 34)
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-702271 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRrE2L5oj5E
The most moral army. Although recorded in 2015, Colonel Richard Kemp’s simple summary of how the IDF conducts itself is very timely and needs publicizing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN1MkAGuVyY
Cancer kids get their wish. A group of childhood cancer survivors, mostly from the U.S., arrived in Israel this month as part of Chai Lifeline’s “Wish at the Wall” program. The 10-day annual event was made possible by the Hartman Family Foundation. https://worldisraelnews.com/charitable-organization-brings-child-cancer-survivors-to-israel-and-they-just-love-it/
Where Zionism and medicine meet. (TY WIN & Arutz 7) At the Medics Conference in New York, Nefesh b’Nefesh were matchmaking Israeli medical professionals with medics and their families who want to make Aliyah. They get their diplomas authorized and have interviews for positions at Israeli medical centers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTtVMXG4_Vo
Together again. Mykola, a disabled Jewish Ukrainian refugee was reunited with his daughter in Israel. It was a small miracle as volunteers from United Hatzalah in Moldovia found Mykola on the Fast of Esther and fast-tracked his airlift to Israel, where he was met by his daughter in time to celebrate the festival of Purim.
Ukrainian “survivor” rescued. 97-year-old Jenya Bernstein escaped the Nazi invasion of Ukraine and joined the Red Army. Now the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has helped her escape again from Ukraine to join her son and his family who made Aliyah just a week ago.
https://worldisraelnews.com/ukranian-holocaust-survivor-rescued-brought-to-israel/
10,000 immigrants in one month. Sasha from Kharkiv, Ukraine, was the 10,000th new immigrant to Israel from the former Soviet Union (Ukraine, Russia and Belarus) in the last month. Dr Katia Kirplok was the 5,000th new immigrant from Ukraine.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/10000-have-immigrated-to-israel-in-wake-of-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-ministry/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/324547
