231231
In the 31st Dec 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· A 95-year-old reservist re-enlisted to fight for Israel.
· Volunteer overseas medics are rushing to help Israel.
· See who is being successfully treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
· Papua New Guinea has opened the first consulate in Judea & Samaria.
· Israeli scientists are fighting bad bacteria and utilizing good bacteria.
· Intel’s billion-dollar investment shows confidence in Israel’s economy.
· The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is “playing” its part in Israel’s war effort.
· Welcome to 1,200 new French Israelis.
· Click here to see the 24th Dec newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours and IsraPundit. Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here. And GREAT NEWS – volunteers from the Jewish Federation of Central New York have very kindly translated it into Spanish (TY Barbara Davis), French (TY Mireille Goodisman), and Hebrew (TY Lital Davis). Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking, 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 (now at 23,700 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
POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR
2.6 million items of warm clothing. Friends of the IDF in the United States completed “Winter Clothing Operation,” a 5-week initiative to send 150 tons (over 2.5 million items) of essential winter clothing and gear to Israeli soldiers fighting on the front line in Gaza.
https://www.jns.org/friends-of-the-idf-ships-150-tons-of-winter-clothing-gear-to-troops/
Nvidia donates $15 million. Thousands of employees of IT giant Nvidia donated $5 million to support Israelis affected by the war. This was tripled by Nvidia itself, with an additional $10 million donation.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjjbd8hwp
You’re never too old. Ezra Yachin at 95 years young is the oldest active IDF reservist. Despite losing an eye in 1948, he was called up to active duty in the current war. The New York Post, Al Jazeera, etc., wrote about the elderly IDF soldier who put on a uniform again to defend Israel. And he says the enemy hasn’t changed tactics.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382468
https://nypost.com/2023/10/10/95-year-old-reservist-joins-israels-fight-against-hamas-terrorists/ (skip video)
Citizen’s Kitchen. (TY UWI) US immigrant to Israel, Aliya Fastman, launched Citizen’s Kitchen on Oct 9, converting her Citrus & Salt studio for cooking lessons into a community kitchen for meal distribution. It has since provided 20,000+ meals to soldiers, bereaved or displaced families, and synagogues hosting meals.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/12/20/how-olim-are-helping-israels-war-effort-part-3-providing-meals-displaced-families-soldiers/ https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-769799
https://www.citrusandsaltcooking.com/
JNF-USA volunteers in action. (TY UWI) Volunteers from JNF-USA have heeded the cry of Israel in its time of need and offered whatever services they could help with. From cooking meals for soldiers on bases, crop picking and storing, to watching children; these volunteers are taking a huge burden off the shoulders of Israel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2x5QojlPhI https://www.jnf.org/ways-to-help/support-israel
https://www.jnf.org/travel/tours/index/volunteer-in-israel-missions
Volunteers from UK & Germany. Lovely to hear the accents of British volunteers and their reasons for coming to help on farms on farms in southern Israel. Meanwhile (TY Hazel) staff from the German Embassy volunteered for a day in the orange harvest to help short-staffed Israeli farmers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6axF7JOJ7eQ
https://www.instagram.com/germanyinisrael/reel/C1Epm9hsHIV/
Ways that Israelis are volunteering. Israelis are finding unusual ways to pitch in to aid those affected by the events of October 7 and the ongoing battle in Gaza. They include tailoring, matchmaking, folding laundry, giving haircuts, cleaning hospital rooms, rescuing vehicles, and a mobile restroom.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-most-unusual-ways-israelis-are-volunteering-during-the-war/
Thanks for the donation. IDF forces have uncovered millions of shekels in Gaza and PA cities that were intended to fund terrorism. Israel will make better use of the money.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hy5gf99pa https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkmz00spia
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-775178
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Hospital launches innovation hub. Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center has partnered with international investment firm Arieli Capital to create SHAAR - a joint healthcare innovation hub, designed to be a center for medical research. Healthcare companies will be invited to the first global scale-up cohort by the end of 2023.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/top-jerusalem-hospital-unveils-healthcare-innovation-hub/
Thousands of overseas volunteer doctors. Israel’s Health Ministry has received 7,500 requests from foreign physicians to volunteer in Israel. Nearly 5,000 are from North America and 1,000 from Europe. Many are not Jewish – they just want to help. 450 have Israeli licenses and the rest are being fast-tracked.
https://www.jns.org/the-medical-specialists-who-left-all-behind-to-volunteer-in-israel/
Physical therapy on the front lines. Many of Israel’s IDF reservists are in the thirties and forties and not as fit and subtle as they used to be. So UK-born Tasha Cohen launched Chayal’s Angels of volunteer yoga therapists, massage therapists, acupuncturists, physiotherapists and chiropractors who treat 50 to 200 soldiers every day.
Miracle survival from deadly wounds. Despite many tragic losses, two IDF soldiers survived gunshot wounds that are usually fatal. Major Itai was hit by a bullet that is still lodged in his brain and cannot be removed. Another bullet passed through Sgt Oren Dovid’s heart. Following surgery, both want to return to their units.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/idf-heroes-remarkably-survive-gunshots-to-the-heart-and-brain/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvsHSseXTE (Hebrew video of Major Itai, but easy to appreciate.)
Hyperbaric oxygen to treat PTSD. Traumatized survivors of the Hamas Oct 7 terror attacks and IDF soldiers with PTSD are receiving HBOT therapy (see here) breathing pure oxygen in high pressure cabins. It is one of the treatments available to patients of the national clinic for PTSD, created by Tel Aviv University.
https://bnnbreaking.com/breaking-news/health/israeli-ptsd-victims-find-hope-in-hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-post-hamas-attacks/ . https://english.tau.ac.il/news/national-ptsd-clinic
HBOT for Mikey. (TY Avi Abelow) Mikey, a key member of the IDF Oketz search and rescue special forces unit, was severely wounded by a grenade thrown by a Hamas terrorist. She recovered most of her faculties in just a few weeks thanks to Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) at Israel’s Shamir hospital. Mikey is a dog!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30kPEOwv5hc
From death’s door to discharge. Menashe Eisner, 63, suffered a heart attack and was placed on life support. A complex bypass operation failed. Then surgeons at Haifa’s Rambam Health Care Campus implanted a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Miraculously, 40 days later, Eisner was able to go home.
https://www.rambam.org.il/en/rambam_news/LVAD_medical_miracle.aspx
Preventing severe lung diseases in diabetics. 35% of patients that died of Covid-19 were diabetics. This led scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute to discover that high blood sugar levels disrupted the immune system response to infection. They then developed experimental medication to reverse the sugar-induced dysfunction.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/why-people-diabetes-are-more-prone-respiratory-risk
No big shakes. Lynette Hoffman-Elharar remembers a time when Essential tremor meant she could not hold a glass of water or draw a straight line. Now, after undergoing noninvasive MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRIgFUS) at Haifa’s Rambam Health Care Campus, she is knitting woolen hats for IDF soldiers.
https://www.rambam.org.il/en/rambam_news/Knitting_again_after_bilateral_MRIgFUS.aspx
Helping the helpers. Jerusalem’s Herzog Medical Center is supported by organizations in the USA, Canada, and the UK. The British Friends of the hospital have just launched a national campaign "Helping the Helpers"’ providing support for mental health professionals treating an increasing number of trauma patients.
http://www.herzoghospital.org/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVmFbpfHMLk
https://www.afherzoghospital.org/ https://www.herzoghospital.ca/
96% of nurses at Rambam are graduates. Thanks to two international scholarship programs, 23 nurses at Israel’s Rambam Health Care Campus recently advanced their studies to specialize in various medical disciplines. 96% of Rambam nurses currently hold academic degrees. The target is 100%.
https://www.rambam.org.il/en/rambam_news/2023_nursing_scholarships.aspx
Record year for liver transplants. In 2023 at Schneider Children's Medical Center in Petah Tikva, a record 24 life-saving liver transplants were conducted in infants, children, and adolescents. Liver transplants in children are among the most medically complex. Two donations were from soldiers killed in the war in Gaza.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382698
Israeli doctor saves passenger on El Al flight. Dr. Nathan Ungar, a long-time United Hatzalah volunteer, saved a 70-year-old diabetic passenger who lost consciousness twice on an El Al flight from Bulgaria to Israel. Dr Ungar closely monitored the patient's condition until the plane made an emergency landing at Rhodes.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382703
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Who is fighting for Israel? I thought it a positive sign when Uri Zaki, chairman of Israel’s left-wing Meretz party, said “it is impossible to ignore the large number of fallen soldiers who are religious Zionists. We need to salute this community that gives its life for the defense of Israel.” Then see the photo in the second link.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/flashes/622677
https://twitter.com/YishaiFleisher/status/1739394077106278777
Druze restaurant goes kosher to serve IDF. (TY WIN) Noor, a restaurant located in the Druze village of Julis in northern Israel, has been providing thousands of free packaged meals to local evacuees and soldiers since the beginning of the war. Deputy Minister Uri Maklev helped the owner, Asma, make the restaurant kosher.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382481
Christian population rose 1.3% in 2022. About 190,000 Christians live in Israel, comprising about 2% of Israel’s population and reflecting a 1.3% increase in 2022. Israel is the only Middle Eastern country where the Christian population is growing. Also, this article (TY UWI) about an Israeli Christian serving in the IDF.
https://www.jns.org/christian-population-in-israel-up-1-3-last-year/
https://tps.co.il/articles/christmas-in-wartime-an-israeli-christian-soldiers-story/
A hotel of coexistence. The Magdala Hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee is hosting 200 war evacuees. Jewish kibbutzniks live alongside Catholic monks, the mostly Muslim hotel staff, and Druze workers, all holding prayers for the peace of the land. It’s an example of coexistence on the outskirts of Tiberias.
https://www.jns.org/the-magdala-hotel-a-symbol-of-coexistence-sheltering-war-evacuees/
The first consulate in Samaria. (TY WIN) Papua New Guinea (PNG) is appointing an honorary consul in Judea and Samaria and opening an honorary consulate in the city of Ariel. This will be the first time in history that a foreign country has opened an official representation in Judea and Samaria. PNG’s embassy in Jerusalem.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382548
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Seasoning that preserves meat. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed MeatCrust – a natural antioxidant for meat preservation. The seasoning forms a crust that prevents the fatty acids in meat react with oxygen to cause rancidity.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/new-seasoning-both-flavors-your-meat-and-stops-it-turning-bad/
https://www.yissum.co.il/technology/meatcrust-as-a-natural-antioxidant-for-meat-preservation/
Bacteria to cut emissions from wheat crops. Israel’s Nitrousink has developed bacteria capable of decreasing nitrous oxide (N2O) that is emitted during the production of wheat. N2O is a greenhouse gas that is potentially far more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide. The tech was originally developed at the Volcani Institute.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/nitrousink-wheat-bacteria-n2o-save-foods/
https://savefoods.co/save-foods-nitrousink/
Israeli tech takes down Hamas drones. (TY IsraPundit) Israeli forces in Gaza eliminated a swarm of 7 attack drones using the SMASH smart fire control system of Israel’s Smart Shooter (see here previously). AI image processing detects a target’s direction and speed. The British army has bought 225 systems for £4.6 million.
https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/hkpuon4pp
https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-779031 (see here also the Spike Firefly a.k.a. Maoz)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAJVX1-TpMs
Protection for manufacturers. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s NanoLock Security (see here previously) has teamed up with global security firm OTIFYD to protect industrial and manufacturing companies from the recent rise in external and internal cyber-attacks, including on critical infrastructure.
A hearing aid in your spectacles. Israel’s Nuance Hearing (see here previously) is working with a global eyewear giant to make efficient and economic hearing aids that fit invisibly into your glasses.
https://www.israel21c.org/startup-develops-innovative-hearing-aid-hidden-in-glasses-frame/
Tech Mission. In a gesture of solidarity and support for the Israeli tech sector, 65 senior executives from US technology, venture capital and private equity firms, joined an Israel Tech Mission in mid Dec. They visited Israel’s largest aid organization Brothers and Sisters for Israel; met soldiers, evacuees, and families of hostages.
https://www.israel21c.org/65-us-tech-leaders-fly-to-israel-to-show-solidarity-support/
https://www.brothersandsistersforisrael.org/
PhD student on Gaza front line. Major Daniel Widerker is commander of Company C, 749th Engineering Battalion in Gaza. He continues his Technion doctorate studies during his spare time, finishing a scientific paper on 3D printing, without a computer. He also works in a team developing optical devices for outer space.
https://ats.org/our-impact/technion-student-battles-online-anti-israel-hate-with-ai/
Award-winning Physics professor. Professor Shlomo Havlin of Israel’s Bar-Ilan University Physics dept, won the 2023 Bakhuis Roozeboom Medal, awarded by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences once in four years for researchers who have made innovative contributions to the phase behavior of matter.
https://www.biu.ac.il/en/article/31353
One of 2023’s top 10 scientific breakthroughs. The magazine Physics World has announced its list of 10 leading breakthroughs of 2023. They included Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Prof. Fineberg who discovered that cracks in certain materials can spread faster than the speed of sound – previously thought to be impossible.
https://physicsworld.com/a/physics-world-reveals-its-top-10-breakthroughs-of-the-year-for-2023/
https://physicsworld.com/a/supersonic-cracks-break-classical-speed-limit/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Protecting US troops from radiation. Israel’s StemRad (see here previously) has secured a $4.5 million contract with the US Department of Defense for the acquisition of its radiation protection shields for the US National Guard. will provide 630 of its protective 360 Gamma belts to help respond to radiation incidents.
Financial support for reservist business owners. The Israeli non-profit Ogen “Reserves for Reservists – Officer Loan Fund” aims to raise up to $10 million to provide interim fiscal support to senior officers who also own businesses. The fund aims to prevent the entrepreneurs from worrying so they can focus on their duties.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/non-profit-offering-loans-for-businesses-owned-by-idf-officers/
Intel confirms multi-billion-dollar deal. US chipmaker Intel has inked an agreement with Israel’s government for a $3.2 billion grant to expand its chip manufacturing facilities in Kiryat Gat at a total investment of $25 billion. Intel will also spend NIS 60 billion with Israeli suppliers over 10 years and create thousands of jobs.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/intel-clinches-3-2b-government-grant-for-25b-chip-plant-expansion-in-southern-israel/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bytewmuw6
Tech giants weather the storm. The five top Israeli tech companies all rose in value during 2023. Mobileye (up 35%), Check Point (+18%), Nice Systems (+7%), monday.com (+88%), and CyberArk (+88%) now have a total value of $83.5 billion. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/byiyd700dt
Turkish coffee renamed to support Israel. Israel’s Strauss Group has rebranded its ground coffee in response to complaints as to why it should be named after a country whose leader supports Hamas. Special war editions are now “Am Israel Chai”, “Generation of Victory,”, “We Have No Other Country”, & “Strong Together.”
https://www.jns.org/popular-israeli-coffee-ditches-the-turks/
Exits, takeovers, and mergers – to 31/12/23: Israeli cybersecurity Mend.io has acquired Israel’s Atom Security, which specializes in cyber risk assessment.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Valmadonna at the National Library. This article is a recent interview of Margaret Lunzer Rottem about the legacy of her father Jack Lunzer whose Valmadonna Book Collection is now at Israel’s National Library. Its emphasis is on Italy where Hebrew printing originated and includes some of the earliest Hebrew printed books.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382602
Andrea Bocelli sends concert invite to freed hostage. 85-year-old Yaffa Adar is a fan of opera singer Andrea Bocelli and hummed his music throughout the 49 days she was held hostage by Hamas. Her story reached the Italian tenor who wrote to her of his admiration and offered to fly her to one of his shows.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/freed-hostage-yaffa-adar-gets-concert-invite-from-andrea-bocelli/
Instruments for healing. Musicians in the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra have formed trios and quartets, performing around the country for evacuees and wounded citizens. IPO Music Director Lahav Shani led the orchestra in recording a series of free musical programs for Israeli children.
https://www.israel21c.org/israel-philharmonic-musicians-play-for-evacuees-and-war-wounded/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNhH_oeiagc
Songs from the Gaza war. Each Israeli war has its own anthems. In the six-day war it was Jerusalem of Gold. These are what Israelis are listening to now, to provide relief or to uplift their spirits.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-music-that-moves-israelis-during-the-war/
https://www.israel21c.org/7-top-songs-reflecting-israels-mood-after-october-7/
Gold medalist auctions medal for evacuees. Israel’s Artem Dolgopyat won gold for the floor exercises at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Belgium on Oct 7. He is now auctioning off the medal to raise money for the residents evacuated from the devastated Gaza border communities.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-olympic-champion-to-auction-medal-for-gaza-border-communities/
THE JEWISH STATE
Huge increase in French Aliyah. There has been a 450% increase in the number of French Jews applying to immigrate to Israel since Oct 7. Nearly 70,000 Jews out of a community of approximately 500,000 have made Aliyah from France since 2000. So, it’s very timely that this newsletter is currently available in French!
https://worldisraelnews.com/massive-increase-in-number-of-french-jews-immigrating-to-israel/
From radical Gaza mosque to IDF soldier. Yaron Avraham was featured in this newsletter in Oct 2020 (see here). In this recent interview, he shares his story from growing up as an Arab Israeli being sent to Gaza for extremist indoctrination, only to leave, convert to Judaism and join the IDF.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDW7cLtLvXs
Rockets will not stop us praying. A rocket fired by Hamas caused significant damage to the roof and interior of a synagogue in the Gaza border community of Kibbutz Sa'ad. Following the impact, a group of Jewish worshippers gathered outside the damaged building to continue their afternoon prayers.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sj1tmidp6
Israel is the solution. Avi Abelow founder of Pulse of Israel has been touring the USA. In this video he inspires youth in Phoenix Arizona about their Jewish identity. All Jews should hear this, especially to counter the antisemitism in the universities. Am Yisrael Chai!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1JATf7PFWU https://pulseofisrael.com/2023/12/24/inspiring-youth/
How to help Israel. Here are some sites where newsletter readers can donate to Israeli organizations that provide vital help to Israelis at this difficult time. Many thanks to those who have already contributed and to those who are helping by donating their own valuable time and resources.
Friends of the IDF (US donors): https://www.fidf.org/
or IDF Soldiers Fund in Israel: https://www.ufis.org.il/en/donation-en/ (select the English speakers’ option)
American Friends of Magen David Adom (US donors): https://afmda.org/
or Magen David Adom (Israel): https://www.mdais.org/en/donation
Zaka (US donors): https://donate.zakatelaviv.org/give/525578/ or (Israeli donors): https://charidy.com/zaka
or (Canadian donors): https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/bellevue-foundation/
United Hatzalah: https://israelrescue.org/campaign/israel-at-war-2/ or Canada https://www.uhcanada.org/
Leket Food Israel: https://www.leket.org/en/
JNF USA - https://my.jnf.org/gaza-emergency/Donate or Canada https://jnf.ca/
Orthodox Union - https://www.charidy.com/ouisraelcrisis
Schneider Children’s Hospital: https://www.fos.org.il/en/donate (Israelis)
https://system.smartgiving.org.uk/charities/8530/make-donation (UK)
https://chaischneider.org/donate/ (USA)
Hadassah Hospital Israel: https://www.hadassah.org/
Laniado Hospital (Netanya) https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/EmergencyLaniado
And many more charities here:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/where-people-abroad-can-donate-to-israels-hospitals-troops-survivors-and-more/ https://chesedtoday.com/campaigns/soldiers/ (Warm winter clothes for Israeli soldiers)
Buy Israel Bonds to support the Jewish State. (TY Larry B)
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/state-of-israel-bonds
USA - https://www.israelbonds.com/
Europe - https://israelbondsintl.com/
Canada - https://www.israelbonds.ca/
231224
In the 24th Dec 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Tears flow on film of Israeli children being reunited with their families.
· An IDF soldier’s journey from battlefield to delivery room.
· An Israeli 3D-printer helps surgeons remove tumors.
· The first science accelerator for Israeli Arab entrepreneurs.
· Two Israeli innovations win international awards.
· Signs of recovery for Israeli travel and retail businesses.
· Great support from Israel’s American and Christian friends.
· Click here to see the 17th Dec newsletter on IsraelSeen and Ruthfully Yours. Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here. Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking contacts. Also (TY Malka) for translating the 3rd Dec newsletter into Hebrew here. Please forward this newsletter to Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· My Hebrew translator is currently unavailable as he is a reservist in the IDF. If anyone can volunteer to translate the main sections of my newsletter into Hebrew or another language (e.g., Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, etc.,) even as a one-off, please email me at michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com. I have a Google Translate widget on my www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com blogsite, but it does not produce consistently accurate translations.
· 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 (now over 23,600 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
POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR
Done but not completed. (TY Zena & Cynthia) Emotional scenes in this newly released film from Israel’s Schneider Children’s Hospital, where many (but not all) young hostages released from Gaza have been reunited with their families. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNRfNnvoipc
Another Oct 7 hero. Rami Davidian received a phone call on Oct 7 asking him to rescue someone from the Nova party. In his first rescue mission he crammed 15 youngsters into his car and took them back to his house. In another he pretended to be a Muslim from Gaza and convinced a terrorist to hand him a female captive.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382050 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR--xNP4mGI
IDF dog detects bomb and saves soldiers. An IDF canine is saving lives in Gaza, sniffing out explosives and hidden terrorists. https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-idf-dog-detects-explosives-saves-soldiers/ https://www.jewishpress.com/multimedia/video-picks/aisha-the-k9-warrior-video-upsets-muslims-on-account-of-muhammads-wife-by-same-name/2023/12/17/
Young immigrants making an impact. Aliyah organization Nefesh b’Nefesh has awarded its Maor Youth Prize to ten outstanding young olim (immigrants to Israel) ages 11 to 18, from English-speaking countries, for their exceptional contributions to the State of Israel during current war.
https://www.jns.org/nefesh-bnefesh-awards-10-olim-for-assisting-war-effort/
Support for rehabilitation. (TY Ian F) The English-speaking branch of AWIS (Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers) has raised funds (see here) for the IDF’s Rehabilitation Unit, where 100+ brave wounded soldiers are receiving general medical care, physiotherapy and counseling to help them recover and recuperate.
Fighting on two fronts. In civilian life, Tal is lead R&D engineer at Synchrony Medical (see here previously) developing LibAirty to treat chronic lung disease. Since Oct 7, she has been working 12-hour shifts several days a week as chief sergeant of a control unit that coordinates helicopter evacuations of wounded soldiers.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-medical-engineer-fighting-the-war-on-two-fronts/
Volunteers build tech to protect. Israel Tech Guard is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit initiative building tech solutions to help protect Israelis during and after the war. They include Blood Donation Bot (donor eligibility), Rehab Track (locating patients in hospital), and Guardian X (social media identity verification) and more.
https://www.israel21c.org/israel-tech-guard-builds-new-solutions-to-protect-citizens/
They couldn’t wait. (TY Laura) A young couple had intended to fly to America to plan their wedding. But Oct 7 changed their plans into a quiet wedding in Israel. Jake was then called up into the IDF and so the wedding ceremony took place next to the Syrian border, with nearly 100 celebrants – the majority in army uniform.
https://aish.com/they-cannot-steal-our-joy-my-son-an-israeli-soldier-just-got-married/
From frontlines to fatherhood. When Avi’s wife went into labor early, Avi’s unit pulled out all the stops to get him from Khan Yunis in Gaza to Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek hospital. Avi had been in Kfar Aza on Oct 7 when Hamas attacked. Avi said their new baby confounded those intent on destroying the Jewish people.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-778415
100 Evangelicals in IDF. Juergen Buehler, president of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem says there are around 100 Evangelical Christian volunteers in the IDF, including two of his sons. As one of the Christian soldiers said, “We are willing to give our lives for Israel.”
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-778494
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
US approves fiber implants for children. (TY OurCrowd) The US FDA has cleared the bio-integrative technology from Israel’s Ossio (see here previously) to be used in orthopedic surgery for children and adolescents needing bone realignments, fusions or fracture fixation.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231206064383/en/OSSIO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7YlwWulwJ0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMfNVFWx3ls
Treatment for asthma. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Teva has bought the rights to complete the development of BD9 - an antibody-based therapy for the treatment of asthma and atopic dermatitis from Israel’s Biolojic Design (see here previously). Biolojic's AI platform generates antibodies that have predictable functions.
3D printer helps remove tumors. UK’s University Hospital Birmingham has reduced the time taken to remove tumors by up to three hours thanks to 3D-printed cutting guides produced on a J5 MedJet printer from Israel’s Stratasys. It is transforming the way tumors are removed from head and neck cancer patients.
Successful trial for plaque psoriasis treatment. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Scinai Immunotherapeutics has announced successful preclinical trial results of its innovative anti‑IL‑17 VHH antibody (‘NanoAb’) as a local treatment for the large and underserved population of patients with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis.
https://www.scinai.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWz0E_-ogSc
Massive deal to revitalize biotech. Israel’s Compugen (see here previously) only had six months’ cash left when it was rescued by Gilead Sciences in a deal worth up to $848 million. Gilead will license Compugen’s pre-clinical cancer antibody COM503 that frees up the peptide InterLeukin 18 (IL-18) to destroy tumors.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/b1ue00g1wa
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Jews & Arabs help Arab Israeli farmers. (TY Hazel) Arabs and Israelis from Haifa have united during their leisure time to help Arab Israeli farmers bring in the harvest. The farmers were short-staffed due to the lack of Palestinian Arab workers and the temporary absence of Thai workers.
Israeli Arabs work with IDF on mass-casualty simulations. Volunteers from the Israeli Arab city of Kfar Kassem, east of Tel Aviv, joined with the IDF to simulate emergency responses to mass casualty incidents. The comprehensive drill involved local United Hatzalah Arab volunteers and the IDF’s Home Front Command.
https://www.israel21c.org/amid-war-israeli-arabs-and-jews-jointly-drill-rocket-attack/
An accelerator for Arab science entrepreneurs. Ahmad Sheikh Muhammad is head of the Galilee Society – the Arab National Society for Health Research and Services. He now has established ScienTech, the first Israeli accelerator targeted to help Arab PhD STEM graduates turn their scientific research knowledge into businesses.
https://www.israel21c.org/accelerator-guides-arab-scientists-into-entrepreneurship/ https://gal-soc.org/en/
https://gal-soc.org/en/about-scien-tech/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_TpCLEjShA
Arab woman head of ScienTech. Ola Baker Salameh (see here previously) is the Israeli-Arab manager of the new ScienTech accelerator for Arab science entrepreneurs (see above). She previously founded GrowOn – a consultancy to help Arab healthcare startups. She also lectures at Israel’s Technion and Tel Aviv University.
Trees for Jerusalem’s Christians. (TY Hazel) As for the past 25 years, the Jerusalem Municipality has been giving out hundreds of free trees to Christian residents. Getting trees this year was more difficult because they come from southern Israel. Many of the farms where the trees are harvested were destroyed by Hamas.
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-778866
More dates for volunteering. JNF-USA has added new dates for its volunteering missions to Israel.
https://www.jnf.org/travel/tours/index/volunteer-in-israel-missions
Singapore’s first Ambassador to Israel. Singapore’s first ambassador to Israel, Ian Mack, presented his credentials to Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The two countries have had diplomatic relations since 1969, but Singapore has never posted an ambassador to Israel. Singapore’s embassy in Tel Aviv, opened in 2022.
https://www.jns.org/singapores-first-ambassador-to-israel-presents-credentials/
Over 12,000 foreign workers have arrived. (TY Hazel) 12,000+ foreign workers have arrived or returned to Israel since Oct. 7 including 2,218 in agriculture - half of them from Thailand; 100 are from Sri Lanka out of an eventual total of 10,000. 400+ of 5,000 Malawians arrived last month, and 1,500 are expected from Kenya.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
AI that turns ideas into prototypes. (TY OurCrowd) Welcome to the future of engineering. Israel’s Leo AI turns ideas into products in seconds. It’s the world's first engineering design copilot powered by generative AI. It transforms mechanical language into 3D models, adhering to the latest industry standards and best practices.
https://www.getleo.ai/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxqP6gQv5as
AI-powered digital agents. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s D-ID (see here previously) has launched “Agents” - interactive digital humans for customer-facing businesses. They apparently respond intelligently to customer questions and provide personalized advice, meeting the customers' need for prompt and effective interaction.
Safer UAVs. Israel’s ParaZero (see here previously) has partnered with US- based KULR Technology to reduce excess vibration that can lead to mechanical damage and UAV failure.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/israeli-drone-safety-firm-in-new-partnership-to-boost-uav-safety/
Award-winning sunglasses. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Deep Optics (see here previously) won the Dezeen Award for Product design (consumer design and wearables) of the year 2023. Deep Optics’ 32°N Sunglasses are the first and only adaptive focus sunglasses. The liquid crystal (LC) lenses mimic human eye behavior.
https://www.dezeen.com/awards/2023/winners/32n-sunglasses/
Award-winning autonomous driving software. Israel’s Imagry (see here previously) won Frost & Sullivan’s best-in-class award in Europe's autonomous driving industry for enabling technology leadership. The map-less software correctly assesses the current driving environment and acts the same way as a skilled human driver.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Inflation and unemployment fall. Israel’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell by 0.3% in Nov. In the year to the end of Nov 2023, the index rose by 3.3%, down from 3.7% from the 12 months to the end Oct. Unemployment in Israel fell to 2.8% in Nov from 3.1% in Oct.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israels-cpi-fell-unexpectedly-in-november-1001465293
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-unemployment-fell-again-in-november-1001465430
Debt clemency for war-affected Israelis. Israeli President Herzog is to pardon monetary fines for war-affected families who face severe financial hardship. The scheme was advanced in response to Druze leader Sheikh Muafak Tarif’s request during Herzog’s visit to bereaved families in the Druze and Bedouin communities.
Microsoft Israel in 2023. Microsoft is one of 370 multinationals with development centers in Israel. It has some 2,700 employees and earned a whopping NIS 3.5 billion for Microsoft in 2023. The Israeli R&D team has just announced its new real time automatic attack disruption security platform that took two years to develop.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/j71glnz2w
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sjapza28t
Airlines resume services. (TY Hazel & Atid EDI) German airline group Lufthansa plans to resume 20 weekly flights to & from Tel Aviv from Jan 8. Austrian Airlines and SWISS will also restart their services. Meanwhile, El Al and Delta have formalized a long-term codeshare agreement to combine frequent-flyer schemes.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/lufthansa-to-resume-flights-to-tel-aviv-from-jan-8-austrian-and-swiss-airlines-to-follow-suit/ https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-778667
Back in business. Businesses such as fashion store chain Castro had put 30% of its 4,500 employees on unpaid leave in October due to falling sales at the outbreak of the war. Castro has now re-engaged 90% of those furloughed staff, as shoppers have been coming back to its stores and online sales have also started to recover.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/castro-to-bring-back-90-of-staff-furloughed-due-to-hamas-war/
Resilience Fund beneficiaries (Dec). (TY OurCrowd) Global digital investment platform, OurCrowd, has approved the first 8 investments from its $50 million Resilience Fund (see here previously). The companies include BlueTree, Carrar, Edgybees, and Verobotics.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rk0exoxwp
Creating 400 tech jobs in Western Negev. Israeli social impact high tech venture Place-IL (see here previously) is leading an $15 million initiative, along with Google, Nvidia and others to create 400 high-tech jobs in war-affected Gaza border towns. Hi-tech will be crucial for building resilience and hope.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tech-giants-led-by-google-join-forces-to-create-400-jobs-in-the-negev/
Monitoring wastewater in Phoenix. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s Kando (see here previously) has begun a six-month pilot project to monitor municipal wastewater systems and facilities in Phoenix Arizona. Kando’s sensors will detect irregularities caused mainly by illegal dumping at industrial sites.
Exits, takeovers, and mergers – to 24/12/23: US Okta is acquiring Israel’s Spera Security for $100 million;
Investment in Israeli startups – to 24/12/23: ScaleOps raised $15 million; Salvador Technologies raised $6 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
When classical meets klezmer. The Jerusalem Street Orchestra Ensemble is performing on Dec 27 at the Menahem Begin Heritage Center, Jerusalem, as part of the Spectacular World of Jewish Music.
https://www.nbn.org.il/events/when-classical-meets-klezmer-jerusalem-street-orchestra-ensemble-classical-with-a-jewish-soul/ https://tickchak.co.il/53586?ref=1B1O
Party to aid orphaned kids. After escaping the Nova music rave, Arad, a young Israeli, and Ari, his “Dead Sea Revival” activist father, have organized “Echoes of Hope” - a fundraising event on Dec 31 to benefit the Israeli Children’s Fund. The Jaffa Hotel has donated its entire venue. https://zygo.co.il/event/ICFNYE
https://www.israel21c.org/supernova-party-survivor-plans-a-party-to-aid-orphaned-kids/
https://www.israelichildrensfund.org/ https://www.israel21c.org/pop/ari-leon-fruchter/
Soccer successes. (TY Hazel) Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Gent 3-1 to clinch first place in its Europa Conference League group and advance to the round of 16. Maccabi Haifa with a 2-1 win over Panathinaikos advanced to the Europa Conference League Playoffs. https://jpost.pressreader.com/article/281745569183583
Other sports results. (TY Hazel) Timna Nelson Levy won a silver medal at the European judo championships. Israel’s women’s goalball team have qualified for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. At the World Junior Sailing Championships in Brazil, Maayan Shemesh and Emilie Louviot won silver medals and Mika Kafri won bronze.
https://www.ijf.org/judoka/14858 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoKs5Orrc9s&t=16s
https://ibsasport.org/goalball-israel-womens-team-qualified-for-paris-2024-in-euro-a/
THE JEWISH STATE
Birthright trips to restart. Birthright Israel is resuming its free, 10-day educational trips to Israel in the first week in January. 350 participants (mostly from the US) are anticipated. Summer trip registration will begin mid-Jan. https://www.jns.org/birthright-trips-to-restart-in-early-january-with-new-focus-on-impact-of-oct-7/
Jewish presence in the Land of Israel (part2) The second part of the very useful recent summary of the history of the Jews in the holy land. This episode is from the Ottoman conquest to the 18th century. Part 1 can be read here. https://aish.com/jews-in-the-land-of-israel-2-from-ottoman-conquest-to-the-18th-century/
Christians refurbish Israeli bomb shelters. The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem has paid $775,000 to renovate 140 underground bomb shelters in the Upper Galilee - 73 in Shlomi and 67 in Ma’alot-Tarshiha. The shelters, last used in the 2006 2nd Lebanon War, needed new lighting, ventilation, and plumbing.
https://www.jns.org/evangelical-group-funds-renovations-of-israeli-bomb-shelters/
$1 billion for Israel. American Jewry raised $1 billion for Israel in the first month of the war. Over $600 million of that was raised by the Jewish Federations of North America. In that same month, North American communities held 143 rallies in support of Israel.
231217
In the 17th Dec 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Two emotional family reunions during the war.
· Two breakthroughs that help us understand how our brains work.
· The world’s first approved laser cure for glaucoma.
· Two typical examples of the IDF showing compassion, even in war.
· Israelis are making the world’s most powerful telescope and miniature cameras.
· Two private initiatives to regenerate Gaza border agricultural communities.
· A national Torah scroll is being written to immortalize victims of Oct 7.
· Click here to see the 10th Dec newsletter on IsraelSeen. Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here. Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
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POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR
From war to the Olympics. Israel’s Sports Association for the Disabled and Israel’s Paralympic Committee have launched a voluntary initiative for IDF personnel who have lost limbs. Rehabilitation and recovery include personal trainers, coaches, physiotherapists, and sports psychologists. More than 20 have already joined.
https://www.israel21c.org/paralympians-to-help-war-wounded-heal-trauma/
When father meets son. Rambam hospital’s Dr. Arik Schechter has been serving in the IDF reserves deep inside Gaza since the outbreak of the Swords of Iron War. With three sons and a son-in-law also serving, perhaps it should not have been such a surprise when he was reunited with one of his sons in the fighting.
https://www.rambam.org.il/en/rambam_news/father-son-meet-in-gaza.aspx
When Dad meets wife & new son. I admit that I shed a few tears when I read this story and then saw the video on Instagram. https://www.rambam.org.il/en/rambam_news/dad_arrives-for-birth_despite_war.aspx
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz0NpHksLYG/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
What motivates us. Research led by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has discovered that the impulse for motivation is generated by the balance in the striatum area of the brain of simultaneous wavelike patterns of two neurochemicals – dopamine and acetylcholine. The team used advanced genetic tools and imaging.
https://en.huji.ac.il/news/wave-theory-neurochemical-balance-brain
Impact of early life trauma and possible treatment. Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have also been studying the brain. In lab tests they found that trauma in early life caused problems in adults that showed up on brain scans. But a short treatment of diazepam soon after trauma erased those signs on adult brain scans.
Bring back the light. On Chanukah, Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund (SICF) launched its campaign, “Bring Back the Light.” for children scarred by terror. SICF uses individual and group therapies, both traditional and alternative, administered by a team of skilled social workers, psychologists, and specialty therapists.
Empathic robot companion in NY State. (TY OurCrowd) A few weeks ago (see here previously) the ElliQ empathic robot from Israel’s Intuitive Robotics was being offered free to seniors in two areas in South Florida. It is now being offered to seniors in New York State. The pilot shows a 95% reduction in loneliness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZBKjK9WXE8 https://elliq.com/pages/free
https://abc7ny.com/seniors-ai-robot-companionship/14154002/
https://aging.ny.gov/news/nysofas-rollout-ai-companion-robot-elliq-shows-95-reduction-loneliness
Simultaneous simulations. Israel’s QuantHealth (see here previously) has upgraded its platform for simulating clinical trials. Its new product, called Katina, simultaneously simulates hundreds of thousands of combinations of each element in a clinical trial to maximize the probability of success when real human trials begin.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/new-ai-platform-simulates-thousands-of-clinical-trials-at-once/
Best Buy remote monitoring. Israel’s BioBeat (see here previously) is integrating its wearable devices for remote patient monitoring into the Current Health home care platform offered by Best Buy Health in the US. The devices monitor 13 parameters, e.g., blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, pulse rate and respiratory rate.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125875
https://www.currenthealth.com/remote-patient-monitoring/
When dormant bacteria revive. Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have discovered how bacteria spores retain vital genetic information during dormancy and activate when revived. The RNA polymerase, inside the spores, initiates copying processes. The knowledge could help research into controlling pathogens.
Herbal diabetic remedy and more. Israel’s Curalife manufactures Curalin – a herbal supplement formulated to treat diabetes but with anecdotal indications for stress reduction, improved metabolism and even insomnia. It contains nine herbs based on Ayurvedic medicine - an ancient Indian practice.
https://www.israel21c.org/ayurvedic-herbal-supplement-targets-diabetes/ https://global.curalife.com/
US approval for glaucoma laser device. Israel’s Belkin Vision (previously Belkin Laser – see here) has received US FDA clearance for the use of its automatic and noninvasive glaucoma laser surgery device. The Eagle is the first and only contactless laser surgery for glaucoma patients.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125889
AI sensor to monitor kidney function. Israel’s FIZE Medical has developed a new AI device that measures production of urine by the kidneys via a patient catheter. It identifies problems with kidneys, heart, medication, etc. Fize has FDA approval and has completed a pilot at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/ai-sensor-monitors-kidney-function-one-drop-at-a-time/ https://fizemedical.com/
How does your dog smell? Israel’s Tech4animals lab (see here previously) has developed an algorithm that detects the canine breathing condition known as Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). It is common in dogs such as boxers, pugs and French bulldogs that have been bred with short snouts.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/ai-doggie-doctor-diagnoses-breathing-problems-pugs-boxers/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Occupational therapist, soldier, and bone-marrow donor. Lee, an occupational therapist at Israel’s Rambam Health Care Campus has been serving as a casualty officer since she was called up for reserves at the beginning of the war. She volunteered as a bone-marrow donor and was a lifesaving match for a woman in need.
https://www.rambam.org.il/en/rambam_news/three-in-one.aspx
She just can’t stop. I was surprised to see this on the BBC. Praise for a woman (Yael Noy) whose heads the organization “Road to Recovery” group of Israeli volunteers. Despite Oct 7, Yael drives sick Palestinian Arabs - mostly children - from security checkpoints in Judea and Samaria to hospital appointments in Israel.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-67592468
1000+ volunteering TAU students. Some 6,000 Tel Aviv University students are serving in the IDF reserves. At least 1000 more are volunteering to help patients at hospitals; make food for serving soldiers, harvest fields and transport people to the Gaza border; help run factories at evacuated kibbutzim, and more.
https://english.tau.ac.il/news/volunteering_initiatives https://english.tau.ac.il/news/Helping_Israeli_farmers
Lost and asleep. (TY Hazel) In the middle of fighting a war, IDF reservists discovered a 4-year-old Gazan girl who had got lost, stumbled barefoot into an IDF camp, and fallen asleep. They cleaned her up, bandaged her injured feet and then arranged an ambulance to take her to the safe civilian area of Southern Gaza.
Rescuing abandoned pets from Gaza. Many of the IDF’s heroic efforts go unnoticed, such as the rescue of abandoned animals from Gaza. They include cats, dogs, parrots, owls, and even a neglected, malnourished lion from the Gaza Zoo. Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority is working with the IDF to bring the lion to safely.
https://worldisraelnews.com/idf-rescues-abandoned-pets-exotic-birds-and-even-a-lion-from-gaza/
Rescuing unsold food. Israeli food rescue startup SpareEat (see here previously) shut down when Covid-19 regulations prevented people from collecting food in person. It has now re-launched and is even more popular than the first time around. Israelis collect “surprise” bags of highly discounted excess food from businesses.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/spareeat-app-unsold-food-rescue/
US National Academy of Inventors “fellow”. Prof. Shulamit Levenberg of Israel’s Technion Institute (see here previously) has been chosen to be a fellow of the prestigious American National Academy of Inventors. She is a founder of Aleph Farms (see here), NurExone (spinal cord regeneration) and Nanosynex (see here).
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-777863
https://nurexone.com/professor-shulamit-levenberg/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
50 years of research exchange. (TY Hazel) Germany’s Max Planck Society celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Minerva Foundation fellowship program with the visit to Israel of a delegation of members. Minerva has enabled the exchange between Germany and Israel of more than 2,000 young researchers.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/while-us-jews-say-they-dont-feel-safe-on-campus-german-academics-show-up-for-israel/ https://www.cogeril.de/en/news-and-events/news/
World’s 3rd largest Generative AI ecosystem. Generative AI is the use of algorithms to generate text, images, or other media, indistinguishable from that produced by humans. Israel has 130 startups in this business area, raising over $2.2 billion of investment in the last 3 years, making it the 3rd largest player in the world.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sk5rqxlua (includes embedded Viola map of Israeli startups)
Huge mirror telescope. Scientists at Israel’s Technion are working with NASA to build FLUTE – the Fluidic Telescope. It will have self-healing mirrors with a 50-meter aperture (compared to the 6.5-meter James Webb) and will see distant objects in greater detail. If it works, future apertures could reach 10km.
https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2023/11/50-meter-fluidic-space-telescope.html
Tiny cameras for drones. Israel’s NextVision manufactures tiny cameras for drones and UAVs. They are lightweight, low power consumption, high performance, high reliability, and value for money. NextVision’s value has soared by six times to NIS 2.3 billion since it launched on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2021.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rmem24l4z https://www.nextvision-sys.com/
Precise airdrop of supplies to IDF in Gaza. The IDF’s advanced operation “Gift from the skies” accurately parachuted supplies from a Shimshon (Super Hercules) aircraft to its troops in Gaza. It autonomously guided seven tons of supplies to ground forces operating in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkiw112ela
Water security for thousands of sites. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s IXDen was selected by Israel’s water company Mekorot in 2021 to protect Israel’s water supply (see here previously). It will now rollout its solution to 70 locations in Israel and will protect thousands of water sites in the country.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ixden-an-israeli-start-up-that-has-developed-a-patented-ai-platform-for-securing-critical-infrastructure-from-cyber-attacks-will-accomplish-implemented-solutions-in-over-70-water-sites-across-israel-302005099.html https://ixden.com/
Using AI to respond to hate speech. Post-grad student Zachary Bamberger at Israel’s Technion has created Rhetoric AI, helped by students and professors. It reports social media posts that violate the terms of service, and produces counterarguments in Arabic, Hebrew, or English for volunteers to utilize in their responses.
https://www.israel21c.org/technion-student-battles-online-anti-israel-hate-with-ai/
Keeping mining machinery working in Australia. Israel’s Razor Labs (see here previously) has transformed its DataMind AI product to detect issues with complex heavy machinery. Its reputation has soared in the Australian mining industry and has won a contract with a mining giant in Australia, the US, and South Africa.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/ai-platform-keeps-mining-machinery-working-with-deep-learning/
Israel’s first electric bus recharging station. Israel’s Electreon (see here previously) has completed the world’s first wireless charging terminal for public buses. Public transport operator Electra Afikim can now wirelessly charge its buses, 24 hours a day, at its terminal in Rosh HaAyin in central Israel.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125872
The Indian monsoons that cause deadly flooding. Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have found that severe monsoon rains that occasionally cause deadly floods in India follow cold dry airstream intrusions that act like a sponge, sucking in water from the Indian Ocean. The discovery can help predict floods and save lives.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/environment/when-dryness-intrudes-floods-ensue
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Land bridge to connect Israel & UAE. Israel and the UAE are to connect the ports of Dubai and Haifa by a land route. This will circumvent the Yemen-based Houthis who have been hijacking vessels in the Red Sea. Israeli logistics firm Trucknet (see here previously) spearheaded the agreement.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/israel-and-uae-ink-new-deal-to-connect-ports-via-land-bridge/
Everyone wants to work for us. Israel’s Rafael is recruiting 2,000 employees and has been flooded with job applications, including ex-CEOs, giant corporations, and retirees seeking to return to work. Rafael developed the Iron Dome, Trophy tank protection, David’s Sling, and many more innovative defensive systems.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjj11eqmla
Another 10 to be launched. The latest 10 Israeli startups for Deloitte’s LaunchPad accelerator (see here previously) for preparing them for launching in the United States are: Imagen-ai, Odeeo, Statement, Indoor Robotics, Octopai, BioT Medical, Piiano, Kahoona, Entitle, and Cyclops Security. They follow 43 others.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/amid-war-program-helps-open-us-doors-for-10-israeli-startups/
Kickstarting the Israeli startup scene. The ReStartIL Israel investment summit in London will see 30 Israeli startups and entrepreneurs present their technology to 200 UK private and institutional investors and business leaders. They cover civilian and security technology; agriculture, agritech and foodtech; and AI and cyber.
Israel’s first licensed UTM drone. Israel’s High Lander (see here previously) has just become the first drone operator to receive a license for Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM). High Lander’s Vega UTM platform has been approved by Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority and shares data broadcasts with Israeli security services.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/israeli-startup-gets-worlds-first-license-for-drone-flights/
Golden Salt. Israel’s Salt Security (see here previously) has been named a Gold Winner in the “Most Innovative Product of the Year – Enterprise” category in the Best in Biz Awards 2023.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125912
https://www.bestinbizawards.com/2023-winners-product/
Rebuilding farms on Gaza border. Volcani Partners International has launched a $50 million emergency fund to rebuild farming communities near the Gaza border badly damaged on Oct. 7. The “ReGrow Israel” initiative will help fund replacement of vital equipment and infrastructure needed to rehabilitate soil and replant crops.
https://www.jns.org/emergency-fund-to-help-rebuild-israeli-border-farms/
https://www.vipartnerships.org/regrow-israel (site with more details, including how to donate)
First aid for “wounded” farms. Organic Israel has been improving food quality in Israel and getting organic produce to low-income families. But after Oct 7, the NGO switched its efforts to help struggling fellow farmers on the Gaza border. It created First Aid for Wounded Farms to replace or repair equipment damaged by Hamas.
https://www.israel21c.org/organic-ngo-offers-help-to-farms-ruined-in-hamas-october-attack/
https://www.israelorganit.org/
Home-grown Israeli tequila. Israeli spirits company Negave Estates aims to help rebuild and resuscitate the Negev communities devastated in the Oct 7 attack. They plan to bring blue agave (the ingredient for tequila) from Mexico and grow it in the Negev – a similar environment. Wild agave already grows in the Negev.
https://www.israel21c.org/tequila-makers-aim-to-resuscitate-devastated-negev-communities/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuuKdEmSdLg
Continuing to cultivate. Israeli “no-fish” cultivated fish developer Sea2Cell (see here previously) was based at Kiryat Shmona – just 2km from the Lebanese border. It had to evacuate when Hezbollah opened fire on Israel’s northern towns. It relocated and now plans to build a pilot facility in 2026 and launch its first product in 2027.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/fish-without-fishing-cultivated-meat-startup-tackles-sea-scarcity/
Exits, takeovers, and mergers – to 17/12/23: Israel’s Perion Network is acquiring Canada’s Hivestack for $100 million in cash.
Investment in Israeli startups – to 17/12/23: Pontera (FeeX) raised $60 million; Zero Networks raised $20 million; Guardz raised $18 million; CorrActions raised $7.25 million; CitrusX raised $4.5 million;
THE JEWISH STATE
Hanukkah time in Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) The holiday of Hanukkah is a celebration of miracles and light over darkness. The colors and lights in Jerusalem last week were stunning.
https://rjstreets.com/2023/12/10/colors-lights-and-highlights-its-hanukkah-time-in-jerusalem/
Bringing Jewish volunteers from the Diaspora. Mosaic United and the Israeli Ministry for Diaspora Affairs are investing $1 million to help bring thousands of young Jewish volunteers to Israel. Mosaic and Birthright Israel aim to bring 2,000 Jews age 18 to 40 to Israel for two weeks, picking crops, packing veg, etc..
https://www.jns.org/diaspora-ministry-mosaic-united-invest-1-million-in-israel-volunteer-missions/
Torah scrolls to memorialize Oct 7 victims. Thousands of Israeli Jews, including President Isaac Herzog, have been completing letters on new Torah scrolls in memory of the victims of Oct 7, and raise awareness for the hostages still in captivity. One scroll is for Kibbutz Be’eri and has connected the religious and the secular.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/october-7-massacre-spurs-massive-torah-scroll-writing-project/
After his life was saved, his donation saved a life. Rabbi Moshe Chaim Klein donated a defibrillator to NGO United Hatzalah after its volunteer EMTs saved his life 3 years ago. Last week his grandson, a UH volunteer, used the same defibrillator to deliver six shocks to revive a man who had suffered a heart attack in Jerusalem.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/381896
231210
In the 10th Dec 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· 3 Israeli medical treatments save Israelis critically wounded in the war.
· Israeli women excel in the IDF and in the classroom.
· An Israeli process can reduce landfill waste by 50%
· Israel’s economy benefits from “Angel” investors and “Supernatural” resilience.
· Europe gives financial award to Israeli reduced sugar beverage startup.
· Israel’s Taekwondo World champion wins another gold medal.
· Israel’s army fights a war against evil.
· Watch the Hanukkah lighting at the Western Wall.
· Click here to see the 3rd Dec newsletter on IsraelSeen and Ruthfully Yours. Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· My Hebrew translator is currently unavailable as he is a reservist in the IDF. A volunteer has kindly offered temporarily to translate a newsletter issue every two weeks into Hebrew. If anyone can volunteer to translate the main sections of my newsletter into another language (e.g., Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, etc.,) even as a one-off, please email me at michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com. I do have a Google Translate widget on my www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com blogsite but it does not produce consistently accurate translations.
· 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 (now over 23,500 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
POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR
No longer alone. (TY Hazel) Thai agricultural worker Wanchai Monsana survived Oct 7 but arrived at Sheba hospital with severe burns, all alone, and unable to speak Hebrew or English. An Israeli woman publicized his plight on social media, and he had dozens of visitors, bringing other Thais, phones, cash, and restaurant meals.
Ido the tank driver. Another account of extreme bravery on Oct 7. Ido was the sole survivor of his IDF tank crew. He fought terrorists for hours and by distracting them he allowed hundreds of festivalgoers to escape.
Hero of Otniel, savior of Be’eri. When Elchanan Kalmanson heard on Oct 7 about the Hamas invasion, he drove to Kibbutz Be’eri where 1,100 residents were under attack. Driving an armored truck, he rescued dozens of families before going house to house checking for survivors. He gave his life but saved hundreds.
https://mizrachi.org/hamizrachi/gibor-yisrael-the-heroic-story-of-elchanan-kalmanson/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
First battlefield blood transfusion saves IDF officer. (TY Ron M) Maj. Or, an officer from the Givati Brigade, survived a life-threatening injury in Gaza by being one of the first patients in the world to receive a fresh blood dose on the battlefield. Listen to the article for details of this historic event.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hylkx00nhp
Oct 7 victims given Israeli burns treatment. Hundreds of Israelis who suffered burn wounds on Oct 7 have been treated with pineapple stem based NexoBrid gel from Israel’s MediWound (see here previously). It contains the enzyme bromelain which breaks down dead tissue in 4 hours, while preserving healthy tissue.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/israeli-hospitals-treating-burn-victims-with-pineapple-protein/
Smart wound patches save lives. A smart wound patch developed at Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center and Israel’s Noyad Biomed at Kibbutz Lavi, protects those suffering wounds that have lost blood. The patch (called Rescue Heat) warms up to 42 degrees centigrade, to protect the patient from hypothermia.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-776340 https://www.noyad.co.il/
AI rehab for IDF soldiers. (TY OurCrowd) The AI-powered exercise platform of Israel’s Kemtai (see here previously) has been selected by Israel’s Sheba Medical Center for physical therapy to soldiers injured in Gaza. Sheba also selected Israel’s COGNIshine (see here previously) for cognitive, emotional and speech therapy.
Positive trials of cystic fibrosis treatment. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s BiomX (see here previously) has reported positive initial results from its clinical trials of BX004. The treatment relieves chronic pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. BiomX now plans to initiate a larger Phase 2/3 trial.
Israeli startups partner to develop artificial lung. Israel’s Inspira Technologies (see here previously) has now partnered with Israel’s Ennocure and its infection prevention solutions, to directly oxygenate the blood for people who struggle to breathe alone. It will accelerate the development of Inspira’s ART’s intubation device.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/israeli-medtech-companies-partner-to-develop-artificial-lung/
17 ambulances fly to Israel. (TY Nevet) Following Oct 7, Israeli NGO Magen David Adom urgently needed new ambulances. They called Yoav Halper who ships ambulances by sea from the USA. On Friday afternoon, a Boeing 747 landed at Ben Gurion Airport containing the first batch of 17 ambulances donated by Americans.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Women in the IDF. Female participation in the IDF is at record levels. They include combat positions, battle intelligence, artillery, rescue units, border police and patrols. In addition, two women passed the initial vetting process for the elite air force Search and Rescue Unit 669. (Hamas see it as a disgrace to be killed by a woman).
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-sees-surge-in-female-conscripts-seeking-combat-roles-since-start-of-war-with-hamas/ https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-776849
Haredi girls are top at mathematics and reading. The positive results of the international PISA test assessing literacy levels of 15-year-old students highlighted that haredi female students lead in Israel in mathematics and reading achievements. In addition, the gaps between Israeli Hebrew and Arabic speakers have narrowed.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-776703
Taiwan officials help Israeli farmers. (TY WIN & I24 News) Israel and Taiwan have much in common. So it was good to see Taiwanese officials come to Israel in a show of solidarity and to help Israeli farmers in the field. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbTzyHN54qA
New species of pseudoscorpions found. (TY Atid-EDI) The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has discovered 9 new species of pseudoscorpions (miniature scorpions) in Israel. Like the 52 previously discovered species, they are harmless to humans, being so small. Israel is diverse in animals, being at the junction of three continents.
https://en.huji.ac.il/news/pseudoscorpions-israel-two-new-family-records-discovered
Chistian Zionists support tour of Israel. 75 Evangelical and other Christians from 10 nations came to Israel on a “hope, healing, service” tour to support border communities impacted by the Oct 7 Hamas atrocities. The tour was led by the Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries (FIRM) which has set up a $10 million+ crisis fund.
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-776511
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ,
Securing the light railway. Israel’s Cervello (see here previously) has been selected to help secure the 27km Purple Line of the Tel Aviv light railway currently under construction. Cervello’s cybersecurity dashboard will give rail operators real-time intelligence and advanced analytics to monitor railway signaling and detect threats.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/cyber-startup-chosen-to-secure-upcoming-tel-aviv-light-rail-line/
Fast-growing non-animal meat. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s ProFuse Technology (see here previously) has partnered with Estonia’s Geletax to advance cultivated meat production. Using ProFuse’s media supplement and Geletax’s plant-based scaffolds, they produced 5 times more lab-grown protein than with regular methods.
Turning organic waste into cash. (TY Dr Salem) The EcoDrum from Israel’s EcoCity Green takes a wide range of organic waste and converts it into marketable compost in a fast, unique, low-energy, low-cost process. It not only treats organic waste, but also helps reduce landfills which comprise 50% of organic material.
https://nocamels.com/2023/09/compost-drum-turning-muck-into-money-shrinking-israeli-landfills/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9K2YqT3NfM (Hebrew video) https://www.ecodrum.co.il/ (Hebrew site)
CO2 removal prototype launched. Israel’s RepAir Carbon Capture (see here previously) has just launched its first Direct Air Capture field prototype. The system uses 600kWh (of renewable energy) per ton of carbon dioxide removed. No harmful components and a negligible carbon footprint. 2025 target for commercial device.
https://netzeroprofessional.com/repair-demonstrates-sustainable-carbon-removal-at-gigaton-scale/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDOO7s4Gog0
In the desert, solar farms are better than forests. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have discovered that dark-colored solar panels on light-colored sandy soil reflects sunlight back into space and doesn’t heat up the atmosphere. This is better than a forest of trees that absorbs carbon dioxide.
https://www.israel21c.org/when-its-better-to-plant-a-solar-farm-than-a-forest/
The world’s strongest radar. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Arbe Robotics (see here previously) has released the production version of its Radar Processor. It is the most powerful solution in the current market for automotive radars – 10 times the processing power of the leading alternatives and a key stage to fully autonomous vehicles.
Next big things in tech. Fast Company included six Israeli companies in its 2023 list of 119 Next Big Things in Tech. They are Buildots, BrainQ, Lumus, Navan (formerly TripActions), Theranica, and Wiliot.
https://www.israel21c.org/6-israeli-designs-on-fast-companys-next-big-things-in-tech/
https://www.fastcompany.com/next-big-things-in-tech/list
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israel tech delivers. More positive talk from OurCrowd Founder and CEO, Jon Medved, who spoke in the UAE and on Bloomberg TV’s "Wall Street Week Daily." He discussed the economic impact of the Israel-Hamas war. His message was Israel tech delivers, no matter what. Israeli tech resilience is almost supernatural.
https://jewishinsider.com/2023/11/jonathan-medved-ourcrowd-gaza-hamas-israel-war-2023-fortune-global-forum/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXxtuYHFvvw
Angel Investor Clubs. The Israel Innovation Authority is to allocate NIS 9 million for the establishment of three clubs of private investors. They will aid Israeli early-stage startups that are struggling to get critical funding during wartime. The clubs will provide crucial support to technological ventures in their early stages.
Thailand’s first Israeli-focused VC fund. Israel’s OurCrowd and Thailand’s corporate innovative powerhouse RISE announced the establishment of Rise OurCrowd Exponential (ROCX), a VC fund focused on 20 – 30 Israeli deep technologies with potential to grow in Asia. The new fund will begin investing by the end of 2024.
https://www.israel21c.org/thailands-first-ever-israel-focused-vc-fund/
NIS 30 billion wartime fund. Israel’s Knesset (parliament) has allocated NIS 30 billion to the war effort, split between military and civil support. https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-advances-nis-30-billion-in-new-wartime-funds-over-intra-coalition-objections/
More employees are needed here. Israel’s Matrix IT (see here previously) is looking to recruit another 700 employees. The positions include software developers, info security, project managers, system analysts, infrastructure and comms, SAP implementers, software testers, cloud personnel, and automation developers.
Maintaining US Army connectivity. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks (see here previously) via its Wavestream US subsidiary, has won a nearly $20 million continuation contract to provide the US Army with its all-environments Solid State Amplifiers (SSPA) that sustain anytime, anywhere satellite connectivity.
EU funding for reduced sugar beverages. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s BlueTree (see here previously) was awarded a 50,000 Euro award from Europe’s EIT Food, the world’s largest food innovation community, supported by the European Union. It will help BlueTree further implement its technology plans in Europe.
Hanukkah – the time to buy Israeli gifts. Jews in the Diaspora are generously using Chanukah as time to “shop Israel.” Many Israeli vendors have travelled to the US to promote their businesses and sell their wares. They can be obtained at synagogues or online sites e.g., Etsy, JNF-USA, ADI Negev, or Yad LaKashish.
https://www.jns.org/as-chanukah-approaches-american-jews-seek-israeli-goods-as-gifts/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/228895656609625/
A Vast increase in value. Israel’s VAST Data, which develops an AI data platform, has secured $118 million in Series E funding at a $9.1 billion valuation, more than 3 times its previous value.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjfh5gast
Exits, takeovers, and mergers – to 10/12/23: Israeli private equity fund Fortissimo is to acquire Israel’s Cellcom for some NIS 925 million; Israeli cybersecurity Unicorn Wiz has acquired Israeli IT startup Raftt. Israeli global payments startup Nayax has taken over US-based point of sale software developer Retail Pro International at a $36.5 million valuation. Israel’s AppsFlyer has acquired Israel’s Oolo. Israel’s CropX has acquired Australia’s Green Brain.
Investment in Israeli startups – to 10/12/23: Vast Data raised $118 million; Foretellix raised $42 million; Mine raised $30 million; Sensorz raised $4.7 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
The unity of purpose. The previous newsletter contained a review of “The Genius of Israel” by Saul Singer and Dan Senor. Here now is an interview with co-author Saul Singer. His message is that Israelis are satisfied with life, rather than happy, and much more together than before the war. Hope my wife buys me the book!
Beyonce invites released hostage to concert. US superstar Beyonce has offered an open invitation to Emily Hand, the 9-year-old Irish-Israeli girl recently freed from Hamas captivity. Emily adores Beyonce who heard that Emily’s father had promised to take his daughter to a Beyonce concert anywhere in the world.
https://worldisraelnews.com/beyonce-invites-young-released-hamas-hostage-to-attend-concert-anywhere/
Jerusalem Biennale embarks on world tour. The 6th Jerusalem Biennale (see here previously) was all but ready to open in Israel’s capital when war broke out. Now the 35 exhibitions featuring 200 artists will be showcased in the countries where the artists originated, including New York, Buenos Aires, and Italy.
https://www.israel21c.org/jerusalem-biennale-embarks-on-world-tour-amid-war/
Taekwondo gold medal. (TY Hazel) Israeli (and World) Taekwondo fighter Asaf Yasur won a gold medal at the final (para) grand prix event of the year in Manchester. Asaf lost his hands in an accident when he was 12.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0Xol5BC0nu/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl7FrS3qb50&t=1920s
A ball in the net is a good response. A massive crowd of pro-Palestinian supporters shouted abuse at the Israeli national soccer team during their UEFA Conference League match. It only motivated the Israelis who won the game 2-1 and now advance to the knockout stage of the competition.
THE JEWISH STATE
Alongside the Torah. Jerusalem book publisher Koren produced a special wartime edition of the Book of Genesis and sent copies to thousands of Israeli soldiers. The paperbacks contain Rashi and Onkelos commentaries and can fit in uniform pockets. Koren had already sent 8,000 books of prayer and psalms.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/book-publisher-sends-thousands-of-sacred-texts-to-idf-soldiers/
Jerusalem oil for IDF menorahs. The olive oil that will be used to light the IDF’s Chanukah menorahs has been specially extracted from 182 olive trees planted at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem after the Six-Day War, in memory of fallen IDF soldiers. The oil will light 90 IDF menorahs, including in Gaza (see 2nd link).
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-776847
https://www.israelunwired.com/chanukah-returns-to-gaza-for-the-first-time-in-18-years/
IDF-inspired donuts. Jerusalem’s Kadosh bakery is honoring Israeli soldiers with its ‘sufganiya’ collection named for IDF units. Pastry chef Keren Kadosh began with the Golani, as her son is in the 13th battalion of the Golani Brigade. Others match the color of the beret using fillings made from pineapple, pistachio, pecan etc.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/jerusalem-pastry-chef-creates-idf-inspired-doughnuts-this-hanukkah/
Jewish presence in the Land of Israel (part1). (TY Laura) A very useful recent article summarizing the history of the Jews in the holy land, from Roman times through the Mamluk period. Looking forward to part 2.
https://aish.com/the-ongoing-jewish-presence-in-the-land-of-israel-part-1/
Donor gives uni $100 million to help rebuild the South. Philanthropist Sylvan Adams (see here previously) has donated $100 million to Ben Gurion University. The funds are to be “allocated for an extensive plan aimed at advancing education and campus life at BGU while rebuilding and strengthening the south.
Chabad help evacuees in Eilat. 70,000 people, including 16,000 children, who were evacuated from border communities, are now housed in Eilat hotels. Chabad-Lubavitch of Eilat has organized hotel washing machines, social activities, playgroups, story time, new toys, teen clubhouses, cooking, and of course Shabbat services.
https://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/6206426/jewish/In-Eilat-Chabad-Aids-Thousands-of-Traumatized-and-Displaced-Israelis.htm https://causematch.com/eilat/
New town on Gaza border. Israel has approved plans for a new town, named Nitzana, to be built near the borders with Egypt and Gaza. The 1,500 acres will initially include 1,000+ residential units, public buildings, tourism facilities, some 200 hotel rooms, special housing, education, businesses, and open public spaces.
https://worldisraelnews.com/new-city-called-nitzana-planned-for-area-near-gaza/
Roof tiles from the Chanukah period. Archeologists have uncovered roof tiles in Jerusalem from the 2nd century BCE. They must have been in situ when the Maccabees were eliminating the Syrian-Greek Hellenists around 164 BCE - the time of king Antiochus IV and the events that led to the festival of Chanukah.
https://www.jns.org/ancient-jerusalem-roof-tiles-provide-a-link-to-hanukkah-story/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkdpn0E439w
The Western Wall – the light in our hearts. Watch the Hanukkiah lighting every evening, live, at the Kotel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzXmWYyGLho https://thekotel.org/en/138383/
https://thekotel.org/en/connect-remotely-to-the-western-wall/
231203
In the 3rd Dec 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Heroic action by Israel’s first all-female tank crews.
· In clinical trials, new Israeli treatment cures liver cancer patient.
· 14 Israelis awarded European research grants.
· Israeli pen reads handwritten text to the visually impaired.
· Israeli startups improve road safety and reduce traffic congestion.
· Israeli soccer players won’t take “no” for an answer.
· The IDF prepare to celebrate Hannukah in Gaza.
· Click here to see the 26th Nov newsletter on IsraelSeen and Ruthfully Yours. Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here. Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· My Hebrew translator is currently unavailable as he is a reservist in the IDF. A volunteer has kindly offered temporarily to translate a newsletter issue every two weeks into Hebrew. If anyone can volunteer to translate the main sections of my newsletter into another language (e.g., Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, etc.,) even as a one-off, please email me at michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com. I do have a Google Translate widget on my www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com blogsite but it does not produce consistently accurate translations.
· 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 (now over 23,500 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
POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR
Female tank crews save kibbutzim. (TY Manfred) On Oct 7 Israel’s all-female tank crews made history when they fought Hamas terrorists and prevented them from overrunning many Israeli southern communities. They are the first female armored crews in Israel, and perhaps the world, to participate in active battle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjy0wpdSAI0
The farmer who neutralized a Hamas cell. Eran Smilansky was a member of Kibbutz Nir Oz’s emergency squad. On Oct 7, he eliminated eight Hamas terrorists who had stormed his home. He then saved his father and his two daughters at his father’s home that the terrorists had tried to burn down with his family inside.
https://idsf.org.il/en/stories-of-valor/singlehandedly-neutralized-a-terrorists-cell/
Eritrean given residency for saving life. Eritrean national Mulugeta Tsagi received permanent residency status in Israel as a “thank you” for saving an Israeli soldier’s life on Oct. 7. Tsagi gave lifesaving first aid to an IDF officer shot by Hamas in Sderot, then stayed with him for several hours until he finally reached hospital.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/eritrean-given-permanent-residency-in-israel-after-saving-idf-officers-life-on-oct-7/ https://www.jns.org/eritrean-granted-israeli-residency-for-oct-7-heroism/
What’s cooking? Beraha Astruk is a Head Nurse at Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya. After work, she voluntarily spends her evenings and weekends cooking for two IDF battalions stationed near the northern border. She even invites the soldiers to do their laundry at her house. Beraha has two sons in the IDF in Gaza.
https://www.israel21c.org/after-hospital-shifts-head-nurse-cooks-for-idf-battalions/
Care for released hostages. (TY Cynthia) Schneider Children's Hospital is THE hospital designated to receive many of the released children and their families. It has a media-free area, decorated recovery rooms, a multi-disciplinary team of medical and support staff, even family pets are allowed. See photos & donation links here.
https://www.schneider.org.il/?CategoryID=844&ArticleID=5328
https://www.schneider.org.il/?CategoryID=1011&ArticleID=5327
https://www.justgiving.com/ukfriendsofschneider/donate (UK donors)
https://www.schneider.org.il/?CategoryID=1063&ArticleID=3238 (Israeli & US donors)
Late birthday present for released hostage. On his 9th birthday, Ohad Munder was a hostage in Gaza. He was told that his favorite soccer team, Hapoel Be’er Sheva, wished him a happy birthday on TV. It gave Ohad renewed strength and on his release, the players visited him in hospital.
Entrepreneur raises $40 million for IDF. Since Oct 7, Dutch-based Israeli entrepreneur Eran Efrat, has raised some $40 million to produce tactical gear for IDF soldiers. He didn’t simply give the money to the army but directly solicited US-based manufacturers to produce helmets, ceramic vests, and more.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bkseqpnnp
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Liver cancer patient saved. A patient with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) who participated in the Phase II trials of namodenoson from Israel’s Can-Fite (see here previously) had an extremely good response. His liver function returned to normal, and he is looking forward to a good quality of life.
Traffic lights to silence cancer genes. (TY Laura) Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered how DNA methylation acts as a gene control system, like a traffic light that can modulate gene activity and trigger or prevent cancer mutations. It will help develop personalized therapies for cancer patients.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-775427
https://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13059-023-03094-6
Clearing the airways. The LibAirty compression vest from Israel’s Synchrony Medical (see here previously) has begun clinical (human) trials at the National Cystic Fibrosis Center of Sheba Medical Center, where it was developed. Synchrony’s CEO says the device is twice as effective as similar products currently on the market.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/compression-vest-that-clears-the-lungs-in-clinical-trial-in-israel/
Amorphous calcium to treat IBD. Israel’s Amorphical (see here previously) has adapted its amorphous calcium carbonate production technology to treat inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. The mineral neutralizes the acidity within affected tissue to prevent inflammation.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125592
Developing RNA-based treatments for rare diseases. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Skip Therapeutics is partnering with Sheba Medical Center to develop ASO-based (short RNA sequences) treatments for rare genetic diseases. Skip's ASOs (Antisense Oligonucleotide) aim to restore the function of mutated genes in genetic disorders.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/skip-therapeutics-and-sheba-medical-center-to-collaborate-for-the-development-of-rna-based-treatments-for-rare-diseases-301994662.html https://www.skiptx.com/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Bedouin IDF Major released from hospital. Major Foaz Hussein, a Bedouin Arab tracker in the Paran Brigade, was released from Emek Medical Center after receiving treatment for gunshot wounds received fighting terrorists on Oct 7th in Kibbutz Holit. He saved many lives before being wounded himself.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/380819
Israelis win European research grants. (TY Nevet) 14 Israeli university teams have won prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grants. 6 went to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (total NIS 47 million) and 4 to the Weizmann Institute. Only some 300 grants were awarded of 2,000+ applications.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-774789
US invests in Iron Beam. $1.2 billion of the US’s latest aid package to Israel is to help finance Israel’s Iron Beam laser defense system (see here previously). The US hopes that trials of the system will eventually also benefit the US army. Iron Beam will significantly reduce the cost of intercepting short-range threats.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-us-to-invest-12b-in-rafaels-iron-beam-laser-system-1001462661
Doctors on call. (TY Hazel) The many overseas volunteers to Israel include American ER doctors Dr. Dov Frankel and Dr. Barry Hahn, going to work at Ashkelon’s Barzilai hospital. They came via the Emergency Volunteers Project, a disaster-relief organization that recruits volunteer emergency responders in times of crisis.
Malawi sends farm reinforcements. (TY Hazel) A first flight carrying 221 young men left Malawi for Israel on Saturday and more are to be sent soon. They will work on farms in "fit and safe" environments and locations. Israel recently granted Malawi a $60 million aid package to help it recover from an economic crisis,
https://www.barrons.com/news/malawi-sends-farm-reinforcements-to-israel-as-workers-flee-war-4ae3a771
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ,
New tech to rehabilitate the wounded. Israel’s Sheba Medical Center has selected 8 tech solutions for its new program for rehabilitating wounded soldiers. Israeli systems include COGNIShine and 6Degrees (MyMove – see here previously). https://cognishine.com/en-us/
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/israels-biggest-hospital-harnesses-tech-as-tool-for-soldier-rehab/
Robotics course for evacuees. Israel’s Technion Institute held a 6-day program in robophysics (how robots move in the real world) for 30 outstanding high school students evacuated from their northern border homes. The course included enrichment activities and mentoring for future university entrance.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/technion-holds-robophysics-course-for-evacuated-high-schoolers/
A good read. Israel’s OrCam (see here previously) has launched “Read 3” to help those with impaired vision. About the size of a highlighter pen, it can magnify text and read multiple types (even handwriting) in 17 different languages, including words printed in a newspaper or the ingredients listed on a food packet.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/israeli-ai-device-helps-people-read-and-understand-any-text/
https://www.orcam.com/en-us/orcam-read-3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL4J97aK15Y
Waging war on secret terrorist funding. Israel’s Lionsgate Network has located $90 million in Hamas-owned crypto wallets and is searching for billions more. Meanwhile, Israel's National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing has frozen 143 Tron wallets connected to terrorist organizations between July and October.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/cryptocurrency-sleuth-is-waging-war-on-secret-hamas-funding/
https://lionsgate.network/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Lionsgate-network-intro-video.mp4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL0vgYICNCQ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/trj0uja0l
3D printers to ensure safer CT scanning. Israel’s Stratasys (see here previously) is to produce tailored 3D models for Germany’s Siemens Healthineers. The models will be used to calibrate Siemens’ CT scanners to ensure correct functioning and to help medical practitioners assess the radiation dose and image quality.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125599
Automatic parking & recharging. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Innovation Authority funding 50% of the NIS 1.2 million cost of a pilot solution by Israel’s Charging Robotics for wireless recharging of electric vehicles in automated parking systems. The vehicles will be robotically parked in facilities managed by Israel’s Parkomot.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/charging-robotics-receive-funding-israel-131500884.html
https://www.chargingrobotics.com/ https://parkomot.com/
Best use of AI award. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Rescana has won the prestigious CISO's Connect CISO Choice award for Best Use of AI. Rescana’s risk management solution identifies issues with third-party vendors by collecting and analyzing massive datasets. A company’s operators do not require any coding skills.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rescana-named-2023-ciso-choice-award-winner-for-best-use-of-ai-301988612.html https://www.rescana.com/
Car of the future award. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Arbe Robotics (see here previously) has won the Self-Driving Industry 2023 Award in the hardware category from Cars of the Future for its Perception Radar.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Ensuring safer driving in Italy. Italy’s System Logistics, manufacturer of global automated warehousing, is piloting Israel’s SaverOne (see here previously) on several vehicles in its fleet. SaverOne prevents drivers from texting or using other distracting apps. The system is already being used by Italian vehicle manufacturer Iveco.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125604
Easing traffic congestion in Pittsburg. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Axilion (see here previously) is to help optimize traffic flow along the heavily congested Railroad Avenue corridor in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania USA.
Better security at railway stations. (TY OurCrowd) Israel Railways is integrating the AI-powered security screening system from Israel’s SeeTrue (see here previously) at checkpoints in Israel's largest stations where more than 1,000 bags are screened every hour.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/seetrues-ai-automatic-detection-sets-a-new-standard-in-urban-security-screening-301987540.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGAcuqPZo_4
Your drone delivery is on its way. (TY OurCrowd) Drone delivery customers of Israel’s Flytrex now include Chick-fil-A restaurants (in 3 US States), Walmart, Starbucks, Chili’s, Little Caesars, Raising Cane's, Papa Johns, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, and Unilever's The Ice Cream Shop.
https://myq105.com/2023/11/21/tampa-bay-area-chick-fil-a-takes-to-the-skies-with-drone-delivery/
140,000 remote care devices to Madrid. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Essence SmartCare (see here previously) has delivered 140,000 Care@Home senior monitoring devices to satisfy its winning the tender as the sole provider of senior care technology for over 100,000 seniors in the Madrid region.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/essence-smartcare-completes-shipment-140k-141400099.html
A fund for brain science startups. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Corundum Neuroscience (was Joy Ventures – see here previously) invests in startups developing neuroscience solutions. It aims to promote new treatments for anxiety, depression, PTSD, chronic pain, sleep, and neurodegenerative disorders.
https://cnsfund.com/ https://nocamels.com/2023/11/new-israeli-funds-supporting-neuroscience-startups-and-rd/
Israel Resilience Fund. Israel’s OurCrowd is spearheading the Israel Resilience Fund (IRF) to bolster Israeli startups during the war against Hamas. The $50M fund will invest in 50+ Israeli companies developing vital solutions in the South and North that need funding due to employee call-ups. No management fees!
https://www.ourcrowd.com/companies/israel-resilience-fund
Nearly $1 billion Investments & M&As. Since Oct 7, both investments and mergers & acquisitions have reached nearly $1 billion. 29 investment rounds totaled nearly $1 billion, led by Next Insurance’s $265 million raise. Meanwhile, Palo Alto’s two Israeli cyber acquisitions (Talon & Dig) cost them a total of $975 million.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-investments-mas-both-near-1-billion-despite-war/
Cyber security for Finance of America. Israel’s Spera Security (see here previously) have been chosen by Finance of America to bolster its defense against identity-driven cyberattacks.
Exits, takeovers, and mergers – to 3/12/23: Finnish giant Aiven has acquired Israel’s database optimization startup EverSQL. Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks has acquired US secure communications company DataPath.
Investment in Israeli startups – to 3/12/23: CapitalOS raised $39 million; Tabnine raised $25 million; Munch raised $7.2 million.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Where have all the flowers come from? A symbol of hope and renewal blossomed in the Re’im forest - new life in the form of autumn wildflowers. “See the regeneration of nature in one of the greatest disaster areas that the State of Israel has known,” said Amir Balaban, of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.
https://www.israel21c.org/first-fall-flowers-bloom-at-site-of-massacre-on-gaza-border/
World Illustration award winners. In the 2023 World Illustration Awards competition of the Association of Illustrators, Israel’s Orit Bergman and Anat Warshavsky were overall professional winners and first in the Site-Specific category. Israel’s Stav Assis won a new talent award. Only 20 of the 5,000 illustrators won prizes.
https://www.israel21c.org/whimsical-creatures-win-top-world-illustration-awards/
New Israeli stamps. (TY Jacob Richman) Latest (Dec 2023) issue of Israeli stamps includes Springs in Israel, Early wine industry in the Land of Israel, Israel-Guatemala 75 years of friendship, 75 years of printing Israeli stamps, and Israel’s national parks (Baram & Nimrod Fortress). https://jr.co.il/stamps/index-2023.html
Wait for it. (TY IsraPundit) “The Genius of Israel”, Dan Senor and Saul Singer’s follow-up to their 2009 international bestseller “Start-Up Nation”, was written, edited, and ready for publication but the Oct 7 events put it on hold. Here is Bret Stephen’s review and despite the somewhat untimely title, be patient and uplifted.
https://www.commentary.org/articles/bret-stephens/genius-of-israel-charts-future/
Seeds of Hope. KKL-JNF is offering a relaxing, meaningful nature activity for young members of communities in the Golan that have not been evacuated. In its “Seeds of Hope” initiative, volunteers sort rare seeds stored in the Shamir Research Institute for Science, and plant them nearby. Some 60 schools have enrolled.
https://www.israel21c.org/seeds-of-hope-chilling-with-nature-in-tense-golan-heights/
Women’s soccer success. (TY Hazel) Israeli Arab Marian Awad scored the opening goal in Israel’s 2-0 win against Kazakhstan. Israel beat Armenia 4-0 in the Women’s Nations League (see the goals). Israel’s U17 women’s team defeated Andorra 7-0, and Latvia 2-0 in the 2024 Euro qualifiers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0Qds3xnRyY
Martial artists. Israel’s Jujitsu team won 12 medals at the European championships in Croatia - more than any other team. And at the World kickboxing championships, Druze-Israeli Monia Heno won a silver medal.
https://allisrael.com/israeli-jiu-jitsu-team-takes-home-12-individual-medals-at-european-jiu-jitsu-championship-in-croatia https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-774879
Silent protest. Europe’s soccer ruling body UEFA distastefully refused to allow the Israeli and Polish teams to observe a moment’s silence for the victims of Oct 7 before their Under-21 European Championship match. So, when the referee blew his whistle to start the game, nobody moved! Very moving for the rest of us, though.
THE JEWISH STATE
Donated organs save more lives. Last week’s newsletter included news of the six people saved by the organs of fallen soldier Yehonatan Semo / Samo (see here previously). This week he is emulated by Amichai Rubin. Roi Nahari, Shoham Ben Harush, and Naaran Ashchar. https://www.timesofisrael.com/amid-grief-over-their-fallen-soldier-sons-families-donate-their-organs-spread-life/
A Hanukkiah in Gaza. A group of Chabad IDF reservists erected a 15-foot 9-branch menorah in Beit Hanoun northern Gaza ready for the Jewish festival of Hanukah / Chanukah that begins on Thurs evening Dec 7. It is one of over a dozen Hanukkah Menorahs that will be erected in Gaza, bringing light to the darkest places.
https://collive.com/idf-soldiers-raise-large-menorah-in-gaza/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZC0HisMB-M
Jerusalem gives thanks. (TY Sharon) Israel’s capital celebrated Thanksgiving last week. Posters thanked residents for donating blood and volunteering. Tens of thousands of evacuees from the north and south, and farmers, were grateful to Jerusalemites for their hospitality. And lone soldiers enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner.
https://rjstreets.com/2023/11/26/in-jerusalem-many-ways-of-giving-and-giving-thanks/
Be positive. UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis’ message from last week’s sedra is “Be Positive and never despair. “At this very moment when there is a tragic war in Israel, our prayer indeed is that Hashem will bless the Jewish people, and he will transform our darkness into light, and may this happen speedily and instantly.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/380826
231126
In the 26th Nov 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israel’s new Iron Beam and Iron Sting defense systems prove themselves in combat.
· Successful human trials of new shapeshifting capsule to reduce appetite.
· Award-winning Manhattan chef flies to Israel to cook for the IDF.
· Israel is building the world's fastest computer in record time.
· Banks give IDF reservists a 3-month break from all repayments.
· After an 18-year absence, a Torah scroll has returned to Gaza.
· Click here to see the 19th Nov newsletter on IsraelSeen and Ruthfully Yours. Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here. Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· My Hebrew translator is currently unavailable as he is a reservist in the IDF. A group of volunteers has kindly offered temporarily to translate a newsletter issue every two weeks into Hebrew. If anyone can volunteer to translate the main sections of my newsletter into another language (e.g., Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish etc.,) even as a one-off, please email me at michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com. I do have a Google Translate widget on my www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com blogsite but it does not produce consistently accurate translations.
· 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 (now over 23,400 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
POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR
Farmer saves 120 from Hamas. Incredible dashcam footage shows farmer Oz Davidian dodging bullets as he saved 120 lives from the Supernova music festival on Oct 7. He drove his truck on 20 separate journeys from the Re’im site of the open-air party to bring survivors to safety. https://www.timesofisrael.com/truck-dashcam-footage-shows-farmer-dodging-bullets-as-he-saved-120-from-music-festival/
Ofek the heroine. Six-year-old Ofek nearly died from blood loss on Oct 7 after Hamas terrorists shot her in the leg. MDA paramedic Yarin and EMT Gali treated Ofek and were amazed at how calm she was. A month later they brought Ofek a unicorn doll inscribed "To Ofek the heroine, with great love, Gali and Yarin from MDA”.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/380453
Iron defenses. Israel made the first operational use its “Iron Beam” laser defense system. It successfully intercepted an incoming rocket fired by terrorists in the Gaza Strip at Israeli territory. Israel also used its high-accuracy “Iron Sting” GPS/laser-guided mortar for the first time in combat.
https://www.jns.org/iron-beam-laser-intercepts-hamas-rocket-from-gaza/
Fast track for volunteer doctors. The Jewish Agency, Nefesh b’Nefesh and Israel’s Aliyah Ministry are setting up a database to help global physicians (Jewish and non-Jewish) volunteer in hospitals and medical facilities around the country as quickly and efficiently as possible. 70+ have already arrived and begun work.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/380610
More volunteering opportunities. This Israel21c article lists dozens of organizations who can provide exciting and rewarding experiences while helping the disadvantaged and the whole of Israel at this time.
https://www.israel21c.org/how-you-can-volunteer-in-israel-during-the-war/
100 make Aliyah to join the IDF. Some 100 young Jewish men and women from around the world have made Aliyah and are completing a Defense Ministry course to prepare them physically and mentally for IDF service.
https://www.jns.org/100-jewish-youngsters-make-aliyah-to-enlist-in-idf/
Grants for student reservists. Israel’s Technion Institute is awarding NIS 6,000 to all its 2,500 students who were mobilized by an emergency call-up order for ‘Operation Swords of Iron.’ The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has also announced an aid package for its roughly 4,000 students who are serving in the IDF.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2023/11/the-technion-supports-reserve-soldiers/
https://www.bfhu.org/2023/11/21/boosted-support-for-hu-students/
Innovation helps treat traumatized kids. Israeli NGO Machshava Tova is providing innovation workshops to Israel’s evacuated children of the south. It helps them get over the traumatic events of Oct 7 as well as develop new skills. https://video.i24news.tv/en/9e44d596-82e6-4c4c-8a1c-96f84ae49bd5/content/6341511194112
Give help, get help. In the very first week of the war, Israel’s Technion Institute set up a “Give Help / Get Help” center to help evacuees, and IDF soldiers. Initiatives include daycare for kids, free secondhand shop, free haircuts, donated goods, computers for kids, toys, books, and crafts, music & dance events, and much more.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2023/11/the-techion-at-its-best/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Using AI to spot lung disease. Israel’s Medial EarlySign (see here previously) has partnered US-based Geisinger to identify patients at high risk for respiratory or pulmonary diseases such as lung cancer. Their LungFlag AlgoMarker analyzes data from a patient’s electronic health record to enable early screening.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/israeli-us-firms-create-ai-program-to-spot-lung-disease-risks/
Fast DNA sequencing. (TY OurCrowd) Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine is to using the AML(acute myeloid leukemia) detection kits from Israel’s Sequentify (see here previously) in its leukemia research. Sequentify's Infiniseq technology cuts DNA sequencing time to only 3.5 hours.
Milk extract may help IBD sufferers. Israel’s Exosomm extracts tiny capsules of microRNA called exosommes from cows’ milk. They then add them as a powder to food as a treatment for colitis and Crohn’s. Successful laboratory trials have led to recruitment for clinical trials at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem.
https://www.israel21c.org/milk-extract-could-ease-symptoms-of-crohns-and-colitis/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNqGqVe-erg
Shapeshifting capsule is a loss leader. Israel’s Epitomee has completed clinical trials of its ingestible pill that opens up in the stomach to produce a feeling of satiety. In 24 weeks the 140 participants who swallowed the pill lost up to 15% of their body weight, with no side effects. Epitomee intends to apply for FDA approval in 2024.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-startups-weight-loss-pill-aces-clinical-trials/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Y8kYXzInI
More funds for medical treatments. An additional NIS 650 million will be added to Israel's health basket as part of the war efforts. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-774070
Medical students in IDF. Some 200 Israeli medical students were studying overseas but returned to join the IDF. Israel’s Ministry of Health has requested the deans of Israeli medicine faculties to help to integrate these students in Israeli hospitals and medical schools at the end of the war.
https://www.gov.il/en/departments/news/17112023-02
IFCJ funds new fortified ER. The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has funded a 100-patient Emergency Operations Center in a fortified sheltered area of Emek Medical Center in the Galilee. The IFCJ is also funding a 50-patient fortified space in the hospital’s oncology building.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/380683
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Keeping the peace together. Located just north of Nazareth, Nof HaGalil (population 42,600) prides itself on friendly relations between its Jewish majority and its approximately 30-40 percent Muslim and Christian Arab population. Mixed teams patrol nightly to display the town’s determination to maintain quiet streets.
https://www.israel21c.org/during-war-arabs-and-jews-jointly-patrol-their-shared-city/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8lwC0t6pFk https://www.tikkun.org.il/bustan?lang=en
CUFI rally in London. Christians United for Israel held a large and peaceful rally outside the UK Prime Minister’s Downing Street residence. They called on all Christians to support Israel as “Righteous Gentiles” and not be silent at this time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haKeKuhkUmE
NYC restaurant benefits evacuees. Israeli chef Eyal Shani’s Malka Manhattan restaurant opening on Nov 16 benefited the La’Aretz Foundation which aims to distribute $2,500 each to 100 families who lost their homes on Oct 7. Shani missed the Michelin award ceremony for his Shmoné restaurant – he was cooking for the IDF.
https://www.israel21c.org/chef-eyal-shani-skips-michelin-award-to-cook-for-troops/ https://www.laaretz.org/
Water for Tanzanian village. USA-based Water 4 Mercy has partnered with Israel’s Innovation: Africa to provide water to the Ausia village in Kondoa, Tanzania. They tapped an aquifer to provide fresh water and installed solar panels to operate the pumps. It saves the villagers from making long, risky journeys to get water.
https://www.jns.org/water-4-mercy-brings-fresh-water-to-tanzanian-village-for-first-time/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
AI to make websites more accessible. Israel’s User1st is a vital addition to the Israeli startups making the Internet more accessible (see here previously). User1st fits its artificial intelligence-based code into the existing source code of a website or app, to enable it for those with visual, cognitive, motor, and auditory disabilities.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/israeli-firm-boosts-online-accessibility-for-disabled-in-wartime/
https://user1st.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fiq0heO7W1M https://youtu.be/nWXe_AJripI
The world’s highest resolution maps. Immediately after Oct 7 Israel’s Simplex 3D made its 3D high-resolution modelling system available to Israel’s security services. The unique cameras generate aerial images accurate to as much as three centimeters. Other applications include architecture, construction, and engineering.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/eye-in-the-sky-startup-gifts-aerial-mapping-tool-to-israel-at-war/
Award-winning security. Israel’s Seal Security has been named winner and leading provider in the Application Security category at the 2023 CISO Choice Awards. Seal Security’s platform allows developers to simplify and automate the process of fixing open-source vulnerabilities.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/israeli-startup-wins-for-application-security-at-ciso-choice-awards/
Identifying the “good guys”. Financial services companies waste so much time and upset customers when checking for money laundering by focusing on legitimate transactions instead of dubious ones. Now Israel’s Redefine Intelligence (see here previously) uses AI to analyze sources of funds and avoid false alarms.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/startup-offers-new-solution-to-money-laundering-false-alarms/
Upgrading anti-drone defenses. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s Airobotics (see here previously) is upgrading its counter-UAS system, the Iron Drone Raider, for the IDF. Iron Drone's unique integrated AI-based interception drone system allows for the elimination of small hostile drones and is effective against any type of small drone.
https://www.accesswire.com/viewarticle.aspx?id=802490
Israeli supercomputer is so fast. Phase 1 of building Nvidia’s Israel-1 AI supercomputer is complete, two months ahead of schedule. It will be one of the world’s fastest AI supercomputers with 8 exaflops of peak AI performance and 130 petaflops of scientific computing and will help create many new Israeli AI products.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hylduatvt
https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/ry5mug9et
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
We will rebuild them. Israel’s Knesset (Parliament) agreed a 1.15-billion-shekel proposal to fund the recently created Tekuma Authority, which will be responsible for rebuilding, developing, and strengthening the Gaza border communities devastated by Hamas on Oct. 7.
https://www.jns.org/knesset-approves-300m-to-rebuild-gaza-border-towns/
Robotic boost for shipping giant. Danish shipping and logistics giant A.P. Moller – Maersk has chosen Israel’s Fabric (see here previously) to establish its fully automated fulfillment center in Dallas, Texas. The advanced floor-to-ceiling system fills orders of single-picked items for same-day or next-day delivery.
https://www.israel21c.org/shipping-giant-chooses-robotic-startup-to-boost-productivity/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKQ7HfS07rU
Customers take a break. Israel’s Bank Hapoalim has allowed customers to defer loan and mortgage payments that total NIS 17.8 billion due to the war. It follows Bank of Israel’s order for banks to suspend repayments, fees, and interest for three months for residents living up to seven kilometers from the Gaza border.
Drink more Israeli wine. The Israel Wine Producers Association has been asking supporters of the Jewish state to “take a sip for solidarity.” It plans to donate 10% of sales from U.S. distributors to Israeli relief efforts. Why not order Israeli wine in a restaurant or give a bottle as a present. It all helps Israeli winemakers.
https://www.jns.org/us-trade-group-helps-israeli-wine-industry-at-peak-harvest-time/
Security in cyber and real space. While Israel’s Lasso Security was raising $6 million in seed funding, one of its co-founders, Ophir Dror, is one of the more than 300,000 reservists who have been called up to the Israeli army. Lasso’s employees have been raising funds to supply Israeli soldiers with essential equipment.
Startups on the borders. (TY OurCrowd) Two Israeli startups, based at the devastated town of Sderot, are back in operation. BionicHIVE (robots in storage facilities) relocated to Beersheba thanks to Israel’s Robotican. Carrar was able to complete a tight deadline to produce a battery pack for a client testing in Germany (see here)
Legendary success. Israel’s BioCatch (see here previously) has just achieved two milestones. A recent $70 million investment has given the startup a market value of over $1billion and “Unicorn” status. It has also reported recurring annual revenue of $100 million (51% growth) giving it the financial status of a “Centaur”.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bj0etytna
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biocatch-surpasses-100m-usd-arr-301992759.html
Exits, takeovers, and mergers – to 26/11/23: UK’s Smith & Nephew is acquiring Israeli implant company CartiHeal for around £350 million.
Investment in Israeli startups – to 26/11/23: BioCatch raised $70 million; AI21 raised $53 million; Lasso Security raised $6 million; Colors AI raised $200k;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
You’ll never walk alone with Azi. Israeli singer Azi Schwartz is cantor at a synagogue in New York. He was visiting wounded soldiers at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv where his sister is director of the psychiatric division. Azi gave an impromptu concert in a public area within the hospital where he sang some popular songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-ornMWGm70 www.azischwartz.com
Magic. (TY UWI) Alan Sakowitz has just completed 26 magic shows in Israel, entertaining displaced children and children of Israeli soldiers. He performed in Efrat, Kiryat Gat, Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem and Beitar, from Oct. 26 through Nov. 7. In Efrat, his audience exceeded 960 - nearly 9% of the total city’s population of 10,800.
https://www.jns.org/wartime-magician-performs-26-shows-in-nine-days-for-kids-in-israel/
THE JEWISH STATE
Return of the Law. This article describes the journey of a Sefer Torah scroll. Written in Russia over a century ago, it survived the Holocaust, the siege of Leningrad and communist Russia. It made Aliyah to a synagogue in Netzarim, Gaza but had to leave in the 2005 disengagement. It is now being used by IDF soldiers in Gaza.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/380524
Affixing a mezuzah in Gaza City. Rabbi Daniel Kind, the rabbi of the IDF’s Givati Brigade, hung a mezuzah in Gaza City. He said afterwards, "I wish the entire Brigade to continue in our special work, in the great mission. G-d willing, we will succeed.” More Mezuzot have been placed on other buildings in Gaza.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/380624 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwlUNiMsOI4
https://www.instagram.com/p/CzmiEA5yd0R/
Fallen soldier saves six lives. The organs of IDF Staff Sergeant Yehonatan Yitzhak Semo, 21, who died from wounds inflicted in Gaza, were donated to six patients including a 10-year-old child and an 8-month-old infant.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-soldier-saves-six-lives-after-falling-in-gaza/
NEWSRAEL. A welcome addition to the (sadly too few) sites giving continuous unbiased news from Israel. Backed by famous Israeli Middle East expert Prof Mordechai Kedar. Available on the web and mobile app.
https://www.newsrael.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToxmXMO5dSM
231119
In the 19th Nov 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israel is now the “Donor Nation”.
· Many examples of volunteers devoting their lives to help Israel.
· Washington DC was the venue for the largest pro-Israel rally in US history.
· European countries paid billions to buy Israeli defense systems.
· Israeli sporting success at soccer, rugby, and equestrianism.
· An Israeli schoolgirl saved passengers on her runaway school bus.
· Click here to see the 12th Nov newsletter on IsraelSeen and Ruthfully Yours. Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here. No Hebrew version as my translator is an IDF reservist. Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking contacts. If you want a rough translation of my newsletter in any language, please use the Google Translate widget on my www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com blogsite. 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 (now over 23,400 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
POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR
62% of Israelis have donated. Nearly two-thirds of the Israeli public donated to various initiatives relating to the war effort during the 3rd week of the Israel-Hamas conflict and gave more money than ever. The joint study by Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Universities reveals the average donation is NIS 458 a week in cash or in kind.
Evacuated kids keep learning. Some 80 children who have been evacuated from their homes near the Gaza border are keeping up with their studies. They follow the Sprint EdTech platform from Israel’s MindCET innovation center at its Yeruham HQ in south-east Israel (see here previously). https://www.mindcet.org/en/
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/for-evacuated-israeli-kids-innovative-studies-keep-minds-sharp/
Free respite for rave survivors. Israeli Yoni Kahana, an ex-member of Chabad, is now owner of the Secret Forest retreat center in Paphos, Cyprus. He has assembled a team of trauma experts to provide free 5-day therapeutic retreats for groups of Supernova music party survivors. He is crowdfunding for more groups.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-an-exclusive-cyprus-retreat-center-supernova-rave-survivors-get-help-to-move-on/ https://charidy.com/recovering https://secretfo.rest/en/
Caring for employees. The Israel R&D Center of AT&T has a 6-point plan for looking after its staff during the war. 1. Staying in contact; 2. Discreet mental support; 3. Employee relief fund and charity donation facility; 4. Kids programs; 5. Support for employees in IDF; 6. Volunteering initiatives.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sys0x11r7p
Office becomes hotel for evacuees. US-based Varonis converted its Herzliya office’s open space into a huge camp for 250 evacuees from the southern cities of Netivot, Ofakim, and Ashkelon and the northern city Kiryat Shmona. After one week, it moved them to a hotel that its employees paid for by redeeming their vacation days.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/y0lql80z0 https://www.varonis.com/
Support for all. Western Galilee Now’s Support Package initiative enables people to send gift boxes to evacuees, soldiers or any loved one in Israel. The boxes are filled with premium products sold by small Galilee and Negev-based businesses who are suffering loss of income due to the war. Backed by JNF-USA.
https://www.israel21c.org/gift-boxes-support-israeli-people-and-businesses-in-wartime/
https://united.westgalil.org.il/product/support-package-for-your-loved-ones/
The spirit of volunteerism. Nearly 4,000 of the 5,700 young Jewish adults (aged 18-30) from abroad on the Masa Israel Journey program ended up staying in Israel during the war and many who left are returning. This article features one participant who came to teach English and is now a volunteer chef for the IDF.
https://www.jns.org/the-indomitable-spirit-of-volunteerism-in-wartime/
Volunteers on the farm. Many foreign farm workers left Israel at the start of the war. Charities Hashomer HaHadash, Achim Lemeshek, and Zav 8 have been recruiting Israeli volunteers to replace them. 30 volunteers are currently working at the Ben Saadon farm and packing plant in Be’er Ganim, near Ashkelon.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/agriculture-ministry-seeking-to-lure-out-of-work-israelis-to-take-up-jobs-on-farms/ https://www.jns.org/volunteers-give-first-aid-to-israeli-agriculture/
Israel can count on its math department. The mathematics faculty at Israel’s Technion is helping Israel’s war effort. Many are in the IDF reserves and on the home front. Others are harvesting vegetables, preparing shelters, delivering food & clothing to the IDF, and assisting evacuees from border towns.
Top US neurosurgeon volunteers. Immediately after the events of Oct 7, world-renowned US neurosurgeon Dr. Teodoro Forcht Dagi volunteered to work at Israel’s Sheba Medical Center. Sheba is treating many of those injured during the war. Dr Dagi brings his experience of the conflicts in Northern Ireland and Kosovo.
War is dirty, but... We hope that the IDF will cleanse Gaza of Hamas terrorists. Meanwhile, Rabbi Shai Graucher has set up a mobile laundry with three trucks on the Gaza border to help keep Israeli soldiers fresh. It’s just one activity that his Klal Yisroel organization is undertaking in its Standing Together campaign. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-charity-aims-to-provide-it-all-for-soldiers-including-mobile-laundry-and-spas/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4boAx0sDmg
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
ReWalk for veterans. (TY Nevet) A CBS program that publicized the life-changing impact of the exoskeleton from Israel’s ReWalk (see here previously) that enables wheelchair-bound US veterans to walk. CBS didn’t mention that the product was Israeli or even its name. https://www.cbsnews.com/video/robotic-tech-helped-a-veteran-walk-again-now-shes-working-to-expand-access/
Rehabilitating the wounded. Israel’s Restart (see here previously) has shifted its focus from rehabilitating IDF veterans, to supporting soldiers wounded in the current war. Its scanners and 3D printers at hospitals instantly make devices to help restore mobility. Restart’s volunteers are mostly wounded veterans themselves.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/veterans-provide-practical-help-comfort-for-wounded-idf-troops/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Watches alert the deaf to sirens. In cooperation with the Tel Aviv Municipality, NGO CODA (Children of Deaf Adults) has imported customized smart watches that vibrate whenever a siren goes off. They have been delivered to 300 deaf Israelis. CODA was co-founded by Israeli Shani Bibi, a child of hearing-impaired parents.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-startups-step-in-to-fill-wartime-gaps/
A Bedouin Arab woman speaks out. "If not for Israel I would probably be illiterate, penniless, herding sheep.
But I have an electrical engineering degree, I have a master’s from Stanford University, and I have my rights to live my life the way I wanted to live it." Sophia Shramko’s father was the first Bedouin Lt. Col. in the IDF.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-an-arab-bedouin-israeli-dismantles-the-apartheid-narrative/
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/hy11vp9pmt
Watergen machines are still working in Gaza. The three solar-powered water-from-air machines provided by Israel’s Watergen, installed by Israel’s Arava Institute for Environmental Studies in the south of Gaza, are still supplying clean water to at least 2,000 Gazans. https://www.timesofisrael.com/solar-run-machines-that-convert-air-to-drinking-water-still-working-in-south-gaza/
Arabs maintain ties with Israel. Saudi Arabia helped to block a resolution by Arab and Muslim countries to militarily and economically isolate Israel. They were joined by Egypt and Jordan, plus the Abraham Accords countries of the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Mauritania and Djibouti also opposed the measures.
https://www.jns.org/saudis-help-block-anti-israel-measures-at-arab-summit/
Student-led public diplomacy. Students at Israel’s Reichman University have launched the ACT-IL initiative to fight antisemitism and positively influence the Israel narrative. The community of 26,000 activists from 73 countries uses systematic, sophisticated crowdsourcing and social media to fight anti-Israel bias.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/digital-diplomacy-israels-advocates-get-creative-on-social-media/
https://www.abbaeban.runi.ac.il/act-il
Student task force share the truth. A group of 30 international students at Tel Aviv University have formed a task force to counter fake news and tell the verified story of what they’re seeing and hearing in Israel right now. They are uploading fact-checked reports and survivor testimonies onto Instagram, TikTok, X, and Facebook.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-770096 https://international.tau.ac.il/student-task-force
Christian support for Israel. US Christian groups, such as Christians United 4 Israel, are hosting fundraisers and sending volunteers and supplies to the Jewish state. One initiative “Don’t Look Away” is a video high above New York’s Times Square, to raise awareness of the Israeli hostages. CUFI has raised $2.65 million.
Let our people go. Nearly 300,000 attended the March for Israel rally in Washington DC – the largest Jewish gathering in US history. Some 100,000 more watched the online streaming of the event. The main purpose was to call for the release of over 200 hostages kidnapped by the terrorist organization Hamas and held in Gaza.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/let-our-people-go-nearly-300000-rally-in-washington-for-israel-hostages-release/ https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-773312
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9CLSd8Alkk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EVMSEjz9Yo
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Euro patent for resistant plant tech. Israel’s PlantArcBio (see here previously) has received a European patent for its Direct in Plant (DIP) platform. It identifies the best genes for crops to withstand harsh climates, as well as pests and weeds. It then applies these traits in plant models to demonstrate its efficacy.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125311
Chocolate to lower blood sugar level. Israel’s SOLVEAT (see here previously) has produced a prototype of its herbal chocolate bar. A preliminary study found that it reduced blood sugar by 10 to 24 percent in 10 out of 12 participants with prediabetes. A clinical trial is underway; patient recruitment is unlikely to be a problem!
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/startups-herb-infused-chocolate-bar-supports-healthy-blood-sugar/
Disused mine to be Israel’s biggest data center. Israel Land Authority has published a development tender for the abandoned Timna copper mine near Eilat. It includes construction of a solar farm and an underground data center, on 520 acres, which would be the biggest in Israel.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israel is the Resilience Nation. OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved explains why despite the challenges, Israel’s tech community remains fully mobilized, contributing significantly to stability and functionality during these testing times. He cites “multitasking, because of redundancies built in, and because frankly, this isn't our first rodeo.”
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-772455
$1 billion of Israel bonds. Israel Bonds has raised more than $1 billion in the past month. President and CEO Dani Naveh said, “This is Israel Bonds’ highest surge of investment ever, which demonstrates the strong support for Israel of the Jewish communities and Israel’s supporters in the United States and around the world,”
https://www.jns.org/since-oct-7-israel-bonds-has-raised-1-billion/
Compensation for War victims. Israel has approved an economic aid plan estimated at NIS 15 billion. It includes grants to war-affected businesses with turnover of up to NIS 400 million. It also includes a salary reimbursement program and provides relief for employees put on unpaid leave.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-greenlights-wartime-compensation-plan-for-businesses/
Azerbaijan buys a Barak. Azerbaijan has bought a Barak MX air defense system from Israel Aerospace Industries from $1.2 billion. Its purpose is said to protect Azerbaijan against the threat from Iran.
Finland buys a David’s Sling. Israel has signed a landmark deal to sell a David’s Sling air defense system to Finland for NIS 1.3 billion. David’s Sling, produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, has successfully intercepted long range rockets from Gaza. Its capability is to intercept missiles with a range of 25-185 miles.
Border farmhands get double pay. Israel’s Agriculture Ministry has promised to double the wages of farmhands in fields close to the Gaza and Lebanon borders. It seeks to lure out-of-work Israelis to take up jobs on farms. Israel is also hiring up to 10,000 farm workers from Sri Lanka.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/agriculture-ministry-seeking-to-lure-out-of-work-israelis-to-take-up-jobs-on-farms/ https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-sri-lanka-agrees-to-send-10000-farm-workers-to-israel-1001461789
Government funds for suppliers. Israel’s Defense Ministry is ensuring that key suppliers do not suffer from cashflow problems. It has paid more than four billion shekels to thousands of small and mid-sized suppliers and manufacturers with a quarter of this going to those on Israel’s borders. It is also making payments in advance.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/380298
Supporting suppliers and victims. Western Galilee Now’s Support Packages enable people to send gift boxes to evacuees, soldiers or any loved one in Israel. The boxes are filled with premium products sold by small Galilee and Negev-based businesses who are suffering loss of income due to the war. Backed by JNF-USA.
https://www.israel21c.org/gift-boxes-support-israeli-people-and-businesses-in-wartime/
https://www.facebook.com/westgalilnow/ www.westgalil.org.il
Supporting the hi-tech ecosystem. Israel’s Built Up Ventures and Besadno Group have launched a new Security Fund. The emergency Impact Investment Campaign is raising capital for its portfolio and affiliate companies involved in the defense, homeland security, and essential medical care sectors.
https://www.israel21c.org/promo/__trashed/
Helping NGOs and making a profit. Israel’s Monday.com (see here previously) supports some 360 different civilian-led projects including coordinating volunteer activities and locating homes for displaced people. Despite having 100 employees in the IDF and reserves, Monday.com made $7 million last year.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/h15lenent
Rebuilding ecology. Israel’s Kenaf Ventures (see here previously) is based in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the communities hardest hit on Oct 7. The company is refinancing its business based on the kenaf plant. The kenaf absorbs large amounts of CO2 and heavy metals. Its fibers are made into construction and bioplastic products.
https://www.israel21c.org/war-wont-stop-this-startup-from-building-a-greener-world/
We’re doing OK. Most large Israeli companies are staying strong during the war. They include Teva, whose results far exceeded market expectations. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkpnrmfqa
Exits, takeovers, and mergers – to 19/11/23: Israeli solar panel cleaning companies Solar Drone and Bladeranger have merged.
Investment in Israeli startups – to 19/11/23: Eleos Health raised $40 million; Vulcan Cyber raised $34 million; Ingonyama raised $20 million; Refine Intelligence raised $13 million; Guidde raised $11.6 million; lunar.dev raised $6 million; Entrio raised $3.5 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Safe haven for birds. Thousands of cranes are arriving at Israel’s Hula Valley nature reserve in the north as they do every fall. They join flamingos, pelicans, and thousands of other birds which migrate through Israel - a vital stop on their journey from Europe to Africa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SOvmwo3bjY
https://www.jns.org/despite-war-cranes-arrive-in-israels-hula-valley/
https://www.kkl-jnf.org/tourism-and-recreation/forests-and-parks/hula-lake-park/live_broadcast/
Good sports. (TY Hazel) Israelis are still having success in sporting competitions. Israel’s Daniel Bluman won the Longines International Equestrian Federation Jumping World Cup in Toronto. Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Zorya Luhansk 3-1 in the UEFA league, and Israel advanced to Europe’s rugby super cup semi-finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGlVIW2bPY4
https://www.rugbyeurope.eu/news/black-lion-and-tel-aviv-heat-secure-re-super-cup-semi-final-spots/
Free trips for 130 kids and their families. 130 children and their families were treated to free flights to Hungary, plus accommodation, to watch the Israeli national soccer team play Romania and Switzerland. It was organized by Yigal Nisell, COO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement. Sponsors included ISRAIR & Fattal.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-773340
THE JEWISH STATE
Empathy for ordinary Gazans. Watch how IDF soldiers treat civilians who are moving out of the battle zone in Northern Gaza. https://unitedwithisrael.org/behind-the-scenes-the-idf-the-media-doesnt-show-you/
Weddings in a war. I unfortunately posted an incorrect link to my friend Leonie’s photo last week of a couple where both groom and bride were wearing IDF uniforms. Here is the correct link (see here) but you will still need a Facebook account to access it. Meanwhile, two wedding couples celebrated - in a bomb shelter!
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1073284580793787&set=a.708124733976442
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/380292
Ethiopian Jews celebrate Sigd. Despite war, Ethiopian Israelis celebrated the Sigd holiday on Nov 13 – 50 days after Yom Kippur. It is recognized by the Knesset as a national holiday. Sigd comes from the Aramaic word sged which means to prostrate oneself, as in prayer.
https://www.jns.org/despite-war-ethiopian-israelis-celebrate-sigd-holiday/
11 grade student takes the wheel. Hallel Kana, an 11th grader at Ohr Torah Stone's Ulpanat Katz Oriya saw that the driver of her school bus was having a heart attack. Despite no driving knowledge, Hallel grabbed the wheel and pressed the brake. EMTs used CPR to save the driver. Hallel received a gift – 18 driving lessons.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/380299
Spiritual light. With the festival of Chanukah rapidly approaching, Jacob Richman has updated his blogsites containing educational resources, videos, and humor about the Jewish Festival of Lights. The Jewish State has come a long way since the victory of a small band of Maccabees over the Syrian-Greek rulers.
https://jr.co.il/hotsites/chanukah.htm https://jr.co.il/videos/chanukah-videos.htm
https://jr.co.il/humor/chanuka.htm
231112
In the 12th Nov 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Hamas got more than they bargained for at Kfar Maimon.
· Israeli migraine relief device works immediately and long term.
· 200 of the world’s best-known multinationals support Israel.
· Israeli blast-proof panels go into production just when they are needed.
· Eligible Florida seniors can receive a free friendly Israeli robot companion.
· Jewish weddings during a war.
· Click here to see the 5th Nov newsletter on IsraelSeen and Ruthfully Yours. Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here. No Hebrew version as my translator is an IDF reservist. Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking contacts. If you want a rough translation of my newsletter in any language, use the Google Translate widget on my www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com blogsite. 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 (now over 23,300 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
POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR
Unexpected heroes. One website containing the stories of 27 Israeli citizens who were thrown into life-saving situations on Oct 7. https://www.israel21c.org/unexpectedheroes/
Angels in orange. So many stories about United Hatzalah EMTs who rescued dozens of wounded Israelis on Oct 7. Some were too harrowing for this newsletter. At least these ones have positive endings. Since Oct 7, UH EMTs have treated thousands, evacuated hundreds, delivered tons of medical supplies, and much more.
https://israelrescue.org/stories/emt-reunites-with-policeman-he-saved-in-under-fire-rescue/
How Kfar Maimon was saved. On Oct 7, dozens of Hamas terrorists invaded the fields of Kfar Maimon, a religious Moshav about 5km from Gaza. They made the mistake, however, of shooting down a passing low-flying helicopter. It was carrying Israeli paratroopers who exited unhurt and eliminated the terrorists.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/379945
IDF base reopens. The Nahal Oz surveillance control center overrun by Hamas terrorists on Oct 7 has been reopened at a temporary site on the Re’im army base 2km south of the original base. The (mostly female) surveillance soldiers belong to the Intelligence Corps as did hostage Ori Megidish who was rescued from Gaza.
Natebuzz is in Israel. Australian actor Nate Buzolic (natebuzz on Instagram with 3.4 million followers) is in Israel for the 26th time. He founded Rova Media 3 weeks ago and has partnered Rabbi Ari Lamm (grandson of former YU chancellor Rabbi Norman Lamm) to change Israel’s poor online image for the younger generation.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/aussie-influencer-natebuzz-in-israel-to-fight-social-media-battle/
https://www.instagram.com/rovamedia_/ https://www.youtube.com/@RovaMedia
https://www.instagram.com/natebuzz/
Protecting civilians in Gaza. Finally, a positive Israel story from the BBC. How Israeli intelligence worked with a Gazan dentist to ensure that hundreds of Gaza civilians were unharmed as the IDF prepared to bomb tower blocks housing Hamas terrorists. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67327079
215 Bnei Menashe make Aliyah and join IDF. Since Oct 7, 75 members of the Bnei Menashe community from India have made Aliyah and joined IDF combat units. Another 140 new Olim have joined the reserves.
https://israfan.com/2023/11/07/from-india-to-israel-the-brave-bnei-menashe-joining-israels-defense/
Miracle births. (TY Ari) On Oct 7, Hevda Malca was in a safe room in Sderot while Hamas terrorists were rampaging outside. Her sister-in-law Ayala Shlomo was in a safe room in Kiryat Gat when a Hamas rocket hit their house. Both Ayala and Hedva have just given birth at Laniado hospital in Netanya.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Successful trial of heart support device. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Magenta Medical (see here previously) reported positive results in a 15-patient trial of its Elevate System. The percutaneous Left Ventricular Assist Device (pLVAD) supports circulation in high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (HR-PCI).
Long-term relief from migraines. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Theranica (see here previously) has reported successful long-term use of its Nerivio Remote Electrical Neuromodulation (REN) device for 409 migraine sufferers in the US. It consistently gave pain relief, functional disability relief and freedom.
AI to develop new therapies. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Can-Fite (see here previously) is developing small molecule medicines that address oncology and inflammatory diseases. It has partnered with Collaborations Pharma to use AI and Machine Learning techniques that significantly reduce development time and costs.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Wartime solutions for special needs. Israel’s ESNA (Emergency Special Needs Assistance) Initiative acts as a universal portal for disabled people who have a specific need or request but cannot search for it themselves. A Zoom meeting room is open every day from 8am to 10pm, staffed by ESNA volunteers.
https://nocamels.com/2023/11/portal-provides-wartime-solutions-for-israelis-with-disabilities/
Inclusive school wins global education prize. (TY Charles) At the Max Rayne Hand In Hand Jerusalem School, Jewish and Arab students learn together in both Hebrew and Arabic. It has been crowned winner of the T4 Education World’s Best School prize for overcoming adversity. See also here previously.
Pets rescued. Many stories have surfaced of pets from devastated kibbutzim and towns in the south being found and brought to animal rescue centers. From the “Iron” parrot of Aza, to the petting zoo animals from Be’eri. Many have been reunited with their surviving owners.
https://www.israel21c.org/parrot-one-of-many-pets-rescued-from-war-torn-south/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LANJfKvmOEg
200 global companies Stand with Israel. (TY UWI) From Accenture to Zoom, including Adidas, American (Airlines, Eagle & Express), Apple, Amazon, Boeing, Chanel, Google, IBM, Intel, Meta, MasterCard, Microsoft, Nasdaq, NFL, Nvidia, Netflix, Oracle, SAP, Siemens, Sony Music, Tesla, UPS, and Walmart.
https://som.yale.edu/story/2023/list-companies-have-condemned-hamas-terrorist-attack-israel
Come and help. (TY Barton) Here are some organizations that may have volunteering opportunities in Israel.
Leket (harvesting, sorting & distributing food for the needy); Hospitals (e.g., Hadassah) and a special program organized by JNF-USA. Almost half of all Israelis volunteered in the first two weeks of war.
https://www.israel21c.org/half-of-all-israelis-volunteered-in-first-2-weeks-of-war/
https://openscholar.huji.ac.il/s-wcivilsocietyen/home
Join the harvest. There is a shortage of agricultural labor in central Israel, as many foreign workers have returned to their home countries. Ex-Taglit-Birthright Israel trip participants (age 18 – 40) are invited to harvest Israeli crops for free accommodation and transport. Also, non-Jewish US cowboys & farmhands are helping.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/birthright-invites-alumni-to-volunteer-in-harvesting-abandoned-fields-near-gaza/ https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryo1w1100m6
Blood brothers. (TY Hazel) Commander of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, came to Israel to be briefed by his Israeli counterpart Major General Tomer Bar. While he was here, he traveled to Sheba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer so that he and his staff could donate blood.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryihjfw7a
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Blast-proof panels. The bomb-proof material produced by Israel’s Ortech (see here previously) has been launched just in time. Ortech’s panels have reinforced the 156-room Amigour sheltered housing for Holocaust survivors in the southern city of Be’er Sheva. They are also being used to protect IDF soldiers.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/for-israelis-without-secure-room-blast-proof-panels-offer-lifeline/
Have a safe flight. Israel’s Cyviation is the world’s first company to focus on cybersecurity for aircraft. It covers everything from crew training to incident management. It has just opened a HQ in New York and secured a US patent for its tech to identify cyber threats within an aircraft’s cockpit and avionics systems.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125179 https://cyviation.aero/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mHUO2HLq4E
Identifying drone malfunctions. Israel’s Maris-Tech (see here previously) has just received a $156,000 grant from the Israel Innovation Authority. It will help it continue its joint project with Ben-Gurion University to identify and predict drone faults and malfunctions.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125141
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israeli shekel strengthens. At the start of the war, the value of the Israel shekel fell by around 10% with over 4 shekels to the US$. It has since recovered nearly all its value.
https://www.boi.org.il/en/economic-roles/financial-markets/exchange-rates/
Open for trade. Ashdod is Israel’s largest port. Just 20km from Gaza, and under constant rocket fire, it is operating 24/7, unloading cargo essential for Israel’s economy.
https://www.israel21c.org/israels-largest-seaport-resolves-to-stay-afloat-through-war/
Low interest loans to help businesses. The Bank of Israel is to provide Israel’s commercial banks with up to NIS 10 billion for two years so they can grant loans to war-affected small businesses at lower interest rates. It will help them deal with the economic hardship arising from the war, until they return to full operations.
Iron Nation fund. A group of leading venture capitalists and serial entrepreneurs have launched an emergency impact fund dubbed “Iron Nation”. It aims to raise $20 million to provide early-stage Israeli startups with a lifeline during the ongoing war. The fund is backed by global tech & VC pro-bono volunteers.
Investment funds for startups in the South. Israel’s Arieli Capital (see here previously) has launched its Southern Starlight Initiative that will allocate NIS 5 million for startups in the south of the country that were impacted by the Hamas terror attack on Oct 7. Arieli will also guide the startups through this period.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/investment-firm-allocates-5m-shekels-for-southern-israel-startups/
Free empathic robot in Florida. (TY OurCrowd) The AI-powered companion ElliQ (see here previously) created by Israeli startup Intuition Robotics is being offered free to eligible adults over 60 in Coral Springs and Broward County South Florida. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGcH1B1Nzx4
https://southfloridahospitalnews.com/aaabc-brings-elliq-ai-care-companion-technology-to-older-adults-in-broward-county/ https://www.adrcbroward.org/elliq
Recycling water in Texas. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s Kando (see here previously) is helping maintain water quality for recycling or drinking in El Paso, Texas. Kando uses sensors distributed throughout the city’s sewers. They alert El Paso’s wastewater management about a possible pollution event so that they can investigate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISnVj_jHHIU https://www.kando.eco/wastewater-quality-case-study/
Exploring for gas in a war. Israel’s war against Hamas has not deterred foreign companies from continuing to search for new oil and gas deposits in Israeli waters. The Energy ministry has awarded 12 licenses to six companies, including BP and ENI, for natural gas exploration off the country’s Mediterranean coast.
Ormat powers up in the US. (TY Atid-EDI) For $271 million, Israel’s Ormat Technologies (see here previously) has bought six US energy sites in Utah, Nevada, Connecticut, and California.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ormat-acquire-contracted-operating-geothermal-113000200.html
Palo Alto acquires two Israeli startups. US tech giant Palo Alto is taking over Israel’s Talon Cyber Security (see here previously) for at least $600 million. The announcement comes a week after Palo Alto announced the acquisition of another Israeli startup Dig Security (see here previously) for around $400 million.
Investment in Israeli startups – to 12/11/23: Next Insurance raised $265 million; Myrror Security raised $6 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Israeli-Arab teams’ silence for Oct 7 victims. Israeli soccer teams Umm Al Fahm and Kafr Qasim observed a 1-minute silence for the victims of Oct 7 prior to their match. “Wishing for better and beautiful days, for Arabs and Jews alike,” said a statement from Umm al-Fahm team owner Muhammad Abu Alam.
Judoka silvers. (TY Hazel) Israeli judokas were able to bring some pride to the nation last weekend as Gili Sharir and Raz Hershko both took home the silver medals while Inbar Lanir captured bronze at the European Championships held in Montpellier, France. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-771953
THE JEWISH STATE
Good news on Jerusalem’s Streets. I apologize to Sharon, but I hadn’t been expecting any good news on the streets of Jerusalem. This article from two weeks ago highlights huge flags, weddings, Bat Mitzvot, messages of “Am Yisrael Chai”, volunteering, donating, Arab families, plus support and accommodation for evacuees.
http://rjstreets.com/2023/10/22/time-for-good-news-from-the-jerusalem-streets/
Nothing stops the wedding. So many couples continue to hold marriage ceremonies despite the war. In many cases, the chupah takes place on army bases with the groom and many wedding guests in combat uniform.
Sometimes (TY Leonie) both the bride and groom are wed in IDF uniform (see here).
https://www.israel21c.org/the-joy-of-weddings-and-playgrounds-in-wartime/
Reciting kiddush in a tank. IDF soldiers on their way into Gaza don’t forget about Shabbat and recite a heartfelt kiddush prayer. They also request divine protection for the IDF, for their Givati brigade and for peace.
We’re back. For the first time in decades, Israeli soldiers prayed at a 6th Century CE synagogue in the Rimal suburb of Gaza City. Amazingly the building, built in 508 CE, is still standing. A mosaic of King David with a lyre and his name in Hebrew was moved to Jerusalem’s Israel Museum in 1967. Plus, Hatikvah on Gaza beach.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-soldiers-pray-at-gaza-shul-for-first-time-in-decades/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/380013
How to help Israel. Here are some sites where newsletter readers can donate to Israeli organizations that provide vital help to Israelis at this difficult time. Many thanks to those who have already contributed and to those who are helping by donating their own valuable time and resources.
Friends of the IDF (US donors): https://www.fidf.org/
or IDF Soldiers Fund in Israel: https://www.ufis.org.il/en/donation-en/ (select the English speakers’ option)
American Friends of Magen David Adom (US donors): https://afmda.org/
or Magen David Adom (Israel): https://www.mdais.org/en/donation
Zaka (US donors): https://donate.zakatelaviv.org/give/525578/ or (Israeli donors): https://charidy.com/zaka
or (Canadian donors): https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/bellevue-foundation/
United Hatzalah: https://israelrescue.org/campaign/israel-at-war-2/ or Canada https://www.uhcanada.org/
Leket Food Israel: https://www.leket.org/en/
JNF USA - https://my.jnf.org/gaza-emergency/Donate or Canada https://jnf.ca/
Orthodox Union - https://www.charidy.com/ouisraelcrisis
Hadassah Hospital Israel: https://www.hadassah.org/
Laniado Hospital (Netanya) https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/EmergencyLaniado
And many more charities here:
Buy Israel Bonds to support the Jewish State. (TY Larry B)
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/state-of-israel-bonds
USA - https://www.israelbonds.com/
Europe - https://israelbondsintl.com/
Canada - https://www.israelbonds.ca/
231105
In the 5th Nov 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israel has become the “Volunteer Nation”.
· Two Israeli startups have donated their stress-relieving medical devices.
· Six of TIME Magazine’s 200 best inventions of 2023 are Israeli.
· Israel’s largest ever sale of a defense system.
· Canada’s largest ever fundraising campaign for the Jewish State.
· Click here to see the 29th Oct newsletter on IsraelSeen and Ruthfully Yours. Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here. No Hebrew version as my translator is an IDF reservist. Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking contacts. If you want a rough translation of my newsletter in any language, use the Google Translate widget on my www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com blogsite. 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 (now over 23,300 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
POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR
Civilians raise money for IDF. Our People is a new volunteer NGO of 100 people, primarily immigrants from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa. It has raised $3.7 million to purchase and deliver ceramic inserts for the standard combat vest that IDF frontline soldiers use.
https://www.jns.org/startup-on-steroids-civilians-raise-3-7m-to-equip-idf-troops/
Vegan meals for soldiers. The Israeli startups joining Israel’s Redefine Meat (see last week) to provide plant-based meats and dairy alternatives to the IDF include Green Butcher, More Foods, YoEgg! Foods and Creative Pea. JO-MO Chocolate also provided sweet treats. https://www.jomo-chocolate.com/
Feeding preemies. Magen David Adom National Human Milk Bank announces that since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct 7, hundreds of liters of Israeli breast milk has been donated to feed premature babies and babies whose mothers have been killed, abducted, or injured, or who have been called up to military duty.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/magen-david-adom-says-over-600-liters-of-breastmilk-provided-since-start-of-war/ https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-milk-bank-overflows-in-response-to-victims-babies/
Sew important. 400 volunteer fashion designers, design students, lecturers, and graduates, at Tel Aviv’s Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, work in shifts to help complete IDF gear for reservist soldiers. They stitch pockets and straps that attach to the ceramic bulletproof vests worn by combat soldiers.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/designers-sew-for-combat-soldiers-pivoting-from-fashion-to-function/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z42AUAKValY
A hotline for non-Hebrew speakers. The Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies at Bar-Ilan University has recruited dozens of volunteers to help non-Hebrew speakers contact emergency responders and aid organizations. It aims to help callers with immediate medical, emotional and logistical needs.
https://www.israel21c.org/hotline-providing-interpreting-services-during-wartime/
Israeli Arab reservists fight fake news. Arab-Israelis who volunteered to serve in the IDF and are now in the reserves, are informing the Arab world of Israel’s case. Their main message is “Everyone was shocked by Hamas, which is against Islam.” https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkzwfzgg6
UK Ambassador volunteers. (TY Hazel) British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters volunteered at Asif – Culinary Institute of Israel, that since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 has been functioning as a center for cooking, packing, and shipping food to families evacuated from their homes, hospitals, and more.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2023/10/31/916291/
Female fighters save lives. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Caracal Battalion, led by Lt.-Col. Or Ben-Yehuda and comprised mostly of female IDF combat troops, eliminated approximately 100 terrorists on Oct 7. Also, orthodox border police Superintendent Shifra Buchris, plus 3 from her unit, rescued many at the rave party.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-769134
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/sj00o9xgp
All my sons. The story of Ruti, a mother of 12, who has 6 sons (5 married) and 4 sons-in-law serving in the IDF reserves. She also has 3 grandchildren in the IDF. https://www.timesofisrael.com/mother-of-12-has-six-sons-4-sons-in-law-3-grandchildren-and-1-nephew-in-the-idf/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
The premier of Surgical Theater’s AR spine surgery. (TY OurCrowd) Stanford Medicine performed the first spine surgery using the augmented reality technology from Israel’s Surgical Theater (see here previously). The successful tumor resection operation employed Surgical Theater’s SyncAR Spine platform.
Great results in heart monitoring trials. (TY Atid-EDI) The SmartHeart monitoring system from Israel’s SHL Telemedicine (see here previously) is undergoing trials at Imperial College London. It has reduced ER visits by 27.5% and hospital readmission rates by 55%, surpassing expectations.
US approval for dialysis artery connector. The US FDA has approved the VasQ External Vascular Support from Israel’s Laminate Medical Technologies (see here previously). It follows a US 144-patients study. VasQ safely connects a patient’s arteries and veins to dialysis machines, by creating arteriovenous fistulas or AVFs.
https://vascularnews.com/laminate-medical-announces-fda-clearance-for-vasq-avf-creation-device/
http://www.laminatemedical.com/news-events/
US funds Israeli virus versus bacteria trial. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s MeMed (see here previously) has been awarded nearly $727,800 from the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to support a trial of its 15-minute MeMed BV test that distinguishes between bacterial and viral infections.
https://www.me-med.com/press_release/memed-awarded-us-barda-contract/
Devices to relieve stress. Israeli startups XRHealth (see here previously) and CalmiGo (see here previously) are donating their anxiety-relieving devices to hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and mental health centers throughout Israel. XRHealth’s headsets and CalmiGo’s inhalers help relax worried citizens.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-firms-donate-anxiety-relieving-devices-to-citizens/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
University grants for students in IDF. Bar-Ilan Uni is granting 1,000-5,000 NIS ($250-$1,250) for 6,000+ of its students who are now serving on the front lines. Ben Gurion Uni is paying NIS 1,200 ($300) grant and are delaying rental fees. 5,000+ Tel Aviv Uni students will each receive NIS 1,000 from the TAU Emergency fund.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/ben-gurion-bar-ilan-universities-announce-emergency-grants-for-reservists/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/tel-aviv-university-announces-grants-for-student-soldiers/
Israeli Arab party leaders reject Hamas. The leaders of two of Israel’s Arab parties rejected Hamas's call for Arabs in Israel to join Hamas’ war on Israel. MK Dr. Mansour Abbas, chairman of Ra'am and MK Ayman Odeh, chairman of the Hadash-Ta'al urged their followers to exercise restraint. Also read Yoseph Haddad.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkzwfzgg6 https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-769843
Support for Israel from 100+ top German companies. 106 German companies, representing the bulk of the country’s economy employing millions of workers, took out a full-page ad in major German Sunday newspapers. The ad was headlined “Never again is now,” and denounced antisemitism and Jew hatred.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Best inventions. TIME Magazine’s 2023 list of 200 Best Inventions includes six Israeli startups. Beewise (BeeHome4), Wiliot, Salignostics (Salistick), Lumen, UBQ, and Brenmiller (bGen Zero). Another – Sensibo (AirPro) received a special mention.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/six-israeli-startups-make-time-magazines-annual-best-inventions/
https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2023/
Streamlining wartime aid delivery. Israeli tech companies Fiverr (see here previously) and HiBob (see here previously) have partnered to create the AI platform Lev Echad (One Heart). It manages any Israeli public needs or requests (civilian or military) during the current conflict and escalates them to the relevant bodies.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/israeli-high-tech-giants-use-ai-to-streamline-wartime-aid-delivery/
https://www.levechad.org/hamal-hitech-en
AI transforms overhead Gaza images. (TY OurCrowd) The IDF uses the software platform from Israel’s Edgybees (see here previously) to ensure accurate real-time visual data and protect innocent lives. Edgybees aligns aerial video and satellite imagery with reference data in real time.
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/israels-tech-teams-helping-to-battle-hamas/
Combating hate on social media. With Israel’s Trendtrack, social media users can easily identify and report posts containing hate speech, violence, and false information or share pro-Israeli content. Use it to stop hate, stop misinformation and support Israel. Just 5 minutes a day can help promote Israeli advocacy.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/new-project-combats-israel-hate-on-social-media-post-by-post/
https://brightinitiative.com/posts-activity/
Keeping drivers safe. Travel applications Waze and Google Maps have disabled reports of road congestion, traffic, and the location of other drivers in Israel. They aim to prevent terrorist organizations from using real-time reports to target vehicle concentrations. They will continue to give directions and estimated arrival times.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hj9kqn4m6
Cybersecurity breakthrough awards. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Opus Security (see here previously) was the Gold Globee Business Award winner for AWS Cloud Security in the 2023 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards. Opus also won two bronze awards for innovation and startup achievement.
https://globeeawards.com/cyber-security/winners/ https://www.opus.security/news
Detecting potential disasters. (TY Atid-EDI) The Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers has given its Successful Innovation Award to Israel’s ASTERRA (see here previously) for its EarthWorks for Mining system. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231006338719/en/ASTERRA-EarthWorks-for-mines-wins-Successful-Innovation-Award-at-Perumin-36
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Germany buys Israeli defense system. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel has signed a letter of commitment for the sale of an Arrow 3 long-range anti-ballistic missile system to Germany for $3.5 billion, the largest single security sale by Israel to date. Germany will initially transfer 600 million Euros to Israel for production to begin.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-and-germany-sign-35b-arrow-3-deal-1001458968
More global corporate support. Global corporations providing material support to Israel include Walmart ($1 million to Magen David Adom); McDonald’s (100,000 free meals to the IDF, residents, and hospitals); SAP (cash to employees, 250k Euros to MDA & others, agricultural produce from farmers to evacuees & IDF).
https://worldisraelnews.com/walmart-pledges-1-million-to-israels-red-cross/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2023/10/25/mcdonalds-israel-sparks-international-outrage-giving-free-food-idf-soldiers-israeli-security-forces/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/multinational-tech-firms-from-sap-to-intel-to-give-israeli-workers-wartime-grant/
New VC Fund to aid war effort. A new Venture Capital fund “1948 Ventures” has just been launched. It will invest in early-stage Israeli-founded companies that develop technologies for civilian use in a war environment. Areas include supply chain, communications, medical devices, and tech to help track and trace missing persons.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/syewdybmt
Down on the farms. Some 2,500 Israelis have applied to replace the thousands of foreign workers, Gaza Arabs, and drafted IDF reserves, who are unavailable to work in the agriculture industry. They are being recruited by Israeli NGO HaShomer HaChadash (see here previously) which is protecting Israel from food shortages.
https://www.israel21c.org/thousands-rush-to-help-israels-desperate-southern-farmers/
US to test Israeli screening system. (TY OurCrowd) The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is to evaluate the security technology from Israel’s SeeTrue (see here previously) for passenger screening at government laboratories and US airports.
Innovative wheels get environmental certification. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s REE Automotive has received US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification for its P7 range of electric trucks. It will help REE’s goal to deliver its unique fully by-wire electric vehicles by the end of 2023.
https://ree.auto/segments/p7-c-chassis-cab/
Reasons to be optimistic. More upbeat sentiments by OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved on the resilience of the Startup Nation in this interview on Sky News Australia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHCr_SljK54
THE JEWISH STATE
Hassidic Rabbi brings aid to IDF. One of the Sadigura Rebbes (there are currently three) travelled from Jerusalem to visit soldiers in the north and show support. With donations from his community, he bought the soldiers ceramic vests. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/379228
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P68cpNMP4t0
One family’s prayers answered. The family of IDF soldier Ori Megidish, who was held captive in Gaza, requested that a new Torah scroll be brought into her bedroom, while it was being paraded in her hometown. One week later, she was miraculously rescued unharmed. We pray for more than 240 similar miracles.
https://worldisraelnews.com/divine-intervention-how-captive-soldiers-family-turned-to-god-days-before-her-rescue/ (see embedded video)
Canadian Jewry raises $100 million CAD. The Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA (JFC-UIA) has raised $100 million CAD for Israel. It is Canada’s largest ever fundraising campaign on behalf of the Jewish State. Canada has less than 400,000 Jewish citizens (2021 census) compared to the US’s estimated 6.3 million Jews.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ryveaq7mp
How to help Israel. Here are some sites where newsletter readers can donate to Israeli organizations that provide vital help to Israelis at this difficult time. Many thanks to those who have already contributed and to those who are helping by donating their own valuable time and resources.
Friends of the IDF (US donors): https://www.fidf.org/
or IDF Soldiers Fund in Israel: https://www.ufis.org.il/en/donation-en/ (select the English speakers’ option)
American Friends of Magen David Adom (US donors): https://afmda.org/
or Magen David Adom (Israel): https://www.mdais.org/en/donation
Zaka (US donors): https://donate.zakatelaviv.org/give/525578/
or (Israeli donors): https://charidy.com/zaka
United Hatzalah: https://israelrescue.org/campaign/israel-at-war-2/
Leket Food Israel: https://www.leket.org/en/
JNF USA - https://my.jnf.org/gaza-emergency/Donate
Orthodox Union - https://www.charidy.com/ouisraelcrisis
Hadassah Hospital Israel: https://www.hadassah.org/
Laniado Hospital (Netanya) https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/EmergencyLaniado
And many more charities here:
231029
In the 29th Oct 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Many examples of brave Israelis who saved countless lives on Oct 7.
· Successful launch of smart Israeli device that advises on best cancer treatment.
· Huge support for war effort from both religious and secular Israelis.
· Best-ever performance by Israeli students at Informatics Olympiad.
· Generous support for Israel from all over the world.
· Amazing stories of Jewish resilience.
· Click here to see the 22nd Oct newsletter on IsraelSeen. Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here. No Hebrew version as my translator is an IDF reservist. Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking contacts. If you want a rough translation of my newsletter in any language, use the Google Translate widget on my www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com blogsite. 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 (now over 23,300 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
POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR
More heroes. Many examples of brave Israelis confronting Hamas terrorists. A wounded battalion commander rescued an abducted French tourist and carried on fighting. A brigade commander got into three separate tanks, one after another, and then ran over Hamas vehicles to reach the Sderot police station besieged by Hamas.
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/rkuxomwb6
The few against the many. Less than ten brave young men on Kibbutz Kerem Shalom held 100 Hamas terrorists at bay for more than 6 hours, despite being low on ammunition, until the Israeli Army came in and rescued them. https://www.israelunwired.com/heartbreaking-story-from-a-hero-who-saved-his-kibbutz-in-southern-israel-from-hamas/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s20ECtAf0GA
Bedouin bus driver saves 30. On Oct 7, Bedouin Arab minibus driver Youssef Ziadna went to pick up one of his regular customers at the outdoor party near Gaza and came face to face with Hamas’ brutal massacre. He then dodged bullets and drove off-road to rescue 30 Jewish Israelis and bring them to safety.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/378869
Protestors metamorphose. Organizations that only weeks ago were protesting on the streets are now helping victims of Hamas. Some 15,000 volunteers at the Expo Tel Aviv International Convention Center are distributing donated equipment and food, finding accommodation for evacuees, and much more.
Tons of aid arrive. An EL AL 787 Dreamliner that landed on Oct 23 in Ben Gurion Airport was filled with 22 tons of supplies donated to assist with the ongoing war effort. Jointly sponsored by the Phoenix Group and NY-based Amudim Community Resources, plus El Al, the cargo hold was full of medical aid and clothing.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/379006 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-769687
Vegan meals for 6,000 IDF soldiers. Israel’s Redefine Meat is producing thousands of nutritious protein-rich vegan dishes each week to feed the many vegan / flexitarian IDF soldiers serving on the front lines. Redefine Meat’s head chef has enlisted vegan startups, 100 volunteers, and private chefs to work at his Tel Aviv kitchen.
US firefighters respond. 23 American firefighters from the Emergency Volunteers Project (EVP – see here previously) left their homes to join the response effort in Israel. 60 more are on standby, ready to fly over at a moment’s notice. Many of those stationed in Ashkelon were hosted in Kibbutz Be’eri during a previous visit.
8-year-old meets family of soldier who donated his liver. An emotional meeting was held at Schneider Pediatric Hospital between transplant patient 8-year-old Refael who received a liver lobe and the family of its donor - soldier Amichai Rubin - who was killed on Oct 7. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/379213
My home is your home. The World Zionist Organization has launched a project whereby owners of empty apartments in Israel release them to the WZO for evacuees from southern and northern Israel. The WZO will be the guarantor. The project includes a website, contact details, and global adverts in many languages.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/379109
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Better cancer treatment. (TY OurCrowd) A trial of the PROphet blood test from Israel’s OncoHost (see here previously) has proved its accuracy and reliability in predicting the best treatment for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. OncoHost has received orders from 29 US cancer centers since its 2023 launch.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/journal-of-pharmaceutical--biomedical-analysis-publishes-study-analytically-validating-oncohosts-prophet-test-as-a-decision-support-tool-for-metastatic-nsclc-patients-301964509.html https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0731708523005721
Detecting too much calcium in the arteries. Israel’s Beilinson Hospital has completed a study of coronary artery calcium (CAC) levels using the HealthCCSng system from Israel’s Nanox.AI (see here previously) to review routine CT-scans. High CAC patients were referred to clinics for in-depth evaluation and treatment.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/377841 https://www.nanox.vision/ai
Partnering to develop IBD treatment. Israel’s Teva is partnering with France’s Sanofi (see also here) to develop and commercialize TEV 574, currently in Phase 2b clinical trials, for the anti-TL1A treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease, two types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-teva-teams-with-sanofi-on-inflammatory-bowel-treatment-1001459330
US approval for vision-correcting eye drops. The US FDA has approved the QLOSI eye drops, from Israel’s Orasis (see here previously), The prescription eye drops improve farsightedness (presbyopia) for up to eight hours without impacting distance or night vision. The treatment can benefit almost two billion sufferers.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/eyedrops-that-temporarily-correct-vision-receive-fda-approval/
Sports tech to heal injured soldiers. The ElectroGear device from Israel’s Healables (see here previously) was designed to enhance performance and accelerate recovery among athletes. It is now being repurposed to treat pain and injuries suffered by IDF personnel. You can even help towards donating one to an Israeli soldier.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/startup-repurposes-wearable-medtech-for-israeli-soldiers-in-battle/
https://electrogear.com/products/electrogear-military-hero
Treating war-related head trauma. Israel’s Sheba Medical Center is using innovative methods to treat the complex injuries suffered by those wounded by Hamas terrorists. One example is the AI systems from Israel’s Aidoc (see here previously), used to analyze brain aneurysms from gunshot wounds and rocket shrapnel.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/israels-top-hospital-innovates-to-treat-war-related-head-trauma/
Using AI to speed up gene therapy development. Israel’s mana.bio harnesses the power of AI to significantly reduce development times for new nucleic acid therapeutics and vaccines. Mana.bio produces novel lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that deliver RNA and gene therapies to specific tissues in the body near to the liver,
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjkyo2hzt https://www.mana.bio/technology
Optimizing clinical trials. Israel’s PhaseV develops causal machine learning (ML) technology that optimizes clinical trial design and analysis. Its goal is to prevent bio-techs wasting money on failed or badly designed trials of new treatments. It boosts clinical trial success rates while maximizing resource and time efficiency.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/skymnbhf6 https://phasevtrials.com/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Haredi support for war effort. The offices of Haredi website Kikar haShabat have been transformed into an emergency control room. They help organize 4,000 ultra-orthodox volunteers who distribute supplies, visit the sick, and donate blood in many Israeli cities. 2,000+ have just volunteered for the IDF - 100+ each day.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/defending-israel-together-haredi-website-base-transformed-into-war-control-center-amid-hamas-war/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98A0If0iYSo
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/378911
Tel Aviv restaurants go kosher for the IDF. (TY Nocamels) More than 100 Tel Aviv restaurants have rushed to acquire temporary kosher certification so they could cook thousands of meals each day for soldiers, hospitals, and the evacuees of the Gaza border communities. They’re even closed on Shabbat for the duration of the war.
Agriculture accord with Morocco. Israeli Minister of Agriculture Avi Dichter and his Moroccan counterpart Mohamed Sadiki have signed an agreement to bolster agricultural cooperation between their two nations. It includes support for tech companies, new food supply chains, rural development, and countering drought.
https://www.jns.org/rabat-and-jerusalem-sign-agricultural-accord/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Technology for Israel. Israelis have been working hard to develop systems to support Israelis during the war. Digitaldome.io reports toxic content on social media with a single click. Swords of Steel helps families search for missing loved ones. Remember710 translates Hebrew personal testimonies into English in sharable format.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/syf8xofbp https://digitaldome.io/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/byez28ww6 https://swordsofsteel.org/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hyr11sqkbt https://www.remember710.com/
Israeli scientists awarded European grants. (TY Nevet) Two Bar-Ilan University scientists received a total of $3.6 million from the European Research Council. Dr. Assaf Ben-Moshe studies the properties of mirror images of chemicals. Dr Shahar Alon studies interactions between the immune system and tumors.
3 Golds at Informatics Olympiad. (TY Dr Salem) Israel's Informatics team won three gold medals and an honorable mention at the International Olympiad in Informatics. It was Israel’s best-ever result at the Olympiad since it first competed in 1996 (see here previously). Israel came overall 4th of the 90 participating countries.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-758403
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
A wave of new business for the new Middle East. On the 3rd anniversary of the Abraham Accords, this article describes the success of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and its success at providing Israeli entrepreneurs with a platform to explore new markets and foster cross-cultural partnerships.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-760284
Financial support for war victims. Israel’s Tipalti (see here previously) has raised and donated 2.5 million shekels in humanitarian relief. The Israeli Children’s Fund (ICF)is giving $100,000 to each child who has lost a parent. Over 200 Venture Capital funds have signed a letter of support for Israel. (now 500)
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/high-tech-entrepreneurs-to-raise-100m-for-israeli-orphans/
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/fintech-firm-raises-millions-to-aid-israelis-after-terror-attacks/
https://www.israelichildrensfund.org/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rj11ulhh11p
Global corporate aid. Canada’s Leaders Fund is donating $50+ million to Israeli aid organizations. Salesforce - $3m; Disney - $2m; Paramount - $1m; Insight Partners - $1m; General Catalyst - $0.25m; Cisco is paying NIS 9k to each Israeli employee and NIS 19k to IDF reservists. Oracle is matching global employees’ donations.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tech-giants-from-google-to-oracle-condemn-horrific-hamas-attack-pledge-israel-aid/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bj8f1tfbt
Support from Diaspora Jews & friends. This article describes some of the Jewish and non-Jewish organizations who are raising funds to support victims of Hamas terrorism and their families. They include Israel Bonds, Victims of Terror, UJA, JNF-USA, synagogues, Christians United 4 Israel, and even Tieks shoes.
https://www.jns.org/american-jewish-zionist-communities-raise-funds-for-israel-in-time-of-need/
Bank of Israel freezes mortgage and loan repayments. Israel’s Central bank is to freeze mortgage and loan re-payments to Israeli citizens for 3 months to provide financial relief and ease cashflow crunch during the war.
Startup budget quadrupled. Israel has increased the budget of the Innovation Authority's Fast-Track program by a factor of four, from NIS 100 million to NIS 400 million. It will provide vital support to startups facing financial difficulties because of the ongoing hostilities.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/379158
Israel will emerge stronger. Positive messages from Jon Medved, CEO of Israel’s OurCrowd, and Economist Amir Kahanovich who predict Israel’s resilience will ensure that it will recover from adversity and grow even stronger. Medved also calls on everyone to combat misinformation, support Israel, and work for a better future.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2023-10-11/ourcrowd-s-medved-israel-has-strong-tech-ecosystem-video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kImSykd-l1A
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/vn6colckz
Investment in Israeli startups in a war: Island.io raised $100 million; Blockaid raised $27 million; Mana.bio raised $19.5 million; PhaseV raised $15 million; Statement raised $12 million; Wanda Fish raised $7 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Transforming Hell. See the latest video showing the beautiful Valley of Hennom in Jerusalem (see here previously) which the City of David organization has transformed from the Valley of Hell into a family-friendly park, that was enjoyed by many during the recent Festival of Sukkot.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/exploring-the-ancient-and-the-new-city-of-davids-sukkot-park-unveiled/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnvYEEsTxeY
10-y-o Chess champion. Noam Sasson has come joint-first in the European Rapid Chess Championship 2023 under-10s in Slovenia, following the conclusion of a day and a half of games. He previously won the European School Chess Championships 2022 and is a graduate of the "Chess4all" chess club (see here previously).
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-761044 https://www.chess4all.org.il/
Israel wins Bridge Championships. (TY Dr Salem) For the first time, Israel’s women won the Venice Cup at the 46th World Bridge Championships in Marrakech, Morocco, beating Turkye in the final. The competition took place at the end of August, shortly before the Sept 8 earthquake.
http://championships.worldbridge.org/marrakech2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djacfBIISqM
THE JEWISH STATE
Jews who fled Ukraine, now help Israel in its war. Ukrainian teens and young adults, who fled Russia and Ukraine to avoid war, are helping Israel’s war effort. Via non-profit Shishi Shabbat Yisraeli (SSY), they work in 12-hour shifts packing medical equipment and field rations. But here they want to support Israel’s soldiers.
https://www.jns.org/olim-who-fled-ukraine-war-volunteering-in-israels-war-effort/
No stopping new Olim. Even in war-time new immigrants are still arriving at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport. "Seeing olim arrive in Israel during the most challenging days we've ever known fills our hearts and gives us strength to carry on," said Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/378791
The priority of saving lives. For the first time in 41 years, El Al flew on Shabbat, bringing back to Israel from New York and Bangkok (free of charge) Israelis called up for emergency military reserve duty. They also flew back security and rescue forces stranded abroad. The emergency rescue flights were religiously approved.
From the ashes. 12-year-old Ariel Zohar survived the massacre that took his parents and sisters on Oct 7. During the shiva, Ariel asked Zaka volunteers to try to find his father’s tefillin that had been handed down by his grandfather – a Shoah survivor. The two men found a melted plastic bag. Inside was the tefillin – intact!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGIZR8Cuyqc https://twitter.com/i/status/1715803966171156678
Tzitzit for soldiers. Tzitzit, the fringes on a 4-cornered garment, are often worn by the non-religious in times of trouble. Today thousands of secular soldiers are wearing tzitzit and US Jews have launched project “Spiritual Armor” to send tzitzit to Israeli soldiers. https://raisethon.com/spiritualarmor
https://www.jns.org/us-jews-supply-thousands-of-tzitzit-to-israeli-soldiers/
We’re closed, it’s Shabbat. Moshav Tekuma, just 7km from Gaza, was bypassed by Hamas terrorists because they were unable to enter it. The religious community was completely locked down on Shabbat Oct 7, after having been subject to repeated burglaries on Shabbat previously.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/378903
How to help Israel. Here are some sites where newsletter readers can donate to Israeli organizations that provide vital help to Israelis at this difficult time. Many thanks to those who have already contributed and to those who are helping by donating their own valuable time and resources.
Friends of the IDF (US donors): https://www.fidf.org/
or IDF Soldiers Fund in Israel: https://www.ufis.org.il/en/donation-en/ (select the English speakers’ option)
American Friends of Magen David Adom (US donors): https://afmda.org/
or Magen David Adom (Israel): https://www.mdais.org/en/donation
Zaka (US donors): https://donate.zakatelaviv.org/give/525578/
or (Israeli donors): https://charidy.com/zaka
United Hatzalah: https://israelrescue.org/campaign/israel-at-war-2/
Leket Food Israel: https://www.leket.org/en/
JNF USA - https://my.jnf.org/gaza-emergency/Donate
Orthodox Union - https://www.charidy.com/ouisraelcrisis
Hadassah Hospital Israel: https://www.hadassah.org/
Laniado Hospital (Netanya) https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/EmergencyLaniado
And many more charities here:
231022
In the 22nd Oct 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Almost all these articles are highlights. Please see donation sites at the end of this newsletter.
· Click here to see the 8th Oct newsletter on IsraelSeen. Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here plus the 15th Oct message here. No Hebrew version as my translator is an IDF reservist. Please forward this newsletter to German-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 (now over 23,300 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
POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR
Mystery man buys tickets for returning reservists. An orthodox Jewish man stood by the counter of El Al Airlines at JFK airport and paid for anyone's flight who presented him with an IDF call-up notice. He paid for 250 tickets. https://nypost.com/2023/10/10/anonymous-man-buys-250-plane-tickets-for-israel-bound-idf-reservists-at-jfk-airport-reports/ https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/mystery-man-buys-250-plane-tickets-to-israel-for-reservists/463489 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax2bFphI3Gk
Arab Muslim tracker saves IDF families. A Bedouin IDF Lieutenant Colonel saved the lives of the wives and children of IDF officers at the division's Re'im base. He removed his IDF uniform, called to the infiltrating terrorists in Arabic, and then eliminated them when they emerged, thinking he was also a Hamas terrorist.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/378602
The heroine of Kibbutz Nir Am. (TY Laura B) Instead of sheltering during the Hamas rocket barrage on Oct 7, Inbal Rabin-Liberman, head of the security at Kibbutz Nir Am, armed her 12-person team. They were then able to defend against the infiltrating Hamas terrorists for almost three and a half hours until the IDF arrived.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-767920
Grandmother outsmarts Hamas terrorists. Rachel and David Edri survived a harrowing 20-hour ordeal, holed up with terrorists in their home in Ofakim. Rachel offered refreshments to the five terrorists, and later a meal, engaged them in small talk, playing for time until an elite IDF unit arrived and eliminated the terrorists.
https://www.jns.org/grandmother-outsmarts-hamas-terrorists-in-her-home/
How Israelis saved lives. Israeli civilians heroically fought back against Hamas on October 7. Citizens, police officers, and soldiers, at home and on base, scrambled, improvised, and fought back fiercely. These brave citizens not only saved countless lives: These Israelis saved Israel.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-768965
Life imitates art. Lior Raz, Tsahi Halevi and Idan Amedi are among the actors of the popular Israeli TV series Fauda who have joined the hundreds of thousands of IDF reservists. Lior posted “headed down south to join hundreds of brave "brothers in arms" volunteers”. They extracted families from the bombarded town of Sderot.
https://www.israel21c.org/life-imitates-art-fauda-stars-show-up-for-reserve-duty/
Soldier’s organs save five lives. The family of 23-year-old IDF Lt. Roi Nahari, killed by Hamas, donated his organs to five patients at Israel’s Beilinson Hospital. His liver went to a 44-year-old mother of five, suffering from hepatitis for 30 years. https://www.jns.org/slain-idf-officer-saves-lives-of-five-with-organ-donation/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/lt-roi-nahari-23/
Israelis overwhelm blood donation centers. So many Israelis wanted to donate blood for the wounded that many blood donation centers only accepted those with blood type O, which can be transfused universally.
https://www.israel21c.org/israelis-overwhelm-blood-donation-centers-as-war-begins/
Now it’s personal! I “normally” report about Israeli humanitarian organization IsraAID when it responds to global disasters. When the disaster is much closer to home, IsraAID is also there for us. IsraAID CEO Yotam Polizer will be speaking at a free zoom meeting hosted by ESRA on Oct 24.
https://secure.givelively.org/donate/israaid-us-global-humanitarian-assistance-inc/israaid-emergency-response-fund https://www.israel21c.org/safe-spaces-for-kids-traumatized-by-war-in-israel/
https://ireneo.formtitan.com/OnlineEventRegistration?fld16=National-Zoom-Tuesday-24.10.23#/
Helping the survivors and trauma victims. It’s at these times that the people of Israel come together to help those who have been most impacted by these tragic events. Not just dedicated humanitarian organizations but hi-tech companies such as Mobileye, OurCrowd, More Foods, and even the Israel Tennis Education Centers.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/israels-tech-sector-mobilizes-to-aid-war-effort-assist-victims/
https://www.israel21c.org/with-workers-called-to-battle-israeli-firms-rally-support/
https://itecenters.org/emergency-programs/
Thanks to our friends everywhere. There are literally thousands of articles describing the help that Israel’s friends overseas are sending to the IDF and Israelis affected by the war in Gaza. Here are some of them.
https://www.jns.org/florida-virginia-donate-supplies-to-israel/
Supercharging Israelis. US company Tesla is providing free use of its 17 Israel-located superchargers for the estimated 10,000 Israeli Tesla electric car owners. Superchargers are the company’s fastest way of charging its vehicles, able to extend the cars’ range by up to 200 miles in just 15 minutes. More good Tesla PR in 3rd link!
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/tesla-makes-superchargers-free-in-israel-in-wartime/
https://www.tesla.com/findus/list/superchargers/Israel
https://www.israel21c.org/how-a-tesla-helped-a-driver-escape-a-hamas-inferno/
Wedding. United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Penina had to postpone her wedding in Netivot. UH’s founder Eli Beer, however, organized an alternative wedding in Jerusalem, enlisting local vendors who provided their services to the couple free of charge. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/378580
Israeli Arab supporters. So many examples of Israeli Arabs standing shoulder to shoulder with Israeli Jews. Here is one. https://www.israelunwired.com/the-anti-israel-bbc-will-never-be-having-this-arab-guest-again/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Protein discovered in cancer that fools immune system. (TY Israel21c) A team led by Weizmann scientists has discovered that the protein PSME4 is produced by cancer cells to stop the immune system from attacking the tumor. Reducing PSME4 levels should potentially render tumors more vulnerable to immunotherapy.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-researchers-unmask-how-cancer-camouflages-itself/
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/dumpster-diving-cancer-tissue-uncovers-immune-evasion-mechanism https://www.nature.com/articles/s43018-023-00557-4
RNA molecule to treat Alzheimer's. Researchers at Israel’s Technion Institute have engineered an RNA molecule that repairs a damaged ubiquitin-proteasome system – a possible cause of Alzheimer’s disease. A faulty ubiquitin system leads to the accumulation of toxic proteins and amyloid plaque in Alzheimer's patients.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/new-israeli-breakthrough-in-understanding-onset-of-alzheimers/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41545-7.epdf
Covid treatment also combats Ebola. Opaganib, a novel, twice-daily, oral medication developed by Israel’s RedHill Biopharma (see here previously) delivered a statistically significant increase in survival time in a United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) in vivo Ebola virus study
https://www.israel21c.org/drug-shows-promise-in-treating-often-fatal-ebola-disease/
Matching cancer patients to clinical trials. Israel’s Belong.Life (see here previously) has launched a chatbot “Tara” - a conversational AI cancer clinical trial matching platform. It records cancer type, mutation, diagnosis, treatment history, and can even scan medical files. Belong.Life also has platforms for IBD, MS, and Psoriasis.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/meet-tara-an-israeli-chatbot-that-matches-patients-to-clinical-trials/
https://belong.life/clinical-trials/ https://belong.life/
No laughing matter. A male striped hyena was certainly not a laughing hyena when it was caught in an illegal snare. Veterinarians at Israel’s Wildlife Hospital in Ramat Gan saved the animal’s life, treating its infected foot and dislocated toes. They also made skin flaps to cover the injuries.
https://www.jns.org/hyena-gets-new-lease-on-life-at-israeli-hospital/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zMw0wLket4
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
A hotel for emotional healing. Israel’s largest volunteer NGO healthcare provider Yad Sarah, with partner Nitzotzot Inbar, have opened a new recovery and wellness center for women after a stillbirth or newborn death. It is located at Yad Sarah’s Yirmiyahu 33 Hotel in Jerusalem, Israel’s first fully accessible luxury hotel.
https://www.israel21c.org/a-unique-hotel-for-emotional-healing-after-stillbirth/ https://y33.co.il/
Israel enters US Visa Waver Program. Israel has joined the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, allowing Israeli citizens to travel to America for 90 days without a visa, beginning sometime before Nov 30. A biometric passport will also be required, plus a digital form on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization site.
https://www.jns.org/israel-enters-us-visa-waiver-program/
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-travelers-celebrate-historic-us-visa-waiver/
Aid to fuel explosion victims in Armenia. (TY Hazel) Israel has sent a 14-person medical delegation to treat hundreds of victims of a fuel explosion at Nagorno-Karabach, Armenia. The team was led by Prof. Ofer Merin, director-general of Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center and a leading cardiothoracic surgeon.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-761691
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
3D-printed cast for ibex with broken leg. Medics at Israel’s Safari Wildlife Hospital worked with Netanya-based Synergy3d Med to create a removable 3D-printed harness for fixing a fracture in the leg of a baby ibex (mountain goat). Following recovery, the kid was successfully reintroduced to its herd.
https://www.jns.org/innovation-in-conservation-3d-printing-used-to-heal-mountain-goat/
https://video.i24news.tv/en/9e44d596-82e6-4c4c-8a1c-96f84ae49bd5/content/6337980773112
And there was (and is) light. (TY Hazel) Researchers at Israel’s Technion Institute have developed new methods to evaluate daylight in hospital inpatient rooms and new design guidelines for improved inpatient health. The guidelines are also relevant for offices and schools.
https://www.israel21c.org/natural-light-has-dramatic-healing-effect-in-hospital-rooms/
Kits transform roofs into gardens. Bing Klima, based at Kibbutz HaGoshrim, has developed an all-in-one green roofing system that can pay for itself. Solar panels sit above crops and generate energy to offset electricity bills or be sold to the electric grid operators. Customers are mainly in the USA and Spain.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/all-in-one-kit-makes-urban-rooftops-into-energy-producing-gardens/
https://www.bing-klima.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1py8_xUnPI
I’ll follow the Sun. Another article about the floating solar panels from Israel’s Xfloat (see here previously). It contains a video showing the panels automatically tilting, to track the position of the sun as the earth rotates.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/catching-rays-floating-solar-panels-tilt-to-face-the-sun/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qMD1o96f_w
Bee happy. Israel’s ToBe has developed a solution to eradicate the Varroa mite – the number one enemy of the honeybee. ToBe’s Hivemaster automatically monitors hives for the mite and at optimal times releases precise minuscule pulses of anti-Varroa compounds (natural or synthetic) without damaging the bees.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/bee-happy-new-device-protects-hives-from-colony-killing-mites/
https://www.tobe.green/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igCsXoNQwWk
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Raising funds for Israel in its time of need. Many organizations have been raising and distributing money to support Israel financially. They include the Jewish Federations’ $500 million campaign. Financial giant Jefferies raised $13 million for victims of the attacks. And Safe Dome - an emergency fund for Israeli startups.
https://www.jns.org/american-jewish-zionist-communities-raise-funds-for-israel-in-time-of-need/
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/global-financial-firm-raises-13m-for-israeli-aid-groups/
https://www.israel21c.org/emergency-fund-helping-startups-survive-the-war/
Developing UK oil & gas field. The UK has given Israel’s Ithaca Energy (part of Delek) and its Norwegian partner Equinor, regulatory approval to develop Rosebank - estimated to be the largest untapped oil and gas field on the British continental shelf. https://www.timesofisrael.com/tshuvas-delek-unit-gets-uk-nod-for-development-of-controversial-north-sea-oilfield/
Lifeguard software for UAE. The lifeguard assistance software from Israel’s SightBbit (see here previously) is being used for the first time to save lives off beaches in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai-based BlueGuard will use the system as part of its program that blends technology with traditional lifeguarding techniques.
https://www.israel21c.org/israels-ai-lifeguard-set-to-save-swimmers-on-uae-beaches/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k291zK5a9JU
Monitoring the elderly in the UK. The smart tracking system for elderly at risk from Israel’s Essence SmartCare (see here previously) is now available to over 12.7 million UK seniors. The solution has been used by city councils in Liverpool, Essex, Dorset, Devon, and the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham.
https://nocamels.com/2023/10/israeli-remote-monitoring-system-for-seniors-expands-in-uk/
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
New nature reserve in the desert. (TY Hazel) Israel has approved the creation of a new, 90-square-kilometer (35-square-mile) nature reserve at Ramat Mazar in the Negev Desert in southern Israel. The area is home to several species unique to Israel, e.g., the Nubian ibex, dorcas gazelle, desert tawny owl and Blanford’s fox.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/planners-green-light-new-nature-reserve-in-negev-desert/
Bruno Mars performs in Tel Aviv. (TY Hazel) Bruno Mars was able to make his first appearance in Israel on Oct 4. The US pop superstar, accompanied by his band The Hooligans, wowed the 60,000 sold-out crowd for almost two hours at Tel Aviv’s Park Hayarkon. (His second concert scheduled for Oct 7 was cancelled.)
https://www.timesofisrael.com/pop-superstar-bruno-mars-declares-his-love-for-tel-aviv-in-first-ever-israel-show/ https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-761771
New Israeli TV series in 190 countries. (TY Hazel) The series, Bros, an 8-episode Hebrew-language comedy-drama available exclusively on Netflix starts Nov 9. It will be shown in 190 countries. Bros tells the story of inseparable childhood friends, co-owners of a local Jerusalem bar, and die-hard Beitar Jerusalem soccer fans.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-761705
THE JEWISH STATE
Become a Jewish leader at an Israeli University. Tel Aviv University (TAU) has launched the gap-year program Exploration, Leadership, and Innovation (ELI). Taught in English from Aug 2024, students can choose 5 or 10-months, and from 5 tracks, including Jewish Peoplehood, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
https://www.aftau.org/news_item/tau-announces-launch-of-gap-year-exploration-leadership-and-innovation-program/ https://international.tau.ac.il/eli-gap-year
Please support us. Here are some sites where newsletter readers can donate to Israeli organizations that provide vital help to Israelis at this difficult time. Many thanks to those who have already contributed.
Friends of the IDF (US donors): https://www.fidf.org/
or IDF Soldiers Fund in Israel: https://www.ufis.org.il/en/donation-en/ (select the English speakers’ option)
American Friends of Magen David Adom (US donors): https://afmda.org/
or Magen David Adom (Israel): https://www.mdais.org/en/donation
Zaka (US donors): https://donate.zakatelaviv.org/give/525578/
or (Israeli donors): https://charidy.com/zaka
United Hatzalah: https://israelrescue.org/campaign/israel-at-war-2/
Leket Food Israel: https://www.leket.org/en/
JNF USA - https://my.jnf.org/gaza-emergency/Donate
Orthodox Union - https://www.charidy.com/ouisraelcrisis
Hadassah Hospital Israel: https://www.hadassah.org/
Laniado Hospital (Netanya) https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/EmergencyLaniado
231008
In the 8th Oct 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· First Israeli patient given Israeli treatment for inoperable pancreatic cancer.
· The first official visit of an Israeli government minister to Saudi Arabia.
· Any company can now install an Israeli waste-to-energy system.
· 145-acres of solar panels have been installed on top of an Israeli reservoir.
· Israel’s unemployment rate is the lowest in over a decade.
· A workshop that made stone vessels for the 2nd Temple has been unearthed.
· Click here to see the 20th Sep newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, and IsraPundit. Mazel Tov to Aviva at United With Israel on the birth of her baby. Also (TY Sandra) for translating the 20th Sep newsletter into German here. Please forward this newsletter to German-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 (now over 23,200 articles).
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
First inoperable pancreatic cancer patient treated. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s Alpha Tau (see here previously) has used its Alpha DaRT technology to treat the first Israeli patient with advanced inoperable pancreatic cancer in a clinical trial at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem.
Making intubation a relic of the past. Although still in development, the ART500 blood oxygenator from Israel’s Inspira (see here previously) could save millions of lives, making it unnecessary to induce coma and intubate patients who cannot breathe on their own. Worth watching the video.
https://www.israel21c.org/intubation-could-become-a-relic-of-the-covid-era/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJTlImtPY54
PA girl gets same type of pacemaker as PM. (TY Hazel) Doctors at Israeli NGO Save A Child’s Heart have, for the first time, implanted an innovative pacemaker into a teenage Palestinian Arab girl from Gaza, via her neck rather than groin. The pacemaker is identical to that recently implanted into Israel’s Prime Minister.
Brain disorder treatment for US military. (TY Hazel) Some 8 years ago (see here) the US Navy bought several Deep TMS therapy helmets made by Israel’s Brainsway to treat service personnel with PTSD and other conditions. The US military will now provide them to soldiers and veterans for a range of brain disorders.
https://nocamels.com/2023/09/us-soldiers-vets-to-get-israeli-made-helmets-to-treat-depression/
Measuring iron levels in the brain. (TY Hazel) Israeli researchers have developed a new method for assessing the level of iron in the brain – only possible previously post-mortem. They turned the MRI machine from a camera into a measuring device. Iron is vital for protein binding, but non-binding iron can be toxic.
Remote monitoring saves hospital costs. Israel’s CatAI has won Start-Up Nation Central’s clinical capacity tech challenge aimed at reducing administrative tasks for healthcare providers. CatAI’s app and a smartphone camera monitor blood pressure, oxygen saturation level, pulse, temperature, etc., from a patient’s home.
Twice saved. Some 18 months ago, senior MDA medic Meir Shalev rushed on his motorcycle to save 4-year-old Ofri. Just three weeks ago, Meir was called out again to the same address where Ofri was having an acute allergy attack. Meir used an EpiPen to save Ofri’s life. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/377009
Nobel Prize winners also won Technion prize. The 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine has been awarded jointly to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their discoveries that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. Both scientists previously won Israel’s Technion Harvey Prize in Human Health.
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2023/press-release/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Weissman
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2023/08/harvey-prize-recipients-announced/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
10 startups pitch solutions for autistic people. Hundreds of people gathered recently at Israel’s College of Management-Academic Studies in Rishon LeZion, to hear 10 entrepreneurs show off their fledgling startups designed to make life easier for people with autism. They included DiVE and Poppins.
https://nocamels.com/2023/09/israeli-organization-autistic-people/
Funding for AI in Hebrew and Arabic. The Israel Innovation Authority is investing NIS 30 million in 17 projects that advance the development of artificial intelligence applications in spoken Hebrew and Arabic. It is part of the National Artificial Intelligence Plan to encourage R&D in natural language processing (NLP).
Haredi campus. Israel’s Ben-Gurion University has won a tender from the Council for Higher Education and the Ministry of Education for the establishment of a campus for the ultra-Orthodox population. The campus is scheduled to open in October 2024. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryxzjmgla
7 new ambassadors to Israel. Israel’s president recently received the credentials of seven newly appointed ambassadors to the Jewish State. They were the envoys of the United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Brazil, Cyprus, Peru and Côte d'Ivoire. https://www.jns.org/israel-news/isaac-herzog/23/9/19/319938/
World Number 4 for AI startups. Tiny Israel has the fourth highest number of AI startups in the world, according to infographic publishing company Visual Capitalist. Israel’s 402 AI-based startups have received a total of $11 billion of private investment over the past decade.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sp/global-ai-investment/
https://nocamels.com/2023/09/israel-fourth-in-the-world-for-ai-startups-says-study/
Israeli clinics in the mountains of Morocco. Israeli volunteers of United Hatzalah have opened medical clinics in remote villages of the Atlas Mountains to aid victims of the Moroccan earthquake. The Muslim and Jewish volunteers include two doctors, a dozen EMTs and paramedics, Arabic and French speakers.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/377021
Israeli Ministers visit Saudi Arabia. Tourism Minister Haim Katz attended the UN World Tourism Organization event in Saudi Arabia - the first Israeli minister to lead a delegation to the kingdom. Then Israeli Communications Minister Dr. Shlomo Karhi spoke in Arabic at Universal Postal Union’s Congress in Riyadh.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-israeli-minister-leads-official-delegation-to-saudi-arabia/
https://www.israelunwired.com/israelis-publicly-celebrate-sukkot-in-saudi-arabia/
https://worldisraelnews.com/praying-in-riyadh-towards-jerusalem-israeli-politician-reads-from-torah-in-saudi-arabia/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/377893
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
UK and Israel sign tech innovation deal. (TY Hazel) Israel signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK for “faster and deeper collaboration” on science, innovation, and technology. It includes £1.7million in support to research focused on technologies critical to future prosperity and quality of life, like quantum.
Landmine-detecting bacteria. (TY Hazel) Hebrew University scientists developed bacteria 3 years ago (see here previously) that illuminated when spread over a minefield. Israel’s Enzymit (see here previously) has now commercialized the technology, comprising tiny pellet-sized biosensors. Drones photograph the luminescence.
https://www.israel21c.org/using-e-coli-bacteria-to-detect-deadly-landmines-safely/
Energy from trash. Israel’s Zohar Cleantech has developed a compact modular waste-collection system that produces energy from the trash at the customer’s site and turns the remainder into construction material. The ZoharX system won the Arena Challenge competition, part of Herzliya Municipality’s 2030 climate program.
https://www.israel21c.org/a-waste-collection-system-that-produces-energy-from-trash/
AI to reduce food wastage. Israel’s Blue Circle uses artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data to maximize food production and prevent waste in the supply chain. It identifies issues, from the climate and environment, through harvest, production, inventory, sales, and distribution all the way to the consumer.
https://nocamels.com/2023/09/a-cybersecurity-approach-to-cutting-food-waste/ https://www.bluecircle.ai/
Clean swimming pools without chlorine. Israel’s Coppter Water Technologies is developing a non-toxic, no-chlorine, cost-efficient solution for disinfecting swimming pools and other water systems. The system uses the antimicrobial sterilization properties of low-concentration monovalent copper ions.
https://www.israel21c.org/copper-provides-safe-way-to-disinfect-pools-and-wastewater/
Electrolysis to kill Legionnaires’ disease. Israeli-founded CET Enviro uses electrolysis to purify the water circulating through power plants and the air conditioning systems in businesses, hotels, and other residential facilities. Electrolysis generates strong oxidizing agents to inhibit the growth of Legionella bacteria.
https://nocamels.com/2023/09/thwarting-deadly-lung-disease-by-electrifying-water-reserves/
New floating solar record. Back in Nov 2021 (see here) Israel installed its largest floating solar energy field, covering 112 acres of the Habonim reservoir. Israel’s Teralight (see here previously) has just exceeded that with a 145-acre field on the reservoir at Kibbutz Ma’ayan Zvi. It will have the capacity to power 6,500 homes.
https://nocamels.com/2023/09/israel-inaugurates-countrys-biggest-floating-solar-energy-field/
A powerhouse of software solutions. Israel has over 100 startups developing solutions that help software engineers become more productive. The budgets have of these startups been largely unaffected by the recent slowdown in the hi-tech environment. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hyfs0yk1p
One communications app to rule them all. Israel’s Spike is an all-in-one communications platform that aims to centralize instant messaging, emails, and video calls. It will end the chaotic task of having to switch between Gmail, Yahoo, Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage, Slack, Microsoft Teams. Google Meet, Zoom, etc.
https://www.israel21c.org/is-this-the-solution-for-all-those-confusing-communication-apps/
Who didn’t start the fire? Excellent OurCrowd article that suggests that the FireDome platform from Israel’s mPrest (see here previously) would have prevented the deadly wildfire that devastated Maui in Hawaii. Alerts from smart grid management software include when faulty equipment might be about to spark a deadly blaze.
https://www.ourcrowd.com/startup-news/who-didnt-start-the-fire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g (Link to Billy Joel video)
$27 million donation for science. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has received an unprecedented $27 million donation from the Paulson Family Foundation. It will fund the construction of a new building with state-of-the-art research labs at the Givat Ram campus of the School of Computer Science and Engineering.
https://www.jns.org/wire/paulson-family-foundation-donates-27m-for-new-building-at-hebrew-us-school-of-computer-science-and-engineering/ https://www.afhu.org/2023/09/28/the-paulson-family-foundation-donates-27-million-for-hebrew-university-school-of-computer-science-and-engineering-building/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Unemployment at new low. (TY Rhoda) Israel's unemployment rate fell to 3.1% in August 2023 from 3.4% in July. It is the lowest rate since the current method of measuring unemployment was introduced in 2012.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-unemployment-in-israel-falls-to-new-low-1001458188
New Israeli airline. Israel has approved a new low-cost commercial airline, dubbed “Air Haifa” to operate from Haifa airport on short-haul flights to Eilat, Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey. Haifa Airport resumed international flights in June after a four-year gap.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/air-haifa-new-airline-set-to-launch-out-of-northern-israel/
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/all-news/article-759613
Air taxi test flight over Jerusalem. Dronery, a subsidiary of Israeli company Cando Drones (see here previously) has conducted a test flight of its air taxi at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem as part of the Israel National Drone Initiative (INDI).
https://nocamels.com/2023/09/israeli-air-taxi-takes-to-jerusalem-skies-for-first-time/
New metro line approved. Israel has approved the 26km, 22 stations, M2 east-west Metro Line. The line will pass through nine local authorities from Petah Tikva in the east, via Givat Shmuel, Bnei Brak, Givatayim, and Central Tel Aviv, to Holon near Wolfson Hospital.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israels-metro-m2-line-approved-budget-released-1001458104
Accelerating Israeli & US SEAL veterans. Traditionally, US and Israeli navy SEALs find work in security after finishing military service. Now the Israeli startup accelerator Version Bravo has been established, to help former special operators take their military leadership and decision-making skills into the business world.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-and-us-navy-seals-dive-into-startup-world-together/
On a roll. The solar panels on a roll, manufactured by Israel’s Apollo Power (see here previously) have been independently tested and certified as safe for US and European use. It also allows them to connect to the Israeli electrical grid. Apollo has just done a deal with a Turkish company to fit panels on the top of buses and trucks.
https://nocamels.com/2023/09/solar-panels-on-a-roll-certified-as-safe-for-use-in-us-europe/
Merck partners Israeli toxicity predictor. Israel’s Quris-AI (see here previously), which uses AI to predict treatment toxicity, has extended its partnership with German giant Merck KGaA. Quris-AI cuts the cost of treatment development and avoids testing on animals.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/b1repomxp
Big funding for Israeli Unicorns. Despite the global slowdown, two Israeli billion-dollar companies attracted confident investors in their latest funding rounds. First HR management firm HiBob raised $150 million at a valuation of $2.7 billion. Then Cato Networks raised $238 million at a valuation of over $3 billion.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hjlobxdjp
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjtztfv1t
NIS 700+ million fund for local tech companies. Israeli financial services firm Value Base has secured NIS 700 million ($182 million) for its new private equity fund VBF to target investments into local, mainly publicly traded tech companies. It expects to increase the fund to NIS 1 billion by the end of this year.
Israel’s satellite industry is booming. Israeli space companies are experiencing a surge in demand. Since Dec 2022 Israel has launched four satellites. The upturn is led by Israel’s ImageSat International (ISI – see here previously) which provides satellite services to governments around the world.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hkofw8zg6
Swiss bank expands in Israel. Swiss private bank EFG International has launched a wealth management subsidiary in Tel Aviv, after opening representative office in Israel last year. It “aims to capture the significant wealth management opportunities in this market” and offer investment advisory services to clients in the region.
Millions for Israeli startups. Israel’s Cyberstarts, a venture capital fund that invests in early-stage Israeli cybersecurity startups, raised $480 million to make follow-on investments. Meanwhile Apax Israel raised $600 million for its second fund AMI 2. Its first fund’s $21 million of Global-e Online realized $729 million.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-cyberstarts-closes-480m-fund-for-cybersecurity-investment
Exits, takeovers & mergers to 8/10/23. US cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike has acquired Israeli cybersecurity Bionic for approximately $350 million; Israel’s Playtika is acquiring Israeli gaming studio Innplay Labs for $80 million. Israeli blockchain unicorn Fireblocks has acquired Australia’s BlockFold for an estimated $10 million; Israel’s NICE Systems has acquired US-based LiveVox for $350 million;
Investment in Israeli startups to 8/10/23: Lendbuzz raised $345 million; Cato Networks raised $238 million; HiBob raised $150 million; Stampli raised $61 million; Legit Security raised $40 million; Darrow raised $35 million; Gem Security raised $23 million; qbiq raised $10 million; Senser raised $9.5 million; Cydome raised $8 million; PerfectScale raised $7.1 million; Creednz raised $7 million; Fhenix raised $7 million; Vyzer raised $6.3 million; Digma.ai raised $6 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Israeli Stav Festival in New York. The Israeli Artists Project is holding the Stav Festival, named after the Hebrew word for “fall” or “autumn”, from Sep 28 to Oct 29 in New York City. It features 100-plus Israeli artists, a mix of theatrical plays, live music, an art exhibit, children’s activities, and interactive workshops.
https://www.jns.org/stav-festival-to-fuse-israeli-art-stage-and-musical-performances/
https://www.jns.org/arts-festival-encourages-new-yorkers-to-meet-the-israeli-artist-next-door/
https://www.israeliartistsproject.org/ https://stavfestival.org/
Leonard Cohen sings for the IDF again. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war, IDF singer Orr Amrami sang an AI-powered “duet” with the late Leonard Cohen. In 1973, Cohen made a special trip to Israel to perform for soldiers at the front. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/377485
More medals at Invictus Games. (TY Hazel) Israel’s IDF disabled veterans increased their tally of medals from five (see here previously) to fourteen by the end of their first Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany. They added another two more table tennis golds including in the men’s doubles finals between two Israeli pairs.
First Israeli Para Sport shooting gold. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Yulia Chernoy won her first gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle event at the World Parasport Shooting Championships in Lima.
https://www.paralympic.org/news/lima-2023-first-gold-azerbaijan-and-israel
Euro baseball quarterfinalists. (TY Hazel) Team Israel advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Baseball Championship on Tuesday with an 11-8 victory over Belgium in Prague. Israel eventually finished in sixth place in the competition. https://www.jns.org/israel-places-6th-in-european-baseball-championship/
https://baseball.org.il/english-news/689-israel-beats-belgium-to-clinch-quarterfinal-berth
Israel advances to Davis Cup tennis playoff. (TY Hazel) Israel’s national tennis team scored a surprise 3-2 win against Japan in the Davis Cup World Group, advancing to playoffs that could see it reach the tournament’s final 16. Singles wins by Daniel Zukerman and Yishai Oliel on Sunday overcame a 2-1 deficit.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-tennis-team-in-surprise-win-over-japan-in-davis-cup-moves-to-finals-playoff/ https://www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/tie.aspx?id=M-DC-2023-WG1-M-ISR-JPN-01
THE JEWISH STATE
Selichot prayers in sign language. For the first time, Selichot prayers at the Kotel (Western Wall) were translated into sign language. Dozens of groups of hearing-impaired individuals, in cooperation with the Hushim Ben Dan Association, came to the Western Wall from all over the country and took part in the prayers.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/377284
Summer program attracts hundreds of high schoolers. 367 students, mostly from the USA, attended the JNF-USA-run summer program at the Alexander Muss School in Israel (see here previously). The school’s two campuses teach 1,500+ students about Israeli history and its connection to Judaism and Jewish peoplehood.
https://www.jns.org/jewish-diaspora/beersheva/23/9/20/320214/
2,000-year-old workshop for stone utensils unearthed. Israeli archeologists have discovered Second Temple period (516 BCE-70 C.E.) workshop for the manufacture of stone utensils just outside Jerusalem. Stone does not attract impurity and therefore stone utensils were frequently used and re-used in Temple services.
https://www.jns.org/archaeology/judea-and-samaria/23/9/19/319664/
Not just children of Abraham. Some of the residents of the Palestinian Authority may have closer links to the Jewish people than you might have expected.
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-palestinians-may-descendants-of-jews-converted-to-islam/
Congo to move embassy to Jerusalem. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has announced that it will move its embassy to Jerusalem. Israel will correspondingly open an embassy in Kinshasa. The two countries will strengthen cooperation in the fields of agriculture, trade, defense, cyber and more.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/377327
The blessings that Israel brings. Hear Israel’s PM at the United Nations General Assembly extol the blessings that Israeli innovation has given to the world and the promise of much more in the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNH85jgzJ0Y&t=1260s
The tallest Oleh. At 7.119-feet (217cm) 18-year-old Georgi Krimantsky is the tallest Oleh (new immigrant to Israel) in decades – probably ever. He already is the star center player for Be'er Sheva’s youth basketball team. It certainly highlights Israel’s new heights of 65,000 immigrants since last Rosh Hashana.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-759469
The world’s largest sukkah. The Mayor of Jerusalem's Sukkah in Safra Square was, at 800-square meters, the largest sukkah in the world. It hosted a variety of activities, such as workshops, plays and other performances for all ages and sectors, with free admission. The sukkah has a capacity of 650 and was open to all.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/377728
50,000 receive priestly blessings. Some 50,000 people received the traditional priestly blessing (Birkat Kohanim) at the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem on Monday. There was such a high demand that a second event was held on Wednesday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVliRVf89cM&t=2718s
https://www.jns.org/thousands-receive-priestly-blessing-at-western-wall/ https://thekotel.org/en/29377/
60,000 march to celebrate in Jerusalem. Over 60,000 participants from 90 countries took part in the 68th Jerusalem March during the Sukkot holiday - a record number of countries and participants. They included marching bands, IDF soldiers, street artists, dance groups, flag bearers, giant dolls, and dancers.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/377887
Don’t leave your lulav unattended. Doctors averted a tragedy when they removed a foreign object from the cornea of the eye of a 3-year-old boy. It was the tip of a lulav that the boy’s twin brother had thrust into his eye. Touché! https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/377885
