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.
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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
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:
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/