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In the 23rd Mar 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l Hundreds of Syrian Druze visit Israel for the first time since 1948.
l An Israeli discovery advances research into cures for genetic diseases.
l Judea and Samaria leaders are welcomed in the UAE.
l High school students launch Israel’s largest network of satellites.
l Google’s $32 billion purchase of Wiz is the largest in Israeli history.
l The Jewish festival of Purim was full of surprises.
· Click here to see the 16th Mar newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen, (TY Ruth) Ruthfully Yours with a brilliant intro, (TY Aviva) United with Israel, (TY Ted Belman) IsraPundit, and Joan Swirsky (email her to get daily news). Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here, and Hebrew here, and with (TY) Claude into French here. Also (TY Barbara) into Spanish here. (Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also please visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL.
· 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 (over 26,300 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, and the subject “Subscribe”) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
$1.7 million raised for Bibas family. In a public fundraising campaign, the Lehosheet Yad (Lend a Hand) foundation has raised more than $1.7 million in 24 hours from nearly 31,000 donors. It will help freed hostage Yarden Bibas’s recovery and establish a memorial for his wife, Shiri, and two young sons, Ariel and Kfir.
https://www.jns.org/bibas-family-fundraiser-exceeds-1-3-million-in-under-24-hours/
The 10,000th Birthright volunteer. New York’s Madison Stock is the 10,000th participant in the Birthright Israel volunteer program. Activities include food rescue operations to prevent shortages in the Israeli market and supporting kibbutz restoration projects in areas hardest hit on Oct 7 2023 and the subsequent war.
https://www.jns.org/22-year-old-is-10000th-participant-in-birthright-israel-volunteer-program/
IDF soldier makes connection in Sri Lanka. A Golani soldier wounded in Gaza, was vacationing in Sri Lanka and read the story of Purim in a synagogue. He suddenly realized that the scroll he was reading from had been dedicated to the memory of 3 IDF soldiers including has own Major, Moshe Bar-On who fell in the same battle.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/405368
Syrian Druze visit sacred site in Israel. Israel opened its border to allow hundreds of Syrian Druze dignitaries and leaders to visit Israel. They visited the Galilee tomb of the Biblical Yitro (revered as a prophet) for the first time since 1948. Amazing video. Useful article about the Druze at the second link below.
Aid for Syrian Druze. 10,000 packages of humanitarian aid (including oil, salt, flour, sugar, rice, and more) have been delivered to the Druze community in the battle areas of Syria. This was coordinated with the head of the Druze community Sheikh Muafik Tarif, and the Druze Religious Council, and the IDF.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/405309
How to navigate crises. Waze co- founder Uri Levine has published a new edition of his handbook for entrepreneurs, “Fall in Love With the Problem, Not the Solution”. It now has a chapter on how to navigate crises, such as Oct 7 2023 and the subsequent war, using interviews with CEOs and their roads to recovery.
Still happy despite the war. Israel remains in the top ten list of happiest countries in the world despite an anxious year with the wars against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Its 8th placed in the World Happiness Report 2025 is down from 5th in 2024 but still remarkable, considering.
https://www.jns.org/israel-8th-happiest-country-despite-war/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Identifying gene on / off switches. (TY TPS) Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Medical Center used DNA methylation (chemical tagging human DNA) to uncover insights into how genes are turned on and off. It could transform the diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases.
Why people exercise. Tel Aviv University researchers used AI tools to discover what motivates people to exercise. They found that 23.9% of those who engage in sports do so to improve their appearance, 18.9% exercise to maintain their physical health, and 16.9% exercise to maintain their mental health.
https://www.aftau.org/news_item/tau-research-people-exercise-more-for-their-appearance-than-their-physical-health/ https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e54489
More smiles soon. (TY Atid-EDI) Dror Ortho-Design has successfully completed user experience trials for its ZSmile platform (see here previously) ahead of commercial release. Feedback has been integrated for ZSmile to begin manufacture and distribution in Israel in the first half of 2025. 250 patients have already been treated.
Personal 3D models for pre-surgical training. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Stratasys and Europe’s Siemens have used Stratasys’ RadioMatrix™ materials and Digital Anatomy® technology with Siemens Healthineers’ algorithms to produce complex patient-specific anatomical models for pre-surgery planning and education.
Mental health tech innovation. The 2025 Israeli Mental Health Technology Landscape Map, by Startup Nation Central and the ICAR Collective and Bezyl, highlights around 120 Israeli companies leveraging AI, automation, and digital platforms to enhance mental health care access and improve treatment outcomes.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/syxaay0sjg
https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/reports/mental-health-2025-landscape-map
1-2-3. (TY Yanky) Efrat and Daniel Cohen were delighted when their first child was followed by twins. Now Efrat has given birth to triplets at the Kaplan Medical Centre. Says Efrat: “The staff were amazing, supportive and attentive. We have given the grandmothers a heads-up - double shifts and night shifts if needed.”
https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/bj124vnj1x
Remote healthcare in Virginia and North Dakota. (TY OurCrowd) Uninsured patients in rural southwest Virginia will receive remote medical monitors from Israel’s TytoCare (see here previously) to save hospital visits. Meanwhile, medics in North Dakota with TytoCare devices will visit patients discharged from hospital.
https://wtop.com/virginia/2025/03/bringing-the-doctor-to-your-doorstep-rural-virginia-clinics-expand-telehealth-access/ https://news.sanfordhealth.org/news/hospital-at-home-program-launches-at-sanford-fargo/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Lone soldiers resilience center. The new Lone Soldiers Program Resilience Center (see here) is an initiative of Nefesh B’Nefesh and Friends of the IDF, with Sheba Medical Center. It offers specialized therapeutic and emotional support to the 3,500 people who leave their family to make Aliyah and enlist in the IDF.
https://www.jns.org/new-center-in-israel-provides-support-services-for-lone-soldiers/
Women Leaders’ Summit. The Jerusalem Post hosts its fourth annual Women Leaders’ Summit on 25 Mar. It brings together some of Israel's most influential women driving change. The summit highlights the strength, creativity, and leadership, of women in business, government, and technology.
https://www.jpost.com/conferences/article-843015
IDF’s first Haredi battalion commander. Major (res.) Yossi Levy will soon become the first haredi battalion commander in the IDF. He said, “I hope that one day young haredim will see me as a role model.” He is currently serving his fifth round of reserve duty and hopes to be the first of many Haredi commanders.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/405584
Judea and Samaria leaders visit UAE. A group of Judea and Samaria leaders made history by visiting Abu Dhabi on the first-ever organized trip by the Yesha Council to a Muslim country. They attended a traditional Iftar meal to break the Ramadan fast with Emirati committee chairman of defense, interior and foreign affairs.
https://www.jns.org/in-historic-first-judea-and-samaria-leaders-visit-uae/
A beeper for Senator Fetterman. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu gave Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) a silver-plated beeper as a souvenir of “Operation Beeper”. “When that story broke, I was like, ‘Oh, I love it,’” Senator Fetterman said. “Thank you for this.” The PM said, the real beeper was much lighter, but changed history.
https://www.jns.org/netanyahu-gifts-fetterman-silver-plated-beeper/
The sky is no limit. (TY Irene G) Another article (see here previously) about the recent Athens conference to discuss expanding the use of barn owls for pest control. Then 60 Palestinian Arab, Jordanian and Israeli experts met to discuss solutions to the Middle East’s water, energy, food-security and overall environmental problems.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00692-1
Israel offers flood relief for Argentina. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has offered Argentina assistance following deadly floods south of the nation’s capital of Buenos Aires. A storm hit Bahía Blanca, where 12 inches of rain fell in the city over several days; the historical monthly average is about 5 inches.
https://www.jns.org/israel-offers-assistance-to-argentina-after-deadly-floods/
Medics for Macedonia. Israeli medical experts are to travel to Macedonia to assist after a fire killed more than 50 people and injured dozens. The North Macedonian foreign affairs minister thanked his Israeli counterpart saying, "In these difficult moments, the solidarity of our partners and friends is truly invaluable to us."
https://www.jns.org/israel-to-send-medical-experts-to-north-macedonia-after-deadly-fire/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-846305
Pi-day record. March 14th is Pi-day as the date can be written as 3.14. This year it also coincided with Purim so may be a Purim “spiel” (i.e. a joke). Israeli theoretical physicist Yehuda Ashkelon has memorized the value of Pi to 25,333 decimal places in Spanish - a new Israeli record (9th globally) and a world record for Spanish.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-physicist-sets-national-pi-memorization-record/
Can Israel end global hunger? Optimistic article by the director of corporate development at ICL (Israel Chemicals Ltd) Group which has recently launched its new Research and Development (R&D) lab. She cites Israeli AI-driven crop monitoring systems, precision agriculture, and vertical farming to increase yields.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-845805
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
School students launch 9 satellites. Nine miniature satellites developed by Israeli high school students were launched into space from a SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket into a low Earth orbit. One satellite was developed by Druze students and is the first of its kind - launched as a delegation of Syrian Druze sheikhs visited Israel.
https://www.jns.org/israel-launches-largest-student-built-satellite-network/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-846126
Recycling EV batteries. Israel’s Colmobil (see here previously) is spearheading the construction of an Israeli factory that recycles used Electric Vehicle batteries. It will be based on German technology as described here.
Watering a desert. A 17 minute video that explains how Israel made the Negev desert bloom and produce 40% of the country’s food crops. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8HcGK6NoPU
Secure communications to IDF Special Forces. An elite IDF special forces unit has ordered advanced tactical communication systems from Israel’s Silynxcom (see here previously). It follows a successful field pilot in sensitive operational environments, and strong positive feedback on operational effectiveness and performance.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/b2icontent.irpass.cc/2916/rl142800.pdf
https://s3.amazonaws.com/b2icontent.irpass.cc/2916/rl143489.pdf
Technowarriers. Alumni of elite IDF units have founded Israeli defense tech startup Kela Technologies in the wake of Oct 7. They have developed an open (but secure) platform that enables Western militaries to integrate cutting-edge commercial technologies into military systems. It’s hi-tech, essential, and secret.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/backed-by-cia-defense-startup-emerges-with-tech-platform-for-modern-battlefield/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bjyp9bhnjx https://kelasys.com/
A chatbot for accurate answers. StandWithUs, the international non-partisan education organization dedicated to supporting Israel and combating antisemitism, has launched SWUBOT (Beta), an innovative AI-powered assistant designed to educate, inform, and empower individuals around the world. Please try it.
https://www.standwithus.com/post/standwithus-launches-swubot-an-innovative-free-standwithus-ai-assistant-to-help-provide-quick-an https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rmKpkkDRI0 www.standwithus.com/swubot
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Economy grew in 2024. (TY Atid-EDI) Despite the war Israel's GDP grew by 1% in 2024, above forecasts by the OECD, Moody’s and S&P. Signs of recovery were evident in the fourth quarter annualized growth of 2.5% driven primarily by a 9.5% jump in private consumption and a 14.7% increase in fixed asset investment.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israels-economy-grew-1-in-2024-above-expectations-1001502284
Deficit reduced again. Israel's fiscal deficit narrowed in the twelve months to the end of Feb 2025, for the fifth consecutive month, to 5.3% of GDP, or NIS 107.9 billion. Tax revenues rose from record Israeli bank profits. Foreign exchange reserves rose over $4 billion to a near record $220 billion.
Thriving relations with Singapore. (TY Yanky) Singapore has emerged as an extremely attractive market for Israeli entrepreneurs in recent years, as tech relations between the two nations grow. Singapore has increased its investment in Israel's tech ecosystem, especially in cybersecurity, AI, and fintech.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/b1l7y50bkg
$4.5 billion in Israel bonds. At the recent annual Israel Bonds leadership conference, Yechiel Leiter, the newly appointed Israeli Ambassador to the United States, highlighted Israel Bonds’ record-breaking global sales of some $4.5 billion since the beginning of the war on Oct. 7, 2023.
https://www.jns.org/at-annual-leadership-conference-israel-bonds-touts-4-5b-raised-since-oct-7/
The biggest exit in Israeli history. Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc. is to acquire Israeli-founded cybersecurity startup Wiz for at least $32 billion. It marks the largest acquisition in the tech giant’s history and over twice the previous record Israel exit (Mobileye by Intel for $15.3 billion in 2017).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/jwnxv7xcm
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r11dljw3jg
United resumes flights. United Airlines became the first US carrier to resume its daily New York to Israel service since flights were suspended due to the Israel-Hamas war. It will start an overnight service on 29 March. Delta previously announced it will renew its New York to Tel Aviv service in April.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/405472 https://www.jns.org/united-restarts-flights-to-israel/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/airlines-flock-back-to-israel-with-resumed-services-in-coming-month/
Maritime tech hub. The port of Ashdod has launched a technology hub to find supply-chain solutions. It has already invested $3 million in Makalu Optics, Treedis, FLYZ Robotics, Spinframe, and Salvador Technologies.
https://www.israel21c.org/ashdod-port-launches-tech-hub-to-find-supply-chain-solutions/
Green hydrogen for Latvia. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s H2Pro (see here previously) has signed an agreement with Latvenergo, Latvia’s national electricity company, to test the integration of H2Pro's decoupled electrolysis technology for green hydrogen production with Latvia’s renewable energy sources.
Yeeha! Israel’s BeeFree Agro (see here previously) delivered its first fleet of “autonomous flying cowboys” in January to a paying customer in Brazil, where it currently manages around 3 million cattle. It is also in trials or negotiations with with three of the “big four” multinational meat processors.
https://www.israel21c.org/autonomous-flying-cowboys-manage-livestock-more-efficiently/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsNvpXFelec
Exits, takeovers & mergers – to 23rd Mar 25: Google’s parent Alphabet acquired Israel’s Wiz for $32 billion. Insurance giant Munich Re (subsidiary ERGO) is acquiring Israeli-founded startup Next Insurance for $2.6 billion in cash. US AI specialist Tray.ai has acquired Israel’s Vanti.ai (Vanti Analytics) for tens of millions of dollars.
Startup investment – to 23rd Mar 25: Rapyd raised $500 million;. Vega Security raised $65 million; Kela Technologies raised $39 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Modi’in - a new tourist destination? The city of Modi’in, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, has opened its first hotel – the 85-room Jacob. “The Chanukah city” is where the Maccabees lived and are buried. It is also Israel’s only “learning city” and is regarded as the world’s first and most modern “green city”.
https://www.jns.org/modiin-israels-new-tourism-destination/
Topping the Pizza lists. (TY Yanky) Two Israeli pizzerias were included in this year’s list of the 50 best pizzerias in the Asia-Pacific region (see here previously). La Piedra, Jerusalem, rose to 37th from 39th in 2024 and Haifa’s NeoPolitan won 25th place and the New Entry of the Year award.
https://www.50toppizza.it/50-top-pizza-asia-pacific-2025/
Gal Gadot gets her star. Nearly two years after it was announced (see here previously) Israeli actress Gal Gadot was honored with the 2,804th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The unveiling (see 34th minute of the video) was enhanced 3 minutes later when the Israeli mother was joined by her husband and 4 children.
https://walkoffame.com/press_releases/hollywood-chamber-of-commerce-to-honor-actress-gal-gadot-with-star-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/405570
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsDYYciyqAw
The wheels are turning. The bicycle path connecting Herzliya and Tel Aviv has opened. The 14 km-long path runs along the Coastal Highway and passes near key locations. Mayor Fisher said, “it is possible to travel from Herzliya to Tel Aviv in just 20 minutes, while maintaining fitness and health and enjoying an open-air ride."
https://www.jpost.com/consumerism/article-844915
THE JEWISH STATE
Family link for Panama’s Ambassador. Ezra Cohen is Panama’s envoy to the Jewish state. His father came to pre-state Israel from Colombia, fought in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence and was held prisoner by the Jordanians for nine months. When presented to Israeli President Herzog, he responded to him in fluent Hebrew.
https://www.jns.org/panamas-ambassador-to-israel-closes-a-family-circle/
Muss Matters. The Alexander Muss High School in Israel has just launched its monthly podcast Muss Matters. Students share stories, perspectives, and experiences that bring Israel to life. Episodes include Jewish history, prophecy, where Jewish journeys start, and Zionism and the Shoah post-Oct 7.
https://www.amhsi.org/muss-matters-podcast
From generation to generation. The Jewish Futures Project has shown that children of Birthright Israel participants are more likely to be raised as Jews, have had a Jewish circumcision or a baby-naming ceremony, and be enrolled in formal and informal Jewish education compared to the children of nonparticipants.
https://www.jns.org/new-study-details-impact-of-birthright-israel-trips-on-children-of-participants/
https://www.brandeis.edu/cmjs/birthright/jewish-futures/jewish-futures-2024.html
Happy Purim in Jerusalem (TY Sharon) See the innovative Purim costumes and parade floats in Jerusalem.
https://rjstreets.com/2025/03/17/its-purim-in-jerusalem-best-costume-and-parade-photos/
Rappelling superhero firemen bring Purim joy. Firefighters from the Jerusalem District Fire and Rescue Authority dressed as Batman, Superman, and Spiderman to give Purim presents to children and youths. They descended from the rooftop of the Feuerstein Institute, an educational center for individuals with disabilities.
https://israfan.com/p/firefighters-superheroes-purim-jerus
Political opponents exchange Purim gifts. Israeli lawmakers from the coalition and opposition exchanged mishloach manot, gift baskets filled with food, on the last working day before the Purim holiday. “Purim is a holiday of unity,” explained National Unity Party Chairman Benny Gantz.
https://www.jns.org/knesset-members-gift-purim-baskets-ahead-of-joyous-jewish-holiday/
250316
In the 16th Mar 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l Released IDF female hostages brought Purim joy to children with cancer.
l Israeli scientists make cancer gene therapy breakthrough.
l Israel is protecting Syrian Druze; now the Alawites ask for Israeli help.
l Israeli-developed reduced-sugar pure orange juice is now in Israeli shops.
l A new partnership will advance Israel’s renewable-energy goals.
l Nova survivor reveals Israel’s 2025 Eurovision contest entry.
l Israelis know how to make innovative Purim costumes.
· Click here to see the 9th Mar newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen, (TY Ruth) Ruthfully Yours, with another amazing intro, Ted Belman (IsraPundit), and Joan Swirsky (email her to get daily news). Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here, and Hebrew here, and with (TY) Claude into French here. Also (TY Barbara) into Spanish here. (Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also please visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL.
· 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 (over 26,200 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, and the subject “Subscribe”) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Ex-hostages give Purim gifts to cancer children. Heroic former hostages Agam Berger, Daniella Gilboa, and Naama Levy joined Rabbi Asher Levi to bring joy to cancer patients at Schneider Children’s Medical Center, delivering Purim gifts and sharing a powerful message: “Giving to others gives us strength.”
130-year-old violin given to ex-hostage. Tzachi Beck refurbished and gifted a 130-year-old Czechian violin d to freed hostage Agam Berger. Agam played Amir Benayoun's "You overcame everything with me." breathing new life into its strings, decades after its original owner, an orchestral violinist, perished in the Holocaust.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-845407
Hostage’s grape juice lasted 5 months. Released hostage Omer Shem-Tov told of a miracle he experienced in captivity. "For five months, I had half a bottle of grape juice that I used for Kiddush. The bottle never ran out, and the juice never spoiled. It showed me how good God is and how He was with me."
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/405094
Turning a Kibbutz green. Residents of Kibbutz Be’eri live on dry, arid land in Kibbutz Hatzerim while Be’eri is being rebuilt. 2,700 Birthright Israel volunteers in 100 groups will create 300 gardens - one for each Be’eri family and the surrounding areas. They will feature 1,500 trees, 41,000 herb plants, and thousands of flowers.
Sunshine volunteers. A group of volunteers ages 55 and older recently participated in Jewish National Fund-USA’s inaugural Sunshine Volunteer Mission to Israel. They spent five days restoring Israeli communities destroyed on Oct 7 2023, fixed schools and playgrounds, helped farmers, prepared food for the IDF and more.
https://www.jns.org/wire/jewish-volunteers-ages-55-plus-leave-lasting-impact-on-mission-to-israel/
Let’s get to work. Ex-hostage Gadi Mozes has called on his fellow Kibbutz Nir Oz members to rebuild their destroyed kibbutz and help return it to its former glory. Mozes (80) has decided “to buckle down, to roll up my sleeves and to join all those who want our home, Nir Oz, to return to being a warm and vibrant home.”
Strawberry fields forever. Uri Patkin owns the strawberry farm Uri Tutim in Moshav Yesha near the Gaza border. Yesha’s emergency squad bravely fought off terrorists on Oct 7 2023, at a heavy price. Now Uri is once again farming his high-quality, long shelf-life, hanging strawberries.
https://www.israel21c.org/strawberries-bloom-once-again-near-the-gaza-border/ https://uritutim.co.il/
An IDF rescue from Gaza. Israeli hostage Andrey Koslov revealed details of the daring IDF rescue of him and three other hostages from captivity in Gaza on Jun 8 2024.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Gene deletion shrinks cancer cells. Researchers from Tel Aviv University (Dan Peer’s lab) utilized CRISPR to cut the SOX2 gene from cancer cells of head and neck tumors – and in lab tests successfully eliminated 50% of the tumors. The breakthrough defied general belief that knocking out a single gene wouldn’t have any effect.
https://english.tau.ac.il/research/crispr-cancer-removal
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-845688
Blood test to detect cancer. Israel’s OncoRedox is developing a new platform for the early diagnosis and monitoring of cancer and chronic diseases. Its disposable sensor plus AI-powered technology is designed to detect and profile cell-free metabolites within minutes, providing a unique metabolic fingerprinting.
https://www.peregrinevc.com/portfolio/oncoredox/ https://www.peregrinevc.com/portfolio/
Developing immunity against cancer. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Purple Biotech (see here previously) has partnered with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, to develop CAPTN-3, a platform of activated antibodies. The aim is to enhance tumor-specific immunity against various cancer types.
https://purple-biotech.com/press-viewer/?i=142208
No more injections. Researchers at Israel’s Technion Institute have discovered that a protein in breast milk facilitates the passage of nanoparticles through the intestinal wall, delivering essential nutrients to the baby. Mimicking this mechanism, can protect medications from the digestive system and allow non-needle delivery.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/breast-milk-proteins-superpowers-lead-to-breakthrough-for-new-class-of-oral-drugs/ https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/b1dzwouqyg
Brain study can transform speech to text technology. (TY TPS) An Israeli-led research team has analyzed how the brain processes speech and transforms sounds into conversation. It could lead to new advancements in speech recognition technology, tools for people with speech disorders, and personalized assistive devices.
Anti-virus nasal spray for the US. Israel’s Enovid (see here previously) has now launched its SaNOtize Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray as NOWONDER in the US. NOWONDER delivers advanced nasal cleansing, viral protection (e.g. against COVID-19), and sinus health support.
https://www.openpr.com/news/3895202/sanotize-launches-nowonder-nasal-spray-in-the-u-s
260 doctors attend MedEx in New Jersey. Over 500 Jewish doctors and healthcare professionals, including 260 doctors, gathered at the 10th annual MedEx event in Teaneck, New Jersey. The International Medical Aliyah Program (IMAP) started MedEx to bring 2,000 Jewish doctors to Israel. In 2024 alone it brought 519.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/405131
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Little Heroes. (TY Yanky) Volunteers with special needs graduated in communications and logistics from the “Little Heroes Project” at the IDF’s Training Base of the Technology and Logistics Directorate. They stood proudly in their army uniforms to receive their certificates of excellence.
https://www.giborimktanim.co.il/ https://www.jgive.com/new/en/usd/donation-targets/72939/about
https://www.instagram.com/meaningfulminute/reel/DGxeFRHtuQZ/
40th anniversary of Operation Moses. Israel’s PM headed a ceremony in Jerusalem to celebrate “Operation Moses” - Israel’s 1984 mission, to bring to Israel the community known as Beta Israel from Ethiopia via Sudan. Some 170,000 Ethiopian Jews now live in Israel, including Adi Jegna who spotted the bus bomb last month.
https://www.jns.org/wire/ethiopian-immigration-a-story-of-faith-freedom-and-fulfillment/
Animals rescued in the Negev. Israeli police rescued two monkeys and a lion cub from illegal captivity by Negev Bedouins. They were located through operational activities and identified in social media videos. They were subsequently transferred to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority for medical treatment and further care.
https://www.jns.org/two-monkeys-and-a-lion-cub-rescued-in-the-negev/
90,000 Muslims pray on Temple Mount. Approximately 90,000 Muslims, including thousands from Judea and Samaria, ascended the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City for prayers on the first Friday of Ramadan.
https://www.jns.org/judea-and-samaria-arabs-to-ascend-temple-mount-for-ramadan-prayers/
Syrians ask Israel for help. (TY Yanky) Syrian minorities want Israel to protect them from the new Syrian government and jihadist groups. “Israel is the Iron Dome of the Druze in Syria” said a cleric from the Druze city of Sweida. And after 1,000+ the pro-Assad Alawites were killed, their leaders also begged Israel for help.
https://tps.co.il/articles/israel-is-the-iron-dome-of-the-druze-in-syria-say-syrian-druze-residents/
https://worldisraelnews.com/pro-assad-syrians-ask-israel-to-save-them-from-new-regime-slaughter/
Technion UK on Israel tour. The Technion UK brought a group of British Jews to Israel to hear from key people about the war, the country, the latest innovations and much more. They included ILTV’s Maayan Jaffe-Hoffman, Uri Geller, the British Ambassador, and retired IDF colonel Miri Eisen.
https://technionuk.org/trip-album/
Irish police use Israeli tech to solve murder. (TY Yanky) Irish police used Israel’s Cellebrite to convict a man who murdered his wife in Dublin two years ago. Technical specialists used Cellebrite to extract data from the husband’s cellphone, having previously been unable to bypass its encryption. The Irish media wasn’t happy.
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-845192 https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2025/03/04/opposition-calls-for-gardai-to-stop-buying-israeli-made-decryption-technology/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Outstanding Scientists. The Israel Chemical Society has awarded the Outstanding Young Scientist Awards for 2024 to Prof. Josh Baraban from Ben-Gurion University (see here previously) and Dr. Moran Shalev-Benami from the Weizmann Institute. See also Outstanding Scientists and ICS Gold Medal winners.
https://www.bgu.ac.il/en/news-and-articles/prof-josh-baraban-awarded-the-israel-chemical-society-outstanding-young-scientist-prize/ https://www.chemistry.org.il/prizes-page/?data=9
Countering SMS fraud attacks. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Atrinet have launched the Atrinet URL Scanner, an advanced solution designed to combat real-time SMS fraud from SMS phishing (“Smishing”). It combines an SMS Firewall with URL Scanner, in collaboration with Google, to scan SMS links for malicious content.
https://www.atrinet.com/products/messaging-url-scanner/
Yes, we have new bananas. (TY Yanky) Israeli-founded, UK-based startup Tropic has developed a “new, better” version of the banana. Israeli scientists at the company have hardened the banana against Panama and black sigatoka diseases, prolonged shelf life, and reduced CO2 emissions from food waste.
https://tropic.bio/ https://tropic.bio/people/
The first low-sugar full-flavor orange juice. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s BlueTree Technologies together with Israel’s Priniv has launched the world's first commercially available reduced-sugar orange juice (33% less) with no additives. It is now available in Israeli supermarkets.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/bluetree-technologies-and-priniv-launch-the-worlds-first-reduced-sugar-orange-juice-with-no-additives--available-in-israeli-supermarkets-starting-february-2025-302393114.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNVsU7HcfWM
$20 million towards creating another university. The Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA (JFC-UIA) have announced a $20 million investment in education for northern Israel. Most of the funds will help transform Tel-Hai College into a full-fledged university, while the remainder will support informal education initiatives.
https://israfan.com/p/canadian-jews-invest-northern-israel
Meetings with avatars. (TY OurCrowd) Microsoft and Israel’s D-ID (see here previously) will provide tools to enterprises and developers to create AI avatars for Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft software. D-ID will integrate its technology into Microsoft Azure, allowing AI avatars to be embedded into applications.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ry4edb8s1x
Perfect recruitment with AI. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Perfect AI-powered platform for recruitment automates end-to-end processes to deliver faster, smarter, and fairer hiring. From candidate sourcing to interview scheduling, Perfect empowers recruiters to focus on human connection while the AI handles the rest.
A 1 million qubit quantum computer. Israel’s QuamCore says it has developed a technology that can build a million-qubit computer in a 50 cm cube. According to the company, its technology drastically reduces both power consumption and costs from billions of dollars to just one million dollars.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/skaea111hyl https://www.quamcore.com/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
An economy on steroids. US Jewish venture capitalist Peter Kash made the prediction “By 2026, Israel will be an economy on steroids,” at the IATI MIXiii Health-Tech.IL Conference, Israel’s premier life sciences and health tech gathering. He was spot on in 2011 when he predicted Israel’s huge growth. (See also RJS report)
https://www.jns.org/peter-kash-by-2026-israel-will-be-an-economy-on-steroids/
Israel sells $5 billion of bonds. (TY Atid-EDI) Israeli government raised $5 billion in two series of bonds over five and ten years. Demand was very high - 4.6 times oversubscribed. The interest rates were closer to those of US Government bonds than last year’s issue, highlighting increased global confidence in Israel’s economy.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-raises-5b-international-bond-1001501945
Promoting Israeli tourism in Berlin. The Israeli pavilion at the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) fair in Berlin featured tour operators, hoteliers, airlines and more. Visitors could taste wine, experience a virtual tour Israel using Augmented Reality technology and had the chance to win a vacation package to Israel.
https://www.jns.org/israel-tourism-ministry-opens-pavilion-at-itb-fair-in-berlin/
Cool Israeli tech implemented. (TY OurCrowd) SoftBank and Hon Hai Technology (Foxconn) have for the first time implemented the two-phase direct liquid cooling technology from Israel’s ZutaCore (see here previously) in an AI server using NVIDIA accelerated computing.
Engineering an energy partnership. (TY Atid-EDI) Two Israeli companies, Brenmiller Energy (see here previously) and Baran Energy (part of Israel’s largest engineering company) are jointly to accelerate Brenmiller’s bGen ZERO thermal energy deployments in Israel. Baran has completed 1,000+ global projects.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250220455669/en/
https://www.barangroup.com/en/home-page-en/
Wave energy for India. Israel’s Eco Wave Power signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India’s Bharat Petroleum to jointly develop wave energy projects across India. It will begin with a 100 kW pilot project at BPCL’s Mumbai Oil Terminals, with plans for larger commercial-scale installations across the country.
Exits, takeovers & mergers – to 16th Mar 25: Israel’s Matrix IT is to buy Israel’s Magic Software in a deal worth around $2.1 billion. California’s Menlo Security acquired Israel’s Votiro.
Startup investment – to 16th Mar 25:. Cybereason raised $120 million; Pentera raised $60 million; Perfect raised $23 million; Exero Medical raised $12.7 million; Sawmills raised $10 million; QuamCore raised $9 million; Sola Security raised another $2 million; Israel’s Innovation Authority awarded nT-Tao $5 million over three years.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Ancient humans ate beef. (TY Yanky) Researchers have analyzed archaeological remains from Nesher Ramla, a site near Tel Aviv dating back to the Middle Paleolithic period. It shows ancient humans hunted few animal species, mainly aurochs, a wild bovine species, likely ancestors of today’s cattle.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/early-humans-in-israel-really-liked-their-steaks-new-study-shows/
“New Day Will Rise”. Israel’s entry for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest has been chosen. The three-minute song “New Day Will Rise” is primarily in English, with several lines in French and Hebrew. It will be performed by Nova music festival survivor Yuval Raphael. The Hebrew is from the Biblical Song of Songs.
https://www.jns.org/new-day-will-rise-israel-reveals-entry-for-2025-eurovision-song-contest/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzniNjG4Xto
See Israel’s waterfalls. Israel had a few wet days at the beginning of March. If you are quick, you can visit the resulting waterfalls at Ein Gedi, the Banias, Ayit (Golan), the Ayun (and others - Upper Galilee) the Jalaboun (Golan) the Sa’ar (Golan/Hermon valley) the Ein Avdat (Negev) and the Dragot (by the Dead Sea).
https://www.israel21c.org/best-waterfalls-to-visit-in-israel/
Israel week in San Diego. Students at UC San Diego will celebrate Israel Week in May as part of Jewish Heritage Month. It includes an Israeli shuk with booths offering Israeli food, samples of Israeli culture, and Israeli music. The Hillel center sponsors four student trips to Israel each year.
Three Jewish athletes make Aliyah in a war. Rachel Dallet, 22, moved to Israel in July to join the Hapoel Jerusalem soccer club. Basketball player Nikki Bick, 27, joined Ironi Ness Ziona women and former NBA G League player Ryan Turell joined their men’s team. All have had to shelter from rockets but have no regrets.
THE JEWISH STATE
Rappelling to deliver Purim presents. (TY TPS) Reservists from various IDF combat units brought Purim joy to Israeli children with severe physical and cognitive disabilities at Aleh’s facility in Bnei Brak. The soldiers rappelled down from the rooftop, each carrying Purim gift packages known as mishloach manot.
An eruv on Mt Hermon. Religious Jews refrain from carrying items in public areas on Shabbat unless a special boundary is in place, like the one this IDF soldier is constructing at the Mount Hermon base.
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-idf-installs-shabbat-eruv-border-on-snowy-mt-hermon-base/
800 pray at tomb of Rav Ashi. Some 800 Haredi Jews prayed at the tomb of Rav Ashi on the border between Israel and Lebanon under the protection of the IDF. Rav Ashi (352–427 C.E.) is credited with compiling the Gemara, an essential component of the Talmud. The rare visit was on 7 Adar – the date Moses was born & died.
https://www.jns.org/haredim-pray-at-rabbis-grave-on-lebanon-border-with-idf-escort/
NbN’s ZEI. Aliya organization Nefesh b’Nefesh (NbN) has launched its Zionist Education Initiative (ZEI) at its Jerusalem campus. It includes workshops on Zionism, Jewish history, and Aliyah; leadership training; dynamic programming for schools, camps, and communities; and exciting campus activities.
https://www.nbn.org.il/zei/ https://www.nbn.org.il/zei/zei-programming/
The demographic reality. The number of annual Jewish births in Israel (including Judea & Samaria) surged by 73% from 1995 to 2024 compared to a 18% increase of annual Arab births in Israel during the same period. The Jewish fertility rate (3 births per woman) is also higher.
https://theettingerreport.com/2025-israels-demographic-update-defies-conventional-wisdom/
Special Purim celebration. Israel’s first lady Michal Herzog hosted children with disabilities at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem together with their families for a special pre-Purim celebration. Designers from Holon Institute of Technology and Israel’s Wix made costumes for Beit Issie Shapiro’s “Dream Costumes” initiative.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-first-lady-welcomes-children-for-special-purim-celebration/
The King of Purim costumes. Tel Aviv’s Aviram Carmeli is the king of Purim costumes, and each year his outlandish outfits are more elaborate than the last. They include a bearded Miley Cyrus on a wrecking ball, and Aang “The Last Airbender” on a giant flying buffalo. His video as Aladdin had 200 million views.
https://www.israel21c.org/flying-buffalos-wrecking-balls-meet-the-purim-costume-legend/
250309
In the 9th Mar 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l Philanthropist Rabbi gifts a brand new car to released female Israeli hostage.
l Huge Israeli discovery – our bodies make antibiotics.
l Israel’s Sheba Medical Center climbs to the world’s eighth’s best hospital.
l An Israeli with Cerebral Palsy conquered Mt Kilimanjaro.
l An Israeli startup simplifies the control of diverse green energy sources.
l Israel opens Terminal 1 at Tel Aviv airport to handle tourism surge.
l The Tel Aviv marathon attracted 45,000 runners.
l IDF soldiers on Mount Hermon put a mezuzah on the door of their base.
· Click here to see the 2nd Mar newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen, (TY Ruth) Ruthfully Yours, with another excellent intro, (TY Aviva) United with Israel, (TY Ted Belman) IsraPundit, and Joan Swirsky (email her to get daily news). Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here, and Hebrew here, and with (TY) Claude into French here. Also (TY Barbara) into Spanish here. (Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also please visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL.
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POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Emily gets a free car. (TY Yanky) Philanthropist Rabbi Shai Graucher (see here previously) heard that ex-hostage Emily Damari needed a car to help her rebuild her life. So he surprised her with the gift of a brand-new BMW. She will be able to drive it more easily once her restorative hand surgery has healed.
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-ex-hostage-emily-damari-gifted-a-bmw-by-israeli-philanthropist/
A horse named Be’eri. A horse born just over a year ago has been named Be’eri, after the kibbutz devastated on Oct 7 2023. Be’eri is part of a unique Jewish National Fund-USA-supported equine therapy program that uses horses to help adults and children deal with the emotional trauma of Israelis affected by Oct 7.
https://www.jnf.org/jnf-blog/post/blog/a-horse-named-be'eri
What’s cooking? The Western Galilee Now Association (See here previously) is a lifeline for small businesses during times of war. Supported by JNF-USA, the WGN in one example, helped Shula, a chef and owner of a culinary business in the Galilee, to cook in Tel Aviv’s Carlton Hotel kitchen for Givatayim’s Winter Festival.
https://www.jnf.org/jnf-blog/post/blog/a-recipe-for-resilience
We will sing again. Released hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen posted a video of himself with his family, singing the Benaia Barabi song "Keren Shemesh" (Ray of Sunshine). He said, “The song is also a song of hope, the sunbeam dispelling the darkness, showing us the horizon, the light, the life."
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/404691
Rebuilding the Kibbutzim. The collectives that have embodied Israel’s pioneering spirit for over a century are determined to emerge healthier from the Oct 7 2023 attacks. Neri Shotan, CEO of the Kibbutz Movement Rehabilitation Fund said “We need to rebuild the kibbutzim stronger.” 20,000 global volunteers have helped.
https://www.israel21c.org/kibbutzim-begin-to-rebuild-after-oct-7-atrocities/
Community center for survivors. The UJA-Federation of New York is building the “UJA New York Nova House” - a permanent community center for 10,000 Nova community members and survivors, near Netanya, Israel. It will offer long-term recovery, sports, cultural activities, workforce development and other activities.
Boutique hotel on Gaza border. A luxury rural-style hotel is set to be built in Kibbutz Nir Am, near the Gaza border, in a project valued at 80 million shekels. The hotel, the first of its kind in the region, will feature 55 rooms, a spa, and a high-end restaurant (for guests and visitors) led by celebrity chef Eyal Shani.
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/ryqsniyq1g
Towards a new future in Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) ‘From the Ruins to a Shared Israeli Future’ is the title of the newest photo exhibit outside of Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s residence. The new photos show scenes of resilience and work since the start of the October Iron Swords War.
https://rjstreets.com/2025/03/02/from-the-ruins-to-a-new-future-in-jerusalem/
Volunteering on an army base. (TY Yanky) Since its inception 42 years ago, Sar-El has brought in more than 240,000 volunteers from over 40 countries to help on IDF bases, with over 36,000 just since Oct 7 2023. 25% of the workers are not Jewish. Tasks can be vital, such as refurbishing medical kits for frontline troops.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-841961
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
“Potential goldmine” for new antibiotics. (TY Hazel) A discovery by Weizmann scientists has astounded the world of microbiology (and the BBC). Every cell in the human body makes bacteria-killing chemicals to recycle proteins. These natural antibiotics could transform future research into combating resistant bacteria.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/new-immune-mechanism-revealed-cellular-trash
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpv4jww3r4eo https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08615-w
$5.4 million for next gen of medics. (TY Nevet) The Helmsley Charitable Trust has donated $5.45 million to construct a state-of-the-art Medical Technology building at the Israel’s Holon Institute of Technology (HIT). It will educate the next generation of medics, focusing on digital health, AI, and medical technology innovation.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-842820
OT training for new immigrants. (TY Nevet / ADL) For its 30th anniversary, Israel’s Ono Academic College is opening its International School this Oct at its Kiryat Ono campus. Its Occupational Therapy (OT) program is tailored for new olim, with personalized curricula, accommodation, a simulation center, and dedicated mentors.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-840930 https://international.ono.ac.il/
Hand surgery for Emily. Released hostage Emily Demari has undergone surgery to reduce the terrible pain in her hands after nerves were stitched together improperly at Gaza’s Shifa Hospital. Emily lost two fingers when Hamas terrorists shot her dog in her hands. Her 3-fingered hand-sign has become a resilience symbol.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/404756
Sheba is eighth best hospital. (TY Nevet) Israel’s Sheba Medical Center increased its position from ninth to eighth on Newsweek’s ranking of the best hospitals in the world (see previously). Sourasky (Ichilov) was at 60, and Rabin (Beilinson) was at 122. Hadassah Ein Kerem made the list for the first time coming in at 242.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OihGxmaZTs
https://www.hadassah.org/press-release/newsweek-ranks-hadassah-medical-organization-one-of-the-worlds-best-hospitals-for-the-first-time-ever https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/worlds-best-hospitals-2025
Saving lives after surgery. Nora Nseir is the founder and co-CEO of Nurami Medical (see here previously) explains Nurami’s latest groundbreaking product, which is able to to regenerate meningeal tissue after complex brain and spinal cord surgery. Nurami’s first product stops cerebrospinal fluid leakage post-surgery.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/k5m8i68io
Reducing side-effects of cancer therapy. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Lutris is developing a topical B-Raf Inhibitor LUT014 - a proprietary, first-in-class, small molecule allowing administration of EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) Inhibitors to cancer patients without interruptions caused by skin problems.
https://www.lutris-pharma.com/
A day close to my heart. As part of 2025 National Defibrillator Day, Magen David Adom volunteers set up over 500 training stations across Israel. They showed 35,000 members of the public how to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest, locate and operate a nearby Automated External Defibrillator, and call 101 for assistance.
https://www.jns.org/mda-holds-national-defibrillator-day-in-israel/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
The sky is no limit (almost). Maayan Gabai has cerebral palsy, yet climbed Mt Kilimanjaro on crutches. He and 29 others raised over NIS 1 million for Shalva, the Israel Association for the Care and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. Ex-IDF Arab affairs spokesperson Maayan was hugged by an Iranian he met on the climb.
Chef training for people with disabilities. February was Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month. The charity Israel Elwyn (see here previously) oversaw a course for a dozen people with disabilities to gain professional certification as assistant chefs. As well as culinary skills, they learnt to be confident in teams.
The bravery of Israeli female EMTs. On International Women’s Day (8 Mar) it is worth seeing how the women volunteers of Israeli medical NGO United Hatzalah responded to the aftermath of Oct 7 2023.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VaS8bdBfgc https://israelrescue.org/program/womens-initiative/
$1 billion for Druze and Circassian communities. The government is to approve a $1 billion plan to improve housing and education for the Druze and Circassian communities in northern Israel. The five-year project is the largest ever for the two minority communities who are delighted with the plan.
https://www.jns.org/israel-to-approve-1b-for-druze-and-circassian-communities/
Religious leaders promote sustainability. Israel’s Bar-Ilan University hosted an international conference to address sustainability challenges through the lens of religious teachings. Over two dozen Jewish, Christian, and Moslem scholars attended, including from Morocco, Turkey, UAE, Kosovo, Uganda, US, UK and Scotland.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-844693
Israel & US conduct joint air exercise. The Israeli and U.S. Air Forces conducted a significant joint military exercise over the Mediterranean Sea, in their first collaboration on this scale in two years. Dozens of fighter jets, strategic B-52 bombers and refueling aircraft participated.
https://www.jns.org/israel-us-conduct-major-joint-military-drill-over-mediterranean/
Indian workers rescued. (TY Hazel) Ten workers from India were rescued from a Palestinian Arab village where they had been held for over a month, while their passports were misused. The overnight rescue operation was led by the Population and Immigration Authority, together with the IDF and the Justice Ministry.
IDF digital platform in Turkish. The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit has launched official digital platforms in Turkish, establishing accounts on the prominent social media networks X and Telegram. The IDF now operates in seven languages: Hebrew, English, Arabic, French, Spanish, Persian and Turkish.
https://www.jns.org/idf-expands-digital-outreach-with-turkish-language-platforms/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
From theory to practice. Four years ago, Tel Aviv University scientists engineered a frictionless structure, two atoms thick (see here previously). Last week (see here) one TAU team used this discovery to simulate “on-off” switching. Now another team shows how this “superlubricity” vastly enhances microprocessor performance.
https://www.aftau.org/news_item/tau-researchers-apply-superlubricity-to-electronic-devices-only-two-atoms-thick/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08380-2
720 new engineers. Following last week’s video about Tel Aviv’s Afeka College (see here previously) the college has just graduated a record 720 new engineers. Some 44% of its students, plus faculty and staff, have been serving in the reserves, supported by a hybrid learning program (see link to Afeka’s “AsOne” campaign).
https://www.afeka.ac.il/en/giving/projects/asone-campaign/
Resolving disinformation in seconds. Israel’s Cyabra (see here previously) a leading AI platform for real-time disinformation detection, has launched Insights. This powerful new AI-feature is designed to transform complex social media disinformation data into clear, actionable answers in seconds.
AI tools to combat antisemitism. Israeli and Jewish tech innovators and organizations are developing new AI-powered tools and initiatives to counter misinformation and antisemitism online. They include Generative AI for Good, Bottom Line, Reasonate, Facts Commando, and Atchalta. https://www.atchalta.com/
https://www.jns.org/new-ai-tools-emerge-to-combat-antisemitism/ https://www.generativeaiforgood.com/
https://bottomlinemedia.org/ https://reasonate.vayomar.com/ https://facts-commando.com/
Google’s new chip. Google is expanding its chip development operations in Israel. It is currently hiring dozens of employees to develop a new network interface card (NIC) - a basic component for communications between core processors and graphics processors for AI processing.
Smart energy. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Contel Smart Energy was established as Contel Technologies in 1964. Its projects include at Rambam hospital, Hadera power station, power plants in Spain, and Kibbutz Zeelim’s 120MW PV plant. It has now launched Energynie, an AI-based platform to manage PV, wind energy & storage.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/contel-smart-energy-unveils-energynie-its-composable-ai-driven-platform-for-scalable-renewable-energy-management-302367733.html https://contelsmart.com/product/
Giving apple growers the PIP. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s BeeHero (see here previously) has expanded its Pollination Insight Platform (PIP) to the apple market. “Apples are very sensitive for on-time pollination,” said Itai Kanot, co-founder and chief growth operator for BeeHero. And bees are sensitive to cold weather.
The gene that controls the scent of flowers. (TY TPS) Hebrew University researchers have found that a single gene, PhDEF, previously recognized for its role in petal formation, also plays a key part in activating scent production in later stages of flower development. It has major implications for the fragrance industry.
https://academic.oup.com/plcell/article/37/2/koaf027/8003630
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Deficit narrows. Israel's fiscal deficit has fallen sharply from 6.9% of GDP in the twelve months to the end of Dec 2024 to 5.8%, or NIS 115 billion, in the twelve months to the end of Jan 2025. It follows an all-time record high in state revenues of NIS 63.1 billion in Jan 2025, 30% more than the previous record in Jan 2022.
Average wage rose 5.1% in 2024. The average wage of an Israeli employee rose by 5.1% in 2024, compared with 2023, the Central Bureau of Statistics reports. Even after inflation is taken into account real wages rose by 1.9%. The long-term average real wage in Israel has risen by more than 30% from 2011.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-average-wage-in-israel-rose-51-in-2024-1001503690
Record profits for Israeli Banks. Bank Leumi’s 2024 profits rose 40% to NIS 9.8 billion. Bank Hapoalim’s +3.7% to NIS 7.6 billion. Bank Mizrahi Tefahot’s +11% to NIS 5.5 billion with a NIS 2.2 billion dividend. The Bank of Israel has told the banks to allocate NIS 3 billion to help retail customers cope during the war.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-banks-told-to-set-aside-839m-to-offer-customers-lower-fees-and-other-benefits/ https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-leumi-posts-largest-ever-bank-profit-1001503626
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-hapoalim-posts-record-annual-profit-sets-targets-1001503553
Prolific investor. Peregrine Ventures (see here previously) which specializes in life-changing medical technology investments in Israel and around the world, is the most active investor in Israel in the health technology sector over the past year. It made 15 healthcare investments in 2024.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-837235
Arkia continues flights to New York. Israeli airline Arkia announced that it is extending its recently launched flights to New York through at least October due to high demand. Its three weekly flights have a set price of $1,200 round trip in economy. https://www.jns.org/arkia-extends-new-york-flights-through-october/
Terminal 1 to reopen for April surge. (TY TPS) Ben Gurion Airport’s Terminal One will resume operations during the last week of March. Israel’s Airport Authority expects 1,377 flights, mainly Arkia, Israir, Wizz Air, and Ryanair to depart from Terminal 1 in April. EasyJet is expected to resume flights to Israel in June.
Israeli technology for German army. Israel’s Smart Shooter (see here previously) from Kibbutz Yagur has sold hundreds of its Smash AI smart fire control systems to the German army.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-germany-buys-kibbutz-yagurs-smartshooter-ai-sights-1001502672
Exits, takeovers & mergers – to 9th Mar 25: Boston Scientific has acquired Israel’s SoniVie for up to $540 million. California’s Armis (Israeli founded) has acquired Israel’s Otorio for an estimated $120 million. US-based Dynatrace has acquired Israel’s Metis Data for tens of millions of dollars.
Startup investment – to 9th Mar 25:. Grain Finance raised $33 million; Lutris raised $30 million; Nurami raised $30 million; CaPow raised $15 million; Aryon raised $9 million; Alta AI raised $7 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Abstract art began in Israel. (TY Nevet / ADL) New research by Israeli and European scholars on prehistoric artifacts discovered in a Lower Galilee cave in the 1970s, proves that abstract artistic expression began much earlier than previously thought. A 100,000-year-old grave contained decorated engravings on stone tools.
35 Israeli appearances for Romanian baritone. Romania’s Ionut Pascu is back Israel - his 35th visit to Israel (five since Oct 7 2023.) He plays Iago in Verdi’s ‘Otello’ with the staging moved to post-Ottoman Cyprus. In previous productions he changed Italian words, and used “habibi “and “hamudi” to make audiences laugh.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/this-romanian-baritone-sings-arias-in-israel-even-after-oct-7/
45,000 run Tel Aviv marathon. (TY Hazel) Some 45,000 people took part in the Tel Aviv Marathon, the first since 2023. It included a special 3km run for soldiers wounded in the war and disabled veterans. Yellow balloons were released to symbolize the 59 hostages still being held in Gaza.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/45000-compete-in-tel-aviv-marathon-with-symbolic-yellow-balloons/
The first Israeli NBA triple-double. Israel’s Deni Avdija posted 30 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for Portland Trail Blazers against the Cleveland Cavaliers - the first Israeli NBA player to achieve a triple-double. A double is where a player scores a double-digit number of points, rebounds, assists, steals or blocked shots.
https://www.jns.org/avdija-scores-triple-double-first-for-israeli-in-nba/
THE JEWISH STATE
Yarden Bibas dedicates Torah scroll. Yarden Bibas received a personal Torah scroll dedicated to the memory of his family. Yarden wrote three letters in the Torah scroll, - Shin, Alef, Kuf. for Shiri, Ariel and Kfir. The scroll was donated by Rabbi Moshe Scheiner at the initiative of businessman and Hasidic rabbi Shai Graucher.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/404826
A mezuzah on Mount Hermon. Watch IDF troops stationed on snowy Mount Hermon affix a mezuzah to the entrance of their base. https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-idf-troops-stationed-on-snowy-mount-hermon-affix-mezuzah-to-base-entrance/
Agam Berger visits Joseph’s tomb. Released hostage Agam Berger visited Joseph's Tomb alongside Samaria governor Yossi Dagan. Dagan said, “You are here with us, in this holy place, at the Tomb of Joseph the righteous, who came out of the pit to kingship.” He wished “all the captives out of the pit with a great victory”.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/404778
Ecuador to open diplomatic office in Jerusalem. Ecuador is set to open an innovation office in Jerusalem that will have diplomatic status. Israeli Foreign Minister called his Ecuador counterpart, Gabriela Sommerfeld, and praised Ecuador’s decision.
https://www.jns.org/saar-ecuador-to-open-office-with-diplomatic-status-in-jerusalem/
Early Rabbis’ commentaries recovered. The National Library of Israel is displaying a 15th century copy of the Province manuscript Mezukak Shivatayim, written by Rabbi Yosef Kimchi around 1380. It is a commentary of Maimonides Mishnah Torah and quotes Jewish sages whose names are unknown and works have been lost.
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In the 2nd Mar 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l A week of contrasts – Buses & Bibas.
l An innovative, less-invasive, Israeli device to minimize the chance of a stroke.
l Israel had a friendly visit by a Pakistani Moslem leader.
l See what Israel uses to prevent wildfires.
l An Israeli startup is vastly extending the life of electric car batteries.
l Fiji promises to be the next country to open an embassy in Jerusalem.
· Click here to see the 23rd Feb newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen, (TY Ruth) Ruthfully Yours, with another excellent intro, and Joan Swirsky (email her to get daily news). Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here, and Hebrew here, and with (TY) Claude into French here. Also (TY Barbara) into Spanish here. (Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also please visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL.
· 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 (over 26,100 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, and the subject “Subscribe”) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
The honey and the sting. Naomi Shemer’s song “Al Kol Eleh” (for all these) sums up last week and a half. First, two miracles saved hundreds of Israelis from five bus bombs – an alert passenger, and terrorists set the timers wrongly. A week later, thousands took to the streets to honor the Bibas family (Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir).
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/02/21/2-israelis-arrested-for-aiding-in-bus-bombings/
https://www.jns.org/israeli-commuter-who-averted-bus-bombing-i-was-a-messenger-of-god/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/404389
All restrictions lifted. (TY WIN) The IDF Home Front Command has lifted all remaining restrictions on communities along Israel’s northern border, initially imposed due to hostilities with Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah. It allows displaced residents to return home on 2nd Mar.
https://www.jns.org/israel-lifts-all-restrictions-on-northern-border-communities/
National service for over-50s. The “Shnat Sherut 50 Plus” initiative brings the vast expertise and experience of seasoned professionals to the Israeli communities that need it most. The service mobilizes adults aged 50 and above for a year of service, volunteering in education, healthcare, social services etc. In Israel, 50 is the new 20!
https://www.timesofisrael.com/kickin-it-old-school-retirees-rediscover-youth-with-national-service-year-for-over-50s/ https://elul.org.il/en/shnat-sherut-50-plus/
Supporting youth at risk. The Jewish Agency’s Youth Futures program has been providing intensive holistic support for Israeli children and families at risk for nearly 20 years. Now it has vastly expanded its role to help some 5,000 families a week, (Jews, Arabs, Druze etc.) who have been adversely impacted by the war.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-841966
Testing tech in battlefield conditions. Small, innovative Israeli companies have proven vital on the battlefield, deploying rapid solutions to avoid the need for years-long product testing. This article features Xtend (drones and anti-drone systems) and Thirdeye Systems (electro optics and analytics). https://thirdeye-systems.com/
Educational tourism. Following Oct. 7 2023, World Mizrachi has brought thousands of visitors to the affected regions in an effort they called “community educational tourism.” Participants obtain a firsthand understanding of the bravery and heroism of Israel’s soldiers and civilians, and the need for rebuilding in the south.
https://www.jns.org/wire/community-educational-tourism-program-to-support-israels-north/
Gaza border town alcohol producers. The blue agave that Gaza border farmers are growing in Kibbutz Alumim will be used to make the best Tequila in the Middle East (not surprising!). Meanwhile Kibbutz Be’eri is growing barley for malting in Europe and then returning to Israel for whisky production for sale in 2028.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-840534
US charity founder is making Aliyah. (TY Yanky) Yocheved Ruttenberg, co-founder of NGO Sword of Iron – Israel Volunteer Opportunities (see here previously) has grown the group from zero to 40,000+ in 15 months. She is now preparing to move permanently from Texas to Tel Aviv.
https://danielgordis.substack.com/p/sword-of-iron-israel-volunteer-opportunities
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Unblocking the carotid arteries. Israel’s Pylon Medical has developed a first-of-its-kind system for treating carotid artery disease, one of the leading risk factors for stroke. Pylon’s new “specialty kit” includes a balloon catheter, an artery closure device, and an aspiration system that removes plaque in clogged neck blood vessels.
https://www.israel21c.org/treating-clogged-arteries-will-soon-be-safer-and-faster/
https://www.pylonmedical.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4__4da9UWE
Brain on a chip is a game-changer. Israel’s Itay & Beyond is developing a medicine discovery and AI-based testing platform for psychiatric and neurological disorders. They generated stem cells from autistic individuals, grow brain cells on a chip, connect to a computer, teach it to play games and analyze changes from medicines.
https://itayandbeyond.com/ https://itayandbeyond.com/Itay&Beyond-Video-Pitch-New-compressed.mp4
Rapid protection against viruses. Researchers at Israel’s Technion Institute have discovered a unique genetic mechanism that provides cells with rapid protection against viruses. Normally, molecules NORAD and STAT3 control the immune system. On virus attack, the cells eat NORAD, and STAT3 unleashes an immune response.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/blog/article/viruses-and-the-human-cell-the-evolutionary-arms-race/
Breakthrough tool for gene mutation research. Tel Aviv University scientists have developed an innovative biosensor imaging tool for measuring the gene PTEN, whose mutations are linked to cancer and autism. It should help develop personalized treatments and aid early disease detection and more effective therapies.
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/health-and-medicine/tau-researchers-on-brink-of-unlocking-gene-linked-to-cancer-and-autism/2025/02/25/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-025-02610-9
AI is your doctor’s best friend. Israel’s Lavaa Health’s platform can identify disease and hard-to-diagnose illnesses at the earliest stage, allowing doctors to quickly draw up efficient treatment plans. It uses AI to connect a person’s medical data with its own massive database and identify hard-to-diagnose or rare illnesses.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-ai-tech-that-can-spot-serious-illness-before-the-doctor/
Revolutionizing group therapy with VR & AI. (TY Sharon) One of the Israeli startups presenting at the Conference of Presidents’ “Resilience Panel” was neao - a pioneering Virtual Reality platform for remote group therapy. It features anonymity (with avatars), wider access and accessibility, and tailored environments.
https://neao.io/ https://www.meta.com/experiences/neao-group-therapy/8222701291141191/
No-mask solution for sleep apnea. (TY Sharon) Another Israeli startup presenting at the Conference of Presidents’ “Resilience Panel” was appscent medical. Its SCENTIFIC® device is the world’s first non-intrusive, contactless, drug-free home use solution for the potentially dangerous sleep apnea condition.
https://www.appscent.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV61Vnt3fx4
3 new medical schools. (TY WIN) Israel needs 2,000 new doctors every year but only gets 1,200. So it is opening three new medical schools, The private Reichman University in Herzliya (88 graduates) opened on 2nd Feb. Two others, at Haifa University (66) and Weizmann Institute of Science (40), are to open in Oct.
https://tps.co.il/articles/israel-launches-three-new-medical-schools-to-address-shortage-of-doctors/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Transforming pain into smiles. (TY Yanky) 700+ people came together in Eilat for the winter camp of Simcha Layeled (Joy for the child – see here previously). Some 400 physically disabled children rode in jeep safaris, enjoyed water sports in the Red Sea, and participated in the first fully accessible nature hike.
https://www.simchalayeled.org.il/Homepage
Breaking down stereotypes. Tamer Masudin, a Muslim Arab from Israel, broke down classic stereotypes and tropes about the country, describing how united the nation and land are.
What’s army life like in the haredi brigade? (TY Nevet) Haredi recruits in the IDF’s new Hashmonaim Brigade share their experiences of training, spiritual growth and adjusting to military life. Despite initial challenges, many are committed to serving and see it as a meaningful way to contribute to Israel's security.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkzqmytt1x
Pakistan’s Sufi leader visited Israel. (TY Hazel) Peer Syed Mudassir Nazar Shah, chairman of the global Sufi Council, visited Israel for the first time. He said “People lost half their families, and they are still able to hold on to hope – it’s eye-opening.” At least 140 million Pakistani Muslims follow Sufism.
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-842034
Israeli scientist at Moroccan conference. Dr. Doron Markel, chief scientist of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund represented KKL-JNF at a conference on water, energy, food and ecology in Rabat. He presented the Ma’ale Gilboa agrivoltaic project, which uses land for solar energy production and agriculture.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-scientist-attends-moroccan-environmental-conference/
Azerbaijani books support Israel. New Azerbaijani textbooks attribute the Israeli-Palestinian conflict’s roots to Arab rejection of the 1947 U.N. Partition Plan. Azerbaijan is also the first Muslim-majority country to define antisemitism in its textbooks, offering positive portrayals of both Jews and Israel.
https://www.jns.org/azerbaijani-textbooks-show-increasing-support-for-israel-and-respect-for-jews/
Transforming lives in Africa. Another great video from Israeli NGO Innovation: Africa. The Story of Nakiru Theresa from Karamoja, Uganda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHrkpht7TTs
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
The next chip is for Intel. Intel’s newest microprocessor - the Falcon Shores AI processor, developed using technology from Israeli company Habana Labs - will be repurposed as an internal test platform. It will be part of the development of the Jaguar Shores chip – Intel’s comprehensive AI solution for data centers.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/b1anubrdke
Israeli is Intel Corp number three. (TY Nevet) Intel Israel co-CEO Karin Eibschitz-Segal has been appointed Intel Corp's interim head of Intel's data center and artificial intelligence (DCAI), the third most important position at the US chipmaker. She will manage 10,000 employees globally, including several hundred in Israel.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-intel-israel-ceo-named-interim-head-of-dcai-1001501835
https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/hjvccadyjl
Are you on a winner? Israel’s Canotera AI analyzes the details of a legal case to predict the outcome and the likely value of any damages awarded. It can be used by plaintiffs, defendants, lawyers, and insurance companies. Its first client is a New York insurance company.
https://www.israel21c.org/ai-software-predicts-if-a-legal-case-a-winner-or-no-hoper/ https://canotera.com/
Go for solar. Israel’s Energy Ministry has launched a campaign to get solar panels onto 15 percent of Israel’s residential roofs by 2030. It offered incentives such as varied tariff options, shortened payback periods, tax incentives, and fast-track connection to the grid. It wants 100,000 more solar roofs by the end of the decade.
Fighting fires with fauna. Israel’s KKL-JNF Grazing Unit deploys thousands of animals (sheep, goats, and antelopes) for anti-wildfire vegetation management, removing combustible foliage to create fire buffer lines. The IDF’s Nature Defense Team manages hundreds of animals at bases to protect ammunition stockpiles.
https://www.israel21c.org/is-the-future-of-firefighting-four-legged/
Tech tours for new immigrants. The Tel Aviv and Jerusalem municipalities have partnered with Tech It Forward (see here previously) to offer free behind-the-scenes tours of the hi-tech sector to help them get a foot in the door. It is provided to college graduates (aged 22-35) on the 5-month residential Ulpan Etzion program.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-842866
https://www.jewishagency.org/ulpan-etzion/
Israel’s future depends on engineers. This ILTV video features Israel’s Afeka College (see here previously). As Israel faces a growing demand for engineers, Afeka Academic College is transforming education to build the next generation of high-tech leaders. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nK6j3YsRZ4
https://mailchi.mp/iltv.tv/afeka-code
Israel’s F35i Adir. (TY Yanky) Israel’s F-35I Lightning II Adir (“the mighty one”) is more than just another F-35 - it is a customized powerhouse tailored for the Israeli Air Force. It features enhanced command and control systems, a unique electronic warfare suite, and Israeli-made weapons integration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k55T5EUVh9c
AI on the battlefield. IDF Spokesperson (Res.) Don Spielman interviews Israeli AI pioneer Dr Eli David who explains how the AI war is heating up across the world and changing the battlefield. They discuss how Israel and the US will utilize AI development to keep ahead of tyrannical regimes across the globe.
https://www.jns.org/ai-on-the-battlefield-video-interview/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f99m1ZtCYIw
Where are we? (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s Edgybees (see here previously) has patented a huge leap in geospatial analysis. Artificial Neural Networks identify and tag dynamic objects in real-time video images. This method vastly improves mapping accuracy, especially in situations where GPS is unavailable or unreliable.
Exposing hype about DeepSeek. Israel’s Cyabra (see here previously) found that some of the recent hype about DeepSeek, China’s AI sensation, was driven by fake accounts, indicating a coordinated disinformation campaign. Cyabra also exposed problems with the German election.
https://www.ourcrowd.com/companies/cyabra
https://time.news/german-election-2023-fake-accounts-bots-on-social-media/
More European research grants. Two researchers from Israel’s Technion have received €150,000 European Research Council (ERC) "Proof of Concept" grants (see here previously). Prof. Lior Gepstein’s for innovative treatments for atrial fibrillation (AF); and Prof. Yoav Schechner’s for a camera calibration system.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israel wows buyers at UAE defense show. (TY UWI) Israeli defense manufacturers received a warm welcome at the 2025 International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) and the Naval Defense and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX), a four-day event in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-defense-manufacturers-wow-buyers-at-abu-dhabi-show/
Ignite fires are deeper. Intel-backed Ignite Deep Tech (see here previously) is launching new acceleration programs to support deep technology startups at various stages of development.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjczrgs51g
From small shop to online retail giant. This article contains the “rags to riches” story of Israeli online retailer KSP, now valued at £650 million.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/qd4l1vwpg https://ksp.co.il/web/
A new city for construction workers. At the 2025 National Economics Conference in Eilat, PMO Director-General Yossi Sheli emphasized the importance of solving housing issues for foreign workers. He proposed an to establish a residential city near Modi'in that could accommodate approximately 30,000 workers.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/real-estate/article-840929
Speeding the development of Mazda Avs. Israel’s Foretellix (see here previously) has partnered US-based MathWorks to help Japan’s Mazda Car Corporation develop the next generation of its Autonomous Vehicles. Mazda uses the integrated solution to test & validate its autonomous systems in a virtual environment.
Non-bank credit for hi-tech companies. Israeli venture capital fund Firstime is launching a new non-bank credit operation for high-tech companies. Firstime Credit uses a project financing model more common in large infrastructure projects such as solar installations or power plants. It offers a funding alternative for startups.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkffpyh9yx https://www.firstime.vc/credit/
Transforming electric vehicles. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s Carrar (see here previously) won a $4.6M grant from the Israel Innovation Authority. Carrar is raising more funds and doubling its workforce to create its first plant near Sderot to produce EV battery packs. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-carrar-to-raise-18m-for-ev-battery-production-line-around-sderot-frontline/
Startup investment – to 2nd Mar 25: Quantum Machines raised $170 million; Vayu raised $7 million.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
An insider’s guide to Pardes Hanna. The Israeli city of Pardes Hanna-Karkur is undergoing gentrification. Proud resident Zachy Hennessey recommends local sites to visit include the Wadi, Blue Bus (for hummus), the Artist Stables, Sabba Yosi’s Farmer’s Market, Café Noyland, and Tzomet Karkur.
https://www.israel21c.org/an-insiders-guide-to-the-hidden-gems-of-pardes-hanna/
Can’t stop the birds. Despite the major turmoil caused by the war, migrating birds are relatively unflappable. Key areas in Israel are being built up, restored, enlarged and/or rewilded such as the Kebara swamplands and the Kfar Ruppin birding park and wetland reserve, so that migrating birds have a place to stop and refuel.
https://www.israel21c.org/7-reasons-to-start-birdwatching-this-spring-in-israel/
Revolutionizing tennis training. Israel’s Baseline Vision is transforming net sports, starting with tennis, by redefining how players, coaches, and academies approach training and competition. Its functions include performance tracking and accurate line calling, Baseline’s camera is installed on the net, and records all events.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-840925 https://www.baselinevision.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4GSUJK1djk
THE JEWISH STATE
Aliyah fast-track for professional licenses. The Israeli government has approved a reform to fast-track professional licenses for those moving to Israel. It will allow license holders to begin applying for their Israeli license before making Aliyah. New Olim currently have to wait for approval 6-12 months after arrival in Israel.
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-842391
Fund for the Jewish Future. Philanthropist and co-founder of Birthright Israel, Charles Bronfman, has made a legacy commitment of $25 million to support the Birthright Israel “Fund for the Jewish Future,” to ensure that transformative programs connecting young adults to their Jewish identity and Israel continue for generations.
$700,000 Or HaChaim letter. (TY JNS) An 18th-century manuscript by the Or HaChaim (Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar c1696-1743) was sold for $700,000 (2.5 million shekels) at auction in Jerusalem. The Or HaChaim was a a leading advocate for Jewish immigration to the land of Israel and left Morocco to settle in Jerusalem.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/01/23/letter-by-prominent-rabbi-fetches-700000-at-auction/
Nothing stops the Presidents. (TY Sharon) The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organization has been held in Israel for 70 years - during wartimes and COVID-19. At the Tuesday event were the Prime Minister, ex-President Ruvi Rivlin, & the family of Avera Mengistu, released after a decade in Gaza.
https://rjstreets.com/2025/02/23/nothing-keeps-the-conference-of-presidents-from-jerusalem-streets/
Watch kindergarten kids say IDF prayer. (TY Yanky) I don’t usually share Instagram videos, but this one is superb. As a platoon of IDF soldiers passed by these pre-school children during their tour of the Knesset, the kids recited the prayer for the success of the IDF by heart. The soldiers were delighted. Am Yisrael Chai!
https://www.instagram.com/thirdsideofthestory/reel/DGd7SMsy1Hv/
Fiji to open embassy in Jerusalem. Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka has announced that the South Pacific nation of Fiji is set to open an embassy in Jerusalem later this year. “We are absolutely excited about coming to Jerusalem, and we most definitely will be there this year,” said Mr Gavoka.
https://israfan.com/p/fiji-jerusalem-embassy-2025
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In the 23rd Feb 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l The five released female IDF hostages requested to return to active duty.
l The partner of a fallen IDF soldier has named her life-saving discovery after him.
l Israel gives medical and financial support to ex-hostage Thai workers.
l The IDF gave US firefighters vital data to help combat LA wildfires.
l Israeli hybrid-fueled drones can fly five times further.
l Israel and India are partnering to transform global trade.
l Israeli women win a medal at the ice hockey world championships.
l Argentine’s President is the first non-Jewish winner of the “Jewish Nobel Prize”.
· Click here to see the 9th Feb newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen, (TY Ruth) Ruthfully Yours with a great intro, (TY) Aviva) United With Israel, (TY Ted Belman) IsraPundit, and Joan Swirsky (email her to get daily news). Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here, and Hebrew here, and with (TY) Claude into French here. Also (TY Barbara) into Spanish here. (Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also please visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL.
· 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 (over 26,100 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, and the subject “Subscribe”) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Standing together. Brian Mast, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Congress, met with IDF soldier Ari Spitz. Rep Mast lost his legs in Afghanistan; Ari lost his in Gaza; both have prosthetic legs. Rep Mast said, “As the only member to serve with both the US Army and the IDF, I will always stand with Israel.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403476
Released hostages plant trees at hospital. (TY UWI) A few days before Tu Bishvat (New Year for Trees) the five IDF female lookouts, who returned from Hamas captivity, planted olive trees at the entrance to Beilinson Hospital on the day they were discharged. The olive tree symbolizes stability, continuity, and resilience.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403461
Five lookouts ask to return to IDF service. Less than two weeks after their release from Hamas captivity, former hostages Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Agam Berger, Daniella Gilboa and Karina Ariev have asked to return to the army. The army responded that they needed more time to recover and that it was too soon.
https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/freed-israeli-hostages-ask-to-return-to-idf-service-rdh8vmxn
Trains resume to Sderot. (TY Yanky) The Sderot-Ashkelon train line resumed operations for the first time since Oct 7 2023. The IDF has prepared for the line to reopen by deploying new technologies, physical defenses and surveillance capabilities costing NIS 40 million.
LEGO man is still building. (TY Sam Kramer) For the last 14 years, the “The Lego Man” Maor Cohen (see here previously) has brought over 10,000 Lego sets to children with cancer. Since Oct. 7 he has taken on a new role: bringing Lego to injured Israeli soldiers. And now, for returned hostages, including the Thai captives.
https://jewishjournal.com/community/376281/the-lego-man-maor-cohen-brings-lego-to-injured-israeli-soldiers-an-interview/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403992
From farms to frontlines. On the Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF-USA) alternative winter break trip to Israel, 30 US students brought joy to kids at youth centers, worked on farms, raised funds for ADI Negev in their “Run for Inclusion”, and connected to the land and its people. www.jnf.org/volunteeril
https://www.jns.org/wire/from-farms-to-frontlines-students-bring-hope-to-israel-post-oct-7/
Avi and Eden are engaged. (TY Yanky) During her national service, Eden was assigned to “OneFamily - overcoming terror together,” and worked at Loewenstein rehab hospital. She met Avi, a critically injured Golani Brigade commander. A friendship flourished between them - and now they are getting married.
https://simchaspot.com/blog/2025/02/03/engagement-of-avi-and-eden-israel/
Stock options for reservist employees. Israel’s HiBob (see here previously) is showing its appreciation to its employees, granting 1,800 options to every employee who served more than 30 days of IDF reserve duty during the Swords of Iron War. HiBob’s CEO highlighted military service as “a cornerstone of Israel’s strength.”
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkaehmmyyx
Returning home. (TY TPS) Israel’s Ministry of Social Affairs has unveiled a structured support plan for the tens of thousands of northern residents returning to their homes from Mar 1. Social workers and therapists have been provided with guidelines; families should visit their homes in stages to plan repairs and redecoration.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
From collapse to pacemaker in 5 hours. By now you probably know about my personal experience of Israel’s terrific emergency medical service. If interested in the full details, I’ve written it up. More important, though, are the links to the sites of the wonderful Laniado and United Hatzalah. Please support them.
https://netanyareflections.blogspot.com/2025/02/from-collapse-to-pacemaker-in-5-hours.html
https://laniadosupporters.org.il/laniado-applies-advanced-idf-methods/ https://laniadosupporters.org.il/
https://israelrescue.org/stories/a-lifesaving-injection/ https://israelrescue.org/donate/
Bacteriophage can save lives. Sigal Vorzhev, a researcher at the Israeli Phage Therapy Center at the Hebrew University and Hadassah, has discovered a phage (a kind of virus) that kills deadly resistant bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae. She has named the phage “KpRaz1” after her life partner MSG Raz Abulafia who fell in Gaza.
Unlocking the secrets of cancer. (TY Ron M) Tel Aviv University Professor Uri Ben-David shares insights regarding cancer biology and treatment strategies, including precision medicine. His specialty is aneuploidy, the presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes in cancer cells (see here previously).
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-841686
Doubling the IVF success rate. (TY Ron M) Tel Aviv University scientists have greatly increased the success rate of IVF from 34% to 65% by a precise and advanced method for selecting the highest-quality sperm cells. Their innovative imaging system analyzes internal sperm morphology, motility, and DNA fragmentation.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-841730
Don’t worry, be happy. Yuval Kutz is founder and President of Israel’s online Happiness Studies Academy, which uses scientific research to educate leaders about how to find and share happiness. Kurtz says, “Research shows you will be more productive, more resilient, more efficient, and that you’ll live longer” if you’re happy.
https://www.israel21c.org/if-you-want-to-be-happy-get-ready-for-some-hard-work/
https://www.happinessstudies.academy/abouthsa/ https://vimeo.com/414706530
What’s good about fat? (TY TPS) Scientists at Israel’s Ben Gurion University have identified new types of fat cells in the body and described their purpose – e.g. to control appetite. Their research findings, part of the international Human Cell Atlas project, could pave the way for personalized medicine in obesity.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-researchers-discover-new-fat-cell-types-that-could-transform-obesity-treatment/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-024-02048-3
Volunteers to the rescue. (TY Gabrielle) This article gives a comprehensive insight into Israel’s largest volunteer organization – Yad Sarah (see here previously). The range of medical and social services that Yad Sarah provides is truly amazing, including to help rehabilitate wounded IDF soldiers.
https://israeldreams.com/2025/01/12/finallyan-uplifting-story/ https://friendsofyadsarah.org/donate-now
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
When someone collapses in France. Newsletter subscriber and Israel21c editor Nicky Blackburn saw my news of Israel’s amazing emergency medical service. She sent me a link to this article from 2016 when her husband and an Arab Israeli nurse were the only people who went to the aid of a heart attack victim in Paris.
https://www.israel21c.org/an-unexpected-tale-of-unity-and-hope-on-independence-day/
Hispanic Christian leaders visit Israel. A delegation of 30 prominent Hispanic-Evangelical Christian leaders has just completed a 10-day mission to Israel with Eagles’ Wings, aimed at strengthening Christian support for the Jewish state. It was one of the largest faith-based Hispanic delegations to Israel in recent years.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ry7x00mlcje
Israel repairs Thai’s teeth. Hamas terrorists hit one of the five Thai hostages with a weapon and broke his teeth. On his release from captivity he underwent rehabilitation at the Shamir Medical Center in Be'er Yaakov.
Israel will continue to finance his dental treatment in Thailand and pay all five a NIS 9,000 per month stipend.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-841941
Grants for released Thai hostages. The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) presented the five released Thai hostages with 4,000 shekel (38,000 baht or $1,120) debit cards that can be used anywhere in the world. Also warm clothing, as most of their personal possessions had been destroyed or stolen by Hamas.
https://www.jns.org/wire/ifcj-distributes-grants-to-released-thai-hostages/
A diamond in the rough? An Israeli delegation, including members of the Israel Diamond Exchange, participated in the inaugural International Diamond and Gem Conference (Jan. 29-31) held in Qatar. The event aimed to develop new ideas, due to changes in the supply chain and consumer preferences.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-team-attends-diamond-conference-in-qatar/
Training US security in mass casualty events. (TY Nevet) ZAKA, the Israeli volunteer emergency response organization, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the US National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) to train US law enforcement agencies in the respectful handling of victims of terrorism and mass casualty events.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-840926
US honors Iron Dome developer. Israel’s Daniel Gold, the original head of Israel’s Iron Dome development project, has been elected to the US National Academy of Engineering, part of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine - one of the highest professional accolades for an engineer.
https://www.jns.org/iron-dome-developer-elected-to-national-academy-of-engineering/
Vote for Israel. Laura B suggests that readers could boost the winning chances of Israeli destinations, hotels, companies, etc. by voting for them in the Travel & Leisure 2025 World’s Best Awards.
IDF helps save LA from wildfires. During the US nighttime, a hi-tech unit of IDF’s Home Front Command analyzed California wildfire data and prepared detailed operational assessments for the next day's firefighting. They consolidated all information including detailed mapping of fire zones, key sites, and power infrastructure.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/02/02/how-the-idf-helped-save-la-from-wildfires/
Less corruption here; not so elsewhere. Israel improved in the latest annual Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International. It rose to 30th out of 180 countries surveyed. 47 countries fell to their worst ranking since the index began in 2012, including the USA, France, Germany and Canada.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Powering drones. Israel’s Lowental Hybrid specializes in advanced hybrid propulsion systems for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones. Its hybrid propulsion systems combine electric and fuel-based technologies, increasing flight times by up to fivefold while maintaining the quiet operation of electric power.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/h1r11xz0okx https://www.lowental-hybrid.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfxSuWDo0zA
Atomic memory material. Tel Aviv University scientists have reconfigured the atomic layers of graphite to simulate the “on, off” switching inside computer memory storage chips. It could revolutionize computer microprocessor design. https://english.tau.ac.il/research/novel-materials-layers
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42254-024-00781-6
AI-generated training videos in seconds. Israel’s Guidde (see here previously) has developed a generative AI platform that enables any employee to create video-based training and documentation for any software or process in seconds. Ideal for customer tutorials.
https://www.guidde.com/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/skufisq9jg
Israeli app helped get out the voters. In a Democratic Party primary last year, George Latimer, a pro-Israel centrist, defeated Jamaal Bowman, a harsh critic of Israel. Jewish volunteers used the Israeli app UpVote to rally Jewish voters and get them to the ballet box. Latimer won by 12,000, aided by 14,000 “motivated” Jews.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-app-helps-us-jewish-groups-get-out-the-vote-for-key-campaigns/
Beverages from microprotein. Israel’s Brevel Ltd has partnered Israel’s Central Bottling Company to develop beverages and dairy alternatives containing Brevel’s high-value microalgae protein and oils. Brevel combines light with sugar fermentation in bioreactors to produce nutrient-rich microalgae in large quantities.
Injection molded artificial meat. (TY Nevet) Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s bioengineers have developed meat substitutes that mimic the intricate architecture of muscle and fat produced using injection molding, a high-capacity manufacturing process borrowed from the polymer industry.
https://www.afhu.org/2025/01/16/meat-created-by-israeli-and-palestinian-engineers-at-hebrew-university-using-injection-molding-and-metamaterials/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-54939-y
Over 132 billion gallons of water saved. The 2024 Sustainable Practices Report from Israel’s Phytech (see here previously) states that Phytech's technology enabled farmers globally to save over 132 billion gallons of water in 2024. It is equivalent to the annual water consumption of more than 3.1 million U.S. households.
https://igrownews.com/phytech-latest-news/ https://www.phytech.com/2024-sustainability-report
The long and winding road of a Nobel Prize winner. A fascinating account of the career of Michael Levitt who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2013. His journey via South Africa to the UK, to Israel’s Weizmann Institute and beyond. He was helped by Francis Crick who won a Nobel for DNA, thanks to Max Perutz, a Jew.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/p7xfegt84
Why bacteria (must) survive. Technion scientists have discovered how bacteria have evolved resistance to viruses (phages) in the oceans. Lower levels of transfer RNA generate higher resistance. It is a critical issue as bacteria are crucial for atmospheric oxygen production and are at the base of the oceanic food chain.
https://www.the-microbiologist.com/news/study-uncovers-previously-unknown-bacterial-mode-of-resistance-against-viruses/4867.article https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-024-01877-6
Insects – the unsung heroes of nature. Ben Gurion University Professor Michal Segoli reveals the vital role of insects - how each species is indispensable. She explains how parasitoid wasps keep pest populations under control. Without them, certain insect species could wreak havoc on agriculture and natural ecosystems.
https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/article-840102
Environmental-friendly pesticides. Israel’s IBI Ag has developed technology to produce effective crop protection solutions with a low ecological footprint. Its single-domain antibodies target a protein unique to each pest, thus ensuring no harm to farm workers, consumers or the environment.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjpsrgy5yl https://www.ibi-ag.com/
4 ERC research grants. Four Israeli researchers received European Research Council (ERC) Proof of Concept grants. Three at Hebrew U are preventing rust on metal; losing weight, but not muscle; and monitoring medication in mice. And a Bar-Ilan Uni researcher is preserving fertility in boys undergoing chemotherapy.
https://www.israel21c.org/four-israeli-scientists-get-major-european-funding/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Global trade corridor. (TY UWI) During a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House, President Donald Trump announced a major trade corridor connecting India, Israel, Italy and the United States. The project aims to reshape global trade with huge investments in ports, railways and undersea cables.
https://www.jns.org/trump-unveils-historic-trade-corridor-linking-india-israel-italy-us/
Israel’s largest delegation to India. (TPS) Led by Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat, Israel’s largest business delegation of its kind (over 100 companies) travelled to India. Barket said, “The combination of Israeli innovation and the vast Indian market constitutes a tremendous growth engine for the Israeli economy.”
Azerbaijan buys into Israeli gas field. Azerbaijan State Oil Company (SOCAR) is acquiring a 10% stake in Israel’s offshore Tamar natural gas reservoir from Union Energy, owned by Israeli businessman Aaron Frenkel. The stake was worth around half a billion dollars when Union Energy bought it in 2022.
Adopt an olive tree. "My Tree in Israel." connects global Israel supporters with Israeli farmers, allowing them to adopt olive trees and grapevines. In return, supporters receive six bottles of exclusive olive oil and wine delivered to their doorstep. Trees have also been adopted by VIPs, synagogues and in honor of fallen soldiers.
https://www.jns.org/fruit-of-the-field-adopting-olive-trees-in-israel/
https://www.mytree.org.il/who-are-we
Morocco selects Elbit. Morocco has switched to Israel’s Elbit Systems as its main defense partner, signing a contract to purchase 36 Atmos 2000 self-propelled artillery systems. It follows repeated technical failures in the Caesar artillery systems, which Morocco ordered from France’s KNDS that were partially delivered in 2022.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-841321
App to calculate profit from solar roofs. Israel’s Energy Ministry has launched an interactive website to give everyone the potential to generate solar energy on every roof, park, parking lot, sports ground and cemetery in Israel. It calculates the profitability of installing solar panels, channeling the electricity into the national grid.
https://www.govmap.gov.il/sites/energy/energy.html?x=219642&y=631535&z=8
Partnering for security. Israeli companies Check Point and Wiz have signed a strategic partnership agreement to offer the industry's most comprehensive cloud security solutions. It combines Wiz’s cloud security expertise with Check Point’s extensive customer base and a strong reputation.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-check-point-and-wiz-partner-to-merge-cyber-tech/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hyxs3aotyg
Billion-dollar revenues. Two Israeli companies, Pagaya and CyberArk have each reported the key milestone of $1 billion dollars of annual revenue. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bkk7fikq1g
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sks4avofkg
Exits, acquisitions & mergers – to 23rd Feb 25: Israel’s CyberArk acquired Boston’s Zilla for at least $165 million. Israel’s HiBob acquired US-based Mosaic for $35 million. US private equity firm Riverwood Capital has acquired Israeli AI pricing company Quicklizard for NIS 186 million.
Startup investment – to 23rd Feb 25: Dream Security raised $100 million (new Unicorn) Augury raised $75 million; Blockaid raised $50 million; Voyantis raised $41 million; Guidde raised $15 million; IBI Ag raised $6.1 million.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Green tours of National Library. To celebrate the Jewish holiday of Tu Bishvat, the National Library of Israel conducted four sustainability tours (in Hebrew) all week of the museum’s “green” design. Highlights included the Rock Store’s 270,000 stones that store cool air at night, and the museum’s Mediterranean gardens.
https://www.jns.org/national-library-of-israel-offers-green-tours-for-holiday-of-tu-bshevat/
2,500-year-old burial site discovered. The Israel Antiquities Authority has uncovered an ancient tomb in Southern Israel containing merchant caravan wares and dozens of human burials. Jewelry, arrowheads, incense burner, all are dated to between the 7th and 5th centuries BCE. Attacks on traders would have been common.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403432
Women’s ice hockey winners. In a dramatic 3-2 overtime win against Estonia, Israel’s women’s national ice hockey team secured a medal at the IIHF World Championships in Sarajevo. “This is a huge step forward for women’s hockey in Israel,” said head coach Melissa Wronzberg. Hear the National Anthem.
https://thej.ca/2025/02/17/history-on-ice-israeli-womens-hockey-team-claims-gold-in-thrilling-overtime-victory/ https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-842836
THE JEWISH STATE
Argentine President wins “Genesis Prize”. For the first time in its history, the prestigious Genesis Prize often called the "Jewish Nobel" has been awarded to a non-Jew. Argentine President Javier Milei received the 2024 honor in recognition of his strong support for Israel and his deep personal connection to Judaism.
https://israfan.com/p/genesis-prize-milei-israel
Fellowship strengthens US students’ Israel bond. The Israel on Campus Coalition’s Geller International Fellowship gives US students confidence to advocate for Israel. The six-month program included a 10-day trip9 to Israel and the UAE to experience the budding Emirati-Israeli relationship under the Abraham Accords.
https://www.jns.org/pro-israel-fellowship-helps-us-students-be-confident-advocates/
https://israelcc.org/geller-fellowship/
Tree planting helps rehabilitate the north. On the Jewish festival of Tu B’Shevat (New Year for Trees) Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) held a tree-planting ceremony in Biriya Forest. It also marked KKL-JNF’s ongoing commitment to rehabilitating Israel’s northern forests.
Released hostages recite Hagomel prayer. (TY Yanky) On the Shabbat following release from captivity, Agam Berger, Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, Liri Albag, and Daniela Gilboa, attended morning prayers where they recited the traditional “Hagomel” blessing, which gives thanks for surviving a life-threatening ordeal.
Freed hostage puts on tefillin for first time. Ex-hostage Alexandre ‘Sasha’ Troufanov celebrated his release by donning tefillin (phylacteries worn during prayers) for the first time in his life. Helped by Rabbi Berel Lazar of Moscow, he then recited the “Shema Yisrael” prayer. His mother had urged Israelis to light Shabbat candles.
https://worldisraelnews.com/freed-hostage-puts-on-tefillin-for-the-first-time/
250209
In the 9th Feb 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l Released hostages are role-models for Israeli resilience.
l Israeli medicines can navigate the body.
l More Arabs enjoy careers in Israel’s medical professions.
l Educating the next generation of hi-tech Israelis.
l $1 billion profit in 2024 for Israeli cybersecurity Checkpoint.
l Israeli jazz band leader won a Grammy award.
l Read details of a 1,900-year-old Jewish court case in the Land of Israel.
· Click here to see the 2nd Feb newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen, (TY Ruth) Ruthfully Yours with a great intro, (TY Ted Belman) IsraPundit, and Joan Swirsky (email her to get daily news). Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here, and Hebrew here, and with (TY) Claude into French here. Also (TY Barbara) into Spanish here. (Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also please visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL.
· 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 (over 26,000 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, and the subject “Subscribe”) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Private concert for freed hostages. (TY Yanky) Hanan Ben Ari, one of Israel's favorite singers, gave a private performance for Liri, Karina, Daniela and Naama and their families in hospital. The unique 2-hour “welcome home” concert included his latest release, “Today I woke up happy.”
Now it’s personal. Fans of UK soccer team Tottenham Hotspur celebrated the release of hostage and Spurs fan Emily Damari. One fan said, “I don’t know her, I’ve never met her, but there was something very personal about her not just being a British hostage but being a Spurs fan.” (Ed - Something to think about!)
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tottenham-soccer-fans-celebrate-release-of-hostage-emily-damari/
Thai ex-hostages get residency status. (TY WIN) The five Thai hostages released on Jan 30 have been granted Israeli residency status. Thaenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakhan, Sriaoun Watchara, Saethao Bannawat and Rumnao Surasak can stay in Israel if they wish, after their recovery. See them reunited with their families.
https://www.jns.org/thai-hostages-reunite-with-families-in-israel/
https://www.jns.org/israel-grants-released-thai-hostages-residency-status/
I chose faith. In footage of her helicopter flight from Gaza to hospital, released hostage Agam Berger wrote and displayed a message to the world. It said, “I chose a path of faith and I returned through a path of faith.” Agam observed Shabbat, fasted Tisha b’Av; wouldn’t eat non-kosher meat, or cook for her captors on Shabbat.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403158 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYY9Rhow-Z8
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403132
https://www.jns.org/female-captive-found-siddur-in-hamas-captivity-fasted-on-tisha-bav/
Supporting hostages with braided hair. The four female IDF soldiers released on Jan 25 had their hair braided by Agam Berger, who was released a week later. She had also braided the hair of some of the children released in Nov 2023. Many Israeli women, including El Al staff, have braided their hair as a sign of solidarity.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-839980
See Agam at her sister’s IDF graduation. Another article featuring released hostage Agam Berger. It features Agam at the IDF graduation ceremony for her younger sister Bar where Agam presented Bar with her graduation award ribbon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5eXP6a4wdo
How Gadi survived. 80-year-old released hostage Gadi Mozes was held for 483 days in isolation. He walked 7km a day up and down his tiny room. He solved mathematics problems in his head. He persuaded his captors to give him books in English, and he kept a daily diary which Hamas confiscated before his release.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/pacing-7km-a-day-in-a-tiny-cell-rationing-grains-of-rice-hostages-stories-emerge/ https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/hostage-gadi-mozes-shares-how-he-kept-his-sanity-in-captivity-bm64zyhy https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/01/31/hero-hostage-managed-to-convince-hamas-to-give-him-books-in-english/
Life restarts. Despite still suffering from broken ribs and a bullet wound in his hand, released hostage Keith Siegel refused a wheelchair, wrapped himself in an Israeli flag, and walked from the IDF helicopter to the hospital. His youngest daughter Shir, who got engaged before Oct 7, can now set the date for her wedding.
How a Muslim Arab saved 32 from Hamas. (TY Nevet) On Oct 7 2023, Bedouin Israeli Yunis Alkarnawi hid 8 Israelis and 24 Thai workers on the farm he manages and then convinced Hamas terrorists not to enter the farm. Yunis has three members of his family currently serving in the IDF.
https://jewishinsider.com/2025/01/shalev-biton-yunis-alkarnawi-bedouin-israeli-nova-survivor-oct-7/
Building resilience – BGU events. Ben Gurion University are holding several US-location events to describe how BGU faculty and students are leading the way forward for the Negev and Israel after October 7th. Hear them in Miami FL (Feb 25), Boca Raton FL (Feb 26) or Houston TX (Feb 27).
https://americansforbgu.org/events/resilience_miami_beach/
https://americansforbgu.org/events/boca_2025/
https://americansforbgu.org/events/houston-2025/
Stray dog saves IDF soldiers. (TY Aubrey) During an IDF operation in Jenin, a stray dog tugged at the leg of a soldier and led him to a blanket. He lifted the blanket to reveal a massive explosive device. The heroic dog is now living in Israel. (see photo of device and dog at link)
https://vinnews.com/2025/02/02/a-stray-dog-saves-the-lives-of-idf-soldiers-in-jenin/
A brighter Jewish future. The 3rd annual International Yael Foundation Conference in Limassol, Cyprus, attracted 200+ Jewish thought leaders from 37 countries to discuss advancing Jewish education. They heard from Israelis impacted by Oct 7 2023 and understood that Jews globally had strengthened their Jewish identity.
https://www.jns.org/education-and-beyond-yael-foundation-summit-gets-underway-in-cyprus/
IDF’s new leader. Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir quoted King David’s Psalm 18 in his first speech after being nominated as the next IDF chief of staff. “I have pursued my enemies, and overtaken them; and did not turn back till they were consumed”. And, “Israel will produce its own weapons, enabling it to face any threat.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/incoming-idf-chief-israel-will-prove-to-enemies-it-is-powerful-determined-to-win/ https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403289
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Therapies bypass the liver. Tel Aviv University researchers are able to encode cell therapy to target specific diseases without causing toxic side effects on the liver. Their first example encapsulates mRNA nanoparticles in lipids that are only absorbed in the intestine, telling it to generate IL-10 for curing colitis and Crohn’s disease.
https://en-lifesci.tau.ac.il/news/sbcr_peer_mrna_2025
https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202408744
Targeting autoimmune diseases. (TY Nevet) Israel’s Pepticom (see here previously) is to accelerate the development of its oral IL-17 inhibitor program, targeting improved treatments for autoimmune diseases.
Can you smell the coffee? (TY Israel21c) Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute found that lack of a sense of smell often leads to depression, anxiety and other health issues which link to a reduced lifespan. They also discovered that sighing every 5 minutes or so helps prevent the collapse of alveoli in the lungs.”
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-52650-6
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
A great year for donated shares. The shares that startups donated to Israel’s Tmura (see here previously) resulted in more than NIS 10 million being given to worthy causes in 2024 - the second highest since it was founded in 2002. Most went to groups involved in resilience, rehabilitation, and reducing social disparities.
https://www.israel21c.org/donating-stock-options-for-the-greater-israeli-good/
Huge rise in Arabs employed in Israeli healthcare. Since 2010 there has been a massive increase in Israeli Arab medical professionals. Current (vs 2010): 25% of Israeli doctors are Arab (was 8%), Nurses 27% (17%), dentists 27% (19%), Pharmacists 49% (28%). Arabs constitute some 20% of Israel’s population. Apartheid?
https://www.jns.org/swell-of-arabs-in-israeli-healthcare-since-2010-study-suggests/
Briefing Portuguese MPs. (TY Nevet) The Israeli non-profit ELNET (European Leadership Network) hosted a delegation of Members of the Portuguese Parliament. They visited Oct 7 sites and met a survivor and a hostage family member. They also visited Yad Vashem, the Holy Sepulchre, and the Wailing Wall.
https://elnetwork.eu/country/israel/elnetisraelmfa-portuguesempsdelegation/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBOlWWAulWc
Educational Travel Summit. (TY Nevet) The Israel Educational Travel Alliance held its first-ever Leaders’ Summit in Israel. Some 140 representatives from 100+ member organizations reviewed educational Israel travel programs post Oct 7. The pledged to bring over 53,000 participants to Israel in 2025 (up from 35,500 in 2024).
Are we asking the wrong questions? Jerusalem’s Rabbi Daniel Rowe (whom I knew in the UK before making Aliyah) makes a good point here. Instead of lamenting why the Jewish State isn't treated the same as other countries, why not focus less on fitting in and more on standing out? Perhaps by being more Positive?
https://www.jns.org/the-pro-israel-camp-is-asking-the-wrong-questions/
What a hoot! (TY Yanky) The Israeli initiative to use barn owls for natural rodent pest control (see here previously) is now global. Experts from 12 countries held their annual conference in Greece including new attendees from Germany, Georgia, and Ukraine. They plan to replicate the model in the USA and Asia.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Preventing food wastage. Israel’s StePacPPC (see here previously) and its partner Windham Packaging have developed a range of its bulk modified-atmosphere packaging to extend the shelf life of fresh produce headed to foodservice outlets - predominantly restaurants, hotels, and canteens. It is already having success in the US.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15vtSMqdZafcjxrrR5EDxjGvq-a0N0oZV
Wiz exposes DeepSeek. Israeli security giant Wiz uncovered a major security flaw in China’s new AI chatbot DeepSeek. In a routine scan, Wiz found DeepSeek had left a publicly accessible database unprotected, exposing digital software keys, backend operational details, and chat logs containing user prompts from its AI assistant.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/sensitive-data-from-deepseek-exposed-to-web-warns-israeli-founded-cyber-firm/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/h12yfsooyx
Israeli agritech in Los Angeles. Please register for this event on Feb 10 featuring eight Israeli agritech startups Hoffman & Hoffman, AgriNoze, Edete, NETA (transforming agricultural waste), Acclym, SolarWine, Tevel Aerobotics, and CarobWay.
https://lu.ma/v8p4urmk https://www.hw-well.com/ https://www.acclym.com/ https://www.solarwine.ai/
AI in the classroom. Israel’s Education Ministry is implementing a nationwide program to integrate artificial intelligence into the nation’s school system. It includes training 70,000 teachers to use AI in classrooms and bringing in 3,000 training mentors from over 400 tech companies to help adapt AI tools.
https://www.jns.org/israel-unveils-groundbreaking-ai-education-plan-for-2025/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/lde52kasn
Teaching robotics in kindergartens. It’s never too early to prepare children for the world of tomorrow. In a pilot of the first initiative of its kind, Israel’s Education Ministry is integrating robotics into 500 kindergartens across Israel. Pupils will make tracks for robots, solve puzzles, program through play, and create performances.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-840420
Generating a world with AI. Israel’s Decart (see here previously) has developed the app Oasis that attempts to replicate the game Minecraft, but using generative artificial intelligence. The AI-driven simulation uses "next-frame prediction" to anticipate player actions to generate scenery and construction sites.
https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/h1tn3clikx https://oasis.decart.ai/introduction
Field test for anti-drone systems. Nine defense companies and startups conducted a second test to the Defense Ministry of some 20 drone interception solutions at a simulated testing field in the Negev (see here previously). They were from IAI, Aerobotics, Rafael, Elbit, Robotican, Xtend, General Robotics, Smart-Shooter, and Tamar.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/syddsjwkkl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDUqPFjswlI
An accelerator for outer space. Israel-based global innovation hub Creation-Space is launching Space Venture - an accelerator program to create space-tech startups. Each will receive up to $250,000, plus tech support, access to research facilities, test sites, and workshops by top experts from NASA and the deep space industry.
Two more BIG winners. In addition to the award to Israel’s OncoHost (see here previously), two other Israeli startups won 2025 BIG Innovation awards from the Business Intelligence Group. ICL Group won in the agriculture category and Trax Retail of Singapore and Tel Aviv won in the retail category.
https://www.israel21c.org/3-israeli-companies-win-2025-big-innovation-awards/
Trustworthy online voting. Israel’s Sequent is the world’s first end-to-end verifiable and transparent online voting platform. It has successfully conducted more than 200 elections in 10 countries for local municipalities, government bodies, and the private sector. It will be used for 1.7 million voters in the 2025 Philippines election.
https://www.israel21c.org/a-technology-that-may-finally-make-online-voting-the-norm/
Print your spectacles coating. Israel’s flō Opics has developed a solution for coating optical lenses using digital printing technology. It revolutionizes hard-coatings, tinted, and photochromic lenses, which can be applied on a pixel basis rather than just one option for the whole lens.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/h13w12eyjx https://www.flo-optics.com/coating-solution/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israeli AI programs to be in US AI plans. David Sacks, chair of US President Trump’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology, and Elon Musk have agreed to integrate Israel’s artificial intelligence programs into the US administration’s plans to massively expand AI development, estimated at half a trillion dollars.
https://worldisraelnews.com/netanyahu-meets-with-doge-chief-elon-musk/
NIS 1.2 billion for IDF suppling startups. In 2024, some 300 security startups received NIS 1.2 billion of orders from the Ministry of Defense for urgent tech solutions for the IDF in Gaza and Lebanon. 30% went into tech for autonomous vehicles and a similar amount for cyber-tech. The rest went to sensors, digital, and AI.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ry1a7pp00jg
United to restart in March. United Airlines is to resume flights to Israel in March, becoming the first U.S. carrier to renew services to Tel Aviv halted due to the war. United will initially fly from Newark’s Liberty International Airport on Mar 15, with daily service beginning two weeks later on Mar 29.
https://worldisraelnews.com/united-airlines-to-restart-service-to-israel-in-march/
Latin America invests in Israel. Leapfrog Innovation Powerhouse (LIP) Ventures is investing $90 million in Israeli startups from a group of 200 high-net-worth individuals and family offices across Latin America. The VC is boosting Israeli talent and helping Israeli entrepreneurs be exposed to the LATAM region.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sjjaoeroje
$1 billion of profit. Israeli Cybersecurity company Check Point closed 2024 with $2.56 billion in revenue, a 6% growth compared to 2023. For the first time, Check Point’s annual profit surpassed the billion-dollar mark.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/s1o001jkd1x
Happy with your choppers? (TY Yanky) The Irish government promised not to buy anything Israeli. But its recent purchase of 4 Airbus helicopters included Helionix flight systems made by Israel’s Elbit. Yanky suggests that they remove the systems. The helicopters won’t fly, but it’s vital that Ireland preserves its integrity!
https://www.thejournal.ie/new-helicopters-will-have-israeli-tech-despite-govt-aim-to-avoid-kit-from-the-country-6601446-Jan2025/ https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/irish-airbus-h145m-helicopters/
Startup investment – to 9th Feb 25: Oligo Security raised $50 million; Finout raised $40 million; Flō Optics raised $35 million; Seraphic Security raised $29 million; Bigabid raised $25 million; Pepticom raised $6.6 million; Lowental Hybrid raised $5 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Persian leopards return to Israel. (TY Yanky) El Al has flown two young rare Persian leopards to their new home at the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem from the Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic where they were born. There are fewer than 1,000 Persian leopards in the world – the last one in the Upper Galilee was seen in 1960.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/403066
Top 100 wine. The US publication Wine Spectator selected White Label Judean Hills 2021 from Israeli winery Flam for its Top 100 Wines of 2024 list. “full-throttled core of red currant, blackberry, dried flower and dusty earth flavors…shows a spine of graphite that brings focus and drive to the round, lush palate…” and more!
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-wine-makes-wine-spectators-top-100-of-2024/
https://www.flamwinery.com/en/ https://www.flamwinery.com/en/product/white-label/
See the colors of Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) February in Jerusalem is full of color. A new lion, the Botanical Gardens, purple irises, white roses, lemon trees, Jerusalem Theater art, and (of course) yellow ribbons.
https://rjstreets.com/2025/02/02/watch-as-the-pendulum-swings-february-begins-in-jerusalem/
Best large Jazz Ensemble album. Israeli musician Dan Pugach won a Grammy award in the category of Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album with his compilation title “Bianca Reimagined: Music for Paws and Persistence.”
https://www.danpugach.com/ https://www.youtube.com/danpugach
Even more good. The song that all Israel is singing. Tamid Ohev Oti (Od Yoter Tov).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEmjeU-62PM
Israel’s wheelchair dance champion. Major feature article about Israel’s Tomer Margalit (see here previously) who didn’t let paralysis prevent her from becoming a world class dancer.
https://www.israel21c.org/disabled-ballroom-dancer-taking-on-the-world/
THE JEWISH STATE
A 1900-year court case. A 1,900-year-old papyrus (the longest ever found in the Judean desert) recently deciphered for the first time reveals a Roman trial of two Jews (Saulos and Gedalias) in the land of Israel on the eve of the Bar Kochba revolt (132-135 CE). Saulos may have been a “rebel”, trying to redeem Jewish slaves.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/fraud-forgery-and-sedition-1900-year-old-papyrus-records-roman-trial-against-jews/ https://www.jewishpress.com/news/archaeology-news/roman-era-papyrus-unveils-tax-evasion-and-slave-trade-scam/2025/01/29/
Torah scrolls for battle conditions. Israel’s Military Rabbinate has unveiled a portable Holy Ark containing a Torah scroll. Army rabbis designed it to be worn like a backpack, which can be converted into a small podium, or bimah, for reading scripture. It is weatherproof and designed to prevent damage from humidity.
https://www.jns.org/idf-unveils-portable-torah-scrolls-for-field-conditions/
Thai officials offer thanks at the Kotel. (TY UWI) A delegation of senior Thai government officials, including Thailand’s Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, plus Thailand’s military chief of staff, visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem, after five Thai hostages were freed from Hamas captivity.
https://www.jns.org/top-thai-officials-visit-western-wall-after-citizens-freed-from-gaza/
Nb’N’s 2024 achievements. Last year, Nefesh b’Nefesh helped 3,700 North American Jews make Aliyah. It launched IMAP (International Medical Aliyah Program) which helped 519 doctors and healthcare professionals make Aliyah. And it gave the Maor Youth Prize (see here previously) to 9 exceptional young Olim.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1804552066974540 https://www.imap.org.il/
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah-with-nbn/article-836309
250202
In the 2nd Feb 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l An Israeli university offers full scholarships to freed Gaza hostages.
l An Israeli life-support system is being deployed to US hospitals.
l The Head of Hadassah hospital saved a passenger on an El Al flight.
l Israeli organizations saved lives in Las Angeles and Georgia.
l See how cows are milked on an autonomous Israeli dairy farm.
l Israeli tech will protect India and its trains.
l You can behave like an animal at a new Israeli zoo.
l Buy a home in Israel – while you can.
· Click here to see the 26th Jan newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen, (TY Ruth) Ruthfully Yours, (TY) Aviva) United With Israel, (TY Ted Belman) IsraPundit and Joan Swirsky (email her to get daily news). Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here, and Hebrew here, and with (TY) Claude into French here. Also (TY Barbara) into Spanish here. (Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also please visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL.
· 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 (over 26,000 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, and the subject “Subscribe”) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
On a clear day you can see Damascus. Israel’s internal risks may have deteriorated by the release of hundreds of terrorists, but at least its external geographic security situation has improved substantially.
https://www.jns.org/on-a-clear-day-you-see-damascus-a-rare-visit-to-mount-hermon/
Up close with the Arrow defense system. (TY Yanky) Serving 24-hour shifts in vault-like rooms across the country, 136th Battalion soldiers face the ballistic missile threat against Israel at all times. Ultimately, one person decides when to press the button to intercept a ballistic missile launched thousands of kilometers away.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sy3beemvjx
Full scholarships to former hostages. (TY Yanky & ToI) The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is offering full scholarships for a three-year academic degree (both Bachelor’s and Master’s programs) to all released hostages. It will also establish a fund to pay the fees, when they reach adulthood, of children held hostage by Hamas.
https://www.afhu.org/2025/01/27/hebrew-university-announces-scholarship-fund-for-released-hostages/
An ice bath works wonders. Biokineticist Nikia Blumenthal offers IDF combat soldiers a cold plunge to promote physical and emotional healing. She packs her car with a portable bath and 100kg (220 pounds) of ice and drives to IDF bases or army refreshment stations. (Disclosure - I attend Nikia’s Netanya stretch classes)
https://www.israel21c.org/an-icy-bath-can-work-wonders-for-soldiers-bodies-and-minds/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Natural antibiotic is safe. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s Omnix Medical (see here previously) has completed Phase 1 trials of its lead antimicrobial, nature-derived, peptide OMN6 on 80 patients to show its safety. It is now starting Phase 2 FDA-approved clinical trials to establish its efficacy, especially on superbugs.
https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/omnix-medical-approval-anti-infective-trial/
Life-support for US hospitals. (TY Atid-EDI) ART 100 cardiopulmonary bypass systems from Israel’s Inspira Technologies (see here previously) are to be deployed in hospitals on the US East Coast. The system takes over the functionality of the heart and/or lungs in critical care patients.
Clowns relieve the ultimate pain. (TY Irene) This article features medical clowns alleviating both physical and mental suffering - for children and adults. (Aside, I went to see a friend in hospital recently who was visited by clowns while he was on a video call to his work office. “You’re at the circus!” his colleagues exclaimed.)
https://momentmag.com/israeli-medical-clowns/
Restoring the lives of wounded IDF soldiers. This article describes the life-saving work of the charity Belev Echad (see here previously). It facilitates the recovery of wounded men and women of the IDF through physical, medical, legal, emotional and financial support. And sometimes it requires a miracle.
https://belevechad.nyc/ https://belev-echad.org/en/home/
Predicting the next accident. The AI accident prediction system (see here previously) built by the IDF for Israel’s United Hatzalah, really works. It sent a team to the Azrieli Mall in Ramat Gan just as someone began suffering a heart attack. With 14% of UH’s volunteers on IDF reserve duty, the system is literally a life-saver.
https://www.jns.org/how-life-saving-ai-tech-used-by-united-hatzalah-was-born-out-of-oct-7/
Does your DNA define you? Israel’s OMGene is developing an AI decision-support system based on personal genetic information. It links the genome to a database of health, psychological, and social characteristics, from thousands of individuals and generates recommendations e.g., on sleeping, relationships, hobbies, health etc.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-omgeneai-using-dna-and-ai-to-identify-our-strengths-1001499609
Are your proteins good? Researchers from Israel’s Weizmann Institute have developed IPHOMED - a method for mapping all the proteins in a person’s microbiome. Some act as natural antibiotics, killing good bacteria and possibly causing inflammatory bowel disease. Problem proteins in food can also be mapped.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/we-know-what-you-ate-detailed-protein-maps-assess-intestinal-health https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(24)01429-6
Targeting genetic diseases. Israel’s Averna Therapeutics (formerly Exsilio Therapeutics) is using gene editing to develop medicines to cure rare genetic diseases. Averna’s leadership includes Tal Zaks who was Chief Medical Officer at Covid-19 vaccine developer Moderna. Averna has already raised $82 million in funds.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-tal-zaks-israeli-startup-targets-rare-genetic-diseases-1001500636
Get a good night’s sleep. Prof. Giora Pillar, head of Sleep Clinics at Clalit Health Services in Haifa and the Western Galilee, gives plenty of advice to those who are losing sleep during these difficult times.
https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/bjttx00ilkl
Hospital director saves heart patient on El Al flight. Prof. Yoram Weiss, director general of the Hadassah Medical Organization, saved a man having a heart attack during an El Al flight to Miami. Weiss administered oxygen, provided medication, and had the flight diverted to Athens. The passengers applauded in appreciation.
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/rkh3yhydkg
Surgeon returns to reconstruct faces. Dr Alan Billig performs facial reconstructive surgery at Hadassah in Jerusalem. He won the 2024 Best paper award for the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal. The ex-IDF medic graduated in New York, qualified in Israel, and practiced in Toronto. Now he’s back.
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-834140
9 startups to improve UK healthcare. The Dangoor Health-Tech Academy has selected nine Israeli health-tech startups for its program to advance the UK healthcare ecosystem. They are Impilio, Kai.AI, Shela Health, Predose, Thrive Together, Sensomedical Labs, Treat Me, Anydish, and Seegnal.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ry2dgxniye https://sensomedical.com/home/
https://www.israel21c.org/9-israeli-startups-to-help-uk-improve-its-healthcare/
https://impilo.health/ https://www.shela.health/ https://www.predose-tech.com/
https://www.thrivetogether.health/ https://www.treatme.ltd/entreatme
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Housing for lone soldiers. (TY UWI & I24 News) At the Kibbutz Hannaton Educational Center in the Galilee, the pre-Army (“mechina”) gap year program aims to support lone soldiers - immigrants serving in the IDF without family in Israel - by providing housing and community support.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_O5vlRNCfk
Holocaust museums in the Muslim world. Tel Aviv University has highlighted new and planned museums in the Muslim world commemorating the Holocaust. They include the Shaar Hashamayim Holocaust Museum in Indonesia, a permanent exhibition in Dubai, and a new museum being built in Albania.
https://www.jns.org/shoah-museums-in-muslim-world-cited-as-small-light-in-the-tunnel/
https://www.jns.org/first-permanent-holocaust-exhibit-comes-to-muslim-majority-indonesia/
https://www.jns.org/uae-becomes-first-arab-gulf-country-to-open-holocaust-education-exhibit/
https://www.jns.org/new-museum-to-provide-comprehensive-look-at-albanian-jewish-life/
Israeli & Argentinian University partnership. Israel’s Ben Gurion University has signed an academic and cultural agreement with Argentina’s Instituto Universitario Isaac Abarbanel. It covers joint research, student partnerships, Zionism & Israel studies, and interfaith relations projects. Additional initiatives are planned.
https://www.bgu.ac.il/en/news-and-articles/mou-between-bgu-and-iuia/
International courses at Tel Aviv University. Some readers (or their children or grandchildren) may be interested in studying at Tel Aviv University. Degree courses, master’s and MBAs – all taught in English.
https://study.tauintl.tau.ac.il/
Saving a rare butterfly. KKL-JNF’s conservation work (see here previously) recently expanded to protect the Tomares Nesimachus, one of Israel’s rarest butterflies. It will only lay its eggs on the large-fruited milk-vetch plant – so KKL-JNF grew seedlings and planted them in the Begin Forest to reintegrate the butterfly.
https://www.israel21c.org/how-israelis-rallied-to-save-an-endangered-butterfly-species/
Our Swedish European MP ally. (TY Rhoda) Swedish MEP Alice Teodorescu Mawe is Israel’s top European ally. As Sweden’s sole center-right Christian Democrat member of the European Parliament, the staunch advocate for Jews and Israel is leading the fight against Jew-hatred masquerading as anti-Zionism.
Saving lives in LA. Some of the recent activities performed by Israeli humanitarian organization SmartAID in Los Angeles include providing power to a dialysis clinic and home-based dialysis patients. They have provided clean water and Wi-Fi Internet; they also coordinate distribution of supplies and donated goods.
https://www.israel21c.org/smartaid-regional-officer-describes-lifesaving-efforts-in-la/
https://www.smartaid.org/projects/urgent-los-angeles-wildfire-appeal
Fast response to Hurricane Helene. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks, in partnership with Hispasat, swiftly provided additional satellite capacity in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The extra bandwidth enabled first responders and utility workers to operate effectively during Georgia State’s recovery efforts.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Students design together. (TY Nevet /ADL) Students from San Diego Jewish Academy worked with students from Israel’s Sha’ar Hanegev to design a community space for the war-impacted community. They studied the region’s culture, needs and also urban planning. Then using state-of-the-art technology they built a 3D model.
Hyperspectral imaging for better tomatoes. (TY TPS) Scientists at the Hebrew University, Bar-Ilan Uni, and the Volcani Institute used a handheld hyperspectral camera, plus AI-software, to monitor unripe tomatoes and predict future quality. They will now build an low-cost portable device to help farmers maximize crop yields.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-ai-innovation-transforms-tomato-farming-efficiency/
Monitoring the bees. (TY Atid-EDI) Israeli companies Hazera Seeds and BeeHero (see here previously) are testing BeeHero’s Pollination Insight Platform (PIP) for monitoring pollinators in seed production fields. IoT sensors in fields collect data including on bees’ visits to flowers and environmental conditions.
https://www.hazera.com/category/crops/
Eradicating the mosquito. Israel’s Diptera.ai (see here previously) aims to reduce the population of mosquitos killing some one million people each year from malaria. The pilot of its sterile insect technique (SIT) system at Kibbutz Tzora cut local mosquito numbers by 94%. It now plans an African field trial this year.
https://www.israel21c.org/this-startup-fights-malaria-by-releasing-more-mosquitoes/ https://diptera.ai/about/
Robots milk cows. Israel’s Afimilk (see here previously) has launched a robotic milking system for farms with 500 to 5,000 cows. The cows are herded in; the robots arrive, sanitize the udders, attach milking cups, remove them after milking, disinfect the teats, take 3D images and collect data about each cow.
https://www.israel21c.org/revolutionary-robotic-milking-system-for-500-to-5000-cows/
https://www.afimilk.com/parlor-automation/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWq6lWQdKM4
Female Israeli astronaut. (TY WIN) NASA has confirmed that it will send the first Israeli woman astronaut into space. Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamliel said, “We in Israel have now begun the process of searching for our candidate among our brave women.”
https://www.jns.org/israeli-female-astronaut-will-go-to-space-with-nasa/
Italy joins Israeli moonshot. Israel Space Agency director general Brig. Gen. Uri Oron and Italian Space Agency president Prof. Teodoro Velente signed a memorandum of understanding for collaboration on Space IL's Beresheet 2 mission to the moon. The joint budget for the mission is estimated to be over €10 million.
Progress for Iron Beam. Rafael chairman Yuval Steinitz said that Israel's Iron Beam laser air defense system is set to become operational in the second half of 2025. Its effective range (around 10km) continues to increase and the project team has bypassed the absorption effect of the atmosphere.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-iron-beam-set-for-deployment-this-year-1001500840
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Inflation rate falls again. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell by 0.3% in Dec 24 (more than analysts expected), after its 0.4% fall in Nov. At the end of 2024, Israel’s annual inflation rate was 3.2% (down from 3.4% at the end of Nov 24.) Prices of fresh fruit and veg fell again, this time by 5.6%.
Foreign airlines flock back to Israel. In the last 3 weeks, 14 leading airlines have announced resumption of Israel flights. They include Wizz Air, Ryanair, easyJet, Lufthansa Group (including Swiss & Austrian), British Airways, Air France, Delta Airlines, and Air India.
$6 million for joint US-Israel projects. The BIRD Foundation is providing another $6 million of funding for five new joint US-Israeli projects. Israel companies involved are Medasense (anesthesia monitoring), Qedma (Quantum errors), RespirAI Medical (chronic monitoring), SpotItEarly (cancer odor), and TriEye (sensors).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/syfylqjd1l https://www.qedma.com/
Night vision binoculars for US Army. Elbit Systems of America has received a $139 million order for more Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular (ENVG-B) systems to the US Army (see here previously). The Augmented Reality systems also provide holistic situational awareness in all weather and visibility conditions.
Barak 8 for Indian navy. India has bought over 70 ship-mounted MRSAM (medium-range surface-to-air missile) systems from Bharat Dynamics, Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) partner in developing the Indian version of the Barak 8 air defense system. The contract is worth around $340 million.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-iai-wins-340m-air-defense-contract-with-indian-navy-1001500405
Safer trains in India. (TY Atid-EDI) The advanced safety systems of Israel’s Rail Vision (see here previously) are to be introduced to the Indian market. Indian Railways, which operates India's national railway system, boasts one of the largest rail networks in the world, with approximately 15,000 locomotives.
Battery material for Europe. Israel Chemicals Limited (ICL) has partnered with Hong Kong’s Shenzhen Dynanonic to produce lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode active material in Europe. ICL says that LFP is a critical solution for the future of Europe’s energy transition. ICL will build a new factory in Spain.
Exits, mergers & acquisitions – to 2/2/25:. Israel’s TopGum acquired Canada’s Island Abbey Nutritionals. Israel’s Zencity acquired UK’s Commonplace for some millions of dollars. Israel’s Hub Cyber Security has acquired Israel’s BlackSwan Technologies. US Tenable acquired Israel’s Vulcan Cyber for $150-180 million.
Startup investment – to 2/2/25: UVeye raised $191 million; DarioHealth placed $25.6 million of shares; Token Security raised $20 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
A warm week in Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) Quite a few events to interest Jerusalemites this week including the early flowering of the capital’s almond trees, US President Trump’s inauguration, and Walter Bingham’s 101st birthday. Ad 120, Walter. https://rjstreets.com/2025/01/26/oh-what-a-week-in-the-warm-jerusalem-january/
An innovative zoo. (TY Nevet /ADL) In Beersheba’s new Midbarium experiential animal park (aka “zoo”), 15 interactive experiences enable visitors to “walk in the shoes” of the animals to understand how they survive and thrive in their habitats. E.g., to fly like a bird, lurk like a crocodile, or navigate in the dark like a bat.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-836443 https://midbarium.co.il/ https://midbarium.co.il/en/
https://www.mandelfoundation.org.il/english/About/News/Pages/Midbarium-launch.aspx
Israeli hockey to debut in USA. The Jerusalem Capitals and HC Tel Aviv, two leading clubs from the Israel Elite Hockey League (IEHL), will face off at New York’s UBS Arena on 23 Mar. It marks the first time Israeli professional hockey teams will compete on North American ice.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-hockey-teams-make-history-with-first-american-match/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmsjJPRFzKM
THE JEWISH STATE
Mezuzahs from Australia to the Negev. KKL-JNF has built temporary homes in Kibbutz Ruhama for Kibbutz Kfar Aza residents whose houses were destroyed by Hamas on Oct 7 2023. KKL-JNF Australia held an event where participants crafted handmade mezuzahs and hamsas - each to be affixed to one of the homes.
https://www.jns.org/wire/residents-of-kibbutz-kfar-aza-receive-handmade-mezuzahs-from-australia/
Surge in diaspora Jews buying Israeli homes. Jews from overseas are rushing to buy Israeli apartments - 1,900 in 2024, 50% more that in 2023. Jerusalem was the most popular city, at 100 purchases per month. The French are immigrating in large numbers, whereas Americans and the English are not in a hurry to move, yet.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-home-purchases-by-foreign-residents-jump-50-1001500598
Shoah survivors make Aliyah. Sixty-eight Holocaust survivors moved to Israel since Oct. 7, 2023. The oldest new immigrant who survived the Shoah was 98, while the youngest was 81. Nine went to live in my city of Netanya. Of the 123,715 Israeli survivors, 257 are older than 100.
https://www.jns.org/68-shoah-survivors-made-aliyah-during-swords-of-iron-war/
Mizrachi missions to Israel. World Mizrachi is now registering participants for its 2025 3-day missions for those who plan to be in Israel during Yom HaAtzmaut, Yom Yerushalayim, Shavuot, Thanksgiving or the secular New Year. They include meeting inspirational speakers and visiting places off the beaten track.
https://mizrachi.org/missions/OPEN/
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RQ9o_fWADCK7Jd9D6duXyY2QdO7fAmUW/view
The JNF-USA in January. This month’s newsletter from JNF-USA’s CEO Russell F. Robinson highlights its work building a new medical center in Kiryat Shmona, disability support in northern Israel, a culinary school, the Alexander Muss High School, and Shabbat for Israel on May 2nd.
https://www.jnf.org/menu-3/news-media/robinson-reports/robinson-report-january-2025
2,000-year-old inscription deciphered. Researchers from Israel’s Bar-Ilan University have deciphered the Aramaic inscription on a pottery shard discovered in the 1980s at the Alexandrium Fortress (Sartaba) in the Jordan Valley. They used Israeli advanced imaging technology to read ““Eleazar bar Ger… from Beit Akiman.”
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/hknx2uruyg
250126
In the 26th Jan 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l Joyful scenes as released Israeli female hostages are reunited with their families.
l Positive news for sufferers of blocked blood vessels, strokes and arthritis.
l Donating to Israeli charities? Check their “Seal of Effectiveness”.
l New Israeli technology combines digital and traditional learning.
l Three end-of-year reports highlight the strength of Israel’s economy.
l An Israeli won the Houston marathon.
· Click here to see the 19th Jan newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen, (TY Ruth) Ruthfully Yours, (TY) Aviva) United With Israel, (TY Ted Belman) IsraPundit and Joan Swirsky (email her to get daily news). Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here, and Hebrew here, and with (TY) Claude into French here. Also (TY Barbara) into Spanish here. (Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also please visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL.
· 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 (over 25,900 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, and the subject “Subscribe”) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Reunited! The heartwarming scenes of the three released women hostages greeting their parents. The news of their freedom was announced on every El Al airplane, followed by cheers and applause from passengers. And hot off the press, scenes of the latest 4 female soldier hostages being reunited with their families.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O_ibCnMZjk
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-el-al-announces-hostage-release-on-all-airborne-flight/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402843
114 donated sets of tefillin. A Jewish girl from Brooklyn, New York, has founded the organization Tefillin On Us, that supplies tefillin to IDF soldiers who are non-religious or cannot afford them but wish to wrap daily. Since Oct 7 2023, it has donated 114 pairs of tefillin - each costing over $1,000.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-amazing-initiative-donates-tefillin-to-needy-idf-soldiers/
Look who started wearing tefillin. (TY Laura B) The father and brother of Romi Gonen (one of the women hostages released on 19 Jan), decided to start wearing tefillin about 2 months ago.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O0H3OwCT182A23xKVoLfF58T4OgRgotR/view
Shabbat meeting to save lives of hostages. (TY Yanky) The Israeli cabinet, including Shabbat-observant ministers, debated the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal long into Shabbat. They adhered to the rabbinical dictum “Pikuach nefesh docheh Shabbat” – rescuing a life takes precedence over the rules of Shabbat.
Caring for wildlife in a war. The KKL-JNF Agamon Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (AWRC) in the Galilee’s Hula Valley has continued to treat injured wildlife throughout the war. It provides care to thousands of animals, from birds of prey to small mammals. It also serves as a hub for research and public education.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-837176
Our response is a new factory. Israel’s Strauss’s Group chairperson Ofra Strauss told the Globes "Returning to the North" conference that the company this year will open a new factory for plant-based milk products in Ahihud, about 9km East of Akko (Acre). She linked the theme of building to the return of the hostages.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-ofra-strauss-new-factory-in-north-is-our-response-1001500101
Thai workers return to Negev farms. Some 9,000 Thai agricultural workers who survived the Oct 7 2023 Hamas attacks went back home (39 others were murdered and 8 are still held hostage). Almost all 9,000 have since returned, many to the communities that came under attack that day - heartwarming to their Israeli friends.
https://www.jns.org/thai-farm-workers-attacked-on-oct-7-return-to-negev-farms/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Fast track for blocked blood vessel treatment. (TY Atid-EDI) The US FDA has granted Fast Track Designation to Israel’s BioGenCell (see here previously) for the development of BGC101 – its lead candidate for treating severe Critical Limb Threatening Ischemia (CLTI).
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/biogencell-receives-fda-fast-track-140000739.html
European approval for stroke therapy. Israel’s Brain.Q (see here previously) has received the CE-Mark for its BQ 2.0 system, designed to reduce disability following ischemic stroke, the number one cause of disability worldwide. Brain.Q is also enrolling in the EMAGINE II pivotal study to seek US-FDA clearance.
Positive proof of concept for arthritis treatment. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Raphael announced positive proof-of-concept clinical study results of its HPC1 non-psychoactive cannabinoid-based formula developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. 12 adult participants reported lower pain levels and better sleep quality.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/raphael-pharmaceutical-announces-positive-proof-130000207.html
https://www.raphaelpharmaceutical.com/
Innovation in Cardiovascular Interventions. Israel recently held the 2024 conference on innovation in interventional cardiology (ICI) for the 29th year in Tel Aviv. Levron Medical won the $200,000 Jon de Haan Innovation award for its Cardio-Respiratory Physiological Assist (CRPA) Treatment..
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-829448 https://icimed.org/
https://www.levron-medical.com/
Revolutionizing healthcare in the South. The new Mor Institute's Be'er Sheva branch allows residents to get cancer screening, low-radiation CT scans, virtual colonoscopies, eye care services such as retina consultations and OCT exams, cardiac tests like Holter monitoring and vascular ultrasounds, bone density tests, and more.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-836357
Training for the best doctors. With medicine being so complicated, all major medical centers are establishing programs to help junior doctors improve the quality of treatment and research. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center has established its “Elite Residency and Training Center” for 100+ doctors learning a specialty annually.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-834346
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Teaching Hebrew to benefit Bedouin kids. A unique course connects Ben-Gurion University students to Bedouin highschoolers near Beersheva. The BGU students earn necessary academic credit, while the Bedouin students significantly improve their Hebrew to enter academia and achieve inclusion in Israeli society.
https://www.israel21c.org/teaching-bedouin-kids-hebrew-improves-their-opportunities/
Efficient charities. Israeli non-profit Tav Midot assesses Israeli charities and awards a “seal of effectiveness” on those that pass its scrutiny as to professionalism, efficiency and “value for money”. Over 150 Israeli non-profits are valid holders of Midot Seal of Effectiveness, granted for a period of up to three years.
https://www.midot.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/The-Midot-Seal-of-Effectiveness-02.pdf
https://midot.org.il/tav-midot
Weizmann goes green. Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science is switching to the use of only green electricity and is becoming an almost fully renewable energy campus. It will supplement its own 12% solar energy with green, solar-derived electricity from the Enlight company to cover all the electricity consumption of its campus.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/campus/weizmann-institute-science-moves-100-green-electricity
Israeli passports get stronger. The Henley Passport Index ranks the Israeli passport as the 19th strongest in the world (up two places from last year and six from 2023). Israeli passport holders can now enter 170 countries without a visa. Only the United Arab Emirates is higher in the Middle East region.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-passport-among-worlds-top-20-strongest/
https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-index https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-index/ranking
Congressional Friends of Judea and Samaria. Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) has launched the congressional Friends of Judea and Samaria caucus to support legislation rejecting the term “West Bank” and to foster ties between Israel and the United States. They don’t say the US was founded on ‘West Bank-Christian’ principles.
https://www.jns.org/tenney-launches-congressional-friends-of-judea-and-samaria-caucus/
Sharing Israeli agritech know-how. Yosef Abramowitz, CEO of Israel’s Energiya has set up a new non-profit Gigawatt Impact to share Israeli agrivoltaics expertise with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. Agrivoltaics is the dual use of land for solar-energy production and agriculture.
https://www.jns.org/israel-to-share-agritech-know-how-with-hbcus-in-the-us/
Israel could help solve Syria’s water crisis. Interesting article, explaining why Syria is suffering a severe water crisis and devastated agriculture resulting from water mismanagement, over extraction, and Turkey’s damming of the Euphrates river. Ironically, Israelis could help solve the crisis, but will Syria ask them?
https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/bjts9a3pkl
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Tech course to develop disability aids. Israel’s Technion Institute has launched its Disability Breakthrough Technology course. It aims to train students in social-technological entrepreneurship with an emphasis on solutions for people with disabilities and rehabilitation. It is even more important in light of the ongoing war.
https://ats.org/our-impact/technion-students-tackle-disability-challenges-with-tech-innovation/
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2024/12/assistive-technology-for-people-with-disabilities/
AI partners for recruitment. Israel’s Revealense (see here previously) has joined with Israel’s Iverse to use AI to help recruiters assess candidates. Revealense’s Illuminator, analyzes movements, and Iverse‘s “diagnostic psychologist” identifies cognitive skills, performance capabilities, interpersonal skills and organizational fit.
https://www.israel21c.org/2-ai-companies-join-forces-for-next-gen-employee-recruiting/
https://www.i-verse.online/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7RSFN6EQlc
Protecting against AI cyber threats. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s CyTwist has launched its detection engine to combat the rise of AI-generated malware. The advanced behavioral analysis of CyTwist Profiler identifies new threats in real time, stopping attackers before they can cause harm.
https://securitybrief.co.uk/story/cytwist-unveils-engine-to-detect-ai-powered-cyberattacks https://cytwist.com/
The world’s first four-door convertible electric hypercar. Ari Teman is the founder of startup Jovari, whose mission is to produce the world’s first four-door convertible electric hypercar – in Israel. Each buyer can customize the design of their luxury family vehicle. Jovari has joined NVIDIA’s Inception program for startups.
https://www.israel21c.org/worlds-first-4-door-convertible-ev-to-be-made-in-israel/ https://jovari.com/
https://vimeo.com/563191214/ef57c69ab9
Water and Sun. Israel’s national water company, Mekorot, has issued a tender for the supply, installation, and maintenance of photovoltaic systems to be installed on buildings and water reservoirs across the country. The energy will operate desalination plants, water treatment facilities, and facilitate water distribution.
https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/article-838342
Agritech for Latin America. Israel’s Phytech operates in Peru and Chile, with services extended to growers in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Guatemala, and Mexico. Phytech uses proprietary plant and field condition sensors. Also, hydraulic water monitoring provides clear visibility into tank level, pumps, filters and valves.
No-cow milk from oats. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s Plantopia (formerly Pigmentum – see here previously) originally focused on lettuce as a production platform for milk (casein) proteins. It has now switched to using sprouted oats, as they can deliver higher expression levels of all four casein proteins.
https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/company_page/plantopia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79OAvDDQXAw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYX40hSz8E0
Vegan meat that feels like real meat. Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Dr. Mohammad Ghosheh and Prof. Yaakov Nahmias apply cutting-edge materials science on vegan meat alternatives, to replicate the texture and structure of traditional meat. https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-838115
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-54939-y
Bio-devices and bio-chip lab. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel is investing in a $30 million research lab for development of bio-devices and biochips. To be built by Israel Aerospace Industries and Beckermus Technologies, its goal is to harness engineering and AI to create groundbreaking biotech solutions in medicine, agriculture, energy, etc.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sk5ntkfsjl https://www.beckermus.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD2DcYJDxW0
Sustainable airplane fuel. Israel’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Knowledge Center (iSAF) was inaugurated at the Technion, supported by the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, and in partnership with Boeing. The center will work towards achieving local production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF – see here).
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/blog/article/isaf-launched-at-technion/
Safer Israeli trains. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Rail Vision (see here previously) is to install its MainLine obstacle detection system on Israel Railways’ trains to prevent potential collisions and maintain smooth operational flow. Meanwhile, Israel Railways and Israel’s Odysight.ai will develop an AI visualization system.
https://ir.railvision.io/news-releases/news-release-details/rail-vision-receives-israel-railways-regulation-approval-its https://www.odysight.ai/press/odysight-ai-and-israel-railways-partner-to-develop-advanced-ai-powered-visualization-system-to-prevent-derailments-and-enhance-railway-safety/
The ultimate learning solution. Israel’s Jotit transforms the classroom experience in the digital age, from streamlining organization to improving handwriting skills. Jotit brings "digital-paper" to the classroom, allowing students and teachers to enjoy the benefits of both digital and traditional methods.
https://www.jotit.io/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kuZM271IWY&t=7s
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
A much better year for Israeli tech. According to the Israeli Tech Review 2024 by IVC Data and Insights and LeumiTech, 2024 was far better for Israeli tech than 2023. In summary, 40% more capital raised; an increase of 15% in the number of rounds; more multinational companies opened; and 7 new unicorns (only 4 in 2023).
https://www.ivc-online.com/Home/_atscid/7_134353_74097202_2985293_0_Tdetjdxtjpwh8psh8
Israel’s tech ecosystem evolved despite the war. (TY Nevet) Startup Nation Central reports that Israel’s hi-tech GDP grew by 2.2% in 2024. It was due to funding, a record $15.8 billion in mergers and acquisitions and mature companies driving innovation and global integration. Cybersecurity remained Israel’s tech cornerstone.
Strong investor confidence. (TY Atid-EDI) The normally anti-Israel “Economist" has rated Israel as the 6th strongest economy of 2024. It cited Israel’s strong macro figures with the low unemployment rate and the performance of the stock market strengthening the country’s situation in recent months.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-indicators-point-to-high-investor-confidence-in-israel-1001497442
Shekel at two-year high against Dollar. The Israeli Shekel reached its strongest level against the US Dollar for two years – 3.541 to the US$. The Bank of America expects the shekel to continue to strengthen if the ceasefire agreements are fully implemented.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-shekel-strongest-for-two-years-against-us-dollar-1001500186
18 years of natural gas. Israel’s Energean has agreed to provide 12 billion cubic meters of natural gas to power the power plants of Israel’s Dalia and Eshkol power plants. It will be sufficient for the next 18 years and cost some $2 billion. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-energean-signs-2b-dalia-power-plants-gas-deal-1001500211
The ear of Finland’s police. Israel’s Silynxcom (see here previously) has won a 4-year contract worth up to $2 million, to supply advanced in-ear communication systems to the national police of Finland. It comprises new-generation high-noise protection Clarus systems, with Silynxcom’s unique “talking from the ear” technology.
On eagles’ wings. Airlines that have announced they are restoring Israel flights include Air India, Air France, Transavia, Air France, EasyJet, British Airways, ITA Airways; Wizz Air, and the Lufthansa Group (Swiss, Austrian, Brussels, Lufthansa, Eurowings. https://www.passportcard.co.il/en/airlines-flying-to-israel/
$30 million of orders. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks (see here previously) has won $30 million of orders in the last two weeks. It includes $18 for In-Flight Connectivity Solutions (Wi-Fi on planes), and $9 million from major satellite operators for SkyEdge IV and SkyEdge II-c satellite communications.
https://www.gilat.com/pressreleases/gilat-receives-approximately-5-million-in-orders-from-us-defense-customers-2/ https://www.gilat.com/pressreleases/gilat-receives-9-million-in-orders-for-multi-orbit-skyedge-platforms/ https://www.gilat.com/pressreleases/gilat-receives-over-3-million-in-orders-to-support-leo-constellations-2/
Combating domestic violence in Alabama. Israel’s SuperCom (see here previously) has won a new contract to provide its advanced GPS tracking and domestic violence (DV) monitoring solutions to a government agency in Alabama. It is SuperCom's 5th new US state since Aug 2024 and its 10th USA contract in just 60 days.
A bigger Gong. Israel’s Gong (see here previously) has taken a 3-year lease for 3,600sqm of space in Ramat Gan at a cost of NIS 30 million. It will house many of its 380 Israel-based employees, plus the hundreds of developers it is recruiting at its Israeli R&D center. Gong has over 4,500 customers for its AI sales products.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1mq5x0d1g
Exits, mergers & acquisitions – to 26/1/25:. US Metropolis has acquired Israel’s Oosto (formerly AnyVision) for $125 million. Israel’s MIND CTI is acquiring Germany’s Aurenz for up to $1.88 million.
Startup investment – to 26/1/25: Elios Health raised $60 million; Mitiga.io raised $30 million; Package.ai raised $14 million; Jotit raised $10 million; Doti.ai raised $7 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Jerusalem – a city of contrasts. (TY Sharon) The streets of Jerusalem are quiet in the warm winter sunshine. But building continues and the holy city echoes with prayers and hope for the return of more hostages.
https://rjstreets.com/2025/01/19/see-jerusalem-a-city-of-contrasts/
Israel is blooming. Israel is basking in the warmest winter for many years. In the sunshine the first almond tree of the season has bloomed in the KKL-JNF’s Mevo Hamma Forest in the Golan Heights, at least three weeks before the traditional start of Spring on Tu Bishvat. (New Year for Trees).
https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/article-837959
From survivor to Eurovision star. Yuval Raphael, is Israel’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2025. Raphael, 24, won the "Rising Star" competition on Jan 22, singing ABBA’a Dancing Queen. She survived the Oct 7 2023 Nova music festival when Hamas terrorists murdered 1,200 people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn4nMOYvDSw
Houston marathon winner. Haimro Alame (34) won the Chevron Marathon in downtown Houston in 2:08:17 - the first Israeli victory in the Houston Marathon’s history. He celebrated by waving Israel’s flag, saying, “the win is not for me but for my country”. Alame immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia with his parents 20 years ago.
https://jewishbreakingnews.com/israeli-flag-flies-high-as-national-hero-dominates-houston-marathon/
THE JEWISH STATE
Stone mentions Roman tax imposed during Talmud period. Israeli and American archaeologists have uncovered a Roman boundary stone over 1,700 years old with a Greek inscription. These stones were used to implement Roman Emperor Diocletian’s harsh taxation laws, which are mentioned in the Jerusalem Talmud.
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/archaeology-around-the-world/article-838505
250119
In the 19th Jan 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l Mother of three is a part-time PhD student and an IDF Command Center manager.
l Israeli Professor boosts the immune system to slow the aging process.
l Nine inspiring prize-winning young immigrants give hope for Israel’s future.
l Four teams of Israelis are helping combat California’s wildfires.
l Israeli technology could prevent future wildfires.
l Nvidia is investing half a billion dollars in a new Israeli development center.
l Israelis thought “outside the box” when stranded on a snowy mountain.
l Two ancient structures unearthed from the Kingdom of Judah.
· Click here to see the 12th Jan newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen, (TY Ruth) Ruthfully Yours, (TY Ted Belman) IsraPundit and Joan Swirsky (email her to get daily news). Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here, and Hebrew here, and with (TY) Claude into French here. Also (TY Barbara) into Spanish here. (Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also please visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me publicize VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
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· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name, and the subject “Subscribe”) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
150 lone soldiers join the IDF. Over 150 young immigrants from the US, Canada, UK, and other countries are currently arriving in Israel as part of the Garin Tzabar Scouts program. After four months in an absorption program they will enlist in the IDF. Garin Tzabar has supported 7,000+ lone soldiers during its 33 years.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-836917
US students cheer up wives of reservists. The NGO Israel Resilience together with the OU-JLIC (Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus) has given US students volunteering in Israel the task of giving support to the wives of IDF reservists. They visit, hand them gift cards, and offer them thanks.
https://www.jns.org/us-students-launch-initiative-to-support-wives-of-idf-reservists/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hNL_dBC3us
Better than before. On Oct 7 2023, homes, fields and vehicles at Kibbutz Nirim were destroyed by Hamas terrorists and their supporters. Almost immediately afterwards, rebuilding and renovating began. Kibbutniks and external contractors are busy making Nirim bigger and better, safer and stronger than ever before,
https://www.jns.org/bigger-and-better-than-ever-rebuilding-nirim-after-oct-7/
Rehabilitating tourism in the North. The Jewish Agency for Israel is establishing a fund to rehabilitate the tourism industry in the north of Israel. Businesses impacted by the war - mainly those in tourism - can receive a low cost loan up to NIS 650,000. Since Oct 7 2023, the Agency has lent NIS 350 million to 8,000+ businesses.
https://www.jns.org/wire/the-jewish-agency-signs-agreement-to-rehabilitate-the-north-of-israel/
Northern hospitals come up for air. (TY Yanky) Several hospitals across northern Israel have spent 14 months in fortified underground bunker-like facilities. Now, since the ceasefire, they are leaving the crowded and dark conditions and returning to normal. Staff and patients are delighted to be breathing fresh air again.
Student of courage. On Oct 7 2023, Coral Hamo Goren - a Ph.D. student at Israel’s Technion, mother of three, and operations officer in the IDF was called to manage a command center near the Gaza border. When she can, she commutes between Gaza and Haifa, submits papers, attends courses, and keeps up with research.
https://ats.org/our-impact/on-the-front-lines-of-war-and-academia/
Voices of Iron. (TY UWI) 50 pro-Israel public diplomacy professionals, activists and social-media influencers were presented with the inaugural “Voices of Iron” award in a ceremony held at the Knesset auditorium. They were honored for their “Iron Dome” advocacy “blowing lies out of the sky” during the Swords of Iron war.
https://www.jns.org/voices-of-iron-award-honors-online-israel-advocacy-warriors/
Huge post-Oct 7 giving boom. (TY Yanky) Overseas charities bring hope to Israel’s frontline communities. The Diaspora Ministry estimates over $1.4 billion in foreign donations since Oct 7 2023. This article focuses on the Jewish Agency, KKL-JNF, Keren Hayesod, UJIA, Jewish Federations of North America, and the Joint.
Yeshiva hosts injured soldiers. Yeshivat Hakotel hosted injured IDF soldiers, members of the Lifros Knaf nonprofit, who came to Jerusalem as part of a rehabilitation trip. They were welcomed by the students and heads and, during Shabbat, they were given a guided tour of Jerusalem’s Old City and the Jewish Quarter.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402198 https://www.lifroskanaf.co.il/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Immunotherapy can slow aging process. Israel Prize winner, Weizmann Institute’s Prof. Michal Schwartz and her research team are working on a groundbreaking treatment to boost immune cells relevant to the brain, cure brain diseases, and slow the aging process. Schwartz founded Israel’s ImmunoBrain (see here previously).
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-scientist-in-peer-reviewed-study-immunotherapy-treatment-could-slow-aging-process/ https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(24)00882-1
Huge rise in organ donations. Israel’s National Transplant Center has reported that a record number of heart transplants (36) were performed in Israel in 2024. There was also a 6% rise in the number of kidney transplants to 469, including 313 from living donors. Also see article about those who have donated a kidney to a stranger.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402203
https://www.israel21c.org/why-danny-newman-gave-his-kidney-to-a-stranger/
Scientists identify a new blood group. (TY Yanky) In 1972, doctors discovered a woman missing a surface molecule found on all other known red bloods. 50 years later, Israeli and UK researchers have finally identified it as a new blood group, “AnWj-negative”. It will help provide better care for these patients.
https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-identify-new-blood-group-after-50-year-mystery
Understanding chronic pain. (TY ATS) Researchers from Israel’s Technion were part of a team that has discovered why only some whiplash injury patients, suffer from chronic pain. It is related to their brain’s memory communication system, plus if they had high anxiety after the injury - literally “painful memories”.
https://technologytangle.com/new-study-identifies-brain-activity-predicting-chronic-pain-after-whiplash-injuries/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-024-00329-8
Treating cardio-metabolic diseases. Bar-Ilan University’s Dr Sivan Spitzer and EU colleagues won a €22 million EU-IHI grant for CAREPATH - a 5-year project to use cutting-edge tools to ensure diabetic, obese, and heart patients take their medication. It involves international researchers, plus companies led by Novo Nordisk.
https://www.biu.ac.il/en/article/582866
OncoHost wins BIG. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s OncoHost (see here previously) has won a 2025 BIG Innovation Awards for Healthcare. BIG (Business Intelligence Group) CEO Russ Fordyce said, "We're thrilled to spotlight OncoHost as a shining example of innovation making a profound impact globally."
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Nine remarkable youths. Non-profit Nefesh b’Nefesh awarded its Maor (“light”) Youth Prize to nine young new immigrants who have enriched Israeli society during 2024. Their work includes with Big Sister – Little Sister, Ezra Youth, Mesamchim, tzitzit-tying, Israeli Scouts, Shuk Otef, Lonely Bench, and Lone Soldiers.
https://www.jns.org/nefesh-bnefesh-awards-maor-youth-prize-to-nine-olim/
https://refuavesimcha.co.il/en/activities/mesamchim/ https://shop.shukotef.co.il/home
Women in the IDF. 86% of IDF units accept women. 50% of IDF doctors are women. There is an all-women tank crew who saved several communities on Oct 7 2023 (see here previously). The Israeli Air Force has a unit of five female UAV operators (see here previously).
https://www.jns.org/forged-in-fire-gaza-war-showcases-womens-integration-into-the-idf/
The sound of resilience. (TY Mara) Three members of the IDF’s Special in Uniform band performed at Beth Yeshurun in Houston, Texas as part of Jewish National Fund-USA’s commitment to support Israel’s resilience. The talented IDF soldiers with disabilities performed before an enthusiastic audience.
Tech hub for Bedouin women. The Bedouin village, Zarzir, beween Nazareth and Haifa, is home to the world’s only tech hub and co-working space for Bedouin women, run by a program called Samana (see here previously). All of the women live nearby and work primarily as QA engineers for tech companies.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bkptfstujl
From swastika to Star of David. Interesting video (Hebrew with English subtitles) of how descendants of Nazis in a German town became some of Israel's biggest supporters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PdnB-oCBdY
Genesis Prize winner. Argentine President Javier Milei was awarded the 2025 Genesis Prize (known as the “Jewish Nobel Prize”) in recognition of his support for Jewish causes and the Jewish State. His pro-Israel tenure has become a defining feature of his time in office. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402302
https://www.jns.org/jewish-nobel-recognizes-mileis-support-for-israel/
Strong ties with Ghana. Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel met with Ghana’s newly elected President John Mahama after attending his inauguration. She discussed how Israel can share its know-how in agriculture, technology and food security. Israel’s ambassador to Ghana, Roey Gilad, added renewable energy.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-deputy-fm-in-ghana-as-ties-grow-stronger/
Israeli teams head to California fires. Israel’s SmartAID has teams fighting California wildfires and using solar-telecommunication trailers to assist evacuees and responders. IsraAID is sending volunteers and aid professionals; Zaka is already there, plus teams of Israeli firefighters and protection experts are on their way.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-ngo-sends-team-to-help-fight-la-wildfires/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402161 https://israfan.com/p/israeli-rescue-aid-california-wildfires
https://x.com/EretzIsrael/status/1877888346141110590
https://www.jns.org/israeli-fire-protection-experts-to-assist-with-la-wildfires/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Israelis dazzle at CES 2025. Dozens of Israeli startups showcased at the 2025 CES conference in Las Vegas. Many of the 140,000 attendees visited Israeli pavilion to see Bzigo, Capsulab, Carteav, CorrActions, Hailo, iRomaScents, Neoja, SavorEat, SolCold, Spicerr, Synoia, TempraMed, Visual Layer, and Visionary.ai.
https://www.israel21c.org/dozens-of-israeli-consumer-tech-startups-dazzle-at-ces/
https://www.neoja.co.il/en https://www.wishpro-global.com/ (Synoia)
https://spicerr.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dXk3pm32Qk
Other Israeli startups at CES. Among the Israeli or Israeli-connected startups pitching at CES 2025 were DoubleVerify (advertising trust) and Whilx (Tire pressure),
https://doubleverify.com/ https://www.whilx.tech/
Using AI to improve airport efficiency. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s IntellAct (see here previously) is reducing airline delays with AI. It has completed several pilots and participated in the SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) project in 2023, demonstrating the value of AI at the Spanish Palma De Mallorca Airport.
https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/operators-seek-out-ai-for-smarter-airport-turnarounds/
Is your software legal? Companies not only need to check that their computer software is licensed, it also mustn’t contain AI generated code that is subject to copyright. With its new Provenance and Attribution capability, Israel’s Tabnine (see here previously) checks that, plus a great deal more.
An “Iron Dome” to fight wildfires. Israel’s FireDome is developing a wildfire defense system, modeled after the Iron Dome. It shoots capsules of eco-friendly fire retardant to create a protective barrier. Then AI vision and sensors detect and extinguish spot fires. FireDome aims to begin Israel tests in May, and in the US in 2026.
A more accurate rocket. As international worries about collateral damage in Gaza, the IDF has replaced its aging Romach rockets which had an accuracy range of under 10 meters. Elbit’s new Bar rocket can go further, is highly precise, and has a more sophisticated navigation mechanism appropriate for diverse environments.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-837601
Urbanism on the desert’s edge. NUR (Negev Urban Research) is the first lab of its kind in Israel, launched by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Its aim is to develop data-based and digital processes and tools to help create sustainable and prosperous cities on the edge of a desert.
https://www.bgu.ac.il/en/news-and-articles/nur-negev-urban-research-lab-opens/
A companion for caregivers. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s Intuition Robotics (see here previously), developer of the ElliQ companion for seniors, has now launched the ElliQ Caregiver Solution. The Caregiver App tracks the ElliQ owner’s health and activity and sends alerts, plus it provides setting of care goals for ElliQ to promote.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
2024 funding exceeded $12 billion. Startup Nation Central has identified a significant number of unreported funding rounds by Israeli startups. It raises the total investment in 2024 to $12.2 billion ($10.6 billion reported) - 31% higher than in 2023. There was also $15.8 billion worth of hi-tech exits.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/syasalxvyx
https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/reports/2024-annual-report
Nvidia’s $500 million AI R&D lab. Chip giant Nvidia is to invest more than $500 million in a new Israeli AI research data lab. The 10,000 sqm facility at the Mevo Carmel Science and Industry Park near Yokne’am, will be among the “largest, most powerful data center labs in Israel,” Nvidia said in a statement.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjvfhbsw1x
New direct flights to New York. (TY JNS) From Feb 8, Israeli airline Arkia is launching direct flights, three times a week, between Tel Aviv and New York. The route will be operated in partnership with TechAir, a company established by Israel’s High-Tech Forum. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-837286
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/01/13/arkia-launches-direct-flights-from-tel-aviv-to-new-york/
Women funding women. Israel’s Women Funding Women program is the first of its kind to connect women entrepreneurs with top-tier women investors to address the funding gap in AI. Until Feb 4, WFW offers a $1M investment to support women-led AI startups, which deliver a 35% higher return on investment than men.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/h13posbw1e
Millions of prohibited items detected. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s Seetrue (see here previously) has now been installed at 100 checkpoints in 10 countries. In 2022 it prevented 500,000+ prohibited items from getting aboard planes and into venues. In 2024 this had soared to around three million.
https://www.israel21c.org/ai-threat-detection-tech-moves-airport-security-lines-faster/
Four awards for ThetaRay. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s AI-driven financial crime detection company ThetaRay (see here previously) recently received four prestigious industry awards. Deloitte Technology Fast 500, CrossTech Product Innovation Award, Top 100 Financial Technology Company, and a Banking Tech Award.
Upper Galilee hotel re-opens. (TY Yanky) The Galilion in Israel's Hula Valley is set to become the first hotel in Upper Galilee to resume operations following a 14-month closure due to the war. The hotel has undergone an extensive NIS 5 million renovation, emerging as a symbol of recovery for the war-affected northern region.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-836511
Exits, mergers & acquisitions – to 19/1/25:. US blockchain giant Chainalysis acquired Israel’s Alterya (its second Israeli takeover in a month) for an estimated $150 million. Chinese tech giant Lenovo has acquired Israeli enterprise storage company Infinidat, which was valued at over $1 billion; Lenovo plans to establish a development center in Israel.
Startup investment – to 19/1/25: Orchid Security raised $36 million; Qbiq raised $16 million; Reeco.io raised $15 million; Lava Network raised $12 million; Nilus raised $10 million; ControlMonkey raised $7 million; Spikerz raised $7 million; Momentick raised $5 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Desert sculpture park. (TY Yanky) The Desert Sculpture Park lies just east of Mitzpeh Ramon on the edge of the Ramon Crater. The 22 works were created by local and international artists who used the large, heavy rocks found locally to excite the senses. It was established in 1962, renovated in 1986, and made accessible in 2021.
https://www.desertsculpture.info/en/the-desert-sculpture-park/ https://mitzpe-ramon.co.il/en/park/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC5s6Tt_f2M
Favorite cities to visit. (TY Laura B) Travel + Leisure Readers’ 10 Favorite Cities in Africa and the Middle East of 2024 included Jerusalem at number 3 and Tel Aviv at number 8.
https://www.travelandleisure.com/wba-2024-cities-africa-middle-east-8665810
Fauda star performs for bereaved youth. (TY Yanky) 400+ bereaved Israeli youth had a Chanukah surprise when Fauda star and singer/songwriter Idan Amedi arrived by helicopter for a private performance at their Kibbutz Revivim winter camp. The kids also went “sandboarding”, rappelling, and had therapeutic sessions.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-star-idan-amedi-surprises-bereaved-youth-at-chanukah-camp/
Young basketballers come to Israel. Maccabi Israel Sports Experience has brought a team of half a dozen young talented internation basketball players to live, train and play at Maccabi World Union’s campus in Ramat Gan, Israel. Several have long-term dreams of playing in Israel professionally.
https://video.i24news.tv/en/9e44d596-82e6-4c4c-8a1c-96f84ae49bd5/content/6366864254112
We built an igloo! Due to a “navigation” error, three Israeli snowboarders were trapped at the summit of a freezing mountain in Japan for nearly 24 hours. The men, who are all IDF reservists, couldn’t be rescued immediately because of weather conditions. So they built an igloo and huddled together to stay warm.
https://worldisraelnews.com/we-built-an-igloo-israelis-rescued-from-freezing-mountain/
THE JEWISH STATE
Ancient structure unearthed in Jerusalem. (TY Ron M) A 220 sqm 1st Temple-period structure has been uncovered in the City of David, Jerusalem. The eight rooms include an oil press, a winepress, a possible altar, and a standing stone. It was in use until the 8th century BCE, when King Hezekiah restored Jewish worship.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-researchers-find-where-jerusalemites-prayed-before-temple-became-only-game-in-town/ https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-837507
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ASjN-AD5e4
Ancient farmhouse unearthed near Beersheba. (TY Yanky) The Israel Antiquities Authority and KKL-JNF have excavated artifacts at the 2,600-year-old, 4-room Mirsham farmhouse just north of Beersheba. It was likely constructed during the reign of Judean King Menashe (697-643 BCE) and demolished 100 years later.
Young Zionist Voices. Z3 Project will present the Young Zionist Voices GLOBAL DIGITAL LAUNCH EVENT on Tues Jan 28 at 10am PT, 1pm ET, 6pm ET & 8pm Israel time. It will feature some of the most important young activists, thinkers, and doers in the Jewish world. Register (free) below. Plus other events.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/young-zionist-voices-global-digital-launch-tickets-1129127664239
https://jewishpriorities.substack.com/p/meet-the-young-zionist-voices-announcing
250112
In the 12th Jan 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l Massive increase in Israel’s PR budget.
l Life-saving Israeli treatments for the brain, heart, and traumatic stress.
l Golan Druze rush to become Israeli citizens.
l Two innovative Israeli laser systems perform valuable non-military functions.
l Israeli sustainable device for keeping farm produce fresh is so cool.
l A dozen Israeli companies doubled their US market value in 2024.
l Light one candle for Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary, who “Puffed” magic songs.
· Click here to see the 5th Jan newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen, (TY Aviva) United With Israel, and (TY Ted Belman) IsraPundit. Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here, and Hebrew here, and with (TY) Claude into French here. Also (TY Barbara) into Spanish here. Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also please visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL.
· 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 (over 25,800 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, and the subject “Subscribe”) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
800 French teenagers volunteer. A delegation of some 800 French teenagers traveled to Israel, thanks to the Jewish Agency’s Israel Experience program and Mosaic United’s Shalom Corps. They have been packing food packages for the poor, helping MDA and Yad Sarah, volunteering at IDF bases and working in agriculture.
https://www.jns.org/800-french-teens-in-israel-to-volunteer-bolster-ties-with-europe/
NFL Legends love Israel. (TY UWI) NFL legends Nick Lowery (ex-Chiefs & Jets) and Tony Richardson (Cowboys, Chiefs, Vikings & Jets) touched down in Israel last week on a solidarity visit. After meeting hostage families, Lowery told President Herzog, “We’re here to say we love and support you - no matter what.”
https://www.jns.org/we-love-and-support-you-nfl-legends-pay-solidarity-visit-to-israel/
600 international students at BGU. Despite the war, 600 students from 64 countries have come to Israel to study at Ben-Gurion University. BGU's International Academic Affairs Office offers personalized support for students worldwide, from visa assistance to organizing social activities.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-836625
Surge in Haredi recruits. (TY UWI) The IDF reported that 338 Haredim enlisted in the past week - 211 as combat soldiers, and 127 as combat supporters. The IDF also successfully inducted the inaugural cohort of the “Hashmonayim” (Hasmonean) Brigade, plus a second Haredi cohort for the Border Guard.
https://tps.co.il/articles/israeli-army-reports-surge-in-haredi-soldiers-338-recruited-in-past-week/
$100 million recovery. Itamar Ben Hemo, co-founder of Israel’s Rivery (see here previously) was serving in the reserves in Gaza when he was shot in the chest by Hamas terrorists. He was rushed to hospital in 45 minutes where despite almost dying, he recovered and eventually sold his company to Boomi (US) for $100 million.
THAAD intercepts Houthi missile. U.S.-supplied THAAD air defense system successfully intercepted its first ballistic missile, launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen. “18 years waiting for this” says one of the American soldiers operating the system. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/401411
Semiconductor giant bets on Israel. Great article detailing how computer giant Applied Materials has been investing in its Israeli R&D center, despite the war. Having 15% (300) of its workforce in the IDF, it brought back retirees, rented a hotel for displaced families and gave financial and psychological help to employees.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/y4hfl2v34
$150 million for PR. In the new budget, Israel’s Foreign Ministry will receive an extra $150 million for public diplomacy - more than 20 times that typically allotted in past years. One focus will be US college campuses, in cooperation with US Jewish groups and the Diaspora Affairs Ministry.
Gaza desalination plant restarts. (TY Yanky) I don’t know why this has not been widely reported (oh yes I do!). The Deir el-Balah desalination plant in central Gaza has resumed operations. Since being reconnected to Israel’s electricity grid last month, the plant has produced thousands of cubic meters of drinkable water per day.
https://www.voanews.com/a/desalination-plant-quietly-resumes-operations-in-gaza/7914345.html
Galilee forests will regenerate. 20,000+ dunams of Galilee forest have been consumed by fires ignited by Hezbollah rocket strikes and interceptor fragments. But KKL-JNF’s chief forester Gilad Ostrovsky is sure that once burnt trees have been removed, the forest will regenerate naturally. Just as Israelis will return to the North.
https://www.jns.org/restoring-the-galilee-forest-a-five-year-journey-of-renewal-and-hope/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Treating cerebral aneurysms. Israel’s EndoStream Medical, which has just been acquired by Japan’s Kaneka, specializes in developing an innovative implant for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms. EndoStream’s “Nautilus” has been used in hundreds of patients globally to block blood flow to the aneurysm.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bkdyeeaikg https://endostream.com/
https://vimeo.com/727320916 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16800-brain-aneurysm
Microsensors for the heart. (TY TPS & WIN) Israel’s Microtech (part of Medinol – see here previously) has begun human clinical trials of their microsensor platform, to measure atrial pressures, vital for the treatment of heart failure. The tiny device is implanted and uses ultrasound to communicate, reducing hospitalizations.
https://medinol.com/news/microtech-announces-first-human-case-of-implantable-microsensor-for-heart-failure-2/ https://medinol.com/microtech-2/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_QxgazSF_U
HBOT for PTSD. At the Shamir Medical Center, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) - breathing pure oxygen in pressurized chambers - is proving to be a game-changer for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) sufferers, with 70% reporting lasting relief. See here previously.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZYhLJfeCWU
How bacteria resistance can be neutralized. A study by Tel Aviv University reveals how plasmids - small circular DNA fragments - neutralize bacterial defense mechanisms. It opens a door to combating antibiotic resistance. Plasmids could also break down pollutants, fix carbon dioxide, and improve gut bacteria.
https://en-lifesci.tau.ac.il/news/foreign_dna/news/sbcr https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07994-w
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07994-w
Milk fat is good for you. Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Israel’s Agriculture Research Organization have discovered that the fat globules in milk deliver beneficial pro-biotic bacteria and prevent the formation of harmful bacteria. The finding can lead to better infant milk and healthy milk products.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-research-reveals-new-possibilities-for-custom-dairy-products-to-boost-gut-health/ https://en.huji.ac.il/news/small-milk-fat-globules-promote-good-bacteria-study-reveals
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996924007506
Miracles at Schneider. In 2024, Israel’s Schneider Children's Medical Center treated 55,000 children in its Emergency Rooms; 1,500 in intensive care; 874 babies in neonatal intensive care; six children received a new heart; 39 had organ transplants; 60 had cochlear implants; plus 3,000+ dialysis and 270,000+ outpatient visits.
https://www.fos.org.il/en/donate (Israelis) https://chaischneider.org/donate/ (USA)
https://system.smartgiving.org.uk/charities/8530/make-donation (UK)
Distinguished investigator. Ben Gurion University Prof Assaf Zaritsky has been honored with a 2024 Allen Distinguished Investigator Award. It includes $1.5 million for a project exploring how cellular structures called organelles form dynamic networks during the process of stem cell differentiation into neurons.
https://www.bgu.ac.il/en/news-and-articles/zaritsky-allen-distinguished-investigators-award/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Race for inclusion. 400+ North American young Jewish leaders participated in ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran’s third “Race for Inclusion,” a celebration of ability at every level. Gap-year and college students were joined at the Negev village finish line by ADI patients, and raised more than $23,000 for post-trauma treatments.
https://www.jns.org/wire/adis-third-race-for-inclusion-ignites-hope-in-the-negev/
Cognitive potential for individuals with Down syndrome. A new study by Israeli researchers found that adults with Down Syndrome demonstrated higher cognitive performance compared to adolescents in many areas. It suggests the continued potential for learning and development into the mid-40s.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/400992
The most accessible website. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Wix.com earned the 2024 Web Almanac report’s “Most Accessible Website Platform CMS” and “Best SEO Performer”. It noted Wix's strong performance in key accessibility metrics compared to industry peers. Accessibility features include tools, templates and presets.
Druze support for Israel. (TY UWI) Afef Abed, a member of Israel’s Druze minority, officially took the Knesset seat vacated by Likud MK Yoav Gallant. He is the first Druze MK in the current government’s coalition. Meanwhile, the numbers of Golan Druze applying for Israeli citizenship has soared.
https://www.jns.org/afef-abed-takes-gallants-knesset-seat-becoming-first-druze-coalition-mk/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/taboo-no-more-one-in-five-golan-druze-now-holds-israeli-citizenship/
Reducing the number of animal road deaths. Thousands of wild animals are accidentally killed on roads in Israel each year. The organization Safe Wildlife Crossings aims to restore wildlife populations by improving the connectivity for wildlife to traverse between habitats and reducing roadkill.
https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/rkkpwdpsyl
https://www.safewildlifecrossings.com/en
Former UK defense chief praises Israel. Former UK Chief of the Defence Staff, General (Retd.) Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter, said that Western armies learned a lot from Israel, especially in 1967 and 1973. It was very important that UK and Israeli militaries work together and train together.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-weve-all-gained-from-israels-experience-1001497981
Training campus student leaders. Some 40 pro-Israel student leaders from 30 North American universities arrived recently in the Jewish state as part of an initiative sponsored by Hasbara Fellowships with IsraelAmbassadors.com. They gained tools and inspiration, to educate, combat hate and safeguard students.
https://www.jns.org/student-leaders-arrive-in-israel-to-participate-in-campus-advocacy-training/
1,500-year-old monastery discovered. A 1,500-year-old Byzantine monastery is being unearthed near Kiryat Gat in southern Israel. It features a unique mosaic with a Greek inscription from Deuteronomy 28:6, Findings include a sophisticated winepress, coins, marble, metal and glass vessels, and a great quantity of imported ware.
https://worldisraelnews.com/ancient-monastery-uncovered-in-southern-israel/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRKBQhVVytM
Lost and found. A 10-year-old Israeli boy out on a school trip in Jerusalem unearthed a cross medallion between 100 and 200 years old. He found it in the city’s southwestern Ein Karem neighborhood, a venue venerated by Christians as the birthplace of John the Baptist. It was crafted using a micro-mosaic technique.
https://www.jns.org/10-year-old-boy-finds-century-old-cross-medallion-in-jerusalem/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umJvjEjHh8k
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Lasers for communication. An open-space laser communication system for the high-speed transfer of data won first place at Jerusalem College of Technology’s ninth annual “Great Minds Hackathon,”. It can solve situations such as massive events like music festivals, where cellular towers are overwhelmed by user demand.
https://www.jns.org/wire/open-space-laser-communication-system-wins-top-prize-at-tech-hackathon/
Lasers for farms. KKL-JNF Jewish National Fund is developing the world’s first laser-based “chaser” to keep tens of thousands of migrating gray cranes from decimating farmers’ fields. A camera and AI detects the birds and a laser beam “chases” the cranes away without harming them. It aims to be ready for Oct 2025’s migration.
Smart hoses to scare the birds. Our feathered friends are also a nuisance around fish ponds and solar farms. Israel’s Nobify has created an advanced array of sensors linked to a network of hoses suspended over fish farms and floating solar panels arrays. An AI-powered detection platform detects birds and activates the nearest hoses.
https://www.israel21c.org/can-smart-hoses-save-fish-farms-from-feathered-foes/ https://www.nobify.ai/
Protecting biodiversity. KKL-JNF has launched a conservation operation to save rare plants at risk due to urban expansion near Israel’s Kiryat Gat Forest. Seeds and bulbs will be replanted and monitored in the protected environment of nearby Plugot Forest, which is a safe distance from future development.
https://www.israel21c.org/endangered-israeli-plants-find-new-home-in-urgent-rescue-op/
AI in the IDF. The Israeli Defense Ministry has announced a new AI and Autonomy Administration, tasked with leading the research, development and acquisition of artificial intelligence and autonomous capabilities for all branches of the IDF. It will unite stakeholders from academia, the IDF, startups and the defense industry.
https://www.jns.org/israels-new-ai-initiative-is-set-to-enhance-its-military-edge/
TV reporter uses AI to speak. Israeli Channel 12’s Moshe Nussbaum has ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) which distorts his natural voice. But using AI technology and an avatar (digital twin) he could make a comeback. For some strange reason Channel 12 wouldn’t name the system, but readers may guess it is Israel’s D-ID (see here).
https://apnews.com/article/israel-news-ai-voice-technology-text-speech-als-9a207784f0fe0287a25aa80256c50102 https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2025/Jan/08/israeli-tv-reporter-regains-his-ability-to-speak-with-the-help-of-ai
Automating engineering design. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s bananaz brings AI to R&D design, with tools for engineering teams to eliminate inefficiencies of traditional design workflows and save time and money across the production process. It automates processes such as design validation, change tracking, and error detection.
https://www.bananaz.ai/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bk9x8thx1x
Max Planck Society opens Jerusalem office. (TY Atid-EDI) The Max Planck Society’s new office in Jerusalem aims to strengthen scientific partnerships between Israel and Germany. It will serve as a crucial hub for maintaining and expanding connections between the Max Planck Society (see here) and Israeli researchers.
https://www.mpg.de/23817894/max-planck-society-opens-office-in-israel
The first off-grid apartment. (TY Hazel) A Tel Aviv apartment building is Israel’s first to use a solar battery and hybrid converter to sell energy to the grid and run shared building facilities in power outages. It is part of “Sun for Everyone” - a joint project of the Israeli Energy Forum, KKL-JNF and Israel’s Energy Ministry.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-tel-aviv-apartment-building-turns-to-solar-energy-storage-for-emergency-use/ https://sunforeveryone.org/
Flame retardant technology breakthrough. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel Chemicals Ltd (ICL – see here previously) has launched VeriQuel R100, an innovative, phosphorus-based flame retardant designed for insulation products, such as those used for over 70% of commercial roofs. It is more sustainable than traditional retardants.
Cool solution to fresh produce. Israel’s Natural Offset Farming (NOF – see here previously) has developed a device to cool all fruits and vegetables immediately after harvesting, killing pathogens and increasing shelf life. The NOF Cooling device is small, portable, and doesn’t rely on electricity.
https://www.israel21c.org/farms-cut-food-loss-with-innovative-cooling-device/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Inflation rate falls. Israel’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 0.4% in Nov, more than analysts expected. Israel’s annual inflation rate for the 12 months to Nov fell to 3.4% from 3.5% in Oct. mostly due to decreases in the price of fresh fruit and vegetables. Meanwhile, Israel’s reserves of foreign currency rose by over $1 billion.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-november-cpi-fell-further-than-expected-1001496854
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israels-forex-reserves-back-on-the-rise-1001496316
Foreign investors bet strong on Israeli tech. OurCrowd founder and CEO Jon Medved gave an upbeat assessment on how foreign markets are reacting to Israel’s ongoing war and the impending change of American leadership. He expected Israel to outperform its global peers in cybersecurity and defense technology.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hjq1etdl1e
Israeli stars on Wall Street. (TY Nevet) 12 Israeli companies, or companies with a connection to Israel, rose by more than 100% on the Nasdaq index during 2024. They include Eco Wave Power (+1,050%), Allot (187%), Hippo (175%), Beamr Imaging (154%), TAT (149%), Lemonade (143%), Teva, and NovoCure.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-834747
Eilat to Athens flights to resume. From Feb 7, Israeli airline Israir is to operate twice-weekly direct flights between Athens and Israel’s Ramon airport, 11 miles north of Eilat. It is expected to add additional routes to Europe, taking tourists straight to the Red Sea resort city without flying via Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport.
https://www.jns.org/international-flights-from-israels-ramon-airport-to-restart-next-month/
Autonomous buses in South Korea. Israel’s Foresight (see here previously) is to develop advanced 3D perception solutions for South Korea’s Bumhan Motors to build semi- and fully autonomous electric buses. They will be required to operate in various conditions, including harsh weather and poor lighting.
Nvidia partners Arbe Robotics. Israel’s Arbe Robotics (see here previously) has announced that it will integrate its ultra-high-definition perception radar with Nvidia's DRIVE AGX platform, a high-performance AI computing system for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles. Arbe’s share price rose significantly.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bylieuf8yx
Exits, mergers & acquisitions – to 12/1/25: Israeli private equity firm Adam Partners is to buy Israeli drip irrigation company Metzerplas . It will pay NIS 206 million for 75% of Metzerplas. Israel’s Lusha is acquiring Israeli behavioral intelligence platform developer Novacy for an estimated several million dollars. Japan’s Kaneka has acquired Israel’s Endostream Medical for an estimated $100 million.
Startup investment – to 12/1/25: PrettyDamnQuick raised $25 million; Jones Agency raised $15 million; Fermata raised $10 million; bananaz raised $5.3 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Hula Valley nature reserve re-opens. Detailed report about the re-opening of the Hula Valley nature reserve (see here previously). https://www.jns.org/hula-valley-nature-reserve-reopens-to-visitors-after-wartime-closure/
Avdija soars in Portland. Israeli NBA basketball player Deni Avdija (24) is experiencing a career surge in the Pacific Northwest after being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. He was a finalist for December Player of the Month in the Western Conference, averaging 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-nba-sensation-deni-avdijas-career-soars-in-portland/
Israeli helps Vermont win first championship. (TY Nevet) Israel’s Yaniv Bazini scored 14 goals for the University of Vermont’s Division I soccer team this season, making him one of the top scorers in the entire country and propelling Vermont to its first championship. He clutched an Israeli flag as he lifted up the trophy.
THE JEWISH STATE
Device helps amputees put on tefillin. (TY Ron M) ALYN Hospital and Sheba Medical Center have developed a device enabling amputees to put on tefillin independently. It is already helping injured soldiers, restoring dignity and accessibility. “It gave me back my independence,” said one user.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1gevz7ujg
From Jerusalem to Japan. Israel’s Foreign Ministry is to fly a stone from the Western Wall to the upcoming 2025 World Expo to be held in Osaka (Apr to Oct). Israel Antiques Authority representatives will assist with its (temporary) removal. Five years ago a stone from the Kotel was transported to a US exposition.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-836770
New beginnings on Jerusalem streets. (TY Sharon) Israel’s capital city was full of Chanukah, construction and color, to welcome 2025. Thanks, Sharon, for including a link to VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
https://rjstreets.com/2025/01/05/january-2025-hanukkah-and-new-beginnings-in-jerusalem/
Don’t let the light go out. Peter Yarrow, the Jewish member of the 60’s folk group Peter, Paul & Mary, passed away last week at the age of 86. Remember “If I had a hammer”, “Where have all the flowers gone?” and “Puff the magic dragon”? Peter’s “Light one candle” recalls the Maccabees Chanukah fight to preserve Judaism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1cRXgDFiSs https://www.peteryarrow.net/bio (see awards)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu_rItLPTXc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z15pxWUXvLY
250105
In the 5th Jan 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l Numerous technical advances in Israeli rehabilitation therapy during the war.
l Two major Israeli breakthroughs in cancer treatment.
l Israel spends millions on technical and Hebrew skills for its Arab citizens.
l Israeli eye doctors restored the sight of hundreds of Ethiopians.
l Israel and the US team-up on cyber training and cleantech projects.
l Low cost airline Wizz Air, and 5 others, resume services to Israel.
l Israeli actress Gal Gadot had brain surgery when 8 months’ pregnant.
l Israeli archaeologists unearthed ancient artifacts linked to Chanukah.
· Click here to see the 29th Dec newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen. Also (TY Sandra) for translating it into German here, and Hebrew here, and with (TY) Claude into French here. Also (TY Barbara) into Spanish here. Please forward this newsletter to German-speaking, Spanish-speaking, French-speaking and Hebrew-speaking contacts. Also please visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/verygoodnewsIL.
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POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Medical advances from the war. The New York Post describes many of Israel’s rehabilitating innovations created as a direct result of the war with Hamas and Hezbollah. It focuses on Israeli reservist and New York native Aaron Bours who was shot in both legs but is now well on the road to recovery.
IDF enlistment rates increase. (TY Yanky) IDF figures show high motivation among recruits, with a high Nov-Dec enlistment rate for combat roles. The number of women joining combat roles rose 28%, attributed in part to a gender-specific unit in field intelligence and a new female infantry mobility training track.
David’s Brigade. (TY Yanky) The IDF is forming the David Brigades - a reserve division for troops aged 38-58. It will comprise five brigades totalling 15,000 soldiers that will strengthen border defenses. Most of the reservists are volunteers with extensive experience gained during both their military service and civilian lives.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b14ezrkr1l
Frequent flier points to IDF reservists. (TY Aubrey) El Al is honoring IDF reservists who have served 100 days or more since Oct. 7, 2023 with 100 frequent flyer points for each day of their reserve duty. El Al has already distributed more than 20,000 free flight tickets to reserve IDF soldiers.
Three new ambulances for Samaria. Three new bullet-proof ambulances have been donated to Magen David Adom (MDA) for deployment in Samaria communities. Two were donated by the Akiva Fund in Switzerland while the third was donated by the Samaritans Purse organization in memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/401251
IDF helps 127 Gazan patients get overseas care. In the last week, Israel facilitated the transfer of 127 Gazan patients, mostly children, to the United Arab Emirates. In recent months, Israel has allowed 1,055 patients and caregivers, to pass through the Kerem Shalom Crossing for treatment in 13 countries.
What was good about 2024? Israel21c summarized the positive side of last year. Volunteering, humanitarian aid, rebuilding the south, recovery in the north, air defense, Air Haifa, Olympic medals, Eurovision, medical research, science awards, cybertech, AI, emergency response, wave energy, quantum computing, and more.
https://www.israel21c.org/reasons-to-be-hopeful/
What happened in 2024? Good news can be extracted from this Israel Hayom summary of 2024. Aliya surge, Argentine hostages rescued, swimming medal in Doha, top Pizza restaurants, 1st response to Iran, Eurovision, 4 hostages rescued, Haniyeh, Olympic gold, pagers, Nasrallah, Sinwar, 2nd response to Iran, ceasefire & Syria.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/12/31/its-a-wrap-2024-feature/
Soldier rescues dog from Gaza. For the past three months, Tal, a convoy driver in the IDF Paratroopers Brigade has been raising Chiquita, a friendly rottweiler dog he rescued from Gaza. Tal paid for Chiquita to be vaccinated, neutered and kept in kennels for eight months until he finished reserve duty.
https://www.jns.org/soldier-rescues-dog-from-gaza/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Dual cancer therapy nanoparticles. (TY WIN) Tel Aviv University researchers have developed bio-degradable nanoparticles to simultaneously deliver two chemicals to tumors that express the P-Selectin protein. The dual combination needs to arrive at the same time to be most effective.
https://tps.co.il/articles/hope-for-cancer-patients-israeli-european-team-unveils-innovative-dual-drug-nanoparticle-therapy/ https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.adr4762
Cancer therapy targets a “bad” enzyme. Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel’s Weizmann Institute and the University of Tokyo have created the peptide D’20 that targets and inhibits an enzyme called Matrix Metallopeptidase 7 (MMP7). MMP7 helps cancer cells invade surrounding tissues.
How cells define their identity. (TY TPS) Researchers from Jerusalem's Hebrew University and Edinburgh University, Scotland, uncovered how critical proteins, called transcription factors (TFs), define cellular identity. It raises the possibility of converting skin cells into heart cells, or insulin-producing cells to cure diabetes.
https://phys.org/news/2024-12-reveals-transcription-factors-dna-architecture.html
The benefits of intermittent fasting. A study led by Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Dr. Ido Goldstein has discovered that repeated fasting (e.g. on alternate days) triggers a cellular memory mechanism in the liver, improving its response to future fasting events, offering new insights into metabolic regulation.
https://www.israel21c.org/scientists-decode-health-benefits-behind-intermittent-fasting/
https://academic.oup.com/nar/advance-article/doi/10.1093/nar/gkae1161/7915244?login=false
EU approval for CBC device. (TY Atid-EDI) PixCell Medical (see here previously) has achieved EU certification for its HemoScreen Complete Blood Count (CBC) analyzer. It is the first such device to pass the new, strict, European In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation (IVDR). It already is US-approved.
https://www.pixcell-medical.com/news/hemoscreen-cbc-ivdr-certification/
“Digital Pharmacist” for the UK. (TY Atid-EDI) The UK Government’s G-Cloud 14 framework now includes the clinical decision-support software platform from Israel’s Seegnal eHealth (see here previously). UK NHS trusts, hospitals, and clinics can now easily procure Seegnal's "Virtual Digital Pharmacist".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDkjr4c5yeg
EU funds Schizophrenia research. A consortium led by Prof. Hossam Haick of Israel’s Technion Institute has secured an eight million Euros grant from the European Union, for early diagnosis and monitoring of schizophrenia. The VOLABIOS project will analyze biomarkers derived from various sources in the body.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/2024/12/towards-early-diagnosis-of-schizophrenia/
Predicting emergencies. Israel’s United Hatzalah first responder organization has implemented an Artificial Intelligence system developed by the IDF 8200 intelligence unit. It analyzes 18 years of historical emergency data and in trials has achieved a 85% accuracy rate in predicting locations and times of emergency events.
https://www.israel21c.org/using-ai-to-predict-where-and-when-medical-crises-may-occur/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
10 million. Now it’s official (see here previously). Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics has confirmed that Israel's population numbers approximately 10.027 million. 21% (2.1 million) are Arabs.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/401584
Accelerating Arab tech in Jerusalem. Israel’s Innovation Authority is providing $2.7 million over 5 years for Jinnovate, Jerusalem’s first Arab sector health-tech accelerator, currently supporting a portfolio of 14 early-stage startups. Jinnovate was launched by Mahmoud Khweis, founder of Arab IT training company Techlinic.
https://www.israel21c.org/new-accelerator-fosters-innovation-in-arab-society/
https://jinnovate.tech/ https://techlinic.com/
$200 million for Arabs to improve Hebrew skills. The Israeli government is to advance Hebrew language proficiency among Arabic speakers, with a budget allocation of NIS 744 million ($202 million). Its aims include to foster social integration, boost employment prospects, and reduce crime in Arab communities.
https://www.jns.org/israel-spending-202-million-on-improving-arabs-hebrew-skills/
35 new Haredi police officers. A group of former yeshivah students have completed a three-month training course (the sixth in 2024) to become certified members of the Israel Police. About 150 to 200 haredi men currently serve with another 50 slated to join a new police training course that begins in January.
https://www.jns.org/35-haredi-men-become-israeli-police-officers/
4 years of Abraham Accords. Some 100 U.S. leaders met in the U.S. Capitol to celebrate the 4th anniversary of the Abraham Accords, signed in the fall of 2020, which initiated the normalization of Israeli relations with several Arab countries. There are 28 daily flights to the UAE from Tel Aviv. (See write-up of our recent trip.)
https://www.jns.org/one-democrat-many-gop-complaints-at-capitol-event-marking-abraham-accords-anniversary/ https://israelseen.com/lynette-ordman-our-trip-to-dubai-was-quite-overwhelming-wow/
Floyd does it again. Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather donated $1 million to Israeli emergency NGO United Hatzalah (UH) at their Miami Gala. Floyd also gifted a UH logo-shaped diamond necklace to philanthropist Dr. Miriam Adelson, in recognition of her unwavering support for Israel. The event raised a total of $14 million.
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-floyd-mayweather-donates-1-million-to-united-hatzalah/
Global village. The World Zionist Village in Beersheva was the focus of talks at the JNF-USA Global Conference for Israel (see here previously). Watch Col Richard Kemp as he revealed he met a British soldier who had been blown up in Afghanistan and was saved thanks to an Israeli-developed blood-clotting agent.
https://worldzionistvillage.org/newsletter
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL1Tw9k_VE2SEq1T2R7JfIorVEUUbVKFO
Restoring sight in Ethiopia. (TY Ron M) A team of 15 Israeli medics have just completed their latest mission to Ethiopia where they treated nearly 1,000 patients, restoring sight to hundreds. They also restored the eyesight of over 500 blind people with cataracts, distributed canes to a school for the Blind, and spectacles to others.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-835776
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Israeli ag-tech on show in Michigan. Five Israeli agriculture technology companies exhibited to 5,000+ attendees at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They were Agam Greenhouse Energy Systems, CropX, NESS Fertigation, Robotic Perception and TierraSpec.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-agricultural-companies-present-tech-at-michigan-farm-expo/
5 new joint US-Israeli cleantech projects. The US and Israeli governments (via BIRD Energy) has awarded a total of $7.5 million to five joint US-Israel cleantech projects. The Israeli startups involved are Lucy Borchard Shipping (hydrogen-diesel engines), Nitrofix, OASIX Energy, Phinergy, and Plasticback (PVC recycling).
https://www.lubor.co.il/ https://www.plastic-back.com/
CYBERDOME. The annual joint Israeli-US cyber defense exercise, “CYBERDOME IX,” was conducted by the U.S. Cyber Command and the IDF’s J6 and Cyber Defense Directorate and Intelligence Directorate. It included battlefield simulations that tested both offensive and defensive strategies.
https://www.jns.org/israel-and-us-conclude-joint-cyber-defense-exercise/
Better wind turbines. (TY Atid-EDI) Louisiana's Gulf Wind Technology is using technology from Israel’s Stratasys to improve the efficiency of designing its wind turbines. Stratasys’s Neo® stereolithography (SLA) technology reduced the design and fabrication cycle for wind tunnel models from 30 - 40 days to just 3 - 4 days.
https://investors.stratasys.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/920/gulf-wind-technology-leverages-stratasys-3d-printing-to https://www.stratasys.com/en/resources/case-studies/gulf-wind-technology/
Fighting crime in North America. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Cognyte Software (see here previously) has received an additional follow-on order totaling over $2 million, from a leading North American law enforcement agency. Cognyte’s technology ensures the safety of communities across a wide geographic region.
Innovative water technology. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Plas-Fit - Tavlit manufactures high performance water filters, sprinklers, and (via its Terranos subsidiary) implements irrigation systems for agriculture in South America and Africa. https://israelagri.com/smart-efficient-and-built-to-last-just-what-your-system-needs/
Super-sensitive hearing. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Silynxcom (see here previously) has launched its latest product that detects distinct and potentially life-threatening drone humming, while simultaneously maintaining hearing protection in high-noise environments.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
4th best pension program. (TY Laura B) Israel ranked 4th of 48 countries for quality of retirement income systems, according to the 2024 Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index. Netherlands, Iceland, Denmark and Israel all had overall scores above 80. The average of all countries analyzed was 63.4. The U.S. scored 60.4.
https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/economy/countries-with-better-pensions-than-united-states-according-to-experts/ https://www.mercer.com/en-us/insights/investments/market-outlook-and-trends/mercer-cfa-global-pension-index/
Six airlines resume flights. (TY Yanky) Six airlines are resuming their services to Tel Aviv: Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air, Romanian low-cost airline Biz, Polish airline Lot, Spanish carrier Air Europe, Air Baltic; and Bulgaria Air. Biz began its inaugural Israel route in August.
https://www.jns.org/six-airlines-resuming-service-to-israel/
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-six-airlines-to-resume-israel-flights-over-next-week-1001496951
16.000 Indian construction workers. 16,000 workers have come from India to work in Israel’s building sector over the past year – and Israel has plans to bring thousands more. Indian workers often can make three times what they would back in India. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241230-indian-workers-replace-palestinians-in-israel-s-building-sector
Vegan meat in LA and NYC. The cultured, non-GMO soy protein-based products of Israel’s Chunk Foods (see here previously) are now available in independent grocers in Los Angeles and New York City. Chunk Foods won Plant Based Meat Product of the Year at the Fourth Annual AgTech Breakthrough Awards.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-plant-based-meat-comes-to-us-retailers/
IAI accelerates three more US startups. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel Aerospace Industries has selected three US technology startups (Dalus, Lola Vision & Nefeli Air) for its second North American CATALYST program.
$10 billion raised in 2024. Israeli high-tech companies raised $9.58 billion in 2024 across 443 fundraising rounds. This marks a 38% increase in capital raised and a 13% increase in the number of rounds compared to 2023 when $6.9 billion was raised. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1nydncsjl
Exits, mergers & acquisitions – to 5/1/25: Israel’s Nova has acquired Germany’s Sentronics Metrology for approximately $60 million.
Startup investment – to 5/1/25: Atlas Invest raised $11 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Israeli art exhibited in Miami. An exhibition in Miami titled HOME | LAND features works from 40-plus classic and contemporary Israeli artists. 120+ pieces in a mix of media, including paintings, sculptures, prints, textiles, digital art and photography provide a multifaceted view of the landscape of the Jewish state.
Ben Gurion’s artifacts auctioned. Israel’s Benetivei Udi non-profit and Curio Auctions have been auctioning artifacts belonging to David Ben Gurion – Israel’s first Prime Minister. Proceeds will help build Beit Udi a center for the Nitzanim program - providing tech training for thousands of youths from the Negev and Galilee.
https://www.jns.org/wire/auction-features-historic-artifacts-from-israels-first-prime-minister/
https://www.curioauctions.com/beitudi-auction
“10 Commandments” tablet fetches $5 million. A tablet purporting to date from 300 - 800 CE and containing the Samaritan version of the biblical Ten Commandments, sold for $5.04 million at a Sotheby's auction. The buyer is anonymous and the tablet will be housed in an Israeli museum.
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/archaeology-around-the-world/article-834246
https://www.jns.org/samaritan-ten-commandments-tablet-sells-for-5m/
Colors and candles in Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) Chanukah lights brightened Jerusalem streets, to end 2024.
https://rjstreets.com/2024/12/29/in-jerusalem-the-year-ends-with-colors-and-candles/
European Hotelier of the Year. (TY Yanky) David Fattal, founder and CEO of the Fattal Group, is the first Israeli to win a Grand Prix award in the European Hotelier of the Year category at the 2024 Hospitality Awards in Paris. Fattal owns the Fattal and Leonardo hotel chains. The French Minister of Tourism presented the award.
Gal Gadot’s surgery. Last week’s newsletter featured Moriel Indek who had a tumor removed from her brain while she was pregnant (see here previously). Israeli actress Gal Gadot has just revealed that she had brain surgery to remove a blood clot in February when she was eight months pregnant with her fourth daughter.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/401497
THE JEWISH STATE
Chanukah miracle – policewoman wakes up. Hadassah Medical Center announces a major improvement in the condition of policewoman Hodaya Halperin, who was shot in the head about a month ago in Pisgat Ze’ev (see here). She has regained full consciousness and is communicating with her family and the medical staff.
Chanukah menorah from rocket parts. Israeli police constructed a unique Chanukah menorah from pieces of rockets fired into Israel by Hezbollah over the last year. The symbolic project, dubbed “Lighting up the North,” was carried out by two police sappers who defused thousands of rockets, missiles and drones.
https://www.jns.org/israel-police-sappers-make-chanukah-menorah-from-hezbollah-rockets/
https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-police-sappers-make-chanukah-menorah-from-hezbollah-rockets/
The largest Chanukiah. The largest Hanukkah menorah in the world cannot be lit. It is made of 25,000 balloons and stands in Schneider Children's Medical Center in Petach Tikva. It was constructed by a team of 100 volunteers from the Tikva Umarpe organization, and a rappelling crew.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/401338
Hasmonean King’s treasure unearthed. A hoard of coins which once belonged to the Hasmonean King Alexander Jannaeus (103 – 76 BCE) was discovered in Israel’s Jordan Valley on the second day of Hanukkah. Alexander Jannaeus was the great-nephew of Judah Maccabee.
More Chanukah articles. A rare 1,700-year-old oil lamp has been discovered, depicting the Temple menorah. Other articles include six other Chanukah-related archeological discoveries, and a Chanukah tour of Jerusalem.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/401327
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_-TU9kgSoE
Birthright celebrates 25 years. Birthright Israel marks its 25th anniversary by bringing 6,500 participants this winter to support the recovery of Israel’s tourism sector. More than 300 international groups will engage in volunteer programs and diverse internships across Israel.
https://www.jns.org/birthright-celebrates-25th-anniversary/
