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.
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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.
How to help Israel. Here are some sites where newsletter readers can donate to Israeli organizations that provide vital help to Israelis at this difficult time. Many thanks to those who have already contributed and to those who are helping by donating their own valuable time and resources.
Friends of the IDF (US donors): https://www.fidf.org/
or IDF Soldiers Fund in Israel: https://www.ufis.org.il/en/donation-en/ (select the English speakers’ option)
American Friends of Magen David Adom (US donors): https://afmda.org/
or Magen David Adom (Israel): https://www.mdais.org/en/donation
Zaka (US donors): https://donate.zakatelaviv.org/give/525578/ or (Israeli donors): https://charidy.com/zaka
or (Canadian donors): https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/bellevue-foundation/
United Hatzalah: https://israelrescue.org/campaign/israel-at-war-2/ or Canada https://www.uhcanada.org/
Donate a medic bag, save a life https://israelrescue.org/campaign/medicbag/
Leket Food Israel: https://www.leket.org/en/
JNF USA - https://my.jnf.org/gaza-emergency/Donate or Canada https://jnf.ca/
Orthodox Union - https://www.charidy.com/ouisraelcrisis
Schneider Children’s Hospital: https://www.fos.org.il/en/donate (Israelis)
https://system.smartgiving.org.uk/charities/8530/make-donation (UK)
https://chaischneider.org/donate/ (USA)
Rambam Medical Center (Haifa) https://aforam.org/ways-to-give/ (US)
https://www.rambam.org.il/en/support_rambam/donate_now/ (Rest of the World)
Hadassah Hospital Israel: https://www.hadassah.org/
Laniado Hospital (Netanya) https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/EmergencyLaniado
Buy Israel Bonds to support the Jewish State. (TY Larry B)
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/state-of-israel-bonds
USA - https://www.israelbonds.com/
Europe - https://israelbondsintl.com/
Canada - https://www.israelbonds.ca/
