In the 23rd Nov 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l Read about the bravery and resilience of Israeli ex-hostages.
l Israeli researchers have found a remedy that can reverse ALS.
l World’s first robotic abdominal surgery on a 32-week pregnant woman.
l Israel’s Save A Child’s Heart is training doctors throughout Africa.
l Israel is still working at the leading edge of water technology.
l Major investment to boost development of Israel’s Negev region.
l Ex-hostage, with a patch over one eye gives amazing TV piano performance.
l Bereaved Rabbi Doron Perez is elected chairman of World Zionist Organization.
· Click here to see the 16th Nov newsletter on (TY Steve) IsraelSeen, (TY Ruth) Ruthfully Yours, and (TY Peloni) IsraPundit. Also TY Barbara for translating the newsletter into Spanish here TY Colin for translating it into German here and into French here and into Hebrew here. Please forward this newsletter to Spanish-speaking, German-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
Forest for the fallen. Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund has dedicated the “Iron Swords Forest” in memory of all soldiers and civilians who were killed on 7 Oct 2023 or during the subsequent war. Each bereaved family is invited to plant a tree at the 367 dunams (90 acres) forest at Khirbet Mador, southern Israel.
Eden is promoted. Israeli-American Edan Alexander, held hostage in Gaza for 584 days, has been promoted to the rank of Sgt. First Class. The Golani Brigade IDF lone soldier vowed to resume his military service.
https://www.jns.org/former-hostage-edan-alexander-given-promotion-by-idf/
Former hostage plays Hatikvah in Berlin. At the 38th Jüdische Kulturtage in Berlin, Agam Berger - an Israeli soldier who survived 482 days in Hamas captivity - delivered a haunting violin performance of “Hatikvah,” a quiet display of endurance, dignity, and unbroken hope.
Hostage families open Tel Aviv Fashion Week. Tel Aviv Fashion Week returned after a two-year gap, with former hostage, Eli Sharabi, plus relatives of other freed captives, striding down the runway. The crowd erupted in cheers as Sharabi - decked out in a white suit - appeared among the models.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/released-hostage-and-relatives-of-ex-captives-walk-runway-at-tel-aviv-fashion-week/ https://www.jns.org/freed-hostages-open-fashion-week-in-tel-aviv/
“Lights out” at hostage recovery units. (TY Yanky) Ex-hostage Evyatar David smiled as he formally turned the lights off in the Returning Hostages Recovery Unit at Israel’s Beilinson Medical Center. Evyatar, Avinatan Or, Guy Gilboa Dalal, Eitan Mor, and Alon Ohel - the unit’s last patients - were discharged last week.
Kfar Aza soccer team bounces back. The Shu’alei Kfar Aza soccer team are all 7 Oct 2023 survivors from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. They are travelling to Uruguay to play in the Masters Maccabiah Games, for older athletes. They represent resilience of Israelis who don’t have the luxury of knowing what it means to quit or lose.
https://www.jns.org/from-kfar-aza-to-uruguay-an-israeli-soccer-squad-bounces-back/
Eritrean hero settles down in Israel. 51-year-old Mulugeta Tsegay / Tsagi (see here previously) the Eritrean migrant who was granted Israeli residency for saving the life of IDF Lt. Col. Y on 7 Oct 2023, is now well on the way to obtaining Israeli citizenship. Read the brave actions of Mulugeta on that fateful day.
Foreign volunteers continue to help. Despite the Oct. 10 ceasefire, visitors from the US and around the world have not stopped coming to the Jewish state to offer a helping hand. They continue to feed soldiers, help displaced families, or clean up kibbutzim devastated by the Hamas attacks.
https://www.jns.org/volunteers-from-abroad-continue-to-serve-in-israel/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/israelvolunteer/
Argentine volunteers rebuild Israeli homes. A group of 30 young volunteers from Argentina joined the “Volunteer in Israel” Birthright initiative operated by Tlalim Group. They went to Moshav Avivim, on the Lebanese border, to rebuild the Hezbollah-destroyed home of elderly resident Shlomo Peretz.
https://www.jns.org/argentine-volunteers-help-rebuild-homes-and-hope-in-israel/
Emergency measures cancelled. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has cancelled emergency measures in the south that had been in place since Hamas’s Oct 7, 2023 invasion. The IDF can relax restrictions that imposed limits on gatherings and civilian movement. .https://www.jns.org/after-two-years-of-war-israeli-defense-minister-cancels-emergency-measures-in-israels-south/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
RNA therapy reverses ALS. (TY Ron M) Israeli researchers have discovered that ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) patients produce less microRNA-126 than normal individuals. This allows the protein TDP-43 to build up and destroy motor neurons. When microRNA-126 is added, the process reverses. Jon Medved now has ALS.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-world-first-israeli-scientists-use-rna-based-gene-therapy-to-stop-als-deterioration/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02062-6
Molecule to boost immune system. (TY Ron M) Despite the Iranians destroying their lab, an international team of Weizmann scientists have built MiTEs, or natural killer/T-cell Enhancers, to combat cancers. The MiTEs contain special antibiotics and cytokine to block the activity of harmful TREM2 macrophages
DNA test for tracking Leishmaniasis. (TY Nevet) Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have tracked how sandflies spread the parasitic disease Leishmaniasis (see here previously). Their HRM-PCR DNA test identifies the animals and humans that the insect has infected and can help control or prevent epidemics.
https://www.afhu.org/2025/11/12/cracking-leishmaniasis-new-dna-test-to-track-infection/
https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0013412
First 3D printed cornea tissue implant. (TY Nevet) Israel’s Precise Bio (see here previously) has reported the first successful human implantation of its 3D-printed cornea implant, constructed of functional human eye cells cultured in a laboratory. Israel’s Corneat has previously implanted synthetic corneas (see here previously).
Blurred vision mystery solved. Doctors at Haifa’s Rambam Health Care Campus solved a puzzling case of two 16-year- old Israelis who arrived with deteriorating vision and recurring fever. They had rappelled into a cave infested with ticks carrying Borrelia persica. Both are now recovering with antibiotic and steroid therapy.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-doctors-crack-mystery-behind-teens-sudden-vision-loss/
MedEx Canada. Nefesh B’Nefesh, in partnership with other Agencies, hosted the first-ever MedEx (Aliyah preparation for medics) events in Canada, alongside the Nefesh B’Nefesh’s signature “NBN On Tour” programming. The events attracted 500 participants. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/417909
Teva’s global innovation program. Teva is opening a call for startups in Israel and abroad as part of its new Rise program, offering full funding for pilots, rapid integration and support, in a move to accelerate therapy development and supply-chain efficiency. https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/ryambdhxwg
Robotic surgery on 32-week pregnant patient. (TY Aubrey) Doctors at Israel’s Rabin Medical Center have performed the world's first robotic-assisted keyhole intestinal surgery on a woman in advanced (32nd week of) pregnancy, saving having to open her abdomen. The baby went to full term and was delivered naturally.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/pregnancy-and-birth/article-873895
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Beautiful visit. Melanie Shiraz. “Miss Universe“ Israel, visited Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) at Sylvan Adams Children’s Hospital in Holon. She met children and trainee doctors from Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Zambia. She also visited the SACH Children’s Home where Israeli and overseas volunteers care for patients.
https://www.jns.org/wire/miss-universe-israel-melanie-shiraz-visits-save-a-childs-heart/
Hundreds of women celebrate in Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) Nearly 800 global Jewish women filled Kedma Hall in Neve Ilan for a gala celebration organized by Momentum (see here previously). It was titled “A Mother’s Heart: The Heart of a Nation.”
Albania joins Israel Allies Foundation. The Israel Allies Foundation (IAF) launched the Albanian Parliamentary Israel Allies Caucus at the Parliament of Albania in Tirana. The Muslim-majority country joins over 60 pro-Israel parliamentary groups, strengthening international support for the State of Israel.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/417625
So does Panama. Panama has launched a parliamentary Israel caucus in the latest fruition of faith-based diplomacy around the world. “The formation of the Israel Allies Caucus represents a significant step in strengthening the ties between Panama and Israel,” said Panamanian Deputy Manuel Cohen Salerno.
https://www.jns.org/panama-launches-parliamentary-israel-caucus/
Global honors at Yale debating championship. 15 students from Israel’s Ehad Ha’Am Middle School won 10 trophies and many gold medals at the World Scholar’s Cup finals at Yale University. Against some 2,500 competitors, they achieved 3rd place overall, plus 3rd in the Team Challenge. The Israeli flag flew prominently.
Shoulder-to-shoulder with Jamaica. The 30 Israeli medical professionals helping Jamaicans in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, went straight to the outlying hospitals treating injured patients. They have already saved lives and are receiving the gratitude of the local Jamaicans. https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/11/19/shoulder-to-shoulder-israeli-medical-delegation-assists-in-aftermath-of-devastating-hurricane-in-jamaica/
https://www.jns.org/people-in-jamaica-know-israel-is-here-jerusalem-med-center-head-says/
Washington State seniors can now get ElliQ. (TY OurCrowd) Seniors in Washington can now enjoy the benefits of the ElliQ Smart Care Companion (see here previously), now being offered by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services to Medicaid clients through its Roads to Community Living program.
https://kffm.com/ixp/1134/p/elliq-washington-seniors/
130 overseas officials learn from Israel. (TY Hazel) Israel hosted around 130 officials from foreign militaries to present lessons from the current war. They included USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, India, Morocco, Finland, Greece, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Estonia, Japan, , Serbia, and Slovenia.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-874378
Hundreds saved on flight from Australia. Former Mossad chief, Yossi Cohen, said Israel's intelligence-sharing saved hundreds from an attack on an Etihad plane about to take off from Sydney Australia. This was our intelligence, and what do we receive back from Australia?” Cohen asked.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/10/28/yossi-cohen-mossad-intelligence-sharing-australia/
https://www.jns.org/former-mossad-chief-the-bomb-was-on-its-way/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Majestic technology. Israel’s Majestic Labs has overcome the “memory wall” which is a common problem facing developers of AI systems. So much processing power is required, that data transfer rates slow down. Majestic’s solution is to balance memory, bandwidth and computational power in each integrated server.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hktmbi1lbe
https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/company_page/majestic-labs https://majestic-labs.ai/
Preventing digital shoplifting. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Chargeflow has launched Chargeflow Prevent, a first-of-its-kind post-purchase, pre-fulfillment fraud prevention platform designed to stop “friendly fraud” before it occurs. It protects merchants against customers who exploit chargeback policies (e.g. returns) to obtain refunds.
Cultured beef can keep on growing. Scientists at the Hebrew University, together with food-tech firm Believer Meats (see here previously) have succeeded in getting cow cells to renew themselves indefinitely without using genetic engineering. The cells were cultured for more than 500 days.
1 million+ water meters and sensors. Israel’s Arad Group, has deployed over one million active LoRa-based water meters and sensors across Israel. LoRa technology also supports smart parking systems, air-quality monitoring, soil humidity sensing, public lighting control, and even emergency alert buttons.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-874024
https://www.jpost.com/consumerism/consumer-news/article-837144 https://www.arad.co.il/
Pumped storage. So what does Israel do with all that electricity at night, when very few Israelis want to use it? Pump it uphill, is the answer. Until the morning when everyone boils water for their beverages. Then the pumped water facilities release the water to generate electricity from hydro-electric power.
https://www.auerbach-halevy-energy.com/project/pumped-storage-maale-gilboa/
Bringing water to the Negev. (TY IsraPundit) See how Israel turned its barren desert into fertile lands by constructing an artificial river system that flows through the heart of the Negev. A network of canals, pipelines, and reservoirs channels life–giving water deep into the desert. The video has had 1.3 million views in 10 days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdQxfrWhh2M
Innov’Nation. The bright side of AI. The 11th Nov 2025 edition of I24’s new Tuesday evening’s Innov’Nation program included Israel’s impact on AI; AI21 Labs Maestro and Jamba; PetPace; NVidia Israel; Carbyne; Xania Monet (an AI-generated singer); sit-coms; fridges; even Yad Vashem;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54DXz9RL36Y
Defending against deepfake attacks. Israel’s Multikol and Cyvore Security were featured on the 18th Nov I24 News Innov’Nation. Multikol protects individuals from being fooled by someone pretending to be you. Cyvore is used by companies to authenticate customers. https://multikol.ai/ https://cyvore.com/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Transforming the Negev. The Israeli government has allocated NIS 1 billion to develop Beersheba and the wider Negev region. It includes light rail, cyber, health services, R&D, education, sports, tourism, and urban renewal. Some 676,000 people live in the Beersheba metropolitan area.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-873251
No-cow milk to flow into Israeli cafes. Israel’s Remilk (see here previously) is partnering with Israel’s Gad Dairies to put its high-tech, non-dairy, lab produced milk, made from dairy proteins, in Israeli eateries in the coming days. A supermarket rollout is planned for early 2026.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/lab-grown-milk-set-to-start-pouring-into-israeli-dairy-aisles-cafes/
Israel’s got talent. Israel’s Island.io (see here previously) is opening a new research & development center in Ramat Hasharon. It will house some 50 employees, in addition to the 250 Island already has in Israel. Our success is built on Israeli talent, which we believe is the best in the world,” said founder Dan Amiga.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/s1ky00tp111x
Good buy. Since Israel’s Wix acquired Israeli natural-language coding specialist Base44, the number of users for the tiny startup has increased seven-fold to two million. Base44 is now expected to reach $50 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) by year-end. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sy194qsg11g
Peru buys Israeli armored vehicles. Peru is purchasing 56 “Sandcat EX12” multipurpose 4×4 armored vehicles for the National Police for around $23.8 million. They are manufactured by Kibbutz Sasa-based firm Plasan (see here previously). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xpd8fE1KxE
https://worldisraelnews.com/peru-to-buy-23-8-million-worth-armored-vehicles-from-israeli-firm/
Exits, takeovers, and mergers to 23rd Nov 25. US-based Itron Inc is acquiring Israel’s LocusView US-based Tulip is acquiring Israel’s Akooda, for tens of millions of dollars, which will become Tulip’s Israeli R&D center.
Startup investment – to 23rd Nov 25: Eon.io raised hundreds of millions (value $4 billion); Guardio raised $80 million; Venn raised $52 million; Chargeflow raised $35 million; Mate Security raised $15.5 million; Cassidy Bio raised $8 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT,
Israel Music Showcase. (TY Yanky) Music fans from 50 countries, including UAE, Morocco, New Zealand, Senegal, US, France, Germany, the UK, Canada, India, South Korea, Taiwan and China, are coming to Israel for the 6-day 2025 Israel Music Showcase Festival. They will enjoy jazz, rock, pop, electronic, and more.
https://2025.musicshowcaseil.com/program/
No funny business. Freed hostage Alon Ohel played the piano on Israel’s normally satirical comedy program Eretz Nehederet. But this was not a joking experience – Alon played ‘Under the Sky’ wearing a patch on his right eye due to untreated injuries he sustained on Oct 7 2023. And there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/freed-hostage-alon-ohel-plays-piano-on-eretz-nehederet/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAcGsa87Mt0
Inside the pack. (TY Yanky) Israel’s Amit Eshel had two images commended in the prestigious Nature Photographer of the Year competition. One featured arctic wolves on Ellesmere Island, Canada. Amit wanted to dispel irrational views of “hate” for the maligned creatures. (Maybe relevant for human to human behavior.)
https://www.amiteshel.com/blog/highly-commended-in-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-competition-2025 https://www.nhm.ac.uk/wpy/gallery/2023-life-on-the-edge
First snowfall on Mount Hermon. The first snow of the season fell on Mount Hermon in the Israeli Golan Heights, signaling the start of winter as storms swept across the country. It ended a record-setting heatwave, with the highest maximum temperatures ever for 1-10 Nov in the country’s hills and along the coastal plain.
https://www.jns.org/first-snow-falls-on-mount-hermon-in-israeli-golan-heights/
The Sportiada returns to Eilat. (TY Yanky) After a 3-year gap, the 41st Eilat Sportiada, one of the world's largest grassroots sports events, was described as “the most successful ever.” 10,000 athletes from hundreds of workplaces across Israel participated in the 3-day Games, featuring competitions in a wide range of sports.
https://eilat.city/en/info/sports-events-in-eilat
THE JEWISH STATE
Released hostage fulfils mother’s vow. Ex-hostage Matan Angrest, abducted from his tank on 7 Oct 2023 and released in the recent hostage deal, traveled to pray at the tomb of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes in Tiberias. His mother vowed that when he was freed, she would come with him to pray at the rabbi's tomb.
Rabbi Doron Perez is WZO Exec Director. The World Zionist Congress elected Rabbi Doron Perez and incumbent Yaakov Hagoel as rotating chairmen for the World Zionist Organization (WZO). Each will serve for half a term. Rabbi Perez’s son Captain Daniel Perez fell fighting Hamas terrorists in Gaza on 7 Oct 2023.
https://www.jns.org/doron-perez-elected-to-rotating-wzo-chairmanship/
Wine and beer? (TY Yanky) Jerusalem-based Shapira Brewery and the Bat Shlomo Winery have launched Vinobier. In a first-of-its-kind local version of an ancient genre, Vinobier is made by fermenting a blend of wine must (juice from grapes) and beer wort (unfermented beer). So what blessing should you say on it?
https://shapirobeer.co.il/beer/vinobier/
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.
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/
Magen David Adom UK: https://mdauk.org
USA: https://afmda.org/
Israel: https://www.mdais.org/en/donation
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
Help rebuild Soroka: https://www.soroka.org/
And Weizmann: https://weizmann-usa.org/
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/
