Part of the preparations for the Jewish New
Year involves an individual’s commitment to changing bad characteristics into
good ones. As I reflect on my personal
improvement plan, I am pleased to report that on a national and global level,
Israelis are definitely changing the world to the good with their innovations.
In the medical arena, many people find it
impossible to change their diet to resolve physical obesity. So students from
the Bio-design program of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have enforced a change
to the metabolism with a gastric sleeve that blocks food
absorption. Doctors insert the sleeve
down the throat and via the stomach to the duodenum, without surgery or anesthetic. Israel’s NI Medical will certainly change
the lives of cardiac patients. Following an agreement with Mobile
Medical Services, NI Medical’s Non-invasive Cardiac System (NICas) monitors will
be installed in nursing homes across the United States. The monitors will dramatically reduce the
number of unnecessary transfers to hospital.
Israeli biotech D-Pharm discovered that the
parasite transmitted diseases malaria and sleeping sickness cause changes in the
metal ions within brain cells. D-Pharm
has just announced that its revolutionary treatments are able to regulate
the disrupted ions and provide a totally new therapeutic solution to
these devastating diseases. But the
world will probably be more interested in the cosmetic
changes that Israel’s EndyMed can make to the faces of aging
women. The US Food and Drug
Administration has given its approval to EndyMed’s 3Deep treatment that applies
radio frequency energy to the skin in order to remove wrinkles.
Change the radio frequency to the visible
spectrum and you will find Israeli startup Gauzy, whose liquid crystal
technology allows “smart” glass to change from
transparent to opaque with just a touch. Too hot? Then touch the glass to block out the
sunlight. It will change the construction market
out of all recognition.
The recent launch of Israeli start-up
Lingua.ly will change
how we learn languages. Lingua.ly’s personal educational service
starts with a quiz and then it indexes the Internet, feeding you with
appropriately selected texts based on your vocabulary. But this is nothing compared to the changes
we will see arising from the Brain Computer Interface developments that Israel
is at the forefront of. Tel
Aviv’s Brainihack competition brings together neuroscientists, artists,
designers, robotics experts etc. to see who can build the best viable product
in one weekend.
As the Jewish Year 5773 comes to an end and
the rest of the Middle East implodes, there has been a marked change in how
Israel is viewed amongst the nations.
Not surprising, given Israel’s:
-
Regular discoveries of natural
gas off its coast. (Even Egypt
wants to buy some)
-
Advanced telecommunications. (Enhanced
by its launch of the Amos
4 satellite).
-
Expertise in water technology. (IDE
just sold another desalination
system to Asia)
-
Agro technology (Kinneret College has
developed a plant that survives
extended droughts)
Even Israel’s wine industry has become one
of the most respected of the New World.
Israel’s Golan Heights
Winery picked up another award, on the eve of its 30th
anniversary. And you need to see the changes Israel
is making to the Negev desert when planted with vineyards. What better location to get a really dry
wine. Or possibly even a “dessert”
wine?
Israel is certainly changing
perceptions amongst ordinary Arabs.
The families of Syrian
patients brought to Israeli hospitals for treatment suddenly realize
that everything they have been told by their leaders and media about the Jewish
State has been a lie. Meanwhile, five
Arab schools in East Jerusalem have decided
to change from the PA curriculum to the Israeli curriculum.
For a change, an Israeli won a
gold medal at the Judo World Championships when Yarden
Gerbi, from Netanya, won the women’s under-63 kg class. But Israel’s
soccer team did more in defeat to change
sporting attitudes towards Israel.
In the blistering cold and rain of the Ukraine, as the national anthems
were played, the Israelis removed their training jackets and shielded a group
of children lined up in front of them on the field.
To conclude, here are some thoughts for
those not already living in the Jewish State.
How about making plans to change
your place of residence in 5774?
For those not already married, there is even a new Nefesh b’Nefesh
on-line dating site for Aliya-minded individuals to “share their love of
Israel”. For the health conscious,
Bloomberg has just confirmed that Israel has the fourth
best healthcare system in the world, only surpassed by Hong Kong,
Singapore and Japan. The UK came 14th and the USA 46th.
Finally, for those who cannot make the
move, please continue to support the Jewish State whenever you can. If you wish to make a change in 5774, then
this article
by P. David Hornick may initiate it. He asks “Why is Israel so bad at
public relations?” His conclusion is, that no matter how much effort and money
Israel spends on defending itself, those that hate us will always hate us. Far better then to publicize all the good
things that Israel does, to those willing to listen.
Or, as I would put it ….
“Change the conversation.”
Michael Ordman writes a free weekly
newsletter containing Good News stories about Israel.
For a free subscription, email a request to
michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
