GOOD NEWS FROM AMAZING ISRAEL: MICHAEL ORDMAN
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Putting the spring back in broken hearts. Tel Aviv University scientists have manufactured cardiac tissue from spring-shaped fibers. The elastic tissue mimics the expanding and contracting heart and is more suitable for transplants than tissue made from straight fibers.
A diet just for you. Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science has launched The Personalized Nutrition Project. Over the course of ten days, local volunteers will have their glucose intake and absorption monitored. Using the data, scientists profile each individual’s response to foods and tailor a personal nutritionally balanced diet.
AstraZeneca to work with Hadassah hospital. AstraZeneca and Hadasit, the commercial arm and technology transfer company of Israel’s Hadassah University Hospitals have agreed to identify, evaluate, and jointly develop new treatments for several diseases, primarily focused on cancer, respiratory diseases, and diabetes.
Teva launches two generic treatments. Doctors can now prescribe cheaper alternatives for heart patients using Adenoscan and sufferers of primary hyperlipidemia and mixed dyslipidemia previously using Niaspan.
Bacteria test update. Back in June 2011 I reported on BreathID from Israel’s Exalenz, which tests for H. pylori. The bacterium causes peptic ulcers and gastric inflammation, and is associated with stomach cancer. Today, BreathID is used in 220 US centers, producing results in 10 minutes instead of 3 days for blood tests.
The Israeli hospital that treats all wild animals. The Ramat Gan Wildlife hospital treats over 2000 animals every year, including snakes, weasels, deer, hyenas, crows, pigeons or baby hedgehogs. On one day 170 wild creatures were having treatment. Many injured birds arrive, as Israel is on a major migratory route. http://www.timesofisrael.com/out-of-africa-to-an-israeli-wildlife-hospital/
Rapping the message for hospital hygiene. A rap music video produced by Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem has gone “viral”. It features the hospital’s doctors and nurses dancing and singing the virtues of anti-bacterial hand gel. The Hebrew video, uploaded on September 21, has already been seen over 128,000 times.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Orthodox “settler” meets the East Jerusalem Arab he saved. (Thanks to Geoff) I just found this item from August. Haim Attias from Judea’s Mitzpe Yericho resuscitated Haitham Azloni at the Arab bazaar in the Old City. Azloni said, “No one came to help me, none of the brothers, no Arabs. Only one Orthodox Jewish man.”
Israel’s ice-hockey team. (Thanks to Size Doesn’t Matter and The National) Currently visiting Winnipeg Canada is a team of 11-14-year-old Israeli hockey players. The team comprises Jews, Christians and Moslem kids who are among 400 children that regularly train at the only ice-rink in Israel.
A garden shop with a difference. In Feb 2012 I reported on Café Motek, which employs staff with psychiatric disabilities. Now, when you buy plants at Botanica in Jerusalem’s new First Station complex, you may be served by clients of Shaf Yativ – a charity that integrates people with mental illness into society.
Everyone deserves happiness. Israel’s Inbar organization holds events for about 40 disabled singles seeking to find a soul mate. Inbar was founded by Rabbi Shaul Inbari who was born with severe cerebral palsy and dreaded life in an empty house. Rabbi Inbari met Neta at Inbar and married her last year. An amazing video.
8-year-old Syrian girl walks again. A Syrian girl whose right leg was shattered in the civil war is the youngest patient ever to undergo the Ilizarov technique at Israel’s Ziv hospital. Orthopedists, anesthesiologists, plastic surgeons, physiotherapists and operating theater staffers succeeded in saving and restoring her leg.
And five more Syrians arrive. Ziv Hospital in Tzfat treated two 25-year-old Syrians suffering from gunshot wounds in the chest and limbs. Two more arrived later in the week, suffering from shrapnel injuries. Another Syrian was evacuated to the Western Galilee Hospital in Nahariya in moderate to serious condition.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Tel Aviv University to set up Life Sciences center in China. Tel Aviv University is to set-up a new research center at China’s Tsinghua University. Initially, the new “XIN” center will focus on life sciences and nanotechnology. It will recruit researchers and students in Israel and China.
The world’s largest date. Israeli agriculturists have cultivated the world’s largest date. The Anbara date species, which can grow to over 10cm, was planted at the Eden R&D center seven years ago and is being harvested for the first time. The largest specimen was presented at President Peres’ open succa.
New Israeli computer is a 5cm cube. (Thanks to Size Doesn’t Matter) The 2x2x2 inch CuBox-i from Nazareth-based SolidRun has no moving parts. You need a separate monitor (or TV screen) and power adaptor, but you have probably got these already. From $45 to $119. Deliveries begin in November.
Saving lives from IEDs. (Thanks to Eli) Defeating the threat from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) has been the aim of the world’s anti-terrorist forces. The Miniature Reactive Jammer (MRJ) from Israel’s Elbit Systems was launched at DSEi in London. The device detects, analyzes and disrupts the IED trigger signal.
PointGrab wins Euro Prize. Israel’s PointGrab has won the 2013 European Technology Innovation Award from Frost & Sullivan for its achievements in “gesture recognition for consumer electronics.” PointGrab’s technology is in computers, smartphones and TVs, including Samsung’s Smart TVs, Acer and Fujitsu PCs.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Exports to Africa up 250 per cent. In the last 10 years, Israeli exports to Africa have increased from $342 million in 2002 to $1.2 billion in 2012. 2.6% of Israeli exports go to Africa.
Upgrading India’s mobile network. Israel’s Ceragon has won a huge contract with Idea Cellular to modernize thousands of wireless backhaul connections. Idea is India’s third largest mobile carrier with 125 million customers.
Return of the Romans? Low-cost airline easyJet has launched twice-weekly flights between Tel Aviv and Rome’s Fiumicino Airport. easyJet’s UK and Middle East commercial manager Hugh Aitken said, “The new route emphasizes that easyJet is a long term committed partner of the Israeli economy and tourism industry.”
More Israeli security for Miami. Israel’s NICE Systems will supply its “Situator Solution for Situation Management” as part of a runway incursion detection solution at Miami International Airport. It enhances NICE’s NiceVision Net 2.5 system already deployed at the airport.
Israeli-Chinese cars. Qoros Auto, the joint car venture of Israel Corporation and China’s Chery Automobile, will have four ranges of cars to accompany the Qoros 3 – the company’s first model. The commercial launch is scheduled for later this year.
Need a viral video? Veed.me matches up the creative people who know how to produce, film, or edit a high-quality video clip with businesses that need them. Veed.me’s founders are two Tel Aviv University film school graduates and its clients already include Google and Waze.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Emmy eats Israel. On-line food taster Emmy is a Youtube sensation who has been sampling sweets and snacks from around the world and giving her opinion. She received a parcel of Israeli products and liked everything, apart from (not surprisingly) the tinned eggplants in brine.
http://www.jpost.com/Arts-and-Culture/Food-And-Wine/Emmy-Made-in-Japan-eats-her-way-through-Israel-326934 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abYNt1TMtzs
On your bikes. (Thanks to Israel21c) Sovev Turki Elite on Sep 25 is Israel’s largest cycling event with 30,000 cyclists and over 100,000 spectators. The longest route for experienced cyclists covers 43km around Tel Aviv with shorter routes for active families, beginners and roller-blades. The Ayalon freeway becomes a cycle track.
US actors to visit Israel. 13 US TV stars visit Israel this month including David Zayas, Lauren Vélez and C.S. Lee of “Dexter”, one of the most popular US TV series. They have been brought over by “America’s Voices in Israel”. Others include Zoey Deutch, Anson Mount, Jason Butler Harner, Vivian Bang and Lea Thompson.
Get any Israeli beer you want here. The beer bazaar in Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market sells up to 93 different Israeli beers made by more than 20 different microbreweries. The idea came from Lior Weiss a Technion graduate. Business partner Yuval Reznikovich runs the stall from 10am till around 7:30pm daily.
Tel Aviv’s dog races. Tel Aviv Municipality is launching a new kind of race, for dogs and their owners. Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park on October 11 is the venue for the Pro Plan Doggie Run including 3 distance events plus a special heat for visually impaired people and their guide dogs.
THE JEWISH STATE
An end to throwaway plastic bags. My wife cheered when she read this. The Ministry of Environmental Protection plans to end the use of disposable plastic bags at shops. Multiuse plastic bags will be distributed to the Israeli public for free over several months, after which the use of throwaway plastic bags will be ended.
250,000 Israelis clean up. Over a quarter of a million volunteers from 250 localities removed litter across the country on International Cleanup Day. Organizer KKL-JNF’s chairman Efi Stenzler said, “By respecting the environment we also show our respect for other people, and we all want our country to be clean and beautiful.”
Uncovering the Jerusalem of the Bible. Gordon Robertson’s video for CBN.com explores the ruins of the palace of King David and the wall of King Solomon in Jerusalem from 1000 BCE. Dr Eilat Mazar of the Hebrew University describes how current excavations continually confirm the text of the Book of Kings.
We prayed for this for thousands of years. The blessing of the Cohanim (priests) during the festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles) was a spectacular event.
Tens of thousands in Jerusalem parade. Jewish and non-Jewish men, women and children from more than 30 countries gathered in solidarity to march in Jerusalem’s annual Succot Parade. Thousands also visited the succa (booth) of President Peres, which featured colorful carpets, unusual fruit, flower and vegetable displays.
How Israel rejoices. Immediately following Sukkot (Tabernacles) is the Jewish festival of Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Law) when Jews celebrate the completion and re-starting of the weekly Synagogue reading of the Torah. During and after the festival, Israelis took to the streets to celebrate with dancing and music.
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