GOOD NEWS FROM AMAZING ISRAEL: MICHAEL ORDMAN
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Israel’s first small intestine transplant. Surgeons at Israel’s Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus in Petah Tikva have performed the first-ever successful transplant in Israel of a small intestine. The patient was a 39-year-old woman who had been fed through a vein since her own intestine was removed two years ago. The donor was an 11-year-old Israeli girl whose other organs saved four children.
Medical research in the Galilee. The Israeli Ministry for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee has allocated NIS 2.5 million for biomedical research to be conducted at hospitals in northern Israel. President Peres made the announcement at the at the Galilee Forum. Eighteen studies have been approved for the project.
Rebuilding damaged spines. (Thanks to NoCamels.com) Israel’s Premia Spine is advancing in “leaps and bounds” with its TOPS spinal implant. Watch the video to see previously crippled 79-year-old Yoda Schwartz running with his TOPS artificial joint. Premia Spine is expanding in Europe and launching into Asia.
How the brain sends messages. Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have deciphered the basic biochemical mechanism that transports essential transmitting chemicals in the brain. Defective transporters can cause diseases such as Parkinson’s and Huntingdon’s. The discovery opens new research areas into treatment.
Turkish order for Israeli surgery robot. (Thanks to Atid-EDI) Israel’s Mazor Robotics received its first order for a Renaissance surgical robotic system from Turkey. Mazor’s Turkish distribution partner Cordamed Biomedical Engineering will install the system at a major hospital in Istanbul.
New treatment for colon cancer. Israeli bio-med Aposense has successfully completed pre-clinical studies for the ATT-11T molecule for early stage treatment of colon cancer. ATT-11T works in tandem with Pfizer’s Camptosar (generic name Irinotecan) to improve its effectiveness with fewer side effects.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Cracking the glass ceiling. Orit Shulman, director of development and partnerships for Kol Israel Haverim, visited San Francisco to promote the Israeli program that supports high school girls in science, technology, engineering and math from 8th grade through to 12th grade.
Technion students raise 20 guide dogs. The Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind needs people to raise their Labrador puppies. Technion students love dogs and have the lifestyle that can train guide dogs to behave well in all situations. So it’s a “win-win” situation. Until the students have to give back their dogs….
Israeli Arab has triplets after heart surgery. Zinav Alpiomi had IVF treatment but suffered a heart attack when 30 weeks pregnant. Doctors at Kaplan hospital in Rehovot cleared her clogged arteries and then delivered 3 tiny but healthy baby girls. Her joyful husband Ahmed said, “We thank God and the Kaplan medical staff,”
Israelis donate warm clothes to Syrians. (Thanks to Israel21c) Human Warmth (Cham Enoshi) is an Israeli student organization collecting and donating warm clothing and bedding to refugees from the Syrian civil war. These reports feature Amal-Shimshon – a multi-ethnic school near the Syrian border – that is participating.
Jewish doctor’s home visits to PA village. Dr. Yitz Glick, an orthodox Jew from Efrat in Judea makes weekly personal house calls to Wadi Nis, providing medical treatment free of charge to Palestinian Arab patients. Dr Glick also founded the Efrat Emergency Medical Center in 2000, which treats Israelis and PA residents.
Arab press publicizes Israeli heart treatment. Following the news that Israeli doctors fixed the reversed ventricles of Hamoudi – a 4-year-old boy – his father said, “We always heard in the Arab media how children from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank were receiving medical treatment in Israel.”
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Instant electricity from Aluminum and water. The Israel Technion demonstrates its eco-friendly fuel cell that works immediately you pour water into a container of activated Aluminum powder. See it powering model boats and cars. It is 10-15 times more powerful than the equivalent Lithium-ion battery.
Do It Yourself. The CamMe app from Israel’s PointGrab allows you to control your smartphone camera from a distance of up to 22 feet. Just raise your hand and make a fist. The app will then start counting down and take your “selfie” photo.
Making Wikimedia more accessible. 80 IT experts attended an 11-hour “Hackathon” event in Tel Aviv to add value to the free content service that powers Wikipedia. One app allows mobile phone users to add photos to wiki articles of nearby sites. Another turns Wikipedia articles into instant Powerpoint presentations.
A whole new ball game. (Thanks to Israel21c) Israel’s PlaySight has revolutionized tennis training with SmartCourt – a game-changing analysis and feedback system to help tennis players improve their performance. PlaySight has installed eight systems in the US and plans to bring it to every field sports club around the world.
Nevada geothermal power plant completed. Israel’s Ormat Industries has finished building the Don Campbell geothermal power plant in Mineral County, Nevada. The 16-megawatt power station is named after the late Ormat employee who identified the geothermal field.
Engineers without borders. Technion’s Professor Mark Talesnik empowers his students to change the world. Their first project was to build 62 sustainable biomass reactors for a Nepal village. They generate methane for energy, recycle waste into fertilizer rather pollute the water, and save using wood to produce harmful smoke.
Sustainable fish farms. (Thanks to NoCamels.com) Israel’s Moti Cohen builds aquaponic farms that provide people with both fish and plants to eat. The crops feed off the waste created by the fish, while the fish thrive on the oxygen made by the crops. No waste or fertilizer. Moti has been advising the UN on aquaponics.
What you see is what you get. (Thanks to Uri) Israelis Shai Avidan and Ariel Shamir have invented “seam-carving” also known as re-targeting. You can now reduce or enlarge the width of a photo without changing its height or distorting the content. It helps the easy transfer of images to mobile phone screens, for example.
Israeli students touch the sky. Two scientific experiments designed by grade 8 to 10 Israeli school students were launched to the International Space Station, where astronauts will perform them in zero gravity. Holon students are testing the formation of sugar crystals and Mateh Yehuda students are looking to mix oil and water.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
BIRD foundation invests $9 million. The Bi-national Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation has approved $9 million worth of funding for 11 new joint projects between American and Israeli companies. They cover electronics, cyber security, life sciences, communications and homeland security.
More reserves. Over one billion dollars was added to Israel’s foreign currency reserves in December.
Spresh keeps food fresh. Don’t you hate it when you cut an apple and it turns brown before you get a chance to eat it? Israel’s Aviad Mozes has developed an all-natural spray called “Spresh” that keeps cut fruit and vegetables fresh for hours. Please support his Kickstarter project and be among the first to get some Spresh.
First Israeli-Chinese car is delivered. A 28-year old interior decorator from Shanghai took delivery of a brand new Qoros 3 sedan from Qoros Vice President Volker Steinwascher.
The largest on-line translator. Israel’s One Hour Translations (OHT) has over 15,000 translators in 100 countries. Its clients include Toyota, Coca-Cola, the US Army and IBM. OHT has just received a $10 million investment from Israel’s Fortissimo Capital to boost its ambitious expansion plans.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
It’s ugly, but is it art? When opened in 1993, Tel Aviv’s Central Bus Station at 230,000 sq meters was the largest bus station in the world. A sold-out Tel Aviv Arts Council tour explores the urban maze, with its unique architecture including even an underground bat cave. Rehabilitation plans include art galleries and theatres.
Jumping Jack Flash! This time it’s true. The Rolling Stones may be coming to Tel Aviv in June. Last year’s Purim spoof by “The Jewish Press” really upset the Boycott Israel movement. Can you imagine them now!
THE JEWISH STATE
Israel is the second most philanthropic country in the world. Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported that in 2012 Israeli households and businesses donated 7.6 billion Shekels to nonprofits. This was an increase of 8.8% on 2011 and amounting to 0.76% of GDP. The USA came top with 2.1% of GDP.
Samaria wines win French stars. The annual French wine competition held by 1001degustations.com awarded gold stars to all 8 of the entries from Psagot Boutique Winery in the Binyamin hills. The Pesagot winery was established in 2003 on the site of vineyards owned by Jews since the Second Temple period.
Brighton is a rock of support. In and around England’s seaside city of Brighton, the Sussex Friends of Israel are proving that it is possible to use brains to counteract anti-Israel (and anti-Semitic) BDS idiots.
A hero of Zion. Charlie Newmark tells of his great uncle Max, now 100 years old who infiltrated the Hitler Youth, and immigrated to pre-State Palestine at age 19. Max joined the British mandate police force to combat the 1936-39 Arab revolt and then fought the Syrian army in the War of Independence. May he live till 120.
Celebrating her 104th birthday at the Dead Sea. German Christian tourist, Eleonore Kastner, stayed at a Dead Sea hotel for her 104th birthday treat, together with 40 friends and family. Israel’s Tourism Ministry awarded Eleonore a silver-bound Bible for being an ambassador of goodwill for tourism to Israel.
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