MICHAEL ORDMAN: POSITIVE NEWS DURING WARTIME IN ISRAEL
“War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out.” General William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891).
The tragedy of friendly fire killing three Israeli hostages haunts us today. It will be investigated thoroughly by the IDF. This particular event reminds us that Israel has a citizen army -everyone serves-and alas, some are less experienced than others in the fight for survival against genocidal enemies.
But, as Michael Ordman reminds us, Israel has another nonmilitary army of researchers, doctors, technical experts, and civil servants who work around the clock to bring succor and a better and peaceful life to billions of citizens on every continent. rsk
https://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/
POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR
From war to the Olympics. Israel’s Sports Association for the Disabled and Israel’s Paralympic Committee have launched a voluntary initiative for IDF personnel who have lost limbs. Rehabilitation and recovery include personal trainers, coaches, physiotherapists, and sports psychologists. More than 20 have already joined.
https://www.israel21c.org/paralympians-to-help-war-wounded-heal-trauma/
When father meets son. Rambam hospital’s Dr. Arik Schechter has been serving in the IDF reserves deep inside Gaza since the outbreak of the Swords of Iron War. With three sons and a son-in-law also serving, perhaps it should not have been such a surprise when he was reunited with one of his sons in the fighting.
https://www.rambam.org.il/en/rambam_news/father-son-meet-in-gaza.aspx
When Dad meets wife & new son. I admit that I shed a few tears when I read this story and then saw the video on Instagram. https://www.rambam.org.il/en/rambam_news/dad_arrives-for-birth_despite_war.aspx
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cz0NpHksLYG/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
What motivates us. Research led by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has discovered that the impulse for motivation is generated by the balance in the striatum area of the brain of simultaneous wavelike patterns of two neurochemicals – dopamine and acetylcholine. The team used advanced genetic tools and imaging.
https://en.huji.ac.il/news/wave-theory-neurochemical-balance-brain
Impact of early life trauma and possible treatment. Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have also been studying the brain. In lab tests they found that trauma in early life caused problems in adults that showed up on brain scans. But a short treatment of diazepam soon after trauma erased those signs on adult brain scans.
Bring back the light. On Chanukah, Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund (SICF) launched its campaign, “Bring Back the Light.” for children scarred by terror. SICF uses individual and group therapies, both traditional and alternative, administered by a team of skilled social workers, psychologists, and specialty therapists.
Empathic robot companion in NY State. (TY OurCrowd) A few weeks ago (see here previously) the ElliQ empathic robot from Israel’s Intuitive Robotics was being offered free to seniors in two areas in South Florida. It is now being offered to seniors in New York State. The pilot shows a 95% reduction in loneliness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZBKjK9WXE8 https://elliq.com/pages/free
https://abc7ny.com/seniors-ai-robot-companionship/14154002/
https://aging.ny.gov/news/nysofas-rollout-ai-companion-robot-elliq-shows-95-reduction-loneliness
Simultaneous simulations. Israel’s QuantHealth (see here previously) has upgraded its platform for simulating clinical trials. Its new product, called Katina, simultaneously simulates hundreds of thousands of combinations of each element in a clinical trial to maximize the probability of success when real human trials begin.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/new-ai-platform-simulates-thousands-of-clinical-trials-at-once/
Best Buy remote monitoring. Israel’s BioBeat (see here previously) is integrating its wearable devices for remote patient monitoring into the Current Health home care platform offered by Best Buy Health in the US. The devices monitor 13 parameters, e.g., blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, pulse rate and respiratory rate.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125875
https://www.currenthealth.com/remote-patient-monitoring/
When dormant bacteria revive. Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have discovered how bacteria spores retain vital genetic information during dormancy and activate when revived. The RNA polymerase, inside the spores, initiates copying processes. The knowledge could help research into controlling pathogens.
Herbal diabetic remedy and more. Israel’s Curalife manufactures Curalin – a herbal supplement formulated to treat diabetes but with anecdotal indications for stress reduction, improved metabolism and even insomnia. It contains nine herbs based on Ayurvedic medicine – an ancient Indian practice.
https://www.israel21c.org/ayurvedic-herbal-supplement-targets-diabetes/ https://global.curalife.com/
US approval for glaucoma laser device. Israel’s Belkin Vision (previously Belkin Laser – see here) has received US FDA clearance for the use of its automatic and noninvasive glaucoma laser surgery device. The Eagle is the first and only contactless laser surgery for glaucoma patients.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125889
AI sensor to monitor kidney function. Israel’s FIZE Medical has developed a new AI device that measures production of urine by the kidneys via a patient catheter. It identifies problems with kidneys, heart, medication, etc. Fize has FDA approval and has completed a pilot at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/ai-sensor-monitors-kidney-function-one-drop-at-a-time/ https://fizemedical.com/
How does your dog smell? Israel’s Tech4animals lab (see here previously) has developed an algorithm that detects the canine breathing condition known as Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). It is common in dogs such as boxers, pugs and French bulldogs that have been bred with short snouts.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/ai-doggie-doctor-diagnoses-breathing-problems-pugs-boxers/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Occupational therapist, soldier, and bone-marrow donor. Lee, an occupational therapist at Israel’s Rambam Health Care Campus has been serving as a casualty officer since she was called up for reserves at the beginning of the war. She volunteered as a bone-marrow donor and was a lifesaving match for a woman in need.
https://www.rambam.org.il/en/rambam_news/three-in-one.aspx
She just can’t stop. I was surprised to see this on the BBC. Praise for a woman (Yael Noy) whose heads the organization “Road to Recovery” group of Israeli volunteers. Despite Oct 7, Yael drives sick Palestinian Arabs – mostly children – from security checkpoints in Judea and Samaria to hospital appointments in Israel.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-67592468
1000+ volunteering TAU students. Some 6,000 Tel Aviv University students are serving in the IDF reserves. At least 1000 more are volunteering to help patients at hospitals; make food for serving soldiers, harvest fields and transport people to the Gaza border; help run factories at evacuated kibbutzim, and more.
https://english.tau.ac.il/news/volunteering_initiatives https://english.tau.ac.il/news/Helping_Israeli_farmers
Lost and asleep. (TY Hazel) In the middle of fighting a war, IDF reservists discovered a 4-year-old Gazan girl who had got lost, stumbled barefoot into an IDF camp, and fallen asleep. They cleaned her up, bandaged her injured feet and then arranged an ambulance to take her to the safe civilian area of Southern Gaza.
Rescuing abandoned pets from Gaza. Many of the IDF’s heroic efforts go unnoticed, such as the rescue of abandoned animals from Gaza. They include cats, dogs, parrots, owls, and even a neglected, malnourished lion from the Gaza Zoo. Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority is working with the IDF to bring the lion to safely.
https://worldisraelnews.com/idf-rescues-abandoned-pets-exotic-birds-and-even-a-lion-from-gaza/
Rescuing unsold food. Israeli food rescue startup SpareEat (see here previously) shut down when Covid-19 regulations prevented people from collecting food in person. It has now re-launched and is even more popular than the first time around. Israelis collect “surprise” bags of highly discounted excess food from businesses.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/spareeat-app-unsold-food-rescue/
US National Academy of Inventors “fellow”. Prof. Shulamit Levenberg of Israel’s Technion Institute (see here previously) has been chosen to be a fellow of the prestigious American National Academy of Inventors. She is a founder of Aleph Farms (see here), NurExone (spinal cord regeneration) and Nanosynex (see here).
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-777863
https://nurexone.com/professor-shulamit-levenberg/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
50 years of research exchange. (TY Hazel) Germany’s Max Planck Society celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Minerva Foundation fellowship program with the visit to Israel of a delegation of members. Minerva has enabled the exchange between Germany and Israel of more than 2,000 young researchers.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/while-us-jews-say-they-dont-feel-safe-on-campus-german-academics-show-up-for-israel/ https://www.cogeril.de/en/news-and-events/news/
World’s 3rd largest Generative AI ecosystem. Generative AI is the use of algorithms to generate text, images, or other media, indistinguishable from that produced by humans. Israel has 130 startups in this business area, raising over $2.2 billion of investment in the last 3 years, making it the 3rd largest player in the world.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sk5rqxlua (includes embedded Viola map of Israeli startups)
Huge mirror telescope. Scientists at Israel’s Technion are working with NASA to build FLUTE – the Fluidic Telescope. It will have self-healing mirrors with a 50-meter aperture (compared to the 6.5-meter James Webb) and will see distant objects in greater detail. If it works, future apertures could reach 10km.
https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2023/11/50-meter-fluidic-space-telescope.html
Tiny cameras for drones. Israel’s NextVision manufactures tiny cameras for drones and UAVs. They are lightweight, low power consumption, high performance, high reliability, and value for money. NextVision’s value has soared by six times to NIS 2.3 billion since it launched on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2021.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rmem24l4z https://www.nextvision-sys.com/
Precise airdrop of supplies to IDF in Gaza. The IDF’s advanced operation “Gift from the skies” accurately parachuted supplies from a Shimshon (Super Hercules) aircraft to its troops in Gaza. It autonomously guided seven tons of supplies to ground forces operating in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkiw112ela
Water security for thousands of sites. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s IXDen was selected by Israel’s water company Mekorot in 2021 to protect Israel’s water supply (see here previously). It will now rollout its solution to 70 locations in Israel and will protect thousands of water sites in the country.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ixden-an-israeli-start-up-that-has-developed-a-patented-ai-platform-for-securing-critical-infrastructure-from-cyber-attacks-will-accomplish-implemented-solutions-in-over-70-water-sites-across-israel-302005099.html https://ixden.com/
Using AI to respond to hate speech. Post-grad student Zachary Bamberger at Israel’s Technion has created Rhetoric AI, helped by students and professors. It reports social media posts that violate the terms of service, and produces counterarguments in Arabic, Hebrew, or English for volunteers to utilize in their responses.
https://www.israel21c.org/technion-student-battles-online-anti-israel-hate-with-ai/
Keeping mining machinery working in Australia. Israel’s Razor Labs (see here previously) has transformed its DataMind AI product to detect issues with complex heavy machinery. Its reputation has soared in the Australian mining industry and has won a contract with a mining giant in Australia, the US, and South Africa.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/ai-platform-keeps-mining-machinery-working-with-deep-learning/
Israel’s first electric bus recharging station. Israel’s Electreon (see here previously) has completed the world’s first wireless charging terminal for public buses. Public transport operator Electra Afikim can now wirelessly charge its buses, 24 hours a day, at its terminal in Rosh HaAyin in central Israel.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125872
The Indian monsoons that cause deadly flooding. Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have found that severe monsoon rains that occasionally cause deadly floods in India follow cold dry airstream intrusions that act like a sponge, sucking in water from the Indian Ocean. The discovery can help predict floods and save lives.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/environment/when-dryness-intrudes-floods-ensue
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Land bridge to connect Israel & UAE. Israel and the UAE are to connect the ports of Dubai and Haifa by a land route. This will circumvent the Yemen-based Houthis who have been hijacking vessels in the Red Sea. Israeli logistics firm Trucknet (see here previously) spearheaded the agreement.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/israel-and-uae-ink-new-deal-to-connect-ports-via-land-bridge/
Everyone wants to work for us. Israel’s Rafael is recruiting 2,000 employees and has been flooded with job applications, including ex-CEOs, giant corporations, and retirees seeking to return to work. Rafael developed the Iron Dome, Trophy tank protection, David’s Sling, and many more innovative defensive systems.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjj11eqmla
Another 10 to be launched. The latest 10 Israeli startups for Deloitte’s LaunchPad accelerator (see here previously) for preparing them for launching in the United States are: Imagen-ai, Odeeo, Statement, Indoor Robotics, Octopai, BioT Medical, Piiano, Kahoona, Entitle, and Cyclops Security. They follow 43 others.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/amid-war-program-helps-open-us-doors-for-10-israeli-startups/
Kickstarting the Israeli startup scene. The ReStartIL Israel investment summit in London will see 30 Israeli startups and entrepreneurs present their technology to 200 UK private and institutional investors and business leaders. They cover civilian and security technology; agriculture, agritech and foodtech; and AI and cyber.
Israel’s first licensed UTM drone. Israel’s High Lander (see here previously) has just become the first drone operator to receive a license for Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM). High Lander’s Vega UTM platform has been approved by Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority and shares data broadcasts with Israeli security services.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/israeli-startup-gets-worlds-first-license-for-drone-flights/
Golden Salt. Israel’s Salt Security (see here previously) has been named a Gold Winner in the “Most Innovative Product of the Year – Enterprise” category in the Best in Biz Awards 2023.
https://nocamels.com/category/news-briefs/#post-125912
https://www.bestinbizawards.com/2023-winners-product/
Rebuilding farms on Gaza border. Volcani Partners International has launched a $50 million emergency fund to rebuild farming communities near the Gaza border badly damaged on Oct. 7. The “ReGrow Israel” initiative will help fund replacement of vital equipment and infrastructure needed to rehabilitate soil and replant crops.
https://www.jns.org/emergency-fund-to-help-rebuild-israeli-border-farms/
https://www.vipartnerships.org/regrow-israel (site with more details, including how to donate)
First aid for “wounded” farms. Organic Israel has been improving food quality in Israel and getting organic produce to low-income families. But after Oct 7, the NGO switched its efforts to help struggling fellow farmers on the Gaza border. It created First Aid for Wounded Farms to replace or repair equipment damaged by Hamas.
https://www.israel21c.org/organic-ngo-offers-help-to-farms-ruined-in-hamas-october-attack/
https://www.israelorganit.org/
Home-grown Israeli tequila. Israeli spirits company Negave Estates aims to help rebuild and resuscitate the Negev communities devastated in the Oct 7 attack. They plan to bring blue agave (the ingredient for tequila) from Mexico and grow it in the Negev – a similar environment. Wild agave already grows in the Negev.
https://www.israel21c.org/tequila-makers-aim-to-resuscitate-devastated-negev-communities/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuuKdEmSdLg
Continuing to cultivate. Israeli “no-fish” cultivated fish developer Sea2Cell (see here previously) was based at Kiryat Shmona – just 2km from the Lebanese border. It had to evacuate when Hezbollah opened fire on Israel’s northern towns. It relocated and now plans to build a pilot facility in 2026 and launch its first product in 2027.
https://nocamels.com/2023/12/fish-without-fishing-cultivated-meat-startup-tackles-sea-scarcity/
Exits, takeovers, and mergers – to 17/12/23: Israel’s Perion Network is acquiring Canada’s Hivestack for $100 million in cash.
Investment in Israeli startups – to 17/12/23: Pontera (FeeX) raised $60 million; Zero Networks raised $20 million; Guardz raised $18 million; CorrActions raised $7.25 million; CitrusX raised $4.5 million;
THE JEWISH STATE
Hanukkah time in Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) The holiday of Hanukkah is a celebration of miracles and light over darkness. The colors and lights in Jerusalem last week were stunning.
https://rjstreets.com/2023/12/10/colors-lights-and-highlights-its-hanukkah-time-in-jerusalem/
Bringing Jewish volunteers from the Diaspora. Mosaic United and the Israeli Ministry for Diaspora Affairs are investing $1 million to help bring thousands of young Jewish volunteers to Israel. Mosaic and Birthright Israel aim to bring 2,000 Jews age 18 to 40 to Israel for two weeks, picking crops, packing veg, etc..
https://www.jns.org/diaspora-ministry-mosaic-united-invest-1-million-in-israel-volunteer-missions/
Torah scrolls to memorialize Oct 7 victims. Thousands of Israeli Jews, including President Isaac Herzog, have been completing letters on new Torah scrolls in memory of the victims of Oct 7, and raise awareness for the hostages still in captivity. One scroll is for Kibbutz Be’eri and has connected the religious and the secular.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/october-7-massacre-spurs-massive-torah-scroll-writing-project/
After his life was saved, his donation saved a life. Rabbi Moshe Chaim Klein donated a defibrillator to NGO United Hatzalah after its volunteer EMTs saved his life 3 years ago. Last week his grandson, a UH volunteer, used the same defibrillator to deliver six shocks to revive a man who had suffered a heart attack in Jerusalem.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/381896
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/
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
Hadassah Hospital Israel: https://www.hadassah.org/
Laniado Hospital (Netanya) https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/EmergencyLaniado
And many more charities here:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/where-people-abroad-can-donate-to-israels-hospitals-troops-survivors-and-more/ https://chesedtoday.com/campaigns/soldiers/ (Warm winter clothes for Israeli soldiers)
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/
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