I learned a new word this week. It is “blatherskite”. It is a word of contempt, originating in the 17th century, describing a person who prattles empty talk and nonsense. It is a perfect description of the finger pointing of so called journalists who vent bias and libel and disinformation when reporting on Israel’s present war.
The best antidote to the blatherskites is Michael Ordman’s weekly postings about the real and amazing Israel and its contributions even during wartime. rsk
www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com
POSITIVE NEWS DURING A WAR
After 6 surgeries IDF soldier’s eyesight is restored. (TY WIN) IDF soldier Dor lost his eyesight in the war in Gaza. But thanks to Israeli medical technology and six eye surgeries, he can now see again. “I am born again” he says in Hebrew at the end of the video. Many tears were shed at his final eye test.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-israeli-doctors-restore-eyesight-to-wounded-idf-soldier/amp/
Wounded IDF soldier holds newborn daughter. Omer was seriously injured in the Gaza war, when an explosive device was detonated. He was evacuated to hospital, to be treated and rehabilitated just as his wife gave birth to their firstborn daughter. Their private victory gave Omer strength to recover and return to his unit.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/387797
You don’t need to be a spokesperson to speak up for Israel. Eylon Levy has been an excellent spokesperson for Israel since Oct 7. He has now established a Civilian Public Diplomacy initiative called “the New Israeli Discourse”. It includes his State of the Nation podcast. https://www.stateofanationpodcast.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypEyo4XWc-8 (About his initiative)
https://www.jgive.com/new/en/usd/donation-targets/124800/about (to support him)
https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-stunning-rise-curious-suspension-and-insistent-return-of-israels-star-spokesman/
The Diaspora donates. Israel’s Diaspora Ministry reports that world Jewry has donated NIS 5 billion to Israel since Oct 7. Also, some 60,000 volunteers came to Israel. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-794568
Supporting and investing in Israel. Since Oct 7, Israel Bonds has raised more than $1.5 billion worldwide. This article explains why this is so important, why it’s a win-win activity, and how you can be a part of it.
https://www.jns.org/forever-changed-after-a-trip-to-israel/
70% of Gaza periphery residents return home. Nearly six months after Oct 7, most evacuees from the Gaza periphery have made the decision to return to their homes. The towns located between 4 and 7 km from the Strip (including the city of Sderot) have seen the return of 75% of residents.
https://www.jns.org/70-of-gaza-periphery-residents-return-home/
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Stem cell injections benefit MS sufferers. (TY Nevet) A study of 23 progressive multiple sclerosis patients at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem highlighted significant beneficial effects of repeated stem cell injections. They improved neurological function, cognition, and quality of life with no adverse effects.
https://www.hadassah.org/story/research-at-hadassah-shows-promising-results-for-patients-with-progressive-ms
Possible therapy for bone cancer. (TY Nevet) Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered in the laboratory that two existing medicines can be used to enhance treatments against bone cancer. It is important as bone cancer is often the result of metastasis (spreading) in breast cancer patients.
https://tps.co.il/articles/cocktail-of-repurposed-drugs-offers-hope-to-breast-cancer-patients/
https://aacrjournals.org/cancerdiscovery/article-abstract/doi/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-23-0762/734997/
3rd clinical trial for gastro leakage sensor. The xBar sensor from Israel’s Exero Medical (see here previously) is about to begin a Phase 3 pivotal clinical trial in the USA and Israel. The device aims to immediately detect post-operative leakage following gastro surgery, which is fatal in 40% of affected cases.
https://nocamels.com/2024/04/life-saving-sensor-monitors-dangerous-fallout-of-stomach-surgery/
Live greener, live longer. What seems to be an obvious statement has been proved in a study by Tel Aviv University researchers. They examined over 3,000 heart bypass patients and found that patients who live in a “greener” environment are at a lower risk of mortality than those who live in a “non-green” environment.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-794536
https://www.aftau.org/news_item/heart-patients-live-longer-in-a-greener-environment-tau-study-finds/
https://journals.lww.com/epidem/abstract/2024/01000/residential_greenness_and_long_term_mortality.6.aspx
Video game app to combat chronic pain. The pain-relieving video games from Israel’s TrainPain (see here previously) are now available to download on iPhone and Android phones. You also need to order (fees required) the haptic pod and cables. Available in the US only.
https://nocamels.com/2024/03/new-video-game-aims-to-train-the-mind-to-stop-sensing-chronic-pain/
https://www.trainpain.com/
Using AI to find cures for diseases. (TY Nevet) An interesting article explaining how Israel’s CytoReason (see here previously) is using AI and big data from the medical companies themselves to help reduce the cost and time required to bring a new remedy to market.
https://nocamels.com/2024/02/using-ai-made-models-to-find-cures-for-disease/
400 French doctors & dentists seeking to make Aliyah. The first European MedEx event took place in Paris, gathering more than 400 doctors and dentists from France and Belgium. At MedEx, potential immigrant medics can convert licenses and engage directly with representatives from Israeli healthcare institutions.
https://www.jns.org/more-than-400-doctors-and-dentists-attend-aliyah-fair-in-paris/
Global Change-maker. (TY Nevet) The prestigious Nature magazine named Israeli Tal Patalon, outgoing head of the KSM research and innovation center of Maccabi Healthcare Services, as one of the world’s change-makers in medical research. Her team’s COVID-19 research changed vaccination policies in the United States.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00754-w
https://www.ksminnovation.com/member/dr-tal-patalon/
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-784798