POSITIVE NEWS FROM ISRAEL FROM MICHAEL ORDMAN
https://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/
Following World War II, the global Jewish population was estimated to be around 11 million with approximately two-thirds of European Jews killed during the Holocaust.
Today, in a modern miracle of rebirth the Jewish population of the world has climbed to 15.8 million out of a total world population of 8 billion. This represents .02% of the global population.
Approximately 7.2 million Jews live in Israel and enjoy freedom, democracy, arts and theater and cafes and restaurants.
This tiny nation contributes more to the science, medicine, agricultural and water conservation technologies, per capita, than any other nation in the world.
Michael Ordman details and proves this in every posting of positive news from Israel. Read it all.
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POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Cutting-edge leg surgery from US to Israel. (TY Sam Kramer) Israeli surgeons at Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center used a US technique for the first time in Israel, to fix a titanium screw to the bone of a wounded IDF soldier. The technique, called osseointegration, significantly reduces pain and friction from a prosthetic leg.
https://www.ynet.co.il/health/article/bkg58dstke (Hebrew article)
Rush to join Gaza border Kibbutz. (TY Yanky) The residents of Kibbutz Kerem Shalom on the Gaza border defended valiantly against Hamas terrorists on Oct 7 2023. Its religious / secular mix attracted 20 new prospective families to their recent open day. https://www.timesofisrael.com/open-day-at-religious-secular-kibbutz-on-gaza-border-draws-20-families-wanting-to-join/
Therapy dogs for IDF veterans with PTSD. As part of a new FIDF initiative together with the Ministry of Defense, IDF veterans suffering trauma such as PTSD receive a specially trained therapy dog. They are able to sense when the individual begins to suffer panic attacks or nightmares, and calm them down. Please donate.
https://www.fidf.org/news/therapy-dogs-for-veterans-with-ptsd-2/ (includes link to US donation site)
https://www.ufis.org.il/en/donation-en/ (Israelis – select the English speakers’ option)
Rehabilitation center opens in Haifa. Sheba Medical Center has successfully replicated its Tel Hashomer “Returning to Life” rehabilitation center (see here previously) at Haifa’s Beit Halochem. Therapy includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) plus therapy dogs, physical training, and community integration.
https://sheba-global.com/sheba-and-fidf-open-mental-health-center-in-haifa/
https://zdvo.org/beit-halochem-haifa/
Good news from JNS. Ruthie Bloom and Mark Regev dedicate their weekly program during Pesach / Passover to giving positive news. The baby boom, the high happiness level, the economy, innovation driving hi-tech acquisitions, strong family values, deep community bonds, and patriotic youth, leading to resilience in a war.
https://www.jns.org/whats-behind-israels-baby-boom/
Family dog returned from Gaza. A reservist soldier found a frightened dog among the ruins in Rafah. Its electronic chip identified it as Billie, a 3-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that was kidnapped on 7 Oct 2023 from Kibbutz Nir Oz. It was treated and then returned to the surviving members of the Dancyg members.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/406892 https://www.jns.org/idf-rescues-dog-taken-to-gaza-on-oct-7/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/dog-abducted-from-murdered-hostages-family-found-by-troops-in-gaza/
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-dog-stolen-on-oct-7th-returned-to-owner-after-18-months/ (see video)
Battlefield Chatbot. As you may have guessed, Israel is using AI to help conduct military operations during the war. It allows commanders to ask intelligence questions and get vital answers fast. Aaron Cohen tells more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO5-ACBBwVs
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Good results of IceCure’s kidney cancer solution. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s IceCure (see here previously) is already saving many lives by destroying tumors using cryoablation (freezing). Its most recent ICESECRET study on 114 kidney cancer patients with small renal masses (SRM) showed an 88.7% non-reoccurrence rate.
Blood test for early detection of Parkinson’s. A team led by Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers has developed the first ever blood test capable of detecting Parkinson’s disease, even before symptoms emerge. The test identifies transfer RNA fragments unique to the neurodegenerative disease.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-025-00851-z
Brain cancer treatment trial. The radiation treatment from Israel’s Alpha Tau (see here previously) has been used to treat skin cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer. It now has had US FDA approval to initiate a trial for patients with recurrent glioblastoma (brain cancer).
Complex facial surgery for Guatemalan baby. Santiago, a baby from Guatemala born with a cleft lip and palate (and other problems), successfully underwent complex corrective surgery at Israel’s Schneider Children’s Medical Center. The parents knew in advance of Santiago’s condition and arranged to have their baby in Israel.
https://www.schneider.org.il/?CategoryID=1011&ArticleID=5708
Praise for Israel’s world-class healthcare. UK Telegraph journalist Isabel Oakeshott accidentally went over the handlebars of her e-scooter in Tel Aviv. But she was over the moon about her treatment at the state of the art Sylvan Adams Emergency Hospital (see here previously) at Tel Aviv’s Sourasky (Ichilov) Medical Center.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/2608c1a7006e27ba
Israel’s first psycho-trauma dog unit. Israeli medical emergency NGO United Hatzalah has just completed training it Psycho-trauma Canine Unit. Its 10 special dogs provide support until the ambulance arrives. Leading Israeli pet supply chain, Speedog, will donate a portion of sales proceeds, plus essential equipment and food.
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/health-and-medicine/pet-supply-chain-speedog-united-hatzalah-partner-to-support-psychotrauma-k-9-unit/2025/01/23/ https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-848142
If you’re sick, see a computer. A new study from Tel Aviv University found that diagnoses and treatment recommendations given by AI were more accurate than those of physicians. Of 461 online patient visits, AI was rated as good in 77% of cases but only 67% by doctors. Bad AI ratings were 2.8%; Bad doctors were at 4.6%.
https://www.aftau.org/news_item/ai-diagnoses/ https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-24-03283
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Israeli Arabs go underground in London. Yoseph Haddad led a delegation of Israeli Muslims, Christians and Druze to London to confront increasing delegitimization of Israel in the UK. His video shows them on the London Underground (metro / tube) giving passengers an alternative view of the Jewish state.
https://www.jns.org/yoseph-haddad-speaks-up-for-gaza-hostages-on-london-underground/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukafOUDWgw0
A Guatemalan in Jerusalem. Ava Atzum Arévalo de Moscoso is very positive about her two years as the Guatemalan ambassador to Israel. she feels right at home in the Jewish state, and expresses her admiration for Israelis, citing Guatemala’s historic relationship with the Jewish state, as well as her evangelical Christian faith.
https://www.jns.org/guatemalan-ambassador-to-israel-gets-more-than-she-bargained-for-and-thats-fine/
Berlin to twin with Tel Aviv. The mayors of Berlin and Tel Aviv-Jaffa have announced the establishment of a new Twin Cities partnership. It marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel. Tel Aviv is twinned with 35 foreign cities including five in Germany – Cologne, Freiburg, Frankfurt, Essen, and Bonn.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/406526 http://en.sistercity.info/sister-cities/Tel%20Aviv.html
Ties with Malawi. Israel has signed a bilateral agreement to bring in laborers from Malawi to Israel in sectors such as agriculture and caregiving. Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said, “Malawi is a true friend of Israel”. “Malawi has stood with us both at the U.N. and with steadfast vocal public support.”
https://www.jns.org/as-part-of-bilateral-labor-agreement-israel-furthers-ties-with-malawi/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Predicting lightning-induced fires. Scientists at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University have developed an AI-based model that can predict where and when lightning strikes are most likely to cause wildfires. It analyzes high-resolution historical satellite data, weather patterns, vegetation, and topography, achieving over 90% accuracy.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/new-israeli-system-predicts-lightning-strikes-and-tackles-wildfires/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-92171-w https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-024-01556-2
Light-speed processing. Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have developed a dual-laser technique that manipulates electrons and then tracks the effect in attoseconds (one quintillionth of a second). It opens up the possibility of computer processors capable of operating at light speed.
https://israfan.com/p/israeli-laser-light-speed-processors
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/space-physics/matter-crossroads
Top Greentech companies. Many Israeli startups appear in the Time and Statista’s World’s Top GreenTech Companies of 2025. I spotted Ormat, Redefine Meat, TIPA, Beewise, Aleph Farms, CropX, H2Pro, Addionics, Exodigo, and StoreDot, but there could be others.
https://time.com/collection/worlds-top-greentech-companies-of-2025/
Agrotech conference in the North. “Bringing Good News to the North” is the excellent title of the Sunnyside Migal Annual Conference for Agriculture of the Future. 400+ farmers, agrotech innovators, and more, gathered to exhibit agriculture and food production technology, and to plan the future of agriculture in the Galilee.
https://www.jns.org/sunnyside-conference-bringing-good-news-to-the-north/
Saving the soybean. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Agmatix (see here previously) has partnered with agriculture solutions giant BASF to develop a digital solution for detecting and predicting the presence of soybean cyst nematode (SCN) – the most devastating pest to soybean crop yields in the U.S.
https://www.basf.com/us/en/media/news-releases/2025/03/P-US-25-07?ref=karanmaindan.com
US reinforces Israel’s defense systems. The US has transferred a second THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System) anti-missile defense battery to Israel (see here previously). It has also reportedly provided additional Patriot anti-missile defense systems.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-said-to-transfer-2nd-thaad-missile-battery-to-israel-as-iran-nuclear-tensions-rise/ https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1brdqkr1l
Taking border security to the next level. Israel’s RT Aerostat Systems (see here previously) is showcasing its innovative mobile advanced aerostat (air balloon) platforms to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other security agencies at the Border Security Expo in Phoenix. They are designed for extreme weather conditions.
Green technology for New York. (TY Atid-EDI) The New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Israel’s Phinergy (see here previously) were awarded a $1.5 million U.S. grant from US-Israel BIRD Foundation (see here previously) to demonstrate a clean alternative to emergency generators based on aluminum-air technology.
Radio headset plus health monitor. Israel’s Silynxcom (see here previously) has added vital life signs monitoring to its ruggedized communication headsets. They provide crucial health insights and two-way real-time alerts in combat or high-risk environments, alerting command centers, even when the user is incapacitated.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/silynxcom-advances-revolutionary-ear-communication-130600578.html
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
2025 growth to exceed global average. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) expects Israel’s economy to rebound this year. Assuming fighting in Gaza and Lebanon will ease, the OECD forecasts that Israel’s economy will grow at a rate of 3.4 percent in 2025 and 5.5% in 2026,
Resilience & adaptability. (TY Yanky) The 2024/5 Israel Life Sciences and Health-Tech Industry Report published by the Israel Advanced Technology Industries Association (IATI) and Israel’s Innovation Authority, predicts a rosy future for Israel’s life sciences. 92% registered in Israel; 25% increase in investment.
It’s not aid, it’s investment. Another article that confirms that the US doesn’t give Israel aid; it makes an high-return investment. Israel returns billions of dollars more than cost, in jobs and benefits to US security & defense industries. Plus Israel fights US’s enemies (Iran, Hamas,& Hezbollah) without needing US boots on the ground.
https://www.jns.org/america-makes-high-returns-on-investment-when-it-comes-to-israel-military-aid/
Quebec opens Israel office. (TY Atid-EDI) Québec has opened its first representative office in the Middle East. Trade between Québec and Israel is valued at $525 million annually. The bureau will also focus on education. Québec is sponsoring an international diplomacy course in French at Netanya Academic College.
https://thecjn.ca/news/quebec-representative-office/
El Al resumes flights to Eilat. After a 12-year break, El Al Airlines is returning to Israel’s southern skies with the relaunch of its domestic route from Ben-Gurion Airport to Ramon Airport near Eilat. Starting next month, El Al will operate two weekly flights between the central hub and the Red Sea resort city.
https://israfan.com/p/elal-resumes-ben-gurion-eilat-flights
British Airways resumes Israel flights. British Airways has resumed flights to Israel, becoming the latest major carrier to renew services suspended due to the Israel-Hamas war. The move came the week before the busy Passover and Easter travel season, when flights to Israel are heavily booked.
https://www.jns.org/british-airways-resumes-israel-flights/
$54 million in fraud prevented. Israel’s BioCatch (see here previously) protected customers of Alkami Digital Banking Platform (e.g. Gate City Bank) by stopping more than $54 million in fraudulent transactions in 2024. BioCatch’s Account Takeover Protection analyzes digital behaviors in real time to highlight attempted fraud.
Inspecting rental cars. Car rental giant Hertz has partnered with Israeli startup UVeye (see here previously) to deploy AI-powered vehicle inspection systems across major US locations. The move marks one of the largest rollouts of automated inspection technology in the car rental industry to date.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1gwjltcjl
IAI is worth billions. (TY Atid-EDI) The 2024 financial results for Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) were phenomenal. Revenue up 14% to over $6 billion; net profit up 55% to nearly half a billion dollars; and a pipeline of orders of $25 billion. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-iai-profit-jumps-55-1001504732
Exits, takeovers, and mergers to 27th Apr 25: Israel’s CloudShare was acquired by US-based Bow River Capital for $60 – 80 million. Israeli cybersecurity Torq acquired stealth Israeli AI startup Revrod for over $20 million; Israel’s Similarweb acquired Switzerland’s 42matters (in 2024).
Startup investment – to 27th Apr 25: Healthee raised $50 million; Sentra raised $50 million; BRIA.ai raised $40 million; Cynomi raised $37 million; Groundcover raised $35 million; Anecdotes raises another $30 million; Reco.ai raised $25 million; Tapcheck raised $25 million; Bliss Aesthetics raised $17.5 million; Pillar Security raised $9 million; Terra Security raised $8 million; Brandlight raises $5.75 million; AutonomyAI raised $4 million; Cyvore Security raised $2.5 million.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Moss Haggadah at National Library. A unique Haggadah crafted by American-Israeli artist David Moss four decades ago joins the National Library of Israel’s collection and was on display for Passover. It includes a page of portraits and mirrors that allows the reader to see themselves as having been liberated from slavery.
GCI to open on 7th May. JNF-USA’s Galilee Culinary Institute (see here previously) is due to be opened on May 7 by Israeli-born, French-educated chef Lior Lev Sercarz. It will bring its new unique program to the upper Galilee and not only to change the landscape of the food industry, but bring life to the food basket of Israel.
https://forward.com/food/386180/israeli-who-spices-up-new-york-kitchens-will-open-unique-cooking-school-in/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q48TS-CAyP0 https://www.galileeculinaryinstitute.com/
The world’s only known black flamingo visits Israel. (TY WIN & AllIsraelNews) As millions of birds migrate this season, one is capturing hearts around the globe – the only known black flamingo in the world! It stopped in Eilat, Israel, on its way to Europe, thrilling birdwatchers and nature lovers alike.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4nhWnQQggc
40,000 run in the holy city. 40,000 runners in the 14th International Jerusalem “Winner” Marathon included elite athletes, IDF soldiers, families, blind & partially-sighted. At the start, ex-hostage Karina Ariev asked them to “dedicate this run to the memory of our heroes who sacrificed their lives so that we could stand here today.”
https://www.jns.org/2025-jerusalem-marathon-events-see-40000-run-in-the-holy-city/
https://israfan.com/p/blind-sighted-runners-jerusalem-marathon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-oc8gzIgUU (United Hatzalah video)
4 gold medals at acrobatic gymnastics. (TY Nevet) On the fourth and final day of the 13th European Age Group Competitions in Acrobatic Gymnastics, seven finals were contested. Israel had a fabulous day, earning a grand total of 4 European titles and 2 silver medals.
Hapoel win EuroCup. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv captured the EuroCup championship earning promotion to the 2025–26 EuroLeague. Hapoel beat Gran Canaria, becoming only the second Israeli club ever to lift the EuroCup trophy, joining Hapoel Jerusalem, which won it in 2004.
https://www.jns.org/hapoel-tel-aviv-clinches-first-eurocup-title/
More Israelis in the NBA draft. In the 2025 – 26 season, at least two more Israelis will join Deni Avdija in the National Basketball Association (NBA) league. They are 19-year-old guard Ben Saraf, who grew up in Moshav Gan Yoshia and 21-year-old 7-foot Danny Wolf, born in Glencoe, Illinois – an Israeli U21 star in 2023.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/8fbs7ekw3
THE JEWISH STATE
Biblical-era dye factory found. Researchers have discovered the tools proving that the blue (tchelet) and purple (argaman) dyes were produced in industrial quantities in the Land of Israel in biblical times. They have documented how the material was produced for hundreds of years at Tel Shiqmona on Israel’s Carmel Coast.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/made-from-snails-and-fit-for-kings-first-biblical-era-dye-factory-found-on-israels-coast/ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/figure?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0321082.g012
https://unitedwithisrael.org/ancient-tools-reveal-economic-power-behind-biblical-israel/
The logo for Israel’s 77th Independence Day. The official logo for the torch-lighting ceremony at the 77th anniversary of the State of Israel reflects the theme “Bridges of Hope”, and the connections within Israeli society. The Magen David (Star of David) is fused with the number 77 in yellow, as a tribute to the hostages.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/406519
Solomon’s pools opened during Pesach. Three reservoirs that brought water to Jerusalem during the Second Second Temple period were opened to the public during Passover for the first time since 1995 when they were transferred to the control of the Palestinian Authority. (See Ecclesiastes 2:6 for King Solomon’s connection).
https://www.jns.org/solomons-pools-open-to-public-over-passover-in-first-since-oslo-accords/
Matzah baking therapy for special children. (TY TPS) At the Aleh Center in Bnei Brak, children with severe disabilities receive therapy from their involvement in Pesach preparations. Matzah-making enhances fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and sensory processing. It also deepens their connection to their Jewish heritage.
Ex-hostages receive priestly blessing at the Kotel. This Passover’s traditional priestly blessing ceremony at the Western Wall had special significance. The thousands of participants included ex-hostages, families of those still held captive, and wounded IDF soldiers. One of the priests was ex-hostage Eliya Cohen.
https://www.jns.org/former-hostages-gather-at-western-wall-for-priestly-blessing/
A message of peace from the US. The newly appointed US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, placed a note from US President Donald Trump in the Western Wall. It said “For Peace in Israel”. The Ambassador said, “Trump told me to pray for the hostages’ return.” https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/407018
Yom HaShoah in Israel. Watch as all traffic stops when the 2-min siren sounds. Also ex-hostage Agam Berger plays her 130-year-old violin with bereaved Oct 7 survivor Daniel Weiss at Auschwitz. WWII survivors light memorial torches at Yad Vashem. And the great-granddaughter of Righteous Gentiles is now an IDF soldier.
https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-israel-comes-to-standstill-as-siren-marks-yom-hashoah-holocaust-remembrance-day/ https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-oct-7th-orphan-released-hostage-perform-in-march-of-the-living-at-auschwitz/ https://israfan.com/p/yad-vashem-holocaust-remembrance-2025
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