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Good News Israel Archive from the week of February 22, 2015: Israel establishes Cyber Defense Authority. Read further for more good news from Israel.
By Michael Ordman
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Winning medical advice
Israeli startup Medivizor uses patent-pending technology to find the most essential information applicable for each individual’s medical situation. Medivizor won 4 prestigious competitions in 2014, was highlighted by Forbes and is recommended by doctors to their patients.
http://www.israel21c.org/headlines/goodbye-dr-google-hello-medivizor/
A traffic-light pacemaker
A joint Israeli-UK project is testing whether a pacemaker emitting pulsating blue and yellow light can be used to regulate the beating of newly implanted heart tissue generated by stem cells. Also interesting because the UK’s Independent newspaper rarely includes any positive Israeli news.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/tests-begin-on-traffic-light-pacemaker-that-could-revolutionise-heart-treatment-10045618.html
ReWalk makes miracles possible
Here’s a rare positive Israel article from CNN. It describes the exoskeleton from Israel’s ReWalk that is changing the lives of paraplegics. People previously confined to wheelchairs can now walk upright once again. (Stop video after 2 minutes).
http://money.cnn.com/2014/12/08/technology/innovationnation/rewalk/
Turning darkness into light
Ben-Gurion University is hosting “Light and Blindness” – a full-day exhibition of research-and-development activities in Israel designed to improve the quality of life for people with visual impairment. It includes a startup contest and the opening of a trail for the blind.
http://www.israel21c.org/israel-in-the-spotlight/turning-the-darkness-into-light-with-innovation/
Boost for ice treatment to destroy tumors
Israeli biotech IceCure Medical has received $21 million of funds from Epoch Partner Investments to speed up the sales and distribution of its IceSense3 cryoablation system to treat breast cancer. IceSense3 uses extreme cold to destroy targeted tumors in less than 15 mins, with no pain.
http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2015/02/17/israeli-icecure-gets-21-2-million-international-investment-to-treat-breast-cancer-with-extreme-cold/
$9 million donation to fight cancer
Philanthropists Laura and Isaac Perlmutter have pledged $3 million to finance six joint cancer research projects between NY University and Israel’s Technion, plus a further $6 million to establish a state-of-the-art research facility focusing on cancer metabolomics at the Technion.
http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/NYU-and-Technion-to-forge-groundbreaking-partnership-in-cancer-research-391503
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Taking inclusion to a larger level
A report about two IDF bases where “special” soldiers with disabilities perform important jobs. IDF service helps integrate the disabled into society and the workforce. It also educates and changes the attitudes of IDF personnel without disabilities.
http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/new-normal/israel-taking-inclusion-larger-level
Israeli-Arabs flourish at Technion
As the Bloomberg journalist admits, “Here’s a little-told success story:” Israeli Arabs, women in particular, have made huge strides over the past decade at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, better known as Israel’s answer to MIT.
http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-12-05/israeli-arabs-flourish-at-technion
BBC applauds Israeli op on Syrian’s face
The BBC describes the amazing reconstruction work that Israeli surgeon Yoav Leiser of Haifa’s Rambam hospital performed on Mohammad – a Syrian farmer whose face was shattered in an attack by a Syrian warplane. A rare positive Israel story from the BBC. Also a report (thanks Michelle) on the $10 million plus spent by Israel in the last 18 months treating 1500 Syrians.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31449362
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/10/02/how-much-money-have-israeli-hospitals-spent-treating-wounded-syrians/
UN-Israeli workshop on renewable energy
The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV) organized a workshop to teach successful renewable energy practices and energy efficiency technologies to 23 experts and policymakers from across Eurasia.
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/un-economic-commission-and-israels-mashav-team-up-for-renewal-energy-workshop/2015/02/14/
Hong Kong students experience Startup Nation
50 Hong Kong university and secondary students got the chance to see firsthand the secrets to Israeli entrepreneurial success, thanks to a six-day trip co-organized by the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology) and Li Ka Shing Foundation.
http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1711942/israeli-start-ups-teach-hong-kongs-would-be-entrepreneurs
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
The most efficient desalination plant in the world
Israel’s new Sorek desalination plant is now at full capacity, producing 627,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily. With the lowest rate of energy consumption in the world, its water is the cheapest of any large-scale desalination plant.
http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/534996/megascale-desalination/
Washington to host US-Israeli cyber security conference
The Israel Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) will hold its 5th annual Defensive Cyberspace Operations & Intelligence Conference and Exhibition in Washington, DC, April 27-28, 2015. This is the first INSS cyber conference to be held in the US.
http://www.dcoi.org.il/#!about/cvz5
Israel establishes Cyber Defense Authority
Israel’s cabinet has approved the establishment of a national cyber defense authority which will have overall national responsibility for cyber defense. It will also operate an a Cyber Event Readiness Team to strengthen the resilience of organizations and sectors in the economy.
http://www.sdjewishworld.com/2015/02/15/israel-establishes-cyber-defense-authority/
The importance of technology and education
Graduates of Israel Technion have won 4 Nobel Prizes and have either founded or are managing two-thirds of the Israeli companies on NASDAQ. Technion’s President Peretz Lavie describes why Israel’s foremost technical institute has been so successful.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/israels-technion-president-peretz-lavie-on-technology-and-education-1423854912
Israeli Sci-Tech schools
100,000 Israeli kids – 10 percent of all Israeli high school students (Jews, Muslims, Christians and Druze) – attend a Sci-Tech school. The Sci-Tech network builds curricula based on the demand for professionals in various Israeli industries, and it currently has 18 industrial vocational schools.
http://www.jewishledger.com/2015/02/seeds-start-nation-cultivated-israel-sci-tech-schools/
Israeli cleantech in Germany
Nine Israeli cleantech companies attended Leipzig’s Green Ventures Forum – Germany’s leading B2B platform in the cleantech arena. Thanks to the Israeli Economic Office in Berlin and Israel NewTech, Israeli companies held over a hundred meetings with companies from over 30 countries.
http://israelnewtech.com/2015/02/international-cleantech-forum-germany-provides-platform-israeli-companies/
Technion’s new hi-tech student lab
Israel’s Technion and Microsoft have together built a development lab that resembles that of a startup company. Students can develop innovative technologies that will add to the “Internet of Things” – Internet-enabled devices and applications to rival anything a hi-tech company can design.
http://www.israelscienceinfo.com/en/hightech/internet-objets-incubateur-technion-microsoft-simule-lenvironnement-start-ups/
Your TV interacts with your smartphone
Israel’s Applicaster lets you watch a program on your TV set whilst interacting with the program and its characters on your smartphone. Applicaster has released more than 100 mobile apps for 36 broadcasters, including Fox International and Mediacorp.
http://venturebeat.com/2015/02/17/applicaster-scores-10-5m-so-more-tv-characters-can-become-your-mobile-buddies/
Israeli technology with every diamond
If you’ve got a diamond on your finger, there’s an 80% chance it’s been touched by Israel’s Sarine. (Stop the automatic video sequence at the end of the Sarine clip)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-02-18/diamonds-too-expensive-blame-technology
http://sarine.com/about-us/about-us-2/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
GDP up 7.2%; exports up 7.3%
Israel’s economy expanded at its fastest rate in almost eight years in the fourth quarter, with overall GDP growing an annualized 7.2 percent, following previous estimates of 3.3%. The recovery was seen in all segments – exports, Government spending, investment and business GDP.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/16/us-israel-gdp-idUSKBN0LK11Z20150216
New car deliveries up 23%
Israeli demand for new cars is a key indicator of economic optimism. So the 23% rise in deliveries in Jan 2015 compared to Jan 2014 (itself a record month) was significant.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-highest-ever-monthly-car-deliveries-1001006986
An all-Israeli cyber takeover
Israel’s strength in cyber security was evidenced when Israel’s SuperCom acquired Israel’s PreVision. SuperCom’s NASDAQ share price has risen 1600% in two years.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-supercom-buys-israeli-cyber-security-co-prevision-1000999265
Aiming to transform London’s banking
15 Israeli financial technologies startups will showcase their innovation to UK finance leaders in London on March 2-5. The 15 won their places in the 2015 TeXchange Fintech challenge, organized by the UK Israel Tech Hub at the British Embassy in Israel.
https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/israels-exciting-fintech-startups-to-pursue-business-collaboration-in-the-uk
The Rhode Island – Israel partnership
Rhode Island has followed the path set by its New England neighbor Massachusetts and developed strong business relationships with the Startup Nation. Latest joint projects include R-I Hospital with Israel’s Timocco and Crawford HPC with Israel’s Softwheel.
http://m.providencejournal.com/article/20150213/NEWS/150219639/2011/OPINION/?Start=1
Israeli business leaders open London Stock Exchange
On 17 Nov 2014 a delegation of CEOs/CFOs from Israeli companies formally opened the day’s trading on the London Stock Exchange.
https://twitter.com/ukinisrael/status/534344480158388224
Infosys to buy Israeli auto-tech company
India’s giant IT company Infosys is acquiring Israel’s Panaya Inc for $200 million in cash. Panaya was among the top 100 global tech start-ups in 2009. It provides automation technology for companies such as Mercedes Benz, Sony and Unilever.
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/companies/infosys-to-buy-israeli-start-up-for-200-million/
Apple’s new Israeli offices
Take a look inside Apple’s new offices for its 800 employees in Herzliya. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook is scheduled to open the offices this week.
http://9to5mac.com/2015/02/16/apple-israel-offices-gallery/
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Seven species book wins international award
Chana Bracha Siegelbaum’s book “The Seven Fruits of the Land of Israel” has just received two prestigious Gourmand Awards for 2015. Chana delves into the mystical and medicinal properties of Israel’s seven Biblical food crops, while also offering pages of wholesome recipes.
http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/28911/delicious-journey-of-the-seven-species-of-the-land-of-israel-culture-and-literature/#DUgkH1lAH3bXIvrV.97
Raining chocolates in Tel Aviv
The 3-day Tel Aviv Chocolate Festival featured chocolate shwarmas and kebabs, to chocolate jewelry, sculptures, chocolate sushi-making and even a chocolate spa. 20,000 attended.
http://www.israel21c.org/news/shokoland-chocolate-festival-returns-to-tel-aviv/
Israeli glass on display
Tel Aviv’s Eretz Israel Museum is displaying the works of 62 Israeli glass artists. They range from tiny and intimate objects to large sculptures, from wall hangings to floor and ceiling works, and from room-size installations to conceptual works.
http://www.eretzmuseum.org.il/e/332/
Night-surfing in the Med
About 40 Israeli surfers took part in a night-surfing competition in the Mediterranean Sea off Ashdod, southern Israel. Gil Beach is one of the best places to catch waves in Israel and Ashdod set up special lights there for night surfing several years ago.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/night-surfing-in-the-mediterranean/article22800580/
THE JEWISH STATE
Bulgaria terror victim weds woman who helped him recover
Daniel Fahima, was critically wounded in the Burgas, Bulgaria terror attack two years ago, which killed five other Israeli tourists. He has just married the woman who sat by his bedside while he was in the hospital, helping him get through a long period of recovery.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4628607,00.html
Borrow the book at the bus stop
A reminder that Israel’s bus stop libraries are still operating and expanding – such as the new library at Emek Refaim in Jerusalem. Borrowed books can be returned to any branch.
https://jerusalembusstoplibrary.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JerusalemBusStopLibrary
Adversity inspires entrepreneurship
It was a chance in a million that Tel Aviv married couple Michael and Jessica would both develop Type 1 diabetes after the birth of their first child. They used their “misfortune”, however, to help them found the popular diabetes on-line magazine “ASweetLife”.
http://www.israel21c.org/headlines/living-the-sweet-life-with-diabetes/
http://asweetlife.org/
Above and Beyond
“Above and Beyond”, screened at the San Diego Jewish Film Festival, is the story of Israel’s Air Force. Produced by Nancy Spielberg (sister of Steven), it tells of the miraculous events involving volunteers who risked their lives in order to secure a Jewish homeland. Highly recommended.
http://www.sdjewishworld.com/2015/02/17/beyond-tells-nascent-israel-air-force/
Leading lost Jews to the Promised Land
A detailed profile of Michael Freund, founder of Shavei Israel – an organization dedicated to returning to Israel, people with a tradition that trace their ancestry to Jews exiled from the Jewish homeland.http://tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/189072/becoming-moses.
https://tabletmag.creatavist.com/becoming-moses
The land of blue and white
The colors of the Israeli flag have been replicated in the recent weather of the Jewish State. Blue skies earlier in the week turned into dense white clouds, precipitating rain into blue rivers and lakes. And then white snow enveloped the country from the Golan, to Jerusalem and the Negev desert.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/191606#.VObnyCwpqSo
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