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Good News Israel Archive from the week of April 24, 2016: Israeli company develops a clinical-outcome prediction platform, a behavioral analytics engine and risk meter, to stop diabetes before it starts; You’ll be pleased to hear that Israel isn’t contributing to any of the perceived chemical impacts on climate change, and much more.
By: Michael Ordman
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
An app to prevent diabetes
Israel’s Sweetch has developed a clinical-outcome prediction platform, a behavioral analytics engine and risk meter, to stop diabetes before it starts. Sweetch’s proprietary machine-learning algorithms detect pre-diabetes seven times more accurately than existing clinical evaluation.
http://www.israel21c.org/stopping-diabetes-before-it-even-starts/
US approves treatment for severe asthma
The U.S. FDA has approved Cinqair – the asthma treatment from Israel’s Teva – for adults who have a history of severe attacks despite taking medication. More than 22 million Americans had asthma as of 2013, and there are more than 400,000 asthma-related hospitalizations each year.
http://www.reuters.com/article/teva-pharm-ind-fda-idUSL3N16V45V
Good results in Leukemia treatment trials
Israel’s BioSight is pleased with its Phase I/IIa study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its Astarabine treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and relapsed/refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biosight-completed-treatment-of-patients-in-astarabine-phase-iiia-clinical-trial-300253764.html
Training 100 medics in the desert
In Israel’s Negev desert it sometimes takes United Hatzalah’s emergency medical services half an hour to reach remote communities. So it is running a training course to increase the numbers of its EMS volunteers from 150 to 250. Its goal is at least one volunteer in every village and kibbutz.
http://jpupdates.com/2016/04/17/israels-united-hatzalah-ems-organization-expands-to-the-negev/
Red Cross praise Israeli disaster aid
International Committee of the Red Cross’s chief surgeon, Dr. Harald Veen, attended Israel’s “Surgical Management in Austere Environments” conference. He said Israel is a role model for disaster medicine as “Israelis have the knowledge and experience” to excel in emergencies.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-a-role-model-for-disaster-medicine-says-red-cross-chief-surgeon/
UNESCO chief praises Israeli initiative
At UNESCO’s Paris headquarters, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova inaugurated the second leg of a photo exhibition showcasing the Israeli Education Without Borders initiative – a project aimed at providing education to hospitalized children.
http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/unesco-chief-irina-bokova-praises-israeli-educational-initiative-in-favor-of-hospitalized-children-4-4-2016
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Help Sobar open a safe place for Jerusalem kids
Sobar’s no-alcohol music bar for Jerusalem youth is hoping to open in May. Please help make this a reality by donating to their Headstart fundraising campaign.
https://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/the-jerusalem-sobar-music-club-for-youth–2
Ezer Mizion volunteers – no salary is the best salary
Esther looks like any other religious woman. Like most Ezer Mizion volunteers she thrives on giving. Every day is different – cooking for an exhausted new mother’s family or tackling the ever-growing pile of laundry, Esther is just happy to help.
http://www.ezermizion.org/blog/no-salary-is-the-best-salary/
Credit card for the needy
Colel Chabad has launched a special prepaid credit card for needy Israeli families to use to buy food with dignity. The Eshel Card can be used in selected grocery store chains.
http://www.jewishvoiceny.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14032:israeli-food-bank-launches-charity-credit-card-for-beneficiaries&catid=107:israel&Itemid=290
Israelis pass anti-Apartheid test
A controversial social experiment was conducted in Israel, placing signs saying “Jews Only” on benches, sidewalks and even on beaches. Watch what Israelis did to those signs.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-israelis-reject-apartheid/
Telling the truth about Israel
Judith Bergman writes about Israel’s humanitarian work and begs that everyone tells the world about all the good Israel does. I certainly would agree with that!
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=15759
An Israeli water incubator for LA
The Office of the US President announced 30 water initiatives on World Water Day. One was the setting up of the Los Angeles Cleantech incubator that will introduce 10 Israeli companies in water, energy, and agricultural technologies to California and their nearly 123,000 farmers.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/white-house-taps-israeli-tech-to-help-solve-california-water-problems/
Israel is still helping Nepal recover
Contrary to the lies of the BDS supporters, Israel doesn’t just show up at disaster areas and leave. They are still working in Nepal – a year after the two earthquakes that killed 9,000.
http://www.israel21c.org/a-year-after-quake-israelis-still-helping-nepal-recover/
Earthquake aid to Japan and Ecuador
Israel’s IsraAID is the only foreign humanitarian organization still in Japan providing assistance five years after the devastating tsunami. As such, its volunteers and workers were able to offer almost immediate emergency assistance to earthquake victims in Kumamoto city. IsraAID has also sent a 15-person search-and-rescue team and medics to Ecuador, in the aftermath of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 16. http://www.israel21c.org/israeli-aid-teams-join-relief-operations-in-japan-ecuador/
Warm welcome for Singapore PM
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong headed a 60-member delegation to Israel – the first ever by a Singaporean leader. Lee praised Israel’s innovation and industry and thanked Israel for their decades-long defense aid to his country.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/netanyahu-meets-singapores-prime-minister-in-truly-historic-occasion/
Birthright highlights Israeli achievements
Taglit-Birthright Israel is opening the “State of Mind” center for entrepreneurship and innovation in Tel Aviv. Tour groups will see Israeli entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology in areas such as agriculture, medicine, defense, cybersecurity, transportation, and aerospace.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-birthright-israel-to-open-innovation-center-in-tel-aviv-1001118609
Six Israeli universities in world’s top 100
Six Israeli universities are among the world’s top 100 universities in the 2016 QS World University Rankings by Subject. They are Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, Technion Institute, Weizmann Institute, Ben-Gurion University and Bar-Ilan University.
http://www.jns.org/news-briefs/2016/3/22/038jtzo11w6xzsmqky2hfomwjnx0vo#.VxeXBUfn95Q=
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Almost zero carbon output
You’ll be pleased to hear that Israel isn’t contributing to any of the perceived chemical impacts on climate change. In fact, Israel is one of the major innovators of solutions to famine and drought.
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/israel-remains-a-leader-in-climate-change-technology/
Cleaner garbage trucks
Israel is to install emission filters on 500 garbage trucks. They will filter out 97 percent of the cancer-causing fumes emitted from the diesel trucks, according to the Environmental Protection Ministry, at a cost of NIS 10 million.
http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Garbage-trucks-to-get-greener-451485
Grow more with less water
A new video showing how Israeli water technology has developed in the last 50 years to produce 700% more crops with the same quantity of this precious resource.
Hundreds attend UK-Israel science conference
Top medical researchers (250 British, 100 Israeli) attended the annual BIRAX Conference in Oxford, England. BIRAX (Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange) focuses on regenerative medicine to fight diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s and heart conditions.
https://www.britishcouncil.org/organisation/press/top-british-and-israeli-scientists-attend-birax-conference
Nanotech materials conference
600 delegates attended the first-ever Innovations in Advanced Materials conference. It showcased breakthrough nanotechnologies from Hebrew University of Jerusalem scientists for use in everything from sensors and coating materials to electronics and 3D printing.
http://www.israel21c.org/when-size-matters-tiny-innovations-for-a-better-world/
http://www.timesofisrael.com/instant-light-safe-driving-indestructible-threads-all-part-of-nano-future/
Very small startups
Some of the Israeli nanotech startups featured at Jerusalem’s Innovations in Advanced Materials conference include: BioNanoSim and TrioxNano (therapy delivery), Voyager Medical (surgical sutures), OphRx (eye-drops), Neteera (bio-sensors). Neoprol (anesthetics), NanoAF (antibacterial coating) and MercuRemoval (toxic chemical removal).
http://www.bio-light.co.il/ophrx-non-invasive-topical-drug-delivery-technology/
http://www.neteera.com/
http://www.integra-holdings.com/portfolio-items/neoprol/
http://www.nanoaf.com/
http://www.mercuremoval.com/
The Israeli “Cyber Olympics”
Hundreds of kids gathered in Tel Aviv to compete for the title of Israeli Cyber Champ 2016. The massive gaming project competition aims to encourage students to choose tech as a career. One sponsor is Israel’s SanDisk – inventor of “disk on key” and a sponsor of the Rio Olympics.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-cyber-olympic-kid-finalists-vie-for-championship/
This app will make you laugh
Comedy.com is a new mobile app designed for high-quality, short-form comedy videos. Founded by Israelis Barak Shragai and Dor Mizrahi, the startup just launched its free app on both iOS and Android. Comedy.com has just raised $1.5 million of funding.
http://nocamels.com/2016/04/israeli-video-app-comedy-com/
Less electricity keeps hotel cool
Chiller Smart Management System from Israel’s Elencon Systems analyzes weather and location; predicts hourly conditions and switches off air-conditioners without sacrificing comfort. The annual $150,000 cost of cooling the Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center has been slashed by $50,000.
http://www.israel21c.org/smart-software-keeps-buildings-cool-using-less-electricity/
Smart hotel apps
Tel Aviv – the Smartest City in the World in 2014 – is leading an integration of Israeli travel apps into 12% of the city’s hotels. The apps, Howazit, Dotz and Aspectiva, will communicate between guests and the hotel and give tourists details of activities and events.
http://israelforeignaffairs.com/2016/04/the-smartest-city-tel-aviv-leads-integration-of-local-travel-apps-in-hotels/
A smarter kayak
Israel’s Motionize has developed sensors and proprietary algorithms to help kayak paddlers improve their performance. Motionize’s product is already helping the US team train for the Rio Olympics.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-startup-motionize-develops-smart-kayak-1001118599
Don’t text while driving
Israel’s Cellebrite – the company that (probably) unlocked a terrorist’s iPhone for the FBI – has launched the “textalyser” to detect drivers who used their phone before an accident. One in five deaths from road traffic accidents in the UK in the last five years have been caused by drivers using their phone.
http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/israeli-firm-behind-device-to-let-police-know-of-smart-phone-use-behind-the-wheel/
Israel’s Iron Mole
Israel has developed what is dubbed “The Iron Dome for Tunnels”. Its sensors and algorithms successfully located a Hamas tunnel reaching 90 feet into Israel from the Gaza Strip. The USA is interested in the technology for locating tunnels dug by smugglers across the Mexican border.
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/israels-iron-mole-offers-technological-solution-to-terror-tunnels-boosting-idf-deterrence/2016/04/19/
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-seeks-us-aid-in-thwarting-tunnels-1001118893
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Check out Ramon International Airport
Flights at the new Ramon International Airport in Timna, 10km north of Eilat, are expected to begin taking off in 2017. The airport is named after Ilan Ramon – Israel’s first astronaut and his son Assaf and will initially handle two million passengers a year.
http://www.touristisrael.com/ramon-airport/17886/
Motorola’s new Israel innovation center
US technology giant Motorola Solutions is to establish an innovation center in Israel focusing on cyber, analytics, mobile and the Internet of Things. Motorola said its Israeli branch is “a strategic asset”. In the 1970’s Motorola’s first center outside North America was in Israel.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/210893#.VxR470fn95Q
An app to connect with young philanthropists
Israeli start-up PocketCause has developed a digital platform to encourage young smartphone users to donate to non-profit organizations. Users follow or like a social cause on Facebook and can send messages and donations, through the app, directly to the organization.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-digital-giving-app-could-revolutionize-charity-biz/
Bayer invests in Israeli agriculture
International giant Bayer has made a $10 million investment in a new fund that Israel’s Trendlines has set up to support Israeli agro-tech start-ups. In the five-year deal, Bayer will work with Israeli firms developing bio-pesticides, packaging, and crop and animal breeding technologies
http://www.timesofisrael.com/bayer-to-invest-10-million-in-israeli-ag-tech-fund/
Israeli wines win German competition
Israeli wineries won four gold medals and five silver at the international Mundus Vini Competition in Dusseldorf, Germany, which featured over 5000 global wines. Galil Mountain Alon 2012 won the prestigious Grand Gold medal.
http://jewishlinkbc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12343:israeli-wines-sweep-dusseldorf-wine-competition&catid=157:food&Itemid=569
Hub Etzion is open
A Hub Etzion Launch Party was held at the first co-working space in Gush Etzion. The hub will utilize working space and offer shared resources to startups.
http://www.baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=72667
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Israel’s new national library breaks ground
The new National Library of Israel (NLI) broke ground last week, in a cornerstone-laying ceremony led by President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in Jerusalem. The stunningly designed 45,000-square-meter building will be completed in 2020.
http://nocamels.com/2016/04/israel-national-library-breaks-ground/
Jazz player Pat Metheny to perform in Israel
Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny will be performing in Herzliya on June 14 and Rishon Lezion on June 15. Metheny, last visited Israel was in 2011, and is one of the world’s important jazz musicians. He has won 20 Grammys and is a member of the Jazz Hall of Fame.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4775515,00.html
Carlos Santana is coming to Israel
Six years after cancelling his previous Israeli concert, Mexican rock legend Carlos Santana will put on a show in the city’s Yarkon Park, on July 30.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4781985,00.html
Ma’agalim – circles
Uri Lotan’s animation music video for the song “Ma’agalim” (Circles) by Israeli folk-rock band Jane Bordeaux has had over 70,000 views in just a few days.
http://paulcpw.blogspot.co.il/2016/04/maagalim-circles-jane-bordeaux.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzGCXnN0emU (2013 live performance)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgHHph-CrC8 (animation video)
Thank you Morgan Freeman
Hollywood star Morgan Freeman was proud to post a photo of his visit to Israel on his Facebook site. Please add to the positive comments by thanking him using this link.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/act-now-thank-hollywood-star-morgan-freeman-for-visiting-israel/
Skiing in Israel
What comes to mind when you think of Israel? Desert? Camels? How about snow? Or skiing? Mount Hermon – the highest point in Israel at 2,236 meters (7,336 feet) – is Israel’s ski resort.
Things to do on Chol Hamoed (middle days of Passover)
Some ideas of where to go during the intermediate days of the festival of Passover. Many are free – especially for children. Note the Geek picnic in Jerusalem.
http://yeahthatskosher.com/2016/04/things-to-do-in-israel-chol-hamoed-pesach-passover/
http://www.touristisrael.stfi.re/geek-picnic-in-jerusalem-israel/18219/?sf=rkzdpa
Israelis win Euro Judoka medals
For the second year in a row, Israeli judoka Or Sasson won the silver medal at the European Championships in the men’s over 100kg category. Israel’s Timna Nelson-Levy won bronze in the women’s under 57kg division.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/211322#.VxvEtUfn95Q
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sports/Nelson-Levy-medals-for-Israel-at-Euros-452018
THE JEWISH STATE
Pope’s skull cap raises money for SACH
Two years ago Pope Francis swapped one of his white skullcaps (calotte) with a TV journalist who has now donated it to an online auction to raise money for the Israeli charity, Save a Child’s Heart. SACH doctors perform life-saving cardiac surgery on children from developing countries.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/pope-francis-skullcap-auctioned-to-raise-funds-for-israeli-life-saving-organization/
If on-line media told the Exodus story
This humorous yet educational video questions how today’s media would have handled the reporting on the Jewish exodus from Egypt over 3000 years ago.
From Biblical town to modern city
Beer Sheva, the capital of the Negev desert, was one of the towns where Abraham lived. It is now a modern city containing Ben Gurion University, a leading cyber-technology park, interesting museums and a vibrant night life – all contributing to the economic and cultural boom of the city.
Pharaoh’s amulet found in Temple Mount debris
Archaeologists have deciphered a 3,200-year-old Egyptian amulet found whilst sifting debris dumped by the Muslim Waqf when building on Temple Mount. It contains the name of Pharaoh Thutmose III, who reigned Egypt from 1479 BCE to 1425 BCE
http://www.timesofisrael.com/girl-12-finds-ancient-egyptian-amulet-at-jerusalem-dig/
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