Good News Israel Archive from the week of July 10, 2016: Israel’s Oramed that will make life better for many of the 400 million people with diabetes with oral insulin; Israel has delivered 13 drip irrigation systems from Israel’s Netafim to farmers in San Pedro, Paraguay, and much more.

 

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Good progress on dry-AMD treatment trials

Human trials of OpRegen from Israeli biotech Cell Cure at Hadassah Medical Center are proceeding well. This unique stem cell therapy aims to stop progression of the dry form of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) that leads to blindness.
http://www.hadassah.org/news-stories/clinical-trial-for-blindness.html

Oral insulin to replace injections

Israeli TV news reported about the innovative treatment from Israel’s Oramed that will make life better for many of the 400 million people with diabetes.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/214498#.V3uKKjUbNf4

When you cannot eat

Many sufferers from cancer, stroke, cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s cannot take food orally. Israel’s Fidmi Medical is developing an innovative enteral feeding device that is secure, reliable, painless and discreet. It is extremely unlikely to get clogged up or be dislodged by (potentially fatal) accident.
http://trendlines.com/portfolio/fidmi/

Studying cancer in space

Israeli startup SpacePharma is working with Bioscience engineering faculty and students at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in a $1.75 million research project that will use research in space to find new cancer cures. They will launch a “lab-on-a-chip” with cancer cells inside in a micro satellite that will orbit the earth, studying how cancer cells behave in zero gravity and micro gravity environments.
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/SUNY-Poly-Israeli-firm-to-study-cancer-in-space-8333922.php
http://www.space4p.com/?page_id=163

UK fellowship award for Israeli CF Professor

The UK’s Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health has awarded an Honorary Fellowship to Professor. Eitan Kerem, head of the Division of Pediatrics at the Hadassah Medical Center and cystic fibrosis specialist. He was praised especially for his work training Palestinian Arab pediatricians in his cystic fibrosis clinic, and treating Palestinian Arab children.
http://www.hadassah.org/news-stories/royal-college-of-pediatrics-award.html

 

ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL

Conference for religious female entrepreneurs

Over 650 women attended the 7th annual Temech Conference for Israeli Female Entrepreneurs on Jun 28 in Jerusalem. Parallel programs were offered in English and Hebrew. Temech was started by Anglos but Hebrew speakers were in the majority this year.
http://www.baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=75262

Beyachad – together

The latest JNF newsletter contains many great features on JNF’s latest activities not only in the fields of water technology, but also in coexistence and diversity projects like support for Bedouin Arabs and “Baseball for All”.

http://www.jnf.org/byachad/

Free sports in Jerusalem for lone soldiers

Jerusalem’s municipality has given season tickets to all lone soldiers for the Kiryat Yovel sports center. Free pool, gym and studio classes like yoga and Pilates.

https://www.facebook.com/nir.barkat/photos/a.163572597082036.27441.159416337497662/866408356798453/?type=3&theater

Thank you for saving my daughter

Hadassah doctors saved Palestinian Arab student Sara al Qassriwy (Katzroy) who collapsed while jogging. Now, her father has shown his gratitude by hosting a Hadassah interfaith mission with a festive meal in his Bethlehem home.
http://www.hadassah.org/news-stories/hadassah-interfaith-mission.html

Rail link for Arab trade

Israel is due to open in October a new 40-mile rail line between Haifa and a terminal 5 miles short of the Jordanian border. Trade between Israel and Jordan increased 65% between 2010 and 2015 as trucks with European goods travel on to Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the Gulf.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-builds-railway-in-hope-of-boosting-commerce-with-arab-neighbors-1466614190

Tanzania to open embassy in Israel

The Tanzanian government has said it has decided to open an embassy in Israel in a move aimed to promote economic diplomacy and “following the economic development Israel has made in agriculture, science and technology”.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201606220625.html
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/363730#.V3qakjUbNf4

Africa needs Israel

During the visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said Israel is a critical partner in the battle against terrorism, the most serious challenge facing the world today. President Kenyatta vowed to work to upgrade Israel’s status in the African Union.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/During-historic-Netanyahu-visit-Kenyan-president-says-Africa-needs-Israel-459548

Drip irrigation for Paraguay

Israel has delivered 13 drip irrigation systems from Israel’s Netafim to farmers in San Pedro, Paraguay. It is part of the “Family Drip System” plan led by Paraguayan agronomist Edgar Figueredo, a graduate of Mashav – Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-deliver-drip-irrigation-systems-to-paraguayan-farmers/

HUJ VP gets France’s highest honor

Yossi Gal, the Vice President for Advancement and External Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has been named a Commander of France’s Legion of Honor. Prior to joining the Hebrew University, he served as Israel’s Ambassador to France.
http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/31554

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Purifying water using plants

Israeli startup Ayala Water & Ecology provides a solution to water purification which lies within nature itself. Its flagship product, called Natural Biological System (NBS), uses containers full of plants to act as a biological filter for wastewater treatment.
http://nocamels.com/2016/06/ayala-purifies-water-using-plants/

http://www.ayala-aqua.com/#

Israeli finalists for Shengjing Awards

Three Israeli startups have won through to the finals of this year’s Shengjing Awards in China. They are Boomerang, NiniSpeech (stutter cure) and AerialGuard (drone navigation). Israel’s DiACardio won last year’s award.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/3-israeli-start-ups-to-vie-for-chinese-prize-money-limelight/

Israel-Korea project to grow grapes using drones

Korea and Israel are to work together in developing a system of growing grapes through utilization of amphibious and commercial UAVs and big data. They will also co-develop a grape cultivation and growth control system for entering the new Chinese wine market.

http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/english/news/industry/15035-uva-joint-development-korea-israel-co-developing-unmanned-aerial-vehicles

Using drones to retrieve stolen cars

Israeli startup Ituran uses Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs/drones) to track down vehicles stolen in Israel and then taken to Palestinian Authority towns. It helped to keep car theft down to 5400 vehicles between January and May – 19% less than in the same period in 2015.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4818824,00.html

Traffic control for drones

Israeli startup Arbe Robotics has a solution to prevent collisions between the increasing numbers of unmanned air vehicles (drones). It uses radar technology – radio frequencies – to help drones detect objects and avoid crashing. Arbe won the TechCrunch Meetup and Pitch-Off event in Tel Aviv.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/arbe-robotics-uses-radar-to-avoid-drone-crashes/
https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/22/tel-aviv-meetup-winners/

Israeli satellite to secure Rio Olympics

Israeli high-resolution imaging satellite Eros-B will strengthen security during the Rio Olympics. Brazilian Defense Minister Raul Jungmann said “This is an Israeli satellite at a low Earth orbit altitude capable of capturing high-resolution images of up to 50 centimeters in an area of 450 kilometers.”

http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-satellite-to-secure-rio-olympics/

Music to your ears

Israeli startup MeQ Inc has developed earphones that adapt to your unique hearing condition. The Even Headphones incorporate an “earprint” facility which allow the listener to lower the volume and protect against further hearing problems from being over-exposed to loud music.
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Tech/Israeli-start-ups-headphones-adapt-to-peoples-unique-earprints-459192

https://www.engadget.com/2016/06/28/even-headphones/

 

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Record $1.4 billion raised by startups

Israeli startups broke all records for the most funds raised in a quarter. The $1.4 billion raised from Apr to Jun beat the $1 billion in Q1 2016 and the £1.1 billion in Q2 2015.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-startups-raised-record-14b-in-q-1001136992

$3.32 billion in six months

Israeli startups are still in high demand. In the first half of 2016 there were 45 exits by Israeli startups worth $3.32 billion. They include the $811 million acquisition of EZchip by Mellanox, the $643 million buyout of Xura, and the $430 million acquisition of Ravello Systems by Oracle.
http://www.israel21c.org/israeli-exits-in-first-half-of-2016-total-3-32-billion/

$100 million Israeli fund makes first investment

The $100 million Israel Biotech Fund (IBF), founded to invest in Israeli bio-techs, has made its first investment in cancer treatment developer Vidac. Vida’s VDA-1102 is the first ointment that selectively targets malignant skin cancer cells with minimal effects on surrounding healthy skin.

http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-biotech-fund-raises-100m-1001136253

Another 9 joint US-Israel projects

The Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation approved funding (worth $21.5 million) for nine new projects. The Israeli companies involved are Cellect Biotechnology, Evogene, File X, Hinoman, IAI, Kamada, Keystone Heart, MedAware and Mellanox.
http://www.birdf.com/?CategoryID=427&ArticleID=511

Bosch opens Israel R&D center

Bosch Group has established a research and technology office in Tel Aviv. Bosch CEO Volkmar Denner said “Pioneering spirit, world-class universities, and creative ideas – they’re all here. It’s just the right environment for groundbreaking innovations, and thus for Bosch as well”.
http://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/israel-country-innovations-start-ups-bosch-establishes-research-office-tel-aviv/

Israeli cybersecurity boom is sustainable

Isaac Ben Israel, who heads the Interdisciplinary Cyber Research Center (ICRC) at Tel Aviv University, reckons the massive growth in Israel’s security industry will continue. “Israel is the only country where you can choose cybersecurity in high school,” he said at Cyber Week.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/06/22/isreal_cybersecurity_boom/

Mobileye is world’s 6th smartest company

MIT Technology Review ranks Israel’s Mobileye sixth on a list of the world’s 50 “smartest” companies. Mobileye is working on autopilot and collision avoidance technology for Audi, BMW, General Motors, Nissan, Tesla, Volkswagen, and Volvo.
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=34521

Mighty Israeli tahini

Israel’s Rushdi Foods Industries has launched Mighty Sesame Tahini. It is made from just one ingredient‑ Ethiopian sesame seed – no preservatives, sugar, salt, or any artificial ingredients. Over 21% protein and ten times higher in calcium than cream cheese.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ready-to-use-next-gen-tahini-launches-at-fancy-food-300286852.html

http://www.ilovesesame.com/lp/

Microsoft’s latest accelerator graduates

Ten Israeli startups have just completed Microsoft Israel’s latest “Scalerator” program, bringing a total of 83 that have graduated from the eight programs to date. Six of the ten have already raised investments or received investment offers for a total of $27 million.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/microsoft-israel-accelerator-graduates-raise-27-million/

 

CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT

A taste of Israeli wines from the Judean hills

From Bible times till today, the Judean Hills near Jerusalem has been the home of some of the region’s finest vineyards. The owners of the Castel Winery, Mony Winery and Zion Winery have unique stories to tell.

Carlos Santana donates concert proceeds

Despite BDS pressure, singer and guitarist Carlos Santana is looking forward to his Tel Aviv concert on 30th July. He has even donated his proceeds to the Israel charity Hand In Hand, an organization that brings together thousands of Jews and Arabs in 6 schools throughout Israel.
http://www.israellycool.com/2016/06/25/carlos-santana-excited-to-come-back-to-tel-aviv/
https://www.handinhandk12.org/

http://www.milagrofoundation.org/news.asp
https://www.facebook.com/carlossantana/?fref=ts%C2%A0

Morrissey to perform in Israel

Having performed in Israel in 2008 and 2012, legendary British singer Morrissey is once again returning to the Holy Land, for two concerts on August 22 at Tel Aviv’s Mann Auditorium and August 24 at the Caesarea Amphitheater.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/King-of-Mope-Morrissey-returns-to-Israel-for-two-August-concerts-457895

Ramon’s Piano

Tal Ramon, second son of Israel’s first astronaut Ilan Ramon, has just released his first album, “Character” (Dmut in Hebrew). He was inspired to take up music thanks to his father Ilan, the son of a piano teacher who survived Auschwitz, and in 1974 spent his entire first paycheck a Steinway piano.
http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/music/204984/ramons-piano

White Night Tel Aviv

Here is a montage of the huge number of all-night events that took place on Jun 30th.
http://www.itraveltelaviv.com/events/white-night-events

 

THE JEWISH STATE

The largest donation to an Israeli University

A $400 million gift to Ben-Gurion University from the estate of Howard and Lottie Marcus is believed to be the largest-ever bequest on behalf of an Israeli university. Much of it goes to BGU’s Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, which studies sustainable use of water resources, desalination technologies, water quality, and microbiology.
https://aabgu.org/marcus-family-donates-400-million-to-bgu/

Miracle at Entebbe

Please watch this exciting six-and-a half-minute video summary of the IDF raid to free 102 Jewish hostages at Entebbe airport Uganda, 40 years ago – hailed as the most daring rescue in the history of the modern Jewish State.
http://www.israelvideonetwork.com/the-most-unbelievable-rescue-mission-in-history/

A Bat Mitzvah for 100 Holocaust survivors

About a hundred Holocaust survivors, ages 75-95, celebrated their “coming of age” Bat Mitzvah ceremony at the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem. The event was arranged by the charity Ezer Mizion, for women who were prevented by the Nazis from celebrating at age 12.
http://www.ezermizion.org/blog/i-missed-mine/

Re-planting the Garden of Eden

The Hava V’Adam (Adam and Eve) Ecological Farm near the Israeli city of Modi’in is organizing the planting of an ecological orchard – an edible forest of fruit trees and herbs. Residents of the Modi’in neighborhood are able to take part in establishing and maintaining the garden.
http://www.modiinfo.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=5370:planting-the-ecological-orchard&Itemid=178

http://www.havaveadam.org/

 

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