Very Good News Israel

The Jewish State in its true light.

By Michael Ordman, 

highlights include:

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Successful trials of TB diagnosis patch. (TY Hazel) Six years ago (see here previously) Technion scientists began developing a sensing plaster to detect tuberculosis biomarkers on the skin. Now, trials of the A-Patch, in India and South Africa, have showed high effectiveness. TB affects around one third of the world’s population.
https://www.israel21c.org/a-skin-sticker-that-can-diagnose-tuberculosis/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLS5hvwxspo  https://apatch.technion.ac.il/a-patch-project/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/advs.202100235

GPS therapy for inflammatory diseases. Professor Dan Peer of Tel Aviv University (see here previously) has extended the effectiveness of his nanoparticle therapies. He has taken the RNA technology used in coronavirus vaccines to target only the specific T-cells and genes responsible for inflammatory diseases.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-new-gps-nano-drug-busts-inflammation-touted-as-antibody-replacement/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-021-00928-x  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZvlC7i9PQk

The world’s smartest hospitals. (TY Atid-EDI) Newsweek’s “The World’s Best Smart Hospitals” ranked Sheba (Tel Hashomer) at 13, Sourasky (Ichilov) at 84, Hadassah Ein Kerem, Jerusalem at 196 and Rabin (Beilinson) at 215. The criteria was robotic surgery, digital imaging, AI, telemedicine, and electronic medicine.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-4-israeli-hospitals-ranked-in-newsweeks-world-best-smart-hospitals-1001374071

Personalized AI medication platform. Israel’s MDI Health Technologies (see here previously) has launched its end-to-end AI platform for personalized medication. Trials at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital showed that the platform presented up to 40% more life-saving patient insights than the clinical pharmacists had identified.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3911335,00.html   https://www.mdihealth.com/

AI powered ultrasonic heart imaging. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s DiA Imaging is partnering Canada’s Circle Cardiovascular Imaging (CCI). DiA’s AI Ultrasound imaging analysis systems will be integrated into CCI’s cardiovascular imaging equipment.  https://www.dia-analysis.com/post/circle-cardiovascular-imaging-announces-partnership-with-dia-to-deliver-ai-based-imaging-solutions

Nine tests using home telemedicine device. (TY Hazel) The N9 portable home device from Israel’s Nonagon (previously MyHomeDoc reported here) now includes stethoscope (lung, heart etc. sounds); otoscope (ears); oximeter (pulse and oxygen) and thermometer. It also uses patient’s smartphone camera (throat & skin tests).
https://www.israel21c.org/new-telehealth-device-makes-home-visits-a-virtual-snap/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRnlI0E6x4s

Rapid diagnosis of blood cancer. Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek hospital is piloting the diagnosis of blood cancer using cutting-edge AI technology from Israel’s Sight Diagnostics (see here previously). Data and images from Sight’s OLO device, plus patient data can identify malignant lymphocytes and spot early hematological cancer.
https://nocamels.com/2021/07/shaare-zedek-pilots-ai-olo-sight-diagnostics/

Go with the gut. A great summary of the work that Weizmann scientists have been conducting on the microbiome (bacteria in the gut) that led to the founding of startup DayTwo. Diabetics can now have their gut microbiome analyzed and receive a personalized nutrition plan. (2016 video still relevant – 3 million views)
https://nocamels.com/2021/06/gut-israeli-research-microbiome-personalized-diets/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z03xkwFbw4  https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mSystems.00665-20

Brain profiler to go into space. (TY UWI) Israel’s Montfort (see here previously) has launched a new version of its smartphone app, called “Brain Profiler” to diagnose psychosis, depression and anxiety. It will be sent to the International Space Station in 2022 to test and monitor Israel’s Eytan Stibbe and his fellow astronauts.
https://www.israel21c.org/a-smartphone-technology-to-diagnose-psychiatric-diseases/  https://mon4t.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PlTXt-OUiI

150 new ambucycles. United Hatzalah held a dedication ceremony for its new Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Ambucycle Unit. Dr Miriam donated 150 ambucycles (motorcycle ambulances), in the memory of Sheldon, to join the 1,000 existing vehicles used in their emergency paramedic work.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/miriam-adelson-donates-150-life-saving-ambucycles-to-united-hatzalah/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnQNTxj0n5M

ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL

18 years of donating food to the needy.  Israeli food rescue organization Leket celebrates 18 years of taking food that would only go to waste and distributing it to those who need it. 18 years is represented by the letters Chai in Hebrew which means “Life”.  Leket gives life to the poor of Israel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlH40QjNq0o   https://www.leket.org/en/18-years-of-leket/

Summer camp for everyone. Camp Shalva offers eight weeks of life-changing experiences to over 300 children with disabilities every summer. They experience water sports, concerts, rollercoasters, and more. It also allows their families to receive invaluable respite.  https://www.shalva.org/programs-therapies/
https://shalva.net/donation/camp.php?mc_cid=5fff4e4961&mc_eid=b130ca8242

Female doctor and paratrooper. Dr. Nofit Shmuel is only the second woman to serve as a combat doctor in the IDF and the first in the Paratroopers division. There’s no such thing as ‘limits,'” she says. “Limits are only in your head, and if you get rid of them there, you’ll continue to move ahead without anything stopping you.”
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/06/23/a-red-beret-and-a-stethoscope/

Israel welcomes HMS Richmond. (TY Nevet) UK Royal Navy Frigate HMS Richmond has docked at Israel’s Haifa port. The brand-new ship is part of the fleet that the Royal Navy considers central to frontline operations, including disrupting the work of criminals, such as smugglers, pirates and traffickers.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-warship-visits-israel/?ct=t(Newsletter_2021-06)

Hi-tech and emotional support. The IDF’s Intelligence Division’s Unit 9900 has built a 3D model to map the building that collapsed in Miami to help locate victims. Tunneling experts from Israel’s SmartAID have also arrived. Meanwhile, Israel’s United Hatzalah is providing trauma support to families of those missing.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309028
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIT0oIoyQFQ  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE3pD930w5o
https://www.israel21c.org/israelis-fight-despair-while-aiding-survivors-rescuers-in-florida-calamity/

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The world’s thinnest technology. (TY UWI) Researchers at Tel Aviv University have engineered the thinnest piece of technology – layers of Boron and Nitrogen just two atoms thick. Electricity causes the layers to slide and can be used to control advanced electronic devices. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6549/1462
https://www.timesofisrael.com/worlds-tiniest-tech-tel-aviv-university-unveils-2-atom-thick-data-storage/
https://www.jpost.com/health-science/israeli-scientists-create-the-worlds-thinnest-tech-just-2-atoms-thick-672448  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foqzblD6pvo

Israel’s practical use of AR. This article focuses on some of the 50 Israeli startups that have been developing practical uses for AR – Augmented Reality. Applications include repairing a patient’s eye socket (see here); personal shopping (Mixed Place – see here) and Lumus (see here) who manufacture the AR glasses themselves.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/how-israeli-augmented-reality-tech-is-transforming-the-way-we-see-the-world/

Protect your pacemaker from hackers. Israel’s CyberMDX (see here previously) has finished its 18-month project to protect the systems at Michigan Medicine. It is now being deployed at the 26 hospitals of Michigan’s MetroHealth. CyberMDX now protects millions of medical devices and IoT devices around the world.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/spotlight/israeli-cyber-sleuths-protect-your-heart-pacemaker-from-hackers/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YJKPYs5dkc  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppqKsITm0WU

Hadera residents get deliveries by drone. Israel National Drone Network Initiative has entered its second phase (see here previously). Unmanned aircraft will fly across the skies of Hadera, delivering goods to the city’s residents. The project’s aim is eventually to relieve road congestion and deliver urgent supplies quickly.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hadera-residents-to-start-getting-delivery-by-drones-in-pilot-project/

A living port in Spain. A consortium including Israel’s ECOncrete (see here previously) has won European funding for a large-scale “Living Ports” project at the Port of Vigo, Galicia, Spain. ECOncrete will build a sea wall, support for the observation deck, and units for coastal stabilization and habitat creation.
https://www.israel21c.org/econcrete-to-build-environmentally-friendly-ports-on-spanish-coast/

Using defense tech for medical solutions. Israel’s Soroka Medical Center and Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary Elta have set up a joint innovation center to take defense technologies and convert them into new medical technologies. During the coronavirus pandemic, IAI built ventilators and patient monitors.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-hospital-aerospace-firm-team-up-to-convert-defense-tech-into-medical-solutions/

Cars that learn. Israel’s AutoBrains (formerly Cartica) is partnering vehicle products maker Continental to bring its “unsupervised learning” technology to market. AutoBrains develops Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that process signals from the car’s environment and learn in a similar way to human drivers.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3911405,00.html  https://autobrains.ai/

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

New economic pact with UAE. Israel and the UAE have signed an Agreement on Economic and Trade Cooperation. It covers free flow of goods and services, trade fairs, knowledge exchanges, delegations, standards and regulation, the private sector, R&D, agri-tech, and more. Mutual trade has now exceeded $675 million.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-lapid-signs-new-economic-pact-with-uae-1001376356
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/309038

El Al partners Etihad. The UAE’s Etihad Airlines and Israel’s El Al have launched a joint codeshare network and reciprocal loyalty agreement for frequent flyers. El Al will sell tickets and offer frequent flier points to its members for the twice-weekly Etihad service between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv from July 18.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-uae-airlines-announce-codeshare-and-frequent-flyer-partnership/

Cybersecurity for Dubai. Israel’s Rafael has established the Israeli Operational Technologies Cyber Consortium to provide cyber security for operational technologies in Dubai. Its aim is to protect critical infrastructure in the UAE and elsewhere in the Gulf, including desalination plants, power plants and seaports.
https://www.jns.org/israels-rafael-defense-firm-unveils-new-consortium-to-provide-cyber-security-in-dubai/

The UK chooses Israel’s Trophy. The UK Ministry of Defense has chosen the Trophy Active Protection System, from Israel’s Rafael to protect its Challenger 3 tanks from missile threats.
https://www.jns.org/uk-ministry-of-defense-chooses-trophy-protection-system-to-boost-its-defenses/

World’s first cultured meat-production plant. (TY JNS) Israel’s Future Meat (see here previously) has opened the world’s first industrial cultured meat facility in the city of Rehovot. It has the capability to produce 500 kilograms of slaughter-free meat products a day – equivalent to 5,000 hamburgers.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/06/24/5000-burgers-a-day-worlds-first-cultured-meat-production-plant-opens-in-israel/

Holy peanut butter. Israeli anesthesiologist Dr. Jason Cohen sells 100% Israeli peanut butter. He founded the startup Holy Butter when he found that Israeli brands mainly use Chinese peanuts or peanut powder while Israel exports 70% of its very high-quality home-grown peanuts to Europe. He also sells 100% Israeli almond butter.
https://www.israel21c.org/an-israeli-doctors-prescription-for-premium-peanut-butter/ https://holybutter.com/en/

Big Deal! In one of the biggest deals ever between two Israeli companies, DevOps specialist JFrog has acquired VDoo and its automated product security platform for $300 million. It triples JFrog’s team of security experts (engineering, marketing, and sales) with employees located in Israel, Germany, Japan and North America.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3911303,00.html

Zerto exits for $374 million. US multinational Hewlett Packard Enterprise is buying Israel’s Zerto for $374 million. Zerto’s products are used by 9,000 customers globally, providing them with disaster recovery, ransomware protection, and data and application cloud services.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hewlett-packard-enterprise-buys-israels-zerto-to-expand-cloud-data-protection/

The largest Israeli Nasdaq launch. Israel’s IronSource has begun trading on the US Nasdaq following its $11 billion SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) merger and the biggest public offering in Israel’s history. IronSource will receive $2.15 billion to expand its platform for app developers. It is also making a profit!
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/israels-ironsource-trades-in-new-york-after-%2411-billion-spac-merger-2021-06-29

The largest IPO by a cybersecurity firm. Shares of Israeli-founded cybersecurity firm SentinelOne have begun trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The company raised $1.2 billion – the largest ever initial share offering by a cybersecurity firm. The IPO price gave the company a market valuation of nearly $9 billion.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/sentinelone-surges-on-nyse-as-israeli-founded-cybersecurity-firm-holds-ipo/

The highest value private Israeli startup. Israel’s Gong (see here previously) is already a Unicorn, but its latest round of funding has raised its value to a huge $7.2 billion. It is the highest valuation ever achieved by an Israeli startup in a financing round. Gong has 2,000+ clients and is now expanding to Europe.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-gong-raises-250-million-at-72b-valuation-1001373264
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3911291,00.html

Even larger seed. Back in April (see here previously), Israel’s Talon Cyber Security raised $26 million in what at that time was Israel’s largest ever initial funding of a startup. Now Israel’s mixed reality startup Multinarity has just emerged from stealth mode by announcing $28 million of seed funding.  And it’s still a secret!
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3911378,00.html   https://www.multinarity.com/

Investment in Israeli startups: IronSource raised $2.15 billion (IPO); SentinelOne raised $1.2 billion (IPOGong raised $250 millionNoname Security raised $60 millionBreezoMeter raised $30 millionZencity raised $30 millionMultinarity raised $28 millionJuno Journey raised $19 millionHome365 raised $16.3 millionFloLive raised $15.5 millionMDI Health Technologies raised $6 million;

CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`

July on Center Stage. Cultural events during July on Israels English-speaking theater in Raanana include Bar Quiz (5th), A Bushman’s Trail (6th), The Gate (12th), Sandy Cash cabaret (14th), Whistle (20th), Jokers & Thieves SongTalk (21st), plus comedy, karaoke, improv night and more.  https://www.centerstageisrael.com/

Stars in the Garden. (TY Margaret) The Art Garden at Jerusalem’s Israel Museum is the venue for two live music performances. On 19th July stars composer, pianist, and singer Yoni Rechter. Then on 20th July the Jane Bordeaux band (see here previously) hosts singer and songwriter Keren Peles.
https://www.imj.org.il/en/events/stars-art-garden-live-performances-israel-museum

What will happen next in Jerusalem? (TY Sharon) Almost back to normal on Jerusalem streets. Events included Chabad at Sultan’s Pool, “Rebecca: Mother of Two Dynasties” at the Begin Center, Olympic athletes meet the President, Business Leaders’ Conference, German President’s State visit, plus plenty more.
http://rjstreets.com/2021/06/27/jerusalem-back-to-normal-but-what-will-happen-next/

Gold for teen gymnasts. (TY UWI) Israel won the gold medal in the 11-17 age-group category at the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique’s 11th World Age Group Competitions in Geneva, Switzerland. The event was a precursor to the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships in July.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-teen-acrobatic-gymnastics-team-takes-world-gold/
https://gymnastics.sport/publicdir/live_results/16526/results/1117-MG-FIN-RS.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzSN-XoJrYI

Married couple running for Israel. (TY UWI) Ethiopian Israelis Marhu and Selam Teferi have both qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games.  Selam is running in the women’s 5,000 meters. Marhu is competing in the Marathon. Marhu made Aliyah in 2006 at the age of 14, whereas Selam became an Israeli citizen in 2018.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/06/28/going-the-distance-husband-and-wife-due-in-the-running-for-olympic-gold/

THE JEWISH STATE

Israel opens new embassy in UAE. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid affixed a mezuza onto Israel’s new embassy in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. He praised the Abraham Accords and the pursuit of peace with the Arab world, and also thanked Netanyahu, Trump and Biden for their contributions.
https://worldisraelnews.com/lapid-lands-in-uae-on-1st-state-visit/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27wSa1Hs1O0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf2R2UAc3qY

Bahrain appoints its first Ambassador to Israel. (TY JNS & UWI) Khaled Yousef al-Jalahmah will serve as Bahrain’s first envoy to the State of Israel. He previously served as deputy ambassador to the United States.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/first-bahraini-ambassador-to-israel-formally-appointed/

Israeli mother donates kidney to Gaza boy. Idit, a 50-year-old Israeli mother of three, from a staunchly right-wing family, has donated one of her kidneys to save the life of a 3-year-old Palestinian Arab boy from Gaza. She was inspired by her Shoah survivor grandfather, who always taught her to lead a meaningful life.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-a-staunch-rightist-gave-her-kidney-to-a-gaza-boy-simply-to-do-a-good-deed/

An internship in Israel?  Yes please! Shelli Liebov is a current student at Rutgers University in New Jersey. She is in Israel for summer 2021 to be a marketing and PR intern with Yissum, the technology transfer arm of Hebrew University. She is documenting her experiences in a series of blogs that are well worth reading.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/10-hours-and-35-minutes-to-change-everything/

Celebrate the Miracle of Entebbe. The American Foundation Creating Leadership for Israel (AFCLI) celebrates the 45th anniversary of the Entebbe rescue on Monday, July 5, 2021.  Seminar starts at 11am EST and Ceremony at 2pm. Join by zoom or live in Philadelphia.  Register or reserve places at the following link.
https://afcli.org/our-programs/miracle-at-entebbe/   https://afcli.org/

July 4, 2021 | 6 Comments »

Leave a Reply

6 Comments / 6 Comments

  1. Unfortunately, there is also some Bad News Israel. The Shabak is making it a habit of holding people incommunicado for long periods of time on unspecified “security offenses,” witholding the names of the suspects and keeping secret the fact that they have been arrested, denying them access to a lawyer, and refusing to divulge any information about their supposed “national security offenses. In other words, “disappearing” them. From today’s Arutz Sheva:

    Israeli arrested on suspicion of offenses against the state, denied access to lawyer
    Suspect already under interrogation for several weeks, with court’s approval was denied right to meet with lawyer during first 20 days.

    Maximum security prison in Israel
    It was cleared for publication that an Israeli citizen was arrested on suspicion of committing serious security offenses against state security.

    The citizen has been under Shabak interrogation for a few weeks now.

    During his first 20 days of detention, with the express approval of the court, he was denied the right to meet with a lawyer.

    The rest of the details of the investigation and the identity of the detainee were banned from publication by an order issued by the Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court.

    The suspect’s lawyers, Avi Chimi and Moshe Weiss, responded to the publication and said: “Despite the bombastic headline, this is a suspicion that will peter out. Our client is a loyal citizen of the State of Israel.”

  2. @ Peloni

    Perfectly put…That’s an example of what I mean. As for wives, there are some who have laser, mental and optical vision -with vocal attachment.. Perhaps your wife is one..

    I had an Auntie exactly like that… the bane of my life, as a kid growng up..Used to greet me, and I was an unusually clean and well showered and washed youth,, with
    “Hello….when did you wash your face last, once a week is not enough”…..Stuff like that. Her idea of “fun”..

  3. @Edgar
    An ambassador, that makes me laugh. My wife will love to hear of it. She finds me too opinionated and less smooth than her liberal leaning friends can tolerate. But as I tell her they might benefit from being told that they are wrong on any topic they choose to misrepresent – which is almost any topic they choose to discuss.

  4. @Peloni.

    Thank you indeed. I actually also found that one, but didn’t persevere enough to see any of the later details, which, as I just saw now by fowarding to where the planning and etc are being made, the English subtitles are there. Thank you again.As I said, I was living in Israel then- having come the year before with my fiancee, married under a chupa and set up homw. It was a wonderful event, dancing in the streets util exhaustion and more…Simple pleasant period in those days comared tp today. ,

    Also saw your comment to Reader, and forgive me for intruding, but I’ve always meant to remark, that if you lived in Israel you’d have been a wonderful Ambassador, a politician extrordinaire, with the most pleasant and smooth way maginable of disagreeing with another’s opinion that actually enhances the antagonist’s opinion of himself…

  5. @Edgar

    I think I found it for you:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-bNgBby7u0

    I very much enjoyed this movie, but I have never seen a film telling the story of the Entebbe rescue that failed to impress me, in truth. I do agree that the obsession that Hollywood has with forcing great stars into unnatural roles can sometimes be too apparent, and it is an easy point of criticism, as too many of their stars can only play one role well, or sometimes not even one role. Still, as I say, I really enjoyed all the films that were made on the Entebbe subject, though as you say some are more believable than others. I did, of course, choose not to view the most recent production that was released 2-3yrs ago where the focus was something that I found objectionable, I think they were going to focus on the terrorists…something disagreeable like that – what do you expect from Hollywood these days. In fact, it seems little Hollywood produces of late is worth a nickle to view, not to speak of being bored for 2hrs – better to read an article or start a book.

  6. Talking of Entebbe, the other day on a whim, connected to nothing except adesire to see that movie again, I searched the whole Toutube collection and it is not there. It was , seemingly, an Israeli production, I considered far the best, without the Cahrles Bronsons, Elizabeth Taylors “playing their unconvincing parts”…It was in Hebrew WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES. I recall seeing it when on a trip abck home to Dublin, from Israel, and sitting through it twice. It waa Perfect, VERY believable indeed…!!