31 Israeli doctors are performing heart operations in Tanzania and Nigeria. An Israeli app will allow you to send your DNA sequence (Genome) for analysis. For the first time the elite Golani battalion has a Druze commander. Israel has joined the EU’s prestigious Galileo satellite project. Investment in Israeli start-ups is the highest since the year 2000. Rihanna performed to 50,000 fans in Tel Aviv.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Israelis saving African lives. A team of 20 Israeli doctors and medical staff from Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) has just flown to Tanzania to provide free heart surgeries. With them was Tanzanian Dr Godwin Godfrey who returned home following five years of training in Israel. Elsewhere, a team of 11 cardiac surgeons and nurses from Israel’s Sheba Medical Center performed 10 complex heart operations over 4 days in Nigeria.
A wristband to monitor your health. (Thanks to NoCamels.com) Tel Aviv-based startup Seraphim Sense is behind the Angel monitor, a biofeedback wristband that senses motion, acceleration, skin temperature, blood oxygen saturation and heart rate. The health band is synced to your smartphone and computer to display results.
Israeli trial is good news for IBD sufferers. Results of early clinical trials using bertilimumab at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek medical center have indicated that it could be effective in treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Israel awards $1 million prize to US BrainGate. In a reversal to the norm, an Israeli non-profit organization presented a US company with a large sum to help it develop its innovations. BrainGate’s million-dollar prize from Israel’s BrainTech will advance its brain sensors that allow paralyzed patients to move a robotic arm.
Israel gives sight to Romanian baby. 10-month old Dennis lost his vision shortly after birth in Romania. When he arrived at Save A Child’s Heart, the Israeli doctors checked out his heart and his eyes. They prescribed special glasses and there wasn’t a dry eye in the ward when Dennis saw his mother for the first time.
MDA’s new hi-tech mobile command center. Israel’s emergency service Magen David Adom unveiled a multi-million dollar command vehicle designed to direct rescue operations on the most difficult terrain and during cellular network failure. It has over two-dozen computers and TVs and can accommodate 23 staff.
Medicine for the wild blue yonder. A comprehensive write-up of the 61st International Congress of Aviation and Space Medicine (ICASM) in Jerusalem. 250 overseas delegates from 36 countries plus Israelis discussed everything from pregnant women pilots to space travel to psychological problems of controlling UAVs.
Your personal Genome app. Tel Aviv University researchers have developed a website and smartphone app that will allow you to submit your individual Genetic DNA sequence map for analysis. Prior to pregnancy, check for risks of birth defects; or select medical treatments that will be most effective without side effects.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Elite IDF unit leader is a Druse. For the first time in the history of the Israeli Defense Force, an officer from Israel’s Druse community is to serve as the chief of the elite Golani Brigade. Colonel Ghassan Alian was previously deputy commander of the Golan Division.
We are not alone. Michael Freund writes a positive article detailing Israel’s International friends and recent state visits.
Nigerian President and 30,000 pilgrims in Israel. President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit is the first time in the history of Nigeria that a sitting President went on pilgrimage to Israel. The president was accompanied by ministers and state governors and signed the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and Israel.
What would the UN do without Israel? The United Nations regularly turns to the Jewish state to solve issues of international concern. The UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has granted 13 Israeli NGOs ‘Special Consulative Status’ and is currently considering granting this status to a further two.
Tucson firefighters in Israel. (Thanks to Hazel) A team of seven Tucson Arizona area firefighters is working for two weeks with Israel Fire and Rescue Services. Tucson Fire Capt. Kris Blume said that they wanted to “see what’s not just common practice but the best practice.”
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Israeli intelligence inspires Apple. According to those in the know, the members of the IDF’s secret 8200 unit that set-up Any.Do were the inspiration for Apple’s latest iOS7 operating system.
A wireless device to check fertility of cows. Israel’s Afimilk has developed the AfiAct II heat detection system that identifies the optimum time for insemination of cattle. Already AfiAct is saving US customers hundreds of dollars per cow.
Magic solution for mobile devices. Israeli software company, Magic, has released its latest enterprise mobility solution for businesses whose employees need to access data using a variety of devices.
Sensors to find water leaks. Israeli start-up Aquarius Spectrum has been chosen by Jerusalem’s area water corporation to install its smart systems for detecting leaks in the municipal water supply system. Aquarius Spectrum has developed innovative acoustic sensors, software algorithms and testing prototypes.
Global Cities Summit attracts 68 cities. Hundreds of start-ups, investors and multinationals attended the 3rd Digital Life Design Festival in Tel Aviv. The event included the Global Cities Summit, a policy forum that addresses issues like urban living, ways of coping with growth and better methods of transportation.
Israel joins EU satellite project. Israeli academics and companies have been given security clearance to work on the Galileo project that will launch 30 satellites and become Europe’s alternative to the US GPS system.
Pentagon uses Israeli robots to climb stairs. The US Department of Defense is fast-tracking its deployment of stair-climbing Israeli developed micro-robots with US Army Special Forces. The robots, called the Micro Tactical Ground Robot (MTGR), were designed by Tel Aviv-based start-up Roboteam Ltd.
Calculating the best prices. Tel Aviv-based Feedvisor has developed the world’s first fully algorithmic re-pricing platform for online retailers to keep their prices competitive and maximize profitability. Forbes rated Feedvisor among the most innovative and promising startups in Israel in 2012 and has just raised $1.7 million.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Stability at the Bank of Israel. At last, Dr Karnit Klug has been appointed as the successor to Professor Stanley Fischer as BoI Governor. Dr Klug is the first ever woman governor and was Prof Fischer’s preference for the position. She has been Acting Governor since Prof Fischer stepped down in June
State of Economy index up again. The Bank of Israel’s Composite State of the Economy Index for September increased by 0.3 percent. Data for previous months was also revised upwards due to natural gas production.
Investment in Israeli start-ups is a 13-year high. 162 Israeli start-ups raised $660 million from local and foreign investors in the third quarter of 2013, the highest quarterly amount since 2000. Investment in start-ups rose 12% to $1.63 billion in January-September compared to the corresponding period last year.
Israeli firms are so popular. Acquisitions and mergers involving Israeli companies totaled $4 billion in the first ten months of 2013 – the highest for ten years. The figure for Israeli exits was 20 percent of the US M&A market over the same period, even though investment in Israeli companies is less than 5 percent of the US total.
CuratedIsrael – Israeli luxury products and more. CuratedIsrael is a one of a kind marketplace for beautiful pieces straight from Israel. Additionally, “CuratedIsrael Gives Back” supports charities and designers with worthy causes. Founder Diane Kaston says, “Giving back for the blessings of life is the ultimate luxury.”
Amazon discovers Israel. Amazon.com will open an office in Tel Aviv to support the growth of its cloud services and its rapidly growing customer base in Israel. Israeli customers will be among the first in Europe, the Middle East and Africa to enjoy Amazon Web Services.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Rihanna performs in Tel Aviv. Pop sensation Rihanna took the stage Tuesday night in Park Hayarkon, Tel Aviv in front of over 50,000 fans. The show was part of her “Diamond Tour” – she previously performed in Tel Aviv in 2010 and refused to be intimidated by a BDS campaign that tried to persuade her to cancel her concert.
Bob Dylan wrote “Neighborhood Bully” 30 years ago. October 27 is the 30th anniversary of when Bob Dylan released his up-tempo Zionist anthem, the ironically-titled “Neighborhood Bully” on his Infidels album.
More on the Singing Rabbis. For brothers Arie and Gil Gat, there’s no contradiction between being devout Jews and covering rock hits on Israel’s ‘Rising Star’ TV show.
Zubari wins windsurfing gold. Israeli windsurfer Shahar Zubari cruised to a gold medal in men’s RS:X at the Sailing World Cup in Qingdao, China. Israel’s Maayan Davidovich won bronze in the RS:X women’s division.
World Cup silver for Israeli swimmer in Qatar. Israeli swimmer Amit Ivri finished second in the women’s 100-meter individual medley at the FINA World Cup in Doha, Qatar. However, whereas all competitors had the flag of their country next to their names on TV, Ivri’s was left white (blank) instead of the Israeli flag.
THE JEWISH STATE
Israeli education – a reminder. Israel’s high school graduation rate was 92% in 2010 (OECD average 84%). Israel spent 7.2% of GDP on educational institutions in 2009 (sixth highest in the world). And pre-school education is now free for all Israeli children from age 3 upward.
Hundreds of Bnei Menashe moving to Israel. Israel’s Knesset approved the aliya of 899 Indians, known as Bnei Menashe. Some 1,700 Bnei Menashe, who claim to be Jews descended from the biblical tribe of Menashe, are already living in Israel. A further 9,000 remain in India and Burma.
Israel preserves Jewish and Muslim culture. The Center for North African Jewry in Jerusalem exhibits the culture that is common to the Muslims and to the Jews of North Africa, while the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra Ashdod creates a connecting link between Jews and Arabs.
