Highlights include: Weizmann scientists have transformed adult cells into the earliest form of stem cells. Israel hosted the UN-approved International Women’s Leadership Conference. A new Israeli material is the best at removing organic-based polluting chemicals. An Israeli company is to build a 200MW solar power system in Inner Mongolia. Tom Jones gave two memorable performances in Tel Aviv. Ethiopian Jews celebrated the Sigd festival in Jerusalem
Thanks to Michael Ordman and very good new from Israel
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Reproducing the earliest stem cells. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute are the first in the world to produce completely “reset” stem cells from adult cells. Re-engineered stem cells were previously primed to be specific to certain cells in the body. The new Israeli stem cells have the potential to be grown into any organ.
Freezing lung cancer to death. (Thanks to NoCamels.com) The IceSense3 tumor-freezing technology from Israel’s IceCure is already destroying breast cancer. Now IceCure is to conduct clinical trials on lung cancer tumors, fully funded by the Kameda Medical Center of Japan.
Trials start on blood clot treatment. Israel’s D-Pharm has begun Phase 2 testing in the Ukraine of its THR-18 treatment for patients suffering from blood clots and strokes.
Another shot at the hygiene rap. If you enjoyed watching September’s “viral” rap video by Shaare Tzedek medical staff, then here is a version with English subtitles. “It’s all in our hands” now makes perfect sense.
Israel’s health is on the move. The Mobile Health Israel Conference in Tel Aviv brought together health professionals, entrepreneurs, data experts, and others involved in the movement toward digitizing health records, distance medicine, and other innovations in health care that are part of the digital revolution.
Your personal diagnosis device. Israeli start-up Tyto Health Care has developed a device that can gather information straight from a patient’s mouth and throat, eyes, ears, heart, lungs, and skin. It includes a camera and microphone to take measurements, uploading the results to a doctor or health management organization.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Wounded Syrians treated in Israel: IDF soldiers took a 9-year-old boy from Syria to Ziv Medical Center in Safed. The boy was injured in his eyes as the result of an explosion. Also two Syrians were brought to Western Galilee Hospital in Nahariya in moderate and critical condition, with head, chest and limb injuries.
“Peace University” to open in Nazareth. The Israeli Ministry of Education announced the founding of a university in Nazareth to be called “Peace University” that aims to foster coexistence between Arabs and Jews. It will be an Israeli campus of Texas A&M University, and most of the funding for it comes from the US.
Yad Sarah Presents: Gadgets for the Elderly. Yad Sarah’s mobile unit has been making a difference for senior citizens by showing them new devices and activities that can help them lead fuller, more comfortable lives.
Israeli charity is bridging the global disability gap. Back in August I reported the speech of Jean Judes of Beit Issie Shapiro who advised the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) about Community Based Rehabilitation. Here now is Jean’s report on the CRPD conference.
Israel hosts International women’s conference. Mashav (Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation) is holding the 28th International Women Leaders’ Conference in Haifa in cooperation with the United Nations. The conference aims to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Take your Israeli hedgehog anywhere. (Thanks to noCamels) “Keepod” is the Hebrew word for “hedgehog”. The spiny animal was the inspiration to the Israeli designers of the Keepod USB device. Insert it into any computer (PC, Mac etc) and your information, applications and operating system are available and secure.
Learning together for a better world. This video describes the aims of the iPodia alliance and its global project “Classrooms without borders” in which Israel’s Technion Institute is a key contributor.
OrCam glasses are now available. (Thanks to Israel21c) In my 9th June newsletter I reported that Israeli start-up OrCam’s camera-based system will “read” to the visually impaired whilst on the move. Well the revolutionary spectacles are now being shipped at a cost of $2,500 a pair. Thanks to Myer for the alert.
Developing with South Carolina. (Thanks to Atid-EDI) The US State of South Carolina and Israel signed an agreement to establish a bilateral research and development initiative designed to enhance collaboration. Funds will be provided for projects that strengthen economic, industrial, technological and commercial cooperation.
New material to remove pollutants. Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has commercialized a clay-based mineral developed by Dr Yael Mishael of the Hebrew U. The mineral is modified with polymers to absorb organic polluting chemicals and is even better than active carbon.
Improving crop yields. Israel’s Evogene has signed agreements with Monsanto, Dupont Pioneer and Syngenta to provide genes that enable essential food crops such as corn, soybean, cotton and canola to resist disease.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Investment soars into Israeli clean tech. Israeli clean tech companies have raised $151 million in the first nine months of 2013. The top deals were: $65 million raised by bio-agritech Kaiima; $25 million raised by energy saving chip developer Altair Semiconductor and $18 million raised by recycling company Blue Sphere.
Unemployment down again. Israel’s unemployment rate fell to 6.1% in the third quarter, from 6.8% in the second quarter. Participation in the workforce went up, as did the percentage of full-time employees.
“Facebook amazed by amount of talent in Israel”. Facebook’s Vice President Nicola Mendelsohn told Israel’s President Peres, “It was a momentous decision for Facebook to open its first Research & Development center outside the US. We chose Israel in the knowledge that the best talent is found here.”
“Dr Fischer – the man behind the logo”. Aged 78 Dr. Eli Fischer doesn’t plan to retire any time soon. He is a scientist, successful industrialist, philanthropist and an international brand. “Dr Fischer” has over 500 different products and employs over 750 direct employees. His autobiography has just been published in the US.
Solar power for Inner Mongolia. Israel’s HelioFocus will build a $340 million 200-megawatt solar boosting system for Chinese energy company Taiqing in Inner Mongolia. It will reduce dramatically the carbon emissions from an existing coal-fired power station.
A start-up is like a diet – never give up. Entrepreneur/investor Jeff Pulver advised business leaders launching new companies in downtown Haifa. “The biggest cause of failure in fitness, and in start-ups, is giving up. Just because you didn’t get an investment it doesn’t mean you don’t have a good idea. Never give up.”
Israel writing Azerbaijan’s water plan. Israel’s national water company, Mekorot, has won a 4-year project to draw up a water master plan for Azerbaijan and supply monitoring equipment to the Moslem country.
AOL discovers Israel and IKEA assembles another site. AOL is hiring employees for its Israeli development center. It is seeking developers, content managers, production managers, and support staff. Meanwhile, IKEA is building a new site near Haifa that will employ 300 staff.
Asurion buys Soluto. (Thanks to Israel21c) US technology protection services giant Asurion has made a surprise purchase of Tel Aviv-based PC management solutions provider Soluto for an estimated $100 million.
Start-up Israel. An excellent video I must have missed due to there being so many good news stories.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Richie & Cowell raise millions for Israel. Grammy Award-winning musician Lionel Richie and X Factor celebrity Simon Cowell helped raise $20 million at a Friends of the Israel Defense Forces gala. Cowell personally contributed $150,000 and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews donated $4.5 million.
Tom Jones’ voice booms out in Tel Aviv. British (Welsh) singer Tom Jones played to full houses at Nokia Arena in his two concerts in Tel Aviv. He even sang “My Yiddishe Momme” in his second concert.
Paula Abdul on 10-day Israel tour. American singer and dancer and TV personality Paula Abdul met Israeli President Shimon Peres on her first ever visit to Israel. “I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude to be here,” Paula said. “I know already when I have to leave I won’t want to.”
Lou Reed’s Israel connection. Singer-songwriter Lou Reed who died on Oct 27, last came to Israel in 2008, as a “guest artist” at his wife Laurie Anderson’s concert. A new genus of velvet spider found underground in Israel’s Negev desert last year was named Loureedia annulipes after the former Velvet Underground leader.
The biggest underwater shoot-out. For the 9th year in a row, the Red Sea competition took place in Eilat. Integrating elements from photography, high-tech, tourism and diving industries, the event is one of the world’s leading underwater photography competitions.
THE JEWISH STATE
Mini-golf thru the Bible. Newsletter subscriber Grant Crankshaw has had a great idea – a project to build a Bible-themed mini-golf park in Raanana. Grant is using Crowdfunding to raise funds – another great Israeli idea. Please support him by pledging to buy discounted tickets. Your contribution is only withdrawn from your bank if the campaign reaches its investment target. Please watch the video at the headstart crowdfunding site.
The legacy of the Bielski brothers. 400 people gathered in New York to honor the legendary Bielski brothers, the partisan leaders who saved more than 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust. The Bielski grandchildren included an Israel Defense Forces battalion commander. Surviving brother Aron urged them all, “Supporting Israel is the most important. If they don’t, some day they will pay for it.”
Celebrating the return to Jerusalem. Thousands of Ethiopian Jews gathered in Israel’s capital, Jerusalem, to celebrate Sigd. The Biblical holiday originally observed in Ethiopia 50 days after Yom Kippur to repent for sins, pray for their return to Jerusalem, the coming of the Messiah and a Third Temple.
Thousands at ‘Religious-secular’ Shabbat. More than 6,000 families up and down the country took part in Shabbat meals in an initiative to build community connections, with religious families hosting secular attendees. The Beit Hillel organization plans to make the initiative an annual event.
