Michael Ordman: This Week’s Sanity Report from Israel Dec. 28, 2025
The highlights include
- Israeli Rabbis were able to enter synagogues in Syria once again.
- Israelis have found a molecule that controls the destruction of bacteria.
- Israeli Jews & Christians peacefully celebrate seasonal holidays.
- Four latest examples of Israeli beneficial AI systems.
- Low inflation, plus huge gas & defense exports boosted Israel’s economy.
- Israeli firsts – MLB coach and US women’s soccer league player.
- Chanukah symbol unearthed in Jerusalem shows Jews defied the Romans.
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Israeli Rabbis visit Syrian synagogues. (TY WIN) Two rabbis from Israel have quietly joined a Jewish delegation in Aleppo, entering synagogues and a former Jewish school that have been locked for decades – a scene that would have been unthinkable under the old Assad regime.
https://jewishbreakingnews.
Ex-hostage has Brit Milah in Russia. Maxim Herkin, recently freed from Hamas captivity, underwent a circumcision ceremony in Moscow. Chief Rabbi of Russia Rabbi Berel Lazar presided over the ceremony, offering a blessing and granting Herkin the name Zalman Zelig in honor of his maternal grandfather.
https://worldisraelnews.com/
Israel to host home Davis Cup tennis matches. Israel’s national tennis team will host a Davis Cup playoff in February for the first time since 7 Oct 2023. The evemt, against Lithuania, is scheduled to take place on Feb. 6-7 at the Arena Hall in Netanya as part of World Group I of the Davis Cup,
https://www.jns.org/israel-to-
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Regenerating soft tissue. Nurami Medical, a company developing next-generation regenerative solutions for soft tissue repair, has announced successful completion of Phase 1 of its EIC-funded grant for Artifix®, a synthetic, biomimetic, dural repair adhesive patch, its second portfolio product.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/
Nil by mouth. 36-year-old Daniel Haim Biton hasn’t eaten anything for 17 years, relying on nutrients fed intravenously into the bloodstream. Surgeons at Israel’s Rabin (Beilinson) medical center performed a rare and complex intestinal transplant. If it is not rejected, Daniel plans to become a chef.
https://www.jpost.com/health-
ADHD can be treated without medication. (TY TPS) An Israeli-led international trial of ADHD children shows that a combination of cognitive training and brain stimulation modifies neural efficiency markers to a profile more typical of non-ADHD children. And some of the changes lasted weeks after treatment ended.
https://www.jpost.com/health-
https://www.sciencedirect.com/
Reducing the risk of PTSD. A study by Tel Aviv University researchers, the IDF Medical Corps, and the US Department of Defense has found that out of more than 500 soldiers, just 1% of those who participated in the attention-training computer-based training program developed PTSD, compared to 5.3% in the control group.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
RNA molecule to combat antibiotic resistance. (TY Nevet) Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have found a tiny RNA molecule called PreS that enables a bacteriophage (a bacteria-eating virus) to take control of a bacterial cell. The harmless phage uses it to grow but destroys the dangerous bacterium in the process.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
A new biotech to tackle mental illness. Israel’s Syremis Therapeutics develops treatments for severe mental illness. Its ST-905 is a potent M1/M4 muscarinic agonist for schizophrenia and other serious neuropsychiatric conditions, currently in Phase 1 trials. Also ST-901 for major depressive disorder and bipolar depression.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Cancer innovation winner. Israel’s YuviTal has won a breast cancer innovation challenge sponsored by Roche Israel, Startup Nation Central and Sheba. YuviTal collects real-world health data from breast cancer patients, including dietary patterns, activity levels and mood indicators. It then uses AI to provide personalized guidance.
https://www.jns.org/yuvital-
President has heartwarming meeting in Zambia. On his visit to Zambia, Israeli President Herzog met Zambian doctors trained by Israeli NGO Save a Child’s Heart (SACH). He also met a teenager whose life was saved when he had heart surgery in Israel – one of nearly 150 Zambian children treated by SACH.
https://www.jns.org/saving-
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities. The Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine has established the Robert I. Schattner Center for Oral Health for People with Disabilities. The center will provide quality dental care for people with physical, cognitive, and complex medical conditions.
https://international.huji.ac.
No mobile phones in school. (TY UWI) Israel will ban mobile phone use by children on elementary school grounds starting on Feb. 2. Phones were banned in classrooms in 2019. Now students cannot use devices during breaks or before lessons. Phones will be allowed only with staff approval for educational purposes.
https://www.jns.org/israel-
The IDF’s Maccabees. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir lit the 8th Chanukah candle with soldiers from the Hasmonean Brigade, the IDF’s first ultra-Orthodox combat unit. Zamir stated, “You are the Maccabees of our time – defending the people of Israel while maintaining a Haredi way of life”.
https://worldisraelnews.com/
Ethiopian Jewish Israelis. Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reports that Israel’s Ethiopian community totaled 177,600 people in 2024. Of those, 53% were born in Ethiopia, and 47% are Israeli-born. Netanya has the largest population – 13,300. 57.7% of students went on to study at university, more than the general population.
https://www.jns.org/israels-
Nazareth Christmas concerts return. Polyphony’s Liturgical Festival Dec (18-20), which had to relocate to Jerusalem last year, returned to its home city, Nazareth. Nazareth’s Polyphony Association has a vision of dissolving barriers between religions and cultures in Israel through musical education and projects.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
https://liturgicalnazareth.co.
Holydays in Israel. (TY Sharon) Sharon took a tour from Jerusalem to the Western Galilee. Her photos show how this season is peacefully and respectfully celebrated in Israel by members of different faiths. And (TY Hazel) the Jerusalem Municipality again distributed free Christmas trees to the city’s Christian residents.
https://rjstreets.com/2025/12/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
A pro-Israel Christian community for Spanish speakers. At the Bethel Church, House of God in Anaheim, Calif., some 100 evangelical Latinos and their pastors gathered to express solidarity with Israel and launched La Iglesia a Favor de Israel – a new Zionist nonprofit targeting Spanish speakers.
https://www.jns.org/southern-
Israeli startups dominate the globe. Nuseir Yassin, better known as NAS Daily (see here previously), continues to make thousands of entertaining videos about Israel. In this video he reveals the name of the country with the most billion-dollar startups per capita. I bet you can guess which country that is!
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
The impossible meal. An “unbelievable” video from Israeli vlogger Nas Daily (as above). He eats a meal made from the products of five Israeli vegan startups. It features no-cow milk from ReMilk; no-fish salmon from Oshi; vegan steak from Redefine Meat; no-chicken egg from Yo-Egg; and no-bee honey from Bee-io.
https://worldisraelnews.com/
https://www.youtube.com/
$1 green hydrogen. Latest article on Israel’s H2Pro (see here previously) & its end of decade target for $1/kg hydrogen from renewable sources. A 50KW system already operates at its Caesarea facility. In Feb 2026, a 500KW system will commence in Ziporit, Galilee and a 50MW system is planned for Spain or Portugal.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Spotting the first sign of algae infestation. Israel’s BlueGreen Water Technologies (see here previously) has launched BlueGreen Insights (BGi). It integrates satellite data with in-situ monitoring to identify the first signs of harmful algal bloom events and guides the precision application of the company’s Lake Guard treatments.
https://www.ourcrowd.com/
Dissolving CO2 in seawater to reduce emissions. (TY Hazel) Israeli scientists have developed a method to accelerate a natural process that normally takes thousands of years, reducing it to hours. CO2 dissolves quickly in seawater surrounded by dolomite and limestone rocks. The process could help reduce industrial pollution.
https://www.jpost.com/science/
Mandatory solar for new buildings. New construction regulations (see here previously) have now come into effect, requiring public buildings and private homes to install solar panels, and shared buildings (e.g. apartments) to install infrastructure for future installation.
https://www.
AI and drones map archeological sites. (TY TPS) Scientists at the University of Haifa have developed a computational tool to document and analyze ancient ruins, using drone imagery and machine learning to reveal architectural patterns that cannot be identified from ground level.
https://worldisraelnews.com/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/
An AI camera. Korea’s Truem has partnered with Israel’s Hailo (see here previously) to develop a next-generation on-device AI camera. Its de-noising feature delivers superior night image quality compared to competitors. It delivers processing speeds five to seven times faster than previous models.
https://cm.asiae.co.kr/en/
Google supports Israeli AI research. Tel Aviv University and Google Israel have launched a 3-year program to advance core AI research. Google.org will provide $1 million to support foundational research, student scholarships, and new educational initiatives in AI and data science at Tel Aviv University.
https://english.tau.ac.il/
Gatekeeper to shield from dangers of AI. Israeli startup Irregular (see here previously) protects against rogue AI. It has won clients like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. Their work uncovers vulnerabilities before hackers do – including a new field focused on understanding AI behavior to prevent risks to humanity.
https://www.ynetnews.com/
Israel’s most powerful diplomatic asset – technology. European countries, Gulf states, and NATO members all realize that Israel possesses critical technological capabilities that they desperately need.
https://www.jpost.com/defense-
What if the networks go down? (TY TPS) Israel’s dot SAGA turns any site into a smart, connected space. It enables instant awareness of people’s location and status at the push of a button, without cellular networks. The need arose after 7 Oct 2023 when cellular systems collapsed and loved ones couldn’t find each other.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
https://www.dotsaga.live/ https://www.calcalistech.com/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
The world’s 3rd strongest economy. (TY IsraPundit) Although not a pro-Israel publication, the UK’s Economist has rated Israel’s economy as the third strongest in the world. It rates Portugal top and Ireland second, so I have my doubts about accuracy. IMHO don’t pay for a subscription just to read the original article.
https://www.jns.org/israel-
Lowest inflation for 4 years. Israel’s inflation cooled further in November, with annual price growth slipping to 2.4 percent, its lowest level in four years. The Central Bureau of Statistics showed inflation staying firmly within the government’s 1–3 percent target range, after peaking at 5.4 percent in early 2023.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
Massive gas deal signed with Egypt. (TY UWI) In Aug (see here previously) Israel agreed to supply 130bcm of natural gas to Egypt for $35 billion. That deal almost fell through, but it has now been signed by both countries. Of the 112 billion shekels paid by Egypt, 58 billion shekels will go into the State of Israel’s coffers.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-
Another $3.1 billion order from Germany. Just after Israel delivered the first of its $3.5 billion Arrow 3 long-range missile defense system to Germany, the German parliament approved a $3.1 billion expansion of the deal to increase production of Arrow 3 interceptors and launchers.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Reducing duties on US goods. Israel and the US inked a new agreement to remove import duties on about 300 US food and agricultural items. The two countries are in advanced talks to seal a deal that would include some concessions on Trump-initiated tariffs imposed on Israeli exports. https://www.timesofisrael.com/
$250 million for investing in Israeli startups. Viola Ventures, one of Israel’s leading venture capital firms, has announced the raising of two new funds totaling approximately $250 million, aimed at investing in Israeli startups at different stages of growth. One fund is for portfolio startups and the other for new investments.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
New route from Athens to Tel Aviv. Greek airline Sky Express has launched a new route connecting Tel Aviv and Athens. It also offers connections to popular Greek destinations such as Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Thessaloniki, Corfu, and Zakynthos, as well as onward to Paris, Rome, Milan, London, Berlin, and Frankfurt..
https://www.
nVIDIA’s Israel campus for 10,000 employees. nVIDIA has chosen Kiryat Tivon as the site for its new R&D campus, (its 8th Israeli site) for up to 10,000 employees. Jensen Huang, nVIDIA’s Founder and CEO, said, “Israel is home to some of the world’s most brilliant technologists and has become nVIDIA’s second home.
https://www.
https://www.timesofisrael.
$77 million for tiny drone cameras. Israel’s NextVision (see here previously) has reported the largest deal in its history, valued at $76.8 million. NextVision shares surged by over 10% following the news and are up by more than 185% so far this year, giving the company a market cap of NIS 16 billion (approximately $5 billion). https://www.calcalistech.com/
Takeovers, exits, and mergers to 28th Dec 25. US giant ServiceNow is acquiring Israel’s Armis for $7.75 billion cash (Israel’s 4th biggest exit). Dell Technologies has acquired Israel’s Dataloop AI for $120 million cash. US-based Zendesk has acquired Israel’s Unleash, an AI-powered enterprise search company, for an estimated tens of millions of dollars.
Investment news to 28th Dec 25: Cyera raised $400 million ($9 billion valuation); Syremis Therapeutics raised $165 million; Vega Security raised $120 million; Echo Security raised $50 million; Humanz raised $15 million; Dux.io raised $9 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT,
Israel Library shows rare Rambam manuscript. The National Library of Israel is displaying a rare 14th-century manuscript of Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah for the first time as part of its permanent exhibition. Copied in Provence between 1300 and 1350 C.E., it was later vividly illustrated by Italian artist Matteo di Ser Cambio.
https://www.jns.org/national-
Docu-Nation Series 3. Some interesting documentaries in the latest season of the Times of Israel’s Docu-Nation Series. The King of Borek (I love bourekas), Zelda (the poetess), and Imagine No Possessions (kibbutz).
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Israel’s clearest spring. After a long closure and renovation, one of the north’s most popular springs – Ein Shokek in the Valley of Springs – reopened to the public. It now has stroller-friendly access, a safety fence, child-friendly pools, and a shuttle service. Bring sandals, water bottles, a blanket to sit on, and trash bags.
https://www.ynetnews.com/
The first Israeli MLB pitching coach. Israel’s Alon Leichman, originally from Kibbutz Gezer, has been appointed pitching coach for US Major League Baseball team Colorado Rockies. He is now with family in Israel, celebrating his recent marriage. He speaks fluent Spanish – useful in MLB with so many Latino players.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
The first Israeli US women’s soccer league player. (TY WIN) Israel’s Talia Sommer signed for professional women’s soccer team Gotham FC and reportedly has become the first Israeli to join the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Sommer, born in New York, has played for Israel’s women’s national team.
https://www.algemeiner.com/
THE JEWISH STATE
Where did it come from? (TY WIN) Archaeologists digging underneath the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount recently discovered a metal pendant bearing a symbol of a menorah, raising questions about how a clearly Jewish item reached Jerusalem during a time when Jews were banned from entering the city.
https://thejewishedition.com/
1,000 Christian leaders visit Shiloh. The 1,000 pastors reported last week (see here) also went to see the site of the Hebrews’ Tabernacle when it was first brought to the Land of Israel by Joshua. Friends of Zion founder Mike Evans emphasized that Shilo, in Judea & Samaria, preceded Jerusalem as Israel’s first spiritual capital.
https://www.jpost.com/
Israel invests in US Jewish education. Israel is to invest millions of dollars in Jewish education in the U.S. after seven pilot programs showed “unprecedented” growth in enrollment in participating schools. Israel invests in the Diaspora, as it is the “Nation State of the Jewish People” (enshrined in its Declaration of Independence).
https://worldisraelnews.com/
Unlikely study partners. In 1798, on 19th Kislev, Chabad founder Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (author of the book of Tanya) was released from prison in Russia. In his honor, MK Tzvi Succot (Religious Zionists) invited reform rabbi Gilad Kariv (Labor) to study with him. MK Kariv agreed.
https://www.
