This Weeks Sanity Report from Israel April 10 2016
Hope you enjoy my latest positive newsletter from Israel.
Thanks to Michael Ordman and Very Good News from Israel
The highlights include:
- A new Israeli treatment for blocked arteries has spared patients from amputations.
- Israeli spies brought to Israel a bone marrow donor for a Syrian girl with cancer.
- 3 million Israelis participated in Good Deeds Day 2016
- France’s Health Minister sought Israel’s help on how to treat victims of terror.
- An Israeli breakthrough in splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.
- Israeli engines will (hopefully) land a spacecraft on Mars in November.
- Official estimates of Israeli natural gas deposits have been tripled.
- Half of London’s black taxis are now working for Israel.
- 70,000 ran in the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem marathon-day events.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Successful trial of blocked artery treatment. Israel’s Eximo (see 30th Aug newsletter) has successfully completed a multicenter clinical trial of its laser system and unique catheters for treating peripheral artery disease (PAD). Doctors cured 20 patients, some of whom otherwise required bypass surgery or leg amputation.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-eximo-succeeds-in-trial-of-blocked-artery-treatment-1001115579
Prostate cancer treatment goes live. (TY JBN) I reported on Weizmann Institute’s groundbreaking prostate cancer treatment previously (in my 10th Jan newsletter). After 100% successful Mexican and European trials it has now been approved by Israel’s Ministry of Health and administered to a patient at Beilinson Hospital.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4787207,00.html
Nanotech antioxidant protection. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Israel’s Technion have activated the body’s natural defense against free radical damage. Enhanced micro-emulsion liquids produce a powerful antioxidant protein called Nrf2 and nanotechnology delivers it to the skin and organs.
http://www.israel21c.org/nanotech-formula-could-be-skins-fount-of-youth/
http://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/3/1/1/htm
Detecting diseases at cell level. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed a disease diagnostic method called methylation which identifies the source of fragmented DNA caused by cell death. In tests on 320 patients it has identified pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, diabetes, traumatic brain injury and MS.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/209423#.VwO5Fkfn95R
http://www.pnas.org/content/113/13/E1826.abstract http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/29796
Bionic heart patch unveiled. (TY Nevet) Tel Aviv Professor Tal Dvir has unveiled his remote-controlled, bionic heart patch, which researchers say could become a revolutionary alternative to heart transplants for patients whose hearts have been damaged by heart attacks or cardiac disease. (See also Oct 2014 newsletter)
http://www.timesofisrael.com/tel-aviv-u-unveils-revolutionary-cyborg-heart-patch/
http://www.nature.com/nmat/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nmat4590.html
Sleep apnea solution goes global. At the 13th International Dead Sea Symposium on Innovations in Technology, Treatment & Prevention of Cardiac Arrhythmias, Israel’s Itamar Medical announced that 60 international hospitals have now adopted Itamar’s Total Sleep Solution. (see 17th May newsletter)
http://www.timesofisrael.com/how-sleep-apnea-causes-heart-attacks-and-how-israeli-tech-helps/
An implant to treat spinal degenerative disc disease. (TY Dan) Israel’s Rainbow Medical is working with with Medos International Sarl (part of Johnson & Johnson) to develop a minimally invasive implant to treat spinal degenerative disc disease – which has no current cure and leads to acute chronic back pain.
http://www.orthospinenews.com/rainbow-medical-to-collaborate-with-johnson-johnson-innovation/
The lengths Israel goes to save Syrian girl. (TY Ron) Doctors at Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center healed a 5-year-old Syrian girl from her civil war wounds but then discovered she had cancer. Israeli security services mounted a secret operation to smuggle a relative with matching bone marrow from “an enemy state” into Israel.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-doctors-spies-rally-to-save-5-year-old-syrian-girl/
Fighting the Zika virus. One of the Grand Challenge Israel winners is Israeli startup BioFeed. It will use the 500,000-shekel prize money to advance its solution in the fight against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, carrier of the Zika virus. Biofeed uses odor to attract insects to poison that eliminates the pest without spraying crops.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-start-up-takes-on-grand-challenge-of-beating-zika/
Fish virus identified. Israeli scientists have helped isolate a deadly virus that is killing both wild and farmed tilapia fish – an important global food source. Tilapia eat algae and are essential for freshwater quality. The tilapia lake virus is related to the influenza virus and the research will help the development of a vaccine.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/210367#.VwSJRUfn95Q
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Riding therapy for special kids. The Red Mountain Therapeutic Riding School, in Israel’s Arava desert, each week takes 200 special needs children and adults into another dimension. The therapists, volunteers and 22 beautiful horses give the riders increased control of muscles and helps their emotional development.
http://www.rmtrc.org/Default.asp?sType=0&PageId=67474
Good Deeds Day 2016. Israel founded Good Deeds Day in 2007. In 2016 1,300,000 Israelis took part. It involved 99% of the local authorities, more than 1,500 business groups, 200 youth groups, and hundreds of schools. 14,000 projects included blood donations, volunteering with the needy, second-hand markets, helping out in animal shelters, and much more. http://www.shariarison.com/en/content/good-deeds-day-2016-0
The voice of an Israeli-Arab doctor. Faiza works in the intensive care unit at a major Israeli private hospital. She lives in Shuafat, an Arab neighborhood in Jerusalem where there are frequent disturbances. She has ten siblings – most of them graduates of Israeli universities. Here she shares her vision about life in Israel.
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/what-israel-is-giving-me-the-voice-of-an-arab-doctor/
Israeli-Arab kids win national tech prize. Three students from Bustan El-Marj Sci-Tech High School (part of the ORT Sci-Tech network of Israeli high schools) won 3rd prize at Israel’s Young Engineers’ Conference. It is the first time that Arab-Israeli schoolkids have won a prize – this for an app to direct firefighters to the nearest hydrant.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/how-3-arab-israeli-kids-from-a-poor-village-won-a-tech-prize/
Arab girls join IDF. Young Muslim girls are joining the Israel Defense Forces. Together with a growing number of Christian Arab girls, they are breaking new ground joining ranks with the Israeli army.
http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/28547/Default.aspx
Lebanese “refugee” studies at Israeli university. Dr. Carol Jahshan is the daughter of a Lebanese refugee from Haifa who grew up in Beirut before moving the USA. She has just completed a 3-month working collaboration at Israel’s Bar Ilan University. Here is her story.
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/reflections-of-a-lebanese-woman-in-israel/
From Bondi beach to Ashdod. (TY Dan) Life-guards from Australia have come to Israel to help train Israelis in water-safety. It was their response to several drowning incidents in 2013. The first two sessions at Ashdod beach attracted 117 children and resulted in the setting up of a new organization Surf Life Saving Israel.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nippers-program-exported-to-israel-20160311-gngekv.html
French seek help treating terror victims. French Minister of Health Marisol Touraine visited Israel in an effort to learn from the Jewish state’s medical expertise on treating victims of terror attacks. Touraine visited Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center on Thursday and met Israel’s Health Minister Yaakov Litzman.
A positive agenda at the UN. Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, is promoting “good cop” advocacy at the world body. Events such as Israeli singers, or a panel about water technology. Israel has lot to offer the U.N.
How Israeli benefits the US economy. (TY Nathan) From manufacturing to medical research, the Jewish state is crucial to the economic health of the U.S. Economic ties with Israel sustain American jobs. Joint US-Israeli funding for science, industrial research and agricultural research has advanced the technology of both countries.
http://www.thetower.org/article/israel-gives-much-more-to-the-u-s-economy-than-you-imagined/
How to setup a field hospital in 12 hours. When it responds to an international disaster, the Israel Defense Forces can get a field hospital functioning within 12 hours of arriving at the setup site. An unbeatable, awe-inspiring feat of logistics.
http://www.israel21c.org/how-to-build-an-emergency-field-hospital-in-12-hours/
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Israeli girl finds new geometric theorem. (TY Dan) 10th grade student Tamar Barbi from Hod Hasharon discovered the new “Three Radii Theorem” whilst studying mathematics at the highest level in Israel. If three or more lines extend from a single point to the edge of a circle, then the point is the center of the circle and the straight lines are the radii.
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=32345
Smart cities in Brazil. Israeli startup Magos’s civil security systems won the 3C Smart Cities Challenge in Tel Aviv to develop solutions for Brazilian smart cities. Second was GreenIQ’s smart management of green spaces. Third was Pixtier, which develops an engineering system. The three startups won grants and flights to Brazil.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-3-israeli-cos-will-help-establish-brazilian-smart-city-1001112996
Breakthrough production of hydrogen from water. (TY Dan) Professor Lilac Amirav of Israel’s Technion, has developed nanotechnology and solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen with 100% efficiency. In time for Pesach – Moses would have been proud!
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b04813
http://pard.technion.ac.il/2016/03/05/hydrogen-breakthrough-water-splitting-at-technion/
Water tech in India. Israel’s agriculture minister Uri Ariel opened India Water Week in Delhi. It will feature eleven Israeli companies in the water industry who will demonstrate, through simulations, innovations in irrigation, desalination, water purification, measurement and management for municipalities and farms.
http://hamodia.com/2016/04/03/israel-opens-water-week-delhi/
The first “reefer cargo” block train from Israel. (TY Dan) As part of the EU project Fresh Food Corridors (FFC), the first ever “reefer” (temperature-controlled containers) block train loaded with Israeli fruit and veg travelled from the Slovenian port of Koper to Rotterdam. It arrived 6 days earlier than ships direct from Israel.
http://www.hortialliance.com/news/fresh-produce-train-rolls-into-rotterdam/
Ten more global winners. (TY Dan) In the second round of Grand Challenge Israel, ten Israeli companies won government grants of up to half a million shekels for creating technological solutions to health and food security challenges in developing countries. (See 25th Jan newsletter for previous winners).
Inclusive school wins robotics innovation award. (TY Dan) A team from the Jusidman Science Center for Youth won the Rockwell Collins Innovate Award at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) – a global robotics competition for young people, held for the first time in Israel. The Jusidman Team includes religious and secular Jews and Arab Bedouins.
http://in.bgu.ac.il/en/Pages/news/jusidman_FIRST.aspx
The cleanest air. (TY Dan) Israel raised the threshold for the six most carcinogenic or toxic substances listed in the Clean Air Law and set values for two other substances. The values are more stringent than European standards, and don’t exist in the U.S., making Israel one of the most advanced countries in terms of environmental regulation.
The world’s smallest diode. Israeli and US researchers have made the world’s smallest diode – just one molecule small. Diodes are electronic elements that allow current to flow in one direction but prevent its flow in the other direction. They are essential for all electronic devices including smartphones and computers.
The world’s first emergency video app. Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service has launched a first-of-its-kind smartphone video distress platform, based on an app developed by Israeli startup Reporty. The service shows emergency operators an outside caller’s exact location and provides vital real-time information.
http://ca.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idCAKCN0WI1SI?sp=true
Engines to land spacecraft on Mars. The European Space Agency’s ExoMars mission blasted off from Kazahkstan on 14th March. Israel’s Rafael Industries made the vital hydrazine thrusters for the Schiaparelli landing module, which on 19th Oct will slow the decent of Schiaparelli to just 2 meters above the Mars surface.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-rocket-technology-to-help-explorer-ease-onto-mars/
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/How_Schiaparelli_will_land_on_Mars
Smart transportation conference. The 4th EcoMotion Conference on 19th May in Tel Aviv will showcase the innovation and entrepreneurship of over 150 Israel startups in the field of Smart Transportation. Featuring presentations, workshops and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, industry leaders and researchers.
http://www.israeltrade.org.au/ecomotion-smarttransportation-conference-israel-may-19-2016/
Now you can 3D print your shoes. (TY Diane) Israel’s Stratasys, the world’s biggest maker of 3D printers, has launched the Stratasys J750 that can print anything from trainers to voice recorders in a single operation. It has 360,000 different color shades and multiple properties, from rigid to flexible and opaque to transparent.
http://investors.stratasys.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=963214
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Moody’s confirms Israel’s A1 rating. International credit rating agency Moody’s confirmed Israel’s A1 rating with a stable outlook. It highlighted the economic flexibility and great effectiveness of the government, which works to improve Israel’s debt and financing figures. Only Israel’s geopolitical risks prevents a higher rating.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-moodys-confirms-israels-a1-stable-rating-1001114139
Natural gas estimates tripled. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Energy Ministry has tripled its estimate of the volume of still-undiscovered natural gas in Israeli waters. The new assessment is a potential 2,100 billion cubic meters (BCM) based on a report by French consulting firm BeicipFranlab. Tamar and Leviathan gas fields have already yielded 750-950 BCM of natural gas.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4770058,00.html
A global water company. Israel’s Desalitech has reached the finals of Global Water Intelligence’s Global Water Award for Breakthrough Water Technology of the Year, for the second consecutive year. Desalitech’s water purification systems are used by several Fortune 500 companies, including Coca Cola.
http://israelnewtech.com/2016/03/desalitech-recognized-as-leading-global-water-technology-company/
Infinidat expands. (TY Dan) Israel’s Infinidat is still growing. The data storage company (value $1.2 billion – See May 2015 newsletter) aims to compete with IT giant EMC and has quadrupled the size of its Boston US base. It is also expanding offices in Europe, South Africa, India, Japan, Australia and Canada.
Animating emails to increase business. US-Israeli PowerInbox merged with Israel’s ActivePath in 2012. It markets DynamicMail, which boosts the business of hundreds of its clients. PowerInbox saw a 2000% increase in revenue in 2015 and has now raised $6.5 million to expand its Israeli offices and enhance its product.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-dynamic-email-developer-powerinbox-raises-65m-1001113845
New airport shuttle to Tel Aviv. (TY Janglo) Tourists arriving at Ben Gurion Airport now can get to their Tel Aviv hotel other than by expensive taxi. Flo Shuttle is operating a door-to-door shuttle service between the airport and your hotel for just $17/pp that operates every hour, day and night. Pre-booking is required.
http://www.withflo.stfi.re/tel-aviv/?sf=jbrbjo
Transforming sand dunes into businesses and homes. 250-acres of sand dunes in the Tel Aviv suburb of Rishon LeZion are to be developed into a 1.7 million sq. meter business center and 5,500 housing units. The Mayor of Rishon said that it will be the future business center of Israel.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-huge-rishon-lezion-project-given-green-light-1001108894
Israeli London taxi cabs. BDS supporters can no longer use most London taxis, thanks to Israel’s Gett buying British black cab company Radio Taxis. Gett becomes the UK’s largest black cab app, with half of all the licensed taxis in London. The buyout was welcomed by London’s Licensed Taxi Drivers Association.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-gett-buys-london-black-cab-company-1001113915
Grapefruit exports to Asia up 300 percent. (TY Dan) Israeli exports of red grapefruit this year to the Far East were 300 percent greater than they were just four years ago. In 2012 Israel sold 1,086 tons of red grapefruit to the region, compared to 4,000 tons so far this season – which is only halfway through.
http://hamodia.com/2016/03/11/300-jump-grapefruit-exports-asia/
Toying with VR. Israeli virtual reality (VR) tech firm WakingApp (see 20 Dec newsletter) is partnering with PPI Worldwide – that supplies novelty collectable toys to MacDonalds, Coca-Cola, Unilever and Nestlé. It will use WakingApp’s ENTiTi Creator to digitize its products and make “Happy Meals” even happier.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/happy-meals-to-get-happier-thanks-to-israeli-virtual-reality-tech/
Israeli startup on Australian exchange. Israeli cybersecurity company Genome Technologies is floating on the Australian Securities Exchange. Genome’s predictive identity engine profiles each employee and determines possible cyber-attacks targeting specific employees.
http://www.crn.com.au/News/416826,israeli-cyber-security-firm-reverse-lists-on-asx.aspx
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Fresh Paint in Tel Aviv. (TY SDM) Fresh Paint Contemporary Art & Design Fair, Tel-Aviv is the largest and most influential annual art event in Israel. 35,000 visitors are expected. This year, the fair pays tribute to the first international Fair that took place in 1932 in the same location.
Made of Stars. (TY Janglo) Israel’s 2016 Eurovision Song Contest entry “Made of Stars” will be sung by 29-year-old Hovi Star (real name Hovev Sekulets) from Kiryat Ata. Israel came ninth in 2015.
https://youtu.be/pMWtFb9A88w
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4774308,00.html
30,000 run the Jerusalem marathon. A record-setting 30,000 people from 62 countries participated in the sixth annual Jerusalem marathon. They included a record 2,400 foreign competitors and 6,000 who were raising money for good causes.
40,000 run the Tel Aviv marathon. (TY Janglo) 40,000 runners from around the globe took part in the 2016 Tel Aviv Marathon and fell in love with one of the world’s most attractive coastal cities, with its scenery, its lively streets and its boundless energy.
Israeli gymnasts take another gold. Israel’s national rhythmic gymnastics team continued its sensational form with another gold medal, finishing in first place in the ribbons final at the Thiais Grand Prix in France. Israel ended the all-around competition in fifth place overall.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sports/All-conquering-Israeli-gymnasts-take-another-gold-449418
Israeli duo make history in Qatar. Israeli beach volleyball duo Sean Faiga and Ariel Hilman became the first Israeli team in the sport to participate in a competition in an Arab country.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-beach-volleyball-duo-win-in-qatar/
THE JEWISH STATE
Increased rent subsidy for Olim. (TY Janglo) In February, the Israeli government nearly doubled the rental assistance benefit given to immigrants aged under 49, in the 2nd to 5th years after Aliyah.
Where anyone can make an historic discovery. Hiking is very popular in tiny Israel and you have the potential to find things almost everywhere at its 37,000 registered archeological sites. Israel Antiques Authority chairman Yisrael Hasson has used educational programs to engage schools in archeological activities.
http://www.israel21c.org/why-do-hikers-in-israel-keep-stumbling-upon-ancient-relics/
2nd Temple tools discovered. A 2000-year-old incense shovel and jug have been discovered at Magdala, a 2nd Temple Jewish town in the Galilee region. The Israel Antiquities Authority has been leading extensive excavations at the site and has uncovered Jewish ritual baths and a synagogue with a mosaic floor.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/210361#.VwPBw0fn95Q
Visa-free access to Filipinos. (TY Dan) An act of Filipino hospitality – opening the Philippines to Jews fleeing the Holocaust – earned the gratitude of Israel, which now shows it by welcoming Filipino pilgrims, tourists and even skilled workers.
http://thestandard.com.ph/mobile/article/201576
Honoring Italian cyclist who saved Jews. On 20th March, Israel’s pro cycling team set out on the route from Florence to Assisi that Italian champion road cyclist Gino Bartali took secretly during World War II to save Jews escaping from Nazi persecution. He hid forged documents in the handlebar and seat of his bicycle.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-cycle-team-to-retrace-path-of-italian-champion-who-saved-jews/
Hero’s widow remarries. In the 2006 Lebanon war, Major Roi Klein saved his unit by jumping on a live grenade thrown by a Hezbollah terrorist. His widow Sarah has now married Rabbi Yigal Levenstein, one of Roi’s former pre-military academy teachers. Rabbi Levenstein’s wife passed away in November.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/210354#.VwOVpUfn95Q
