This Week’s Sanity Report from Israel June 19, 2022
Israel and Israelis were bursting with oceans of energetic ideas, activities and projects this last week. It began with Israel, Egypt and the EU signing an agreement to bring Israeli natural gas via Egypt to Europe. Water and energy featured in a solar-powered water purification system, compressed air energy storage, self watering plants, a ship navigation system, and sustainable agriculture. Israelis have been electrifying roads in Italy, and setting paralympic swimming world records. A new pro-Israel advocacy group is called “Fuel for the Truth”. And finally, the earliest evidence of humanity’s use of fire has been discovered – in Israel, of course.
The photo is of the sunset off the Israeli Mediterranean coast.
the highlights include:
- Israel has opened its most advanced cardiology hospital.
- Egypt and Israel signed agreement to produce liquid gas for Europe.
- Three refreshing new Israeli water innovations.
- Huge private funds raised for investment in Israeli startups.
- Toyota racing is to use Israeli 3D-printed spare parts.
- Israeli paralympic swimmer breaks world record.
- Israeli archaeologists discover the earliest evidence of the use of fire.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Israel’s most advanced cardiology hospital. The new NIS 200 million Eyal Ofer Heart Hospital has just opened on the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa. Besides “normal” cardiology treatments, it will advance research into the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and disorders, benefiting the whole world.
https://www.jpost.com/health-
https://www.jpost.com/israel-
Coming soon – 3D-printed skin. (TY UWI) Hebrew University Professor Oded Shoseyov is developing Second Skin – a nano-thin 3D-printed film that mimics natural healthy skin. Burn victims or scarred patients can avoid painful skin grafts, simply applying the film like a tattoo.
https://www.israel21c.org/
Better heart imaging. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s DiA Imaging (see here previously) is partnering California’s ScImage to integrate DiA’s LVivo Seamless AI-based automated cardiac ultrasound solution into ScImage’s unique Cloud architecture and improve the efficiency of echocardiography (heart) analysis.
https://www.dia-analysis.com/
The stuttering birth of a special education learning startup. To treat the stutter of their son, Niv, Biomedical Engineers Yair and Shirley believed they could develop a hi-tech solution. The result was Israel’s Amplio (see here previously). Their groundbreaking system now helps hundreds of thousands of special needs children.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
The first AI med-tech research institute. Israel’s Technion Institute is establishing the Zimin Institute for AI Solutions in Healthcare. Headed by Professor Shai Shen-Orr, it will research human health and medicine, using big data and computational learning. It aims to benefit hospitals, new treatments, home therapy and wearables.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/
Heart ops on International Children’s Day. Four children from different countries were brought to Israel on International Children’s Day to undergo life-saving heart surgeries by Israeli NGO Save a Child’s Heart. They were Florim from Kosovo, Robert from Ghana, Kauthar from Zanzibar and Kidus from Ethiopia.
https://www.ynetnews.com/
Land of milk, honey, and magic. In the same hour, volunteer EMTs from Israel’s United Hatzalah used their Epipens to save the lives of two Israelis who suffered anaphylactic shock from severe allergic reactions to dairy products. One paramedic was Aharon, whose main profession is a children’s magician (see here previously).
https://www.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
More books by women than men. For the first time ever, female authors in Israel published more books of prose and poetry. Statistics released by the National Library of Israel just ahead of Hebrew Book Week show that of the 7,344 new books registered with the library in 2021, 52%, were credited to female authors.
https://www.
The best tech in the Middle East. Research firm Startup Genome has ranked Tel Aviv and Jerusalem together as the fourth best startup ecosystem in the world for agriculture technology in a global survey – the only Middle East country in the top 35. Tel Aviv was also ranked as the seventh best global tech ecosystem.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
https://startupgenome.com/
Egypt and Israel sign EU liquid gas deal. (TY WIN) Israel and Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Cairo that allows Israel to export natural gas to Europe via Egyptian ports. Israeli gas will be piped to Egypt, liquified to LNG and then brought to the European Union.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
EU President praises partnership. President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen was in Israel to strengthen the EU’s relationship with Israel. “I came to Israel to make our unique partnership even stronger, by deepening our bilateral cooperation on many topics, from energy to health and innovation,” she said.
https://www.
Food for preemies. The shortage of infant food in the USA is extremely serious for premature babies and for infants dealing with food allergies and sensitivities. Israel’s MyOr (see here previously) has applied to the US FDA for approval to ship 200,000 cans of formula immediately, with plans for a further 250,000 cans a month
https://www.jns.org/israeli-
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Superfood from fungi. (TY NoCamels) One of the Israeli startups showcasing its technology at Tel Aviv’s recent Vegan Fest was Kinoko Tech. At the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Kinoko team discovered a way to grow mushrooms into a product that has a meat-like taste and texture with high nutritional value.
https://kinoko-tech.com/ https://www.youtube.com/
https://www.
Solar-powered water purification. Scientists at Tel Aviv University have developed SoLED – a solar-powered UV LED-based water disinfection device designed to purify water in rural communities. The device uses UV light to change the DNA of microbe bacteria, preventing it from replicating. SoLED-treated water is harmless.
https://nocamels.com/2022/06/
Clean water initiative. Tel Aviv University has inaugurated the Asper Clean Water Fund, thanks to a $407,000 gift from The Asper Foundation, one of Canada’s largest private foundations. The funds will bolster the work of TAU’s Water Energy (WE) Lab that is developing the SoLED water purification system above.
https://english.tau.ac.il/
Plants that water themselves. (TY UWI) Israel’s TomGrow has developed Selfgrow – technology that self-waters houseplants and delivers all the nutrients needed for six months. Instead of soil, Selfgrow’s patented MediumX comprises gel cubes filled with water and nutrients that allows the plants to drink on demand.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
https://tomgrow.io/ https://vimeo.com/548889956
Storing green energy. Israel’s Energy Minister Karin Elharrar visited Ashdod port to see the energy storage system developed by Israel’s Storage Drop (see here previously). It is the world’s first solar energy system to compress air to 80 bars (1 bar = atmospheric pressure) and provides on-demand, emissions-free electricity.
https://www.jpost.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Taking the helm. More about Israel’s Orca AI which is being marketed as “the Waze of the Seas”. Its innovative autonomous technology prevents ships from colliding, even in dense fog. There are some 4,000 maritime accidents each year, claiming lives and causing environmental and economic damage.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
The best cybersecurity for railways. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Cervello was awarded “Best Solution in Railway Cybersecurity” by Cyber Defense Magazine at the Annual Global InfoSec Awards. Cervello’s system monitors a railway’s mission-critical assets, alerting staff to counter cyber threats as they arise and avoid disruption.
https://www.prnewswire.com/
New radar system makes all others obsolete. Israel’s Elbit Systems has unveiled an innovative tactical radar, at the Eurostory exhibition in Paris. “Raketa” (rocket) can simultaneously detect and track thousands of objects. A small drone at 12 km, a person at 15km or swarms of drones and, of course, much larger objects.
https://www.
Radar to detect insects. (TY Hazel) Scientists at Haifa University have developed a first-of-its-kind radar that accurately detects the size and direction of insect swarms, to help forewarn farmers and save crops. It has been installed near the Agamon Hula nature reserve in northern Israel.
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/
Brain science in space. If you were unable to join Ben Gurion University’s recent Zoom webinar “BGU’s Brain Science Launches into Space”, here is the link to the recorded event. Dr. Oren Shriki, head of BGU’s Department of Cognitive and Brain Science, describes his latest experiment with Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe.
https://americansforbgu.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Global impact challenge. The THRIVE Global Impact Challenge is a global search for the most innovative startups who are advancing a sustainable future for agriculture. The launch event was hosted in Tel Aviv, in partnership with Israel’s ICL Planet Startup Hub, THRIVE’s headline partner for the Challenge.
https://thriveagrifood.com/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Deficit drops to almost zero. Israel’s budget deficit as a percentage of GDP was a mere 0.04% for the 12 months till the end of May – the lowest in 14 years. Government revenues increased and expenditures fell amid the ongoing rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Dubai commerce comes to Tel Aviv. The Dubai International Chamber of Commerce is to open an office in Tel Aviv. Its President and CEO, Hamad Buamim, said that Israel was a “strategically important” market for Dubai, and was expected to become one of Dubai’s top 10 trading partners “within a few years.”
https://www.jns.org/dubai-
Billions to invest. Israeli financial companies have raised huge funds to invest mostly in Israeli startups. They include Titan Capital Partners ($100 million), US-Israel’s Greenfield Partners ($200 million), Israel Secondary Fund ($312 million) and Viola Credit ($700 million). More details of their plans in the following links.
https://nocamels.com/2022/06/
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://www.calcalistech.com/
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Partnering the Startup Nation. Israel’s ExitValley launched in 2015 (see here) as a mechanism for the general public to invest in early-stage Israeli startups. Seven years later it has dozens of successful companies in its portfolio. The founders say that Israeli start-ups are still a significant growth engine in Israel and globally.
https://www.jpost.com/
Travel insurance that really looks after you. The insurtech platform of Israel’s Faye (see here previously) for US citizens, includes a smartphone app that sends real-time alerts, 24 x 7 expert help, plus fast, digital claims processing. It will resolve missed connections, cancelled flights, lost passports and much more.
https://nocamels.com/2022/06/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Smart return of online products. Israel’s ReturnGO has developed an exchange-first returns platform for web-based retailers that simultaneously reduces refunds and waste. It offers to turn the returns process from a painful financial problem into a lever of revenue, and to improve the relationship with customers.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Funds for cultivated meat. Israel’s SuperMeat (see here previously) has received a grant from Israel’s Innovation Authority. It will finance a high-throughput screening system for feed ingredients and supplements, plus cell scaffolds for cultivated meat, The project will benefit the entire cultivated meat industry.
https://nocamels.com/2022/06/
3D-printing parts for Toyota racing. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Stratasys (see here previously) has been named an official partner of Toyota Racing Development (TRD). End-use parts printed using Stratasys additive manufacturing technology will be used for production vehicles in the upcoming Toyota GR Cup Series.
https://www.businesswire.com/
Electric road for Italy. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Electreon (see here previously) has been testing a 1km recharging circuit in Brescia, Italy, since Nov 2020. Electreon is now on track to install an electric lane for shuttles and service vehicles at Milan Bergamo Airport. Maserati is also interested in using the technology at its factories.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Takeovers & Mergers. U.S. chip giant Qualcomm is acquiring Israel’s Cellwize for $350 million. Hong-Kong based Animoca Brands has bought control of Israel’s educational games startup TinyTap for nearly $39 million.
Investment in Israeli startups to 19/6/22: Aidoc raised $110 million; DealHub raised $60 million; Jit raised $38.5 million; Tabnine raised $15.5 million; FinOut raised $14 million; Canditech raised $9 million; Odeeo raised $9 million; ReturnGO raised $6.5 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Bocelli serenades Tel Aviv, and more. (TY WIN) World renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli performed to over 20,000 people at Bloomfield Stadium, including some famous dignitaries. He performed duets with two of his children, plus top Israeli pop singer Shiri Maimon. After the concert he visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-
Most liked books. Israel’s Ministry of Education listed the 12 most favorite books favored by Israeli students in honor of Hebrew Book Week. They included translations of Guide to Superheros 2 by Wagens Elias Wolund and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Several books chosen were in their original Hebrew.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-
Visiting Israel with children? The Children’s Museum in Holon, Southeast of Tel Aviv, is an ideal place for families wishing to cool off in the summer. There are special routes for children from two-and-a-half up to eleven. Adults and children over nine can have some exciting experiences in the dark, in silence, and in time.
https://www.childrensmuseum.
Comedy for Koby week. There are six opportunities to see four hilarious comedians perform in Israel in support of the work of the Koby Mandell Foundation and the Kids of Camp Koby. From Jun 20 – 28 (except Friday) they will perform in Modiin, Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Gush Etzion, Tel Aviv, and Raanana.
https://www.comedyforkoby.com/
Jerusalem Community Woodstock Festival. On Jun 23 outside the Silo Café next to First Station, Baka Jerusalem. Featuring music from the 60’s with live bands. Partnering the Emunah women’s organization, to help support their work with children and at-risk young women in Israel.
https://www.nbn.org.il/events/
Jazz band for religious women. Bereshit, a haredi all-female band, opened to a sellout all-women audience at the Khan Theatre in Jerusalem, with the rhythmic beat of American jazz. They played their own original compositions, plus hits such as “Stand by Me” and “No Woman, No Cry”.
https://www.
Israel joins the Invictus Games. Israel has joined the Invictus Community of Nations. The Invictus Games Foundation provides recovery and rehabilitation programs for wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans. Israel will participate, with 20 other countries, in the Invictus Games 2023 in Dusseldorf.
https://www.jwire.com.au/
Israel plays Morocco at women’s basketball. The Moroccan women’s basketball team hosted their Israeli counterparts for the first time ever, in a friendly in front of invited guests. The match followed a recent agreement between the Royal Moroccan and Israeli Basketball Federations to develop sports exchanges.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Israel to host ice hockey championships. Israel has been awarded the hosting of the 2023 Women’s Ice Hockey World Championship for Division III for the first time ever. The tournament is planned to begin on 27 March 2023 at the Canada Center in Metula in northern Israel.
https://www.israelhayom.com/
New world record for paralympic swimmer. Israel’s Ami Omer Dadaon won his second gold medal and set a new world record in the men’s 50m freestyle S4 final at the World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira. His 36.25 time was half a second faster than New Zealand’s Cameron Leslie who broke the record in the heats.
https://www.paralympic.org/
THE JEWISH STATE
98-year-old survivor rescued. 98-year-old Shoah survivor Yelena was rescued from Ukraine and brought to Israel. She said, “I am excited to immigrate to Israel, the nation state of the Jewish people, where I can experience Shabbats and Jewish holidays and be happy in the years I still have left to live here in this world.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Israel’s new and growing breed of farmers. My friend Yoel is going from strength to strength with his mission to bring Jews to the Galilee. Here he interviews two new Olim from London who have bought land in Yavniel and plan to breed fish, and (after the Shmitta year) grow fruit and herbs. Kol Hakavod and b’Hatzlacha.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Fuel For Truth. The mission of US organization Fuel For Truth (FFT) is to empower young American Jews to stand by Israel, and to equip them with tools to combat misinformation surrounding the Jewish State. Its motto is “Israel Education for a New Generation”. Feel confident discussing Israel in the real world. Great video intro.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Summer in Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) The sun in Jerusalem’s skies was shining over clean streets, President’s residence ceremonies, preparations for Hebrew Book week, posters for Islamic Art Museum exhibit, Jerusalem Design Week, and Jerusalem Beer fest, and, of course, the flowers in bloom.
http://rjstreets.com/2022/06/
Ancient fire discovered in Israel. Researchers from Israel’s Weizmann Institute have used advanced AI and molecular spectroscopy to reveal the earliest evidence of early humans’ use of fire. Evron Quarry, in the Western Galilee, contains Paleolithic tools that were deliberately heated – over 800,000 years ago.
https://www.
The Pilgrimage Road. On Jerusalem Day, the City of David and the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs produced this video to give an inside look at the never-before-seen Pilgrimage Road where the ancestors of today’s Jews walked thousands of years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
