This Week’s Sanity Report from Israel Sept. 10, 2023
“Return” is the call broadcast to Jews in the days leading up to the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashana until Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement. The New Year also marks the birthday of humanity and there are many “happy returns” in this week’s news of Israeli innovations and achievements to benefit everyone.
Israelis are constantly working hard to return patients back to health, especially from cancer, Parkinson’s and dementia. Also to early-diagnose these life-threatening conditions.
Israel has seen good returns for its diplomatic missions; including the Arab countries who signed the Abraham Accords, plus Cyprus, Greece, and especially Papua New Guinea which opened its new embassy in Jerusalem to show solidarity with Israel’s return to the Promised Land. Israeli doctors are even helping Pakistan return normal vision to children with deadly eye cancer in Afghanistan.
Two Israeli energy startups are providing good returns for dozens of Kibbutz communities by installing solar fields and energy storage facilities. Excess electricity is then returned to the national grid. Another Israeli startup is helping install a micro power grid in Australia. And a new thermal energy system at Wolfson Medical Center in Holon will certainly give a good return on investment both financially and to the environment.
Sporting success has returned to Israelis, winning international gold medals at karate and flag football. Many ancient buried artifacts have been discovered and returned to the Jewish people, including an aqueduct, four captured Roman swords and 2,200-year-old garbage!
The Israeli flag has returned to space, worn on the spacesuit of the wife of an Israeli. And an Israeli inflating wristband being developed aims to return swimmers to the surface if they are at risk of drowning. Last week saw millions of Israeli children return to school, allowing their parents to return to a few weeks of normality before the festive season begins.
Finally, a baby porcupine that was attacked by crows in the grounds of Israel’s Knesset has been rescued, treated and returned to the wild.
The photo is of flamingos on the Hula Lake in Northern Israel. They return every year, signalling that there may soon be a return to cooler weather.
Wishing those that celebrate it a Happy and Healthy New Year and a Very Good 5784.
The highlights include:
- Six positive stories about Israeli detection or treatments for cancer.
- Israel invests billions to help East Jerusalem Arabs.
- Israeli and Pakistani doctors save children in Afghanistan.
- An innovative Israeli college is creating the next generation of teachers.
- Israeli kibbutzim are producing huge amounts of sustainable energy.
- See the Israeli flag at the edge of space.
- More Israeli sporting gold medals.
- More embassies open – Israel’s in Bahrain and Papua New Guinea’s in Jerusalem.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Once-a-day injection to treat Parkinson’s. Israel’s Pharma Two B (see here previously) is presenting the full results of its Phase 3 trial of its once-a-day injection of its P2B001 treatment for Parkinson’s disease. P2B001 combines low-dose pramipexole with low-dose rasagiline. It relieves PD symptoms with few side effects.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Sheba implements fast cancer diagnosis. Sheba Medical Center has deployed a new accelerated, AI-powered cancer diagnostics research platform to improve patient diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. It utilizes solutions of various Israeli startups, including that of Imagene (see here previously).
https://www.
Detecting ovarian cancer. Israel’s Nevia Bio (previously Gina Life) specializes in women’s health, using its innovative machine-learning platform to detect diseases while they are still curable. Nevia is initially targeting ovarian cancer, which has a less than 20% survival rate at stage 3 and currently has no early detection.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Accurately predicting the genetic risk of cancer. Researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) have developed a computational model that makes it possible to predict an individual woman’s genetic risk of developing breast cancer based on her genetic profile. It means women at risk can be tested earlier and more frequently.
https://www.aftau.org/news_
Treating Basal Cell Carcinoma. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s MediWound (see here previously) announced positive data from its Phase I/II study of MW005 for non-surgical treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) – a form of slow-growing skin cancer. MW005 is safe, well-tolerated and completely cleared the BCC lesions.
https://ir.mediwound.com/news-
Nanotechnology improves photodynamic cancer therapy. Researchers at Israel’s Ariel University have enhanced the ability of Photodynamic cancer therapy (PDT) to reach tumors deep inside the body. They used nanoparticles of barium titanate, curcumin (turmeric) and pulsed lasers to optimize the Near Infrared Light.
https://www.jpost.com/health-
https://www.sciencedirect.com/
US approval for biodegradable balloon. Israel’s BioProtect (see here previously) has received US FDA’s clearance for its biodegradable balloon spacer that protects healthy tissue against damage during prostate cancer radiation therapy. BioProtect already has approval for the European market.
https://bioprotect.com/ https://www.youtube.com/
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/
Using music to test for dementia. Israel’s Neurosteer (see here previously) has developed a musical test for the early detection of Parkinson’s Disease as well as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Patients conduct a series of musical tasks while sensors connected to an EEG device record their brain activity.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
US approval for acne scar treatment. Israel’s Sofwave Medical (see here previously) has received US FDA approval for its treatment for acne scars. 88% of patients reported an improvement in a clinical study of Sofwave’s Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam (SUPERB) technology.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
Understanding early placental development. Joint Israeli & US research has revealed crucial insights into the early development of specialized tissues that protect the fetus during human pregnancy. The findings can potentially help prevent dangerous pregnancy complications, like pre-eclampsia and preterm birth.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Better health for aging Americans. (TY OurCrowd) Healthcare app Together by Renee is integrating the video-based biomarker check technology from Israel’s Binah.ai (see here previously). The platform allows US seniors to easily check and share vital signs with caregivers and family, using their smartphone cameras.
https://www.prweb.com/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
A haredi border policewoman. Sgt. Maj. Avishag Shiran Malka is Israel’s only haredi female Border Police officer. She consults her Rabbi who supports her work, which involves Shabbat and even Yom Kippur duties. 17 years in the force, Malka serves in a mostly female unit that regularly patrols Afula in case of terrorist attack.
https://worldisraelnews.com/
$843 million for Eastern Jerusalem. Israel has approved a five-year, 3.2-billion-shekel ($843 million) plan to invest in eastern Jerusalem. It aims to reduce economic and social disparities for Arab residents in Israel’s capital city. It should improve infrastructure, health, welfare, personal security, employment, and education.
https://www.jns.org/israel-
https://www.gov.il/en/
A small medical center makes a big difference. (TY Ruth) Tzafon Medical Center near Tiberias cares for 300,000 residents of Northern Israel. Staff and patients represent a mosaic of Israelis: Christian and Muslim Arabs, Bedouin, Druze, Circassians, and all kinds of Jews. It has just begun implanting LVAD heart devices.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.
https://www.jpost.com/health-
US University teaches Israeli innovation. Florida University has been running its “Innovation Nation: The Global Influence of Israeli Technology and Entrepreneurship” course for three years. This year it was oversubscribed. Students learn how to pitch, to think through different angles, teamwork, and “failure”.
https://www.israel21c.org/
https://honors.fiu.edu/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Israel, Cyprus, Greece alliance to include India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed interest in joining the Eastern Mediterranean alliance between Israel, Cyprus, and Greece and to establish a cargo route from India to the Med. All three leaders approved and will invite the Indian Premier to the next summit.
https://www.jns.org/israel-
The Abraham Accords dream is coming true. Two very positive articles, to mark the 3rd anniversary of the signing of the original Abraham Accords by Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, and the USA.
https://www.jns.org/column/
https://www.jns.org/jns/
Saving the sight of Afghan children. (TY WIN) The Retinoblastoma Silk Road Project treats young Afghan children with the potentially deadly eye cancer Retinoblastoma. Ophthalmologists from Israel’s Sheba Medical Center check images on Zoom and WhatsApp and refer children for treatment in Lahore, Pakistan.
https://www.israel21c.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Clean water for Cameroon and Kenya. (TY Stuart Palmer & I24 News) Israeli NGO Innovation: Africa (see here previously) is installing clean water systems in 35 remote villages in Northern Cameroon. And in Kenya, IsraAID is installing similar solar-powered pumps to extract water from the boreholes they drill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Knesset porcupine saved. A tiny month-old porcupine was recently rescued from crows by guards at Israel’s Knesset (parliament). Her wounds were treated at the nearby Nili and David Jerusalem Bird Research Station of the Society for the Protection of Nature, and at the Biblical Zoo. She has now been released back into the wild.
https://www.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
How Israel became a cyber and technology superpower. This article describes Israel’s security priority, the IDF recruitment and training process, venture capital funding, accelerator programs, and post-IDF service training. It explains how the hi-tech industry has become the engine that pulls the Israeli economy.
https://www.jns.org/israel-
The classroom of the future. (TY UWI) Gordon Academic College in Haifa is an innovation center for educating the next generation of teachers. Augmented Reality of an X-ray tee shirt; touchscreens that launch puzzles, quizzes, and tours; studying on an exercise bike. The school has also adopted Mistake-based Learning.
https://www.israel21c.org/a-
https://en.gordon.ac.il/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Cutting hospital emissions. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Finance Ministry has allocated NIS 14 million for Israel’s Brenmiller (see here previously) to build a Thermal Energy system for the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon. The aim is to cut carbon emissions by 3,900 tons and reduce energy costs by up to $1.3 million annually.
https://www.jpost.com/
It’s about thyme. Israel’s BotanoHealth has created BH-B spray – an organic formula for protecting plants against insects and fungi using thyme oil. BotanoHealth uses nano-emulsion to reduce thyme oil’s base ingredient thymol to a safe 1% and act as a natural antimicrobial agent by killing bacteria and fungi.
https://om/2023/08/essential-
Preventing peanut allergies. Israel’s Ukko (see here previously) is developing a therapy for those with severe allergies to peanuts. Ukko separates the parts of the peanut protein that trigger an allergic reaction from those that help train the immune system. Ukko then reintroduces the training part until the patient develops immunity.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
95% reduction in loneliness. (TY OurCrowd) Data from New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) shows that the smart ElliQ robot companion from Israel’s Intuition Robotics (see here previously), has reduced loneliness in 800 elderly residents by 95%. NYSOFA is now extending its partnership with Intuition Robotics.
https://www.prnewswire.com/
Wristband to prevent drownings. Israel’s NeoMare is developing a wristband that inflates on command, potentially saving dozens of Israelis from drowning every year. NeoMare’s LifSsaver armband contains a chemical that inflates an 8-liter floatation balloon, to become a personal buoy if there is a danger of drowning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Tech competition for teens. (TY I24 News) Non-profit Unistream (see here previously) organized a unique tech competition for teens from periphery communities in Israel. They got a chance to showcase their innovations and enhance their prospects of entering the hi-tech industry in the future.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
Increasing the power of AI while reducing the cost. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s NeuReality (see here previously) aims to make AI systems easy to use, increase its performance tenfold and reduce its cost by 90%. All while reducing its carbon footprint.
https://www.eejournal.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Natural gas revenues soar. (TY Hazel) The latest report shows Israel earned over NIS 1 billion from its natural gas deposits in the first six months of 2023 – a rise of 22.8% compared to the same period last year. Almost half of the gas produced (6 BCM) was exported to neighboring countries – mostly to Egypt and Jordan.
https://english.news.cn/
An incubator for Israeli-Arab innovators. (TY Hazel) The Hasoub (Arabic for “computer”) Garage incubator (see here previously) in Wadi Ara in the Arab town of Ar’ara comprises Hasoub Angels, an investment arm for early-stage startups, and Hasoub Labs, an innovation hub to transform ideas into reality.
https://nocamels.com/2023/08/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Microgrid in Australia. (TY OurCrowd) Australia’s Endeavour Energy is adopting the Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) platform from Israel’s mPrest (see here previously). It will be part of a new micro power grid in New South Wales, delivering electricity to tens of thousands of customers.
https://www.prnewswire.com/
ItsMine is a Cool Vendor. (TY OurCrowd) Israel’s ItsMine (see here previously) has been named a Cool Vendor in Garner’s “The “Cool Vendors in Data Security” report. ItsMine’s Agentless Beyond platform is designed to prevent data loss and leakage that can lead to devastating ransomware attacks.
https://itsmine.io/cool-
More innovation than ever. An interview with Israeli top tech influencer Hillel Fuld (brother of Ari Fuld z”l) who says that start-ups in the Jewish State are stronger than ever. “People don’t know this, but in absolute numbers, Israel’s ecosystem is number two in the world after the United States for food tech.”
https://unitedwithisrael.org/
Simulating clinical trials. Over 90% of treatments that reach the clinical trials stage fail to make it to market – an annual $50 billion waste. It is mostly due to major gaps in the research needed to support clinical trials. QuantHealth.ai bridges these gaps by simulating large scale trials to accelerate development.
https://quanthealth.ai/ https://www.calcalistech.com/
The sun is shining on the kibbutz. Many kibbutzim have invested millions in setting up solar power systems and large storage facilities. Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak (3.5km from Gaza) stores energy in batteries during the day and sells it back to the grid during peak demand. Also Doral Energy and Nofar Energy’s many initiatives.
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Pitango’s 2nd Healthtech fund. Pitango VC has closed its $175 million second dedicated healthcare fund (see first fund here). Pitango HealthTech II. will invest in decentralized healthcare, personalized medicine, medical devices and diagnostics, AI, etc. It has already invested in QuantHealth.ai and Nevia Bio (see previously).
https://www.calcalistech.com/
Another Unicorn. The $155 million raised by Israel’s AI21 Labs last week gave it a valuation of $1.4 billion and financial Unicorn status. https://www.calcalistech.com/
Exits, takeovers & mergers to 10/9/23. Israel’s Check Point Systems is acquiring Israel’s Atmosec for a few million dollars. Jared Kushner’s Saudi-backed Affinity Partners is investing $150 million for an 18% stake in Israel’s Shlomo Group.
Investment in Israeli startups to 10/9/23: ThetaRay raised $57 million; Ibex Medical raised $55 million; Upwind raised $50 million; Intuition Robotics raised $25 million; Harmonya raised $20 million; QuantHealth.ai raised $15 million; Pynt raised $6 million; Nevia Bio raises $3 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Piano festival in the desert. The 32nd annual Tel-Hai International Piano Master Classes at Midreshet Sde Boker in the Negev, attracted 78 budding pianists from 17 countries. Hopefuls are meticulously screened for their skills, ensuring that the event remains a true celebration of talent rather than a numbers game.
https://israfan.com/2023/08/
The flamingos are back. (TY UWI) The first sign of autumn (fall) in Israel was signified by the arrival of dozens of flamingos at the Hula Lake in Northern Israel. The first migrating birds also include egrets, hummingbirds, and different species of herons. https://www.israel21c.org/
Israeli flag flies high. (TY WIN & ILTV) Keisha Schahaff and her daughter Anastasia Mayers made history when they won a trip to become the first mother and daughter to go to the edge of space. Keisha, who is married to an Israeli, proudly wore the Israeli flag on her spacesuit aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity.
https://www.ynetnews.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Imagine Dragons enthrall Tel Aviv fans. (TY Hazel) US pop giants Imagine Dragons performed to 62,000 fans at Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park. Hits included “My Life”, “Believer”, “Thunder” and “Demons”. Before “Enemy”, lead singer Dan Reynolds called out, “Don’t let your enemies take you down. You are strong.”
https://www.jpost.com/israel-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Six world karate golds. The Israeli karate delegation won six gold, one silver and four bronze medals at the Aug 2023 SKIF Shotokan Karate World Games in Hungary.
https://www.israel21c.org/
Victory, despite forfeiting Shabbat match. (TY UWI) Israel’s Under 17 boys flag football team won gold at the inaugural IFAF Flag Football European Youth Championships in Grosseto, Italy. The team refused to play one match on Shabbat and were severely penalized. Despite this, they advanced to the semi-finals and finals.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-
THE JEWISH STATE
2nd Temple period aqueduct discovered in Jerusalem. (TY Hazel) Israeli archaeologists have uncovered 300 meters of an aqueduct that brought water from springs near Bethlehem, to Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago. 25 coins were found in the plaster, including one commemorating the Great Jewish Revolt against the Romans.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/
Unearthing 2,200-year-old trash. (TY UWI & I24 News) The magical Caves of Maresha in Judea are 2,200 years old. Visitors get a hands-on educational experience by taking part in an archeological dig. The residents of Maresha threw their trash into the basements of their houses where it became a time capsule of Jewish life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Jews versus Romans. A cache of weapons has been uncovered in the Judean Desert. Four well-preserved 1,900-year-old Roman swords and a shafted weapon were found in a crevice in a cave in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve near the Dead Sea. They were almost certainly seized by Judean rebels in the revolt against Rome.
https://www.jns.org/israel-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
IDF maintains a clean camp. (See Deut ch23 v13-15) The Israeli Defense Ministry and the IDF have launched an initiative to convert organic waste on military bases into renewable energy. Israel’s HomeBiogas (see here previously) will convert kitchen waste into biogas.
https://www.jns.org/startup-
Ishay entertains 15,000 in MSG. Ishay Ribo became the first Israeli singer to perform at New York’s Madison Square Garden. He sang a string of hits, including “Lashuv Habaita” (“To Return Home”) and promised an invitation to a private concert for all those who made Aliyah.
https://www.jns.org/jewish-
New Israeli embassy in Bahrain. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen inaugurated the permanent home of the Israeli embassy in Manama as part of his first official visit to Bahrain. In a joint ceremony with his Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Cohen affixed a mezuzah on the doorpost of the embassy.
https://www.jns.org/abraham-
Papua New Guinea’s new Jerusalem embassy. Papua New Guinea opened its embassy in Jerusalem – the 5th country to maintain a diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital. Prime Minister James Marape said, “As Christians, paying respect to God would not be complete without recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel”.
https://www.
https://www.jns.org/israel-
New beginnings in Jerusalem. (TY Sharon) As the Jewish New Year approaches, the new sights on Jerusalem’s streets include a Blue Moon (the second full moon in August), new construction and renovations, new blue plaques, new parking restrictions, new buggies, new artwork, and a new start for our schoolchildren.
http://rjstreets.com/2023/09/
