POSITIVE NEWS FROM ISRAEL FROM MICHAEL ORDMAN
www.verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com
On May 14th, 1948 international Zionists celebrated the declaration of independence of the State of Israel three years after the end of the Holocaust and victory in Europe. To his eternal credit President Harry Truman recognized the new Jewish state of Israel. This made the United States the first country to officially recognize the newly formed Jewish state.
Jubilation was short lived when on May 15th a coalition of Egypt, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq declared war on the new Jewish state, cheered and abetted by all the Moslem nations.
The rest is history, and in his weekly report Michael Ordman details the enormous and outsize contributions that Israel continues to make to the health and hopes for a better life for billions of citizens on every continent, even during wartime. rsk
POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Father and son serve together. Reserve Major Professor Nahum Nesher (63) and his son, Koren, have clocked 250 cumulative days of reserve duty in the Hermon outposts. Nahum returns to Syria having been brutally treated as a PoW in 1984. Koren survived a car accident after mandatory IDF service, but he still re-enlisted.
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/sj5s7zkxlx
Paralyzed soldier walks again. (TY OurCrowd) An IDF soldier who was paralyzed after being wounded in Gaza is walking again with the help of ReWalk, the exoskeleton developed by Israel’s Lifeward (formerly ReWalk – see here previously).
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/04/24/3067430/0/en/Paralyzed-Israeli-Soldier-Walks-Again-with-Use-of-the-ReWalk-Personal-Exoskeleton.html
Edan returns. In a moment of profound relief and national significance, Edan Alexander an Israeli-American IDF soldier was freed after 584 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza. His return marks the first release of a male IDF soldier kidnapped on Oct 7 2023, and the last known living American hostage held by the terror group.
https://www.israpundit.org/first-male-idf-soldier-taken-on-oct-7-to-return-home-hailed-as-emotional-victory-for-israel-and-u-s/
Olympic committee honors fallen hero. (TY Yanky) On Memorial Day, Israel’s Olympic Committee changed its official logo to incorporate the handwriting of IDF Captain Eden Nimri, a professional swimmer. She fell while battling Hamas fighters at the Nahal Oz IDF base on 7 Oct 2023, allowing 11 female soldiers to escape.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-851893
NIS 3 billion in benefits for IDF reservists. Israel has approved a benefits package totaling 3 billion shekels (some $800 million) for active IDF reservists. It includes tax credits, employer grants, subsidized housing, welfare expenses, support for small businesses, plus priority access to civil service jobs and other services.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-govt-approves-800m-in-benefits-for-idf-reservists/
Technion awarded Shield of Appreciation. On 28 May, Israel’s Technion Institute will receive the Defense Minister’s Shield for 2025 in recognition of its outstanding support for military reservists. The Shield is granted to organizations and institutions that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to reservists.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/blog/article/defense-ministers-shield-to-be-awarded-to-the-technion/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp6BRPPaVyo
More than a bakery. Another tale of resilience as the Tosha Bakery between Acre and Rosh Hanikra in Israel’s far north had to close due to Hezbollah rockets. The owners opened a pastry stand in Nahariya until they could return to Tosha, clean up and repair their equipment and recover. With help from JNF-USA.
https://www.jnf.org/jnf-blog/post/blog/tosha-bakery—the-bread–the-heart–and-the-war
Sheba’s mental health spin-off. Israeli startup Mentaily, founded in response to the aftermath of Oct 7 2023, has taken on the LIV AI mental health platform developed by Sheba Medical Center (see here previously). LIV simulates clinical psychiatric assessment, addressing the acute lack of mental health professionals and services.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rk40xhk11xg
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Defective heart gene. (TY Rhoda) Researchers at Israel’s Clalit Research Institute & Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson) have discovered that the gene TRIM63 is a major genetic driver and risk factor for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the world’s most common hereditary heart disease. Screening could save many lives.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-852473
Partner for Parkinson’s blood test. (TY Atid-EDI) The previous article (see here) about a new rapid simple blood test for Parkinson’s Disease didn’t mention that the Hebrew University of Jerusalem had jointly developed the test with Israel’s ATED Therapeutics – a finalist in Fast Company’s 2024 World Changing Ideas.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326481006/en/ATED-Therapeutics-Ltd.-New-Rapid-Simple-Blood-Test-for-Parkinsons-Disease-Developed https://www.atedtherapeutics.org/
Tomographic 3D imaging. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Nanox (see here previously) has received US-FDA general use approval for the Nanox.ARC X, its new multi-source digital tomosynthesis system. Its sliced 3D views include the musculoskeletal system, and pulmonary, intra-abdominal and paranasal sinus indications.
https://investors.nanox.vision/news-releases/news-release-details/nanox-receives-fda-clearance-general-use-new-imaging-system
European approval for glaucoma treatment. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Sanoculis has received the CE Mark for its MINT (Minimally Invasive Nasal Trabeculostomy) product for the treatment of adult patients undergoing glaucoma angle surgery. (See MINT and MIMS on Sanoculis website)
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/sanoculis-receives-ce-mark-for-mint-product-for-the-treatment-of-glaucoma-302431454.html https://sanoculis.com/
It’s all in the mind. Neuroscientists at Israel’s Technion Institute have discovered that neural networks in the brain transition from a “beginner” to an “expert” structure when learning a new skill (e.g. playing sport). The process depends on the local release of dopamine in the motor cortex.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/blog/article/technion-neuroscientists-uncover-the-key-role-of-dopamine-in-learning-new-motor-skills/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55317-4
Israel’s first medical drone. (TY UWI) A drone stationed on the roof of the Bezio Medical Center is the pilot phase of Israel’s medical drones project. Dubbed “Ziv Eye” it will transport equipment, samples and blood donations between the separate campuses of the Ziv Medical Center, close to the border of Syria and Lebanon.
https://tps.co.il/articles/drones-set-to-enhance-efficiency-of-israels-medical-industry/
Something for expectant mothers to chew on. Israel’s TopGum (see here previously) has launched OMG3! -its new prenatal product which delivers all the crucial nutrients for expectant mothers in a natural fruity chewable. The “all-in-one” gummy houses essential omega-3 fatty acids as the principal ingredient.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/topgums-fresh-take-on-omega-3-new-gummy-line-delivers-flavor-and-high-dosage-302447035.html
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Women in tech. Hilla Bakshi, founder of Israel’s 24,000-strong community “HaMeetupistiot” explains her mission to close the gender gap in tech by building a global network where women show up, speak up and lift each other higher. (See also Baot, featured here previously and Women in Tech Israel – see link below).
https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/bjn3n00gzel#autoplay https://hameetupistiot.com/
https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/program_page/baot https://women-in-tech.org/il/
Druze tech innovation center opens. Israel’s Druze community has Druze High-Tech Empowerment Center (DTEC) in the Druze village of Usfiya. It will cater for for young men and women from Druze and Jewish society, generating a new entrepreneurial community, with support from the leading players in Israeli high-tech.
https://www.jns.org/israels-druze-community-opens-technological-innovation-center/
Defending Syria’s Druze as the world looks away. Simple, concise video from Honest Reporting Canada.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpx4ZDtuhos
Syrian girl speech restored. (TY Ron M) Doctors at Israel ‘s Ziv Medical Center saved the life of a 6-year-old Syrian child suffering from critical head injuries that Syrian doctors couldn’t treat. She can now speak and smile and move her limbs. She will undergo a further operation to cover her missing skull. (See also here)
https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/skzuvigzlg
30 under 30. Forbes has selected 30 Israelis under 30 whom it believes will be the technology and business stars of the future. Four of them are graduates of Israel’s Technion, including 26-year-old Dean Leitersdorf who has founded Descart.ai (see here previously), which is already halfway to becoming a financial “unicorn”.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/blog/article/four-technion-students-and-alumni-named-to-forbes-israel-30-under-30/
Giant Israeli flag greets incoming flights. A massive Israeli flag, measuring almost 40 x 30 feet flies from a 98-foot-high pole near the village of Ateret in the Binyamin region of Samaria. It will be visible to passengers on flights arriving on the eastern landing path into Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport.
https://www.jns.org/giant-israeli-flag-in-samaria-greets-incoming-flights/
Connecting black American students with Israel. The National Black Empowerment Council have signed an agreement with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Ben-Gurion University to establish new exchange programs and other ventures with Historically Black Colleges and Universities. (see here previously)
https://jewishinsider.com/2025/04/national-black-empowerment-council-students-israel-universities/
2025 World Expo. Almost 270,000 people have visited the Israeli Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Japan in the last month. In the Israeli pavilion is a stone, part of a tower built by the Hasmoneans in Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago (see here previously). At a National Day ceremony, the Israeli anthem was played in the central hall.
https://www.jns.org/saar-at-osaka-expo-our-participation-proves-our-resilience/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Grants for 8 sustainability projects. Eight inter-university research centers led by Israel’s Technion Institute have been awarded government grants in the fields of sustainability and climate. They include two researching alternative fuels, two relating to food, and two researching water systems and quality.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/blog/article/eight-technion-led-research-centers-awarded-pbc-grants/
Smart Materials Institute. A transformative gift from the Adelson Family Foundation will establish Bar-Ilan University’s Adelson Institute for Smart Materials. This first-of-its-kind research center will bring researchers and tech developers in AI, medicine, engineering, chemistry etc., together to create revolutionary new products.
https://www.jns.org/wire/adelson-family-foundation-bar-ilan-launch-first-of-its-kind-institute-for-smart-materials-development/
Biotechnology Olympiad. Five top Israeli students competed in the final of the 8th Biotechnology Olympiad hosted by Israel’s Technion. The winner was Alice Sibak from Amal Bet High School in Petah Tikva. She has researched mutant Alpha-1-Antitrypsin proteins – a deficiency that COPD patients suffer from.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/blog/article/alice-sibak-wins-first-place-in-the-8th-biotechnology-olympiad/
Even smaller chips. Scientists at Israel’s Technion have discovered a form of quantum entanglement in the total angular momentum of photons confined in nanoscale structures. This discovery could play a key role in the future miniaturization of quantum communication and computing components.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/blog/article/technion-researchers-discover-a-new-type-of-quantum-entanglement/
https://phys.org/news/2025-04-quantum-entanglement.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08761-1
Israeli defense tech showcased in Athens. The Israel Defense Ministry led a showcase of defense innovation at DEFEA 2025 in Athens. 25 top Israeli companies presented advanced technologies, from autonomous drones to secure battlefield communications, and flexible solar-powered energy systems.
https://www.jns.org/israel-showcases-cutting-edge-defense-tech-at-defea-2025-in-athens/
Communications for European satellite. Israel’s Ramon.Space has won a 3-year, $70 million contract to supply satellite communication systems to European satellite giant Eutelsat OneWeb. Ramon.Space allows data collected by the satellite to be processed onboard, dramatically improving efficiency and speed.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/b1l2wrbbll
Digitizing Jewish newspapers. (TY Sharon) Global scholars, librarians, journalists, and cultural leaders attended Jerusalem’s JPRESS Conference to celebrate 20 years of the Historical Jewish Press (HJP) project. So far it has digitized 500+ Jewish newspapers and periodicals in 26 languages, some going back centuries.
https://www.jns.org/global-conference-celebrates-historical-jewish-press-project/
https://www.nli.org.il/en/visit/seminars/conferences/jpress
Can we talk to the animals? The Coller Dolittle prize is a multi-year challenge with an annual prize of $100,000, recognizing significant scientific research that supports the aim of interspecies communication. The 2025 finalists are Germany (nightingales), France (cuttlefish), USA (dolphins), and Israel (marmoset monkeys).
https://coller-dolittle-24.sites.tau.ac.il/
Building Israel’s AI supercomputer. Phase II of Israel’s National Artificial Intelligence Program is to build a new National AI Supercomputer. At a cost of half a billion shekels, Israeli-founded Nebius, with R&D in Tel Aviv, has committed to delivering computing power of 16,000 petaflops, 9 times the current world leader.
https://www.jns.org/nebius-to-build-jewish-states-national-ai-supercomputer/ https://nebius.com/
https://www.livescience.com/technology/computing/top-most-powerful-supercomputers
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Foreign investors love TASE companies. (TY Atid-EDI) Foreign investment in Israeli companies on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) has hit a five-year high. It includes nearly NIS 4 billion in March and NIS 800 million in just three days in April. Recent IDF success in the war is seen as the main impetus for investors.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-foreign-investment-on-tase-hits-five-year-high-1001507677
$2.8 billion gas deals. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Kesem Energy has signed a $2 billion agreement with Energean to receive natural gas for 17 years from the Karish-Tanin gas fields and a $700-800 million agreement with the Tamar partners until 2035. The gas will fuel a power plant to be built near the Kesem junction on highway 6.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-kesem-energy-signs-gas-deals-worth-28b-1001507818
Arkia expands New York service. Israeli airline Arkia has taken up the opportunity left by the suspension of US carriers’ services to Israel. Israel’s second-largest carrier will now offer five weekly non-stop flights to New York’s JFK International Airport, as well as adding “low-price” business class tickets on some of its flights.
https://www.jns.org/arkia-expands-new-york-service-amid-flight-cancellations-by-us-carriers/
Shuk Olim. Nefesh B’Nefesh partnered with Azrieli Tel Aviv and the Tel Aviv Municipality to host over 50 immigrant-run businesses at the first Tel Aviv “Shuk Olim”. The open-market event connected locals, tourists and fellow immigrants, to celebrate the creativity, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of the Olim community.
https://www.jns.org/immigrant-run-businesses-showcased-at-tel-avivs-shuk-olim/
Oddity is now worth $3 billion+. Israeli-founded Oddity (see here previously), with its Israeli R&D center has soared in value since its IPO on Nasdaq. CEO Oren Holtzman’s decision to launch into the cosmetics web-based business market was certainly astute. Oddity still has 20 physical stores – all of them in Israel.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1xs6az11ge
43 companies at Technion job fair. The demand for the skills of Israeli graduates can be seen in the companies that set out their stalls at the Technion Institute’s Spring job fair. Though some will be attracted by NVIDIA, Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Intel, many others will start their own companies.
https://www.technion.ac.il/en/blog/article/43-leading-companies-participate-in-the-technion-job-fair-today/
Exits, takeovers, and mergers to 18th May 25: IBM’s Red Hat has acquired Israeli AI startup Jounce IO for $20 million; Israel’s Orca Security has acquired Israel’s Opus Security for tens of millions of dollars.
Startup investment – to 18th May 25: eToro raised $300 million or maybe $620 million (IPO); Fortissimo invested $120 million in Stratasys; Classiq raised $110 million; Kela Technologies raised $60 million; Somite AI raised $47.5 million; Oramed invested $36.9 million in Alpha Tau; Mentaily raised $3 million.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
60th anniversary of the Israel Museum. Jerusalem’s Israel Museum is celebrating its 60th birthday with eight new exhibits. They include “A Live Conservation Lab”, “Discover the Collections” display, “Israeli Art: The Swing of the Pendulum”, and 60 Years of Exhibition Catalogues. The museum had 855,157 visitors in 2024.
https://www.jns.org/eight-new-exhibits-mark-israel-museums-60th-anniversary/
Back to “normal” on Jerusalem’s streets. (TY Sharon) Yes, we’re in the middle of a war; Spring has turned into Summer; a new US Ambassador is welcomed; but other events will take place as normal. Education Week, Jerusalem International Writers Festival and Book Forum, National Library Conference, Declaration Day, etc.
https://rjstreets.com/2025/05/11/watch-as-jerusalem-streets-fill-with-flags-festivals-and-flowers/
Israel’s butterflies. Spring is when millions of butterflies take to Israel’s skies and flora. This article features nine of the colorful varieties that call Israel home.
https://www.israel21c.org/9-must-see-butterflies-that-call-israel-home/
Six of the best for Ishay. Israeli singing star Ishay Ribo shared news of his son’s birth. “With the help of G-d, this morning a son was born to us, sweeter than honey,” he wrote. “He is our sixth child, thank G-d.” Ishay added: “All the credit goes to my amazing wife, Yael. I am so grateful for you. Thank you, G-d.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/408412
What will the “New Day” bring? Yuval Raphael magically performed Israel’s entry “New Day Will Rise” in the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest and advanced to the final round to compete against 25 other countries. At the time of writing, the competition result is not known.
https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/r1wlwc7zxg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1J7nJXLKAg
US lacrosse champion joins Team Israel. (TY JNS) St Louis lacrosse star Yael Sabin ranks 8th among all metro-area high school lacrosse players in goals. After graduating this spring, Sabin will travel to Ashkelon, Israel, to play lacrosse for Team Israel during her gap year with Young Judea. She will also work with MDA.
https://stljewishlight.org/top-story/yael-sabin-to-join-team-israel/
THE JEWISH STATE
Restoring the Little Western Wall. Israel has begun renovation and maintenance work at the Little Western Wall, a lesser-known section of the Western Wall located in the (sensitive) Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. The section of Herodian-era wall is just 190 yards north of the main plaza, adjacent to the Iron Gate.
https://www.jns.org/israel-begins-renovation-work-at-little-western-wall/
Declaration Day. The Israel Forever Foundation hosted a gala celebration at the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem on Declaration Day, May 14, the 77th anniversary of Israel’s establishment. 18 foreign ambassadors were joined by dozens of Jewish organizational leaders, Israel activists, journalists and social media influencers.
https://www.jns.org/standing-up-for-israel-is-standing-up-for-the-future-of-mankind/
https://israelforever.org/
Lag B’Omer. In advance of his appearance at Tzfat’s Lag B’Omer festival, popular rapper Nissim Black implored world Jewry to spread more light as the most powerful way forward to vanquish its enemies. Meanwhile, thousands celebrated Lag B’Omer in Meron, northern Israel.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yeshiva-temimei-darech-presents-one-flame-festival-tickets-1344424452729
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/408434
One of the best. Ted Belman, editor of IsraPundit, has passed away at the age of 87. His relentless activism on behalf of the Jewish State will be sorely missed. Thankfully Peloni is continuing his legacy as the new editor.
https://www.israpundit.org/ted-belman-has-passed-away-baruch-dayan-haemet/
https://www.israpundit.org/ted-belman-a-life-of-courage/
The miracle of Israel’s rebirth. We are the people of Israel – a people of hope. An inspirational hi-tech video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbaqWxH_S88
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