Michael Ordman | VGNI | Sept 21, 2025
In the 21st Sep 25 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
l Israel’s Iron beam laser defense system is now operational.
l Israeli scientists have discovered cellular treatments for diabetes and cancer.
l Fiji has opened its embassy in Jerusalem.
l Israeli scientists accidentally discovered how to build micro optical devices.
l Despite initially being banned, an Israeli documentary won an award in Toronto.
l The public can walk in the footsteps of Jewish pilgrims 3,000 years ago.
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POSITIVE NEWS IN A WAR
Iron Beam is ready and powerful. Israel’s Defense Ministry has announced that its “Iron Beam” is now operational. Batteries will be deployed across the country within the coming months. The system can intercept drones, mortars, rockets and missiles. It will dramatically reduce the cost of defending against airborne attacks.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-867735
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rjbxpdooee
Christian NGO fortifies Israel. (TY JNF-USA) Pastor Jentezen Franklin and his Ministry (JFMM) are installing 800 fortified safe rooms in Israeli border communities that previously had no inside protection.
https://jentezenfranklin.org/blog/fortify-israel-rescue-lives-shape-history
198 new Haredi combat unit recruits. In the first of the Sept IDF drafts, 240 ultra-Orthodox Jewish men enlisted in combat and combat support positions. 198 joined combat units while 42 were placed in combat support roles. https://www.jns.org/idf-recruits-240-haredi-men-in-september-draft/
A natural memorial. The historic amphitheater in Gvar’am Forest near Gaza has been restored and reopened. The site is the official memorial for the 68 IDF soldiers who fell during Operation Protective Edge. The natural complex also contains 68 oak trees, a botanical garden, and will serve as a community and cultural hub.
https://www.kkl-jnf.org/about-kkl-jnf/green-israel-news/green-israel-news-2025/i100_08092025.aspx
https://www.jpost.com/consumerism/article-867110
A chance to breathe. Israeli non-profit OneFamily organized a 3-day retreat at Utopia Orchid Park, Kibbutz Bahan near Netanya for 47 widows and 120 children who lost spouses and parents on or after 7 Oct 2023. OneFamily also runs summer camps and regular activities for children and siblings of victims.
https://www.jns.org/from-utopia-orchid-park-to-netanya-relatives-of-oct-7-victims-heal-together/
90% of residents have returned. Over 2,500 Israelis have moved to Gaza border communities, bolstering the over 90% of residents living in the area before the Hamas-led onslaught nearly two years ago, who have since returned home. The new arrivals include 50+ families who moved to the 13 worst affected communities.
Swiss raise $1.4 million for Yad Sarah. The Swiss Friends of Yad Sarah raised $1.4 million at its inaugural gala in Zurich, Switzerland. It will fund Yad Sarah initiatives supporting the rehabilitation and healing of individuals in Israel since 7 Oct 2023. https://www.jns.org/wire/inaugural-swiss-friends-of-yad-sarah-gala-raises-1-4-million-to-support-healing-in-israel/ https://yadsarah.org/3009-2/
A musical response to the PR war. A group of pro-Israel musicians and songwriters have launched Right Side Music to get the truth out, harmoniously. They create and stream music that clearly differentiates good from evil, particularly when it comes to Israel’s war with the legions of terror.
https://www.jns.org/a-musical-response-to-israels-pr-war/ https://right-side-music.com/
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=EpwV9_eraDU (“Palace of Lies” – United Nations General Assembly)
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=1aIyZnFbOu0 (Bring them Home – 1,000 musicians)
Another response – go visit Israel. One group of high school teachers (mostly non-Jewish) from Springfield Massachusetts were given first-hand experience about the true situation in Israel.
https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/educating-the-educators-a-trip-to-israel-for-public-school-teachers/
When non-Jews volunteer. (TY Yanky) A beautiful comment from Keenan Simms, volunteer on Sar-El, helping on IDF bases. “You walk into a coffee shop in Israel, and you tell people that you’re not Jewish but you’re here to help and you see grown men cry.”
https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/non-jewish-brits-volunteering-idf-cfzrpmed
Nova survivors celebrate wedding and baby. I missed this article from Dec 2024. Maia and Oshri Bouganim escaped the 7 Oct 2023 Hamas attack and married just days later. After a little over a year, they celebrated the birth and circumcision of their first son, “the baby we’ve been blessed with is nothing less than a great miracle”.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sj39uqhnkx
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Discovery could cure diabetes and cancer. Scientists at Israel’s Ben Gurion University have discovered how cells control energy levels and have developed molecules that lowered blood glucose levels in lab tests. The scientists believe these could form the basis of tools to cure diabetes, cancer, and other metabolic disorders.
https://scienmag.com/cells-employ-synchronized-traffic-control-system-to-regulate-nutrient-availability-and-energy-balance/ https://www.bgu.ac.il/en/news-and-articles/discovery-reveals-cellular-control-of-energy-balance-and-blood-sugar-levels/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62103-3
Gene therapy for IBD. Tel Aviv University researchers have developed a targeted method of delivering locked nucleic acids (LNAs) using lipid nanoparticles, achieving therapeutic effect against inflammatory bowel disease in preclinical models – without side effects. It could also be used for heart diseases, and Parkinson’s.
https://tautrust.org/gene-therapy-shows-promise-for-inflammatory-bowel-disease/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63037-6
Gene therapy to treat hearing loss. Scientists from Tel Aviv University have introduced an innovative gene therapy method to treat impairments in hearing and balance caused by inner ear dysfunction. The research is featured in the EMBO Molecular Medicine magazine and highlighted on its cover.
https://english.tau.ac.il/research/gene-therapy-preserves-hearing
https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44321-025-00275-7
https://www.embopress.org/toc/17574684/17/9
Diet can directly influence brain aging. Researchers from Israel’s Ben Gurion University and in Harvard and Leipzog, have uncovered innovative biological evidence that diet can directly influence brain aging. The Good Mediterranean Diet reduced proteins Galectin-9 and Decorin, which were very high in degenerated brain ages.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-867578#google_vignette
https://www.nutritioninsight.com/news/green-mediterranean-diet-lowers-brain-aging-proteins.html
https://www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com/article/S0261-5614(25)00235-3/fulltext
Autoinjector stops blood loss in 5 minutes. (TY TPS) Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, together with the IDF Medical Corps, have unveiled a new autoinjector that could drastically reduce deaths from severe bleeding. It delivers Tranexamic Acid (TXA) to stabilize blood clots and reduce blood loss.
Minimally invasive heart valve replacement. (TY Hazel) Israel’s TruLeaf Medical (see here previously) successfully implanted its RoseDoc docking device in two patients in India. It is the first step in a two-stage catheter-based procedure to replace faulty tricuspid and mitral valves, without open-heart surgery.
https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/rkfmvzyjxx#google_vignette
The eyes have it. Researchers from Tel Aviv University and Sourasky Medical Center (“Ichilov”) have measured patients’ memory just by tracking their eye movements as they watched animation videos. It can measure memory in subjects who cannot speak, such as infants, patients with brain injuries, or even animals.
https://english.tau.ac.il/research/memory-through-eye-movements
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44271-025-00305-7
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Learning together. Beit Issie Shapiro in Raanana has inaugurated Beit Raz, an inclusive early-childhood campus designed to integrate toddlers with and without disabilities from birth to age 3. And already, Beit Raz is to host professionals from UK Jewish children and families charity, Norwood – the UK’s oldest Jewish charity.
https://www.jns.org/beit-issie-shapiro-opens-inclusive-early-childhood-campus/
https://www.thejc.com/community/norwood-announces-collaboration-with-leading-israeli-disability-charity-luyt370s https://beitissie.org.il/en/26429/
Israeli Druze students support Syrian brethren. Three Israeli Druze studying at Herzliya’s Reichman University are using their academic skills to raise awareness of the desperate plight of the Druze in Syria. Together they study cognitive psycholinguistics, leadership, and public diplomacy. A formidable trio.
https://www.jpost.com/consumerism/article-863878
Strengthening ties with USAF. The UK Ministry of Defence (who trained me in 1975) has banned training Israelis (see here & here). In contrast, the United States and Israeli Air Forces are totally aligned. They recently concluded a weeklong strategic forum focused on strengthening operational cooperation and joint planning.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-us-air-forces-strengthen-ties-at-weeklong-conference/
Transforming life in African villages. Israeli NGO Tevel b’Tzedek (see here previously) has developed a model for transforming village economies by comprehensively addressing their challenges. It improves access to water, seeds, fertilizer, agricultural knowledge, a way to store harvests and to bring them to market together.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/whats-important-now-remembering-who-we-are/
Rwandan Muslim leaders visit Israel. 12 Rwandan Muslim religious leaders arrived in Israel for a six-day visit. The group, including two women, toured the Al-Aqsa Mosque, an Israeli-Arab community, a Bedouin village, and the mixed Israeli city of Jaffa, as well as some of the sites devastated by Hamas on 7 Oct 2023.
https://www.jns.org/rwandan-muslim-religious-leaders-visit-israel/
Fiji’s Jerusalem embassy. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, together with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar, opened Fiji’s embassy in Jerusalem – Israel’s capital. Fiji joins the USA, Guatemala, Kosovo, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, and Paraguay. Argentina will hopefully be next.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/415102 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okf1JVHLYgw
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
3D micro-optics discovered by accident. Researchers at Tel Aviv University were using a laser to make glass glow, but it caused the glass to fold, inventing “photonic origami”. The tiny 3D folds allows optical devices to be made 0.5 microns thick. Uses include micro-zoom lenses in smartphone cameras and superfast electronics.
https://www.optica.org/about/newsroom/news_releases/2025/researchers_use_photonic_origami_to_fold_glass_into_microscopic_3d_optical_devices/ https://english.tau.ac.il/research/fold-glass-into-optical-devices
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-866900
Innovation Park inaugurated. The Kinneret Science and Innovation Park (see here previously), inaugurated near the Sea of Galilee, spans 7,000 square meters of advanced laboratories. It is expected to generate thousands of high-quality jobs in northern Israel, connecting academia, innovation, and industry, especially in agriculture.
https://www.jns.org/science-tech-innovation-park-inaugurated-in-northern-israel/
Israeli research at US Universities. A group of Jewish faculty at MIT and other US Universities has launched Kalaniyot – to advance academic excellence by deepening ties with Israeli researchers and building a supportive campus community. Also at Harvard Medical, Penn, Dartmouth, and now Columbia.
https://kalaniyot.org/ https://kalaniyot.mit.edu/ https://kalaniyot.columbia.edu/ https://kalaniyot.dartmouth.edu/
Golem creator is 100. (TY Yanky) Shmil Rochman has just celebrated his 100th birthday. He escaped Europe in 1938 and in 1960 emigrated to Israel to oversee development of Weizmann Institute’s Golem A computer. The equivalent project cost today would be NIS 24 billion. A duplicate computer, Golem B, ran until 1983.
https://ziontimes.net/article/7vgm8fJ2tB
A rifle that can shoot down drones. (TY WIN) Israel Weapon Industry (IWI) has developed the Arbel system that upgrades standard rifles into the first computerized system. It can accurately shoot down drones by using smart stabilization, offering a simple, low-cost defense solution. https://iwi.net/arbel/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJy-w0T5t90 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WB36CpfoI0
Saving the Sea of Galilee. The level of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) has fallen to the bottom red line and may hit the black line, with ecological damage. Water from Israel’s desalination plants in Ashdod, and Hadera is to be redirected into the Kinneret. By early Nov, 1.3 million gallons per hour will replenish Israel’s natural asset.
https://www.jns.org/israel-to-pump-desalinated-mediterranean-water-into-the-sea-of-galilee/
https://forecast.israelinfo.co.il/kineret
Europe funding to make AI safe. Dr. Yisroel Mirsky of Israel’s Ben Gurion University has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant to investigate how to safeguard future general artificial intelligence systems. https://www.bgu.ac.il/en/news-and-articles/dr-yisroel-mirsky-awarded-prestigious-erc-grant-to-safeguard-future-ai-systems/
AI for Bees. (TY UWI & I24 news) The international team from Israel’s Beewise (see here previously) uses robots, remote systems and Artificial Intelligence to manage 250,000 hives for US customers. These bees pollinate crops from almonds in California, to citrus trees in Florida.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-1ADv1S13Q
Blue tech innovators. (TY Hazel) The National Centre for the Blue Economy showcased sustainable water and marine tech at the 3rd Blue Tech Summit in Haifa. Startups included Nobify (keep birds off fish ponds); SenpAI (virtual swimming trainer); and Rewind (returning biomass back into carbon).
https://www.timesofisrael.com/startups-dive-in-to-keep-birds-off-fishponds-help-swimmers-improve-their-game/ https://www.rewind.earth/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Teaching Hebrew to Indian workers. (TY Yanky) Dynamic Staffing Services, India’s largest international recruitment agency, supplies skilled workers for construction and industry. It has launched “Shalom Namaste” a 13-week program of live classes and videos to train foreign workers in Hebrew, before they come to Israel.
https://www.ynetnews.com/real-estate/article/byqwp11scge
Connecting global investors to Israeli tech. TechTrek (Sep 9-11) is Israel’s largest institutional investor technology conference. It provides a platform for global institutional investors, private investors, and Israel’s top VCs to engage with the Israeli tech ecosystem. One speaker was US hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-us-hedge-fund-billionaire-bill-ackman-to-visit-israel-1001520743
https://www.jefferies.com/techtrek/
Korea-Israel defense ties deepen. During MSPO 2025, Israel’s Rafael and Hyundai Rotem Company (HRC) signed a Teaming Agreement to integrate and support Rafael’s TROPHY Active Protection System (APS) on HRC’s K2 Main Battle Tank and future platforms for the Republic of (South) Korea.
https://www.rafael.co.il/news/rafael-and-hyundai-rotem-sign-teaming-agreement-on-trophy-active-protection-system-at-mspo/ https://www.targikielce.pl/en/mspo https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-865211
Half a billion to invest. Israeli venture firm Glilot Capital has raised $500 million from financial institutions across the United States, Europe, and Israel, bringing its total assets under management to more than $1 billion. Glilot’s focus is on cybersecurity and AI. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sj500f7dsle
€2 million implant. Shanghai’s Cutia Therapeutics, has made a strategic 2 million Euro investment in the Israel’s Hairstetics (see here previously). Hairstetics has developed an award-winning, pioneering medical device for the minimally invasive implantation of synthetic hair fibers, designed to address female alopecia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPUQ3elHSKc
Your meal delivered by Uber & Israeli drone. Uber Technologies and Israeli drone company Flytrex (see here previously) has announced a strategic partnership, marking Uber’s first investment in the drone delivery sector. The ride-hailing and delivery giant is estimated to be investing tens of millions of dollars in Flytrex.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ryqv700ksxx
Exits, takeovers, and mergers to 21st Sep 25. Roche is to acquire Israel’s 89Bio for at least $2.4 billion. Israel’s Check Point has acquired Zurich-based AI security company Lakera for $300 million. Israel’s D-ID has acquired German AI video pioneer simpleshow for $60 million.
Startup investment – to 21st Sep 25: Irregular raised $80 million; Remedio (formerly GYTPOL) raised $65 million; Vega raised $65 million. Terra Security raised $30 million; Fabrix security raised $8 million.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Japan Month in Tel Aviv. (TY Yanky) Japan Month in Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Centre, attracted over 700,000 visitors. It featured lectures, travel, Lego, crafts, photo booths, costume competition, dragon ball, karate, and more. https://www.secrettelaviv.com/tickets/japan-month-dizengoff-center
Award-winning film. The documentary “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue” has taken home the People’s Choice Award for best documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). It chronicles retired Israeli General Noam Tibon’s daring rescue of his family during the Hamas invasion on 7 Oct 2023.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-trailer-award-winning-oct-7-doc-the-road-between-us/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcAf07EN-bQ
An extraordinary architect. The documentary “Ada: My Mother the Architect” premiered in the US in May. It centers on Ada Karmi-Melamede who co-designed Israel’s Supreme Court, helped shape Ben Gurion Airport, designed buildings in the US and taught at Columbia University. Famous in Israel, at 89 she is still building.
Israeli contestant for Mr. Universe. 22-year-old former paratrooper Omer Halabi will be the first Israeli contestant in the international Mr. Universe contest (Nov 15-23, Hollywood, California).
https://www.jns.org/from-israeli-paratrooper-and-bodybuilder-to-mister-universe-contestant/
Jiu-Jitsu World Games champion. (TY Yanky) Israel’s Nimrod Ryeder (see here previously) actually won two Jiu-Jitsu gold medals at the World Games in Chengdu, China. First in the Men’s under 77kg, and then the following day in the Men’s Open.
https://www.theworldgames.org/results#athlete=Nimrod%20RYEDER:13678
Another medal for Ruach. (TY Yanky) Israel’s Ruach Hashem Gordon (see here previously) won the Combat 57kg Men’s silver medal in Muaythai at the World Games in Chengdu, China.
https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Muaythai-55
Spanish protest punctured. (TY Hazel) Readers may have read about attempts by Spanish thugs to disrupt riders from Israel Premier Tech during the recent Vuelta a España cycling tournament. Well they didn’t prevent IPT’s Matthew Riccitello from winning the White Jersey for best young rider. Matthew was also fifth overall.
https://israelpremiertech.com/matthew-riccitello-seals-fifth-place-in-the-vuelta-a-espana/
THE JEWISH STATE
Coins unearthed from 3rd Jewish revolt. A rare hoard of 22 copper coins (4th century CE) was discovered in an underground hiding complex beneath the ruins of the Lower Galilee ancient settlement of Hukok. They date from the Gallus Revolt (351-352 CE), the lesser-known and last Jewish revolt under Roman rule.
https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/archeology/artc-rare-coins-from-the-last-jewish-rebellion-under-roman-rule-excavated-in-the-galilee https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/415136
Medals of Honor. The 2025 Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor was awarded to Dr. Miriam Adelson, Dr. Mathias Döpfner, Judge George Karra, Moti Malka, Prof Avi Ohry, Prof Dina Porat, Galila Ron-Feder Amit, Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif, and Dr. Yossi Vardi. Click on the links below to read about their achievements.
https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/israeli-president-isaac-herzog-to-present-medal-of-honor-to-dr-miriam-adelson-8-others/ https://www.jns.org/president-herzog-to-bestow-the-nations-highest-civilian-recognition/
Jewish strangers on a train. Ruthie Blum writes about a typical train journey in Israel, from Jerusalem to Herzliya. It is a snapshot of the Israel she (and many others) loves.
https://www.jns.org/jewish-strangers-on-a-train/
Rubio, Huckabee & Netanyahu at the Kotel. During US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Israel, he joined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ambassador Mike Huckabee to pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-rubio-huckabee-and-netanyahu-at-western-wall/
The Pilgrimage Road is open. Thousands of years ago Jews walked up Jerusalem’s Pilgrimage Road to the Temple Mount. It has been reopened and reminds all that the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people. Hear the words of Prime Minister Netanyahu, US Ambassador Huckabee and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
How to help Israel. Here are some sites where newsletter readers can donate to Israeli organizations that provide vital help to Israelis at this difficult time. Many thanks to those who have already contributed and to those who are helping by donating their own valuable time and resources.
IDF Soldiers Fund in Israel: https://www.ufis.org.il/en/donation-en/ (Select the English speakers’ option)
American Friends of Magen David Adom (US donors): https://afmda.org/
or Magen David Adom (Israel): https://www.mdais.org/en/donation
Zaka (US donors): https://donate.zakatelaviv.org/give/525578/ or (Israeli donors): https://charidy.com/zaka
or (Canadian donors): https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/bellevue-foundation/
United Hatzalah: https://israelrescue.org/campaign/israel-at-war-2/ or Canada https://www.uhcanada.org/
Donate a medic bag, save a life https://israelrescue.org/campaign/medicbag/
Leket Food Israel: https://www.leket.org/en/
JNF USA – https://my.jnf.org/gaza-emergency/Donate or Canada https://jnf.ca/
Orthodox Union – https://www.charidy.com/ouisraelcrisis
Help rebuild Soroka: https://www.soroka.org/
And Weizmann: https://weizmann-usa.org/
Schneider Children’s Hospital: https://www.fos.org.il/en/donate (Israelis)
https://system.smartgiving.org.uk/charities/8530/make-donation (UK)
https://chaischneider.org/donate/ (USA)
Rambam Medical Center (Haifa) https://aforam.org/ways-to-give/ (US)
https://www.rambam.org.il/en/support_rambam/donate_now/ (Rest of the World)
Hadassah Hospital Israel: https://www.hadassah.org/
Laniado Hospital (Netanya) https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/EmergencyLaniado
Buy Israel Bonds to support the Jewish State. (TY Larry B)
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/state-of-israel-bonds
USA – https://www.israelbonds.com/
Europe – https://israelbondsintl.com/
Canada – https://www.israelbonds.ca/
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