Israel Active

Tel Aviv University Professor Vered Noam has become the first woman to be awarded the Israel Prize for Talmudic Studies to be awarded on Independence Day. Talmud (Oral Law) study, traditionally men only, has been more popular with women over the past several decades.

Interesting article about Hagit Perry, the first female to join the elite IDF 8200 cyber defense unit. Following a PhD from Berkeley’s school of business, she now heads the MBA program for artificial intelligence and big data at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya.

Israeli judoka Sagi embraced former Iranian champion Saeid Mollaei, who fled to Berlin after the Iranian government ordered him to lose bouts to avoid competing against Israelis. “Friend for life!!!” reads the caption to Muki’s Instagram photo. “Tag Israel and Iran people for peace!” he urged

Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), has signed an agreement with a leading (unnamed) energy utility in Japan to help it secure infrastructure against cyberattacks during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. IEC has developed software and hardware to protect the energy industry from cyberattacks.

Jerusalem’s Eden Alene is first Ethiopian-Israeli to represent Israel at the Eurovision song contest. She won Israel’s Hakohav Haba (The Next Star). Her diverse background includes religious and secular schools plus singing in a Jewish and Arab choir.

Israeli PM Netanyahu made a one-day trip to Uganda where he and President Yoweri Museveni discussed opening an embassy in Jerusalem. During the visit he also met with the transitional leader of Sudan, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who was keen to improve ties with Israel.

Israeli startup GivingWay matches volunteers with non-profits desperately needing the help. GivingWay now has 4,000 vetted nonprofits in 123 countries on its platform, connecting with thousands of volunteers worldwide. 50% of volunteers work from home, e.g. building websites for the charity.

Israeli medical organization Magen David Adom is sending items of equipment to China's 14 Chabad Houses to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus. They include 2,000 masks and 200 full protection kits each containing special suits, masks, glasses, shoes and hats covers.

For the first time in 14 years, an Israeli Foreign Ministry delegation met with senior Bolivian government officials in La Paz for talks following the resumption of relations between the countries two months ago. Both sides agreed on various areas for cooperation.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott headed an economic development mission to Israel to develop new and existing partnerships with Israeli entrepreneurs in the cybersecurity, energy, and health sectors. They visited Startup Nation Central and Sheba Medical Center.