By Michael Kuttner…

Despite the best intentions of our politicians to deprive pensioners, health, welfare and education of millions of shekels by scheduling yet another unwanted election there are still scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs working to develop cutting edge technologies.

While politicians work overtime to inflate their egos our innovators work behind the scenes to improve our lives.

HUG A TEDDY 

Healing Teddies has its roots in a fuzzy pink stuffed animal that a 17-year-old gave her gravely ill mother in 2001.

Since 2002, Healing Teddies has gifted about 37,000 teddy bears to cancer patients, trauma survivors and other hospital patients. Research has proven the positive psychological effects of hugging. Healing Teddies, made for the organization in China, come with tags that explain how the stuffed animals can be emotionally therapeutic.

The instructions recommend hugging the bear at least three times a day for 10 minutes to “activate” its ability to impart “warmth, support and love without conditions or limitations forever.” The traditional Jewish prayer for healing also appears on the tag.

Learn more by watching this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7RyhKQrZtU

NEW TERMINAL FOR PETS

More than 80,000 families travel through Ben Gurion airport with their pets annually. Now these beloved family members will be able to check in and be pampered at a new terminal built just for them.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/263281

WATER FROM ISRAEL WITH LOVE

Watergen, an Israel-based innovative company that creates clean water out of air, is now providing a source of freshwater for over 120 children living in an orphanage in Uzbekistan’s city of Bukhara.

The technology comes in the form of an atmospheric water generator known as the GEN-350, which can produce up to 900 liters of water per day.

A popular tourist destination but also associated with arid weather conditions, Bukhara has recently been experiencing serious water shortages. Earlier this month, water supply was disrupted for almost two days. The entire city was left without drinking water, including at several busy hotels.

Watergen’s efforts to make fresh, pure water available around the world earned the company its place on the World Economic Forum’s list of the world’s top technology pioneers in 2018.

A VEGAN HAPPENING 

Vegans, rejoice! Vegan Fest, the “world’s largest vegan festival” is happening at the Sarona complex in Tel Aviv from June 6-7.

More than 50,000 attendees are expected to whet their appetite with vegan options from 26 local restaurants and 37 vegan stalls.

The free event will feature more than 100 food and vegan product stands. It will also have live performances, holistic workshops, lifestyle lectures, a children’s entertainment area, and cooking workshops with famous chefs.

Israel has become a popular destination for vegans due to its numerous vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants located around the country, but mainly in Tel Aviv which is currently home to at least 400 vegan and vegan-friendly kitchens.

PLANTING NEW ROOTS

While those who hate Israel fire rockets we cherish life and nature. This contrast between an ideology of death and a Jewish tradition of life is exemplified by the recent campaign to plant trees in places damaged by terror.

Students of the “Mietarim” pre-military academy in Nahal Oz, situated near the Gaza Strip, have initiated a new project in which they are filling craters created by rocket explosions with trees.

They planted their first tree, a lemon tree, this week and have plans to add many more such trees to the terror-struck area.

“In a place where the rocket fell, evil is created. We are conveying a message that something good is growing within this evil,” one of the participant’s stated.

“…for the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land… a land of wheat and barley, vines, figs and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey”
(Deuteronomy 8:7-8).

Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel. 

[This article was originally published on J-Wire and is reproduced here with permission from Michael Kuttner.]