Quote for the Week
“People may doubt what you say but they will always believe what you do”
· While Haiti has been replaced in the media headlines and meeting its needs has become a little less glamorous but no less pressing, we give pride of place in this week’s GN to residents of our hometown, Raanana, Dr Harvey Belik and Nursing Sister Tammy Dolgin who dropped everything and left for Haiti for a two week stint. Dr Belik served as physician to the NATAN delegation led by Dr Moshe Farhi that reopened a school on the Island [see GN Israel 05 02 10] and as Dr Belik told us in an interview with him, one of the most important aspects of the healing process, physical and psychological, is a return to normalcy and the school was part of that. He described the extent of the destruction, the nature of the injuries that he encountered and the fortitude of the people of the Island in the face of overwhelming tragedy. It is impossible for us at GN to do justice to the quiet devotion and heroism of folk like Dr Belik except to say that they give new meaning to the ancient maxim of Rabbi Hillel; “And you shall love your neighbor as yourself”. Without seeking it, they bring honor to themselves to the country and to the people of Israel [See Quote for the Week above]
· The Central Bureau of Statistics reported this week that Israel’s GDP grew by an annualized 4.4% in Q4 of 2009 building on a 3% third quarter rise and an increase of 1.2% in the quarter before that, evidence of an accelerating recovery from the threatened recession. But that’s not the only GN from the CBS. They also tell us that growth in the final three months of last year was fuelled by a huge surge in exports and a rise in consumer spending. Imports rose too, always a good economic sign. So there we have it; a lot better than everyone expected.
· Ben Gurion International Airport was ranked first among all international airports in the Middle East in a survey conducted by the Airports Council International (ACI), which measured customer satisfaction during 2009. It was the third consecutive year the airport emerged in first place. So whether you’re coming or going Ben Gurion is where the holiday starts. And, we’re prepared to bet that it’s the only one in the world where you can get kosher food on tap [or wherever].
· This is getting exciting, Better Place’s electric Renaults with rechargeable batteries will be on sale from 2011, and cooperation agreements to supply fleets for employees have been signed with major companies. According to a survey people are ready, very ready, for the change. And that’s not all, at the Eilat-Eilot International Renewable Energy Conference & Exhibition, IC Green Energy Ltd. has unveiled a car fueled by solar energy. The car will also be developed by Shay Agassi’s Better Place LLC. So roll on 2011 for a clean and pollutionless Israel.
· Specialty foundry TowerJazz Ltd. will boost capacity at its Israeli fab, in order to meet customer demand, which is exceeding current output. TowerJazz will boost capacity at its Fab2 in Migdal Ha’Emek by 30,000 wafers per year, not, we’re sure we don’t have to remind you, wafers of the biscuit kind, although that might not be a bad idea either. These are miniscule printed circuits without which all the electronic gadgetry that we take for granted would not be possible. The bottom line; boosting productivity creates more jobs and that’s always GN.
· Siemens AG will invest €50 million to expand the operations of Solel Solar Systems Ltd., which has been renamed Siemens Concentrated Solar Power (Siemens CSP). The company will expand its Beit Shemesh plant by 2012. It’s expected that the increase in activity will create more than 150 new jobs.
· Walk into any classroom and it’s like going back three centuries in time. Yes, it might be more spacious and the furniture might be more comfortable and modern but basically the equipment hasn’t developed. World ORT is going to change all that. Investing $12.6 million to install 400 “smart classrooms” throughout northern Israel, it will begin with 72 relatively under-resourced Jewish and non-Jewish schools, which will benefit some thousands of students a year. Bringing the classroom in line with modern technology is way overdue and could bring about an educational and social revolution. Interactive Whiteboard, wireless Internet and other technological aids will be installed to effect the innovative changes.
· Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. reported a record $3.802 000 000 in net sales for the fourth quarter, in its financial report this week. The figure is 33% higher than the $2.85 billion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2008. What can one say.
· A record number of tourists visited Israel in January. Some 212,000 visitors arrived in January an all time high for the month. The target… an additional 1 million tourists per year for the next three years. The announcement was made last week at the 16th annual International Mediterranean Tourism Market in Tel Aviv. The fair attracted more than 150 companies and organizations from 33 countries.
· It’s only February but our sportswomen and men [it’s always ladies first with us] are out there winning fame and fortune for themselves [and why not?] and plaudits for their country:
· Veteran Judoka, ever smiling, Arik Ze’evi opened the season when he took to the mat in the World Cup Competition in Vienna this week and with four wins and a solitary loss, brought home the Bronze. Off to a good start. In another two months he’ll be back at the same venue in the same city to strut his stuff in the European Championships.
· Staying with the marshal arts, let us introduce you to Ms Shira Dadesh who is a member of the National Taikwondo Squad, an achievement in itself, but that’s not all; last week she also stepped on to the mat representing Israel in the European championships in Sweden and walked off with a Gold Medal and if that weren’t enough, Shira is doing her National Service at Melabev, working with patients suffering from senile dementia. We are blessed with so many young people to be proud of and Shira stands out amongst them. [This item comes to us courtesy of Ms Jaqui Diamond, a Jerusalem reader]
· Israel had a cadet, he’s only 17 years old, competing in the Moscow Athletics Championships last week, high jumper Dimitri Kroyted, by name who, while he didn’t get amongst the medals, broke his own personal best by two centimeters [and we shouldn’t underestimate that] clearing 2.24m, very respectable we might add, and his previous best was set only two weeks before. Look out for him in London, 2012.
· And yet another hopeful in the upcoming London Olympics in 2010 is light heavyweight boxer Yusuf Abed Al Gani who has just won himself and Israel Gold in the A Grade boxing competition in Debretsen, the largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Yusuf beat contenders from the home country Hungary and Cuba to pocket his medal.
· We started the GN this week with a quote as we always do and we’re going to end with a few too: ”She’s just brave. She’s got so much character. I can’t imagine being in her shoes. I don’t think anyone else on the WTA tour could do what she’s doing “ Who’s doing the talking? It’s Venus Williams, world’s #5 and no slouch when it comes to intestinal fortitude. Who’s she talking about? Our own Shahar Pe’er #22 in the world who stood her ground about being allowed to play in Dubai and won and then proceeded to end up in the semi-finals having beaten the world’s # 15, #24 and #3, Caroline Wozniacki from whom she has never taken a single set in their previous encounters, and last but not least in this formidable line up, Li Na #10. And all this while being accompanied by 16 body guards and having her movements restricted from the hotel to the courts and back. Shahar summed it up so simply and so well “ Everybody is treating me so well, but I’m just here to play tennis” Look at our Quote for the Week and see how well it applies to this brave young lady. Bravo
