Soccer team erases enemy lines for Israelis, Palestinians

Apr. 13 - A soccer Peace Team, organized by the Peres Center for Peace, combined nine Israeli boys and nine Palestinian boys aged 10-12. Last week they competed in the American soccer tournament, the Dallas Cup, and proved that there's more than one way to win. Despite their 9-0 loss, the trip is hardly about soccer results. It's about 18 boys who assembled just for this weeklong visit.

Only those who speak Arabic or Hebrew would stand a chance at distinguishing the Palestinian from the Israeli boys. As for the local families which went scrambling for language translation software after learning Friday that their visitors did not speak English - the 11- and 12-year old American boys seem to be better communicators. (More...)

Courtesy http://www.israel21c.org/ 

Israeli technology powers American library systems

Apr 18: Remember the old fashioned days of thumbing through the card catalogue at your university library, futilely trying to find that obscure economics book you needed for that term paper?

Don't say it too loudly, but time have changed thanks to the Israeli-developed technology of Ex Libris, a global leader in computerized library and information management systems that has acquired superstar status among prestigious academic, national library and national banking institutions in the world.

The company's Aleph system permits libraries to order and receive stock, set up and control budgets, catalogue and display books, maintain an inventory, conduct searches, locate books and manage circulation. Libraries that are equipped with the Aleph system range from Harvard University and the University of California (with twenty-four million titles) to the British Library, the China National Library and the Historical Department of the French Army, which selected the Aleph 500 integrated system for its scientific library. The long-term plan is to create a unified library system for the French Ministry of Defence

The Ex Libris story began in 1980 when a team of librarians, systems analysts and computer programmers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem took on the challenge of creating an automated library system for the university that was efficient, user-friendly and multilingual. The result was Aleph, the Automated Library Expandable Program.

Following implementation in most of the Israeli universities, the university's commercial arm, Yissum, saw the potential and hired a veteran Israeli software expert, Azriel Morag, to translate the concept into commercial reality. Today, four generations of software later and with Morag still in charge, Ex Libris has grown into a multinational and world leader in library and information management systems.

Ex Libris systems are now used by more than three million people at about 1,350 sites in 50 countries on six continents. Its systems are customized to suit the particular language and culture of each library and information centre that it serves. It offers twenty interface languages that use many character sets. Additional languages and character sets are constantly under implementation to turn new ideas into cutting-edge technologies.

In addition to the British Library and the China National Library, The Ex Libris system has been used to computerize and manage some eighteen other national libraries and seven national banks, including the European Central Bank, De Nederlandsche Bank NV, Banco de Espana, Banca d`Italia, the National Bank of Belgium, Banco de Mexico and the Central Bank of Iceland.

Morag isn't surprised by the widespread success of Ex Libris and that Israeli technology is powering some of the world's most prestigious institutions. "Israelis have a kind of chutzpah," he says. "They will undertake tasks which they might not believe they are able to achieve. Sometimes they fail, but when they succeed they do so in a very big way. Israelis," he adds, "have become people of the world. We understand how to approach the world."

Ex Libris remains privately owned, with the Hebrew University the single-largest shareholder. Much of the continuing development work is still conducted in Israel, where about 100 staff members work on development and support, marketing and sales. According to Morag, the company employs aadditional staff  in the United States, Germany, Britain, France and Australia, providing a global total of some 240. Among the Ex Libris staff are the original Hebrew University of Jerusalem team, which includes highly qualified librarians and expert software engineers.

At Lawrence University, which switched to Aleph this month, chief librarian Susan Richards said, "Our move to ALEPH will provide our students, faculty, and staff with the latest in library information technology to support their research efforts. In addition, ALEPH will enable the library staff to manage our growing print and digital collections in a most efficient way. We made a very considered decision in choosing Ex Libris to provide our library management system and believe it is the best product available."

Students may not be aware of Ex Libris or Aleph, but they would be if they still had to look for that obscure economics book with a card catalog file. You can almost hear their muted cheers as the librarian tells them to hush.

Courtesy http://www.israel21c.org/ 

Yad Sarah - an amazing success story

by Carl Alpert

The principle is simple. Because of an accident or a sudden illness, a family may be in urgent need of a wheelchair for a short period. Why buy one, when it can be borrowed, without charge, from Yad Sarah (Sarah Memorial). There is need for home use of oxygen producing equipment? It is available on loan from Yad Sarah. An inhalator, crutches, a dehumidifier are but a few of the several hundred emergency items available which can save large amounts of money or even make hospitalization unnecessary. In many places the activity is carried on in special facilities, A few branches are operated in private homes, including the first branch, set up at the home of the founder, Uri Lupolianski, and still carrying on there. The organization that does this work is today manned by some 6,000 volunteers, organized in no less than 100 units scattered all over Israel, in major cities, kibbutzim, moshavim, small towns and in Jewish and non-Jewish settlements.

With a modest budget of about $12 million a year, Yad Sarah saves the Israel economy an estimated $300 million annually in hospitalization. Its own operating budget, largely spent on acquisition of new equipment, gets no help from the government. Donations from public-spirited citizens cover it all and make expansion possible. As noted, loan of the equipment is free, but some families are often so grateful that they make generous contributions after receiving life-saving services.

Recognition of new needs has not found Yad Sarah wanting. Elderly, housebound people benefit from a door-to-door laundry service in some cities. The group has also pioneered in the installation of Emergency Alarm transmitters in the homes of the elderly or the sick. Rehabilitation centers have been set up, occupational therapy is provided for people confined to their homes, a play center is available for children with special needs. All these services are free, and no questions are asked. Little wonder that nine years ago Yad Sarah was awarded the Israel Prize for its special contribution to society and to the state.

In the year 2002, no fewer than 350,000 people benefited from various of its services, and each year sees further growth in the number of people served, in the variety of aids offered and in the number of volunteers. Although members of the Lupolianski family are Orthodox, help is provided to all in need, to the secular and the religious, the Sephardi and the Ashkenazi, Jew and Arab. One does not have to be a “member” of anything to get help. The only consideration is human need. Arrangements are being made to set up a parallel movement among the Palestinians, based on the model in Israel.

The organization’s fame is already international. Tens of branches, modeled on the Israeli original, are already operating through many of the Russian states. International leaders of health and welfare organizations are amazed to observe the successful operation of such a large network, based on the help of volunteers, and on the resultant economic saving. Very recently, an agreement for cooperation was signed with the Uzbekistan government to set up a special service center in Tashkent.

In late December 2003, Yad Sarah was offcially recognized by the United Nations Department of Public Information as an NGO in the field of community development, being only one of eight Israeli organizations enjoying this status, and the only one added to the list of NGO's from the Middle East at this time.

Increasingly, when Israelis and friends overseas as well, want to mark special occasions or give a gift in someone’s honor, or memory, Yad Sarah is the recipient and the beneficiary. Its ability to provide the unique services is expanded accordingly.

Although Yad Sarah has no political affiliation of any kind, it should be worth noting that its founder, Uri Lupolianski, was recently elected mayor of Jerusalem.

News Briefs

Capitol police officer praises Israeli law enforcement fairness 
Apr. 7 -  The Israel Police carries out its duties in the face of terrorism with surprising impartiality, Washington D.C. Police Cmdr. Larry Thompson told The Hill. On a recent trip to Israel to study counterterrorism techniques, Thompson said "What really got me and surprised me was the impartiality with which [Israeli law enforcement officials] carried out their jobs" in the face of "a clear group of individuals trying to disrupt their way of life."

The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) - a Washington-based think tank focusing on defense and national-security issues - sent 14 U.S. law-enforcement officials on the five-day trip in late January. The purpose of the trip was to learn from the Israeli law enforcement officials, who are known experts in "training for and assessing counterterrorism," said Marsha Halterman, the JINSA official who chiefly organized the visit. The Israeli National Police, the Israel Security Agency and the Israel Defense Forces taught the U.S. delegation techniques for preventing and reacting to suicide bombers. "We learned the importance of intelligence gathering," Thompson said, and "how police officers on the street have to be constantly aware of their environment." The Americans learned about the need to "reduce the targets of opportunity."

Israeli experts also instructed the American delegation on how to secure large venues without disrupting the public's enjoyment. "The similarities with the way we do it here in the U.S. were surprising to me," Thompson said. Thompson already has begun passing on what he learned to fellow Capitol Police officers. 
  
 
Israelis, Palestinians teens team up for beauty 
Apr. 13 -  Twenty six Israeli and Palestinian girls are participating in the Miss Barrier Line pageant next month, AP reported. The girls are all from the areas of Gilo in Israel and Bethlehem under Palestinian control. Organizers said they chose the name to emphasize that the girls come from an area of friction, but can still get along. "My dream is to be a model and my dream starts with this pageant," Ravit Rubin from Gilo said. Organizer Jacqueline Yosef, an Israeli Arab beautician, said that the pageant will prove that Jews and Arabs can live in coexistence. "This will prove we can live in coexistence, that there is nothing to be afraid of. "There is no difference between Arabs and Jews at all. Beauty is beauty, Arab or Jewish." 

Israeli and Palestinian to join forces in 2004 Timor Challenge 
Apr. 15 -  A four member adventure team, consisting of an Israeli, a Palestinian and two humanitarian aid workers are currently preparing themselves for the 2004 Timor Challenge - a three day outdoor endurance challenge that will be held on the tropical Island of Timor Leste (East Timor) in the name of friendship and peace. The team includes 23-year-old Palestinian Ramallah resident Jennifer Marouf and 22-year-old Israeli Yaron Konigsberg from Jerusalem. The competitors will be required to run, mountain bike and paddle in order to complete the challenge. The race begins on May 13 and culminates seven days later on the 20th in conjunction with a series of festivities that are being planned to help celebrate the second anniversary of the newest nation in the world. 
  
 
Israeli companies providing Olympic security 
Apr. 15 -  Israeli companies have implemented $200 million worth of projects related to preparations for the Olympic Games this summer in Athens, the Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute announced. According to Globes, Israeli firms have undertaken projects valued at $10-15 million in the field of telecommunications, $120 million in security projects and $30 million in the field of infrastructure and parking facilities, said institute director-general Yehiel Assia. Israeli security consultants have also signed about $10 million worth of contracts for the Athens 2004 Olympics. The institute began working to involve Israeli companies in projects for the Athens Olympics four years ago and is already planning to repeat this effort in advance of the Beijing Olympics in 2008/

Clinical trials being carried out in Israel on the rise 
Apr. 15 -  American Medical Laboratories (AML) of Herzliya, Israel largest private laboratory, has initiated 20 new studies in the past six months, mostly for foreign drug companies wanting to carry out clinical trials in Israel, Globes reported. "The number of clinical trials is a definite indication of the state of the industry," says AML general manager Dave Shafir. He said another measure of improvement was the number of requests from companies seeking information for future agreements. "We've had 30% more enquiries than last year." Shafir added that although the security situation reduced the number of foreign companies considering coming to Israel during the past two years, there had been an improvement last year. "Foreign companies prefer conducting clinical trials in Israel, because Israeli medicine is good. I imagine that we'll meet some of these companies during Israel Biotech 2004 next week. It's faster and cheaper to carry out studies in Israel than in Western Europe." Clinical trials in Israel are estimated to amount to $100 million in R&D investment. The global market amounts to $2 billion. 

Courtesy http://www.israel21c.org/