Archive | 2011 | November | 15

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the US on Tuesday was set to award an Israeli disaster relief group with a prize for its work in Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake which wreaked havoc in the country earlier this year. The Luminary Award will be given to IsraAid at a ceremony held at the Hilton hotel in New York. 

“Five delegations of Israeli doctors and post-trauma specialists have so far treated over 2000 children and hundreds of professionals,” the group said in a press release. “The teams are training local teachers, social workers, nurses, doctors, local community leaders, and private sector representatives in how to cope and help others cope with PTSD – Post Trauma Stress Disorder.”

IsraAid was one of several local and international Jewish and Israeli organizations that mobilized in the wake of the natural disaster which struck the island nation including the government of Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and theJewish community of Tokyo.

Source: Jpost.com

The summer of 2012 is worth waiting for in terms of foreign artists’ performances in Israel. Yedioth Ahronoth has learned that Bruce Springsteen (“The Boss”) is in advanced talks for a concert in Israel. As first reported by Yedioth Ahronoth, Madonna and Lady Gaga will arrive in the Holy Land next summer as well. Advanced talks are also being held with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Let’s start with Springsteen. Israeli producers have been trying for years to get him to perform in Israel, but have been unsuccessful. This time, the talks are said to be taking a positive direction. The American rock icon is expected to arrive in Israel for one concert in June 2012, most likely at the Ramat Gan Stadium.

Madonna’s arrival, as usual, will be the noisiest. The Queen of Pop last performed in Israel in September 2009, in front of 100,000 people. This time, Madonna is expected to launch her world tour in Israel in May 2012, either at the Ramat Gan Stadium or Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park. She is scheduled to spend three weeks in the Holy Land, working on her concert tour.

Lady Gaga performed in Israel in August 2009, a moment before becoming one of the world’s biggest pop stars. This time, she is expected to arrive in the Holy Land for the concerts in August 2012, at a new stadium being built in Petah Tikva.

Red Hot Chili Peppers have yet to sign an agreement for a concert, but music industry officials believe that the American rock band will perform in Israel in late July, most likely at Yarkon Park.

All four artists will likely be brought to Israel by producer Shuki Weiss, who has been working with the Live Nation international production company which represents the singers.

Weiss’ office said in response, “It’s too early to rejoice. Once we have something to report, we’ll do so.”

Source: Ynetnews.com

Presented by Israel on Campus (UofT)

Come hear Dr. Gil Gross share his story about volunteering in Africa and performing life-saving surgeries for children whose families could not afford it. Zaki Djemal, the North American rep. for IsraAid is flying in from Harvard to talk about his experiences on missions around the world, and IsraAid’s work in Haiti and Japan.

Zaki Djemal: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/zaki-djemal/15/635/897
Dr. Gil Gross: http://www.sickkids.ca/AboutSickKids/Directory/People/G/Gil-Gross.html

Delegates to Meet With President Peres and Prime Minister Netanyahu – Focus on Arts, Culture and Policy

Tel Aviv, Israel (November 13, 2011):
Today, The Creative Coalition announced the organization will lead a 21-member delegation through Israel to meet with Israeli and Palestinian policy leaders, members of the arts, culture and business communities, and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The week-long trip will begin on Sunday, November 13^th, and is being organized in conjunction with the American Israel Education Foundation, an independent, non-profit, charitable foundation affiliated with AIPAC.

The Creative Coalition’s delegation to Israel includes a cross-section of actors, producers, directors, television, studio and publishing executives. A press conference with the delegation will be held in Tel Aviv at 6:45 pm on Wednesday, November 16^th at the Dan Hotel. Among the participants are actor and President of The Creative Coalition Tim Daly (“Private Practice,” “Wings”) and CEO of The Creative Coalition Robin Bronk, who will serve as the chief spokespersons at the press conference.

In addition to Daly and Bronk, The Creative Coalition delegation includes actors: Emmy Award-winner Patricia Arquette (“Medium,” Holes); Emmy Award-winner Alfre Woodard (“Memphis Beat,” “Desperate Housewives,” Miss Evers’ Boys); Emmy Award-winner Joe Pantoliano (“The Sopranos,” The Matrix); CCH Pounder (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” Avatar); Giancarlo Esposito (“Once Upon a Time,” “Breaking Bad”); Griffin Dunne (After Hours, My Girl, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”); Richard Kind (A Serious Man, “Spin City,” “Mad About You”); Esai Morales (Fast Food Nation, “NYPD Blue”); Rob Morrow (“Numb3rs,” “Northern Exposure”); ICM Head of Independent Film Hal Sadoff; Emmy Award-winner Richard Schiff (“The West Wing,” Ray, A Solitary Man); Rachael Leigh Cook (“Perception,” She’s All That); Tichina Arnold (“Happily Divorced,” “Raising Hope,” “Martin,” “Everybody Hates Chris”); Steven Weber (“Brothers & Sisters,” “Wings”); Andrea Bowen (“Desperate Housewives,” “Boston Public”); Harry Hamlin (“Army Wives,” “Veronica Mars,” “L.A. Law”); KayCee Stroh (High School Musical, “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”); Emmy Award-winner Howard Meltzer (Crazy Heart, Hysteria); and amNY Publisher Paul Turcotte.

About The Creative Coalition:
The Creative Coalition (www.TheCreativeCoalition.org) is the premiere nonprofit, 501(c)(3) nonpartisan charity of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating, mobilizing, and activating its members on issues of public importance. The Creative Coalition uses the power and platform of the arts and entertainment communities in award-winning public service and advocacy campaigns. Actor Tim Daly serves as the organization’s President.

Funds to be invested over five-year period. Institute a joint venture of several of Israel’s academic institutes; computer chip giant to be in charge of research on enhancement of human cognition with computers

Intel announced on Monday it would invest NIS 55 million (about $19 million) over a five-year period in the establishment of a new research institute, together with Israeli academic institutes.

The institute will conduct research on computational intelligence and will study ways in which computer systems may enhance the abilities of the human brain in a vast array of complex tasks such as the analysis of mega volumes of information, comprehension of complex input, computational decision making and intelligible communication with humans.

The institute will focus on computational intelligence infrastructure technologies: Advanced processor architecture, computer system methods, courseware for sensor input processing and its conversion to artificial intelligence.

The institute will operate under the joint management of Intel and academic researchers and is expected to commence its activities in the beginning of 2012.

“The new institute underscores Intel’s commitment to the next generation of innovation by establishing and funding a joint academic research initiative,” says Corporate Vice President and director of Intel Lab Justin Rattner.

“Intel has a long standing relationship with Israel’s academic community,” added Intel Israel CEO Maxine Fassberg. “The new institute will enable us to enhance and enrich this relationship and it will encourage the close collaboration between leading researchers and research institutes in Israel.”

Full story via YnetNews

As hopes fade for a quick end to the NBA lockout, Israeli NBA player signs deal to return home in January.

Israeli NBA player Omri Casspi is headed back to Maccabi Tel Aviv, saying on Tuesday that he will join his former team in January, assuming the NBA season is lost to the ongoing lockout.

At the end of August, Casspi announced that he would not be returning to Maccabi due to income tax issues. However, with still no end in sight to the lockout, and with offers from the likes of Spartak St. Petersburg and France’s Asvel Basket Lyon Villeurbanne not coming to fruition, Casspi renewed talks with Maccabi and on Tuesday announced that he will return to the yellow-and-blue should the NBA season be canceled.

“Maccabi and I have signed the contract and I’m as happy as can be to be returning home,” Casspi wrote on his Facebook page. “I’m so excited to be coming back home, to my family and the best fans in the world.”

“I will be coming in January assuming the NBA season is canceled. The reason I will only be arriving in January is because I don’t want Maccabi to suffer from having two players leaving the team at once should there eventually be an NBA season.”

The chances of the entire 2011/12 NBA season being canceled significantly increased on Monday after the NBA players union rejected the latest deal offered by owners and announced that it will file an antitrust lawsuit against the league.

Casspi, who was drafted by the Sacramento Kings two years ago, was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the end of last season. He has not yet played for the team due to the labor dispute.

Full story via Jpost

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