Canadian Friends of Bar-Ilan University

As reported in Newsweek, archaeologists from Bar-Ilan University, UC San Diego, and the University of Haifa have discovered a submerged prehistoric settlement, Habonim North, that managed to survive a climate instability around 8,200 years ago.

The village, located below the Mediterranean Sea off the Carmel Coast of Israel, was discovered in the mid-2010s and later identified during a survey led by the University of Haifa's Ehud Arkin Shalev.

The joint study found that the site was occupied during the Early Pottery Neolithic period (around 6400–5500 B.C.) of the southern Levant, around the time of a phenomenon called the "8.2 ka" climatic event.

Swipe through the slides to find out what the results of the study tells us about ancient societies.

Six students enrolled in the Empowerment Project at Bar-Ilan University's Faculty of Education have become the first-ever adult cohort with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) in Israel to receive their bachelor's degree.

The program, established by BIU Prof. Hefziba Lifsh*tz, is based on Lifsh*tz's Compensation Age Theory, which postulates that chronological age, rather than mental age, plays an important role in determining the cognitive ability of adults with intellectual disability.

The Empowerment Project, under the Lois Alberto Machado Chair for Research on Cognitive Modifiability in the Faculty of Education, serves 120 adults with all levels of intellectual disability, providing college-level courses adapted to their needs.

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have developed a technology that allows for a direct measurement of the interaction between immune cells and cancer cells from a patient's biopsy.

The research, funded by the Israel Cancer Association, measures changes in immune system cells adjacent to cancer cells, providing insights into the patient's immune response and potentially enhancing the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a targeted approach to cancer treatment, harnessing the body's immune system to identify and eliminate cancer cells.

The study, published in the scientific journal RNA, marks the first time a direct measurement of the interaction between immune cells and cancer cells from a patient's biopsy has been achieved. This development opens new avenues for tailoring treatments to individual patients and improving outcomes.

Bar-Ilan University researchers have discovered a 3,800-year-old fragment of red-dyed textile in the Judean Desert, providing the earliest known evidence of scarlet coloration mentioned in the Bible.

The textile, dating back to the Middle Bronze Age, was dyed using kermes, a scale insect that lives on oak trees. Swipe through the slides to see what this tells us about our ancient ancestors!

Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson recently announced it has acquired Israeli medical device maker V-Wave for up to $1.7 billion. The company will pay $600 million upfront, with potential payments of up to $1.1 billion contingent on regulatory and commercial milestones.

V-Wave is focused on cardiovascular health and has developed a device that is implanted in the heart through a minimally invasive procedure to help reduce heart failure and other serious heart related events.

V-Wave has a strong connection to Bar-Ilan University: the firm's President, Erez Rozenfeld, holds an Executive MBA and BA from BIU.

Congratulations to Erez and the rest of the V-Wave team!

Thank you to these generous individuals for agreeing to serve as the Prize Sponsors for this week's CFBIU Executive Invitational Golf Tournament:

Shane Altbaum
Elite Roofing and Contractors Limited
Michael & Rose Heilbronn
Lumar Fire Protection Inc.
Karen & David Smith
Roy Stead

Funds raised will support vital psychosocial and trauma counselling services provided by Bar-Ilan University to those in need.

If you would like to donate to this important cause, please visit: https://cfbiu.org/golf/ to get in touch with the tournament organizers.

CFBIU is pleased to thank these companies serving as Product Sponsors for this year's Executive Invitational Golf Tournament which took place earlier this week.

Compliments to the Chef
United Bakers Dairy Restaurant

These amazing sponsors will help fund the psychosocial and trauma counselling services provided by Psychologists, Social Workers and Doctors at Bar-Ilan University.

If you would like to become a sponsor, please visit: https://cfbiu.org/golf/ to get in touch with the tournament organizers.

We are pleased to share a few photos from Monday's successful CFBIU Executive Invitational Golf Tournament held at Oakdale Golf & Country Club. It was a beautiful day to be out on the course!

Many thanks to all of our golfers for joining us and special thanks to our fantastic sponsors for making the event such a huge success.

New research by the Addiction Behaviors Lab at Bar-Ilan University’s Faculty of Education and published in the journal "Addictive Behaviors" highlights effective parental strategies to address problematic smartphone use among adolescents.

"Problematic smartphone use" refers to excessive smartphone use that interferes with daily life, and it can have negative impacts on sleep, productivity, and relationships.

Informed by data from 1,187 family triads from Israel, the study emphasizes the importance of a balanced approach, with parental participation in their children's digital lives rather than just supervision.

The research found that improvements in parent-child communication about smartphone use were linked to reductions in problematic smartphone use over time. Additionally, positive active mediation, where parents encourage beneficial smartphone use, and co-use mediation, where parents and children use smartphones together, were associated with decreased reliance on smartphones and reduced social pressures related to smartphone use.

The study's author and head of the BBar-Ilan UniversityAddiction Behaviors Lab, Yaniv Efrati, along with colleagues Hananel Rosenberg and Yaakov Ophir, hope to create practical tools that parents worldwide can use to help their children navigate the digital world more healthily.

They also emphasize the importance of community and educational systems in supporting families in addressing problematic smartphone use.

Yesterday's 2024 CFBIU Executive Invitational Golf Tournament was a huge success!

Many thanks to all our golfers who participated and to our generous sponsors who made this event truly a hole in one.

We are pleased to recognize Carole and Bernie Zucker as an Event Sponsor for this year's Executive Invitational Golf Tournament.

All funds raised at this year's tournament will go directly to psychosocial and trauma counselling services for those facing unprecedented trauma as a consequence to the devastating war against terror.

If you would like to become a sponsor, visit cfbiu.org/golf for more information.

Thank you to Torkin Manes for serving as an Event Sponsor for the 2024 CFBIU Executive Invitational Golf Tournament.

Bar-Ilan University’s experienced trauma teams are treating those facing unprecedented trauma as a consequence to the devastating war against Israel. Funds raised in this year's tournament will go directly to supporting the important work of these teams.

For more information or to become a sponsor, visit cfbiu.org/golf

A study by the Archaeobotany Laboratory at Bar-Ilan University of preserved plant remains found in the biblical home of Goliath has revealed insights into the mysterious rituals and religious practices of an ancient civilization.

Suembikya Frumin, manager of the Archaeobotany Lab and the study's lead researcher, said in a recent press release:

"These widespread Mediterranean plants connect Philistines with cultic rituals, mythology and paraphernalia related to early Greek deities, such as Hera, Artemis, Demeter and Asclepios. In addition, plants with psychoactive and medicinal properties in the Philistine temples reveal their use for cultic activities. The study revealed that the Philistine religion relied on the magic and power of nature, such as running water and seasonality, aspects that influence human health and life."

We are very pleased to recognize the Spring Family as an Event Sponsor for this year's Executive Invitational Golf Tournament.

Funds raised at this year's tournament will go directly to psychosocial and trauma counselling services for those facing unprecedented trauma as a consequence to the devastating war in Israel.

If you would like to become a sponsor, visit cfbiu.org/golf for more information.

CFBIU's 2024 Executive Invitational Golf Tournament will take place on August 26, 2024. We would like to thank the Reiter Family Foundation for their role as Event Sponsor for this year's tournament.

Funds raised will go directly to psychosocial and trauma counselling services provided by Bar-Ilan University. If you are interested in supporting this important work by becoming a sponsor or learning more about the tournament, please visit: https://cfbiu.org/golf/

Researchers from Bar-Ilan Universityy, Google Research, Google DeepMind, and Tel Aviv University have developed REVEAL, a benchmark dataset that tests how well AI models can think through complicated problems.

This dataset helps check if the AI's answers are correct by looking at each step in the reasoning process. The dataset includes questions and answers and allows researchers to see where the AI might make mistakes, making AI more reliable and accurate.

This work from BIU and its partners is important for improving AI systems that answer questions and solve problems. To read more about this exciting research, click here: https://www.marktechpost.com/2024/02/23/this-ai-paper-unveils-reveal-a-groundbreaking-dataset-for-benchmarking-the-verification-of-complex-reasoning-in-language-models/

Many thanks to Bill Pitt of Institutional Property Advisors for serving as an Event Sponsor of CFBIU's 2024 Executive Invitational Golf Tournament, taking place on August 26, 2024 at the Oakdale Golf & Country Club.

Funds raised will go directly to psychosocial and trauma counselling services provided by BIU.

If you'd like to learn more about the tournament or become a sponsor, click here: https://cfbiu.org/golf/

We are pleased to recognize Wendy & Elliott Eisen as an Event Sponsor for this year's Executive Invitational Golf Tournament.

All funds raised at this year's tournament will go directly to psychosocial and trauma counselling services for those facing unprecedented trauma as a consequence to the devastating war against terror.

If you would like to become a sponsor, visit cfbiu.org/golf for more information.

Thank you to the Handelman Family for their Event Sponsorship, one of the many generous sponsors of this year's CFBIU Executive Invitational Golf Tournament, taking place on August 26, 2024.

Funds raised at this year's tournament will go directly to psychosocial and trauma counselling services for those facing unprecedented trauma as a consequence to the devastating war against terror.

There's still time to become a sponsor! If you would like to support CFBIU and our efforts to fund important work in treating PTSD and other traumatic injuries, click here: https://cfbiu.org/golf/

Israeli and Italian Researchers Discover Potential Intervention in Early Alzheimer's

Bar-Ilan University, in collaboration with Italian researchers from the University of Milano-Bicocca, have developed a new approach to intervene in early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The approach focuses on a form of pathogenic amyloid beta (A-beta) protein, the biggest threat to the health of neurons, leading to cognitive decline and neurotoxicity.

The antibody, developed by Prof. Shai Rahimipour of BIU's chemistry department and Italian scientists Profs. Angelo Monguzzi and Marcello Campione, has shown promising results in delaying disease progression by up to 36% in individuals with early-to-mild cognitive impairment. The approach uses nanotechnology and ultra-low-energy X-rays to inhibit the aggregation and toxicity of A-beta in preclinical models.

The ultimate goal is to develop a safe and effective treatment for people in the early stages of Alzheimer's, focusing on those at high risk, including those with familial Alzheimer's.

Thank you to Luncheon Sponsor KPMG Canada for your support of this year's CFBIU Executive Invitational Golf Tournament.

Funds raised at this year's tournament will go directly to psychosocial and trauma counselling services for those facing unprecedented trauma as a consequence to the devastating war in Israel.

If you would like to become a sponsor, visit cfbiu.org/golf for more information.

Thank you to Avison Young for serving as an Event Sponsor for the 2024 CFBIU Executive Invitational Golf Tournament, being held at Oakdale Golf & Country Club.

Bar-Ilan University’s experienced trauma teams are First Responders meeting and counselling those facing unprecedented trauma as a consequence to the devastating war against Israel. All funds raised in this year's tournament will go directly to supporting these teams and the important work they do.

For more information or to become a sponsor, visit cfbiu.org/golf

Canadian Friends of Bar-Ilan University (CFBIU) was thrilled to conclude our recent Mission to Israel by participating in one of Bar-Ilan University’s most notable ceremonies – the unveiling of this year’s Dr. Tovi Comet-Walerstein (a”h) Award. This year’s ceremony marks the 25th anniversary of the Award being established.

This year’s recipient is Neurology, Neuroscience and Neurosurgery Professor Jonathan Kipnis and presented by CFBIU Vice-Chair and longtime donor David Walerstein. Professor Kipnis was recognized for his significant, life-changing contributions to cancer research and immunology.

The Dr. Tovi Comet-Walerstein Science Award was established in memory of Cleveland-born Dr. Tovi Comet-Walerstein, a medical researcher who succumbed to cancer more than a decade ago at the age of 38.

Even while receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, she maintained a 24/7 telephone line as a special service for cancer patients, whom she was always ready to advise and encourage.

Congratulations to Professor Kipnis from everyone at CFBIU.

CFBIU is pleased to thank three companies serving as the Breakfast Sponsors for this year's Executive Invitational Golf Tournament:

Airlift Inc.
Mikon Drywall Inc.
United Electrical Contractors Inc.

These generous sponsors will help fund the psychosocial and trauma counselling services provided by the BIU teams of Psychologists, Social Workers and Doctors.

If you would like to become a sponsor, please visit: https://cfbiu.org/golf/ to get in touch with the tournament organizers.

🎵 Research from Bar-Ilan University reveals that actively curating music collections on streaming apps can significantly boost listening enjoyment.

BIU Professor Ofer Bergman authored several studies showing that even in the era of unlimited access, taking time to collect and organize music enhances the overall experience, reigniting passion for the listener's favourite songs. 🎧

CFBIU's 2024 Executive Invitational Golf Tournament will take place on August 26, 2024. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Stern Family for their role as Swag Sponsor for this year's tournament.

Funds raised will support the psychological and trauma counselling services that are being offered by the Bar-Ilan University teams of psychologists, social workers, and medical professionals who are treating individuals experiencing unparalleled trauma as a result of the catastrophic battle against terror.

If you are interested in being a sponsor or learning more about the tournament, please visit: https://cfbiu.org/golf/

Bar-Ilan University graduates hundreds of students each year in fields specializing in groundbreaking medical innovation and cutting-edge technological applications. But this year, one student has a deep connection to the CFBIU community: Kayla (Gasner) Rapps.

We are delighted to offer congratulations to Kayla, who graduated with her doctorate from Bar-Ilan’s Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences. The Gasner family has a long history of supporting Bar-Ilan University and CFBIU. Kayla’s great-grandparents were instrumental in making BIU the educational powerhouse it is today.

Mazal Tov to Kayla, the Gasner family, and all of this year’s BIU graduates. To help BIU continue to attract the finest and the brightest minds like Kayla, visit our website to donate to our Scholarship Program.

A big thank you to Wendy and Gary Gruneir for serving as an Event Sponsor for CFBIU's 2024 Executive Invitational Golf Tournament, taking place on August 26, 2024.

This year's tournament will be hosted at the home of the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, the Oakdale Golf & Country Club.

Funds raised will go directly to psychosocial and trauma counselling services provided by the BIU teams of psychologists, social workers and doctors treating those facing unprecedented trauma as a consequence to the devastating war against terror.

If you'd like to learn more about the tournament or become a sponsor, click here: https://cfbiu.org/golf/

Bar-Ilan University is on the cutting edge of using technology to understand and preserve Jewish history and knowledge.

The European Research Council (ERC) recently awarded a ten million euro grant to a consortium of research organizations, which includes Bar-Ilan University. The grant funds a six-year project to develop computational methods to use AI to analyze tens of thousands of medieval Hebrew manuscripts and fragments.

The resulting analysis will be made freely available to the public, enabling comprehensive queries across the entire corpus. This exciting project will set a new bar in the field of computational humanities, providing a state-of-the-art foundation of algorithms and models for the continued study of many additional manuscript cultures.

Thank you to the entire Walerstein family for being an Event Sponsor for CFBIU's upcoming golf tournament on August 26th.

Funds raised will go directly to psychosocial and trauma counselling services provided by the BIU teams of psychologists, social workers and doctors treating those facing unprecedented trauma as a consequence to the devastating war against terror.

If you'd like to learn more about the tournament or become a sponsor, click here: https://cfbiu.org/golf/