Israel Program Research Articles

Accelerators as a Tool for Encouraging Female Entrepreneurship

This study was driven by an initial finding that female founders’ participation rates in Israeli accelerators are significantly higher (15.3%) than their participation rate in the Israeli startup sector (7.4%). Linking accelerators’ design to the known barriers for female entrepreneurship, we examined how accelerators may enhance female entrepreneurship by addressing their specific needs. Based on a dataset (N = 779) of structured interviews with startup founders who participated in accelerator programs in Israel during 2011–2019, we present evidence that female founders seek and gain more entrepreneurial training during their participation in accelerators than do male founders; place more emphasis on and succeed more in strengthening their networks and entrepreneurial self-confidence; and increase their entrepreneurial self-efficacy more than men. Female founders also seek to increase their legitimacy more than do men, but did not report making more progress in this aspect. Finally, both the goal of and progress in obtaining access to capital received lower ratings from female founders than from male founders. We discuss the implications of our findings for the use of accelerators and other support programs as means of increasing women’s participation rates in innovative entrepreneurship.

Qualifying coronavirus disease 2019 convalescent plasma donors in Israel.

Background and ObjectivesPassive immunization using investigational COVID‐19 convalescent plasma (CCP) is a promising therapeutic strategy and could improve outcome if transfused early and contain high levels of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies. We report the management of a national CCP collection and distribution program in Israel.Materials and MethodsFrom 1 April 2020 to 15 January 2021, 4020 volunteer donors donated 5221 CCP units and 837 (20.8%) donors donated more than once. Anti‐nucleocapsid IgG antibodies were determined using chemiluminescent immunoassay method (Abbott). A statistical model based on repeated IgG tests in sequential donations was created to predict the time of antibody decline below sample/cut‐off (S/CO) level of 4.0.ResultsNinety‐six percent of CCP donors suffered a mild disease or were asymptomatic. Older donors had higher antibody levels. Higher antibody levels (S/CO ≥4) were detected in 35.2% of the donors. Low positive (S/CO ≥1.4–3.99) were found in 37%, and 27.8% had undetectable antibodies (S/CO ≤1.4). The model predicted decrease antibody thresholds of 0.55%/day since the first CCP donation, providing guidance for the effective timing of future collections from donors with high antibody levels.ConclusionsAn efficient CCP collection and distribution program was achieved, based on performing initial and repeated plasma collections, preferably from donors with higher antibody levels, and only antibody‐rich units were supplied for therapeutic use. The inventory met the quantity and quality standards of the authorities, enabled to respond to the growing demand of the medical system and provide a product that may contribute to improve prognosis in patients with COVID‐19.

The Jumping Ring as an inquiry project: A learning-opportunities perspective

Incorporating authentic inquiry into high school physics instruction has been advocated for over a century, and has become an integral part of science instruction standards world-wide. The Inquiry Physics program in Israel is a 3 year, elective course for high school physics majors. Students acquire scientific research knowledge and skills primarily by performing inquiry projects of increasing complexity and finally devoting a full year to researching a significant issue under the guidance of expert mentors. Selecting a suitable research topic requires management of tensions related to complexity of content, experimental practice, data analysis and project logistics. The Jumping Ring phenomenon, in which a metal ring is launched vertically due to a magnetic force generated by a coil carrying AC current, was the subject of a final inquiry project in 2018. The phenomenon offers dramatic appeal and motivation, rich inquiry options and diverse experimental skills, considerable knowledge consolidation and extension (magnetic fields and forces, electromagnetic induction and AC circuits) along with technological and logistic manageability. Mentoring the project involved exploring an uncharted learning-opportunities’ path, balancing direct instruction and independent exploration, as well as dealing with time constraints and variations in the project team’s attendance and commitment.

COVID-19 dynamics after a national immunization program in Israel.

Studies on the real-life effect of the BNT162b2 vaccine for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention are urgently needed. In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis of data from the Israeli Ministry of Health collected between 28 August 2020 and 24 February 2021. We studied the temporal dynamics of the number of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations after the vaccination campaign, which was initiated on 20 December 2020. To distinguish the possible effects of the vaccination on cases and hospitalizations from other factors, including a third lockdown implemented on 8 January 2021, we performed several comparisons: (1) individuals aged 60 years and older prioritized to receive the vaccine first versus younger age groups; (2) the January lockdown versus the September lockdown; and (3) early-vaccinated versus late-vaccinated cities. A larger and earlier decrease in COVID-19 cases and hospitalization was observed in individuals older than 60 years, followed by younger age groups, by the order of vaccination prioritization. This pattern was not observed in the previous lockdown and was more pronounced in early-vaccinated cities. Our analysis demonstrates the real-life effect of a national vaccination campaign on the pandemic dynamics.

Increased COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy and Health Awareness amid COVID-19 Vaccinations Programs in Israel.

In January 2021, Israel started vaccinating healthcare workers (HCWs) and individuals older than 65 years with COVID-19 vaccines. Scientific literature points to vaccine hesitancy as being a major health concern. During time of pandemics, increased consciousness of health behaviors may be encountered. The current study aimed to assess attitudes to general vaccines and to COVID-19 vaccines in particular among adult (>18) Israeli general public, and among Israeli dentists and dental hygienists. Cross-sectional surveys were filled out by a total of 501 participants (361 Israeli adults >18 years, 73 dental hygienists, and 67 dentists). Along with basic demographics, participants responded to the Hebrew VAX, COVID-VAX and HCS scales. Group comparisons were analyzed using t tests and ANOVAs with Scheffe’s test used for post hoc comparisons. Dental hygienists demonstrated significantly higher anti-vaccinations approaches than both dentists (p < 0.01) and the general public (p < 0.05). In all groups, attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccines were more negative compared to attitudes towards general vaccines, with hygienists demonstrating significant negative attitudes compared to dentists (p < 0.05). The general public (p = 0.56) and hygienists demonstrated increased health awareness compared to dentists (p < 0.05). As health awareness has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic primary strategies to combat vaccine hesitancy should be implemented in the general public, and in particular, an dental teams.

The impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-13 on the incidence of pediatric community-acquired bacteremia.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-13 (PCV-13) introduction into the national immunization program in Israel on pneumococcal and non-pneumococcal pediatric community-acquired bacteremia (CAB). This is a retrospective cohort study, including children ≤ 18 years old with CAB, who were hospitalized in Rambam Health Care Campus, a tertiary medical center serving northern Israel, between the years 2004 and 2016. The proportional admission rate of pneumococcal bacteremia among all CAB events and the incidence of CAB and pneumococcal bacteremia per 1000 hospital admissions were compared between the pre- and post-pneumococcal vaccine eras. A total of 275 CAB events were identified. Common isolates were Streptococcus pneumoniae (SPn) (26.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (12.4%), Brucella spp. (11.6%), E. coli (10.9%), and Streptococcus pyogenes (5.8%). The pneumococcal bacteremia rate per 1000 hospital admissions decreased significantly from 1.59 to 0.6 (p < 0.001). The proportional pneumococcal bacteremia rate decreased from 55 (34.4%) to 19 (16.5%) (p 0.001). Penicillin resistance among pneumococcal isolates decreased dramatically from 50.9 to 5.3% (p < 0.001). The rate of bacteremia caused by other pathogens has not been changed significantly at the post-vaccination era (p 0.053). However, an increase in the incidence of S. pyogenes bacteremia from 1.9 to 11.3% (p < 0.001) was noticed. In addition, an outbreak of Brucella bacteremia occurred during the years 2015-2016. This study demonstrates the double positive effect of PVC-13 introduction: a sharp decrease in the proportional rate of pneumococcal bacteremia and in the resistance of SPn to penicillin. Also, there was a moderate decline in the incidence of CAB in exception to bacteremia caused by S. pyogenes. This trend was reversed due to a Brucella outbreak.

Professional reflexivity and the paradox of freedom: Negotiating professional boundaries in a Jewish Ultra-Orthodox female music teacher education programme

Embracing an ethos of sharing music and practices across cultural boundaries, the multicultural vision of music (teacher) education has paid scarce attention to the paradox of freedom that arises between such freedoms and the complex politics that frame and constrain teachers’ choices and values. In this article, we explore these demands of professional reflexivity through an instrumental case study of music teacher educators working in an all-female, Ultra-Orthodox Jewish music teacher education programme in Israel. Through a thematic analysis of data generated together with six teacher educators, we illustrate how their context-responsive approaches to developing programme visions engage with processes of censorship and cultural translation, as teachers work to align their professional boundaries within established religious boundaries. This boundary-matching and hybridity required may be seen to result in intense processes of professional reflexivity that raises questions as to how all teacher education programme visions might engage with the moral order of a society and highlights the need for international music teacher education to develop a critical, reflexive awareness of how values shape professional work.

Effectiveness of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Against Acquisitions of SARS-CoV-2 Among Health Care Workers in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: We assessed vaccine effectiveness (VE) of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 acquisition among health care workers (HCWs) of long-term care facilities (LTCFs).Methods: This prospective study, in the framework of "Senior Shield" program in Israel, included routine, weekly nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing from all LTCF HCWs since July 2020. All residents and 75% of HCWs were immunized between December 2020 and January 2021. The analysis was limited to HCWs adhering to routine testing. Fully vaccinated (14+ days after second dose; n=6960) and unvaccinated HCWs (n=2202) were simultaneously followed until SARS-CoV-2 acquisition, or end of follow-up, April 11, 2021. Hazard ratios (HR) for vaccination vs. no vaccination were calculated (Cox proportional hazards regression models, adjusting for socio-demographics and residential-area COVID-19 incidence). VE was calculated as [(1– HR)×100]. RT-PCR cycle threshold values (Cts) were compared between vaccinated and unvaccinated HCWs.Findings: At >14 days post second dose, 40 vaccinated HCWs acquired SARS-CoV-2 (median follow-up, 66 days; cumulative incidence 0·6%) vs. 84 unvaccinated HCWs (median follow-up 43 days; cumulative incidence, 5·1%); HR=0·11 (95% CI 0·07, 0.17), unadjusted VE=89% (95% CI 83%, 93%). Adjusted VE beyond seven days and >14 days post second dose were similar. The median PCR Cts targeting ORF1ab gene among 20 vaccinated and 40 unvaccinated HCWs was 32·0 vs. 26·7, respectively, p=0·008.Interpretation: VE following two doses of BNT162b2 against SARS-CoV-2 acquisition in LTCF HCWs was high. The lower viral loads among SARS-CoV-2 positive HCWs suggests further reduction in transmission.Funding Information: The current study did not have external funding sources.Declaration of Interests: None.Ethics Approval Statement: The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board of the Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

Teacher relationships in a shared learning programme in Israel: Intergroup contact theory and the importance of friendships

Teacher relationships in a shared learning programme in Israel: Intergroup contact theory and the importance of friendships

Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Effectiveness Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Findings From a Large Observational Study in Israel

Background: Development of an effective vaccine against Covid-19 is crucial to reducing infection. mRNA BNT162b2, developed and manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech, was one of the first FDA-approved vaccinations reporting high efficacy (95%) and minimal side effects. Evaluating effectiveness of mRNA BNT162b2 in a general population has been made possible after the implementation of a nation-wide vaccination program in Israel.Methods: This retrospective cohort study was carried out in Maccabi HealthCare services, Israel among 1·6 million members aged 16 and over. The population was divided into those who were at least seven days post- second vaccination and those who had not been vaccinated. Number of days till the end of the study or Covid-19 infection, Covid-19-related hospitalization and mortality was calculated for each participant between 18.1.2021 to 25.4.2021. Participants who had reached day eight after second vaccination during the study period could contribute days to both groups. Vaccine efficacy (VE) was calculated using a conditional Poisson model, controlling for age group, gender, hypertension, diabetes and obesity, fitted within clusters defined by geographical statistical area and calendar week. Findings: mRNA BNT162b2 was found effective for the total population group for infection, hospitalization and mortality, with adjusted VE of 93·0% (CI:92·6-93·4%), 93·4% (CI:91·9-94·7%) and 91·1% (CI:86·5-94·1%) respectively. VE for infection was lower for participants aged 75 and over, and for those with hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Interpretation:This study strengthens the evidence that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination is effective in preventing infection, hospitalization and mortality.Funding: Maccabi HealthCare Services.Declaration of Interest: No conflict of interests to report. Authors #1,2,4 & 5 are employed by Maccabi HealthCare Services.Ethical Approval: The study was approved by Maccabi HealthCare Services IRB and Maccabi Helsinki committee (#0178-20-MHS).

The Making of a Work-ready Individual: The Political Economy of Time in a Workfare Program in Israel

A neoliberal policy ideal, workfare, aims to transform the long-term unemployed into “work-ready” individuals. Studies of workfare examine their use of technologies of agency and coercion, but do not sufficiently delve into the political economy of time’s role in these technologies. Based on 9 months of participant observation in an Israeli workfare program, this article analyzes how it exploited time and temporality to transform social assistance benefits into a “wage.” I argue that in calculating participants’ activities through “time accountancy,” workfare prepares the unemployed for precarious unemployment at the lower rungs of the labor market. Time accountancy disciplines the unemployed through the enforcement of time regularity and punctuality, under threat of loss of benefits, yet in the absence of time density. Workfare’s apparently incongruous training in efficient “time management” and contrasting “time-filling” practices find concordance in preparing the long-term unemployed for low-wage jobs requiring docility and obedience, for precarious flexible work where new forms of digital and biometric control proliferate.

Five years into the Israeli National Diabetes Program - are we on the right track?

Diabetes mellitus poses major public health and economic challenges which necessitate national-level intervention. The ultimate goal of the Israel National Diabetes Program is to ensure that all people with diabetes, or at high risk of developing diabetes, will live well and have access to high-quality services that meet their individual needs. The integrated National Diabetes Program in Israel was established in 2014. Prevailing needs were identified and working groups assigned to delineate deficiencies and propose mode of action. Program leaders summarized and prioritized the needs, and identified main targets of action for the preliminary years. The program was achieved by a combined approach: top-bottom, having the Director General of the Ministry of Health (MoH) personally involved, and bottom-up, by routine meetings with representatives of the health organizations, clinical experts, patient representatives and other stakeholders. Main achievements during the first five years of the program included setting up a novel funding mechanism for diabetes prevention, substantiating the field of diabetes education in Israel, designing the infrastructure of diabetic foot care in Israel, updating the national health-budget allocation formula with incentives to improve provision of services, and promoting a mandatory system for judgemental labelling of food products. The program is in progress with ongoing monitoring, evaluation and improvement with particular emphasis on translational learning. Although there is much to be done, diabetes care in Israel has taken an enormous step forward in the past five years.

Dropping Out From Educational System – 2nd part

This study aims to present with dropping out from any educational system is severe individualistic, family, educational as well as the societal problem. The complex process of a student dropping out from a high school at a very young age tends to have adverse impacts on the life of the individual in long run and is influenced by variety of factors. In the recent time, the rate of the drop-out of the students have increased, especially in the developed countries, which have become the source of concern for the high-school. The students spent the most of its time in the school and develop the sense of belonging associated with the school. The concept of sense of belonging refers to the feeling of being accepted and appreciated by the rest of community and group. This makes a person feel as a significant part of the group which provides internal satisfaction to a human. This the nature of every human being, especially youth to get a support and social ties from the society and the community they belong to. The main points in the article are: Family Formation; Civil Engagement; Intergenerational Mobility; The Social Consequences of Dropping Out; Economic consequences; Labor market; Crime; Dropout Prevention programs around the world; Dropout prevention programs in Israel; Role of Quality of Education on Dropout Rate; Impact of sense of belonging on Dropout Rate; School-related Factors and Risk of Dropping; Students’ Perception of Teacher and Dropping out Rate; Students’ Perception of Educational System and Dropping out Rate; Theoretical Framework; Impact of Dropping out on Student’s Life; Steps to reduce the dropout rate; and Conclusion. Chapter Summary.

Evidence Map of School-Based Violence Prevention Programs in Israel

School-based youth violence is a worldwide concern. One common approach to dealing with this problem is implementing state-sponsored intervention programs for large populations of pupils. However, there is a growing concern that school-based interventions (SBIs) are being implemented without sufficient evaluations of their efficacy and cost-effectiveness. We take Israel as a national case study. Although its state education system strongly advocates an evidence-based approach to implementing “best-practice” SBIs, it is unclear to what extent Israeli SBIs are informed by impact evaluations. We coded information on all SBIs aimed at reducing violence in the state education system and reviewed the quality of evaluations associated with each SBI. Of 1,510 SBIs, 113 were dedicated to violence prevention programs in schools. Only 15 of these programs (13%), however, had any quantitative appraisal, and only two completed tests of SBIs were assessed using randomized controlled trial designs; five programs in total were evaluated under sufficiently rigorous conditions. We conclude that without valid causal estimates of treatment effects, Israeli pupils will continue to be at risk of being exposed to unhelpful and potentially damaging SBIs.

Intervention and rehabilitation methods with offenders—from the Jewish scriptures to the criminological field

The ancient scriptures of world religions and spiritual traditions offer a treasure of knowledge, much of which is designed to guide the individual to a normative lifestyle through worldviews and practices that reduce antisocial behavior and promote prosocial behavior. Contemporary scholars tend to ignore that knowledge and its ability to contribute to social-scientific discourse and practice, despite the fact that most of the world’s population lives by it, at least to some extent. The present article addresses intervention and rehabilitation with offenders as part of a broader research project examining the ability of the Jewish scriptures to offer an alternative, universal criminological theory—spiritual Jewish criminology. The theory and its basic premises will be presented briefly as a theoretical foundation informing correctional rehabilitation practices, such as the repentance model, Jewish bibliotherapy, and humility as a counterbalance to criminal behavior. Although these practices are already implemented successfully in religious rehabilitation programs in Israel, further study is required in order to assess their effectiveness among other populations that are not Jewish or religious.

Quality and Storability of Trellised Greenhouse-Grown, Winter-Harvested, New Sweet Acorn Squash Hybrids

Acorn squash (Cucurbita pepo) is a familiar fruit vegetable in North America, appreciated for its attractive appearance, good flavor, nutritional content and long storage life. A breeding program in Israel has produced three new acorn squash hybrids of enhanced sweetness and flavor. Presently, we evaluated productivity, quality, and storability of these new cultivars in fall plantings. The plants were grown trellised, in an insect-proof greenhouse, for fruit production during the winter to meet consumer demand. The plants were highly productive and bore fruits of superb quality, but there was a high incidence of fungal rots during postharvest cold storage. Pre-treating the fruits with hot water brushing and rinsing before storage was found effective in reducing rot incidence of the fruits stored at 15 °C, but only for one cultivar. Storing the fruits at 10 °C with reduced humidity (Rh 70%) enabled a 3-month shelf life with significantly reduced fruit-rot incidence and minimal effect on fruit quality of all three cultivars. Storage at 20 °C with reduced humidity was suitable for a 1-month period. These protocols for prolonging storage life will help attain controlled, gradual year-round marketing of quality acorn squash at uniform, reasonable price levels for farmers and consumers, and could facilitate overseas export.

A nationwide assessment of lifestyle medicine counseling: knowledge, attitudes, and confidence of Israeli senior family medicine residents

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases are the leading causes of death, largely due to the last century’s often-unhealthy lifestyles. Family medicine (FM) and other physicians can improve patients’ lifestyle behaviors, yet FM residency programs in Israel and other countries do not uniformly deliver lifestyle medicine (LM) training. The readiness of FM residents to counsel on lifestyle issues is not known. The purpose of this study is to assess knowledge, attitudes, and confidence levels of senior Israeli FM residents regarding LM counseling, and to evaluate the influence of LM training and personal health behaviors on residents’ LM knowledge, attitudes, and confidence.MethodsFrom May to June 2017, we surveyed all senior Israeli FM residents regarding their knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and personal health behaviors. We compared health behaviors, attitudes, and confidence in counselling between: 1) trained residents vs. untrained residents; 2) physically active residents vs. not physically active residents; 3) residents with a BMI < 25 vs. those with a BMI > 25; and 4) residents who eat a Mediterranean diet vs. those who do not.ResultsA total of 169 senior Israeli FM residents were surveyed, and 143 completed the survey, a response rate of 84.6%. Senior FM residents said they considered LM counseling to be an integral part of their role and an effective tool by which to improve a patient’s health. Yet, their knowledge of LM and their confidence in delivering LM counseling are low. Compared with untrained residents (n = 84), LM-trained residents (n = 55) had higher knowledge scores (30.9% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.016) and were more confident in their ability to impact their patients’ behaviors (53.7% vs. 34.5%, p = 0.004). Residents’ positive personal health behaviors correlated with a higher level of confidence to provide LM counseling.ConclusionsFM physicians can play a key role in the management of patients with chronic diseases. Israeli FM residents consider counseling patients about a healthy lifestyle to be an integral part of their work, but do not feel well prepared to do so.Dedicated LM training and resident’s personal health promotion may improve critically important levels of LM counseling and patient outcomes, and this training should therefore become a higher priority.

The rise, demise, and rebirth of a workfare programme in Israel

AbstractIn this article, I present an analysis of the conditions that led to the success of an NGO coalition to challenge and bring about the suspension of a workfare program in Israel. I compare the Israeli contention against workfare with similar mobilizations that took place in France and Germany, in order to identify conditions that may enhance challenges to the politics of conditionality. I argue that the success of collective action against a workfare programme in Israel was precipitated by the formation of a loose coalition of civil society organizations which succeeded in seizing opportunities, gaining access to institutionalized political systems, and mobilizing allies from the ranks of political elites. Moreover, I demonstrate these opportunities’ fluidity, such that the loss of certain allies engendered the workfare programme’s rebirth. The article concludes by outlining lessons that can be learned from this case.

Enemies, allies or citizens? The subject positions of men in the making of birth leave for fathers in Israel

Gender equality-oriented policy-making adopts a complex attitude toward the role of fathers. While some branches of the legislative branches see the potential in engaging fathers in the household for promoting gender equality, others see the risk in men appropriating women’s few sources of power. In this article, the subject positions given to men in the legislative process of the birth leave for fathers programme in Israel are examined. I show how, in accordance with this division, fathers are given two subject positions – that of the enemy and that of the ally. However, policy-makers fail to put fathers in the role of citizens, seeing them as entitled to rights based on their own status. This situation mirrors the citizenship of Israeli women, who are, in turn, limited to their motherhood. While the claim that fathers are not seen as citizens, and that their rights are not protected enough, might sound absurd, I claim that such a position is required in order to promote a radical change in the division of labour within the household.

Professional football training for Israeli children since the 2000s

ABSTRACT This article offers a comparison between management systems of children and youth football departments in England and in Israel. Following a series of football disasters, the British authorities were able to reposition football as a game based on aristocratic values like integrity and delicacy and create a well-organised management system. Israeli football, which is particularly inspired by English and European football, struggles to develop similar mechanisms due to a constant state of scarcity. A new programme in Israel, the Shield of Honour, offers a new model that facilitates and motivates football managers and coaches in youth and children departments to adopt more European-like management practices.