Editor’s note. We want to credit community leader Hedy Lapkin for suggesting a regular series of short articles that may be of interest to our readers under a headline, Did you know? Now you know! The items come from Smart News that carries articles from many sources. In this Reflector, we kick off the series with a group of excerpts from articles that Hedy has located. We hope you like the series.
Israeli scientists find groundbreaking approach for treating Alzheimer’s – study
By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH,
Jerusalem Post Feb. 19
An Alzheiber’s treatment proposed by Israeli scientists targets mitochondrial gatekeeper, controlling deterioration of cells.
Growing evidence points to a metabolic impairment in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients, whose number worldwide is projected to reach 135 million by 2050. Neurology researchers say AD starts to develop several decades before the onset of dementia and the deterioration of cognitive function.
Even though AD is linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, there are no current drug candidates that target this aspect.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba are proposing a new treatment approach by targeting the mitochondrial gatekeeper – the voltage-dependent anion channel-1 (VDAC1) – which controls mitochondrial activity and cell life and death.
Abu Dhabi’s stunning new multi-faith complex is a mosque,
synagogue and church
Written by Adam Pourahmadi, CNNAbu Dhabi, UAE, CNN, March 1
The United Arab Emirates has inaugurated the “Abrahamic Family House,” an interfaith complex housing a mosque, a church, and the Gulf Arab state’s first ever purpose-built synagogue.
The project incorporates several architectural styles traditionally found in mosques, churches and synagogues around the world – drawing inspiration from the 3 Abrahamic faiths and is meant to encapsulate their similarities.
The Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue honors the 12th century Jewish philosopher known as Rabbi Maimonides. The scholar was also a medical doctor who led the Mediterranean Jewish world and whose patients included Saladin, the Muslim ruler of Egypt and Syria.
The synagogue is the UAE’s first purpose-built Jewish place of worship and, like most synagogues is oriented towards Jerusalem. It is inspired by the Jewish festival of the Sukkot, which is celebrated by building temporary shelters. An oculus in the ceiling of the space lets direct light come inside with the mid-day light directly on the Rabbi.
The Jewish community in the UAE had previously used makeshift synagogues.
Each individual building is a 30-meter (98 feet) by 30-meter cube. The unifying design is meant to provide a common base from which tolerance and understanding can be promoted.
Israel sent aid to Turkey and Syria
in the wake of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake
By David I. Klein, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Feb. 6
Israel immediately sent medication, tents and other supplies to Syria, its neighbor that it considers a hostile state, according to Hebrew language media.
The Israeli military also sent rescue teams to both countries.
“At the request of the Turkish government, I have instructed all authorities to make immediate preparations to provide medical, and search and rescue assistance. The Foreign and Defense ministers have been in contact with their counterparts and we will – in the coming hours – agree on the dispatching of a delegation as soon as possible,” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement. The quake was felt throughout the region, as far as Israel.
