Succession

 

Good morning, Amid horrific images from natural disasters and war around the world, many are using the power of their dollar to lend a helping hand.  While disaster relief is a tiny part of overall charitable giving, out of the hundreds of companies served by third-party giving platform Benevity, three of the top five recipients of workers’ donations over the past two years were charities associated with relief efforts.  If you are moved to donate, consider looking to one of the organizations on the new Forbes list of America’s Top 100 Charities. It features groups like Direct Relief, one of the most respected organizations in the disaster relief business, and World Central Kitchen, which has served hundreds of millions of meals to those affected by both natural disasters and war.

A Stranger in a Land That is not Theirs

 What most of us do not know is, it is as if God, through the prophet Abraham, gave us a sentence of time.

If you have been to prison, I hope that you haven’t, but so many of us have: Lord, when the time comes for you to get out, you don’t want to hang around. In fact, you start getting ready before the morning of your leaving prison, to get out to meet your family and your friends.

What you have not, maybe, realized is that God said to Abraham in the 15th Chapter of Genesis:  “Know of a surety, Abraham, that your seed is going to be a stranger in a land that is not theirs.

And they’re going to serve a strange people in a strange land, for 400 years, but after that time, I will come—and I will judge that nation which they shall serve.  And afterwards, shall they come out with great substance, and go to their fathers in peace, and be buried in a ripe old age.”

How long have we been here? We have served the “400 year” sentence—in a strange land, among a strange people who have afflicted us every day of those 400 years up until this very moment. So God has fulfilled His promise: He came. He found us robbed and spoiled, wearing the name of our former slave master, speaking the language of our slave master.

And about 240 years ago, the same slave master, who didn’t want us to learn how to read and write, finally said it was not “incompatible” that we should be slaves and Christians at the same time. So they’ve made us Christians. … 

We’ve been better Christians than they are: We love them—but they have not shown no love of Christ for us. None whatsoever.  Our time of servitude is up. Our time of living in a strange land is up. God wants to give us a land of our own like He did The Children of Israel 4,000 years ago.

He doesn’t want us integrated into our slave master and their children, He wants us to come out of them. … America, now, is under Divine Judgment, so God is giving them, and us, a period of grace.  “Grace” to see if the slave master wants to live a little longer by letting you go, and giving you a good sendoff.

God wants to see if they would be kind to their ex-slaves who have fought for them, bled for them, died for them. … Yet, while at the same time we died for their freedom, we are still around here singing “We Shall Overcome.”

But some of you elders, you have to remember what happened to the elders of Israel: They didn’t want to leave Pharaoh. “House Negros” don’t ever want to leave massa: “Massa, you sick? We sick!” “You hurtin,’ massa? We always hurtin’!” Some of us are just like that.

And some of us that are preachers: I’m happy to see preachers, because you are the hope, and you could be the damnation, of our people. Did you see the movie The Birth of a Nation?  Maybe it was a little too much for you. Those Black folk were killing White folk—I know that’s a little hard for you.

I understand. (Smile) But Nat Turner knew how to read; so every intelligent Black person who knew how to read, what [the enemy] wanted to do was make us a preacher, and then they would tell us what to preach. The master would tell the preacher: “Now you can go and tell the slaves:

‘Don’t take massa’s chicken.’ ‘Be kind to massa.’ ‘If he slap you on one cheek, you know, show him the other.’ ‘Pray for them that are despitefully using you,’ and ‘Remember that if they take your coat, go give them your pants; you just go naked—but you make sure they’re clothed’.” And Nat Turner was preaching that kind of gospel to the rebellious slaves.

Dear pastor: That is the role they want you to play in a time of the rise of your people, and the anger of your people against injustice that continues to this very moment.

To every preacher in the house: You are a “watchman on the wall” for God and for your people. A “watchman on the wall” is watching for that which is coming to wreak havoc on that which he is watching for, to sound the alarm.

But if you fail, if you fall asleep on the watch, because master has offered you a little fried chicken around the back door, and a buttered biscuit. … Now, I know there aren’t any preachers in Charleston like that. (Smile) I have been trying to get here for over two years since the nine members of our family were shot down;

I have been trying to get here to pay respect to that church, that pastor that was slain, and those beautiful Christian worshipers who allowed a devil into their worship service, who had murder in his heart when he came to the door. Our beautiful hearts:  We welcomed Satan in, and gave him the warmth and reception of a true Christian heart.

He sat among us, he prayed with us, and then took out his weapon and killed as many as he could. But he left one alive to go and tell the story, because he wanted to produce a race war; knowing that we can’t compete with the armed forces of this enemy, so that if we rose up, they could come in with their tanks and slay us wholesale.

They are angry with us. They were so angry when a Black man went to sleep in the White House; they were so upset when Michelle brought a hot iron in there. (Smile) …

But the slave: We built the White House. White folks say, “Yeah! That’s what slaves do!” We built all of the great houses in the South; White folk are not the builders, we were the builders. You’re not a builder because you just happened to learn a trade, you’re a builder because you are Children of a Master Architect:

A man that got hit in the head, was taken on a westerly course and buried in a shallow grave in the north country. It’s you, the Master Builders whose Fathers built the pyramids, whose Fathers gave civilization to the world. You are their Children, and their DNA is all in you.

Now, God saw you: He knew He was the One that had the Master Grip to raise you, so He came after you. He wouldn’t have a cat’s paw, because He knew there’s a lion in that shallow grave. It took a Lion’s Paw to raise Hiram.

When you (Masons) get up to your 32nd Degree, you’re talking about Solomon.  Some of you are 32nd Degree, and 33rd Degree, but (with only) “33 degrees” of a circle, you’re just crawling; you’re not standing up yet.

But when you’re up, you’re at a 90 degree angle—you’re a Builder. God saw you; but He didn’t choose you because you were righteous, because a wicked man had us in bondage and made us into himself.

 “Jesus Christ”: Let’s look at this being, this marvelous human being. “Well, he was born of a virgin. Stop right there. Now, just a minute: Farrakhan, don’t go there.” See, you have been taught by a liar, who is the father of lies. He was born of a “virgin,” but not the way you think it. … There is no creature that comes to birth without the agency of a man in order to produce the flesh and blood.

“Well, God can do anything!” Yes, but lie. Sisters, all of you were virgins at one time; and if you are not one now, it’s because you met a man. The Qur’an says it so beautifully; it says God is talking to Mary, and telling Mary that she is going to have a child; and she says to the angel:

“But how can I have a child when man has not touched me?” And God said, “Oh, that’s easy. I just say, ‘Be!’ and it is.” God can say, “Be!” and it is—but somebody has to do some work. The scripture in The Qur’an says, “And what appeared unto Mary was the Spirit of God, and it appeared in a well-made man.”

Let me tell you, sister—this is real talk: You cannot have human life without sperm. Even if it’s called “artificial insemination,” all of that, there has to be sperm meeting with the egg to produce the first cell of life. So if you look at the lineage of Jesus, in scripture it states,

“And so-and-so begat, and begat, and begat, and begat,” right? There wasn’t any “mystery” there. And Jesus’ lineage went all the way back to David, who was a man. …  And by the way, a Black Man. David’s father was Jesse, wasn’t he? 

And David’s son was Solomon. But Solomon was the wisest of that day, up until now; until the coming of Christ, Solomon’s wisdom was the greatest, but not the same as Jesus.

“Jesus The Messiah”: The Book of Revelation talks about him.  It said he is “the bright and the morning star.” When do you see “the morning star”? You see it just before the dawn of a new day; and that morning star is so bright that it leads you right up into the light of the sun—where it gets lost in the light of the sun.

See, when Jesus is raised from “the dead,” and rises up: He comes, now, at the end of Satan’s world, which is nothing but darkness. Not “2,000 years ago.” Satan still had 2,000 more years to do his wickedness; but the Bible said God’s Coming is “after the workings of Satan.”

Satan was given “six days” to work: Six-thousand years to do his evil on the Earth. It isn’t a “spook.” Satan is as real as you sitting here. The Bible said, “As by one man sin entered into the world, and death came also by sin, and it has passed to all men;

So all men have sinned and death has passed to all men. But as by one man sin came in, so by one man shall all be made alive.” The first “one” is Adam, but the “second Adam” is Jesus Christ: He is The One that will give life to everything that is dead.

You’re already dead; you don’t need to die anymore, because you’re dead right now. Like Lazarus—he was in the grave “four days,” and stinking. You’re stinking: You’ve been in your grave 400 years, and you’ve got a stench coming up from your decomposed state;

You stink in the nostrils of God. Look at you, the people of God: Fornicators, adulterers, liars, pimps, hustlers, gamblers, thieves, lesbians, homosexuals—look at yourself.  You can’t even see that you’re wrong as two left shoes.

Jesus was talking. He said, “I’m the seed of David, the root of Jesse.” He’s talking about his physical body: It’s from living people. But, he is “the bright and the morning star of God,” he’s chosen by God, and raised from a dead level. To my dear Christian pastors, Jesus is so very special that people want to know:

“Well, where did Jesus come from?” We know he had an earthly father; but Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I Am.”  Jesus was in existence from the beginning of creation. Not in actual form; but, let me talk about The Creator Who originated this magnificent thing that we call “the universe.”

We were with God in the beginning: His first act of creation was a woman from Himself (He studied Himself, and brought forth from Himself a Comfort for Himself).

Sisters, you are not the woman of man, you are the woman of God. And every one of us, we are The Original People of the Earth. You don’t have a “birth record”—there’s no birth record for Black people; it’s not in the sun, it’s not in the moon, it’s not in the stars, it’s not in the rocks, it’s not in the sand.

You are the ancient of days. And you are, really, Gods: All of this creation was by our fathers. So if “in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” think about this: How was Jesus in the beginning with God?

God created all of this, but the Holy Qur’an says it like this:  “You can’t see any crookedness in the creation.”  “Crookedness” would mean imperfection; but since this world is made on the number “6” (“six days”).

That could be billions of years or trillions of years, but, “six periods of time.” The number “6” is a number of incompletion—“6” is a number of dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction has always existed since the beginning, so the dissatisfaction keeps leading man forward until he finds perfection.

When The God created the heavens and the earth, He started creation, so one of the Attributes of God that He is called in the Qur’an is Rabbi ‘al-amin—meaning that “He starts a creation, then He evolves it, making it attain stage after stage until it reaches its eventual perfection.”

The universe is not yet perfect—but nobody has been wise enough to see the imperfection. The Qur’an says you look and you search until your eyes roll back in your head tired, to see imperfection in God. But God saw it in Himself. …

Inside of The Original Man is an enemy of self; but as long as we controlled that weaker side of self, he could not make himself manifest.  The greatest experiments that have been made are the experiments that are made on self: God experimenting with himself.

Brothers and sisters, I have a Teacher … and he has given us an Invincible Truth that answers what Christian pastors say, but don’t understand. When The God put this thing called “universe” into motion, it never was perfectly round.

When The Messenger was talking to me about “perfection,” he said: “Yes, brother: The planet is not round; it’s egg-shaped. And your head has taken the shape of the planet, so that it never makes a perfect circle.”  

There is a wobble in the motion of the planets, but it’s corrected by means of Law. The planet, even though it wobbles—it dips in and dips out, giving you your seasons—in its motion, that “wobble” is crookedness in the motion that shows that there is something in us that gives us trouble.

That crooked thing is only brought “in check” by means of Law. So The Law has the planet moving, rotating on its axis, revolving around the sun at the terrific speed of 1,037 1/3 miles per hour, with a weight of six sextillion tons. Just like when you have a tire that you take to the shop because your car is shaking:

They take the tire off and say, “Yes, it’s imbalanced, so we’re going to put a weight ‘here,’ we’re going to put a weight ‘there.’ ” When they put it on, now it spins perfectly. Put it back on your car, you have a smooth ride. The Holy Qur’an says Allah (God) put mountains in the earth “lest the earth convulse and carry you away.”

(Surah 31:10) So the mountain ranges are like those things that they put on a tire, so you’ll have a smooth ride on the Earth—until God wants to upset it with an “earthquake.” … God wanted to perfect it, and He couldn’t perfect it until He perfected Himself because even He was on an evolutionary path to perfection.

“You can’t say that! God was perfect from the beginning!” Yes.  He was perfect for that stage of His development. If you’re pregnant, there is a clot—“perfect” for that stage of development. But it doesn’t stop there: the clot becomes an embryo, the embryo becomes a fetus;

And when the fetus is developed, and the tiny house that holds it can’t hold it no longer, “freedom”—the child comes forward. Its head is bruised, because it’s forging the way for the body; not perfected yet, “complete” but yet incomplete.

God is complete, but incomplete …  who is going to complete God? This man called “Jesus”: He was in the beginning, seen by The Originator coming down the wheel of time. You can’t have a “perfect universe” until you have a perfect man, because it’s a Man that made the universe. 

And if there’s any crookedness in the universe, there was crookedness in The God that made it. When Jesus comes, and I’m not talking about Jesus the prophet, I’m talking about The Coming of God, Jesus said: “Behold, I make all things new.”

Now if God is to be perfected, then God in Man has to be a perfect vessel. We have been evolving through time; but when Jesus comes, he represents The Perfection of God in Man. So only The Perfection of God in Man could see imperfection in the universe, and say, “Behold,

I make all things new; there’ll be a new heaven and a new earth, and the former things will pass away.” He is present now. He is in the world  now—in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God—and all things were made by Him. Then the word became flesh, and dwelled among men.

The scriptures teach “he came unto his own, but his own received him not,” “the light shined in the darkness, but the darkness comprehended it not.” God has come. God has come, and He chose you, because in you is the material that He needs to make a Brand New Reality.

Who are you? You are the People of God, but you’re in a state of death. The Son of Man is coming out of The East; the Book of Matthew teaches, “As light shined from the east even unto the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be, because wheresoever the carcass is, there shall the eagles be gathered together.”

An eagle is a bird of prey: It eats flesh—and here we are; where the symbol of America is an eagle. They brought us to America; stripped us. All the good that you all do? You do it in the White man’s name.

Barack has an African name—he is “Mr. Obama”; but he is working for White people. He is the “CEO” of a corporate entity called “USA Inc.” He’s working for “the stockholders” of that corporate entity. How much stock do you have? You are part of what they own.

So this beautiful human being, highly intelligent, gifted, wanted to do something for America. He is a Black man. Look at what Mr. Bill Clinton said when his wife and Brother Obama were competing eight years ago: “Years ago, why, this man would have been bringing us coffee.”

The Bible calls The One that comes “the Son of Man,” because since the beginning of time man has been moving toward his perfection; so a “son of man”—one who comes from the longing of man to fulfill what all the prophets predicted: He comes out of The East. Why The East? Because that’s where they brought us from, The East.

You weren’t over in Africa saying, “Hey baby, how you doin’?  Wassup?” You didn’t speak English; you don’t even know what your mother tongue was. Poor us, we had to make up pig Latin thinking we’re confusing the White man. But like eagles, they have descended on the Black community: All the immigrants that come, they build their “American Dream” on the Black man’s nightmare.

You beautiful Black politicians: You love to put your people behind these crooks, for your personal elevation. But they are not doing anything for the masses of the people, just remember that, nothing for the masses. So you learned ones: Show how “learned” you are.

It’s time for you to get out of jail. The enemy says, “Keep the Negroes bound to us, because God has come for them.” You remember that song: “My Lord, He calls me/He calls me by the thunder/I hear Him call within my soul …  I ain’t got long to stay here … ”

You ain’t got long to stay here: God is wrecking the country with fire on one end, water on another, tornados, hurricanes, and you haven’t seen anything yet. He is after the White man—but He will lash us, too, because with all the hell that you have caught you still want to stay with them.

But your young people? Elders, your young people are falling out with you, because you’re Pharaoh’s Made Negro—and you should have it right in the back of your collar, “Made in America.” “I’m a White/Black man, but I’m Made in America!” 

“I don’t know if I’m a man or a woman today, I’m Made in America!” “I’m a drug addict; I’m Made in America.” “I love men and boys!” Made in America. “I can’t stand men; I like women”—that’s a woman talking. Made in America. “I’m an educated person that wants to be White!” Made in America.  “I’ve got a doctorate degree, and can’t heal nothing.” Made in America.

I want you to read something from the Honorable Elijah Muhammad on “this national election,” who wrote it over 50 years ago (“The Fall of America” Chapter 8), but it was like he wrote it last night for today:

“This election is one of the most serious in the history of American government, because either party that seeks the office of presidency is faced with the problem of saving the lives of the people of America.” God is so angry that the American people’s lives are hanging in the balance. And your life is too, because they are holding us hostage—they don’t want to let you go.

In closing, study the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 59, verse 14, wherein it states: “Justice stands afar off, and equity cannot enter because truth has fallen in the streets.” My teacher asked me one day, “What is it that justice can’t come on the heels of the truth?”

Truth is designed by God to bring justice in the wake of truth; but when “truth is fallen in the streets,” and “justice is standing afar off,” and “equity cannot enter,” it is because the forces that uphold falsehood are so powerful that they will not reason with truth—and that is why they have to physically be removed. 

Brother, sister, you can’t do it. God is here: He said, “Vengeance is Mine,” and “Be still, and know that I Am God.”  He is here to fight for our liberation—and the only thing He is asking of you is to Accept Your Own and Be Yourself. Come into Unity. 

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad wrote: “If the present party (Democratic) remains in office, you know the answer. If the Republican party takes over, you should know the answer.  There will be a lull before the storm.

The storm can be delayed and every hour and day that it can be delayed is to your benefit.”  What is “the storm”? It is the dreaded Third World War, “the War of Armageddon,” where every nation on this Earth will be involved.

Read it in the scripture—it’s there in the Book of Joel, Chapter 3, verses 9-11, “Go and turn your plowshares and your pruning hooks into swords and spears”/“Wake up the mighty men of war.”

It’s a time of war, now.  The earth is going to be shaken. The enemy has to be removed from the face of the earth so that the righteous Kingdom of God and His Christ can be established.

Yes, Christ is in power: He is controlling the weather. Watch what I say. When I leave Charleston, you keep your eyes on the weather; God is going to answer, and show you. He isn’t with this. He is with you, if you are with Him.

If you believe in Christ, if you want him in your life, then surrender to him—don’t keep fighting him. Submit, and watch how quickly he will enter into your life, and make you stronger than you ever thought you could be.

I’m not the kind of person who is strong on my own; I am strong because of my faith in Him. My strength is in my ability to love.  Brothers and sisters, I love you more than I love life—because people have died for saying less than what I say.

But I’m not running from death, I’m running to it: They can’t take my life.  I’m offering my life to see our people free.  All I am asking of you is to try your best to come into unity with each other.

Remember “The Lord’s Prayer” (“Our Father, which art in heaven”): The Christ that I’m talking about is above us, 40 miles above, in that which the enemy calls “unidentified flying objects,” but it’s a Wheel that Ezekiel saw, a “wheel in the middle of a wheel.”

It’s just above our heads. It’s “a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night”—and he is on that Wheel with The God Himself. … I am not saying something I don’t know anything about. That Wheel is able to destroy America in 12 hours; there are 1,500 little Wheels on that Big One.

It’s ready to take care of business, I’m just getting you out of the way. It’s you who are holding up The Judgment of your enemy, because you’re all wrapped up in them.

Innovation in Cardiovascular Interventions

 The 2024 conference on innovation in interventional cardiology, ICI,  will take place for the 29th year in Tel Aviv, led by Professor Chaim Lotan and Professor Rafi Beyar, attracting cardiologists, entrepreneurs, hi-tech companies, and global health organizations as it does every year. 

Despite the challenging and difficult times, Israeli innovation continues to make waves in the cardiology field. The ICI conference is the first in the world to implement innovation in all its aspects into the realm of interventional cardiology, and from there it has expanded into other areas of heart and vascular diseases. Progress both locally and globally continues to lead the field of cardiology, and all of this will be discussed at the upcoming conference. The main topics to be addressed include heart valve implantation via catheterization, coronary artery stents, heart failure, electrical activity and arrhythmias, stroke treatment through catheterization, and digital health. All these fields are supported by various imaging technologies, which serve as the doctors' eyes into the body, along with the rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.

The past year has been a difficult and challenging one for innovation, but the recently released Israeli ecosystem report shows private investments exceeding $10 billion—a 30% increase compared to the previous year—and $12 billion in acquisition deals—a 40% increase. In contrast, Israel faced a more significant decline in investment rounds compared to the US, yet it manages to maintain its leadership compared to Europe. This year, funding in the health industry has risen to $350 million, an increase over last year.

The field of cardiology has been particularly fruitful this year. Noteworthy is the massive deal of V-WAVE, which was acquired by J&J for $1.6 billion. This invention, which alleviates pressure on the left atrium by creating a hole in the septum between the atria, benefits patients with heart failure—a concept first proposed by Professor Gadi Keren. Another interesting acquisition is that of INNOVALVE by Edwards for nearly $400 million—a very unique mitral valve developed by two heart surgeons from Sheba Hospital, Professor Ehud Raanani and Professor Boris Orlev. Additionally, an impressive investment of over $100 million by international funds in Magenta Medical company, which is developing a blood pump for the heart with unique technology, and a noteworthy deal where CATHWORKS is being acquired by Medtronic for nearly $600 million for heart assessment—developed by Professor Ran Kornowski from Rabin Hospital. Many other heart-related companies are at various stages of development in Israel.

The Israeli community of entrepreneurs and cardiologists is vibrant and thriving. Our doctors and companies appear at all major conferences worldwide, but this is home, the source of bubbling innovation. The entrepreneurial spirit in Israel is hard to suppress!

The ICI conference is the premier platform for hi-tech companies in the fields of heart and vascular health. It connects the doctor, entrepreneur, investor, and regulator, creating a continuum with the giant companies dominating the clinical world. The conference is one of the mechanisms accelerating the advancement of Israeli technology, which we encounter at leading conferences worldwide and in various hospitals. Special sessions at the conference will also include a showcase of new technologies, which always attracts entrepreneurs, doctors, venture capital funds, and angel investors. There will be special sessions discussing patent submissions, a very important topic in any technological development, opportunities for 1X1 meetings between entrepreneurs, funds, and investors, and a special platform for live presentations of catheterizations with new technologies.

During the conference, an innovation award of $200,000 will also be given to a company in the field. Nearly 30 companies from around the world are competing for the prestigious award named after Jon de Haan. Competitors will present innovative valves, AI-based methods for diagnosing heart diseases, heart failure treatment methods, and more.

Professor Chaim Lotan: "We expect full participation from doctors and entrepreneurs in Israel at the ICI conference- a blue and white Israeli event attended by international opinion leaders. This is the place to be to remain at the forefront of science in various heart fields."

Professor Rafi Beyar: "This year, we will continue to promote innovation and development in Israel through ICI, where the doctor, entrepreneur, and industry meet, and ideas to solve unresolved problems are born and advanced."

Stop translating – start banking!

 

Bank Leumi is leading the service revolution for English speakers.

(photo credit: Bank Leumi )

Bank Leumi makes it easy for English speakers to conduct their banking business entirely in English – both online and in person – with a variety of services in English that enable users to quickly and easily access their accounts, communicate with bank representatives, and perform a wide variety of transactions.

In fact, Bank Leumi is the first bank in Israel to offer an English-language option in its mobile app for customers in Israel. Within the app, clients can change the language setting from Hebrew to English with just a tap.

The English-language app (Credit: Bank Leumi)

Using the mobile app, Leumi customers can receive comprehensive information about their account and perform a variety of transactions in English, including a general overview of their current account, view credit card charges and foreign currency accounts, and conduct the majority of banking transactions through the app, such as money transfers, foreign currency transfers, wire transfers, ordering credit cards, and more – all in English.

Banking representatives at many Leumi branches are fully fluent in English, and the bank provides a WhatsApp chat service with bankers at all of its branches, available in English, French, Russian, Spanish and Italian, in addition to Hebrew.

Furthermore, Bank Leumi offers a comprehensive English-language website for new and potential Olim contemplating Aliyah, with common questions and answers about banking in Israel.

Eyal Efrat, first executive vice president and head of the Technologies Division at Bank Leumi, says that the bank is committed to providing its clients with the highest level of service.

“We aim to provide the best service, period. It means that we need to provide tailored services to people who speak different languages and come from different banking and financial cultures.”

Speaking of the accessibility of Leumi advisors in multiple languages via WhatsApp, he adds, “I think that one of the most effective digital services that we’ve implemented in recent years is the ability to communicate by written text through different channels with our bankers because, especially in finance, texting is growing globally and is the preferred mode of communication for customers. We place a strong emphasis on this medium of engagement.”

The English-language app represents another step in the service revolution that Leumi is leading in the banking system. It joins other unique services launched by Leumi over the past year, including personalized WhatsApp communication with branch managers, the “Banker on Zoom” service, the unprecedented extension of operating hours at customer service centers—from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM, including Saturday nights, a commitment to resolve any customer request within one business day at most, and much more.

Tech Faces Fundraising Challenges

 

With traditional fundraising slowing down, Catalyst Investors’ Club offers foreign investors exclusive access to late-stage tech deals, sustaining growth in Israel's high-tech ecosystem.

Edouard Cukierman - Chairman and CEO

(photo credit: GoforIsrael)

Concerns regarding Israel's political and economic stability have introduced new challenges for fundraising in the tech sector. In response, angel investors and investment clubs are stepping up to offer late-stage investment opportunities to fill the gap.

Recent reports from Israel’s Innovation Authority and Start-Up Nation Central (SNC) highlight the impact of geopolitical turbulence on Israel's tech-driven economy. While Israeli high-tech continues to lead globally in Nasdaq-listed companies per capita and ranks third in capital raised—following Silicon Valley and New York—there has been no growth in the sector's capital raising between October 2023 and August 2024. In fact, 49% of tech companies surveyed by SNC reported that investors had canceled their commitments, while only 31% expressed confidence in their ability to raise funds in the coming year.

While the government has been advised to take measures such as regular economic monitoring, increasing public investment, and improving stability, private initiatives are already rising to meet the challenge. A notable development is the emergence of private angel and investor clubs like Catalyst Investors' Club (CIC), which are helping to sustain investment momentum in the tech ecosystem.

JPost has recently partnered with Catalyst Investors’ Club to allow JPost readers to join in on our efforts to boost the Israeli hi tech eco system in times of crisis. The platform is also accessible through the JPOst Business & Innovation section. We interviewed chairman and CEO Edouard Cukierman to learn more about this important initiative.   

“We initiated the ‘Catalyst Investors’ Club’ (CIC) prior to the war,” says Cukierman, “The demand for this unique platform became clear from our longstanding dialogues with the investors we’ve worked with over the years. Many of them expressed a desire for a more direct gateway to Israeli innovation and private investment opportunities in exclusive ventures, particularly in late-stage companies. When the war broke out, we saw an urgent need to accelerate the platform’s launch and deliver a much-needed boost to the Israeli tech ecosystem during this time of crisis.”

Catalyst Investors' Club is an exclusive investment platform designed to provide private investors access to late-stage opportunities, deals that are typically reserved for venture capitalists. CIC collaborates with lead investors who have already conducted thorough due diligence, ensuring that investors are engaging with well-vetted, high-potential opportunities. The platform features over 250 companies in its video-on-demand (VOD) library, which offers short, dynamic videos categorized by technology sectors. This allows potential investors to explore Israeli innovations and identify investment opportunities in a highly engaging format.

Companies can apply to present their technologies for free, and viewers can explore the innovations, actual investment opportunities are available only to club members. These members must sign up and self-declare as qualified investors to gain access to CIC’s actionable deals, providing an exclusive and carefully curated experience for those seeking to support Israel's tech sector.

Founded by Cukierman & Co. Investment House (CIH) and Catalyst Fund, CIC draws on the strengths of two of Israel’s leading investment institutions. CIH has raised over $10 billion for the Israeli tech ecosystem over the last 30 years, while Catalyst Investments, led by Edouard Cukierman and Yair Shamir, stands as one of the country’s longest running and most successful venture funds, known for their strategic, hands-on investment approach.

The current reality is marked by both challenges and opportunities. On one hand, the geopolitical instability has clearly affected investor confidence, and we’re seeing hesitation in commitments, as reflected in the recent reports. However, the resilience of Israeli innovation remains strong. Over the past three decades, we’ve witnessed how crises often lead to breakthroughs, and I believe this moment is no different. Israeli companies, especially in sectors like cybersecurity, AI, and health tech, are continuing to innovate at an impressive rate. What’s different now is that investors are being more cautious, seeking later-stage, more mature companies where the risks are lower and due diligence has already been done. That’s where CIC comes in—offering a streamlined, secure way to invest in vetted opportunities. In times of uncertainty, having the right platform to connect investors with companies that have passed rigorous checks is crucial.

Question: Who are the investors in your club?

Answer:  Over the past 30 years, we have built a robust global network of investors. We organized over 30 international conferences called Go4Israel with over 1000 investors in each event, presenting state of the art technologies from Israel to overseas investors. Now we offer those private accredited investors to access the Israeli deal flow via our CIC platform.Our partnerships with other investor and angel clubs, such as Italian Angels for Growth (IAG), the largest angel club in Italy, have further expanded our reach. We built other cooperation with International private banks interested in offering to their clients a unique access to investment opportunities in private technology companies.

With the launch of CIC, we’ve attracted a new wave of interest, particularly from Jewish communities worldwide who are eager to support Israeli innovation. These investors range from high-net-worth individuals and family offices to institutional investors who see the value in Israeli tech. With CIC, they are gaining unprecedented access to vetted late-stage opportunities, allowing them to support the ecosystem even during these challenging times.

Question: Amidst the war, antisemitism is on the rise. What can be done to minimize its impact?

Answer:  

Unfortunately, antisemitism is indeed on the rise, as reflected in disturbing reports from college campuses and data from the Anti-Defamation League, which shows a significant increase in hate crimes against Jewish populations. The war has also added logistical challenges, with airlines suspending routes to Tel Aviv, making it harder for international investors to engage with Israel in person. However, CIC is helping to counter these obstacles. By offering a digital gateway to Israeli innovation, we’re enabling foreign investors to connect directly with Israeli entrepreneurs. Through the platform, members can view founder pitches and detailed videos about the companies, providing a sense of connection and trust that transcends geographical barriers. In this way, we’re fostering a global network of support for Israel’s tech sector, despite the physical and societal challenges.

Question: How long do you anticipate this crisis will last, and what are the long-term implications for the Israeli tech sector?

Answer:  

Based on past experience, Israeli tech has shown incredible resilience during challenging times. The country has weathered conflicts, economic downturns, and global financial crises, always emerging stronger. 

In the short term, I expect the current crisis to create further hesitation among investors, particularly those less familiar with the region. This period of uncertainty may last anywhere from 12 to 24 months, depending on how quickly stability returns. That said, crises often accelerate innovation in Israel. Companies will adapt, become leaner, and focus on high-impact technologies with immediate market relevance, especially in defense, cybersecurity, and health tech, where global demand is strong.

In the long term, I’m confident that Israel’s tech sector will continue to thrive. The foundational strength of the ecosystem, coupled with the entrepreneurial spirit of Israeli innovators, means that the country will remain a global leader in technology. The rise of platforms like CIC will also help bridge the gap during this time, offering investors secure, vetted opportunities in the later stages of growth. Once the crisis stabilizes, we may even see a surge in investments, as investors will seek to capitalize on the innovations that emerged during this difficult period. The key is staying engaged, even in the face of uncertainty, as history shows that crises often create opportunities for those willing to take a long-term view. 

Mekorot achieved 95% of its development goals

 

Mekorot CEO Amit Lang

(photo credit: PR)

Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, concluded the first three quarters of 2024 with a net profit of approximately NIS 166 million — a 14% increase compared to the same period in 2023, which saw a net profit of NIS 146 million.

The company's total revenues were approximately NIS 4.04 billion for the first three quarters of 2024, compared to approximately 4.14 billion shekels in the corresponding period of 2023. The decline is partly due to reduced income from private water producers, various credits, and an average 1.5% decrease in Mekorot’s recognized water tariff.

The cost of sales and operations rose to approximately 3.64 billion shekels during the reporting period, compared to about 3.57 billion shekels in the same period last year.

“In a challenging period marked by numerous fronts, Mekorot continues to exhibit extraordinary financial resilience while maintaining operational continuity across the country,” said Mekorot CEO Amit Lang. “In the coming year, the company will focus its efforts on rehabilitating affected areas, reconnecting disconnected regions, and expanding development programs for the Negev, the Gaza Envelope, and the northernmost areas of the country.”

Despite numerous challenges faced by the country over the past year, Mekorot managed to supply a higher volume of water to its customers. Total water supplied increased by approximately 2.3%, reaching 1.41 billion cubic meters during the reporting period compared to around 1.38 billion cubic meters in the first three quarters of 2023. 

An aerial view shows the pier of a plant of Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, located close to the national water carrier project, which in cases of emergency is able to pump desalinated water into the Sea of Galilee. (credit: RONEN ZVULUN/REUTERS)

Agricultural consumption rose by about 3.6% to 751 million cubic meters, while households consumed around 843 million cubic meters, marking a 1.4% increase.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for Qs 1-3 rose by 17%, reaching approximately NIS 993 million compared to NIS 851 million in the same period last year.

How did this stand with Mekorot's goals?

The company achieved 95% of its development goals, amounting to approximately 1.2 billion shekels, which were adjusted earlier this year to account for the ongoing conflict in the country, movement restrictions, and challenges in recruiting workers and contractors.

Over the past year, the company completed two debt offerings totaling about 2.4 billion shekels, with demand three times higher than the original target. This demonstrates the capital market’s confidence in the company’s resilience.

Black Friday is an opportunity for Israelis to rebuild

 

These local shop owners are doing everything in their power to stay open and not rely upon charity. "It is incumbent on us to" do everything in our power to help them.

Going shopping

(photo credit: INGIMAGE)

You may have heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. There's another day you might want to know about: Giving Tuesday. The idea is pretty straightforward. On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, shoppers take a break from their gift-buying and donate what they can to charity - Bill Gates

In this week’s Torah portion, we read about the sibling rivalry between Esau and Jacob. The first story we read about them revolves around the selling of the birthright. As we know, Esau came back from the field absolutely famished and saw Jacob boiling up a pot of lentil stew. Living in the moment Esau would do anything for some stew. “Jacob said, “Make an oath to me this day,” so he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.  Jacob then gave Esau bread and lentil stew; he ate and drank and got up and left. Thus, Esau spurned the birthright.” (Genesis 25:33-34)

This was certainly the first black Friday special! Up to this point in Genesis, we’ve read about some business deals, but they were at full price. This is the first real ‘bargain’ or ‘deal’ we have come across. 

It’s that time of the year again. I was walking down Yaffo street in the heart of Jerusalem earlier this week and there were 2 teenage girls walking behind me loudly pointing out the stores that have Black Friday signs in the windows and strategically planning their shopping trip. My social media feed is full of Black Friday advertisements, and I don’t even shop. 

Shopping in Tel Aviv's Four Species market ahead of Sukkot. (credit: FLASH90)

Saving the Israeli economy

In the past, I have railed against the whole Black Friday/Cyber Monday industry. But this year I want to take another approach and that is to not buy from the big global online platforms and focus on shopping locally, helping support local small and midsized businesses, who through no fault of their own are suffering financially. I believe that we are morally obligated to do so, even if it may cost us a bit more money in the short run.

Whether it’s a business in the north or south that’s been hit hard due to the war, or businesses run by miluimnikim ( reservists) who’ve dropped everything in order to serve the country, many having spent more than 200 days fighting, it’s clearly our moral duty to support these individuals as opposed to giving more money to some multi-national company. 

The Shulchan Aruch (code of Jewish law) in Yoreh De’ah 251:3 deals with who to prioritize when it comes to giving charity. The order is like this. The poor of the Land of Israel take precedence over the poor of other countries. Local poor take precedence over poor from other towns and localities. Poor neighbors take precedence over the other poor of the town. We see from this that we are obligated to support the local poor over the more ‘global’ poor. 

Maimonides in the laws of Matnot Aniyim 10:18 rules, “A person should always construct himself and bear hardship rather than appeal to people at large and make himself a burden on the community. Our Sages commanded, saying: "Make your Sabbaths as weekdays, and do not appeal to people at large." Even a distinguished sage who becomes poor should involve himself in a profession - even a degrading one - rather than appeal to people at large. It is preferable for a person to skin the hide of animal carcasses, rather than tell people: "I am a great sage..." or "I am a priest, grant me sustenance." Our Sages commanded conducting oneself in such a manner. There were great sages who were woodchoppers, porters of beams, water-carriers for gardens, and iron-smelters and makers of charcoal, but they did not ask anything from the community, nor did they accept gifts that were given to them.”

These business owners want to open up their stores. They don’t want to take charity. They want to earn an honest living. These local shop owners are doing everything in their power to stay open and not rely upon charity. It is incumbent on us to do everything in our power to help them. Now, I am not saying that you should go to a random store and spend a thousand shekels on products that you don’t need.  That would go against everything I write about every week. But if you need to buy something don’t buy from one of those huge online stores. In current times it’s a matter of life and death for the struggling local store and your purchase can make the difference. 

There are local economic benefits to shopping locally. Craig Hanson CEO and Co-founder of ThrivingLocally.com cites a study about the multiplier effect in small communities of buying local. He writes, “The study examined how much of a dollar spent at a local independent store is re-spent in the local area as payroll, goods/services purchased from area businesses, profits spent locally by owners, and as donations to area charities. The study found each $100 spent at local small businesses generated $45 of secondary local spending, compared to $14 for a big-box chain.” 

The government has been roundly criticized for not doing enough to help these businesses. As is with most government help, it’s layered in bureaucracy and falls well short of its goals. Let’s do it ourselves and strengthen both our small businesses and our communities at the same time. 

Happy shopping.