JFNA Launches National Effort for Nonprofits in Crisis Israeli Defense
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Jewish Federation of NEPA Non-profit Organization 601 Jefferson Ave. U.S. POSTAGE PAID The Scranton, PA 18510 Permit # 184 Watertown, NY Change Service Requested Published by the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania VOLUME XIII, NUMBER 8 APRIL 16, 2020 JFNA launches national effort for nonprofits in crisis BY JNS STAFF that receive Medicaid funding, would “The Paycheck Protection Program JFNA hosted another webinar on March (JNS) – Following the enactment receive $349 billion in forgivable loans is an unprecedented resource in helping 30 for Jewish organizations interested of the Coronavirus Aid Relief and from the Small Business Administration. to ensure that Jewish Federations, com- in learning more about eligibility and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the This would include $10 billion through munity centers, synagogues, Jewish day application requirements. Participants largest emergency aid package in U.S. the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster schools, Jewish Family Service agencies were advised on how to calculate potential history, the Jewish Federations of North Loans; nonprofits and small businesses and others are able to continue their critical loan amounts and how to best prepare to America has announced a national pro- with no more than 500 employees would work to help vulnerable populations and apply for a loan. gram to help Jewish nonprofits access be eligible. safeguard Jewish life across America,” JFNA has also set up a national resource financial support made possible through JFNA is also helping small businesses said Eric Fingerhut, JFNA president and bank of professionals and volunteers who the legislation. and nonprofits access the SBA’s Paycheck CEO, in a statement. “We are grateful can assist nonprofits with the process. While large companies, such as air- Protection Program, which provides loans for this opportunity and strongly urge all Interested organizations can contact the lines, are set to receive $500 billion in intended to help small businesses keep Jewish organizations to apply.” JFNA SBA loan hotline at 212-284-6625 loans and other investments, small busi- workers employed amid the pandemic On March 29, more than 17,000 people or e-mail questions to SBALoans@ nesses and nonprofits, including those and economic downturn. joined information webinars on the loans. JewishFederations.org. Israeli defense companies are turning radars into coronavirus symptom detectors BY YAAKOV LAPPIN At right: The Defense Team, which is led by DDR&D Director, (JNS) Two major Israeli defense Ministry announced that Brig. Gen. (Res.) Dr. Dani Gold, who companies have developed cutting-edge its National Emergency was instrumental in the past for setting coronavirus symptom detectors that will Team, together with IAI up Israel’s Iron Dome air-defense system. allow doctors to remotely pick up on and Elbit, have developed “The combination of the technological suspicious symptoms of COVID-19. The the prototypes to measure capabilities of the defense industries and sensors were created by adapting radar the vital signs of patients, the extraordinary capabilities of the offi- and camera technology that come from including pulse, respiratory cers in the DDR&D enables us to adapt the defense and homeland security world. rate and temperature, and systems developed for security purposes The program, initiated by the Defense pick out patterns that to fulfill medical needs in light of the Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Re- indicate a likely coronavirus coronavirus,” said Col. A, of the DDR&D. search and Development, has seen Israel infection. (Photo courtesy Dr. Yossi Shaya, of the Beilinson Hos- Aerospace Industries and Elbit Systems of Elbit Systems) pital, stated that “the DDR&D turned to us rapidly take radars and elecro-optic with the idea of monitoring patients using (camera) sensors and convert them into or even from another room by viewing the ing at ways to use artificial intelligence radar. These are systems that we don’t highly sensitive sensors that will enable results on a screen. to allow doctors to generate automatic normally work with, but they asked us medical teams to screen patients from Once they receive the signs, said insights based on the readings. “We can what our needs are in the hope that these another room, thereby greatly enhancing Cohen, the doctors can decide whether let the networks produce insights,” said systems may be adapted to fulfill them. their safety. more comprehensive checks are needed, Cohen. The system will be installed at the They asked what vital signs should be In recent days, the Defense Ministry and if so, to move the patient to a more Beilinson Hospital in the Rabin Medical monitored among corona patients at the announced that its National Emergency sterile area with the appropriate protective Center as of Monday, and doctors will See “Radars” on page 3 Team, together with IAI and Elbit, have gear to continue the care. “This is a very be able to run it without any outside developed the prototypes to measure the important requirement,” he said. help, as they build up experience in vital signs of patients, including pulse, Working with the Defense Ministry’s using the sensor. 2020 UJA respiratory rate and temperature, and DDR&D and the Rabin Medical Center Meanwhile, IAI has also developed pick out patterns that indicate a likely in Petach Tikvah, Elbit will deliver its its own prototype using a radar origi- Pay it forward & give to coronavirus infection. first prototype to that hospital before nally designed to protect perimeters and the 2020 Jewish Federation “I don’t know of any adaption of de- examining ways to expand its program, detect people walking or crawling, or fense technology or homeland security of Northeastern Pennsylvania including installing machines at drive- vehicles moving. “We took the smallest Annual Campaign! radars for this purpose until now,” said through test facilities and at the entrances of our radars and place the ability to Goal: Yossi Cohen, vice president and chief to military bases. measure pulse and breath rates on it,” $989,000 technological officer at Elbit Systems’ The system is based on radar tech- said Israel Lupa, executive vice presi- C4i and Cyber Division. “Until now, the nology that “allows us to identify, in a dent and chief technological officer of civilian world didn’t have this need.” very precise manner, small changes,” Elta, a division if IAI. For information or to Now, however, and likely in the near fu- said Cohen. The radar uses a very low frequency, make a donation call ture, there will be a need for remote sensing 570-961-2300 ext. 1 or This ability was modified to allow the meaning that it is safe to use in close send your gift to: that protects medical personnel from the radar to detect minute body movements proximity to people, he stressed. “A radar Jewish Federation $871,314 risk of infection. “This development came of Northeastern as of April 8, 2020 created by the pulse and breath, and of this type was built to detect slow, small Pennsylvania as a result of a capability that we want to measure patterns. The system can even movements,” said Lupa. “The system can 601 Jefferson Ave., give doctors at the entrance to Emergency scan for the ratio of inhalations and ex- already detect minor movements. We Scranton, PA 18510 (Please MEMO your Rooms to distinguish [between] patients halations, allowing for conclusions to be adapted this to tracking body movements pledge or gift 2020 that have a respiratory and have a chance drawn about the likelihood of a respiratory caused by the breath and pulse.” UJA Campaign) of [contracting] coronavirus from patients disease like coronavirus to be involved. Within seconds, the system, which also suffering from other patients,” said Cohen. The second component of the machine, includes an advanced thermal camera Currently, medical teams have to exam- an advanced thermal camera, can take a for detecting fever, can deliver an alert ine patients directly through close contact highly precise temperature reading and (though not a final diagnosis) to medi- and at longer intervals, putting them in employs advanced algorithms to achieve cal teams of an indication of a possible danger of infection. The remote-sensing that precision, said Cohen. COVID-19 patient. solutions give doctors the ability to check Two successful trials of the prototype The initiative was launched by the patients from more than two meters away have been completed. Elbit is now look- Defense Ministry’s National Emergency Candle lighting INSIDE THIS ISSUE April 17......................................... 7:28 pm Judaism online Study says... News in brief... April 24 ........................................ 7:35 pm May 1 ............................................ 7:43 pm A parents’ guide for engaging The latest Pew study shows the U.K. Jewish newspapers fold; Jewishly online; more Jewish pandemic has prompted prayer Russian Jewish philanthropists PLUS online resources. at home and online. helping seniors; and more. Opinion .......................................................2 Stories on pages 2-3 Story on page 5 Story on pages 7-8 D’var Torah ...............................................6 2 THE REPORTER ■ APRIL 16, 2020 Online Judaism: A parents’ guide on engaging Jewishly in the time of corona BY DEBORAH FINEBLUM and opportunities to interact with such (JNS) – It wasn’t so long ago when life superstars as Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks was so over-the-top busy that you longed and NBA legend Amar’e Stoudemire, for some quiet, unstructured time with who now lives in Israel. The platform your children. The coronavirus pandemic also enables individual university Hillels has granted that wish. And then some. to customize content for their students. With no end in sight of QT (Quality With such an unprecedented avalanche Time), many schools have come to a par- of online resources keeping the Jewish ent’s rescue with online classes through world engaged and close, Chabad Rabbi a range of technologies many of us had Mendel Sharfstein co-director with his never heard of two weeks ago.