The Knesset's decision to permit live cameras in daycare centers was meant to reassure parents. Now, an innovative AI development is expected to boost participation among daycare operators. BabyEye allows parents to view live footage of their children, but with a futuristic twist that seems straight out of a science fiction movie.

The system's artificial intelligence automatically blurs out staff members and other children, so that only the parent's own child is visible. This means staff members don't feel constantly watched, while the privacy of other children remains protected.

The developers describe it as a pioneering system with far-reaching potential. The AI technology can analyze a child's movements and behavior to determine whether they are feeling well, drowsy, or weak, and can even track developmental progress according to age. These advanced features, however, are not yet available to parents or clients.

According to co-founder Matanel Shalom, "The services we provide comply with the regulations of each country where BabyEye operates, and some features are unavailable in Israel due to local privacy laws."

The project's leading partners are CEO and founder Alex Zeitel; Matanel Shalom, who owns an investment house responsible for business development; and Iris Granot, who runs an academy that trains parents and early-childhood educators.

The system, still completing its development phase, connects to existing cameras already required by Israel's "Camera Law." Parents can upload a photo of their child or crop one from a video, and the system uses facial recognition to isolate the child. Parents then access the live feed through a secure mobile app, where only their child appears in focus inside a "bubble," while the rest of the frame is blurred. The original recordings remain stored by the daycare center, but the blurred footage is not saved. The service costs between $7–$9 per child per month, paid by the daycare for a user license.

CEO and founder Alex Zeitel said, "Many daycares avoid giving parents full camera access due to privacy concerns. Our system ensures each parent can see only what they're authorized to see. The cameras are already in place; our AI simply manages what is visible. The system is already operating, and we're working on multi-room tracking. In the future, we plan to add access for grandparents, app notifications, and daily summaries – there's a lot of potential here."

According to Iris Granot, owner of an academy for training parents and educational staff who works closely with children and families, most educators are excellent, but one of the biggest challenges in recent years is that parents don't know what happens in the daycare, and past incidents of violence have created distrust. On the other hand, she said, when staff members feel they're being suspected, they can't function properly.

"The introduction of live cameras also creates tension because staff feel they're being watched all the time, and parents worry that others might see their children or analyze their behavior," she said. "Today, everyone is suspicious of everything, but I believe that once people understand this system enables both supervision and privacy, both daycares and parents will embrace it."

Shalom concluded, "This solution will come both from parental demand and from daycare centers seeking to offer security and transparency. We already have a significant number of daycares signed up. When Alex presented the vision, I saw his passion and determination to address a real social need. BabyEye was built innovatively and boldly, harnessing AI technology to redefine relationships between parents, children and educators. For me, joining this venture is a mission and a commitment to realizing it as a game-changer in the relationship between parents, children and educators.

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The Weizmann Institute achieved 71st place worldwide, leading Israeli institutions in the global academic ranking. The Hebrew University claimed 88th position, while Technion earned 97th place among the world's top universities.

These achievements carry special significance as Israeli academia faces systematic attacks from international boycott campaigns targeting Israeli educational institutions. Universities operated under extraordinary circumstances, including missile attacks from Iran and Lebanon directed at campus facilities and the extended absence of hundreds of faculty members and students serving military reserve duty.

Professor Alon Chen, president of the Weizmann Institute, highlighted the achievement's importance during this turbulent period. "This achievement is particularly impressive during a challenging period, when Israeli academia as a whole faces unprecedented attacks in the international arena, and our research receives official recognition for the quality of our work. Despite and in spite of the challenges, we will continue to lead groundbreaking research and serve as a bridge of knowledge and science between Israel and the world," Professor Chen declared.

Professor Tamir Sheafer, rector of the Hebrew University and incoming president, emphasized their commitment to academic excellence. "We are proud to continue cultivating an academic environment that promotes critical thinking, research excellence, and innovative teaching. Work that connects between a glorious heritage of 100 years, to groundbreaking work for the future," Professor Sheafer noted.

When university achievements are adjusted for institutional size based on faculty numbers, Technion demonstrates exceptional performance, ranking 28th globally – a testament to its research efficiency and quality output.

Professor Uri Sivan, the Technion's president, characterized the accomplishment as a national mission. "Preserving the status of science and technology in Israel is a national mission of enormous importance, and it is particularly challenging this year, when we faced missiles from Iran and Lebanon that were fired toward the Technion campus and with the absence of hundreds of academic and administrative faculty members and graduate students who were required for hundreds of days of reserve duty. Technion's research and scientific excellence are our response to boycotts against Israel on campuses in North America, Europe, and Australia, and it is proof of the resilience of the Technion family."

Professor Sivan emphasized the collaborative achievement across Israeli higher education. "Preserving Technion's position in the leading constellation of academic institutions in the world is the fruit of joint effort by the academic staff, administrative staff, and Technion management, and it relies on international collaborations that are maintained despite academic boycotts and calls for severing relations with Israeli universities. Our main resources are the excellent human resources and the resilience we demonstrate in the face of difficulties and war. We welcome our partners in the pioneering constellation – the Hebrew University and the Weizmann Institute for Science – partners in advancing Israeli science and cultivating it."

The annual Shanghai Ranking represents one of academia's most credible evaluation systems. Rankings assess institutional research quality through multiple indicators, including Nobel Prize and Fields Medal recipients among faculty and alumni, plus publication volume and quality in premier academic journals. The comprehensive evaluation encompasses approximately 2,500 universities worldwide.

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Ariel University in Samaria is set to make history Wednesday by conferring doctor of medicine degrees on 53 graduates from the Adelson School of Medicine. This milestone comes after an intensive 4-year journey, culminating in a ceremony attended by the president of Israel, where the graduates will officially become doctors. The cohort, completing their final year of their practicum, boasts a strong female representation, with approximately 40 women among the graduates.

Dr. Shany Shperling-Mordo, 31, an Ariel University medical graduate now interning at Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer, reflects on the mixed emotions of the moment. "It's a complex time given the current situation in the country, especially working in a hospital and witnessing everything firsthand," she says. "But I'm also incredibly excited about this event. After all the hard work, it's deeply rewarding to reach this point. There's a real sense of accomplishment."

The past five years have been transformative for Shperling-Mordo. "I've met extraordinary people, both fellow students and faculty members," she recalls. "One particularly remarkable individual was Moshe Yedidyah Leiter, who tragically fell in battle in Gaza last November at age 39. He was a commander in the Shaldag unit and played a significant role in my journey. He encouraged us to join the 'Arrow' program, which integrates top students into research at various Sheba departments. Both of us were accepted. It was a pivotal moment in my career, and I owe him an enormous debt of gratitude. He was an exceptional person who could have been an outstanding physician. His loss is profound for our country."

Looking to the future, Shperling-Mordo expresses hope: "I wish for myself and my colleagues to become skilled doctors capable of truly helping our patients. I hope we can fulfill our aspirations while remembering our roots, and importantly, that we choose to stay here to work and live in Israel. To me, that's crucial."

The Adelson School of Medicine at Ariel University opened its doors in October 2019 and currently hosts about 350 students. The four-year program is designed for those with a bachelor's degree. The inaugural class is now completing their internships, with some already securing positions in various specialties nationwide.

Dr. Dan Sagi, 32, now an intern at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, reminisces about his first day of medical school over four years ago. Since then, his days have grown longer and his nights shorter. But the journey has brought him more than just a medical degree; it's given him love and family."

"My wife is also a medical student at Ariel, a year behind me," Sagi shares. "We met while preparing for the entrance exams. By chance, I was accepted before her, even though she's far more accomplished. Ten months ago, we welcomed our beautiful daughter. It's been an incredibly intense period. Before starting, I couldn't have imagined what I was getting into," he admits. "There have been countless sleepless nights, especially this past year, but the satisfaction is immeasurable. I love this profession beyond words. Most days, I'm up before dawn, but I genuinely enjoy what I do."

In anticipation of the ceremony, Professor Shai Ashkenazi, dean of the Adelson School of Medicine, wrote to the graduates: "You're entering a noble profession that is truly a calling. It uniquely combines sophisticated science with the act of giving, helping others, and saving lives. Always treat your patients with humility, warmth, empathy, compassion, and words of encouragement. Guide them wisely and sensitively towards recovery."

Tonight's ceremony at Ariel University will be attended by President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal, Dr. Miriam Adelson, Ministry of Health Director General Moshe Bar Siman Tov, Israel Medical Association Chairman Professor Zion Hagay, University President Professor Ehud Grossman, University Rector Professor Albert Pinhasov, and School of Medicine Dean Professor Shai Ashkenazi.

The establishment of the School of Medicine at Ariel University was a pioneering move, breaking years of stagnation in opening new medical schools in Israel, partly due to resistance from established universities. The preparatory process spanned several years, involving extensive consultations with experts in Israel and abroad. The school's innovative curriculum aims to produce high-quality physicians with a strong foundation in both basic sciences and clinical medicine.

Israel is currently grappling with a shortage of doctors, a problem expected to worsen. The country's physician ratio is 3.1 per 100,000 people, significantly below the OECD average. Recent recommendations propose an immediate increase in medical student intake from 1,200 to 1,400 annually, with plans to potentially double this figure in the future.

Dr. Miriam Adelson is the publisher of Israel Hayom. The Adelson family owns the company that is the primary shareholder in Israel Hayom.

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Israeli universities have once again demonstrated their world-class caliber, with three institutions ranking among the top 100 academic institutions globally. The Weizmann Institute of Science, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa have all clinched positions in the 2024 Shanghai Ranking, widely regarded as one of the most authoritative global university rankings.

Leading the Israeli contingent, the Weizmann Institute secured the 69th spot worldwide, slipping just one place from last year's ranking. It's noteworthy that the Weizmann Institute exclusively offers graduate programs, setting it apart from its peers.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem made significant strides, climbing to 81st place in the ranking of the world's best universities. This advancement crowns it as the highest-ranked Israeli institution offering undergraduate degrees. Last year, the Hebrew University stood at 86th place, trailing behind the Technion in the rankings.

This year, the Technion holds the 85th position on the list of the world's best academic institutions, a slight drop from its 79th place last year. However, it maintains a strong 11th place among the world's leading technological universities. The Shanghai Ranking is widely acknowledged as the gold standard for assessing higher education institutions globally.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has climbed five places this year, now ranking 81st among the top 100 universities worldwide according to the 2024 Shanghai Ranking!

Professor Asher Cohen, President of the Hebrew University: "The presence of three Israeli universities in the… pic.twitter.com/0UGfSRGQET

— Hebrew University (@HebrewU) August 15, 2024

The top three spots were claimed by US powerhouses: Harvard University, Stanford University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, respectively. Published annually, the Shanghai Ranking is revered for its reliability in academic circles. The rankings evaluate the quality of research at academic institutions based on various indicators, including the number of faculty members and graduates who have clinched Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, as well as the scope and quality of publications in leading journals. The comprehensive ranking covers approximately 2,500 universities. Among the top 100 institutions, 38 hail from the US, 14 from China, 8 from the UK, 5 from Australia, 4 each from France and Germany, 3 from Canada, and, as highlighted, 3 from Israel.

Professor Asher Cohen, President of the Hebrew University, celebrated this achievement while also voicing concerns about the current state of Israeli academia. His remarks come against a backdrop of strained relations with Education Minister and Chair of the Council for Higher Education, Yoav Kisch, and looming budget cuts. "The presence of three Israeli universities in the list of the world's top 100 universities is an extraordinary feat, especially in such a challenging and complex year. The Hebrew University's rise to 81st place in the most prestigious international ranking is a testament to our unwavering commitment to groundbreaking research and pursuit of excellence," Professor Cohen stated.

He added, "We're immensely proud of and grateful to our researchers and administrative staff. Their dedication to advancing excellent research persists daily, despite internal and external challenges, in an era where some segments of society view scientific truth and human progress as arbitrary occurrences. We remain steadfast in our role as the preeminent civilian institution for Jerusalem, a cornerstone for the State of Israel, and a source of international pride."

Professor Uri Sivan, President of the Technion, echoed these sentiments: "Our consistent standing in the Shanghai Ranking reaffirms the Technion's position among the world's finest technological universities. The Technion, like its Israeli counterparts, competes on the global stage with universities that are often older, larger, and better-funded. Our success, even in this latest index summarizing 2023 – one of our most challenging years – is remarkable. The inclusion of three Israeli academic institutions in the world's top 100 universities list is a resounding endorsement of Israeli science and academia and a source of national pride."

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Two and a half million Israeli children began school Friday morning following two months of summer vacation during which intense negotiations took place to avert a planned strike by the Secondary School Teachers' Association during the opening of the school year.

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The strike was called off last minute after the association, which represents high school teachers, reached an agreement with the Education and Finance ministries on Thursday evening.

Video: Israel kicks off 2023-2024 school year / Credit: Yoni Rikner

Under the agreement, the educators' salaries will be upped by 2,000 shekels ($525) with an extra 1.35% into a special pension fund. The raises, however, will be distributed gradually over the next four years, with an initial increase of NIS 800 ($210).

Teachers will also add one hour of classroom lecturing a week, a move officials hope will help tackle the dire shortage of educational staff. According to estimates, Israel is short of several thousand teachers, impacting the standard of education.

The agreement also prevents teachers from going on a strike over salary disputes for at least six and a half years.
"School is on tomorrow, high schoolers," Education Minister Yoav Kisch, the main driving force behind the negotiations, said in celebration.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Almog Elementary School in Ma'ale Adumim in honor of the first school day.

"Each and every one of you is special and equal to the other," he told a class of first-graders. "Look at each other, be friends of one another, and be kind to one another. Study well and listen to your teachers."

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Three Israeli universities were recognized among the world's top 100, according to the 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) released on Tuesday by Shanghai Ranking Consultancy.

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Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot ranked 67th, compared to 83rd place last year. Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa placed 78th, while the Hebrew University of Jerusalem dropped to the 85th position from 77th in 2022. Harvard University topped the ranking list for the 21st year in a row. It is followed by two other US universities – Stanford and MIT.

Video: An interview with a Hebrew University professor / Credit: Hebrew University of Jerusalem

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An isolationist ultra-Orthodox group that avoids any contact with state institutions will open its first official school in Beit Shemesh this September, Israel Hayom has learned.

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Until now, the Kanaim community's 5,000 children have studied in private institutions that were not registered with the Education Ministry. The women are known to give birth at private facilities so as not to register their children with the state.

But according to Beit Shemesh mayor Aliza Bloch, Kanaim families who have special needs children struggle to educate them in the existing institutions, which is why she reached out to education officials to create a school just for them.

After two years of construction, the school includes four classrooms designed for special needs students, who will also be able to receive medical treatments on site and who will be taught by specially trained teachers. The school sets a precedent for the Kanaim community, whose children have never before studied at a state-run school. To protect the students, the location and name of the institution is not revealed.

"When we were asked by such an isolationist community to take responsibility for the future of the children, we could not stand by," Bloch said. "We will do everything to provide all the services that are required and if needed, even expand the school."

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Israeli academia once again made it into the prestigious Shanghai Ranking of World Universities with flying colors.

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The three Israeli universities that were included in the 2022 report are the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which ranked 77th globally; the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, which was placed lower at 83; and the Weizmann Institute of Science, which was also ranked 83.

For the Hebrew University, this was a jump of 11 spots compared to 2021 and the best since 2018. The other two also improved their position, with the Weizmann Institute getting its best score ever since the ranking first began publishing in 2003.

All three institutions improved their standings compared to 2021, attesting to Israel's rising status as an academic powerhouse.

Tel Aviv University, Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and the University of Haifa were included in the non-ranking part of the report (i.e. beyond the first 100 places).

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A total of 700 Jewish teens from 32 communities in seven countries completed a life-changing seminar in Israel as part of a year-long Diller Teen Fellowship, an immersive leadership program for teenagers from across the world.

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The three-week program included a Shabbaton retreat, a "Community Week" and a "Global Congress" with all 700 teens (including 350 international Fellows gathering with 350 Israeli Fellows) for a period of cultural exchange, exploration of Jewish peoplehood and shared community-service projects.

International teens who traveled to Israel hail from Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Baltimore, central New Jersey, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in the United States; Toronto and Montreal, Canada; Melbourne, Australia; Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and throughout the United Kingdom.

Each Diaspora community has an Israeli partner community, including Upper Galilee, Ashkelon, Rishon Letzion, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beersheva/B'nei Shimon, Karmiel/Misgav, Eilat/Eilot, Yerucham, Kiryat Gat/Lachish/Shafir, Beit Shemesh/Mateh Yehudah, Golan, Shoham, Hof Hasharon, Herzliya and Mate' Asher.

Participants are self-identified Jewish 10th- and 11th-graders selected for their leadership potential. They become part of the program's international network of Jewish leaders. Today, there are more than 6,500 Diller alumni worldwide.

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"At a time when our world can feel more fractured and divided than ever before, Diller Teen Fellows from across the globe are uniting to build understanding, create connections and help repair the world," says Jen Smith, executive director of the Helen Diller Family Foundation Programs. "Diller serves as a foundational year that can impact the life of a teen as they explore their Jewish identity and the good they want to do in the world as a leader. While the goals, values and mission of the program unite participants as one global Jewish family, each teen brings their own unique perspective, lived experience and leadership qualities. Working together, we believe they can change the world."

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Throughout the yearlong fellowship, all 700 teens participate in local workshops (mifgashim in Hebrew), where they learn about the diversity of their local Jewish community and peers; hands-on opportunities to lead tikkun olam initiatives, where they learn to lead through a Jewish lens; local weekend retreats (Shabbatonim), where they experience Jewish pluralism; and active partnership connections between Israeli and Diaspora communities.

JNS.org contributed to this report.

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For the first time in Israel, an educational game phone app teaching the basics of computer coding to children will be launched this week.

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The Nick Academy app is a digital platform that includes a wide variety of activities aimed at 16-year-olds, where learning takes place through games focusing on science, technology, computer programming, and math.

Available on smartphones and tablets, it will feature Nickelodeon characters well known to children in that age range and will be adapted in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, and English.

Nick Academy was developed in collaboration with the Davidson Institute for Science Education, the Adler Institute, Code Monkey, the Center for Educational Technology, and the Ramon Foundation.

It will also allow parents to receive regular updates on their children's progress and development, offering real-time feedback.

Along with the app's launching, a "virtual summer camp" will offer a special workshop where kids ages 6-12 can learn how to program apps, design websites, and create video games.

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The global market for educational apps is estimated at $80 billion.

In Israel, more than 250,000 children of primary school age already experienced programming courses during the previous school year, and the country's Education Ministry recently announced that it would incorporate programming into studies starting next school year.

i24NEWS contributed to this report.

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