New Israeli Technology Eliminates Need For Painkillers

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-900599

New Israeli technology helps free man from dependence on painkillers

A breakthrough treatment was carried out at Rambam Medical Center, where specialists helped wean a man who had been taking about 130 painkiller pills a day in just 20 minutes.

Doctors at the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa have successfully treated their first Israeli opioid addiction patient using an experimental noninvasive brain technology, easing him through withdrawal in just 20 minutes.

H., a 40-year-old family man from northern Israel, was injured in his neck several years ago. Because of the injury, he relied on painkillers and eventually became addicted to them.

“Over time the pain lessened, but he could not break free from the dependence on the pills and the doses kept increasing, until they reached a peak of about 130 pills a day,” Dr. Amir Minerbi, director of the Pain Medicine Institute at Rambam, explained. The painkiller detox clinic that treated H. operates out of the institute. “H. was no longer suffering from pain. He simply needed that substance in his blood so he would be calm and able to function.”

During the innovative treatment performed at Rambam, the team of specialists at the Haifa medical center intervened in the electrical activity of an area of the patient's brain called the nucleus accumbens, the core of the brain system responsible for feelings of satisfaction, pleasure, and reward. The treatment, based on technology from the Israeli company Insightec, is similar to the one used to treat symptoms of essential tremor and Parkinsonian tremor, under MRI control.

In this case, the treatment was carried out with the help of a new technology that performs noninvasive neuromodulation, without heating or burning tissue, and allows stimulation in the same area of the brain to increase or suppress activity.

The surgery team working on the implant at Rambam Hospital in Haifa. (credit: RAMBAM MEDICAL CENTER)

“The new technology allows us to intervene in the brain's electrical activity in a targeted way, and thereby influence focused control areas in brain activity, depending on the disease being treated,” said Dr. Lior Lev-Tov, director of the functional neurosurgery unit in Rambam’s neurosurgery division and the one leading the new study at the medical center.

“Already during the treatment itself we identified a decrease in the patient's craving for the drug. Tests carried out a week later produced negative results for opioids and other substances. The patient himself reported a craving score of zero out of 10 for using the drug, and even another side effect, a drastic drop in the desire for cigarettes, from three packs a day to just a few cigarettes, and with no urge to use alcohol. In other words, in a treatment that lasted about 20 minutes net, our patient was completely freed from an extreme dependence that had accompanied him every day for years. This is nothing less than a medical and therapeutic revolution.”

The opioid crisis is a global epidemic

Opioid addiction has been defined as a global epidemic, and in the United States it has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, with damage estimated at about $60 billion each year. In Israel, which only a few years ago ranked first in the world for the rate of growth in opioid use, the trend has been halted and is now declining.

“Opioid painkillers are used effectively to treat short-term pain, and they are an important tool in medicine for those who need them,” Minerbi explained. “A small but significant portion of painkiller users may develop an addiction to opioids, meaning they want to take the drug again and again, regardless of how it affects pain. Among those who take the drug over time, it becomes less effective for pain treatment, and it contributes to increasingly developing side effects such as harm to the lungs, an increased and premature risk of death, damage to the ability to integrate into the circle of life, a decline in quality of life, and more.”

“Today, detox from painkillers works in two ways: tapering off until stopping use, with success rates of 5%, while even those who manage to quit remain at risk of illness and death afterward," he added. "The second option is to use an alternative drug that works through the same mechanism as the drug to which the patients developed an addiction. Detox has two stages: physical detox, which refers to withdrawal symptoms, and psychological detox, which may last a long time. The new development specifically targets areas in the brain that are responsible for addiction. We hope it will be able to help thousands who are dependent on opioids in a safer and less traumatic way.”

As noted, the study is being conducted at three centers in the United States as part of a multicenter trial that has so far produced excellent results in preserving treatment gains and detox from opioids. Some of the patients were even addicted to heroin, a drug whose detox process can last for years. H., the first Israeli patient, was also the first to undergo the treatment while in active withdrawal, a therapeutic challenge that contributed significant insights to the international study.

“From the moment of treatment until today he has been clean from use of the drug. The urge and craving to use the drug disappeared completely and we are happy for his happiness,” Dr. Lev-Tov reported. “He told us that he got his life back. The tests show that the body is completely clean and the patient's physical and functional condition is completely normal.”

He added: “We are talking about a noninvasive ability to reach very deep and very sensitive areas, as part of a very complex network in the brain that is linked to reward, satisfaction, desire and the ability to control needs and impulses, and we are able to move the range from one end to the other. There is nothing like it in the world of medicine. This experience opens doors for us to treat a wide range of very serious illnesses such as PTSD, OCD, eating disorders, other addictions, severe depression, severe pain disorders, and I hope we will also be able to reach cognitive areas and treat attention deficit disorders, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and more.”

"This is a new therapeutic platform that allows us to offer a range of noninvasive treatments for a variety of problems that affect many people around the world," Dr. Lev-Tov stressed. "A scientific breakthrough of the highest order that is still expected to affect us greatly and change the way we approach treating human beings. The patients I mentioned have enormous potential to return to full rehabilitation, live full lives, start families, return to the workforce, and move Israel and the entire world forward.”

He concluded: “Rambam is a global pioneer in the use of FUS technology and has become a center of excellence in the field. One that will continue to push the technology forward and make breakthrough treatment accessible to patients in additional indications. There is nothing more ethical or correct than leveraging existing technologies, finding the patient who can benefit from them, breaking boundaries, and daring. That is what we do here on a daily basis.”

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-900599

Antiquities Bill helps thwart Pally Propaganda

https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-warn-west-bank-antiquities-bill-designed-to-expand-israeli-control/

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israel-halts-palestinian-construction-work-amid-expansion-of-israel-antiquities-authoritys-powers/

Antiquities bill helps thwart Pally Propaganda and expand Israeli control of Judea and Samaria

Antiquities law would bring Israeli civil authority deep inside Judea and Samaria

Archeological site in the Samarian town of Sebastia, renowned for its rich Iron Age, Roman, and Byzantine ruins, widely believed to be the burial site of John the Baptist. It served as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Israel.

Israeli authorities have issued orders to develop a state-managed archaeological park there.

In ancient times, the city of Sebastia was known as Shomron (Hebrew: שֹׁמְרוֹן, romanized: Šōmrôn) which derives from the Hebrew term שֹׁמֵר šōmēr meaning "watchman".^[14] The city bearing the ancient Hebrew name of Shomron later gave its name to the central region of the Land of Israel surrounding the city of Shechem (modern-day Nablus).^[15] In Greek, Shomron became known as Samaria.

Between 880-723/22 BCE, Samaria was the capital of the northern Israelite kingdom of Israel, also known as Samaria after its long-time capital.^[18] Under the four centuries long period of 723/22-322 BCE, it reached a golden age.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastia,_Nablus

An Israeli bill would extend civil control over ancient sites in the West Bank and would expand Jewish settlements.

The bill, which aims to establish a “Judea, Samaria and Gaza Heritage Authority” under the Heritage Ministry, passed one of three votes in the Knesset in May.

The bill would bring management of Roman, Byzantine and Crusader-era sites in Judea and Samaria under Israeli Heritage Ministry management and allow related “expropriation and purchase of real estate” in the West Bank, which Israel calls by its Hebrew biblical name, Judea and Samaria.

That in effect would strip away oversight of some ancient sites from the Palestinian Authority.

Knesset member Zvi Sukkot of the Religious Zionism party, who has been key in advancing the new bill, says extending Israeli control over the sites is meant to safeguard ancient remnants dating back to biblical times.

“All the stories of the Bible, all our history, the people (of Israel) were born in Judea and Samaria.”

Antiquities in the West Bank have been significantly impacted by looting, vandalism and neglect.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-warn-west-bank-antiquities-bill-designed-to-expand-israeli-control/

Resurrecting Herodium: Desert Fortress Awakens after 2000 Years

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-900236

Resurrecting Herodium: A royal desert fortress awakens After 2,000 years

Imagine standing in the heart of the Judean Desert, exactly where King Herod’s legendary palace once echoed with the sounds of a vibrant empire. This week, for the first time in two millennia, the ancient fortress of Herodium truly came back to life.

Drawing hundreds of attendees from across the globe, the site hosted the grand opening of the International Conference on Israeli Heritage and Antiquities in Judea and Samaria. Spearheaded by the Heritage Ministry, the evening transformed the monumental tomb and palace into a pulsating hub of culture, history, and national identity. It was a gathering of unprecedented scale, attended by Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, the United States Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, alongside members of Knesset, international diplomats, and leading scholars.

. (credit: Go Live / Yaniv Nadav)

The crown jewel of the evening was a staggering, multi-sensory production titled “Herod VS Bar Kokhba: The Battle for Eternity.” Starring acclaimed actors Shuli Rand and Ron Shahar, the performance transported the audience back to antiquity. Through a dazzling combination of live music, street theater, pyrotechnics, and meticulous historical reenactments, dozens of performers resurrected the age-old tension between the might of the Roman Empire and the fierce Jewish quest for sovereignty. Experiencing this epic narrative on the very soil where these historical dramas unfolded added an electrifying layer of authenticity to the night.

This remarkable evening served as the flagship event for “Derech Eretz Moreshet” (The Path of Heritage), a visionary national project led by the Heritage Ministry. The initiative is investing substantial resources in the restoration, development, and accessibility of historical and biblical sites across Judea and Samaria. Far from treating these locations as mere archaeological ruins, the project reimagines them as premier educational, cultural, and tourism destinations. Herodium, where the grandiose vision of Herod intersects with the fierce legacy of the Great Revolt and the Bar Kokhba rebellion, stands as a shining centerpiece of this endeavor, designed to connect the public deeply with the foundational sites of history.

. (credit: Go Live / Yaniv Nadav)

The international resonance of the initiative was underscored by the presence of U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who was awarded the Heritage Prize during the ceremony, for his dedication to strengthening ties to the region's historical roots.

“My job is to represent the United States to the Israelis, but it is also my job to represent the meaning of Israel to the U.S.,” Huckabee remarked to the crowd. “Your heritage is also our heritage; without your heritage, there is no heritage for the United States. The only way to erase Israel’s heritage is to close your eyes and plug your ears, because history is carved here into every rock.”

. (credit: Go Live / Yaniv Nadav)

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu echoed this sentiment of resilience and international partnership. “There are those who claim Israel is isolated and that relations with America are strained. Some turn to UNESCO and attempt to steal our history,” Eliyahu stated. “Today, they are invited to look at Herodium, at this international archaeological conference, and at a 2,000-year-old pool that has returned to life. This is our answer to those who try to weaken us from within and without, not with words, but with actions.”

As the conference continues this week, offering a robust itinerary of lectures, professional panels, and tours for global experts, the overarching message is clear. As Benny Har Even, Staff Officer for Archaeology, beautifully summarized: “Great things are happening in archaeology in Judea and Samaria. The earth continues to reveal the foundational chapters of Jewish history, artifact by artifact; the ancient roots are being brought back into the light.”

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-900236

History

Construction

In 40 BCE, after the Parthian conquest of Syria, Herod fled to Masada. On the way, at the location of Herodion, Herod clashed with Jews loyal to his enemy Antigonus, and emerged victorious. According to the Roman Jewish historian Josephus, he "built a town on that spot in commemoration of his victory, and enhanced it with wonderful palaces... and he called it Herodion after himself".^[15]

Josephus describes Herodium as follows:

This fortress, which is some sixty stadia^[16] distant from Jerusalem, is naturally strong and very suitable for such a structure, for reasonably nearby is a hill, raised to a (greater) height by the hand of man and rounded off in the shape of a breast. At intervals it has round towers, and it has a steep ascent formed of two hundred steps of hewn stone. Within it are costly royal apartments made for security and for ornament at the same time. At the base of the hill there are pleasure grounds built in such a way as to be worth seeing, among other things because of the way in which water, which is lacking in that place, is brought in from a distance and at great expense. The surrounding plain was built up as a city second to none, with the hill serving as an acropolis for the other dwellings.^[17]

Archaeologists believe that the palace was designed by architects and built by slaves and paid workers (contractors). ^{[citation needed]} Herod was considered one of the greatest builders of his time and was not daunted by geography—his palace was built on the edge of the desert and was situated atop an artificial hill.^[18] The largest of the four towers was built on a stone base 18 meters in diameter. This was most likely where Herod lived; he decorated his rooms with mosaic floors and elaborate frescoes. The other three towers, which consisted of living spaces and storage, were 16 meters in diameter. Outside, several cisterns were built to collect water that was channeled into the palace.

The city of Herodium served as a capital of a toparchy.^[19][20]

Great Jewish Revolt

During the First Jewish–Roman War (66–73 CE), Herodium was held by Jewish rebels. At some point during the revolt, the fort's defenders transformed Herod's triclinium into a synagogue.^[21][22] In 68 CE, rebel leader Simon bar Giora, then operating from nearby Teqoa, attempted to seize Herodium. He sent an emissary, Eleazar, to persuade the garrison to surrender, but the defenders uncovered the plot and expelled him. Eleazar then threw himself from the fortress ramparts.^[23][24][25]

After the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE, Herodium remained one of three major fortresses (alongside Machaerus and Masada) still under rebel control, though the specific faction holding it is uncertain.^[25] By this time, the site appears to have been defended by a relatively small force, likely joined by refugees fleeing Jerusalem.^[25] Herodium was ultimately captured, likely in early 72 CE, by the Roman legate Sextus Lucilius Bassus.^[22][25] The fortress seems to have fallen rapidly, as Josephus provides only a brief mention of its surrender.^[26][25]

Bar Kokhba revolt

v t e Bar Kokhba Revolt

At the beginning of the Bar Kokhba revolt sixty years later, Simon bar Kokhba declared Herodium as his secondary headquarters. The fortress was commanded by Yeshua ben Galgula, who was likely in Bar Kokhba's second or third line of command. Archaeological evidence for the revolt was found all over the site, from the outside buildings to the water system under the mountain. Inside the water system, supporting walls built by the rebels were discovered, and another system of caves was found. Inside one of the caves, burned wood was found which was dated to the time of the revolt.

As in other parts of Judea during the final stages of the Bar Kokhba revolt, the rebels active in Herodium likely sought shelter in nearby refuge caves, including the cave of El Matzia.^[27]

Excavation history

"Tel Hordos" area in 1943, in the Survey of Palestine

Remains of the eastern round tower

Upper Herodium

The archaeological excavation of Herodium was begun in 1962 by Virgilio Canio Corbo and Stanislao Loffreda, from the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum of Jerusalem, and it continued until 1967: they discovered the upper citadel, at the top of the hill.^[28]

Lower Herodium

From 1972, excavations were carried out by Ehud Netzer, working on behalf of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and they were intermittent until the archaeologist's death in 2010. Netzer excavated mostly the lower palace, at the base of the hill.

Description

Palace garden, the northern exedra

Herod's hilltop palace

Main article: Herod's Palace (Herodium)

Herod the Great built a palace within the fortress of Herodium. Herod himself commissioned a lavish palace to be built between 23 and 15 BCE atop Herodium for all to see. The palace itself consisted of four towers of seven stories, a bathhouse, courtyards, a Roman theatre, banquet rooms, a large walkway ("the course"), as well as extravagant living quarters for himself and guests. Once Herod died and the Great Revolt started, Herodium was abandoned. The Jews eventually had a base at Herodium where they built a synagogue which can still be seen today, unlike much of Herod's Palace.^[29]

Section of mosaic floor unearthed at Herodion

Bathhouse

The Roman bathhouse consisted of three areas, the caldarium, the tepidarium, and the frigidarium. It also had a very impressive dome which is still in good condition today despite thousands of years of earthquakes and wars. The caldarium had vaulted ceilings, raised floors, and channels in the walls to conduct heat. The tepidarium had mosaic floors and frescoes just like the living quarters of the palace. The frigidarium, the last stop in the bathhouse, was where guests would cool off in a large pool.

Synagogue

During the First Jewish–Roman War, the defenders of Herodium repurposed an existing structure within the upper palace as a synagogue,^[21] considered one of the earliest in the Levant. The original space, formerly Herod's triclinium, underwent renovations that involved installing benches along the walls and constructing a mikveh outside the entrance. There is minimal evidence regarding any alterations made by the defenders to the existing decor or furnishings, and the space essentially functioned as a simple communal hall. The entrance faced eastward, while Jerusalem lay almost due north. The repurposed synagogue lacked specialized features commonly found in synagogues, such as a niche for housing the Torah scrolls and a reading desk.^[21]

Theatre

Netzer discovered the Roman Theatre just before his death in late 2010. The royal theatre was uncovered near the base of Herod's tomb. The theatre contained an elaborately decorated loggia, or a theatre box, was discovered. This means that when Herod or other notable officials went to see a play, they would receive luxury treatment. The rest of the audience would be seated below on benches that could accommodate about 450–650 people. What is quite unique about this find is that frescoes of landscapes were discovered, of a kind suggesting that the painters were well travelled; they depict scenes of Italy and even the Nile River in Egypt. It is also assumed that the painters were on loan to Herod from Caesar in Rome.^[30][31][32]

Pilate ring

In 1968–1969, during excavations directed by archaeologist Gideon Foerster, at a section of Herod's burial tomb^{[dubious – discuss]} and palace hundreds of artifacts were found, including a copper alloy ring. The ring was overlooked but in 2018 it was given a thorough laboratory cleaning and scholarly examination. At the center of the ring is an engraved krater, or amphora similar in style to the monumental urn (handleless amphorae or acroteria) of Herodium^[33] which is encircled by "partly deformed" Greek letters spelling out "of Pilates" in Greek. Although scientists were not sure about who is the "Pilates" mentioned on the ring, media published that it could have possibly belonged to Pontius Pilate. Archaeologist Roi Porat said that all explanations are equally possible for the owner of the ring: "It was important to publish a careful scientific article, but in practice we have a ring inscribed with the name Pilate and the personal connection just cries out."^[34][35][36] While much of the debate has focused on the Greek name inscribed on the ring, the image is of equal significance and may further support that this was the ring used by Pilate's administrative assistant for sealing documents for Pilate. The image on the ring is possibly associated with Roman religious ceremonies (i.e., suovetaurilia, bacchanalia) and the imperial cult that were characteristic of the images on the coins that Pilate had minted during his term as governor.^[33]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodium