We live in interesting times. Fascinating times. That is one thing we can be pretty sure about. 

With lab grown and plant-based meats already making its way to the restaurant tables, now an Israeli startup is working on lab grown dairy products. And not from any cow cells or milk cells but purely created in a laboratory.

According to the people behind Remilk, they have found a way to make milk without using a single cow in the process, by genetically recreating the proteins found in milk and inserting them into a single cell microbe, whatever that means. They then used a microbial fermentation process to increase the proteins and then dried it into a powder.

They claim this process has given them an identical copy of milk, but without the lactose and without the cholesterol.

This should be great for lactose-intolerant Jews.

When TOI asked if this milk will be pareve or dairy, they stressed that while not being a rabbi to make such a determination, not a single cell was taken from a cow (or any other animal) in the process. Yet, it is a milk protein like regular milk and he claims in the lab they are identical.

To me it seems this would clearly be pareve and not dairy. It is even better than the lab grown meat from an animal cell, on which there is a question and debate because of the animal cell used as the source. This is purely done in the lab with no animal cells. Maybe there would be a maris ayin issue, until this product becomes so popular and well known, but considering it as actual dairy seems unreasonable.

Soon you might be able to eat lab grown meat while drinking a cup of lab grown chocolate milk

I look forward to hearing the different opinions about this new development.

The Ministry of Health is 100% disconnected form reality. When there were no more verified Corona patients, they made up some new measure called R and then began to go by that. It is not correct. Lockdowns have not helped in exterminating any virus anywhere in the world.

The Haredim acted properly band in this group they have created herd immunity for themselves. They are right getting their lives back to order. That is what the entire country should do, while protecting those with medical conditions.

  -- Dr Amir Shachar, head of Emergency Room of Laniado Hospital

Meier/Max Funeral speech 17/11/2020

With today being Rosh Chodesh, we aren’t supposed to give a hesped, though I am told we are allowed to say our goodbyes. So here is my goodbye. Meier, or Max as you later preferred to be called.

As the older brother living far away since you were about 5 years old, I got to see and experience you much less than the rest of the family. I don’t have nearly as many of those daily stories and memories of your booming voice, your contagious smile, your infectious laughter, and your adventurous attitude.

But we did have the pleasure of hosting you a lot when you spent 2 years in Israel in yeshiva and then again when you came back for nearly two years as a volunteer in the IDF, along with other family visits at other times.

When you were in yeshiva you brought us the goose after rescuing her from the lively yeshiva boys and their Purim prank. You brought her to us as a baby. She became our pet and around 3 years later, after learning shechita together, we also enjoyed eating her together.

You came by often, usually whipping out your harmonica or guitar to concoct some crazy and whimsical song for the kids, or sitting with them and telling them your new versions of the family stories of the man with the golden arm or blackie the goat. If you weren’t coming to us, you were out exploring Israel and meeting new people. Like the taxi driver that invited you to a Moroccan Rosh Hashana dinner and then wanted you to marry her daughter.

Goodbye Meier. Goodbye Max. Our lives were that much richer for having you in them for the past 35 years, and that much poorer for not having you in them any longer.

I just want to finish by saying something we tell our kids regularly. Life isn’t fair. Just standing here today is evidence enough of that. But that’s not what I am talking about. We get to mourn our brother, our son. We have spouses and family and friends who knew Meier and loved him just as much and sometimes for nearly as long. They mourn Meier, or Max, but unofficially. While they mourn, the burden of keeping everything going falls on them, in addition to being there for us emotionally. Thank you Shifra, and Leslie and Ron and Rachel and all the kids and cousins and friends, for being there, for keeping everything running and for your love.

Unfortunately I have to inform you of the untimely passing of my brother in Chicago. We are bringing him here to Israel for the burial, which will take place  on Tuesday. After that I'll be sitting shiva. 

 I'll be mostly offline until after the shiva. 

I can be contacted by email (comments to this blog get sent to my email, so if you don't already have my email address, feel free to comment on this post, or any other, or using the contact page at http://lifeinisrael.blogspot.com/p/advertise-on-life-in-israel.html and I'll get it) and Whatsapp (for those who have it)

Besorot Tovot. Good health, physical and mental, to all, and wishing you all a long life.

Here is something my siblings all wrote together:

הפרות בישיבות החרדיות | מאות בחורי ישיבה יצאו מהקבוצות בישיבה וערכו קניות בסופר - ללא מסכות@AkivaWeisz #חדשותהערב pic.twitter.com/KHQW3pepNI

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) November 10, 2020