Welcome to the first edition of Israel Curated!

In this month’s edition, you’ll discover how an accidental discovery could revolutionize the global chocolate industry, meet an Arab Muslim sweet shop owner making waves on social media, and learn how sunflowers “dance” to soak up the sun!

The TL;DR:

• Are you a chocolate lover? Israeli researchers have accidentally discovered a drought-resistant cocoa plant that could revolutionize the global chocolate industry and create a more sustainable future. This discovery was made in the aftermath of October 7th, when the seedlings were left unattended for three months — revealing their resilience in the most unexpected way.

• Innovation meets sustainability: This breakthrough could shield the cocoa industry from the effects of climate change, ensuring a steady supply of chocolate for generations to come (which is great news!).
• Serendipitous discovery: Researchers at Israel’s Volcani Center were testing plants for resilience in extreme conditions. While not specifically looking for it, they stumbled upon a cocoa plant that thrives in dry climates.

Share this story with chocolate enthusiasts, sustainability advocates, and innovation-driven thinkers!

This month’s pick is something that I find to be really beautiful!

Researchers discovered that when sunflowers are packed together, they actually move around to avoid each other’s shadows and get more sunlight! It’s like they’re doing a little dance to make sure they can all thrive. I love how nature just figures things out in the most unexpected ways, and this shows how even plants adapt when they’re in a crowded space—pretty wild, right?

Definitely a story to share with anyone who’s into plants, nature, or just needs a reminder of how beautiful life can be!

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In case you missed it, Faces of Resilience is still available to download for free. This exhibition and educator’s guide can help you personalize conversations about the impact of October 7 and Israeli resilience.