The Business of Israel Mission

The Ingredients of Jewish Entrepreneurship

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 8:34:46 AM

During this week's intense exposure to the business of Israel, we have seen firsthand Jewish leadership and entrepreneurship in action. In an effort to distill the ingredients of entrepreneurship in Israel, I have identified two essential elements.

Innovation

The first such element is innovation, and we have witnessed amazing innovation in Israel. Examples include: the ReWalk device that enables paralyzed people to walk; a hospital program that brings a hi-tech and warm school environment to children in a pediatric hospital just a couple miles from the Lebanon border; and the highly secretive and innovative 8200 Unit of the IDF.

What makes Israelis such extraordinary innovators? Perhaps one answer is found in a slogan we learned from Google Israel: "creativity loves constraint." Often, we are most innovative and creative when we have to be – because obstacles and adversity force us to derive innovative solutions to difficult problems with limited resources.

Israel is a small country with very limited natural resources surrounded by unfriendly neighbors. This has forced Israelis to find innovate ways to solve problems and to create companies and organizations that compete globally.

Innovation has always been a hallmark of being Jewish. The very first Jews were perhaps the greatest innovators in history by introducing the world to monotheism. Monotheism revolutionized the ancient world and brought with it Jewish values of morality and decency - values like justice, charity, and compassion. These are the very same values that are now embraced and espoused by many other monotheistic religions as their own. Indeed, in this respect, Judaism may have been the first start-up that revolutionized the world.

We also saw innovation at work in the creation of the modern day State of Israel. The early Zionists and Jews who fought so hard for the creation of the State of Israel fought against enormous odds with very limited resources.

We saw this when we visited the Palmach Museum and visited with a Palmach veteran who told of his stories fighting the British and helping to smuggle Jewish refugees into Palestine.

We saw this again when we visited a kibbutz that secretly manufactured bullets in an underground ammunition factory that produced over 2,500,000 bullets before the War of Independence and another 2,500,000 during the War of Independence.

The State of Israel depended on the ingenuity and selfless dedication of countless Jews. Without any one of them, the State of Israel may not exist today.

Dedication and Persistence

Second, the hallmark of Jewish and Israeli entrepreneurship is dedication and persistence – acting boldly and decisively. Easy to say; not so easy to do. Start-ups are risky. Entrepreneurs often dedicate years of their lives, and much or all of their savings, trying to bring their ideas to market. And they do so, and persist in doing so, despite the long odds.

And this may be where Jews have a unique advantage over many other people. Jews do not shy away from risk. Perhaps one reason for this is their faith in God. We learn of this as far back as the book of Genesis. The land of Israel that God promised to Abraham was desert – not the easiest land to live in; survival depended on rain falling from heaven.

Having faith in God does not mean that we should take foolish risks or abandon good judgment; nor does it exempt us from hard work. Rather, God requires us to work hard and work intelligently to solve problems. But there comes a time in any significant endeavor, after we have done all we can do, when we have to acknowledge that the rest is up to God. Some may call this crucial element luck. I like to call it God’s will.

Faith in God also helps us to be comfortable with another important aspect of entrepreneurship: failure. Entrepreneurs often fail, but good entrepreneurs accept that failure is the cost of doing business and, more importantly, understand that we can learn from our failures.

Ultimately, what’s true in entrepreneurship is true of most endeavors in life. The outcome is not nearly as important as the journey.

A Note from The Network Director, Ari Dallas

Thursday, January 12, 2012 10:49:31 AM

Just when you think you get it, you're given a new opportunity each day that reminds you, you don't. Each day of this trip has allowed for a more meaningful and deeper connection and understanding of not only our Federation and Partners’ work, but of Israel itself!!!!! We've met dozens of Israelis already, with as many more to go...which truly puts everything in perspective when it comes to why we do what we do. I have a tremendous amount of pride and respect for our community and the work I do for Federation...however, I'll never be able to put into words how those feelings have grown; beyond my wildest imagination...because of this experience. Three things stand out so far, each representing the purpose of this Mission... As you recall... "The Business of Israel" means more than just a tech or life sciences company. It's business, yes, but also history/cultural and the Federation impact. More importantly, it’s designed to be about the people who make this happen. We've met Baruch, an 85-year-old Palmach Vet, who shared his amazing, heroic stories...of fighting for the creation of the modern state of Israel and working to bring holocaust survivors to Israel from Europe... We met Roddi, who spent the last 24 years, in a wheelchair and through the miracle of Argo Medical Tech, he can now walk! My words cannot do this justice; it's just flat out incredible! Finally, we've had the chance to visit an ORT Israel program at Nahariya Hospital...to see, here and touch this very special program. A company is just a thing, a name... People are the key ingredient and right now in Israel, special people are doing special things!

A Note from Scott Gould, Mission Participant and First-Timer to Israel

Thursday, January 12, 2012 9:54:26 AM

Business, Business, Business...everyone in Israel is in business. This morning we went to Better Place to drive the first production rechargeable car. This is an awesome product and I want one!!! These guys have such a great sense of humor that they put their sales office in a refurbished oil storage tank. Unfortunatly, it appears we won't see this car in the US for several years but everyone believes they should be able to compete in the US.

Why is it that I spontaneously become very emotional to the point of tears at some point each day? What has happenend to me on my first trip to Israel? This week has been up up up...not up and down. I cannot believe the people of Israel, they are entrepreneurial and not afraid to fail, always encouraged to succeed. This country of immigrants desires to provide innovative solutions to common problems. Problems that people worldwide experience. Israelis desire to help the world and work with ALL countries. We hear stories like...'I talked with a government official from China/Singapore/Korea/Africa/Asia/Middle East. (Insert most any country name). We jews work side by side with this melting pot of culture and religion in our new country only born in 1948.

Why are the Israeli people so helpful...even to people that are sworn to destroy us? We are willing to share our solutions with the world, care for and educate all children...not just for profit but because it is the right thing to do. Is it necessary for our countrys survival, growth and prosperity. The thinking is so forward looking that in some places men and women share the same bathroom!!!

I cannot wait to return to Jerusalem tomorrow, no longer a first-timer.
I need a hug from my wife and children
I need to return to Israel with my family
I need to bring some of this home with me and put it to use
The Jewish people got it right...not perfect but right.

A Note From Gary Gamerman - Mission Co-Chair

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:43:51 AM

I believe that journeys like this need a narrative and theme. They help us understand and build on what we learn, and makes it personal.

One is to heal and care for the ill: Talmud teaches that to save a single life is to save the entire universe, that there are no mitzvot more important than to visit the ill, and bring healing and alienate suffering.

Speaking of accomplishment under dire circumstances, I want to share some reflections from Monday, Tuesday and the other few days I have been here. We have seen incredible innovation and accomplishment under great challenge...

At Yad Vashem, Mt Hertzel and Independence Hall, and the Jaffa overlook we saw how courage and innovation can spring forth from the worst of circumstances. Reflecting the words of Isaiah that the wilderness and the parched land shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose...

This really came together on Monday at the Palmach Museum as I walked through the museum and listened, and heard, what they did considering what they faced. Words rang out that that I wrote down on the bus ride to lunch that want to share:

“The waves of our lives crash on the beach of eternity, they leave their carriage.

Be calmed by waves of fair winds, curl low and quiet, leave but tiny grains that build beaches of soft sand for pleasant walks.

Towering waves, driven by raging storms, roar like lions, change the landscape and leave great rocks as monuments to their passing.

We long to build fine beaches beside easy water and warming breezes. But it is the mighty rocks that provide sure bedrock that holds the land for the ages, and the sharp jetties that protect our beach from the coming storms that would wash them out.

As you look on your grains you carry in your calm waves, look on and see the rocks of ages and the storms bore and bear for you.”

Our first visit on Tuesday was with Kadima Mada Kav Or at the Western Galilee Hospital, sponsored by World ORT. This is a special program that reflects Jewish values of healing, visiting the ill, education, innovation and science
Kadima Mada and its cutting-edge program, “Science Journey” – redefines science and technology education in Israel, specifically in the periphery. Established in partnership with Israel's Ministry of Education, this multi-faceted program combines state-of-the art, interactive classrooms and progressive science and technology learning with critical investment in advanced teacher training. Today, Kadima Mada is active in over 165 schools, has trained and assisted some 3,300 teachers and serves more than 100,000 pupils in under resourced areas. Without the partnership of the each one of us, through Federation, ORT would be unable to provide the support these children need.

We saw how a Federation sponsored program brings innovation and chessed to this problem.

This is why we are here!

A Note from Julie Kass - Mission Participant and Network Vice Chair of Women's B&P

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:43:03 AM

What a terrific day. Our day began with an inspiring visit to the Nahariya pediatric unit to see their school for the all of the children who spend a day or months at the hospital in order for them to keep up with their school work and feel connected. On the way to the hospital there was a view of the mountains on the Lebanon border. It is amazing that something so beautiful can be the boundary in an area where there is such danger.

We visited the Misgav and met the CEOs of companies providing cutting edge medical technology. In our packed schedule we were able to visit with Argo Medical Technologies were we witnessed the miracle of a paraplegic using a medical device to stand straight up and walk after spending 24 years in a wheelchair. It was truly remarkable.

After other stops along the way and making new chavarim while viewing the lower Galilee, we returned to Tel Aviv for a fascinating dinner with our speaker Dr. Avishay Braverman. Dr. Braverman gave us his view of global economics and politics in an “I call it as I see it approach.”

While I came to meet the CEOs of the biotech companies that we visited with today, it is clear that this trip, even in its second day is so much more.