Regardless of political beliefs, one must appreciate the unlikely hood of the existence of a State of Israel. After the state's founding in 1948, Israel seemed doomed to destruction, before it could ever get off the ground. Invading Arab armies in 48, 67 and 73 seemed set to wipe Israel off the map; yet, against all odds, Israel survived.
The "Six Day War" of 1967 was particularly notable (In my attempt to keep this blog as a political as possible, I will try to keep to the agreed upon facts of this war.) Israel won a stunning and decisive victory on 3 fronts (Egypt, Syria and Jordan), nearly tripling the size of the country. This victory has been studied by military strategists and tactics employed in this war are taught in places like West Point. These were the miracles of Israel in its early days, however the miracles experienced by Israel today are of a different nature.
What was once a third world economy, is today one of the strongest and fastest growing economies in the world. In the 1980's Israel's economy nearly collapsed. Hyper inflation caused the Israeli currency, The Shekel, to become nearly worthless. Economic reforms were implemented and today Israel is the 24th largest economy in the world. Israel weathered the recession nearly unscathed, due to the conservative banking measures of Stanley Fischer.
Israel has the highest per capita venture capital in the world, with more start up companies than nearly any country. This is the modern day miracle of Israel: That, against all odds, a tiny strip of land in a very rough neighborhood, only 63 years old, is one of the major powerhouses of the global economy.
I am currently speaking with companies regarding positions at one of the countless start up companies in Israel. Whether it is serendipity or dumb luck, the direction of my job search now brings this blog full circle. I named my blog A New Beginning in The Start Up Nation, purely as a play on words; referring to the history of Israel as a new nation, coming from the ashes of the Holocaust, as well as the current economic environment. I didn't realize that I too would (hopefully) soon be an integral part of the actual "Start-Up Nation."
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Ani Yisraeli (Sort Of)
Wow, I guess it has been almost a week since my last blog post! I have been in a whirlwind; getting settled in Israel, along with wading through the never ending paper work necessary to get myself set up has been a learning experience.
Lets see what I have accomplished so far:
1. 2 serious job interviews for positions that are right up my alley.
2. Set up a bank account
3. Set up a cell phone account
The first accomplishment is very significant for me. After completing my MBA, I was able to set up a whopping 3 interviews over the course of 6 months! Having only been here a little more than a week, I feel very confident about where I am going professionally. However, I am getting quite frustrated with my ability (or lack thereof) to communicate effectively in Hebrew. I was able to set up my bank account and cell phone using a mix of Hebrew and English (Hebrish? Engbrew?), but I felt very dumb while doing it. I guess this is a good dose of humility for me. In the past I was very judgmental of people in the states who could not speak English. "This is America, learn the language." I now realize the difficulty of learning to speak a new language and assimilating in a new culture.
I am aware, though, that I am very lucky. I have a place to stay, connections in the country, friends and a support network all set up before I even got here. I also have spoken the language most of my life, though clearly not enough to be as fluent as I would like. For this I am very grateful.
Finally, I am going to make it a point not put myself in the American "Ghetto." What I mean by this is, as an American, it is very easy to only associate with other Americans and not take on the Israeli culture. I see this a lot, especially here in Jerusalem; I am determined not to fall into that trap. I moved to Israel to be an Israeli and I will work as hard as I can to become one, not only on paper, but in my heart. That is not to say I will forget where I come from; I grew up in America and spent most of my life there, it will always be important to me. However, I need to move forward in my integration into Israeli society, while striving to remember my heritage as an American.
Lets see what I have accomplished so far:
1. 2 serious job interviews for positions that are right up my alley.
2. Set up a bank account
3. Set up a cell phone account
The first accomplishment is very significant for me. After completing my MBA, I was able to set up a whopping 3 interviews over the course of 6 months! Having only been here a little more than a week, I feel very confident about where I am going professionally. However, I am getting quite frustrated with my ability (or lack thereof) to communicate effectively in Hebrew. I was able to set up my bank account and cell phone using a mix of Hebrew and English (Hebrish? Engbrew?), but I felt very dumb while doing it. I guess this is a good dose of humility for me. In the past I was very judgmental of people in the states who could not speak English. "This is America, learn the language." I now realize the difficulty of learning to speak a new language and assimilating in a new culture.
I am aware, though, that I am very lucky. I have a place to stay, connections in the country, friends and a support network all set up before I even got here. I also have spoken the language most of my life, though clearly not enough to be as fluent as I would like. For this I am very grateful.
Finally, I am going to make it a point not put myself in the American "Ghetto." What I mean by this is, as an American, it is very easy to only associate with other Americans and not take on the Israeli culture. I see this a lot, especially here in Jerusalem; I am determined not to fall into that trap. I moved to Israel to be an Israeli and I will work as hard as I can to become one, not only on paper, but in my heart. That is not to say I will forget where I come from; I grew up in America and spent most of my life there, it will always be important to me. However, I need to move forward in my integration into Israeli society, while striving to remember my heritage as an American.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Humility and Cultural Diversity
This post is really two posts in one. I missed a few days there, so I am making up for it.
I have been learning Hebrew since the age of 3. No exaggeration. I began learning the Aleph Bet as soon as I entered nursery. I have done numerous summer tours, spent more holidays than I can count and lived in Israel for various period of time. Yet, when it came time to go shopping today… I froze. I don’t know what it was. So far, I have been able to command the language and get myself through most daily tasks, but for some reason today I blanked. The worst part was that I was too proud to ask anyone for help.
I think I need to re-evaluate my expectations for assimilating into Israeli culture. Yes, I lived in Israel for a year, and in that time was completely fluent. However, that was 10 years ago. I know it will take time to brush off the cobwebs and get back to where I was. I do know that I am not falling into the trappings of the “honeymoon phase;” I think writing about it, and internalizing it has been very helpful for me. I hope that it helps other future Olim as well.
An Observation on Cultural Diversity
Today I got a real dose of the duality of the Israeli ethos. As I was walking to the center of the city (Jerusalem), I came upon a small demonstration by a left wing organization (I am going to leave out its name and purpose, because I would like to keep this blog as apolitical as possible). As I passed, a car pulled up and stopped in the middle of the street, rolled down their windows, and proceeded to flip the protesters the bird. Not more than a minute later another person pulled up and stopped in the road, this time however, the person smiled and flashed the peace sign. I found this to be the ultimate example of the diversity of Israeli society. I think many people who are not familiar with Israel think it is an entirely homogenous country, because of its “Jewishness.” The truth is Israel is as diverse a country, if not more, than any other. The reason for this is that Jews from all over the world have come to Israel since its inception in 1948. Jews from Eastern Europe along with the former Soviet Union, Western Europe, South America, North America, South Africa and Arab countries. While these people share common religious practices (though not completely identical), their cultural differences are very apparent in Israeli society. It is for this very reason that the people, the smells and the languages are all different. I am excited to immerse myself in the culture, as well as retain my own to add to the melting pot that already exists here.
I have been learning Hebrew since the age of 3. No exaggeration. I began learning the Aleph Bet as soon as I entered nursery. I have done numerous summer tours, spent more holidays than I can count and lived in Israel for various period of time. Yet, when it came time to go shopping today… I froze. I don’t know what it was. So far, I have been able to command the language and get myself through most daily tasks, but for some reason today I blanked. The worst part was that I was too proud to ask anyone for help.
I think I need to re-evaluate my expectations for assimilating into Israeli culture. Yes, I lived in Israel for a year, and in that time was completely fluent. However, that was 10 years ago. I know it will take time to brush off the cobwebs and get back to where I was. I do know that I am not falling into the trappings of the “honeymoon phase;” I think writing about it, and internalizing it has been very helpful for me. I hope that it helps other future Olim as well.
An Observation on Cultural Diversity
Today I got a real dose of the duality of the Israeli ethos. As I was walking to the center of the city (Jerusalem), I came upon a small demonstration by a left wing organization (I am going to leave out its name and purpose, because I would like to keep this blog as apolitical as possible). As I passed, a car pulled up and stopped in the middle of the street, rolled down their windows, and proceeded to flip the protesters the bird. Not more than a minute later another person pulled up and stopped in the road, this time however, the person smiled and flashed the peace sign. I found this to be the ultimate example of the diversity of Israeli society. I think many people who are not familiar with Israel think it is an entirely homogenous country, because of its “Jewishness.” The truth is Israel is as diverse a country, if not more, than any other. The reason for this is that Jews from all over the world have come to Israel since its inception in 1948. Jews from Eastern Europe along with the former Soviet Union, Western Europe, South America, North America, South Africa and Arab countries. While these people share common religious practices (though not completely identical), their cultural differences are very apparent in Israeli society. It is for this very reason that the people, the smells and the languages are all different. I am excited to immerse myself in the culture, as well as retain my own to add to the melting pot that already exists here.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Day 1
"Everyone return to your seats... NOW."
This was the scene I woke up to about three hours into my Aliyah flight. In years past I had a pretty bad fear of flying, but over the years I moved past it, or so I thought. This flight, however, was different. Usually I look to the staff of the plane for comfort when experiencing turbulence. The flight attendants are always the picture of calm and serenity, even in the worst turbulence, but not this time. I woke to the most violent turbulence I have ever experienced (I have flown long distances many many times); The women next to me fainted, a person a little further up lost their lunch and I think someone else had a nose bleed. The staff members were running up and down the isles, looking very concerned. While all this was going on I must have looked like I was going to lose it, because the women sitting next to me took my hand and said "It's going to be alright." I was somewhat calmed, however I could not help but think how unfortunate it would be that I would die in a fiery crash over the Atlantic Ocean before I got the chance to actually make Aliyah.
Obviously, I survived. If I didn't it would be very difficult to write this blog post.
After what seemed like an endless flight, and zero sleep, we disembarked at Ben-Gurion airport. There were about 20 some-odd Olim on the flight, and we were all brought through passport control and shipped off to the "old terminal." Anyone who has been to Ben-Gurion airport in the last few years knows it only as an impressive, clean and modern looking airport. However, this was not always the case. My fond memories of the "old terminal" are the passport lines going out the doors and down the steps in the front of the terminal. Apparently, this terminal is now where they house the offices of the Misrad HaKlita (Ministry of Absorption). The process of getting our Tuedat Oleh and setting up health insurance was pretty simple and went suprisingly smooth (thanks to Nefesh B'Nefesh I can only assume). Once we left the airport I realized the warmness and efficiency we had experienced with Nefesh B'Nefesh was over; We now had to deal with ACTUAL Israeli's. Myself and two other Olim were put in a Sherut (shared taxi) and on our way to Jerusalem. Somehow we were able to find the one cab driver in all of Israel that had no idea how to navigate Jerusalem. I mean, I would imagine a very large percentage of people coming off flights at Ben-Gurion are going to Jerusalem. Plus he knew we were going to Jerusalem, he could've asked for a different route and left us to go with someone who actually knew where they were going. So, I became the navigator and translator for the ride (he spoke no English). The positive side of this was that I got to practice my Hebrew, which I found to be very adequate when put in a situation where I absolutely had no other choice.
After some frustration, I came to a place of acceptance that this was the culture I was going to be living in and I might as well get used to it. I am making a concerted effort to make sure I don't fall into the trappings of the "honey moon" phase I wrote about in my previous post (The 5 Stages of Culture Shock). When I finally got to my destination in Jerusalem, I began to to let it all sink in. I was lucky to have made some friends when I visited last month and I made sure to keep myself surrounded with people, so I wouldn't give in to the dreaded jet lag.
I am now sitting in my temporary apartment looking at a beautiful view of the Judean Desert, and the hills of Jordan in the distance. I can't help but reflect on what a whirl wind these last few months have been, and now I am finally here. I am an Israeli, I even have the paper work to prove it. Tomorrow I receive my Teudat Zehut (or tootie zootie as my friend likes to call it). Teudat Zehut is an identification card given by the Misrad HaPnim (not to be confused with the "Misrad HaPAnim, which is the ministry of faces). This ID is carried by all Israeli's all the time.....and tomorrow I will get mine.
This was the scene I woke up to about three hours into my Aliyah flight. In years past I had a pretty bad fear of flying, but over the years I moved past it, or so I thought. This flight, however, was different. Usually I look to the staff of the plane for comfort when experiencing turbulence. The flight attendants are always the picture of calm and serenity, even in the worst turbulence, but not this time. I woke to the most violent turbulence I have ever experienced (I have flown long distances many many times); The women next to me fainted, a person a little further up lost their lunch and I think someone else had a nose bleed. The staff members were running up and down the isles, looking very concerned. While all this was going on I must have looked like I was going to lose it, because the women sitting next to me took my hand and said "It's going to be alright." I was somewhat calmed, however I could not help but think how unfortunate it would be that I would die in a fiery crash over the Atlantic Ocean before I got the chance to actually make Aliyah.
Obviously, I survived. If I didn't it would be very difficult to write this blog post.
After what seemed like an endless flight, and zero sleep, we disembarked at Ben-Gurion airport. There were about 20 some-odd Olim on the flight, and we were all brought through passport control and shipped off to the "old terminal." Anyone who has been to Ben-Gurion airport in the last few years knows it only as an impressive, clean and modern looking airport. However, this was not always the case. My fond memories of the "old terminal" are the passport lines going out the doors and down the steps in the front of the terminal. Apparently, this terminal is now where they house the offices of the Misrad HaKlita (Ministry of Absorption). The process of getting our Tuedat Oleh and setting up health insurance was pretty simple and went suprisingly smooth (thanks to Nefesh B'Nefesh I can only assume). Once we left the airport I realized the warmness and efficiency we had experienced with Nefesh B'Nefesh was over; We now had to deal with ACTUAL Israeli's. Myself and two other Olim were put in a Sherut (shared taxi) and on our way to Jerusalem. Somehow we were able to find the one cab driver in all of Israel that had no idea how to navigate Jerusalem. I mean, I would imagine a very large percentage of people coming off flights at Ben-Gurion are going to Jerusalem. Plus he knew we were going to Jerusalem, he could've asked for a different route and left us to go with someone who actually knew where they were going. So, I became the navigator and translator for the ride (he spoke no English). The positive side of this was that I got to practice my Hebrew, which I found to be very adequate when put in a situation where I absolutely had no other choice.
After some frustration, I came to a place of acceptance that this was the culture I was going to be living in and I might as well get used to it. I am making a concerted effort to make sure I don't fall into the trappings of the "honey moon" phase I wrote about in my previous post (The 5 Stages of Culture Shock). When I finally got to my destination in Jerusalem, I began to to let it all sink in. I was lucky to have made some friends when I visited last month and I made sure to keep myself surrounded with people, so I wouldn't give in to the dreaded jet lag.
I am now sitting in my temporary apartment looking at a beautiful view of the Judean Desert, and the hills of Jordan in the distance. I can't help but reflect on what a whirl wind these last few months have been, and now I am finally here. I am an Israeli, I even have the paper work to prove it. Tomorrow I receive my Teudat Zehut (or tootie zootie as my friend likes to call it). Teudat Zehut is an identification card given by the Misrad HaPnim (not to be confused with the "Misrad HaPAnim, which is the ministry of faces). This ID is carried by all Israeli's all the time.....and tomorrow I will get mine.
Monday, June 20, 2011
5 Stages of Culture Shock
I have read in some articles about online marketing that putting numbers in a title (the actual number, not spelling it out) is more likely to be read. So lets see if this experiment works.
After re-reading my previous post I see how someone may think I am seeing the world through rose colored glasses. Is that possible? most definitely. However, this is not my first rodeo. I have spent A LOT of time in Israel. I lived in Tsfat from 2001-2002, at the height of almost weekly suicide bombings. I worked for the mayor of Jerusalem in the summer of 2006, during the Lebanon war. I have spent innumerable holidays and vacations in Israel, and most recently I spent a month in Israel while considering my possible Aliyah. But, this does not make me immune to the culture shock that I am sure awaits me. I hope that the knowledge of the process will be able to help me better navigate through it.
Much like the stages of grieving that was championed by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, the stages of Culture Shock highlight the process in which a person adapts (or fails to adapt) to a new culture. I have seen these stages written in various forms, however what is listed below makes the most sense to me.
Regardless of the fact that I have spent a significant amount of time in Israel previously, I am certain that I will go through these phases in some fashion. I believe writing about it here will be a good way for me to cope, as well as help other people who may deal with the same thing in the future.
First Stage: The Honeymoon Stage
Some might refer to this phenomenon as the "Pink Cloud." In this phase of adaptation to a new culture a person basks in the glow of their new surroundings. All the eccentricities their new home are fun and new. However, this slowly fades and reality hits.
Second Stage: Distress (also referred to as "negotiation" which I assume is a reference to Kubler-Ross, though I don't really see how it applies here)
In this phase all those idiosyncrasies that you found exciting and new become the very things that frustrate you. Barriers with language, social norms and other differences in culture all become sources of distress. Lack of familial support may cause someone to isolate further from society.
Third Stage: Re-Integration
In this stage a person starts looking at their new culture as inferior compared to the one they left behind. You become hostile and prejudice to the culture and people around you. During this stage one might idealize the culture they left behind, pining to return. This might sound discouraging, however like the stages of grief, these are all healthy steps towards acceptance.
Fourth Stage: Autonomy (also called emergence)
This is the first stage of acceptance. After going through the process of resenting your new surroundings and culture, you begin to accept the peculiarities of your new culture and start to appreciate it. You feel confident that you can handle situations that may arise and come out of your isolation.
Fifth Stage: Independence (or mastery)
You finally begin to embrace your new culture. Unlike the honeymoon phase, you are now realistic of the positive and negative aspects of your new culture, and feel better equipped to handle them. Isolation and depression (hopefully) have disappeared, and you integrate into your new surroundings.
These stages may happen over varying lengths of time. I know that I will probably go through these stages, even though I've experienced Israeli culture and know what to expect.
For those of you that are not fully familiar with Israelis and Israeli culture, it is certainly different than that of Anglo culture.
You have to realize, all Israelis grew up and live in a reality where their very existence is at risk. This creates a unique dynamic. While almost all Israelis I have come into contact are generally very sweet and kind people, the societal norms may come across as extremely rude. For example, waiting in line is not something Israelis are familiar with. You may be taken aback when waiting for a bus when everyone pushes his or her way to the front. I am somewhat used to this now, but it is definitely a little jarring at first. All Israelis are conscripted into the military (or do civil service). Seeing people in plain clothes with a machine gun slung around their back is a fairly normal occurrence. If you have never seen it before, I am sure it could be a little scary.
The existential threat to the State of Israel is a reality. However, I know from experience that no matter how crazy things might seem on CNN while you are in America, when you are in Israel it is business as usual. When I was in Jerusalem in the summer of 2006 there was a war going on in the north of the country. Israel is smaller than New Jersey, so when I say "The North" it is not some far away place. The streets of Jerusalem were the same way they are on any regular day. That is the resilience of the Israeli people and their culture. Last night I stayed awake reading about the political situation (something I do a bit too often), and I thought to myself "what the hell am I getting myself into??" but I know from past experience that life will go on as smooth as always.
Mark Twain once said "If I had more time I would have made this shorter," but alas I have to finish packing. I need to be at the airport in 3 hours. Writing this blog entry has been a good way for me to emotionally detach from the fact that I am moving out of the country. This will be my 5th relocation in as many years (Boston, New York, South Florida, Denver... Israel). However, I do not think this move will be short lived, I have made a firm decision and Israel is where I am laying roots. The first line of the Grateful Dead song "Uncle Johns Band" goes "The first days are the hardest days...Don't you worry anymore" Something that everyone that is making the move to Israel (or anywhere else for that matter) should keep in mind.
After re-reading my previous post I see how someone may think I am seeing the world through rose colored glasses. Is that possible? most definitely. However, this is not my first rodeo. I have spent A LOT of time in Israel. I lived in Tsfat from 2001-2002, at the height of almost weekly suicide bombings. I worked for the mayor of Jerusalem in the summer of 2006, during the Lebanon war. I have spent innumerable holidays and vacations in Israel, and most recently I spent a month in Israel while considering my possible Aliyah. But, this does not make me immune to the culture shock that I am sure awaits me. I hope that the knowledge of the process will be able to help me better navigate through it.
Much like the stages of grieving that was championed by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, the stages of Culture Shock highlight the process in which a person adapts (or fails to adapt) to a new culture. I have seen these stages written in various forms, however what is listed below makes the most sense to me.
Regardless of the fact that I have spent a significant amount of time in Israel previously, I am certain that I will go through these phases in some fashion. I believe writing about it here will be a good way for me to cope, as well as help other people who may deal with the same thing in the future.
First Stage: The Honeymoon Stage
Some might refer to this phenomenon as the "Pink Cloud." In this phase of adaptation to a new culture a person basks in the glow of their new surroundings. All the eccentricities their new home are fun and new. However, this slowly fades and reality hits.
Second Stage: Distress (also referred to as "negotiation" which I assume is a reference to Kubler-Ross, though I don't really see how it applies here)
In this phase all those idiosyncrasies that you found exciting and new become the very things that frustrate you. Barriers with language, social norms and other differences in culture all become sources of distress. Lack of familial support may cause someone to isolate further from society.
Third Stage: Re-Integration
In this stage a person starts looking at their new culture as inferior compared to the one they left behind. You become hostile and prejudice to the culture and people around you. During this stage one might idealize the culture they left behind, pining to return. This might sound discouraging, however like the stages of grief, these are all healthy steps towards acceptance.
Fourth Stage: Autonomy (also called emergence)
This is the first stage of acceptance. After going through the process of resenting your new surroundings and culture, you begin to accept the peculiarities of your new culture and start to appreciate it. You feel confident that you can handle situations that may arise and come out of your isolation.
Fifth Stage: Independence (or mastery)
You finally begin to embrace your new culture. Unlike the honeymoon phase, you are now realistic of the positive and negative aspects of your new culture, and feel better equipped to handle them. Isolation and depression (hopefully) have disappeared, and you integrate into your new surroundings.
These stages may happen over varying lengths of time. I know that I will probably go through these stages, even though I've experienced Israeli culture and know what to expect.
For those of you that are not fully familiar with Israelis and Israeli culture, it is certainly different than that of Anglo culture.
You have to realize, all Israelis grew up and live in a reality where their very existence is at risk. This creates a unique dynamic. While almost all Israelis I have come into contact are generally very sweet and kind people, the societal norms may come across as extremely rude. For example, waiting in line is not something Israelis are familiar with. You may be taken aback when waiting for a bus when everyone pushes his or her way to the front. I am somewhat used to this now, but it is definitely a little jarring at first. All Israelis are conscripted into the military (or do civil service). Seeing people in plain clothes with a machine gun slung around their back is a fairly normal occurrence. If you have never seen it before, I am sure it could be a little scary.
The existential threat to the State of Israel is a reality. However, I know from experience that no matter how crazy things might seem on CNN while you are in America, when you are in Israel it is business as usual. When I was in Jerusalem in the summer of 2006 there was a war going on in the north of the country. Israel is smaller than New Jersey, so when I say "The North" it is not some far away place. The streets of Jerusalem were the same way they are on any regular day. That is the resilience of the Israeli people and their culture. Last night I stayed awake reading about the political situation (something I do a bit too often), and I thought to myself "what the hell am I getting myself into??" but I know from past experience that life will go on as smooth as always.
Mark Twain once said "If I had more time I would have made this shorter," but alas I have to finish packing. I need to be at the airport in 3 hours. Writing this blog entry has been a good way for me to emotionally detach from the fact that I am moving out of the country. This will be my 5th relocation in as many years (Boston, New York, South Florida, Denver... Israel). However, I do not think this move will be short lived, I have made a firm decision and Israel is where I am laying roots. The first line of the Grateful Dead song "Uncle Johns Band" goes "The first days are the hardest days...Don't you worry anymore" Something that everyone that is making the move to Israel (or anywhere else for that matter) should keep in mind.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Preface
"Why would you move to Israel"? This is a question I have faced a lot recently, out right or implied. Many of my friends who do not have experience with the country of Israel only view it through the lens of the media. I know that many people think I am crazy; that I am moving to a war zone and throwing away a life of privilege in the land of opportunity. The assumption that this is the land of opportunity for someone like me however, has proven false.
(Side note: I absolutely loved the time I spent in Colorado, the friends I made and the experiences I had. However, not being able to work was an unsustainable situation for me.)
A little background: I grew up in an environment of passionate Zionism. Zionism being the belief in the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign national homeland. Where I come from, the greatest achievement one could make is to move to Israel. A move to Israel cleanses one of all sins of the past. While I find this notion to be extremely phony, this is the world I grew up in. An example of this environment comes from my days at Jewish summer camp. The camp, which will remain nameless for the sake of anonymity, was as Zionist as any institution could be. I would liken it to a Kibbutz (an Israeli form of socialist commune that was championed in the early days of the State) situated in the mountains of Pennsylvania. All announcements where made in Hebrew, all activities had Hebrew names, and the idea of Aliyah (a return of the Jewish people to our homeland) was given the greatest priority. Many a night I would wake to a hushed voice over the loudspeaker saying "Make Aliyah, Make Aliyah."
This all may come off as resentment, but that is not the case. My belief in the Zionist movement is all my own, built on the foundation of my research into it's history. Was I taught history that conveniently glossed over certain events? yes. Did I have to search out information on my own, and come to terms with certain aspects of Israeli history? yes. However, this never affected my adherence to Zionist principles. My decision to move to Israel is all my own, based on personal ideals and, given the current economic state, a rational decision.
I am 25 years old, a recent MBA graduate and... hopelessly unemployed. I completed my undergraduate studies in Psychology from Boston University in 2007. After knocking around New York City and going nowhere in life, I took a job opportunity that brought me to South Florida. While I kept this job for a year, it was a miserable dead end and I had serious cognitive dissonance about what I was doing. I found a glass ceiling for someone without a graduate degree. I decided I would wait out the current recession by going back to school, hoping that when I finished the job market would be back to it's former self. This assumption was wrong on many levels. Not only had the job market worsened in the time I was in school, but I could not even find a job that paid as much as the job I had prior to returning to school. After living in Colorado for 6 months and hitting a brick wall regarding a career I was ready to throw in the towel. However, a serendipitous trip to Israel for Passover turned into a month long test run of living in Israel. Once the decision was made, I moved very quickly. A month after returning from that trip, and a mound of paperwork later, I am sitting on my parents couch one day away from a new life in a new country. Part of my "pilot trip" was to gauge the job market. Over the last year I had read of the exponential growth of the Israeli economy. Highest per capita venture capital, 3% lower unemployment rate, higher standard of living etc... These are all numbers. I had to test the waters myself. Within a day of putting my resume online I was offered a job and an invitation for an interview, both of which I had to turn down because I hadn't actually made Aliyah. Needless to say the people contacting me were a little perturbed. But, this was all I needed. My litmus test had proven that, for someone like me, an English speaker with an advanced business degree, Israel offered more opportunity. In the states I faced a catch 22: either I was over qualified because of my MBA, or I was under qualified because I didn't have the necessary job experience. How am I supposed to get experience if no one will hire me??? My frustration grew and month after month passed with no offers, even though I spend 7 hours a day putting out resumes.
In the last month, while going through all the bureaucracy (something Israel renowned for), I found that my family connections had significant pull with all the right people. I was able to push my paperwork through after one phone call from a family friend to the Israeli Consulate in New York. Beyond political connections, I was able to network with business people in high places and set up meetings with some potential employers. None of these things were possible in Colorado. None.
I am calling this blog "A New Beginning in The "Start Up Nation" because of the excitement I feel about the opportunities that await me. Am I being naive? possibly. I am well aware that per capita income in Israel is far lower than in the US, but those numbers are misleading. Someone like me, a new comer into the work force, is hopeless in the US. People with significantly more experience are taking the jobs that someone entering the work force would have gotten in the past. These numbers are not taken into account when unemployment rates are calculated. Having just read the book "Start Up Nation" I am confident that my business interests and experience are a perfect fit for the new entrepreneurial paradigm that is taking form in Israel. One of the most exciting companies to come from the start up boom is Better Place. Better Place is an electric vehicle (EV) company, however they are much more. Better Place's model is different. They believe that the customer will not be willing to pay the additional costs that come with an electric vehicle up front. Better Place does not make cars, they make batteries and infrastructure. I did a lot of research around the re-emergence of the U.S auto industry during my MBA. One car I found to be very interesting was the Chevy Volt. However, Better Place takes the concept of EV to a new level. Charging stations, battery swap stations and GPS tracking are all part of a new model that was championed by Shai Agassi, the former executive from SAP who decided to take on the question "how do you make the world a better place?" I visited the show room in Tel Aviv while on my passover trip and drove the car. I think that Better Place may very well change the world and create a paradigm shift away from the internal combustion engine and help alleviate, if not completely bring to an end, our addiction to oil. I believe that Better Place is the perfect example of the ethos of the new "Start Up Nation." Taking risks that companies in other risk averse countries are not willing to take. It was for this reason that I shot (with great insistence from my parents) an email to CEO Shai Agassi, letting him know that I was moving to Israel and was excited about the new on goings of the business environment is Israel, in no small part to what his company was doing. I had little to no faith that this email would ever make it past the gate keepers who undoubtedly control Mr. Agassi's work email (I will not post the address here, but suffice to say it didn't take a rocket scienest to figure out.) However, this morning I received an email from someone at Better Place who had seen my email and read my resume. He included a job opportunity. I am hoping this is the one of many unforeseen strokes of luck that will occur throughout my adjustment period in Israel.
Note: This is my first attempt at a personal blog. I have blogged for marketing purposes, but never as personal as I assume this blog will become. I don't expect anyone to actually read this on any sort of regular basis, or to care much about my experiences in acclimating to Israel. However, I think the cathartic aspects of putting on paper my struggles and successes, will help with my assimilation into Israeli society. So here it goes...
(Side note: I absolutely loved the time I spent in Colorado, the friends I made and the experiences I had. However, not being able to work was an unsustainable situation for me.)
A little background: I grew up in an environment of passionate Zionism. Zionism being the belief in the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign national homeland. Where I come from, the greatest achievement one could make is to move to Israel. A move to Israel cleanses one of all sins of the past. While I find this notion to be extremely phony, this is the world I grew up in. An example of this environment comes from my days at Jewish summer camp. The camp, which will remain nameless for the sake of anonymity, was as Zionist as any institution could be. I would liken it to a Kibbutz (an Israeli form of socialist commune that was championed in the early days of the State) situated in the mountains of Pennsylvania. All announcements where made in Hebrew, all activities had Hebrew names, and the idea of Aliyah (a return of the Jewish people to our homeland) was given the greatest priority. Many a night I would wake to a hushed voice over the loudspeaker saying "Make Aliyah, Make Aliyah."
This all may come off as resentment, but that is not the case. My belief in the Zionist movement is all my own, built on the foundation of my research into it's history. Was I taught history that conveniently glossed over certain events? yes. Did I have to search out information on my own, and come to terms with certain aspects of Israeli history? yes. However, this never affected my adherence to Zionist principles. My decision to move to Israel is all my own, based on personal ideals and, given the current economic state, a rational decision.
I am 25 years old, a recent MBA graduate and... hopelessly unemployed. I completed my undergraduate studies in Psychology from Boston University in 2007. After knocking around New York City and going nowhere in life, I took a job opportunity that brought me to South Florida. While I kept this job for a year, it was a miserable dead end and I had serious cognitive dissonance about what I was doing. I found a glass ceiling for someone without a graduate degree. I decided I would wait out the current recession by going back to school, hoping that when I finished the job market would be back to it's former self. This assumption was wrong on many levels. Not only had the job market worsened in the time I was in school, but I could not even find a job that paid as much as the job I had prior to returning to school. After living in Colorado for 6 months and hitting a brick wall regarding a career I was ready to throw in the towel. However, a serendipitous trip to Israel for Passover turned into a month long test run of living in Israel. Once the decision was made, I moved very quickly. A month after returning from that trip, and a mound of paperwork later, I am sitting on my parents couch one day away from a new life in a new country. Part of my "pilot trip" was to gauge the job market. Over the last year I had read of the exponential growth of the Israeli economy. Highest per capita venture capital, 3% lower unemployment rate, higher standard of living etc... These are all numbers. I had to test the waters myself. Within a day of putting my resume online I was offered a job and an invitation for an interview, both of which I had to turn down because I hadn't actually made Aliyah. Needless to say the people contacting me were a little perturbed. But, this was all I needed. My litmus test had proven that, for someone like me, an English speaker with an advanced business degree, Israel offered more opportunity. In the states I faced a catch 22: either I was over qualified because of my MBA, or I was under qualified because I didn't have the necessary job experience. How am I supposed to get experience if no one will hire me??? My frustration grew and month after month passed with no offers, even though I spend 7 hours a day putting out resumes.
In the last month, while going through all the bureaucracy (something Israel renowned for), I found that my family connections had significant pull with all the right people. I was able to push my paperwork through after one phone call from a family friend to the Israeli Consulate in New York. Beyond political connections, I was able to network with business people in high places and set up meetings with some potential employers. None of these things were possible in Colorado. None.
I am calling this blog "A New Beginning in The "Start Up Nation" because of the excitement I feel about the opportunities that await me. Am I being naive? possibly. I am well aware that per capita income in Israel is far lower than in the US, but those numbers are misleading. Someone like me, a new comer into the work force, is hopeless in the US. People with significantly more experience are taking the jobs that someone entering the work force would have gotten in the past. These numbers are not taken into account when unemployment rates are calculated. Having just read the book "Start Up Nation" I am confident that my business interests and experience are a perfect fit for the new entrepreneurial paradigm that is taking form in Israel. One of the most exciting companies to come from the start up boom is Better Place. Better Place is an electric vehicle (EV) company, however they are much more. Better Place's model is different. They believe that the customer will not be willing to pay the additional costs that come with an electric vehicle up front. Better Place does not make cars, they make batteries and infrastructure. I did a lot of research around the re-emergence of the U.S auto industry during my MBA. One car I found to be very interesting was the Chevy Volt. However, Better Place takes the concept of EV to a new level. Charging stations, battery swap stations and GPS tracking are all part of a new model that was championed by Shai Agassi, the former executive from SAP who decided to take on the question "how do you make the world a better place?" I visited the show room in Tel Aviv while on my passover trip and drove the car. I think that Better Place may very well change the world and create a paradigm shift away from the internal combustion engine and help alleviate, if not completely bring to an end, our addiction to oil. I believe that Better Place is the perfect example of the ethos of the new "Start Up Nation." Taking risks that companies in other risk averse countries are not willing to take. It was for this reason that I shot (with great insistence from my parents) an email to CEO Shai Agassi, letting him know that I was moving to Israel and was excited about the new on goings of the business environment is Israel, in no small part to what his company was doing. I had little to no faith that this email would ever make it past the gate keepers who undoubtedly control Mr. Agassi's work email (I will not post the address here, but suffice to say it didn't take a rocket scienest to figure out.) However, this morning I received an email from someone at Better Place who had seen my email and read my resume. He included a job opportunity. I am hoping this is the one of many unforeseen strokes of luck that will occur throughout my adjustment period in Israel.
Note: This is my first attempt at a personal blog. I have blogged for marketing purposes, but never as personal as I assume this blog will become. I don't expect anyone to actually read this on any sort of regular basis, or to care much about my experiences in acclimating to Israel. However, I think the cathartic aspects of putting on paper my struggles and successes, will help with my assimilation into Israeli society. So here it goes...
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