Weeks 5 and 6

I know I keep saying that I will never skip a week on you ever again, and then I just keep missing weeks. This week at least I have a good excuse – I came down with a terrible stomach bug and was confined to my bed in Jerusalem for 4 days last week and into the weekend. But no worries, I’m all better and back to action. Let’s catch everyone up on what’s been going on for the past two weeks.

Here at Mobileye ®, things have been hectic as I begin to wrap up my Effectiveness Report. Over the past two weeks, I have made extensive edits to the report, and I have written a general summary, executive summary, and a conclusion to include in the report. I also made a cover page using the Mobileye artwork (and of course my name in big bold letters ). Today, I finished up another edit of the report, and I have been working with Marcom director Ilan Yavor in making sure that the report flows logically and includes all the necessary information. As my internship comes to a close next Thursday, so must the report, and I am excited to have completed this extensive project. There is nothing like finishing something you started, and that’s exactly what I plan to do over the next week.

On the TAMID front, we have had an unbelievably eventful past two weeks. One of the most meaningful experieces of my entire stay here in Israel came last Tuesday evening, at the Tech-Aviv founders meeting. With our stomachs rumbling from a full day of fasting in commemoration of the Tisha’bav holiday, we traveled in the sun to Hertzilia to present in front of an exclusive group of founders and CEOs of various start-ups throughout Israel. Our own Nathan Gilson gave a passionate pitch to the start-ups, giving the companies compelling reasons to get on board with the Tamid program. He closed his speech with a striking pun, saying, “You don’t want to be thinking in five years, man I should have used those Tamid kids”. After the official meeting ended, our work began as we split up and spoke to every CEO who was willing to talk to us, telling them all the ways they could get involved with Tamid. I have never seen more people so excited about our idea and the enthusiasm was inspiring. Over the past week, the three of us have been working our emails and telephones, building the internship and consulting connection we’ll need to take Tamid to the next level.

After the conference, our all-inspiring entrepenurial advisor, Hod Fleishman (who I remind you all, engineered the whole Tech-Aviv experience for us – we thank him greatly for this) took us out for an amazing shwarma to cap a great evening (and what felt like one of the longest fasts of my life). Although the fast was trying at times, the experience of the day created for a balance that totally explains what I adore about the Israeli way. People are passionate here – they are both passionate about their personal and professional goals, and they are passionate about a lifestyle. It was so meaningful to me to be a part of the commemoration of the destruction of the second temple by attending the kotel and fasting, at the same time as striving to further a good cause, to create a deeper connection between the American Jew and his homeland, to strengthen Tamid. Being both a man of great religious values and great worldly aspirations is not easy. But that is what Israel is all about. The struggle.

The Tamid crew also enjoyed a wonderful dinner with Ilan Wagner of the Jewish Agency. Ilan enlightened us all about the history of the Jewish Agency, and brainstormed ideas for Tamid to get involved. We thank Ilan for his time and would like to wish him a happy belated birthday - we got to share some birthday cake with him at the close of the dinner.

Other highlights of the past two weeks included a phenomenal weekend trip to Haifa, complete with the Bahai Gardens, great views of the port, and of course – the beach. I also had the opportunity to see the movie inception with a couple of friends, which to quote just about every person’s facebook status, “blew my mind”. Finally, last night, as my friend Ephraim and I were returning home, we stumbled upon a friend of Ephraim’s who tends bar at a club in Jerusalem. The bartender told us we had to go up to the bar, as an NBA player was sitting inside. We looked at each other in disbelief, but when we walked up the spiral stair case, through the dance floor, and into the bar area, we found newly signed New York Knick Amare Stoudemire. Stoudemire is apparently connecting with his Jewish roots here (or maybe just connecting with his new fan base of NY Jews in Israel), and it was awesome seeing him in person here in the holy city.

This weekend a big group of friends and I are embarking on the Yam l’yam hike beginning at the Mediterranean Sea and ending at the Sea of Galilee. It should be an absolute blast, I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

 Back to work Monday. Until next time….

 

 

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