On paper, Israel should cease to exist as a country.
Despite being flanked by unfriendly neighbors and stuck in a small yet heavily contested dessert land with nearly no natural resources, Israel thrives.
I visited Israel two summers ago and witnessed the effect of the Israeli situation; I was yelled at for not ordering my falafel quickly enough, rudely interrupted while in conversation and ignored when others spoke in Hebrew on purpose. At the time, I was offended. To be frank, I still am a little offended at certain shawarma stands. When I returned home, however, I read the book Start-Up Nation at the recommendation of my Rabbi and everything was suddenly put into perspective.
Israelis aren’t rude, Israelis are direct. Israelis aren’t disrespectful, Israelis just feel the need to challenge authority. When one’s life is constantly under threat, there is no time for American politeness and pleasantries that simply take up time. Get to the point, order some shawarma or get out.
When I discovered that there was a class that studied the business, entrepreneurship and innovation of this resilient country called Israel, I was enthralled. The opportunity to meld together two of my greatest interests, entrepreneurship and Israel, was the best way to truly design a college education that I would be interested in. The ability to discover firsthand what I had read in Start-Up Nation, but was too young to understand when I initially visited Israel, seems really like the chance to redeem myself and give back to Israel.
While Start-Up Nation was certainly an inspiring read, in reality this book resembles nothing more than a jumping off point for my studies. I thirst to discuss the content of this book, research further into venture capital and discover other Israeli startups with students around me, something the book did not cover. Even the first day of class, a classic lesson on venture capital, was more exhilarating than most of my other classes combined. I had no idea about the intricacies of venture capital, let alone its relationship with Israel.
Ultimately, I am looking forward to returning to Israel and speaking with true professionals that exemplify what I have only read in class. The exciting itinerary will certainly keep our group busy and challenged throughout our entire trip. Examining Israel through a business lens has revealed an entirely new dimension that my Sunday School teachers never taught me. Additionally, I consider myself to have that same burning entrepreneurial spirit exemplified by the Israelis and hope to expand my own horizons by examining their culture and the Israeli entrepreneur.
Ross
Olin Business School, Class of 2017
Hometown: Chicago
The Business, Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Israel course at Olin Business School provides WUSTL undergraduates an opportunity to understand the interconnectedness between culture, politics and business, and how all three produce a unique and successful business environment in Israel. Students travel to Israel during spring break to learn first-hand about the Israeli business culture. Students in this course are asked to reflect about their in-class takeaways, as well as throughout their immersion trip to Israel.
