Conclusion
After 3 months in Israel, I’m back in Boston. The biggest take-away from my time there? Because of TAMD, my outlook on business and a career is inseparable from my outlook on Israel and the Jewish people.
Thank you TAMID for giving me a superlative opportunity. TAMID gave me the opportunity to reconnect with my Jewish heritage, to hike the terrain of my homeland, to build relationships with Israel’s diverse spectrum of Jews. TAMID gave me the opportunity to build professional skills, to mingle with Israel’s innovators and thought-leaders, to learn about the construction and cleantech industries. But the word opportunity just means a good chance. A situation with high potential for success. We succeeded, but it took work–the work of incredible people who turned the TAMID opportunity into a success story. Thank you to:
- the other TAMID fellows: Ally Berman, Idan Goldbroom, Jon Hornstein and Kevin Zussman. We were the pioneers in a program that will grow and impact generations to come, and that’s something that will stay with us forever. Plus, our friendship made the time so much more fun.
- our founders, Sasha Gribov and Eitan Ingall. Your wild-eyed vision and poised leadership are the foundation of everything we did in Israel–you guys are role models.
- those who coordinated the fellowship experience–Executive Director Brett Siegal and fellowship co-VPs Allie Cooper and Hal Kominsky. You woke up early, went to bed late, and in-between delivered amazing results to get the program off the ground.
- my boss at REAL Housing, Hy Brown. You really took me under your wing, taught me important lessons about life and business, and respected me enough to give me real responsibility.
- the amazing leaders who befriended us–Jon Medved (Vringo), Lisa Barkan (The Jerusalem Challenge), Elie Wurtman (Benchmark Israel), Hod Fleishman (GreenRoad), Aharon Horwitz (PresenTense) Ari Gorlin (Kramer Electronics), Avi Ifergan (Bank Leumi), Yaron Samid (CrowdSpot), Ilan Wagner (The Jewish Agency), and Yosi Taguri (Fiddme). Your wisdom and guidance enriched our experience manifold, and we hope to stay in touch.
Well, the 2010 fellowship program is over and I guess so is this blog. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it and that it’s given you a little slice of how much I enjoyed my time working with TAMID these past few months. The sun has set on the 2010 fellowship program, but the night is young. We’re gearing up for an awesome fall semester of seminars, investing and consulting on campus and we’re starting preparations for an improved program next summer. And what’s left of this past summer’s fellowship program is more than just memories or facebook albums–we’re left with an intimate connection to the land of Israel and a burning obligation to give others that same feeling. L’hitraot.
