Written by Jesse Nagelberg
A few weeks before we arrived in Israel, each Nachshon fellow received a copy of the book Start Up Nation by Dan Senor and Saul Singer in the mail. We each read the books on our own and during our first Shabbat together, came together to have the first session of the Nachshon Project Book Club. The bulk of our conversation centered around the idea that a culture of young adults embarking on monumental and groundbreaking business and research ventures only a short time after finishing their time in the army, and only sometimes with formal college education, could only happen in Israel. From the founders of Israel inventing and innovating to survive the dessert they inhabited to Israeli soldiers challenging the plan of a superior commander, we all agreed that the "go for it and never stop trying" attitude is uniquely Israeli.
As our bus pulled out of Kibbutz Shefayim and headed towards Jerusalem and Hebrew University, I knew that I needed to adopt that same attitude. It is up to me to make sure that I take advantage of every second of my time here in Israel and on the Nachshon Project, and the best way to do that is to try as many new things as possible. From carrying pots, pans, groceries, and a toaster oven halfway across Jerusalem on my first night in the city and getting lost after getting off at the wrong stop on the light rail on my second night to cooking Shabbat dinner with minimal ingredients for 10 people and walking from Kfar Studentim to the Kotel and back on Shabbat afternoon, I can honestly say I have adopted that mind set.
When an Israeli has an idea for a business or innovation, they go for it. They find the necessary resources and then attack their situation, trying time and time again if they fail. Well I have people (our group of 21 Nachshon fellows that has become fast friends), I definitely have the place (Ir HaKodesh), and I have that start-up nation attitude; I can't wait to see how the rest of my semester will unfold!
