By Ben Hersch
Twenty-four hours after landing in Israel, 22 Nachshon Fellows set out to understand how Israel, the country where we would be spending the next five months of our lives, evolved from a desert to an oasis. It is easy to see the the results of Israel’s arduous journey from desert to global tech hotspot simply by looking out the window at Tel Aviv’s skyscrapers, covered by names like Google, Minimed, and Intel. However, after spending the morning at PayPal, a company which places 50% of its R&D department in innovative Israeli hands, and Israeli GPS start-up Waze, it was clear that Israel’s propensity to innovate is a reflection of the country’s people and humble beginnings; furthermore, is indicative of the steps the country must continue to take.
Sitting shoulder to shoulder in a small office, 30 plus stories above Tel Aviv’s corporate center, we learned about PayPal’s role in Israel, and how they aspire to be the future of online banking. I was struck by the company’s parallel to Israel as a business with lofty goals, forced to adapt to find its niche in payment security. PayPal quickly evolved into a cyber security power, only out of necessity to protect is large customer base from hackers. Similarly to PayPal, and just one block away, we heard from Waze, a social GPS, utilized on a global scale. Like PayPal, Waze’s long term goals drastically changed when met with new challenges; growing from a police trap scanner, to map makers, real time traffic trackers, to a social driving experience with municipal partnerships worldwide.
While PayPal’s long-term vision drives it towards the forefront of online banking, Waze continuously strives to expand its global social network. If innovation truly stems from necessity, I can only think of the ways Israel is constantly forced to innovate to achieve its long-term goal of remaining a democratic, Jewish State. Israel has built cities from the ground up and made the desert bloom through drip irrigation, but existential challenges remain at hand. I look forward to experiencing Israel’s innovative culture as I live in a country which seeks to solve neighborly conflicts, refugee issues, and how to plow an inch of snow.
