Israel@60: Hi-Tech Israel

I just came back from a trip to Israel. This visit was a planning trip for our community’s Mission to Israel, which will be held this coming November, in honor of Israel’s 60th anniversary. The theme for this Mission is the New Israel. And, new it is.

I was extremely impressed with Israel’s hi-tech corridor and the hundreds of companies there specializing in micro-computerization, SEO, as well as new concepts in agriculture and in bio-medical research. Did you know that Israel is the home of ICQ Technologies, one of the founders of Instant Messaging? Did you know that Israel is where miniaturized cameras for medical imaging were created? How about SanDisk, which pioneered flash memory data storage products? We also visited The Technion in Haifa which offers a Technological Incubator Institute which provides entrepreneurs with research facilities and funding where the germ of an idea can be explored and brought into existence. Some of the R+D currently being incubated include agricultural cloning (no pun intended) and laser optics.

Last week I also met with one of my daughter’s best friends, Libby (who I know since she was 8 yrs old and is now 26) who is currently working for an on-line casino web hosting company just outside of Tel Aviv, specializing in SEO (search engine optimization). As a long-time direct marketer, who occasionally guest lectures at the local college, this meeting really crystallized the global-ness of our marketing world in a different light for me. In my own work-world, I spend a lot of time optimizing the pages of the Dataman Group website, writing for the google spiders the way I have been taught in so many of the FDMA lectures I have attended. It truly heartened me to see that my young colleagues are doing the exact same thing in their work on websites in Israel, observing the same Golden Rules that we are taught right here on South Florida’s own High-Tech corridor.

For my colleague in the DM Industry, if you have any questions about the direct mail & telemarketing lists we offer, please visit the Dataman Group website at www.datamangroup.com. For my friends in South Palm Beach County, who have any questions about the Business & Technology Track we will be offering on Mission 60, go to our Mission Website. Or, call our office at (800) 771-3282 and just Ask DataDale.

Jewish Federation Promotes “60 @ 60” Community-Wide Events to Celebrate Israel

As the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel approaches, South Palm Beach County is busy preparing to show its solidarity and celebrate. Many diverse activities at locations throughout the community are planned for the year ahead in observance of this milestone. To ensure that no one misses out, The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Jewish Education Commission and Jewish Community Relations Council are building and publicizing a list of 60 local events to celebrate Israel @ 60.

“We are pleased to provide this service to promote and facilitate our community’s overwhelming support of the State of Israel at its 60th anniversary,” explained Bill Bernstein, the Federation’s President and CEO. “This year will include numerous opportunities to celebrate and show this support to the public. This milestone also enables us to leverage our community’s resources to build awareness of Israel and engage both active supporters and newcomers in many ways throughout our area,” Bernstein continued.

With unlimited creativity and enthusiasm, the events will include celebrations and concerts, seminars and classes, trips such as the Federation’s November 2008 “Israel @ 60” Mission, the annual “Israel Under the Stars” at Mizner Park on Israel Independence Day, and much more.

Synagogues and community organizations are urged to submit details of their events immediately for full publicity. All listed events must take place from December 2007 through November 2008 and be open to the public, though organizations may charge a fee.

The Federation will publicize the “60 @ 60” activities through venues including advertisements utilizing corporate sponsorships. Sponsors will be featured in these and other promotional materials. For more information about listing an event or becoming a corporate sponsor, contact Israel@jewishboca.org or 561/852-6000.

Federation Expands “Israel @ 60” Community Mission

Co-sponsor Welcomes Public to Learn More at “Parlor” Meeting on January 29

Ten months and counting, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s “Israel @ 60” Mission already has such high participation, it is expanding in size and scope.

“We are thrilled with the overwhelming early response to our Community Mission, which will take place from November 15-23, 2008,” said Co-chair Dale Filhaber. “Everyone is excited to celebrate Israel’s milestone 60th anniversary. This Mission is a major statement of our community’s solidarity with Israel, and people from all over the community, including local Orthodox, Reform and Conservative rabbis have already signed up.”

“This Mission was designed to truly engage the entire community with different tracks that offer something for everyone,” added Co-chair April Leavy. “This opportunity to see Israel in a more personal way has sold out our initial room reservations. Fortunately, we have successfully added another block of rooms, and are also expanding the itinerary to include more sites as well as activities. Our community’s response has been amazing.”

The Mission will now be based in three areas of Israel, beginning at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv, then moving to a kibbutz in the north of the country, and on to the Inbal in Jerusalem. The Federation also responded to many requests by adding a three-day extension tour to Eilat and Petra.

Five Mission itineraries are tailored to different interests: First timers; Business and Technology; Arts and Culture; Adventure Seekers; and a special General Assembly track for those interested in attending the business meetings of the UJCGA. Participants will be able to pursue their own interests while also sharing many activities as a group with their traveling companions.

While “parlor” meetings are generating interest through individual communities in the area, on January 29, Mission co-sponsor Kluger Peretz Kaplan & Berlin (KPKB) will be hosting a community-wide gathering beginning at 5:30 pm. The public is invited to learn about the “Israel @ 60” Mission at KPKB’s Boca Raton offices in Peninsula Executive Center. The Mission is also sponsored by Goldstein Lewin & Co. Certified Public Accountants and Consultants.

To RSVP for the parlor meeting at KPKB, contact Dayle Sternstein at 561-852-3112 or dayles@bocafed.org.

Reservations for Federation’s “Israel @ 60” Mission are made on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, or to confirm your place, visit www.jewishboca.org/israel60 or call the “Israel @ 60” Hotline at (561) 852-3112.

Israel @ 60 Mission Video

For our first post on our new blog, we bring you our Israel@60 Mission Video: