For the past two years, a handful of local Jewish business owners and professionals have been building a networking affinity group with business owners in Rehovot, Israel, powered by the Minneapolis Jewish Federation’s Partnership2Gether program. After our initial trip in February 2024 was postponed due to the outbreak of the war, we were able to complete this journey a year later in February 2025. Many people travel to Israel with the goals of floating in the Dead Sea or praying at the Kotel, but this trip was focused on understanding business through the minds of Israelis with a desire to learn how they have navigated challenges in their personal and professional lives since the war began.
Netanel, the Chief Development Officer of Israex, presented in his full military uniform to a group of Twin Cities business owners in Israel earlier this month. (courtesy)
Our opening session was at Hakaveret (“the Hive”), an incubator focused on helping small businesses formalize their processes and take the next step in growth. Netanel, the Chief Development Officer of Israex, presented to us in his full military uniform. For most of us, it was the first time seeing a PowerPoint presentation from a business owner with a firearm slung over their shoulder, but this is Israel! Since Oct. 7, 2023, this father of 5 has served continuously in Miluim(reserve duty), in a unit focused on rescuing the hostages. He took a detour from his day to share how his company helps people with fascinating life stories formulate their experiences into a presentation that they can monetize. His lesson to us was that, ‘while people might forget what your business is, they will always remember the story you tell.’
In one of our roundtable discussions with local business owners, we started to talk about what differentiates us from our competitors. As one of the participants began to answer, it became emotionally overwhelming for her and she explained that just hours before, her husband was called back into Miluim, which meant that she would be alone again with her two young children for an unknown period of time. While many families in Israel have experienced this stress since October 7th, it was a reminder for all of us that although we may look ‘ok’ on the outside, we never know what someone is struggling with until we open our ears and listen.
At the Peres Academic Center, we heard from Maor, a fitness studio owner who was suddenly drawn into battle on October 7th. On that morning, he kissed his wife and 2-week-old child goodbye, driving south to a destination unknown. As he saw rockets flying overhead, he told us how he chanted “Shema Yisrael” repeatedly, praying for his safety. For over 4 months he served in Gaza without access to a cell phone, while his wife was at home with their new baby. He has since served on several more tours in Gaza and in his words, ‘we will do whatever it takes to fight for the safety of our country.’ He has relied on tools like SparkIL, a microloan program that connects individual lenders with businesses to provide interest-free loans, to keep the doors to his gym open while he serves in combat. Maor embodied the spirit of so many others of this generation who stepped up in the past 15 months and served selflessly, taking away time from both their families and their businesses.
Unlike most international visits where people experience the local hotel scene, as part of Minneapolis Federation’s P2G partnership with the city of Rehovot, we had the opportunity to be hosted by Israeli families in their homes. Just like it was a unique experience for us to live as Israeli for the week, it’s rare for them to have extended time with an American to ask questions about how we live, politics in America, and of course, asking if we are concerned about antisemitism in Minnesota. Through this partnership, several of our hosts have visited Minneapolis previously, which led to them sending their child as a camper to Camp Herzl. They had so much fun that their sibling is coming as a counselor for the 2025 summer session!
We traveled south to visit Holit, a kibbutz of approximately 200 people that experienced horrific devastation on Oct. 7, 2023, when 15 members were murdered and 6 were kidnapped and taken hostage into Gaza. They have since been evacuated from their homes and are living in temporary shelters on Kibbutz Revivim until they decide it’s time to come home. In October 2024, the Minneapolis Jewish Federation established a partnership with Holit to allocate $250,000 in funding, annually over the next 3 years and will continue to seek ways to stand with this community, including the tree planting ceremony that took place by a group of Minnesotans on Tu BiShvat, a few days after our visit.
Most of us experienced Hamas releasing Eli Sharabi, Or Levi & Ohad Ben Ami from captivity, alongside our host families in their living rooms. While we have seen the videos of prior releases on the news, to witness the first sightings of these three was profoundly intense as the collective response of our hosts was that these were scenes from the Holocaust. Israelis are forced to hold so many emotions at once, trying to allow life to return back to normal while also acknowledging the pain and absence of the remaining hostages. Pictures of the hostages and the soldiers that have fallen in battle are everywhere you look. It’s impossible to escape and true healing won’t begin until they all come home.
There are so many incredible opportunities right now to experience Israel and to show your support. If you have been thinking about a trip, stop thinking and just book the flight.
Participants on this delegation included; Josh Awend, Leslie Strohm, Kara Frank, Michael Furman, Steve Schoenberger, Bryan Goltzman, Randy Eyelman, the author of the piece, Aaron Goldstein along with MJF’s professional staff Steven Baker, chief philanthropy officer and Eilat Harel, chief impact officer.
