王楷傑 Arthur Wang
Arthur Wang_The 12 unforgettable days in the State of David Star
At 1:30 PM on July 14th, on the dark tarmac of Ben Gurion Airport, with the roar of dual engines, the moment Cathay Pacific flight CX676's nose lifted off, the twelve-day Israeli journey of the walking tour group came to a close. Looking back from the beginning, it's hard to know where to start. These twelve days were filled with laughter, excitement, energy, and impact, undoubtedly becoming one of the most unforgettable memories of my life. Surrounded by the distant Middle Eastern desert, Israel is one of the world's most complex and intriguing countries. Just as Mrs. Irit said during the opening, "We are the oldest civilization and the most innovative nation." Thousands of years ago, the footsteps of Israel's ancestors spread across the valleys of Mesopotamia, long before the birth of Jesus. Through numerous cycles of destruction and rebirth, the Hebrew nation survived the trampling of the Assyrians and the New Babylonians, rekindled hope during the time of Cyrus the Great's Persia, witnessed the rise and fall of the
Roman Empire, endured the horrors of World War II, and in 1948, took over ancient Canaan between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea from the hands of the British. They bravely pressed forward through the hardships of founding a nation and the subsequent turmoil, becoming the Jewish homeland that exudes the spirit of CHUTZPAH in our eyes today. From history, culture, society, entrepreneurship, technology, religion, to ethnicity, Israel has left a profound impact and awe on me, and the thirty or so friends and companions in the group have made this journey even more enriching and vibrant. Talking about the conflicts and diversity in the cultural and religious aspects of Israel, around three-quarters of Israel's population is Jewish, with the remaining being Arab and other minority ethnicities. Since its establishment, the self-proclaimed exceptional
Hebrew nation has faced numerous tensions and conflicts with the surrounding Arab world. From the Six-Day War to the Yom Kippur War, from Hamas' rocket attacks to ISIS' lone-wolf suicide bombings, Israel has always been a thorn in the eyes of the extremist Islamic world and an unsettling presence in the Arab world. However, strangely enough, during the twelve days of wandering through Israel's north and south, what I witnessed was the harmonious coexistence between Arab and Israeli communities. True, the mosques and Jewish temples have their distinct
characteristics and clear boundaries, and Mohammed and Moses are not to be confused. When the elderly Arab attendant at the Tiberias Jacob Hotel counter heard that we wanted to visit a Jewish synagogue, he coldly remarked that there was nothing worth seeing for non-Jews. However, when we inquired about nearby mosques, his face lit up with a cheerful smile, and he somewhat disappointedly told us that we had to go to Jerusalem to experience the call of Allah.
In the evening, while strolling through the Old City of Jerusalem with my friends, I could still sense a certain uneasiness when we entered the Arab quarter. Though my friends thought I was overreacting (looking back now, I might have been a bit paranoid), the differences in cultural customs and the distinct atmospheres of various communities were undeniably present. Talking about Jerusalem, the experience at the Western Wall (also known as the Wailing Wall) is worth mentioning. After wandering through winding alleys for quite some time and passing through a dirty and chaotic security checkpoint, a completely different scene unfolded before my eyes. I must say that the Western Wall during the day and at night feels like two different worlds. At night, though not yet swarming with crowds, there was still a continuous flow of people. Orthodox Jewish men, wearing black hats, black coats, black trousers, and black leather shoes with white shirts underneath, young and old alike (the majority sporting long flowing beards, probably not that young), swayed their bodies back and forth while holding the Torah or gazing into the distance with a solemn expression, chanting prayers or scriptures. The name "Wailing Wall" might be a product of history, as I couldn't see tears, like desert springs, on the various faces as I peered closely. Perhaps it was the dearth of moisture in the air that quickly evaporated those sacred tears. During the daytime at the Western Wall, under the scorching sun, there were fewer prayerful devotees, and in their place were foreign tourists like us, with curious expressions and awe-inspired by everything. We learned the tradition of searching for cracks in the orange-hued wall and placing our written prayers on paper slips inside. Of course, being restless as I am, I couldn't resist peeking at what the previous visitors had written. However, since they were all smart enough not to write in English, those silent prayers were reserved for the Almighty God alone. Now, let's talk about Israel's natural beauty and historical architecture. From the moment I left the airport, I felt an unexpected sense of familiarity. Israel is not as exotic as one might imagine; instead, it exudes a rural charm that reminds me of the countryside in Yunlin, my hometown in Taiwan. However, this resemblance is limited
to the yellow sand swirling on the asphalt roads and the uniform earthy hues of the building exteriors. I have to admit once again that Taiwan's architecture cannot be considered modern. Even if, with great effort, a few larger cities manage to put on a modern facade, it's difficult to find a sense of design. Even when you reluctantly praise the scarce remaining achievements in some famous landmarks to cover up the inherent inadequacy, you cannot deny the strong overall sense of harmony and allure that Israel exudes. From the colorful hotels lining the Mediterranean in Tel Aviv to the
millennia-old yellow-brick buildings of Old Jaffa, from the tech-savvy steel and glass complexes in Herziliya to the medieval layout of Jerusalem's Old City, and even to the economically declining ultra-orthodox community in Tiberias, Israel's architectural artistry and overall visual enjoyment and fascination are hard to find in Taiwan.
Indeed, the landscapes and scenery of Israel are full of surprises. During the middle ofour journey, we drove through the rugged desert in central Israel, where exposed sedimentary rock layers told the story of countless millennia passing by. Riding on the backs of camels, we gazed out over the rocky and sandy desert, rhythmically moving with the swaying of the camels. In the silence of the night, under the twinkling stars, we engaged in casual conversations with our friendly medic, Dolev, discussing both friendly and less friendly topics about Israel and Taiwan and all the complicated
conflicts and threats of our own, when we were interrupted by the graceful and elegant appearance of an apricot moon rising over the eastern hill. The next morning at four o'clock, awakened by the sounds of donkeys and horses from the thirty-person tent in Bedouin, I shivered with awe at the sight of the desert dawn, a sight that cannot be fully described by mere words. As we drove towards the mountain foot of Masada, we hopped and jumped along the rocky mountain path, hurrying joyfully to catch the 5:32 am sunrise. We leaned against the weathered walls of the ancient city of Masada, trembling with excitement, as the first rays of morning light kissed our cheeks, and later, under the scorching sun at ten o'clock, we made our way down the winding serpent trail from the mountain. In the backseat of a jeep, we bounced and jolted through the windswept sand and yellow
dust kicked up by the lead vehicles, enjoying the view of the rocky wilderness of the Golan Heights, with fierce desert agaves and low pines grazing our fingertips as we snacked on sweet mangoes and cherry tomatoes. Floating in the Dead Sea, we experienced the perfect balance between Archimedes and Newton, covered ourselves in black, shiny Dead Sea mud, and were left bewildered by the taste of the salty water that accidentally splashed into our eyes and mouths. Then, we submerged ourselves in the cold, pebble-strewn bottom of the Sea of Galilee, serenely gliding through the same waters where Jesus had once walked on the surface, looking up to admire the clear reflection of the cedars on the calm lake, and feeling the gentle breeze smoothing the tired lines on our faces. These architectural and scenic wonders may have been glimpsed in books or on the internet to some extent, but when experienced firsthand, no amount of words can fully capture their essence. Beyond the moving and profound natural landscapes, Israel's distinct and unique national character and the bold spirit of Chutzpah were the most significant experiences and rewards of this learning trip. During the twelve-day journey from the north to the south, I visited approximately 12 start-ups and social enterprises. Additionally, we attended around five or six workshops and lectures, most of which left me with a refreshing feeling. The first valuable lesson I learned from these start-up-visits was the true understanding and witnessing of the phrase, "When there is a gap, there is an opportunity!" Most of the start-ups we visited fit this characteristic. For example, our first stop, Unit, discovered the subtle gap in the collaboration process between newborn companies and banks. By eliminating the complexities of fundraising for start-ups and providing smaller local banks with a steady stream of clients, they were
able to create an entirely new and extensive market that didn't exist before. Similarly, SeatGeek, a platform company that matches ticket buyers and sellers, recognized the frustration of sellers who had extra tickets (for concerts, sports events, etc.) and buyers who were desperate to find tickets. They accurately understood the fear of encountering fraudulent transactions on both sides and timely provided a trustworthy third-party platform, thus creating a thriving secondary ticket marketplace. Another example is North High Tech, a real estate development company that saw an opportunity in the lack of development in the talent market of northern Israel, while most competitors were flocking to the central and southern parts of the country where resources and talents were scarce. They chose to venture into the underdeveloped talent market in the north and actively created a fascinating new oasis in the technological desert. Standing tall in the desert, their steel-framed buildings not only illuminated a bright future for the technology development in northern Israel but also brought substantial profits to the company itself. If we examine these startups closely, we will find that they didn't necessarily come up with groundbreaking technologies or inventions. However, by seizing the right moment and precisely hitting the hidden problems on the mark, they created a significant impact and a promising future that should not be underestimated. In the start-up nation, the second lesson is the renowned Chutzpah spirit. Chutzpah embodies fearlessness, challenging authority, and a broader spirit of breaking
boundaries and daring to try. During the process of visiting start-ups, this spirit flowed like a vibrant energy, bursting in every corner. Looking back at the journey, one of the most impressive companies was the food company Incredo. They developed a new protein primer that significantly increased the rate of sugar dissolution in saliva, thereby reducing the amount of sugar required in food. This innovation provided a safe solution for diabetes patients around the world and for all of us who consume excessive sugar everyday. Surprisingly, it all began as a playful experiment in
Professor Avraham Baniel's own kitchen – and he was already well into his 90s! The fact that a nonagenarian still maintained such a strong desire for knowledge and had such imaginative ideas reflects the ability of the younger generation in Israel to break free from the norm. Confidence is a crucial indicator of the Chutzpah spirit. During the visits, I also came across some seemingly absurd ideas. AgwaGarden, located in Jerusalem, developed an indoor planting box the size of a refrigerator, offering health-conscious individuals the possibility of growing their own food at home. However, it's challenging to imagine how many people would be willing to pay for a machine that costs tens of thousands of New Taiwan Dollars and requires several hundred more for monthly maintenance. Nevertheless, I still admire the enthusiasm and effort put into turning such a bizarre idea into a reality. After all, how many people in Taiwan would dare to take the enormous risk of failure and bankruptcy to pursue an idea that most people would laugh at (at least, that's the general feedback I heard from our group)? This confidence was confirmed again near the end of the start-up visits. Inziv, also located in Jerusalem, develops wafer inspection technology (similar to the company (TRI) I'm doing internship now). According to their R&D department, they seem to be the only company globally with high-speed micro LED inspection technology. During the Q&A session, I asked how they ensured they developed such a unique technology and successfully raised the necessary funds during the early stages of their start up. The answer was heartening, "We weren't sure, but we were confident in ourselves – at least, we looked confident to the investors~" It is this confidence, out-of-box thinking, and culture of challenging authority that make Israel so different today! The third lesson from the startup visits is the flexible and adaptable thinking – the ability to innovate and find solutions even in challenging circumstances. As we all know, vegetation growth is extremely difficult in the salt-alkaline gravel desert of Israel, combined with high temperatures and aridity, making large-scale agriculture development seemingly impossible. However, Israel's drip irrigation technology delivered a crisp and wonderful slap to the face of nature. Netafim, a company
specialized in manufacturing drip irrigation technology, and the independent tourist farm Shvil Hasalat in the desert, both showcased in detail the agricultural miracles brought about by precise control of water supply and fertilizer delivery systems. While drip irrigation might not be unfamiliar to us, as we have encountered it in our middle school social studies textbooks, it perfectly exemplifies the Israeli ability to change direction and overcome challenges. Another example of flexible thinking lies in the prevalence of technology transfer companies in Israeli universities. Start-ups require a significant amount of funding, equipment, and talent, and acquiring these three elements is not easy in a country with a sparse population and scarce natural resources like Israel. Therefore, Israel has developed a win-win approach by harnessing the creativity of professors and students
on campus, combining it with the government's substantial investment in the education system (schools, laboratories, etc.). Many of the country's successful start-ups, or "unicorns," have been born through collaborations in well-known Israeli universities. This approach allows them to utilize the vast resources available in the educational system. Perhaps the challenges we encounter may seem unsolvable and thorny, and the environment we are in may be harsh and hostile. However, if Israel has taught us anything, it is that as long as we seek solutions, there will always be a way. The spirit of flexibility, adaptability, and the willingness to think outside the box can lead to incredible innovations and breakthroughs in any situation.
The 12-day trip to Israel was short but incredibly fascinating! Due to the limitations of space, I can only briefly express some of the most profound experiences during the journey and condense my observations, thoughts, and feelings about the new startup internship into three lessons. However, I must honestly say that there is much more that is difficult to put into words. As I nostalgically reminisce about the journey, I often find myself thinking of Taiwan. We share remarkable similarities with Israel: a small land with a sparse population, “friendly and accommodating” neighbors who “never engage in provocations or conflicts”, and the most precious asset of all - a high density of exceptional talents. Perhaps during the internship in Israel, I envied their excellent education system, vibrant innovation and creativity, rich cultural history, and unique national character. However, the purpose of this internship is to learn from the wise, not to blindly imitate. I sincerely hope that the impacts and revelations from this experience will stay with me for a lifetime, while also ensuring that I don't lose sight of my roots. It reminds me of a Shakespearean quote frequently mentioned by a deceased teacher: "Every individual is unique; don't turn your gold into copper." I believe I will remember this.
