Issue #1 - United Synagogue Youth

1Volume 5, Issue 3February 2011What is Pop Knowledgy?Take a dose of Pop Culture, a cup of Knowledge, and a spoonful of technology, mix them all up…and you get Pop Knowledgy!While yes, this word is (a little) made up, it perfectly describes the theme of this Hechalutzon. Israel isa very diverse and modern country. It has a nightlife that rivals New York City’s, a high-tech industrysecond only to Silicon Valley, and a world-famous cuisine. There is so much happening in Israel, it ishard to know everything. But this Hechaluzon will give you a little glimpse into all of it.USYers, get ready!Oren FliegelmanHechalutzon EditorWhat comes to mind when youthink of the game show Jeopardy!?A few phrases probably popinto your head: “Alex Tribec,”“questions as answers,” or if you’rea somewhat avid viewer of Jeopardy!, maybe you’d think“Ken Jennings!” Although Jennings won a record 74consecutive games on the classic game show, when Ithink of Jeopardy! his name is not the name that runsacross my brain. I think of Watson.Who is Watson, you may ask? Watson is a newsupercomputer that can hear, understand, and answertrivia questions just like a human can. This February,Watson is scheduled to compete in a three-day Jeopardy!tournament against Jennings to see whether a computercan really be better than a human at this difficult triviashow. Kind of sounds like I, Robot, right?Behind Watson’s brilliant mechanical “brain”there are some very impressive and complicated technologies.One of the most significant of these technologieswas developed in Israel by IBM’s research anddevelopment scientists who are based in Haifa. Israeliscientists — ranging from chemists to physicists tocomputer scientists — have a long history of makingtruly remarkable discoveries in their respective fields,Continued on page 7...Sarah HoffmanUSY Israel Affairs VPIn February 2010, Better Place held thegrand opening of the company’s firstelectric vehicle demonstration center inIsrael. What is Better Place? BetterPlace is a company that manufactureselectric vehicles in hopes of making amore environmentally friendly world. As a leader in researchand technology Israel’s knowledge allows the countryto work with Better Place to increase awareness aboutthe decline of the environment’s stability.Better Place has partnered with Dor Alon, a leadinggas station operator in Israel, to install battery switch stationsat Dor Alon’s facilities. This new technology willhelp encourage Israelis to switch from fuel-operated vehiclesto battery-operated ones.The “cool” thing to do nowadays is to “go green.”Celebrities encourage it, schools teach it, and everywherewe turn there are new devices to help us seize the opportunityto make the world a healthier place. Pop culture istherefore, motivating us to move forward and save theworld, and in Israel, this is starting with Better Place.This year, I hope to use all of my knowledge tomaintain a strong connection between USY and Israel. AsBetter Place has taught me, the best way to start somethingnew is to take the initiative and jump right in. So, USY,dive with me into this new Hechalutzon: Knowledge,Technology, and Pop Culture, and learn all you can tomake Israel a Better Place.Although all articles are written by USYers, opinions that appear in The Hechalutzon do not necessarilyreflect the positions of United Synagogue Youth, or its parent body, the United Synagogue ofConservative Judaism.

2Volume 5, Issue 3Did you know?There is a NEW USY IsraelPilgrimage for 2011: L’takayn Olam,SA/TO Israel Pilgrimage!NexTapZoe Grossman, HagalilWhat is your favorite Israeli group performer?When I saw this prompt, I knew the answer in aninstant. NexTap! A very close friend of mine is part ofthis extremely talented tap group in Israel though he iscurrently serving in the IDF. I met Shai three years agothrough HaZamir; the International Jewish High Schoolchoir. He was part of the Israeli delegation, and he wasstaying at my house for a week. In order to get to knowthe Israelis, the USYer in me decided to do an icebreaker.Through the game, Shai told us that he reachedthe semi-finals of Israel's version of America's Got Talent,The Next Big Thing.NexTap is not my favorite Israeli performancegroup only because my friend is a member. In the news,sometimes it can feel like Israel is so distant. But I alsoappreciate that our countries have a lot in common.While we may wear different clothes, eat different foodsor speak different languages, there is always some type ofcommon ground we can find. I have been tap dancingfor ten years and I never thought Israel would have sucha successful and impressive tap troupe. For me, thatcommon ground was NexTap -- who knows what itcould be for you?The Music of USY PilgrimageSam Kaplan, HanegevEveryone has that song that makes them wantto get up and dance! For me, that song is "Hafinali" bymy favorite Israeli band, Subliminal! Subliminal is anIsraeli hip-hop group with a completely unique sound.They combine rap with dance beats, making the songsawesome for both listening and dancing. This summeron USY Pilgrimage, my group (Israel Adventure PLUS!- Group 3 2010 ) attended a Subliminal concert. Itwas incredible!Hundreds of Jewish teens from all over theworld were there and we were all listening to and enjoyingthe same music. The music was blasting andeveryone was singing and dancing along! I have greatmemories from that night and since then, every time Ihear a Subliminal song I think of it. Subliminal is myfavorite band not only because of their fantastic music,but because listening to their songs remind me of myamazing summer in Israel with USY.Did you know?February 2011The application for the summer of2011 is available online NOW at:www.usy.org/programs/escapeYou can go to Israel with Pilgrimage: Eastern Europe/Israel Pilgrimage Israel Pilgrimage/Poland Seminar Italy/Israel Pilgrimage Israel Adventure & Israel Adventure PLUS *L’takayn Olam* New for summer 2011You can travel across North America withUSY on Wheels: “Classic” USY on Wheels USY on Wheels: Mission Mitzvah *USY on Wheels, Pacific Northwest* Newfor summer 2011 USY on Wheels, East Summer in the City

3Volume 5, Issue 3February 2011As USYers return from USY Israel Pilgrimage every summer, there’s an ongoingdebate as to which restaurant has the best burgers in Israel.Burger Ranch vs. Burgers Bar vs. Kosher McDonald’s vs. Kosher Burger KingWho has the bestBURGERSin Israel?Oren Fliegelman, HagalilWhen it comes to kosher burgers in America, unfortunately there is no restaurant like Burger Ranch. Not only areBurger Ranch’s burgers juicily delicious, but the restaurant offers their patrons a seemingly endless array of eccentric andunusual toppings: barbeque sauce, Russian dressing, ducksauce, and many more. When the final product, toppings andall, is compared with the burgers from Burgers Bar, BurgerKing, or McDonald’s — the rest just don’t stack up.Yael Reich, HanegevAs a burger lover, I have a rather strong opinion on thebest burgers in Israel. Althought I could always go for a quick,cheap McDonalds or Burger King burger, no one in their rightminds would pass up a nice juicy beef-burger on an enormoussesame seed bun topped with lettuce, tomatoe, pickles, grilledveggies, and the appropriate sauces from the one, the only,BURGERS BAR! My first bite of a Burgers Bar burger was atruly life-changing moment for me. It had such an impact thatone of my most cherished memories from my past summer onIsrael Pilgrimage/Poland Seminar 2nd Departure 2010. I willnever forget that feeling of 7 Burgers Bar burgers and fries sittingin my arms just waiting for my teeth to dig right in. As afood lover, I find it imperative for everyone and their mother toindulge in the Burgers Bar delicacy!Elan Sykes, CHUSYThe best burger in Israel is from Burgers Bar, nocontest. Sure, the thrill of getting a kosher burger atMcDonald’s or Burger King is exciting, but once is morethan enough. On the other hand, at Burgers Bar the customersees a grill full of fresh, juicy burgers. Additionally,the ingredients and toppings at Burger’s Bar, like freshIsraeli produce, chili matok (a sweet chili sauce),chimichurri sauce, and barbeque sauce add up to an amazing-tastinghamburger. Burger’s Bar also has the perfectbalance of Americans and Israelis attending the restaurant:enough Americans come that menus are available in Englishand Hebrew, but Israelis also eat there frequentlyenough that the restaurant feels like an authentic Israeliexperience. As far as I’m concerned, the ranking goes likethis: #1 Burgers Bar. #2 Burger Ranch. #3 KosherMcDonald’s. #4 Kosher Burger King.But this is the real question: Do you really want aburger instead of shawarma?Matt Solomon, HagalilIt is an easy choice for me, kosher McDonald’s is the king of the Israeli burger.Imagine this scenario, your group is running through Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv hoping to make their flighthome. Suddenly you realize “Oh no! I am about to leave Israel and haven’t gotten kosher McDonald’s!” Needless to say, to44 American teenage tourists, this was not okay. So as our group sat on the airport floor waiting for our flight, most of ourgroup was thinking about their sadness over leaving Israel – others, including myself, sat savoring our burgers and fries,thinking to ourselves, “Do we have time to go get another?”I can honestly say that there is no better burger than a kosher Big Mac, the American classic done kosher. Besidesbeing amazingly delicious, this great burger has a very important role. In a strange way, a kosher McDonalds is a culturalconnection between America and Israel. We share many things with Israel and it is this special connection that in this casecomes between two buns and covered in ketchup, that will allow us to always keep Israel in our hearts.For more opinions on Israel’s best hamburgers, turn to page 7

4Volume 5, Issue 3Did you know?A technology featured on Glee thatallows paraplegics to walk was createdby the Israeli company, Argo MedicalTechnologies.A Computer in Your PocketBrielle Cohen, HanegevPicture this: You’re at school working on a majorproject when suddenly you hear, “RINGGGGG!” Thebell is ringing and you’re not done with your project yet!You know you have to save it quickly, but how? Youthink fast and pull out your USB drive! You save itpromptly and are on your way within seconds. You’reable to do this thanks to Israel intuitiveness.In 2000, an Israeli company called M-Systemscreated the USB drive. This device gave people the capabilityto save on the go, just like a floppy disk. However,this piece of technology was cooler than a floppy diskbecause it had more than five times a floppy disk’s capacity.People use USB drives for storing documents,pictures, music, videos, and more/ The USB drive is usefulbecause you can practically carry around your entirecomputer all in one tiny disk. Out of the many groundbreakingtechnologies that Israel has created in the past,the USB drive is definitely the coolest and most important.February 2011Defending Israel Means Understandingits OppositionNicky Rawlinson, HagalilIf you are reading this article the odds are that youare already well into your journey as an advocate for Israel.The Hechalutzon, as well as other Pro-Israel publications,has tremendous potential to inspire, teach, and aidZionists in the increasingly difficult battle against Israel’scritics. Local Jewish newspapers, websites like Jpost.comand Haaretz.com, and books like Alan Dershowitz’s TheCase for Israel all provide those looking to defend Israel’sactions and existence with the most powerful weapon ofall – information. Without this, any argument will fail.Taking the time to understand and learn facts, figures, andarguments is necessary to effectively counter Israel’s opponents.It is, however, crucial to remember that this informationis not limited to that which bolsters Israel’s caseand comes from supporters of the Jewish state, but alsofrom those that attack it and seek its downfall.When defending a client, lawyers aim to understandwhat it is their client is being accused of, and howthey are being accused. Defending Israel is no different.Just as a lawyer would cross-examine witnesses of theprosecution’s case, an advocate for Israel must read andlearn precisely what Israel’s critics are saying. I have foundthat to be well informed of anti-Israel statements made inthe media like CNN or statistics listed on the BBC, is tohave an effective leg-up on Israel’s opponents. The coverageof a news story is often selective in its inclusion orexclusion of certain facts or images. For example, an Israelisoldier shooting a Palestinian civilian instantly evokessympathy for the victim. Recognizing this over-simplifiedportrayal builds sympathy for the Palestinian cause, whilevilifying Israel in the eyes of the world. On the otherhand, those looking to defend Israel need to present thisevent in its full context. Communicating the succession ofevents and allowing the Israelis involved to address theemotional arguments against them helps build an effectivedefense.While researching the baseless allegations againstIsrael may force you to cringe and shout at your computeror television, the rewards of doing so will prove to begreat. Knowing one’s opposition is to know one’s self. Tosuccessfully counter Israel’s adversaries, there are fewthings more helpful than to be aware of exactly what theywill say, and exactly why they are wrong. The Torah demands,“Justice, justice shall you pursue” (Deut. 16:20).Pursue we shall.

5Volume 5, Issue 3“Did you know?Israel is beginning to build a country-wideelectric powering grid forcars, so eventually all of Israel’s driverswill be able to drive electric carsIsraelDrawn by Molly Sigel, Far WestI made this illustration in my computer graphics classat school and wanted to show how I incorporate Israelinto my artwork. I went on USY Israel Adventure(GROUP 2!) this past summer and had the time of my life.Israel is such an amazing country. This picture has variousquotes in it from Israeli songs, along with some coolthings from my group. Go on Pilgrimage this summer!”February 2011Israeli Soccer: Beyond MaccabiBen Hyman, NERUSYAs a USYer, youtend to see your friendsrepresenting Israeli athleticsthrough the yellowand blue of the highlypopular Maccabi Tel-Avivclub, which has becomequite famous due to theoverseas success of basketballstar OmriCasspi. For many, they also in turn support the club’ssoccer team, Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. However, likethat lone fan wearing a Mets cap in Yankee Stadium, Iam proud to be a fan of Maccabi’s cross-town rival,Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. The current holders of theState Cup, Hapoel has been the dominating soccerforce in Israel, led by such star attackers as Toto Tamuzand Itay Shecter.I was drawn to the team due to much morethan simple goal scoring and soccer dominance.Hapoel has long represented the Labor Partyof Israel and their fans are supporters of peace betweenthe Arab and Israeli communities in the midstof the violent political climate of today. This belief inunity is shown in the Hapoel Tel Aviv logo, a sicklewith a man whose arms are outstretched, reminiscentof the Soviet Union insignia.The defining color of Hapoel is Red, which isapparent at Hapoel’s home games at Bloomfield Stadium.The “hooligans” (a soccer term for the groupof mega-intense fans) of Hapoel are known as the Ultrasand “The Red Militia”. Some of their activitiesinclude creating larges banners that they display atgames, leading chants, and sometimes throwing smallfireworks that expel a cloud of thick red smoke. Theytend to hate the color yellow, the color of their rivalsMaccabi Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem, with somesupporters vowing never to wear anything yellow intheir lives.Hapoel Tel Aviv represents an alternate side ofIsrael soccer -- the best side of Israeli soccer. Theyrecently qualified for the Euro Champions League,however after tough losses in the group stage theywere unable to make it to the tournament stage.

6Volume 5, Issue 3A Shabbas in JerusalemPenina Beede, HanefeshThe two things I love most about Judaism are Israeland Shabbat. Luckily for me, I have had the opportunityto experience both amazing things at the same time!When I visited Israel with my eighth grade Schechter classin spring 2009, we spent two shabbatot in Jerusalem.Shabbat, of course, always includes great tefillot and deliciousmeals. But what else is there to do on Shabbat in Israel?My favorite Israeli Shabbat experience was when wepacked up some books, a couple of Frisbees, and a soccerball and walked from our hostel to Gan HaPa’amon (or inEnglish, Liberty Bell Park). We spent the afternoon playingcard games, soccer, and Frisbee, reading magazines,and eating junk food until it grew dark and we went backto the hostel to do Ma’ariv and Havdallah.Now, I have just shared my favorite Shabbat experiencein Israel. But that’s just one opinion in a sea of millionsof Jewish opinions! My brother, Max Beede, is onNativ, the Conservative movement’s college leadership gapyear program in Israel, so I asked him and his friends toshare their favorite things to do and places to go during aShabbat in Israel!Gan Soccer has a lot of sports fields where there“ are always sports games happening, includingtwo different Ultimate Frisbee groups thatNativers have joined.-Yedidya Ben-Avie“““Gan Ha'atzmaut (directly across from Beit Nativin Jerusalem) is always a good place to go withfriends to just hang out & take a Shabbas nap.-Ben FiedlerI enjoy going for a nice walk around Jerusalemwith my friends. It's really cool to see Ben YehudaStreet shut down for a day.-Max Beede“My favorite place to go for Shabbat is YeminMoshe. The synagogues there have a gorgeousview of the old city and you can walk in the gardensof the neighborhood that are beautiful too.”-Aimee Kanter””””What’s your pleasure for Shabbat fun and relaxation?Whether it is sports, appreciating a break from the crazinessof the past week, or taking a shabbos shluff (nap),there’s no place like Israel. Shabbat shalom!Did you know?February 2011Israel invented the revolutionarydrip irrigation watering system. Itallows plants to grow in arid areasof land, like the Negev in IsraelNecessity is the Mother of InventionAsher Mayerson, SeaboardSince Israel’s inception as a state in 1948, thecountry has faced constant threats from its hostileneighbors. Yet, despite the odds being against hertime and time again, Israel has always survived.These constant threats have forced Israel to develop amilitarily to defend its miniscule territory. Israelneeded to develop superior military technology tocompensate for its army’s small size in comparison tothe armies of its enemies. The development of thoseweapons, like the “Uzi,” has been crucial to the Israelieconomy, which is largely supported by militaryspending. Indeed, the continual threats have forcedIsrael to grow in order to defend itself.Israeli society has always been placed in theposition of defending its homeland, which has createdan environment that not only encourages but also requiresinnovation to survive. The reason that Israelhas become a technological world leader is because ithas had to develop so rapidly. That survivor mentalityis ingrained in the mind of every single Israeli, explainingthe disproportionate contributions of Israel to theglobal community when compared with its size.In a mere sixty-two years, Israelis have madeincredible contributions to the global community.From chemistry and physics to electronics andnanotechnologies, Israelis in the sciences have mademajor impacts on the world by increasing scientificknowledge and developing technologies to benefit theentire human race. Cell phones, instant messaging,and computer chips are just a few examples of technologiesthat Israelis have developed. Israeli society ismarked by its intelligence, creativity, and innovation,characteristics that are all emphasized by the State’sconstant fight for survival.

7Volume 5, Issue 3Israel’s Tastiest Treat:Peanut-Buttery BambaEthan Shapiro, HanegevCrunch, crunch, crunch.That, my friend, is the sound of peanut-butterfilled bamba being snacked upon by millions of Israelis,Jews, and everyone else. Once you take a biteinto these peanut butter snacks, you don’t want tostop. Luckily, you have a full bag to nosh on! Amongall the technologies and outstanding inventions thathave started in Israel, Bamba may be one of the coolestcreations.Bamba has been around since 1964 and is producedby the manufacturing company Osem, whoseprofits have been increasing dramatically with thepopularity of the snack. At first Bamba had a cheeseflavor similar to Cheetos, but fortunately Osemchanged the flavoring to the peanut-butter taste thatwe all know and love. Osem also produces strawberryfilledBamba that is round in shape and is red, whichled to Israelis calling it 'Red Bamba'. In 2008, Osemcame out with a new Bamba flavor – nougat-filled.Nougat Bamba is produced at the Osem plant inSderot and is considered one of the most successfulproducts marketed by the Nestle group, which ownsthe controlling interest in Osem. In 2010 , Osem cameout with a halva-filled Bamba . Now it’s your turn graba bag of one Israel’s coolest inventions and snack like aking or queen.February 2011From the Editor...continued from page 1which has given Israel a remarkable reputation in the fieldof technological and scientific research in the just over 60years that the country has existed. Global companies, likeMicrosoft and Intel trusted Israeli innovation so much thattheir first overseas research and development (R&D) facilitieswere built in Israel.Even though Israel is at the forefront of scientificresearch, it is not just a country made of scientists. Thetheme of this edition of The Hechalutzon is Pop Knowledgy,a mashed up combination of Pop Culture, Knowledge, andTechnology. From Eilat to Rosh Hanikra, Israelis party toSinergia at nightclubs, munch on burgers and schwarmafrom Burgers Bar, and, of course, play Hackeysack nonstop.Because of everything that goes on Israel, there is toomuch for any one person to know about the country and itspeople. However, knowing about these three aspects of Israel,USYers can get a broad understanding of the country.In this edition, you will learn about NexTap, Israel’sworld-renowned tap dance troupe, (page 2), readabout your fellow USYers’ favorite places to grab a burgerin Israel (page 3), discover the history of Israel’s tastiestpeanut butter treat, Bamba (page7), and so muchmore!Closing out the 2010 series of The Hechalutzon, thisedition is filled with the voices of over 15 USYers fromacross North America. Flip through their stories, experiences,and drawings. Appreciate Pop Knowledgy.And with that, Shalom.Drew Lieberman, SWUSY Israel’s Best BurgersIsrael is a Country filled with many holyplaces. There's the Kotel, the Dome of the(continued from page 3)Rock, Mount Zion, and of course, BurgersBar! That’s right, I said Burgers Bar. This is a place that I haveheard people coming back from Israel swear by. The tender meat,fresh bread, fried to order French fries, and plethora of sauces givesBurgers Bar a different feel than the traditional hamburger joint. Butfellow USYers, trust me, this difference is a great one. You see, eversince my sister returned from USY Israel Pilgrimage in 2007, I haveheard non- stop about Burgers Bar, and this past summer I was finallyable to try it for the first time on my own USY Israel Pilgrimagetrip. It was an experience I will never forget. That first bite into myBurger Bar lamb burger was one of the best bites I have ever taken.Take it from a Burgers Bar expert, who tried Burgers Bar at four locationsthis past summer, eat at the one on Ben Yehuda Street – it’sthe best of the bunch. With this being the case, the best burger inIsrael and maybe the entire world can be found at Burgers Bar.Sarah Hoffman, SeaboardOut of all of Israel’s burgers, my personalburger preference is BurgerRanch. Unlike Burgers Bar, BurgerRanch’s burgers have the perfect combinationof sauces slathered all of over the burgers, suchas ketchup and mustard. I find that BurgersBar’s burgers are just too dry and not as enjoyableto eat as their Burger Ranch counterparts.McDonald’s and Burger King simply cannotcompare, as their burgers are just too measlyand their kosher locations are inconvenientlyplaced around Israel.So, in my personal opinion…GO BURGER RANCH OR BECOME AVEGETARIAN!

8Volume 5, Issue 3February 2011Five Reasons to Love Hadag NachashMiles Greenspoon, SeaboardAs everybody knows, USY encompasses a very eclecticgroup of people. Everybody is different, and that is great. One ofthe key differences that all USYers have (as well as the rest of theworld, but let’s stay small for now) is different tastes of music.While I am more of a fan of alternative pop rock such as ThirdEye Blind and Red Hot Chili Peppers, there are many otherswho are fans of rap, jazz, and even country. But let’s focus onone of the most popular mainstream Israel bands: HadagNachash.Hadag Nachash is not only my favorite Israeli band, butthey are also my favorite rapping group. So, without further ado,here are five reasons to love Hadag Nachash.1. Their name means “snake-fish”. Now, let me explainthis name to you all: in Israel, new drivers often put a bumpersticker on their car, which says “nahag chadash”, which means“new driver”. The members of the not-yet-formed rap groupsaw this bumper sticker from a distance once, and thought it said“hadag nachash”, which means “snake-fish”. They thought itwas so hilarious, they decided to name their band after it. Comeon, how cool of a spoonerism is that? And if you don’t thinkTHAT is cool, at least give me props for using the word“spoonerism” correctly. Thank you, English class.2. Their logo is absolutely hilarious. Although normallyAmerica is known as the homeland of popular controversy, HadagNachash takes the prize for this one. Not content with justdrawing an epic snake-fish as a logo, their symbol is a kid goingto the bathroom.3. Their songs all have different styles and sounds. Unfortunately,in today’s pop music, virtually every song sounds thesame as the next one. Take it from someone who plays three instruments:it takes three chords to play about fifty popular songs,and four chords to play hundreds more. Each one of HadagNachash’s songs contains a unique method of rhythm and style.If I put on “Lazuz” and then “Shirat Hasticker,” it would be veryhard to tell that they are the same band unless you recognizedthe voices4. Many of their songs make political statements. Many oftoday’s rap songs are about degrading women, getting money, orflash cars. Not Hadag Nachash’s songs. Instead of getting involvedin a huge political discussion that we will never solve, justlook at the lyrics to “Shirat Hasticker” (The Sticker Song).5. Hadag Nachash is active in the Israeli community. Iadmit, I do not know the full details of everything that they havedone, but I DO know that they won Israel’s coveted “Activist ofthe Year” award in 2010.

10Volume 5, Issue 3February 2011How Do We Make This Place A Better One To Live In?Avital Elfant, USY Central ShlichaOk. I admit, I flip channels when I don’t feel like dealing with choresthat I have to do. On one occasion, I watched a few minutes of the Spidermanmovie. I was overtaken by the fact that Spiderman could never lookaway when other people were suffering or in need.On a different note, If someone would come up to you and ask you,how you would make the world a better place by the year 2020, what wouldyour answer be? For one person the answer changed his life and the world’sway of thinking “green”. This man’s name is Shai Agassi. He was inspired bythis question which was asked by Klaus Schwab at the 2005 World EconomicForum in Davos, Switzerland, which led to the founding of a companynamed Better Place. Better Place aims to reduce global dependency on petroleumthrough the creation of a market-based transportation infrastructure that supports electric vehicles. BetterPlace is building its first electric vehicle network in Israel. Better Place's primary R&D facility is located in Tel Aviv,Israel.Many times we hear aggravating things about Israel: how it is disturbing that there is no peace settlement orthat the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing more and more. I wouldlike to show you the Israel that many times you will not see on CNN or in the“New York Times” that should make us proud. I want you to see the parts ofIsrael that I am so proud of. Better Place is one Israeli development and theother goes back to the remote days when Zionism meant working and protectingthe land and assisting people around the world that are in need. MASHAV –Israel's Center for International Cooperation is only one of many examples ofthat. MASHAV is responsible for Israel's international cooperation and assistancearound the world, through the provision of guidance and training in Israeland abroad. The assistance is provided in a wide variety of areas, including agriculture,medicine, education, the advancement of the status of women, community and family. Israel's own developmentexperience enables it to design comprehensive and integrative programs both for urban and rural settings,which are of critical concern to developing countries. Since it was first established in 1958, more than 200,000 peoplehave benefited from MASHAV training programs.When we speak of making the world a better place I think of us, the young generation, that can help improvethe world. We don’t necessarily need to have Spiderman or Superman’s powers, we justhave to care enough and not look the other way. It is interesting to see how famous leadersthat brought change to the world, started their careers. We have much to be proud of in ourJewish state but we can’t leave all the work for others. We must all take part of the buildingand improvement of a more just and clean society. I would like to end with the words of ananonymous writer: “True leaders are not those who strive to be first but those who are firstto strive and who give their all for the success of the team. True leaders are the first to see theneed, envision the plan, and empower the team for action. By the strength of the leader'scommitment, the power of the team is unleashed."Yours,AvitalVisit: http://mashav.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/missionhome.asp?MissionID=16210&