The TAMID Fellows spent the Shabbat of June 17 and 18 in Jerusalem.
On Friday night, we were guests at the home of Jon Medved. Mr. Medved is a founder of one of Israel’s leading venture capital firms, Israel Seed Partners. He is currently CEO of Vringo, a video ringtone startup. He devotes countless travel time to evangelizing for investment in Israel. Mr. Medved is featured prominently in the best-selling book on the Israeli high-tech scene, Start-Up Nation by Dan Senor and Saul Singer. ”Medved has taken on a role that in any other country, would typically belong to a local chamber of commerce, minister of trade, or foreign secretary.”
Mr. Medved, an alumnus of the University of California – Berkeley, was excited to see that Aviv Gilboa, one of this summer’s TAMID Fellows, is enrolled at his alma mater.
The Fellows all went to Friday night services with the Medveds, and the dinner conversation featured discussions of Israel’s high-tech sector, Jewish leadership, and Torah. Visiting the Medved’s home gave each fellow a sense that building a prosperous career in Israel is a tenable goal.
On Saturday, the Fellows all ate lunch together. Lunch was followed with a walk through Jerusalem’s charming Yemin Moshe neighborhood and the Old City. The group stopped at the Western Wall for prayer and reflection. The weekend was a strong reminder of the contrast between the modernity of Israeli innovation and the timelessness of Jewish tradition.
