Jewish InteractiveJewish InteractiveJewish InteractiveJewish Interactive
  • Products & Services
    • Ji Products & Services
    • Jigzi
      • Jigzi Help Center
      • Jigzi Training
    • Curricular Content
      • Hebrew Reading Curriculum
      • Ivrit Misaviv La’Olam – עברית מסביב לעולם
        • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses 2023
      • Tales of Jerusalem – ילדים מספרים ירושלים
      • PJ Library Books on Ji Tap
      • Ji Israel Bytes
      • Ji Bytes
      • Learning Hub
    • Ji Prime
    • Ji Studio
    • The Ji Collection (Ji apps)
    • Training & Support
      • Upcoming Training
      • Jigzi Training
      • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses 2023
  • Teachers
    • Teachers
    • Educator resources
    • Professional Development with Ji
      • Upcoming Training
      • Jigzi Training
      • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses 2023
      • All professional development options
    • משאבים בעברית
  • School Leaders
    • School Administrators
    • Professional Development with Ji
      • Upcoming Training
      • Jigzi Training
      • All professional development options
      • Workshops: קורס הכשרת מורים ״הוראת עברית משולבת טכנולוגיה בגיל הרך״
      • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses 2023
  • Parents
    • Parents
    • Parent resources
    • Learning Hub
    • PJ Library Books on Ji Tap
  • Insights
    • Case Studies
    • Ji Blog
    • News
    • Ji’s 18 Min Leaders – Insights into Success
    • Upcoming Training
  • About Us

Israel as a Hub of Technology Innovation – David Komer

    Home Jewish Interactive Blog Israel as a Hub of Technology Innovation – David Komer
    NextPrevious

    Israel as a Hub of Technology Innovation – David Komer

    By Jewish Interactive Team | Jewish Interactive Blog | 0 comment | 2 August, 2013 | 0

    The air is filled with a dozen languages and the sweet smells of traditional cooking. My legs defy me as I race down the cobblestone street to beat the morning rush. Is this collection of stones a street? It was originally designed for horses and carts, and only the bravest drivers zoom down it (at speeds rivaling the autobahn.)

    Past the ancient ruins and the security check, I make it to my destination: Machane Yehuda Shuk in the heart of Jerusalem. Sitting down at a coffee shop, I order a drink and open my laptop to begin work.

    The first time I did this, I felt like I was invading another planet, bringing my futuristic technology to the oldest place in the world. I could not have been more wrong.

    In Israel- everything is extreme and encompasses both ends of the spectrum. Whatever exists on one side, you can be sure exists in the exact opposite. So while there are some incredibly old archeological artifacts, there are incredibly new technological innovations. In fact, not just new, but on the cutting-edge, ahead of the game.

    Over the years here, I’ve gotten to know a surfer in Ashkelon who studies nuclear engineering, prayed next to a pleasant and humble man who, it turns out after all that time, makes his living in quantum computing research, helped move a couch for a lead programmer of a dedicated team at Intel, and seen a couple friends of mine launch startups (both successful and not-yet).
    Besides individual accomplishments by my peers, I’m protected daily by the military advantage of Israel, which is in turn highly dependent on Israel’s technological prowess. The medicinal discoveries grace the front pages of international journals and predict a healthier future. Education and communication are enhanced daily by new apps and interactive devices.

    Every now and then, I ask myself, “why Israel?” “What is it about Israel that lends itself to such exceptional accomplishments for such a small country?” I can’t claim to have the answer in full, but I do have a few ideas which I think form part of the picture.

    First of all, there is our traditional Torah learning. Throughout Jewish History, we have dedicated our lives toward understanding the theological, applying divine law to practical application through rigorous logic and mental gymnastics. The language of “if this theoretical construct is set to that, then that theoretical outcome would be this” is as comfortable for a Rabbi as it is for a programmer. In other words, the ability to disassociate the physical world from the theoretical, and then apply the conclusions back to the physical world, is a skill we’ve honed since the birth of our nation.

    Another reason why Israel has an advantage in this arena is out of necessity. Suffice it to say our neighbors aren’t really very nice to us (y’know launching outright wars every now and then), and so we need every advantage possible in order to defend ourselves. There are both direct outcomes of this such as cryptographic advances, and also indirect outcomes such as in plastic surgery and prosthetics.

    One more thought- I’ve always believed in the “melting pot” advantage… get enough people together with diverse experiences and perspectives, and you get some great new ideas. Israel is an incredible example of this. I don’t have any statistics in front of me, but due to the diaspora, Jews have come back to Israel from all corners of the globe, bringing with us knowledge from every possible civilization. Sometimes it gets weird (like sushi burritos with Yemenite sauce), but usually it leads to some great ideas (like sushi burritos with Yemenite sauce).

    Hopefully we’ll be blessed to see Israel continue to grow as a hub for technological innovation, and inspire the world by its good moral use.

    About the author:

    David Komer has been developing interactive media for Jewish Education for over a decade, and believes strongly in the need to make the experience exciting for the student. He sees an incredible power in the merging of various disciplines and technologies to create strong impressions that leave the student wanting to learn more. Prior to joining the Jewish Interactive team, he built highly engaging digital experiences using Flash/Actionscript, HTML/Javascript, C, Java, Multiplayer Socket Servers, and proprietary solutions for diverse clients with demanding needs such as Umachaka/TJ and Pals, CinevisionUSA, The Destiny Foundation, COJS- the Center for Online Jewish Studies, Juilliard Music School, New York Philharmonic and more. His work has been featured in museums, schools and websites around the world.

    COJS, David Komer, digital technology, Flash Actionscript, Israel, Israeli technology, Jewish Education

    Jewish Interactive Team

    More posts by Jewish Interactive Team

    Related Posts

    • Ji features in Jeducation World (eJewishPhilanthropy)

      By Corinne Ossendryver | 0 comment

      Jewish Education Just Got Exciting See original blog post Teaching Judaism in non-Jewish schools just got exciting, with the launch of a collection of top-quality educational apps. Interact With Judaism is the culmination of a collaborationRead more

    • Are you up to the Sukkah Challenge?

      By Corinne Ossendryver | 0 comment

      Sukkot is almost here and there’s a big rush to build your Sukkah and get your Arba Minim too! Have no fear Ji has got the perfect package for you – our very own Sukkah Challenge!Read more

    • Technology In The Classroom: The Genie’s Out Of The Bottle – Rabbi Moshe Rosenberg

      By Corinne Ossendryver | 0 comment

      For the original article in the New York Jewish Week (26 August 2016): click here. When students return this fall to Manhattan Day School on the West Side of Manhattan, they will find that theirRead more

    • What’s the impact on human connection? – Rabbi Effie Kleinberg

      By Corinne Ossendryver | 0 comment

      We all have those moments. Moments when we think we have made a breakthrough, a game-changing innovation… and then we see it, at first, it appears as a small hole, but then it grows increasinglyRead more

    • Ji Tap for Tishrei – Sammy Morhaim

      By Corinne Ossendryver | 0 comment

      6 reasons you should download Ji Tap this Tishrei…Tap for Tishrei Whether you’re a kid, parent or a passionate 21st century teacher, Ji Tap will get you set and ready for Tishrei! Here are just a fewRead more

    Leave a Comment

    Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    NextPrevious

    Categories

    • 1st Temple to 2nd Temple
    • 39 Melachot
    • 4 Kidz by Kidz
    • About-page
    • Australia
    • Bar Mitzvah
    • Bellevue Hill
    • Ben adam lechavero
    • Ben adam lemakom
    • Biblical Hebrew
    • Brachot (blessings)
    • Case-Studies
    • Chanukah
    • Competition#1 – July2012
    • Competition#2 – Jan 2013
    • Competition#3 – August2013
    • Creative Tools
    • Diaspora and Oral Law
    • Digital Homework Olympics
    • England
    • England
    • Feedback
    • General calendar
    • General mitzvot
    • Greenfield Hebrew Academy
    • Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy
    • Hasmonean High School
    • Havdala
    • Herzlia Constantia
    • Herzlia Weizmann
    • Israel
    • Jewish Communities
    • Jewish History
    • Jewish Interactive Blog
    • JI Studio
    • Ji Tap Blog
    • Kashrut
    • King David Linksfield Primary
    • King David Victory Park Primary
    • Lighting candles
    • Martin J Gottlieb Day School
    • Mashiach
    • Mitzvot
    • Moriah Jewish Day School
    • My Menorah
    • Naima JPS
    • News Item
    • Pesach/Passover
    • Purim
    • Receiving Torah to 1st Temple
    • Rosh Hashana
    • Rosh Pinah Primary School
    • Shabbat
    • Shavuot
    • South Africa
    • South Africa
    • State of Israel
    • Sukkot
    • Tehillim (psalms)
    • Tisha B'av
    • Torah
    • Torah Academy
    • Uncategorized
    • United States
    • Upcoming Events
    • Wolfson Hillel Primary
    • Yeshiva College

    Jewish Interactive

    Donate to Jewish Interactive

    Jewish Interactive is a registered 501(c)(3)
    in the US with tax ID 46-1331618

    The Jewish Interactive Educational Trust is a
    Section 18A (1)(a) in South Africa
    (Registration IT36/2012) (PBO 930 038 343)

    Jewish Interactive is a registered charity
    in the UK (Charity Number 1151408)

    Useful links

    • Ji Bytes – Daily home studies solution
    • Home Learning Hub
      • משאבים בעברית ללמידה מקוונת
      • Les études juives et les leçons d’hébreu
    • Products & Services
    • Jigzi – New!
    • Ji Tap
    • The Ji Collection (Ji Apps)
    • Ji Studio
    • Teachers
    • School Principals & Managers
    • Ji Prime – Partnership with your school
    • Parents
    • About Us
    • Ji Blog
    • Training and Support
    • Jobs available at Ji

    Subscribe

    Sign up for newsletter

    Follow us

    Contact us

    Contact Ji

    [email protected]

    Ji United States
    Tel: +1 (866) 601-8000

    Ji United Kingdom
    Tel: +44 (0)79 6641 4417

    Ji South Africa
    Tel: +27 (79) 886 5326

    Ji Israel
    Tel: +972 (0) 54-597 9555

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Child Protection Policy
    Copyright 2022 Jewish Interactive Inc | All Rights Reserved
    • Home
    • Home learning hub
    • Ji Bytes
    • Products & Services
      • Ji Products & Services
      • Jigzi
        • Jigzi Help Center
      • Curricular Content
        • Hebrew Reading Curriculum
        • Ivrit Misaviv La’Olam – עברית מסביב לעולם
          • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses 2023
        • Tales of Jerusalem – ילדים מספרים ירושלים
        • PJ Library Books on Ji Tap
        • Ji Israel Bytes
        • Ji Bytes
      • Ji Studio
      • The Ji Collection
      • Ji Prime
      • Training & Support
        • Upcoming Training
    • Teachers
      • Ji Teachers
      • Upgrade to Ji Tap Pro
      • Educator resources
      • Home Learning Hub
      • Professional Development with Ji
        • Upcoming Training
        • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses 2023
      • משאבים בעברית
    • School Leaders
      • Ji School Administrators
      • Upgrade to Ji Tap Pro
      • Professional Development with Ji
        • Upcoming Training
        • Playful Blended Hebrew Learning – Mini Courses 2023
    • Parents
      • Ji Parents
      • Upgrade to Ji Tap Pro Family
      • Parent resources
      • Home Learning Hub
    • About Us
    • Insights
      • Case Studies
      • Ji Blog
      • News
      • Ji’s 18 Min Leaders – Insights into Success
      • Upcoming Training
    • Donate to Ji
    • Contact Us
    Jewish Interactive