Money Maven: Israel – Center of Innovation

By Sheryl Rowling

Sheryl Rowling
Sheryl Rowling

SAN DIEGO — My columns typically focus on personal financial topics.  So, when my publisher asked me to interview an author on her newly released book, I was a little surprised.  Yet, as I familiarized myself with the subject matter, I became fascinated.  I learned about Israel’s place as a world-class center of innovation.  And, of course, as a viable investment opportunity!

Marcella Rosen’s book, Tiny Dynamo: How One of the World’s Smallest Countries Is Producing Some of Our Most Important Inventions, surprises us with little known facts about Israel’s impressive and positive impact on the world.

After a long career in advertising, Rosen was dismayed at the media’s portrayal of Israel. Rather than being known for its battles and religious issues, Rosen set out to bring a new image of Israel to Americans.   Her goal:  “to reach educated and influential Americans – those that aren’t looking for this information.  These are the people that need to hear this message.” The book delivers her message in an easy-to-read, compelling compilation describing just how Israel has made a difference to each and every one of us.

For example, have you ever used a flash drive? Had a loved one battle breast cancer? Been through airport security? Israeli companies invented the flash drive, created a treatment to freeze away benign breast tumors, and developed a psychology-based method for airport security screening.  Did you also know that Israel has made ocean water drinkable? Cut preventable eye diseases? Planted in the desert with drip irrigation? Designed a pill-sized camera to look into the body?

Israel is much more than what the media has led us to believe.  It is a hotbed of invention – right behind the US, China and Canada.  In 2010 alone, Israel, with its population of 7 million, launched 600 startups, compared to 700 startups throughout all of Europe—which has a population of over 700 million.  And, with all that success, Israel has funded vast humanitarian efforts – sending aid and volunteers to 55 countries in times of need, including Haiti after its devastating earthquake and New York City after Hurricane Sandy.

For more information on Israel’s ongoing accomplishment, join Rosen’s Facebook site “Untold News.” You can purchase Tiny Dynamo: How One of the World’s Smallest Countries Is Producing Some of Our Most Important Inventions on Amazon.com (hard copy or e-book) for $14.95.

Marcella Rosen will be appearing in San Diego on August 25th during Yom Limmud, San Diego’s Community Day of Learning at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center.  For more info, go to http://www.sdcjc.org/yomlimmud/.

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Rowling is a certified public accountant, personal finance specialist, and principal of Rowling & Associates. She may be contacted via sheryl.rowling@sdjewishworld.com