jewis

edu

www.theJEWISHNEWS.com

Real-life Experience

U-M's Tamid Israel Investment Group gives undergrads ties to Israeli businesses.

by Allison Berman

ferent aspects of the American-Israeli busi-
ness relationship and how we, as future lead-
y first experience with the Tamid
ers, can work to strengthen it.
Israel Investment Group was a
In conjunction with the seminars were
quarter sheet of paper nestled
weekly huddle sessions, during which we
under my University of Michigan dorm
organized internal fundraising campaigns or
room with a very simple message: "There is
consulted for two Israeli start-up businesses.
a group on campus that connects business-
Tamid is an important part of my college
minded students to Israel and its economy
experience because it is real. There are hun-
through education and application."
dreds of clubs and groups on campus that
I was ecstatic upon learning about this
encompass nearly every area of interest
because someone had literally slipped me an
possible, but Tamid is set apart because it
opportunity to combine two of my greatest
allows for more than just discussion. Two
passions, Israel and business, in an academic
fundamental tenants of the organization
club. Through further investigation and
are application and immersion, allowing
involvement with the group, I discovered
us to truly experience and understand the
that, although Tamid is a multi-faceted and
critical economic relationship between
intricate program, it can be summed up just
America and Israel.
as I found it on my dorm floor: real-life expe-
Apart from going through the program
rience with Israeli businesses.
itself, I also have been able to see how
Tamid is the brilliant brainchild of
it works from the inside. Because it is
U-M seniors Dian Ingall and Sasha Gribov.
still such a young organization, Tamid is
Three years ago, they noticed the discon-
constantly changing and growing. It has
nect between Michigan undergraduates and
already evolved from the mere passion
Israel's booming economic sector. With inge-
and interest of two friends into a tangible
nuity, savvy business skills and hundreds of
venture involving nearly 70 motivated
hours spent brainstorming and networking,
they developed the framework of the program undergraduates.
I have been able to see how much of
to fill the niche for students to connect with
the executive board, conscious of their
the rapidly expanding Israeli economy.
approaching graduation, has allowed for
The structure they initially created has
feedback and increasing involvement from
adapted to the program's growth and an
influx of new ideas, but still operates with the the newer members. This puts Tamid's
continued growth and development in the
original idea for a three-phased program. A
hands of me and my peers, who are eager
student's first semester in Tamid is education:
for the opportunity to act as catalysts to
a hands-on, business education seminar series
expand the group beyond the University of
given by Israeli business leaders, univer-
sity professors and
peers. Stage Two
is business applica-
Alt
tion: management
of a portfolio of
Israeli securities
or consulting for
Israeli start-ups.
The last and, for
me, the most entic-
ing phase is the
fellowship program:
immersion in Israel
through a funded
summer internship.
This past semes-
ter, I completed the
education portion
of the program.
Tamid participants listen to speaker Rick Ziteiman
We met biweekly
discuss venture capitalism.
for seminars and
huddle sessions.
The seminars were
Michigan and eventually work to implement
the highlight of my Tamid experience so
it on campuses all around the country.
far because we were given the opportunity
Currently, we are at a critical juncture
to hear from and dialogue with some of the
for the program's success. The Bet (sec-
top professionals in the business sphere. The
ond) class has recently begun the Business
most intriguing included Michigan political
Application phase and is currently consult-
science professor Zvi Gittleman, interna-
ing for four Israeli start-up companies as
tional venture capitalist Rick Zitelman of
well as preparing to invest in Exchange-
Washington, D.C., Southfield philanthropist
Traded Funds (ETFs).
Joel Tauber and, via a slew of 1 a.m. confer-
The last part of the Tamid experience that
ence calls, businessmen currently in Israel.
has yet to be piloted is the Fellowship in
From each speaker we learned about dif-

Ann Arbor

M

www.theJEWISHNEWS.com

Israel. If that works as planned, we will
begin expanding to other campuses over the
upcoming year. If not, we have to go back to
the drawing board.
We are working tirelessly to design a well-
rounded experience for the Fellows in Israel,
beginning this summer. Our goal is for each
experience to include internship, travel, semi-
nars and in-person meetings with top busi-

ness people, but it will cost about $5,000 per
student and we need sponsors to make the
program a success.
To make a tax-deductible contribution or to
find out more about our program please visit
www.Tamidgroup.org or send an e-mail mes-
sage: info@Tamidgroup.org .

Allison Berman of West Bloomfield is a freshman
at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

U-MV! sophomores Amy Goldberg and Daniel Cohen-Arcamone. both of
West Bloomfield, work on a Tamid project.

AMIED

ISRAEL INVESTMENT GROU

ti

Donate online a

or make a tax-deductible co

tion

ID:
by sending checks to T
1021 Vaughn, Apt Bo, Ann Arbor, 448104

1569250

di •

jelliish@edil

February 11 • 2010

3