6 | MARCH 17 • 2022 update Operation Re-Connect A fter two years of COVID-restricted travel to Israel, Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA) CEO Scott Hiipakka finally arrived in the Start-Up Nation for a five-day whirl- wind visit in January. Meeting hosts rolled out the “red carpet” — meeting a real live American in the flesh, without the filter of a computer screen, was both exciting and encour- aging as we hopefully turn “the COVID corner.” The MIBA team in Israel, myself and Liza Yedwab, accompanied Scott throughout the week, meeting with multi- ple business and government partners on the ground, sep- arated only by masks. While most visits were defense ori- ented, MIBA ’s other strategic areas of focus were addressed, including health, sustainability and mobility. The message at all meetings was clear — do not underestimate the potential of collaborating with Michigan! We were welcomed warmly at Elbit, Israel’s largest private- ly traded defense electronics company. They were excited to learn about furthering rela- tionships with Michigan, espe- cially when hearing about the options for defense product experimentation in Michigan’s National All Domain Warfighting Center — Camp Grayling. Our meeting with the Defense Cooperation of the U.S. Embassy surpassed expectations. We were pleasantly surprised to be welcomed by six embassy representatives, including the defense attaché. Again, they were fascinated to learn about the state of Michigan and its potential in the defense arena. A day with the leaders of the innovation teams at Ben Gurion University of the Negev and the Municipality of Beer Sheeva showcased the endless creativity and inno- vation of this southern desert city. Focusing on future col- laboration in areas including sustainability, digital health and cyber, they showed deep interest in developing a strong relationship with the city of Detroit and with the innova- tion segments of Michigan universities. The encounters with them were inspiring. They proudly fulfill the leg- acy of the namesake of their university, David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister and advocate of the potential of the desert when he said, “It’s not enough to be up to date, you have to be up to tomorrow.” It is not often that Israelis, who serve in compulsory military service from age 18 and continue in reserve duty into their 40s, meet a U.S. Brigadier General (CEO Scott Naomi Miller PURELY COMMENTARY continued on page 9 1942 - 2022 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week To make a donation to the DETROIT JEWISH NEWS FOUNDATION go to the website www.djnfoundation.org The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is published every Thursday at 32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, Farmington Hills, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. 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