6 | JULY 21 • 2022 essay Beer Sheba — Israel’s Innovation Capital B eer Sheba (known in Hebrew as Be’er Sheva) is not on most visitors’ itinerary to Israel, but once arriving at what was often regard- ed as a sleepy desert out- post in Israel’s socio-economic periphery, the visitor now finds Israel’s inno- vation capital. The capital of Israel’s Negev is developing a most impressive 650-acre innovation district that will connect the city’s aca- demic institutions, industry and the community, focusing on digital health solutions, desert technologies and cyber. Professor Daniel Haimovich, president of Ben- Gurion University, says it very clearly, over seven decades after Israel’s first prime minister David Ben-Gurion advocated the potential of the desert, “The innovation dis- trict is no longer a project but a significant landmark in the emerging history of the State of Israel and the Negev area in particular. I can already envi- sion how the district will look: the whole area will be bustling with activity: innovative proj- ects, promising new startups, technological and scientific advancements, blooming research, and multiple proj- ects and collaborations that will be realized. Something big is about to happen … It will set the stage for ongoing action toward fulfilling earlier dreams.” Currently, Beer Sheba is home to the world’s first Innovation Center for Climate Change, specializing in des- ert technology. It will be joined by DeserTech, a newly launched desert technology company announced by the Israeli Innovation Institute. Following suit, the Israeli gov- ernment declared Beer Sheba the Cyber Capital of Israel and went into action by moving the IDF technology and com- munications divisions to the Negev. The cooperation between the city’s institutions, includ- ing Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), with its 20,000 students, the Tech Park and the Soroka Medical Naomi Miller LIORG1993 PURELY COMMENTARY continued on page 8 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. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334 MISSION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will be of service to the Jewish community. The Detroit Jewish News will inform and educate the Jewish and general community to preserve, protect and sustain the Jewish people of greater Detroit and beyond, and the State of Israel. VISION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will operate to appeal to the broadest segments of the greater Detroit Jewish community, reflecting the diverse views and interests of the Jewish community while advancing the morale and spirit of the community and advocating Jewish unity, identity and continuity. DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com Publisher The Detroit Jewish News Foundation | Board of Directors: Chair: Gary Torgow Vice President: David Kramer Secretary: Robin Axelrod Treasurer: Max Berlin Board members: Larry Jackier, Jeffrey Schlussel, Mark Zausmer Senior Advisor to the Board: Mark Davidoff Alene and Graham Landau Archivist Chair: Mike Smith Founding President & Publisher Emeritus: Arthur Horwitz Founding Publisher Philip Slomovitz, of blessed memory | Editorial DIrector of Editorial: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@thejewishnews.com Associate Editor: Rachel Sweet rsweet@thejewishnews.com Associate Editor: David Sachs dsachs@thejewishnews.com Social Media and Digital Producer: Nathan Vicar nvicar@thejewishnews.com Staff Reporter: Danny Schwartz dschwartz@thejewishnews.com Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@thejewishnews.com Contributing Writers: Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Keri Guten Cohen, Shari S. Cohen, Shelli Liebman Dorfman, Louis Finkelman, Stacy Gittleman, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Barbara Lewis, Jennifer Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, Robin Schwartz, Mike Smith, Steve Stein, Julie Smith Yolles, Ashley Zlatopolsky | Advertising Sales Director of Advertising: Keith Farber kfarber@thejewishnews.com Senior Account Executive: Kathy Harvey-Mitton kmitton@thejewishnews.com | Business Office Director of Operations: Amy Gill agill@thejewishnews.com Operations Manager: Andrea Gusho agusho@thejewishnews.com Operations Assistant: Ashlee Szabo Circulation: Danielle Smith Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner | Production By Farago & Associates Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Kaitlyn Iezzi, Kelly Kosek, Deborah Schultz, Michelle Sheridan Beer Sheba at night