Jerusalem: Business, Brains, Beauty and Start-Ups

Oh, well, I have been doing everything wrong.

When I started posting,

it was assumed that RJS was done by a man.

Being anonymous,

 I used to receive emails forwarded

from laughing friends, “Oh my, you really know him!”

To stand out, one must tell a unique story,

and that was this year’s theme at the

6th Temech Conference for Women in Business.

The first year I attended Temech,

I did not know anyone.

This year it was different,

it was wonderful to see so many friends participating,

and as always so many accomplished women speakers.

Mayor Barkat and temech

Mayor Nir Barkat spoke first in Hebrew

 and then in English to over 600 religious women,

all Israeli business women and entrepreneurs.

I admit that lunch was a real treat.

photo food

 For women who prepare meals day after day,

a delicious buffet, without cutting and chopping,

 is itself a mini-holiday.

However,

this day was about growing business

with many speakers and sessions.

BIRG: Basking in Reflecting Glory,

Rabbi Issamat Ginzberg

was the first tip from Rabbi Issamar Ginzberg,

whose Hassidic background and dress enables him

to stand out as an unique business adviser.

Issamar Ginzberg sitting with Aryeh Deri

Ginzberg sat with MK Arye Deri

Issamar Ginzberg and Moshe Gafni

and then with MK Moshe Gafni,

both speakers at the conference plenary.

Only Ginzberg actually sat for less then 30 seconds each time.

He must have counted on the abilities of this great photographer

to capture the moment.

A wise business tip brilliantly exemplified.

Another popular session was with Haim Walder,

a Hebrew writer who had lines of women waiting

to buy his books and talk to him.

Nir Barkat with book by Haim WAdler

Walder presented his book to the Mayor,

yet another example of business savvy.

There were piles of business cards on a special table,

Temech

including my new postcard.

However, taking inspiration from these examples,

I will share that I studied Chemistry and worked in

Biochemical research at The Rockefeller University

after graduating university with honors.

So this being start-up Israel,

I went to hear about VLX bio-med start up funding.

Quill illustration

What brilliant ideas inspired by nature.

Maybe basking in glory.

image Peptides

 but I confess that I did not understand most of the peptide lecture.

Brilliant ideas and creativity and innovation,

Jerusalem Botanical Gardens at sunset

and the beauty of the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens as the sun set.

Hundreds of talented, hard-working Haredi women,

ingenious Jerusalem bio-med start ups,

so what did you hear about this week?

Tosca at Masada

There are times that you just have to leave Jerusalem

in order to see something special.

A performance of Tosca at Masada

is really something to see.

Operas are usually about

Tosca stage

 the stars and their voices,

orchestra close up

the music,

Tosca at Masada

and the actors on stage.

 Giacomo Puccini’s opera Tosca,

produced by the Israel Opera Company,

view of stage

is being performed at Masada in the desert.

Tosca at Masada

The seating is constructed in the desert sand,

and stands stories high.

metal structure at Tosca

The support pipes inside are amazing.

It is hard to show just how big the stage is.

opera stage

Stage left, there are stairs.

Tosca at Masada stage view

Do you see them now?

stage  for Tosca

They are under that giant statue.

Masada opera

The stars have a hard time hearing the music

since the stage is so large,

and use special microphones.

view of food and Dead Sea at opera at Masada

From the top of the seating area

there is a view of the Dead Sea overlooking the vast food court

Masada view from opera

and the huge parking areas for buses.

large lights for Opera

These are not jobs for those with fear of heights.

During the day workers have to be careful of the heat.

Operas are usually filled with drama.

Tosca, set in Rome in the year 1800,

 is full of

opera Tosca

intrigue,

opera singers on stage

murder,

Floria Tosca on stage

and torture.

Floria Tosca, a celebrated singer, did not have an easy life.

Alter boys in Tosca

But this stage is also filled with young faces,

and beautiful music,

Daniel Oren conducts at Masada

led by talented Israeli conductor Daniel Oren.

Masada orchestra

At this dress rehearsal, he repeatedly interrupted

and sang as he conducted the precise way

 he wanted this masterpiece to be staged.

The Italian lyrics of this tragic opera

are translated into Hebrew and English.

The production is big and beautiful.

But at the end of the day,

it is all makeup and make believe.

opera dressing room

This “tortured” actor can smile in his dressing room,

while the audience winds their way back home,

slowly on the road along the Dead Sea.

More than a show, it is an experience.