Jerusalem – Jewish Brain Power Fuels Israeli Technology

Jerusalem – Israel may be one of the smallest countries in the world, but it is a global leader in technology. A ground breaking new book explains why and points out the implications for the United States.

Just north of Tel Aviv in Herzilya is an area that some people call Israel’s Silicon Valley. Israel’s technology has become an economic powerhouse. A 2008 survey showed that Israel ranks second only to the U.S. in six key areas of technological innovation.

Concentrated Efforts

One reason — Jewish brain power is concentrated in the tiny nation of Israel.

Yoram Ettinger is a consultant on overseas investments in Israel’s high tech industry. He said that Jewish immigration to Israel from around the world is one of the reasons for Israel’s success in the field.

“Then we have the Jews from the former Soviet Union who have replenished the composition of high tech, science, technology in engineering in Israel. Then we have immigrants from the U.S.A., immigrants from Europe and then also ex-patriots, who have returned from the Silicon Valley, from Massachusetts, from Texas, from Washington, etc,” Ettinger said.

Israel developed the cell phone. The Intel Pentium processor in your computer was most likely made in Israel. Voice technology was developed in Israel, and the tiny country is making advances in solar power and contributing to medical and scientific breakthroughs.

It also produces cutting edge military technology. One prime example is the F-16.

“Over 600 modifications have been introduced by Israel into the current generation of the F-16, which is a symptom of the cutting edge technologies and capabilities you have in Israel,” Ettinger said.

The ‘Israel Test’

Despite its enormous contributions to the world, Israel remains one of the most hated nations on earth. What could be the explanation for this?

In his new book, The Israel Test author George Gilder said Israel is hated because it is successful, free, and good.

Jews throughout history have contributed to humanity disproportionately. For example, Jews make up a miniscule proportion of the world’s population but have produced more than 20 percent of the Nobel Prize winners, he said.

According to Gilder, anti-Semitism both throughout the ages and today is fueled by envy and greed, whether from last century’s Nazi Germany or today’s radical Islam.

Israel is the crucial battlefield of our time and stands at the crossroads of civilization and barbarism, Gilder said.

He contends that the U.S. and the West need to stand by Israel. “The Israel test” is a test we must pass – not only for Israel’s survival but for our own as well,” he said.