TRADE& BUSINESS
March 2023
Traveling in style and luxury doesn ׳ t necessarily mean having the most expensive experience but adjusting your travel to what you value the most
done on time, say it. • Israelis Work Sundays
improve your comprehension and vocabulary, but it's rec- ommended to take notes, get a hard copy, and a dictionary as you learn. Most impor - tantly, listen to the entire section before passing on to the written material. Learning Hebrew is one of the best de- cisions you can make before your trip to Israel if you want to do business or anything at all. Wrapping It Up Tel Aviv might very well be the next Silicon Valley, but it's a good idea to extend your sights to the likes of Jerusa - lem, Haifa, and Beer Sheva. Jerusalem, for instance, is home to roughly 400 start - ups, with its strongest busi- nesses in sectors such as AI, biotech and life sciences, machine learning, and health tech. Entrepreneurs enter the scene at a rapid pace, and without a website or office, it can be difficult, if not impos - sible, to locate ventures that align with your interests with- out the help of local partners. Combine forces and share experiences, opportunities, and profits.
Through Thursdays. It's worth noting that the standard work week is from Sunday to Thurs - day. Even if some companies remain open during the week - end, business officially ends on Friday evening. Friday, af - ter sundown, and Saturday is part of the Shabbat. Rules in- clude but aren't limited to not working, not using electricity, and not conducting any form of business. It's Highly Recommended to Know Hebrew Before Visiting Israel International business is conducted mostly in English, but if you want to impress your new contacts, learning a few basic phrases in He- brew doesn't hurt. Don't let linguistic anxiety have you avoid this age-old language. Audio books make it possible to learn Hebrew while doing something else, so they help even if audiobooks don't replace grinding through. The language you hear pas- sively is still being absorbed. Audio books to learn Hebrew
to learn how business deals are done to display a level of respect and consideration to your peers. Business partners invest time into building rap - port, meaning you'll be treat - ed more like a friend rather than a formal business con - nection. If you want to share a more productive relationship, leverage the power of infor- mal interactions by inviting a business partner to lunch to seal the deal. Here are other basic rules to familiarize your - self with: • A Handshake Is the Typical Greeting. A good handshake conveys confidence and poise, so it's not just a useless formality. You're doing much more than saying "hello." Using the left hand isn't con- sidered respectful by Arab Israelis because the Islamic principles prescribe that the left hand should be used only for the removal of dirt and cleaning. • Building Strong Networks Usually Requires "Chutzpah."
Chutzpah can be defined as audacity, directness, incred- ible gut, and self-confidence. Israelis are renowned for their direct and assertive style, meaning their style of communication is frank and sometimes blunt. Get straight to the point no matter what you're trying to say. Divergent opinions are accepted, as they can lead to some benefits. • The Dress Code in Israel Is Quite Forgiving. Israel is a pro - gressive, relaxed country, so choose a smart-casual style. A good way to achieve this look is to pair pieces of different formality levels, like chinos and a blazer or a pencil skirt and a vibrant sweater. • You Should Arrive on Time. Israelis tend to be punctual, so try to arrive on time, yet don't be surprised if the business meeting starts later. It's accept - able to arrive later than the designated time. Still, if you ar - rive about one half-hour later, it may be considered rude. If you really need things to be
12 • www.itn.co.il
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