Our students while studying abroad with Rimon Fellows at The Hebrew University of Rothberg’s International School get the opportunity to not only breathe the air of the Land of Israel, they actually get to live and experience it. One major component of that is getting the opportunity to intern in the Israeli workforce. These are not your typical students nor typical internships, there’s no photocopying or menial tasks for hours at end, but actual work experience in the very heart of the Start Up Nation.
As Toby Kerekes, Director of Partnership Development at Rothberg says, “Students say that internships are a highlight of their study abroad experience. They offer a taste of the “real world”, amazing skills and professional development. Our internships span across a wide spectrum of fields ranging from start up companies, research labs, and more.”
Israel has rightfully earned the nickname of Startup Nation” for very good reason: With a population of around 8.5 million, it has the highest number of startups per capita in the world, around one startup per 1,400 people. Wow! Our alumni from this past semester who got to intern firsthand within this Israeli world of the Start Up Nation during a global pandemic reflect on their experiences.
Lexi Shafa, a Rimon Fellows Fall 2020 student that’s home university is UCLA majoring in pre-med got to intern at Bishvilaych, the first and only nonprofit women’s health organization in Israel. Bishvilaych’s mission is to provide preventive medical care, educate others, and initiate outreach to other health care professionals. Here’s what she had to say about her experience, “My role at Bishvilaych was very fulfilling as I had the opportunity to meet with and learn from doctors, patients, nurses, nutritionists, and other leaders. I analyzed public health in Israel and how effective it is in preventing and treating diseases that are rampant amongst women. It is a true honor to have the opportunity to work side by side the inspiring women at Bishvilaych.”
Another internship opportunity is at OrCam, co-founded in 2010 by Professor Amnon Shashua and Mr. Ziv Aviram (also the co-founders of Mobileye), their mission is to harness the power of artificial vision by incorporating pioneering technology into a wearable outlet that improves the lives of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, and/or have reading difficulties. Alumnus Jacob Korman, an undergraduate at Yeshiva University back in the U.S. had the opportunity to intern there this past semester and reflects on his experience, “In the midst of this pandemic, I was able to come to Israel through Rimon Fellows and have the opportunity to gain real work experience by interning at Israeli startup, Orcam. I was able to create reports for several countries via access to OrCam's World Report. It was a truly unique experience that I know will allow me to continue to build my career!”
Not to mention that Hebrew University boasts an impressive Faculty of Medicine, as well as medical labs which several of our students interned at this past semester. Rimon Fellow Samantha Breslauer, a pre-med student at Columbia University reflects on her experience in Hebrew University’s neurotherapy lab: “This past semester I worked as a research assistant at a computerized neurotherapy lab. I was involved with aiding in neuro stimulation treatment to youth with ADHD to help improve their condition as an alternative to medication. This experience has given me the opportunity to work with patients despite coronavirus. I was also given more responsibility to lead research analysis and conduct experiments. This is something that I would have never had the opportunity to partake in at my university in the U.S."
Another Rimon Fellow, Avigail Winkor majoring in Biology and Neuroscience at Yeshiva University interned with Dr. Elyakim Kislev, a research fellow at The Harry S. Truman Research Institute, where she’s had the opportunity to help write articles that he publishes on Psychology Today, one such article discusses singlehood in observant communities. Avigail has enjoyed her time being here and her internship so much that she’s decided to stay for the spring semester as well. Reflecting on her internship experience with Dr. Kislev, Avigail said, “I get the opportunity to write articles that he publishes on Psychology Today, which isn't something I've been able to do through any other undergraduate program. Thank you to Rimon and Rothberg for making this (and the whole semester) happen.”
Besides being a leader in the world of technology, Israel is also one of the leading countries in NGO’s, Rimon Fellow Sophie Samuels, a student at Columbia University majoring in Psychology worked as a marketing intern at HilmaTech this past semester. HilmaTech is a hi-tech non-profit NGO that develops applications & programs to improve education, health, & welfare for the broader population.
Here’s what she has to say of her experience, “Working at Hilmatech as a marketing intern was a very fulfilling experience. Not only was I given the opportunity to see first hand the way that Israel is creating innovations to benefit the world, I also really felt like I was actually contributing it, rather than simply following someone around and saying I “worked” there. I am glad to not only have this on my resume but for the experience of working with actual people in the non-profit, start up world. I’m so thankful that Rimon Fellows gave me this opportunity.”
Sophie recently published an article regarding a questionnaire that HilmaTech developed for victims of domestic abuse titled The I-Risk Questionnaire allowing for users to understand what to do if they are in an abusive relationship. She is continuing her internship with the NGO while back at her home university in the U.S.
Several of our other students interned at companies such as Mecomi, OurCrowd, as well as at local schools in the neighborhood and have decided to continue interning remotely upon their return to their home university in the U.S. It’s an experience that has not only broadened their resumes, but their horizons as well.