Notes from Re'ut Institute

Reut Institute is an Israeli Tel-Aviv based Think Tank. Avraham Infield, the founder of

Hillel is an inspiration for Gidi Grinstein.


Rabbi Ben-Zakie, leading the Jewish people during the destruction of the 2nd Temple left
Jerusalem in a coffin. He went to Yavney to establish a school to ensure the continutation
of the Jewish people. This is one of the first examples of Zionism.

Zionism was created to ensure the security of the Jews. Zionism is also about the Jewish
culture, prosperity, and Jewish majority in our homeland. Grinstein expresses that the
primary transforming piece that shapes the face of Zionism is the ways in which Jews connect
to Israel. There is a mismatch between the global Jewish world and the function of the
State of Israel.

Hehezkel Dror on Zionism in the 21st century said:
"The ability to compete is of fundamental importance... Israel's ability to compete is
imperative for its long-term prosperity"

Gidi Grenstein said: "Culture is part of prosperity"

Israel's external investment needs to be focused on
1. Moral High Ground
2. Jewish Added Value
3. Top 15

Moral High Ground - the values and responsibility of the young Jewish leaders on campus
Jewish Added Value - Development of uniquely Israeli products
Top 15 - Israel must remain in the top 15 developed nations of the world.

Being one of the top 10 in technology in the world gives us the potential to achieve this.
Israel's weakness lies on its dependence on government influence and policies.

Complexity of Challenges
- Existential Threats - the only country that talks about "ensuring its survival"
- Soci-Economic
- Sustainable Development - 2% growth per year (U.S. is 1%)
- Arab Minority
- Jewish World

Weak Governing Capacity
One of the weakest governments in the world. The average minister stays in power for 1 1/2
years. This presents a stronger need for strategic development, but an environment that
can't support it.

RI operational logic is to make Israel stay relevent during permanent adversity.
RI functions like a policy SWAT Team.

BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY - BY Harvard Business School
Red Ocean - feirce competition over small margins. Like sharks swimming in a bloodly ocean.
Blue Ocean - free swimming, like iPods
The challange of a Blue Ocean is always having to prove yourself

Educational Institution
Research Strategy: Knowledge / Expertise
Response Time: Weeks / Months
Focus: Information
Impact: Publishing Articles
Product: Policy / administration

Reut Institute
Research Strategy: Methodology
Response Time: Days
Focus: Mindset
Impact: Developing a Network
Strucutre: Teams
Prodcuts: 6 unique products

Reut can be the best in the world at making decision makers stay relevant.
Reut passion is focued on the State of Israel and the Jewish people.

How can we help? "Shop for ideas" of how to utilize our leverage.
Every part of the process needs to be transparent. This is the only way to make their
suggestions possible for those they're trying to help.

1995 - Rabin negotiates with Palestinian Economics
1.
2. Preserving the freedom of movement
3. Transitional Agreement (perment in a few years)
4.

Rabin created the "Economic Envelope." Through this system, there are Israeli officers that
collect and distribute monies to Palestinians.

The current policy is framed during a time when:
1. There is a wall
2. There is no free movement of goods and services
3. No agreement in sight
4. Israeli is actually WORKING with the PA

In essence, Rabin's agreement (10 years ago) has been redered irrelevant by our current
policies and actions (in 2005).

RI pointed out the the case now might be that the positions may be invereted. Therefore, we
should dismantel the "ISRAELI Collecting Process," and allow the PA to sort it out - because
they want and are striving for their own structure right now.


Our problem in Israel is not the quality of research. The problem is keeping those Israeli
researchers in Israel. Offering them a system that can compare with the 6 figure, safe
neighborhood environments in the US.

Creating your Mindset
1. Determining Where you look for your information
2. Deciding What value do you assign to that information
3. Refuse to accept the given mindset as the set way

25% of the information RI presents the government requests
25% of the information RI presents is pushed by RI
50% is developed by their on-going relationship