Working with mostly US-based tech companies, I’m often asked about life in Israel, especially since the Oct. 7 attacks. While I try to steer clear of politics, I do love advocating for our people, and never run out of testaments to our nation’s true character. Today was no exception, as our “all for one, one for all” spirit outweighed two universal priorities: time and money.
Quick context: In Israel, a 21-year-old man is likely serving in the military, recently discharged, or called back for reserve duty. Guess how old my son is…
So, last night he called to say that during a mission, he and his unit encountered what he refers to as an incident, and now one of his front teeth is broken. They graciously granted him an 8-hour leave to deal with it, and he was wondering if I could please make all the necessary arrangements. I counted my blessings (multiple times) and switched into COO mode.
Fast-forward over the details, we just got back from the dentist’s office. Our dentist, a highly accomplished, in-demand professional whose credentials I’ll share below (pending clearance), heard the circumstances under which, and decided that lunch breaks were overrated. As always, she did an incredible, impeccable job, but this time, she refused to accept payment. I believe I managed to keep it together for a solid 2 seconds before bursting into tears.
The second rule of storytelling is: When messaging anything, show, don’t tell. Concrete examples like this are far more relatable and effective than any ivory-tower ideology. The first rule, in case you’re wondering, is to figure out your reason why.
The internet is full of stories about acts of kindness and altruism like this one. These stories reaffirm my belief that, even under the most excruciating circumstances, we’re still those people—those “all for one, one for all,” profoundly principled people.