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LEARNING ‘CHUTZPAH’
The assortment of social backgrounds and experience that Israel’s immigrants brought
with them to their new home often caused detachment between groups, but in dealing
with others, Israelis soon learned the value of “chutzpah,” a Yiddish word meaning insolent
audacity or assertiveness. With the help of chutzpah, Israelis master the value of refusing
to fail – a highly coveted trait among entrepreneurs – from a young age, carrying their
determination, or stubbornness to succeed, into their future endeavors. “What drives us
is the desire to improve and excel, as well as the desire to build things by ourselves,” says
Gil Shwed, the Founder, Chairman and CEO of one of Israel’s most successful high-tech
companies, Check Point.