An annual conference for chareidi businessmen and
entrepreneurs was held in Jerusalem last week. Initiated by
the Jerusalem Center for Fostering Enterprise, the conference
was held on the theme, "Setting Up a Business as a Source of
Livelihood" and was designed to provide knowledge and tools
for businessmen and entrepreneurs from the chareidi sector as
well as information on business assistance.
Held in the hall of the City of Jerusalem's Torah Culture
Wing, the conference was attended by top businessmen from the
religious and chareidi sectors, experts and professionals,
and other figures from the economic and financial
community.
HaRav Simchoh Kook, Chief Rabbi of Rechovot, spoke about the
issue of kosher money: ono'as devorim, ono'as mommon,
halonas sechar and shemiras Shabbos.
Speaking at the conference Minister Ehud Olmert said,
"Available opportunities in different areas and populations
must be equalized. Priority should be given to the social
periphery (chareidim, immigrants and minorities) and the
geographical periphery. In the coming days I intend to
present my ministry's plan for an employment policy relating
to increasing the level of employment and reducing the
unemployment rate."
The Small Businesses Authority and the Center for Fostering
Enterprise special services will be provided to the chareidi
sector including participation in introductory workshops to
assess the possibility of setting up and managing business
enterprises, participation in courses on the issues of setup
and management and help in raising funding to set up the
business.
Uri Saraf, director of the Center for Fostering Enterprise,
said, "In recent years the Jerusalem and Bnei Brak Centers
for Fostering Enterprise have trained over 1,800 men and
3,300 women in courses on how to manage and set up a
business. In the chareidi sectors of Jerusalem and Bnei Brak
778 new businesses have been set up; expanded or survived
through the help of the Center for Fostering Enterprise.
There are currently 393 businesses, which has created 3,700
new jobs.
At a panel of businessmen Avi Katz, head of Kfar Shashuaim
chain, the Hakol Bedollar, Pipo and Sheshes, said he manages
a chain of 192 stores around the country with an annual sales
turnover of over NIS 400 million. "I am living proof in
business there is no need for formal education and a business
can be set up through professional advisors and assistance--
but it requires persistence.
The Center for Fostering Enterprise counsels and guides
businesses, obtains loans to advance businesses and holds
courses and training on issues associated with the setup of
businesses.
The conference was organized by Pirsum Neto-Horovitz and
sponsored by Microsoft Israel and Avis.
For further details call the Jerusalem Center for Fostering
Enterprise at 1-800-23-20-23 or Shay Horovitz at 02-
6529133.
