Business Books for Olim – Route 38 Blog

Starting a business in Israel as an oleh (immigrant) comes with its own unique challenges—but fortunately, there’s no shortage of wisdom to guide you along the way. From understanding Israeli business culture to navigating the nitty-gritty of banking and entrepreneurship, these books offer practical advice, inspiration and insider tips for succeeding in the Israeli market.

Books about business in Israel

Be inspired by the personal stories in Power Talks with Women Entrepreneurs: A Collection of Inspiring Success Stories & Secrets from Women in Business by Lesley Kaplan. Owners of small and medium-sized businesses reveal their mistakes–so you don’t make the same ones–and their tips for successful entrepreneurship. The book covers topics such as managing your social media, boosting productivity and successful lead generation.

In Israeli Business Culture: Building Effective Business Relationships with Israelis, Osnat Lautman writes about what makes Israeli business culture unique. She explains the Israeli business mentality clearly to businesspeople overseas and to olim. Native Israelis and veteran immigrants will also benefit from understanding how they are perceived abroad and which aspects of their business culture may be misunderstood.

Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle by Dan Senor and Saul Singer is the story of how a nation with practically no natural resources has become such a big economic success, with its highly evolved hi-tech ecosystem. Although this book was not written as a manual for Israeli businesspeople, it contains important entrepreneurial lessons and provides a deeper understanding of the Israeli business world.

In Israel, bank accounts for small businesses are the same as personal accounts. Unfortunately, banks can be very confusing for new (and old) olim. Smarter Israeli Banking by Rifka Lebowitz demystifies Israeli banking with clear explanations on bank fees, how credit cards work here, getting a bank loan and tons of other useful information.

Books about business written by olim

Small Business Success Toolbox & Guide: How to Build & Brand Your Biz by Lesley Kaplan is a workbook for maximizing productivity, sustaining a competitive edge and boosting profits. Lesley has been a business owner in Israel for over 30 years and has infused the book with her experience and knowledge.

Leah Aharoni’s Business According to Moses is a Torah-based home-study course that focuses on building your business in an ethical and balanced way. Leah has owned multiple businesses in Israel over the past 30 years and she combines Jewish wisdom, psychology and practical tools to give your business a boost.

Fern Reiss’ series about publishing includes three books: The Publishing Game: Find an Agent in 30 Days, The Publishing Game: Publish a Book in 30 Days and The Publishing Game: Bestseller in 30 Days. Fern is a veteran olah and an expert in traditional and self-publishing, particularly as a tool for promoting a business.

Running a business is essentially a leadership position, whether you are leading employees, freelancers or your clients. Weekly Habits for Extraordinary Leaders by Daphna Horowitz covers important topics such as establishing successful workplace habits to create a positive culture and strategies to shift your mindset from surviving to thriving.

Looking for more practical advice on managing a business in Israel? These articles provide practical tips for getting started and succeeding.