The true meaning of Zionism in the Dan Hotel

Life is about the pursuit of meaning and purpose. Man was destined to struggle on this earth to find his place in this world. Sometimes, friends, family, and acquaintances can help to guide you in a certain direction. Sometimes, miracles will occur to help wake you and see your chosen path in life. Life is a never ending quest to find true purpose for oneself but the will and the determination to overcome the various obstacles in life will empower someone to achieve greatness.

I was on this quest to find my professional place in the Pro Israel world in order to help Israel globally. My goal was to speak on behalf of Israel to people who needed to hear the truth about this beautiful but small land. I reached out to the whole professional Jewish world asking them to help me find my place within Israel Advocacy. After being in Israel for four years, I went to America to try my luck with the American Jewish Pro Israel organizations. All of a sudden, I was invited to a social media conference in Israel due to my work on Facebook promoting Israel. Then, a close friend of mine told me that the best way for me to help Israel and live a life with meaning is to stay in Israel. Consequently, a window opened in my life and I found a job working with Guest Relations at the Dan Hotel in Tel Aviv.

Being at the Dan hotel was truly a blessing, I was able to remain in Israel while fulfilling my dream of interacting with the whole world who come to Israel for various reasons. Seeing the guest’s love and admiration for Israel and for the Dan hotel is truly heartwarming. The  foundation of the hotel is filled with Zionist values including that the first Prime Minister of Israel David Ben Gurion stayed at the Dan Hotel. The origins of the Dan Hotel chain began in 1947 before the creation of the state Israel.  The Federmann family bought Kaete Dan, a small guest house on Tel Aviv beach. They took the name from the previous owner which led them to  form the Dan Hotels Corporation. The Dan Tel Aviv was built  in 1953 and became the city’s first luxury hotel. The Dan chain owns 14 hotels throughout Israel including the prestigious King David hotel in Jerusalem. Since the creation of the state of Israel, visitors and celebrities, such as Madonna and the Rolling Stones, from all over the world have stayed at the hotel while visiting the holy land and doing business with the holy land. Working in a highly respected and luxurious hotel in the heart of Tel Aviv overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, what more could you ask for!!!

Working in Guest Relations allows me to become an unofficial ambassador to Israel. Hearing every guest’s personal story and their connection to Israel is very inspiring and demonstrates how Israel is so important to people and their work and passion. Israel attracts businessmen from around the world from Japan to America. Business meetings are conducted in the business lounge where important details are discussed among business partners. Political events and gatherings are taking place within the Dan hotels where international diplomacy is brought to the forefront. Networking is occurring every day within the hotel while I have the opportunity to personally help every guest that walks into the hotel. On the way down to eat in the dining room, guests will marvel at the pictures decorating the dining walls of the various celebrities and politicians who chose to stay at the Dan during their time in Israel. The Dan hotel attracts the whole world to come to Israel and find their second home away from home.

This is the real Zionist dream and the fulfillment of the Zionist enterprise. To appropriately help Israel, one must contribute to Israeli society whether it is to work in Israel, provide charities to Zionist causes, visit Israel, or promote Israel to the world. I was able to find my path where I can live in Israel, work in one of the most prestigious hotels and influence guests from around the world to show them the kind and compassionate face of Israel.

Along with interacting with guests at the hotel, I am constantly attending various functions in the political and diplomatic world to enhance my knowledge about the various issues concerning facing Israel diplomatic and political world. I took the hand that was reached out to me with the Dan Hotel which allowed me to enter the most prestigious and historical hotel chain in Israel. My hope is to use the new skills and experience learned in Guest Relations at the Dan Hotel to become a stronger advocate for the state of Israel while helping the Dan Hotel to expand their already prestigious name to more businesses, organizations, and other people who wish to come to Israel.  The Dan hotel is the physical symbolism of Zionism which is to help people in Israel while providing them all of the care and attention which I am proudly part of in the Guest Relations.