11/7 to 11/9 | A (Failed) Trip to the Intel Factory in Kiryat Gat and a Week of Class

Today, my Business Ethics and Social Responsibility class was scheduled to make a trip to the Intel "Fab 18" factory in Kiryat Gat.  Intel is one of Israel's biggest private employers with five complexes spread out throughout the nation.  It is noted for being ranked among the best places to work in the country and is celebrated for its inclusive diversity.  In each of Intel's buildings, people of Jewish, Arab, Druze, and Bedouin ethnicities work together in some of the world's most technologically advanced environments.  My professor, Advocate J.R. Weiner, scheduled a tour for our class so that we could have an opportunity to see Israeli industry in action.

At 2:00 in the afternoon, we were told to meet in front of the Boyar Building in order to get on the bus to Kiryat Gat.  Located halfway between Jerusalem and Beersheva to the south, the ride takes about 45 minutes plus or minus a few depending on traffic.  Professor Weiner told us that we would be leaving at 2:05 sharp, and that anybody running late would be left behind.  At 2:10, we realized that Professor Weiner was nowhere to be found and that there was not a large bus as promised, but a small van.  This was especially odd considering our professor urged us all to invite as many people as we wanted.  After approximately 30 minutes of confusion, Professor Weiner finally drove up next to the bus and ushered anybody that could not fit in the van into his car.  A few people left because there was no room but it did not matter because we were finally off to what was promised to be an amazing experience!

As we were driving to Kiryat Gat, I received a call from my friend Fara in Professor Weiner's car.  Not only was he lost, we soon determined that he went all the way north to Tel Aviv, near Ben Gurion Airport, instead of south towards Beersheva.  After a few more calls, we figured out how to get our professor heading in the right direction; unfortunately, by that time, we had nearly arrived at Intel.  Upon arriving, we were told to wait in a 10 minute parking zone because our escort was nowhere to be found.  After waiting the full 10 minutes (we set off an alarm), we were allowed to drive into the Intel complex.  Professor Weiner told us to find a guy by the name of Ophree, who would lead us on our tour.  This was like finding a needle in a haystack considering the Kiryat Gat complex contains over 7,000 employees.  When we finally found the entrance we needed, we were told that the tour had been canceled due to the time (we were over half an hour late).  Instead of the scheduled tour, we were taken into a conference room where we were given a rather boring presentation on Intel's ethical practices.  Fortunately, there were plenty of bourekas and rugelach to go around, so everyone ate well!

The path taken by the van from Jerusalem to Kiryat Gat.

The path taken by Professor Weiner from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport to Kiryat Gat.

Right as the presentation was ending, in walked our professor and those students who rode in his car.  The presenter, a veteran at Intel, improvised a little longer so that the new arrivals could get a feel for what we had discussed, but the whole trip was essentially a lost cause.  We then got back on the bus (including many of those who rode in his car) and headed back to Hebrew University, where I had my weekly chavruta session with Ben.  Although today was rather disappointing, it was definitely an experience we can all laugh about in the future.

The Intel logo.

The main building in the Intel complex. 

An industrial building in the Intel complex.

There is not much else happening this week, so I don't think I'll have much to write about.  This weekend there is a shabbaton to Arad, though, that is definitely something I am look forward to!