About this item
In Flexigidity, Gidi Grinstein offers a bird's eye systemic view of Jewish society, exploring the secret of Jewish survival, resilience, security, prosperity and leadership during past millennia. Gidi argues that this secret stems from a unique societal hybrid between old and new, tradition and innovation, rigidity and flexibility - Flexigidity. He shows how this hybrid exists in many areas of Jewish society including mission, community, law and membership. Grinstein then explores the impact of the State of Israel on Jewish society and on the Flexigidity of Judaism. He argues that Flexigidity, which has been the secret of success for Zionism and for the State of Israel, is being compromised by modern Israel. He then puts forth that Judaism's legacy of flexigidity may be key to Israel's future prosperity and security.
About the Author
Gidi Grinstein is the Founder and President of The Reut Institute, a Tel-Aviv based nonprofit and nonpartisan institution, described by Tom Friedman of the New York Times as "Israel's premier strategy group". Gidi's first book Flexigidity: The Invisible Hand of Jewish Adaptability was published in 2013.Gidi names his biggest achievements in fifteen years of public service to be the following: Reut, that he founded in 2004 and developed to become a leading force in Israel; the ISRAEL 15 Vision, which he co-authored in 1998 and has promoted since, which became a formal national objective in 2010; the cadre of leaders that Reut has provided with a formative personal and professional experience; his role in designing the Birthright Israel program between 1995-99; and his contribution to the reform of Israel's electoral system.Reut, which Gidi conceived of, established and leads, aspires to be the most effective non-governmental institution in advancing Israel's societal innovation and ensuring Israel's security and prosperity within the framework of 21st Century Zionism. Its mission is to impact the future of Israel and the Jewish World, and make a significant contribution to humanity within the spirit and value of Tikkun Olam. In 2012, Reut had a staff of 28, working in two taskforces in the areas of national security and economic development, with a 2.2 million USD budget funded by nearly 100 private donors and foundations from Israel and the Jewish world.Finally, Gidi views Reut as a national laboratory for developing cutting edge approaches to coping with the radical dynamic changes of the 21st Century. Reut's model has already inspired the overhaul of the Policy Planning Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other leading Israeli government agencies are likely to follow.Gidi is very proud of the role that he played in designing the Birthright Israel Program between 1995 and 1999, when he established and led the Israeli Team, that transformed the original vision into a model that is now- the largest and most successful project in the Jewish World.Between 1999 and 2001 Gidi served as the Secretary and Coordinator of the Israeli delegation to the Peace Negotiations with the PLO in the Bureau of Prime Minister Ehud Barak. In his capacity, he participated in the 2000 Camp David Summit and in the negotiations on the Clinton Ideas. Prior hereto, Gidi worked in the Economic Cooperation Foundation.Gidi holds a Master degree in Public Policy from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government as a Wexner-Israel Fellow (2002) and a Bachelor degree in Economics (1991) and Law (1999) from Tel-Aviv University. He served as an economist in the Israeli Navy (1991-1995) and holds the rank of Captain (Res) .Gidi is married to Betty and they are parents to five children. He is a long-distance runner, who ran half and full Marathons in Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, Boston, New York and Los Angeles, and is now training to qua
