Web site attempts to link up

American and Israeli businesses

"Mesora.org -- an educational Web site dedicated to promoting the study of Torah -- has launched an Internet effort to promote business investment in Israel.

The recently launched USAIsrael.org aims to link up U.S. firms with Israeli providers for their business needs. American firms spend hundreds of millions of dollars on supplies and services on a monthly basis, according to Mesora.org, a 4-year-old Jewish Web site, and USAIsrael's goal is to redirect this buying power toward Israel.

This way, Mesora.org contends, U.S. firms do not need to "dig deeper" to help out Israel, but instead spend their existing budget dollars.

It is also a way for U.S. firms to show strong support for the Jewish state.

USAIsrael hosts several site links. The "Submit Company Profile" link enables Israeli-based firms to create detailed profiles of their goods and services, as well as their Web and e-mail addresses. These profiles are stored in the USAIsrael database.

The "Search Companies" link enables businesses to search the database for a vendor, see the vendor's site, make contact and close deals. Israeli firms may also post business plans and positions in their firms, and U.S. firms are invited to submit Requests for Proposals (RFPs) searchable by Israeli firms.

In addition, donations may be made and directed to a cause.

Mesora.org plans to e-mail numerous companies in the United States and Israel, notifying them of the new site, and generating any leads Israel's way."

Web sites and programs help Israelis hurt by economic crisis

By Rachel Pomerantz
(excerpt)

"....An Orthodox group called Mesora also has used the Internet to respond quickly and globally to Israel’s economic crisis.

The group’s Web site, www.USAIsrael.org, links American and Israeli businesses to encourage foreign investment in Israeli companies. That’s also the approach officials are taking.

Israel’s Economic Mission in New york...."

Virtual business matchmaker created to help local companies

By Gwen Ackerman

As the economy reels from the security situation and the global downturn, immigrant entrepreneurs are beginning to pack their bags for the "old country," and Israelis are wringing their hands over their dwindling bottom line.

But help may be just a mouse click away at USAIsrael.org, a not-for profit web site initiated by the NY-based religious organization Mesora.org that hopes to become a business matchmaking service that will keep Israeli business afloat until the region calms down and the economy surfaces from its present nosedive.

"We are fighting on two fronts today, one with bullets, the other with stock prices," said Joel Leyden, of Leyden Communications, who has volunteered to market the site internationally and represent it locally.

USAIsrael.org was launched two weeks ago and says it "endeavors to grow Israeli companies and boost her economy by redirecting American companies to buy products and services from Israeli vendors."

US businesses interested in helping Israeli companies stay afloat are encouraged to register at the site, and so far more than a dozen have done so, including Artistic Office Products from the Bronx, a manufacturer of office supplies; New York-based Global Advance, Inc., a software development and consulting firm; and Yournetplus.com of Monroe, N.Y. that offers wholesale Internet services.
These companies have shown courage in signing up, since their presence is likely to dissuade any Arab trade they could have had, said Leyden.

"It is a pledge that yes, they want to help Israel," he said, noting that buying from Israeli rather than American suppliers is also likely to cost more.

Israeli companies who have signed up include even the more well known, like Magal Security Systems Ltd. and Rad Data Communications.

Site founders are using virtual marketing techniques to get out the word, sending out e-mails to 5,000 companies last week and a press release to trade and business media today.
Leyden couldn't say if any deals had already come out of the site, since the companies are under no obligation to inform its organizers and operators, who are all donating time to the project.

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