A year ago, a friend presented me with stories of small businesses in Israel affected by the October 7 attacks. There were so many—family-run cafés struggling to reopen, shops balancing daily operations with the aftermath of conflict, artisans trying to keep their crafts alive. I could have picked one story to support, but that felt wrong. Choosing one over another seemed arbitrary and unfair. Each story reflected real people, confronted hardship, and showed resilience. I wanted to engage with all of them, to read every story, and eventually to micro-invest in them.

That opportunity came through SparkIL, a platform that allows people around the world to support Israeli small businesses in a meaningful, direct way. As a business owner myself, I immediately felt a personal connection. I’ve built two companies—a health care strategy firm and a cybersecurity company—and I know the weight of responsibility that comes with running a business day to day.

I also draw inspiration from my community in Boston, where I’ve seen how........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)