Graduation Israel Style

July 5, 2007 - 7:30 AM by Stephanie

Brian at This Normal Life recently attended his 15-year-old’s class graduation. In his posting recounting the evening’s unfolding, he cites: The event epitomized everything I both love – and hate – about living in Israel.

Disorganization, starting late, more disorganization….*sigh*..

Punctuality is not one of the Jewish State’s assets. Most of the time it’s mildly amusing – a bar mitzvah is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM but the guests don’t arrive until 9:30 PM – but sometimes I wonder what kind of message we’re giving our kids. If they had to catch a train in a place like Switzerland, they’d be left yodeling in the station half an hour late.

Ultimately, however…

…despite all the aggravation, it is Israel’s chronic spontaneity that gives culture here its verve and spunk, an in-your-face intensity that you may love or hate but you can never ignore. The kids dancing and singing and enjoying life to the fullest – not the least the graduating seniors many of whom would be heading to the army in just a few months time – were a joy to watch, and a reminder of why we put up with all the crap: for such moments of sheer abandonment that only a society steeped in disorganization as an organizing principle can generate.

Read the complete entry here. Mazel Tov to you & yours, Mr. B.

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