She’s leaving home – for Ramat Gan

June 12, 2009 - 9:36 AM by David

Air-conditioned Ramat Gan

Air-conditioned Ramat Gan

Distances in Israel are tiny, but the mindset gap is huge.

My wife has second cousins living in the Tel Aviv suburb of Givatayim who have visited us in Jerusalem about three times in 24 years. It’s not because they don’t like us, I don’t think, but because to them, driving from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (about 40 miles?) is akin to driving from New York City to Syracuse – it’s something you just don’t do, unless there’s a bar mitzvah or a funeral.

“Jerusalem? I hate going there. It’s so crowded, there’s no place to park, it’s so religious.” Those are some of their excuses. But take aways the religious aspect, those same complaints could be said of Tel Aviv.

I, on the other hand, love any excuse I can get to make the quick jaunt to Tel Aviv. It’s a refreshing change, both visually and in pace of life, from the rather small town Jerusalem mentality.

And apparently, I’m going to have lots more opportunity to explore Tel Aviv and its environs. My oldest daughter is flying the coop and setting up residence in her own apartment in Ramat Gan this summer.

While I have mixed feelings about a child of mine moving away (The Beatles’ “She’s Leaving Home” keeps bubbling up in my mind), it will be kind of fun to have a crash pad in Tel Aviv. I just hope that my daughter doesn’t start thinking about Jerusalem in the same way that her Givatayim cousins do.

Tags: , , , , • Category: A New Reality, General, Israeliness, Life 

Comments

One Comment on She’s leaving home – for Ramat Gan

  1. Nicole on Fri, Jun 12th 2009 10:02 AM

    2. I also never go to Jerusalem, except for when visitors from overseas are staying there… but i have no problem driving to beersheva, eilat, or the north…

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