Why You Should Come to Israel
Below is a letter written to the Atlanta Jewish community, part of a “letters from Israel” newspaper column in response to the current conflict. While it contains a couple of local references, it speaks to anyone thinking about visiting our wonderful country.
Dear Atlanta,
Do you remember me? I lived in your fine city just a few years ago. When I arrived, you were still “HOTlanta” and anybody who was anybody hung out at Rose ‘n Crown Friday night. Times have changed, huh? I recently moved to Jerusalem after living in Tel Aviv for two years. Sometimes I run into some nice Atlantans who come here for a visit. In fact, just last month, I unexpectedly and literally walked right into a group of Atlanta men in Jerusalem studying Torah for a week.
So why am I nervous? If you think it’s because of the images you’re seeing on the television, think again. I’m nervous because I know what happens when things heat up in this part of the world. CNN goes nuts, ratings go through the roof, and Jews stop visiting Israel.
To many of you who have been here before, what I’m about to write will sound familiar. To those of you who have not, you will probably not believe what you’re about to read. (drum roll…) Ready? Being in Israel is as safe as being in America. Seriously. No, seriously. If you need a few minutes to think it over, I’ll understand. (pause) Back? Ok, let’s talk about it.
Life in Israel is not what you see on the news. Since the war broke out in Gaza a few weeks ago, the cameras could have filmed me and numerous other Israelis hitting the late-night bars or eating a delicious Israeli salad at an outdoor café, but it probably wouldn’t have glued viewers to their seats. People say that Israelis are a resilient people who quickly move on after adversity but that’s not the whole story. For most people around the country, during conflicts like this, when we’re talking about day-to-day life, there IS no adversity. While we take very seriously what goes on in Gaza, it’s going on IN GAZA. Our hearts ache for residents of the affected nearby areas and we worry about the reservists and soldiers serving there right now, but for those of us who live elsewhere, it’s business as usual. We go to school, work, the movies, the mall.
When deciding whether or not to visit Israel, people ask themselves the question: “So just how likely is the risk of encountering danger?” Well, we all know its history – Israel must be a dangerous war zone, right? So just how great is the risk? Maybe not as great as you think. According to social psychologists, the availability heuristic is a phenomenon in which people base their prediction of the frequency of an event or the proportion within a population based on how easily an example can be brought to mind. We all remember the grisly bus bombings of the mid-90s and early 2000s, right? You’d be a fool to ride a bus in Israel, right? The last bus bombing occurred in mid-2004. The next time you’re driving on the Downtown Connector at 70 mph chatting on your cell phone with your favorite radio show on, you might want to consider how much danger you’re in. Certainly a lot more than you think. But nobody tunes into the news to watch car crashes and it’s too easy to not change bad habits because “bad things only happen to other people”. Thank goodness for the Israeli bus system; how else would I get to work?
If an alien were to come to planet earth and watch the U.S. news for a day with the daily acts of random violence in the mall, schools, or on Black Friday, I suspect he might think twice about stepping foot in America. Meanwhile, Israel is blessed to have an incredibly low rate of street crime, with women and children able to walk home late at night in most neighborhoods.
Some of you aren’t convinced. “It can’t be….I just can’t believe Israel isn’t dangerous.” Anyone who’s followed the news over the last 5-10 years has learned, sadly, that it’s a dangerous world out there. London, New York, Mumbai, Columbine….tragedy can strike anywhere. But even if you remain convinced that there IS a greater risk of danger in Israel, you should still come visit. I’ll tell you why: when we make decisions in life, we do so by weighing risk vs. reward. There’s a lot of reward to drive a car on the highway to work so we put up with the risk (or minimize it in our heads). Who has the time to take public transportation? Could I convince anyone to visit South Central Los Angeles and hang out with the Crips and the Bloods? Unless you’re seeing some hidden reward, probably not.
So what’s the reward of visiting Israel? Where to begin? If your Jewish identity means anything at all, I suspect you might find a visit to Israel anywhere between quite interesting and life-changing. Don’t take it from me; take it from the millions of Jews who have made a visit to the Jewish state in their lifetime and have returned home having experienced a feeling and connection to their Judaism like never before. Ever felt a connection to G-d when celebrating Shabbat at the Kotel (Western Wall)? Felt Jewish peoplehood by volunteering at an absorption center with Russian or Ethiopian immigrants? Been able to keep kosher at a certified kosher McDonalds? Gotten off the treadmill at the neighborhood gym to light Chanukah candles along with everyone else around you? These are special moments in life, which warm our hearts and connect us to our Judaism in a way that cannot be recreated anywhere else in the world. And if you haven’t been to Israel…trust those who have. It’s that special.
But there’s even more to it – there’s a risk to not visiting Israel. Rabbis and Jewish leaders stress one thing more than any other for the continuation of the Jewish people: education. While the importance of Jewish education at home cannot be overstated, a visit to Israel provides a seminal moment in the development of a Jewish soul. Parents, when your children go off to college and begin to make adult choices as to what kind of Jewish life they plan to lead, it doesn’t happen in a vacuum. They draw from past experiences, memories, and lessons. Some of their most powerful ones will take place in Israel. A visit to Israel on a group program as a teen or young adult can be one of the most rewarding and life-changing experiences in one’s life.
Years ago, after an hour-long dispute with a friend who had never been to Israel, I finally realized that no statistics or reasoning could convince him to visit. The images we get from the media are simply too strong for many to overcome. Most first-time or even repeat visitors return home thinking, “Wow, this hardly resembles what I imagined. I just can’t believe how safe I felt.” I implore anyone who has ever echoed this sentiment to voice it to anyone around you, Jewish or not, who is considering or questioning a possible trip to Israel. It helps the economy, it makes a statement to our fellow Jews in Israel and to the world around us, and it strengthens our connections to our Jewish identities in a way that simply cannot be achieved in our home countries.
And if that’s not worth taking a stand for, what is?
Thanks for reading and say hello to the Waffle House for me.
Sincerely,
Benji Lovitt
Cross-posted at What War Zone???
GA Wrap-Up: Day 1
As written about here, the GA’s in town and so are thousands of Jewish leaders from the US, Israel, and around the world. So what goes on at this mega-conference anyway?
Here’s one wrap-up:
Edgar Bronfman tells us that at age 36, David Ben-Gurion was the head of the Labor Party. Herzl was 36 when he came to Palestine. Anybody else feel like an underachiever? Suddenly, winning at Sudoku doesn’t feel quite as important anymore. I officially have two years to do something. He says let’s not talk about intermarriage as an enemy but as a reality. He continues, saying that the biggest threats to the Jewish community are ignorance and apathy, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” I have one thing to say to that. WHATEVER.
Edgar Bronfman gets his speech on. E-Bron, if you’re reading this…umm, can I go out with your granddaughter? Grandson? Cleaning lady? I’m not picky.For a full wrap-up, check out more at What War Zone???
Who are YOU Voting For?
My fellow Americans: the upcoming Presidential election is only weeks away. You owe it to yourself to make an informed decision, which is why I took the liberty of live-blogging the first debate between Senators McCain and Obama Friday night. Here’s a sample from the 4 AM local kick-off time:
4:10 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? I think I met them at the Mobile, Alabama Matza Ball once.
4:13 Lehrer to Obama: “Say it directly to him.” The moderator is apparently auditioning to be a matchmaker on the Upper West Side.
4:14 “I still believe our best days are ahead of us.” How do we get that kind of optimism here? “Dehr eez no hope een deh gah-verhn-mehnt….deh politicians all SAHK!“
4:16 Ech omrim “earmarked pork barrel spending”? The rabbinate is going to have something to say about this.
4:18 “$300 billion is really important.” THREE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS?!?! Where do I get THAT kind of aid? All together now….come on, Nefesh B’Nefesh….HOOK A BROTHA UP!!!
Read the whole thing here. And shana tovah (Happy New Year) to all!
The Idiot’s Guide to Finding a Job in Israel
Looking for a job in the Holy Land? Many are. Hi-tech is soaring, the shekel is strong, and the jobs, especially if you’re a native English-speaker, are there for the taking.
That said, if you’re not a native Israeli, you best be prepared for some cultural differences. Here’s a quick sample from “The Idiot’s Guide to Finding a Job in Israel.”
So how does someone get an interview anyway? It’s all about Vitamin P here…short for “proteksia” or “having connections”. Knowing someone high up typically helps. Of course, “someone” can also be defined as the “son of the brother of the girl who used to date your uncle’s cousin”. When questioned, you should pretend as if this person is the best friend you have ever had and refer to him as a “gever” (guy) or “ach sheli” (my brother) at least 37 times in discussion. If you pull this off believably, congratulations, you just landed yourself a job.
You can read the entire entry here. Enjoy!
Embarrassing Moments in the Office
We’re sitting in a department-wide meeting at work when pitom (suddenly), my phone rings. Not my personal cell phone which is set to display in English, but a work phone assigned to one of my tour guides which I was set to deliver hours later, configured to display in Hebrew….since we are of course in Israel. As I grab the phone from the table, my face slowly contorts into a look of complete confusion as I attempt to figure out what unknown person is calling me.
“Who the HELL is that???” I exclaim, all eyes now on me.
A co-worker leans in, sees the name of “the caller” and reveals his identity, much to the glee of everyone else in the room.
“???? ???? (mispar chasui)….unidentified number”
Everyone laughs. Uh, yeah, I knew that.
I guess I’m not Israeli yet.
Check out What War Zone for more laughs.
Tu B’av Tribute
Did you enjoy your weekend? If you felt something in the air, it was probably Tu B’av, the Israeli day of love. From What War Zone and Molly Livingstone of Giving Tree Productions and The Big Felafel, here is our tribute to the 15th day of the month of Av, a “matchmaking day for unmarried women in the second Temple period”. Hopefully you’ll laugh as much as we did.
Chag sameach and enjoy!
Odds and Ends
A couple of quick hits from the office….
- I estimate that I’ve been to the airport at least six times in the last few weeks to welcome and send off tour groups from the States. Anyone know the abbreviation for Ben-Gurion Airport? ???”? (nahtbahg), or Namal Teufa Ben-Gurion. This of course means that should we ever open an airport for George Bush, we’ll call it ???’ ”?. That’s right. Nutjob.
“In five minutes, we’ll be arriving at the Nutjob.”
(Can anyone think of who “nutcase” would be for?)
-
Reading a bio the other day, I came across the word “posthumous.” I must be turning Israeli because I read it as “post-chumus.” Or maybe I was just hungry.For those of you new to the Middle East, let me explain: if Heath Ledger wins an Oscar after his death for his performance in the upcoming Batman movie, it will be posthumous. When they bring you the little shot of Turkish coffee after you stuff yourself, that’s postchumus. And if the taxi driver starts driving without turning on the meter after you get into the car….well, he’s trying to screw you.
That’s all for now…more good times at What War Zone???
Weird Wednesday: An Idiot’s Guide to the Tel Aviv Beach
Shalom from Tel Aviv, people-are you enjoying the gorgeous weather? I sure am. With my job kicking my tuchus, I’ve adapted a new strategy for the weekends. I like to call it “sit on the beach and do nothing.” I highly recommend it. And apparently many have taken this recommendation to heart as evidenced by the large number of locals and tourists flocking to Chof (Beach) Bograshov on Fridays and Saturdays. And why not? If you hadn’t heard, Tel Aviv is approximately halfway between Jerusalem and the sun. With temperatures hot and getting hotter, what better place to spend your time than the beach?
Unless you want your appearance to scream “TOURIST!!!”, you’ll want to take the appropriate measures to fit in. Without further ado, here’s a quick idiot’s guide to what you need to know about the Tel Aviv beach. (By the end of this post, you might appreciate why the Tel Aviv beach might fall under the category of “Weird Wednesday.” If not, it’s time for a quick visit.)
What Would You Do With a Million Shekels?
I had a conversation a couple of months ago with two friends about the biggest factors keeping American Jews from moving to Israel. One maintained that it was money while I argued that money was only an excuse and that if you suddenly offered not only the average American Jew, but also someone with a strong connection to this place, a salary equivalent to that in America, he’d find a different reason to not come.
Whatever the “main” reason may be, there’s no arguing that in absolute terms, salaries here do not compare to those in the States. Not here.
Now…this past weekend also happened to be July 4th, American Independence Day. If not for a few reminders here and there, I would have forgotten completely. In America, there are celebrations, events, and promotions. Not here.
To recap, in Israel, you should not expect to make the same amount of money or celebrate the 4th of July as you would in America.
UNTIL NOW.
Holy crap, have you heard? Bank Leumi is running this special deal for its members: For every shekel you deposit, they will match it with 99 of its own, giving you a sum ONE HUNDRED TIMES your initial amount. How else to explain this transaction report?
I’M RICH, BABY!!!!!!!!!!!
With my newly found money, I plan to do the following:
- Buy Cafe Suzanna and move it to Kikar Rabin
- Start a competing line to the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv 405 line with a no-pushing policy
- Finance the opening of an authentic Mexican restaurant in Tel Aviv
It’s all about the Ben-Gurions, baby. Who wants to party?
Cross-posted at What War Zone???
Post-script: Here’s a note for you prospective bloggers out there: when you post a copy of your deposit report, be sure to Photoshop out *all* occurrences of your account info. Even get an Israeli’s help if necessary. Fortunately this was only online for a few hours earlier this week. You wouldn’t steal my identity, would you, Israelity readers?
What, You Thought We’d Turn 60 and Then Go Back to Our Normal Lives?
Cross-posted at 60 Bloggers and What War Zone???
Just another guy’s list… Sixty things I love about Israel:
1. I love that the women are not only hotter than Mitzpe Ramon in July but that they also have a Passover Seder. (Much like the fourth dimension, my human brain is incapable of processing this.)
2. I love the outdoor cafes/kiosks on Rothschild and that Israelis universally agree that Starbucks (the altar to which American consumers bow their heads and pray) stinks.
3. I love that I don’t look at the people I meet as French, Russians, or Australians, but rather as Israelis who are trying to make it here just like I am.
4. I love my Ulpan teacher from Kitah Bet, Dafna, who spoke to us like we were four so we’d understand her.
5. I love that falafel is a healthy snack (OK, maybe I just love choosing to believe the American myth while I scarf it down forty-seven times a week.)
6. I love that people I know from all over the place are always visiting this place, the center of the Jewish world.
7. I love that I can tell a joke about Rosh Hashana at a comedy club here and know that it will be understood by everyone in the audience.
8. I love wearing jeans to virtually any social event.
9. I love the kumkum and the utter shock on every Israeli’s face when they ask “but how do you make coffee in America???” in the same manner that teenagers ask how we survived before cell phones. (Since it takes an hour for my dud shemesh (water heater) to heat up during the winter, next December I plan to shower in the kumkum for the next 3 months.)
10. I love that it’s 12:48 AM, tomorrow is a work day, and Cafe Aroma is still hopping. HOW DO THESE ISRAELI PEOPLE DO IT???
11. I love expanding my already unrivaled vocabulary of ridiculous Hebrew and Arabic slang and that Israelis think I’m fluent because I can say I have to go the bathroom 47 different ways.
12. I love arsim (from afar. When they’re leaving me alone.)
13. I love Friday in Tel Aviv.
Ahh, Sheinkin St. on a Friday.
Marketing in the Middle East makes me laugh.
14. I love English words which are directly absorbed into the Hebrew language. “Slicha, yesh li peepee!”
15. I love how warm and proud of each new immigrant the former olim are and how so many treated me to an “aliyah beer” or dinner when I arrived.
16. I love how cheesy American pop music is welcomed with open arms here. For this reason, someone hypothetically can sit in the barber’s chair, get a proverbial spring in his step when “Backstreet’s Back” comes on, look around, and realize that nobody finds it the least bit weird that said song is being played. This is all hypothetical of course. It never happened.
17. I love that I went to World AIDS Day and had my AIDS awareness raised by two macho sperm kicking a soccer ball.
18. I love that people are so unbelievably hospitable to the degree that my American brain cannot understand. Like when 45,000 people invited me to their Passover Seder, including a co-worker who I had only known superficially for a few weeks.
19. I love Adloyada in Holon, the biggest Purim parade in the country which feels like the Macy’s Day Parade on Thanksgiving.
20. I love the feeling of unity and Jewish peoplehood on Yom Hazikaron when people stop whatever they’re doing to commemorate fallen soldiers during t’kasim (ceremonies) and during the siren. Even though it looks like aliens have invaded earth and frozen the human race.
21. I love the ridiculous English t-shirts that people wear in this country, usually with no inkling of what they even say or mean.
22. I love that Hebrew is both an ancient and brand new language with words whose roots can be traced as far as the Torah (b’reishit, whose shoresh is “rosh” or “head”/”beginning) and as recently as NOW (“l’sames”, “to send an SMS”).
23. I love the food here, how people eat such a healthy diet, such as my co-worker who ate a whole pepper in her hand as if it were an apple.
24. I love the almost meaningless phrase of “yiyeh b’seder” which I continuously mock for its universalness even as I say it myself to make myself feel better.
“YIYEH B’SEDEEEEEEEEEER!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOO PROH-BLEM!!!”
See?
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