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 |  My life in Tel Aviv. Welcome to Israel! |
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Shalom! I was born outside of Haifa, moved to Tel Aviv when I was twelve, and served in the Israeli Defense Force for two years. Now, I am a student at TAU. I hope I can show the world the humanity of my nation. We're not so different, after all.
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Whoever destroys a single life is as guilty as though he had destroyed the entire world; and whoever rescues a single life earns as much merit as though he had rescued the entire world. |
| 12:51 P.M. - Rishon LeZion Thank you for all your kind words of support  . That was a pleasant and warming surprise!My father is just fine. Some how there were calcifications in his kidneys, so they had to operate yesterday and they gave him antibiotics, but he'll be fine in a day or two . Relieved!I'm of course staying in Rishon LeZion with my parents and my sister, so I will not be back in Tel Aviv until Friday. Again, thank you for your support and your prayers . |
| 5:00 A.M. - Home My father was put in the hospital last night, and my sister has only just called me. I am packing to go be with him and my family. So if I do not answer emails, please be patient until I understand what is going on. Because I have not recieved any details and this is making me feel frusrated. I'm sure it is nothing serious. He is healthy. I'm sure it is just something routine. But I can't help but worry  . |
| 3:37 P.M. - Cafe We do a lot of gossiping and arguing here in Israel, and people the United States is so influential on what we do and think (politcally and socially, as much as try to deny it), America infiltrates many of our conversations. And when speaking of the Americans, certain stereotypes come to mind. Are they true? I have been to New York City only once some years ago, and the only Americans I come into contact with our either students at University with me, tourists, or on WdC. Disclaimer: I do not believe any of these are true all the time. These are stereotypical. I hope no one takes offense! Some stereoytpes we have of Americans: 1. They are obsessed with looking perfect; suits, dresses, gel in their hair, make-up, high heels...they never just go out in shorts and a t-shirt. They always want to look ridiculously dressed-up. 2. They do not care at al about other cultures; like for us, they don't care if we as Jews have been in Israel longer than the Muslims. They just care that modern history says otherwise. 3. They are overweight; we eat the occasional pizza, too, but not the quanitity. American restaurants serve like three times more food than they need to. And Americans eat all of it. 4. They love money; they want more, they want the most powerful economy, and in this sense they want almost to control the world. This one I do not think is completely true, especially because of what the US has spent its money on recently. 5. They are almost all conservative, temple-burning Christians. 6. They have no real idea what vulnerability is; for a country like Israel, almost every country that borders us wants us all dead. In Europe, if one country erupts into violent warfare, it is almost impossible for others not to follow. In Asia, the political regimes check and balance one another without choice. But America is bordered by two allied and neutral countries. It's biggest border problem? Too much immigration. 7. They expect everyone else to be like them. 8. They could be smarter, but they don't want to be; they don't want to learn anything new. In school they are not taught current events, they're just taught history. So they do not often learn from their country's mistakes. (Although Israel's modern history isn't even a century old, so we have no choice but to be taught current events). 9. They are loud! 10. They don't have strong families; like half of them are divorced, and kids don't listen to their parents, and siblings don't care about one another, and they don't stay in touch. This makes us sad. True? Not so true? I think there is more to every stereotype. |
| 5:15 A.M. - Home The Western Wall has its own page on "Twitter". You can "tweet" your prayers, now, and avoid the inevitable peril that would accompany you on your actual trip to Jerusalem. I don't know how I feel about our most sacred places being accessible via the internet. It's like, I feel like I take ownership or something of the Wall. It's in my country. You should have to come to my country if you want to put a note in the wall. I stood as a child on my tiptoes and put a note in the wall, and somehow you get to do the same thing through a website? I don't know. What I do know is it is going to be a llong day. |
| 6:17 P.M. - Eating falafel on the boardwalk It has been brought to my attention today that my wardrobe needs help. More specifically, my jewelry collection needs help. Evidently the fact that I don't wear very much of it is a rather dramatic problem, and has been causinng my friends great personal distress. So! Today I took some money from my (father-funded) checking account and purchased a Judaica-inspired diamond six-point star. These necklaces are very popular, so I am, as intended, following a trend. It is quite pretty, but I feel a bit dressed up wearing it with sandals and tank-tops. And so now I need a special occasion to which I may justify wearing this necklace. Which is why I am now off to find myself either a wealthy date for a lovely evening out, or some kind of glitzy benefit I can attend. Somebody, be they relative, friend, or neighbor, ought to have at least one outstanding invitation, yes? And my friend has a computer program that can change the hair color of people in photographs. And me as a blonde would be a terrible, terrible sight. Ah, well. Also! Quentin Tarantino is coming here in September! He is here to promote that new Nazi movie of his, and he will bring one star with him. I think all the Israeli women (and probably quite a few Israeli men) are all hoping for the same visitor... Happy Birthday to my big sister, Shira. To health, happiness, and to not marrying that man you brought to Pesach, sister! |
| 4:30 A.M. - Home How about an early morning joke? We Israelis do love our humor. "At the emergency meeting of the UN regarding another conflict in the Middle East, the floor has been given to the Israeli Consul. The Israeli Consul began, "Ladies and gentlemen before I commence with my speech, I wanted to relay an old story to all of you... When Moses was leading the Jews out of Egypt, he had to go through deserts, and prairies, and even more deserts... The people became thirsty and needed water. So, Moses struck the side of a mountain with his cane and at the sight of that mountain a pond appeared with crystal clean, cool water. And the people rejoiced and drank to their hearts' content. Moses wished to cleanse his whole body, so he went over to the other side of the pond, took all of his clothes off and dove into the cool waters of the pond. Only when Moses came out of the water he discovered that all his clothes have been stolen... And I have reasons to believe that the Palestinians stole his clothes." Yassir Arafat, hearing this accusation, jumps out of his seat and screams, "This is a travesty. It is widely known that there were no Palestinians there at the time!!!" "And with that in mind", said the Israeli Consul, "let me begin my speech..." |
| 3:58 P.M. - Beach Iran says: "If the Zionist Regime attacks Iran, we will surely strike its nuclear facilities with our missile capabilities." No, really? That changes everything! (Like Iran could ever disarm us. Please.) And Syria's trying to repair ties with the United States. Don't believe them, President Obama! They are lying to you! They will inspire a false confidence to draw your attention elsewhere, and then strike. They won't attack you, they'll attack Israel. And then they will laugh at the West as it tries to figure out what just happened. Syria and Iran are allies. They are strategically linked, and neither is to be trusted. Please, for your sake and for ours, see this sudden "diplomacy" as the lie that it is. Beautiful day! Going to enjoy every minute left of it before classes start up tomorrow. Sunday mornings are the worst. |
| 4:00 A.M. - Home It is four in the morning. I have to be in temple in three hours. I should be sleeping but I can't (again). But none of that matters because... I HAVE THREE MONTHS UPGRADED MEMBERSHIP!!!!!!!!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! This means I don't have to (a) delete stuff from my port, and (b) I don't have to delete my blog!!!!!So happy! Very grateful. WHOO HOO! |
| 8:45 P.M. - Home Yes, cafe on the corner, charge me three times more for my coffee than it takes you to make it. Everyone knows these beans are from some little farm halfway around the world where the workers are paid with promises, not money, so why do I have to pay this much? Shabbas dinner was quiet. My brother could not come home this weekend and my dad's on rotation in a week. All Israeli men spend a month or so every year as army reserves until they're a certain age, and then it's optional. Most keep going. Also I potentially walked right past a life-changing experience when I did not help a tourist find her hotel. She asked all politely and smiled, but I was in a hurry (and angry about my overpriced cappuccino). And as I walked past her after mumbling something, I thought, what is this strange place where people cannot be bothered to help tourists and coffee shops charge as much for their drinks as churches charge for their memberships? I once had a friend who justified everything he did (every cigarette he smoked, every shot he drank, every drug he paid for, every girl he slept with, etc.) by saying that there was a damn good chance that, tomorrow, the bus he took to work would be blown up by terrorists. He assumed he would die young, either during his time with the IDF or as an innocent (Jewish) civillian. He just assumed, and so he took risks. So if I decided to become a blonde, I could justify it by saying that Hamas has been quiet for almost six months, and that they are probably getting ready to strike. Or by saying that Iran has nuclear weapons pointed at our land. Or by saying that the Haredi are protesting, that the United States is turning against us, and that nobody wants to do business with Israel anymore. Or I could pay too much for my cappuccino, enjoy the waves of the Mediterranean, and not let myself fail chemistry assessments. And that's the question, isn't it, here in the Middle East? There are risks and your safety is never certain. So what does that mean to you? What are you going to do about it? |
| 1:30 A.M. - home! FUN night! Lots of frozen pomegranate juice and techno music and dancing!! Very much considering chopping off my hair into one of those really European "bob" things. But my hair is curly, so I don't know if a bob would work. Maybe I'll become a blonde ;). Everyone has black hair here, right? I think I would look horrid as a blonde hahaha. But that would certainly get my family's attention this Shabbas! LOTS OF ENERGY! I wanted to keep dancing but I have plans tomorrow so staying up all night isn't going to work. But Tel Aviv nightlife is betzutz. Should go to bed. But too energized. Maybe I'll study. That should put me to sleep! Whoo! |
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