Saturday, December 29, 2012

What am I doing in Wal-Mart...on Christmas Eve?!?!?

It seemed like a good idea at the time.  My prescription was ready, so without realizing what the date was, I went to pick it up.  Not the smartest decision I've ever made! 

First clue: parking was a nightmare!  Then the Salvation Army bell ringer with the Santa hat jolted me back to reality.  It was December 24th---Christmas Eve---and that put an end to my plan of 'just going to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things and get back home quickly'. 

The aisles were full of shoppers.  Everywhere you turned, there was a cart or a body.  Traffic jam in every aisle.  The lines to checkout had about 8 over-loaded carts at each register...and I believe there were more than 20 open registers at this location.

This location also had a grocery store inside...so I picked up my Rx and then headed for a few food items I needed. 

Then something familiar hit me.  I memory I had thought of while in Israel.  In the USA, at least in non Orthodox areas, Americans pretty much have no concept of Shabbat.  It's a 24/7 society here.  It's so different in Israel.  It's so much easier to be Jewish in Israel.  Everyone there GETS IT.  Some Jews may be secular, but the country as a whole, pretty much closes up shop every Friday afternoon in preparation for Shabbat.  It's the norm.  It's the Rule, not the exception to the Rule.

Early on in my reality show life, Israel for Dummies, I HAD made the comparison that I was now experiencing in the Wal-Mart:  The only parallel I could draw to explain Fridays in Israel to my Jew and Gentile friends, would be for them to picture Christmas Eve in the USA.  Heads would nod.  Ok, they got the picture.  Last minute dash to the store for whatever.  Food. Wine. Challah. Flowers. Perhaps a gift. 

The stores I went to on Fridays were sometimes a free for all. There's always a few who do a little pushing or shoving. (Albeit somewhat gentler than the other days of the week!) Everyone had to get what they needed before the stores closed and didn't re-open until Sunday.  But at least on Fridays, if you got bumped in the store, it was the one day that you *might* hear "Shabbat Shalom" instead of the rarely uttered 'excuse me/slichah'.   

So in the USA, Christmas Eve with it's hustle and bustle only happens once a year.  In Israel, that sort of frenzy happens each and every Friday.  It's palpable excitement in anticipation for Shabbat.  Then as quickly as it all starts, it ceases.  Darkness falls and we enter in Shabbat.  Every week we get to experience the beauty of the Day.  It even seems that the whole natural world knows that it's the Sabbath.  The children sleep in later.  You hear the birds sweetly chirping away. The calm in the air is so relaxing. There is no sound of industry assaulting your ears. It's profound peacefulness, a spiritual feeling you cannot escape.   Nor would you want to!!   You must experience it!  Perhaps it will change your life too, the way it did mine!

Security in Israel

My friends and family always worry about my safety when I am in Israel.  If they only knew just how safe I feel when I am there!

Everywhere you go, you will see the IDF soldiers dressed in uniform, carrying their weapons.  I must admit, the first time I witnessed this in 2007, I was a bit unnerved.  But as time passed, it just became "normal" for me.  The soldiers are everywhere...in the malls, on the buses, in the restaurants.  It's like having your own personal army wherever you roam! 

When you walk into the entrance of a mall, your belongings are searched.  There are always security detail that look into purses, bags, backpacks, strollers, etc.  Men are generally wanded and/or patted down.  The guards get to know you after a time, and conversation may ensue, but they still check your bags. 

If you go into the mall's parking garage, each car is stopped and the under-carriage of the car is inspected with mirrors, and you must open the trunk for a search. 

Once inside the mall, some stores have another layer of security.  Our grocery store (located inside the mall) had someone checking bags on the way in AND out.  If you had a receipt, you could bring the bag into the store, if not, you had to leave it with the guard.  Then upon exiting, you had to show your receipt for the items purchased. 

The airport security is another story.  Before you even enter "Airport Road", every vehicle is stopped by the Police or Army, not sure which.  You are asked where you came from, where you are going, and sometimes travel details.  They don't just wave people through.  It's quite a drive from that inspection point to the terminals. 

Once inside the terminal, you have Israeli Airport personnel who will direct you to where you need to go.  I have heard that most of these workers have just finished their 2-3 years in the Army.  They are ALL about security, let me tell you!  It's total interrogation!  They take your passport....check it thoroughly....they want to know WHY you are here...who did you stay with, where did you go...what is in your bags...and don't get the least bit nervous at the questions, for that will bring the higher ups to question you further...because if you are nervous, then you must be hiding something! Right? 


Twice I had the extended questioning.  (2 out of 12 times isn't too bad, I guess!) The first time was in 2011, my friends and I were taking a trip to Turkey for 5 days.  Security kept wanting to know why I was in Israel.  I told them I was visiting my friends.  "Why do you stay so long?"  (You are granted a 3 month visa when you enter as a tourist). Because I love Israel and want to be here. "What are you doing for work?"  I am retired. "Why are you going to Turkey?"  Because I can!  It's a travel bargain and I want to see another part of the world!  I don't know what was so 'suspicious' about me.  I wasn't nervous--I had nothing to hide. I was 'visited' by 5 different people, including one supervisor, all asking me the same questions while each former interrogator would just stare at me.  (Trust me, I am nothing to look at!) It seemed kind of amusing after awhile.  What in the world about me, little Miss Plain Jane, was so interesting to the Israeli Airport Authorities?  I have no clue.  Although when I told them I was going to make Aliyah, after again wanting to know why I had racked up repeated visits to Israel, they lightened up a bit.

The second incident was earlier this year.  I was leaving after a month's visit, and was singled out again. Lucky me.  A mutual family friend had driven me to the airport in the middle of the night.  Normally we all get to visit, but he had other obligations during my stay, so I only got to see him on Day 1 and Day 32.  He decided he was going to accompany me to the final security area.  I thought to myself, bad idea, cause I know we were being watched (and perhaps even being listened to?) after he did not show a flight ticket and passport to the first agent.  He's Israeli and fearless.  I guess I'm just not there yet or don't have that much chutzpah.  Remember, I'm still the polite little American who obeys the rules.  Written or unwritten!

So we get to the second person who asks for my passport, which I gave her.  They ask for Aryeh's too.  "I'm not traveling.  I'm just escorting her to the security gate".  "You can't do that, sir".  "Sure I can!  What's the harm?"  This brought the higher ups.  He pulls out his wallet when they ask for his ID...all he had was an old, expired license from New York when he had lived there....and did not have his Israeli ID on him.  Not a good move.  Makes him--and now perhaps us-- look very shady!!  He argued with them that he has a right to see me off, and he is not going anywhere.  We were stopped at every turn, and he gave them his objections in loud, argumentative Hebrew, and they would shrug their shoulders and let us go.  Israelis can do this, somehow, some way.  DO NOT TRY THIS if you are any other nationality!

So, for whatever reason, I tripped their profiling system.  But all in all, I don't mind being questioned if that's what keeps TLV a safe airport.  Although I am curious if the same sort of thing has happened to anyone else out there!!  :)



Thursday, December 27, 2012

Thoughts in Absentia

It was the morning of Friday, December 14th.  I was all ready to post about the shooting that had occurred at the Clackamas Mall in Oregon on December 11th, 2012. I had collected my thoughts not only about the tragedy itself, but also how hard it would be for that kind of violence to occur at an Israeli Mall....I opened my laptop and saw the news headlines about some school shooting somewhere, and turned on my television.

Unbelievable.  Incomprehensible.  As a mother, no, as a human being, I just ached inside for the senseless loss.  It shut me down emotionally to the point I couldn't even write.  I just thought.  And thought.

So often we spend time worrying about the future and/or things we cannot change. Or we put off till tomorrow many calls, visits, intentions, conversations....yet no one is promised a tomorrow. Some of us won't even have the rest of today. Think about it!  The rest of TODAY!

None of us can bring those who were murdered back to their families.  But I hope that we at least learn through the tragedy how precious life is.  SO precious.  Treasure all of the moments of life while yet we have life. 

Learn to put things into perspective. The next time you get frustrated at some minor inconvenience, think back to the horror of this day and ask yourself:  Does my x-y-z even matter?

And be thankful.  Thankful for all of the not-so-little things:  Sight. Taste.  Touch.  Smell.  Laughter.  Parents.  Children.  Grandchildren.  Family.  Health.  Love.  Friendship. 
Ad Infinitum.

Let your loved ones know how much they mean to you.  Don't waste an opportunity.  For death always comes when we least exp



Wednesday, December 12, 2012

On Your Mark, Ready, Set, GO!

Your next step is to go to www.nbn.org.il  This is the Nefesh b'Nefesh website.  It will answer questions you hadn't even thought of yet.  Quite comprehensive.  I suggest you visit it often and become familiar with the content.

I filled out my online application in late October.  I'm not sure if the .pdf version can actually be downloaded....at least I was not able to do it.  (It would always loop me back to the online link, even after 15+ attempts from different computers).

As you start your application, each page will pop up with a few questions.  Most are the "click the correct bubble" kind, but there are a few boxes in which you will write your answers in your own words.

At the end of each questionnaire page, you will click SAVE AND CONTINUE.  It's designed to be able to come back to that point and finish.  However! I had problems with this. I don't want this to happen to you, so take note.

What happened to me, is that towards the end, they ask you for a supporting statement of how and why you decided to make Aliyah.  (4,000 character limit).  I thought I would take some time to organize my thoughts into a logical progression.  So I clicked on "Save and Continue" and then logged out. I logged on a few days later, and filled out my supporting statement right there on the site.  (As it turned out, that was not a good move.)   I pushed "submit", and watched as each page went through a 'verifying' process....it went on for over a minute, when suddenly, a page pops up and says "you did not fill out this page"...oh! But, I had!  So I filled it out again, and about 5-6 more pages popped up now blank that had been filled out just 72 hours before.  The last page being my 3,998 character supporting statement that was now blank!  WHAT?!??!

I re-write the statement as best I can remember.  I push submit.  Verifying process begins...then up pops that same first blank page of 6 stating I had not filled it out.  (You cannot advance to the next set of questions without saving the page....if you inadvertently missed a question, it highlights the error...so you can't even get to the next page if you haven't saved your work.)

OK.  We'll try this AGAIN.  I fill out the info (Now for the 3rd time) and I get to the supporting statement section, and it too is blank.  AGAIN. 

Apparently NBN received my incomplete application, those blank pages still being blank when submitted for the 3rd time.  Someone from the IT department called me to find out what had happened.  Some Internet Browsers don't work well with the NBN site...Safari and Google Chrome being 2 of them.  Surprisingly, Internet Explorer has the least amount of problems, so he was surprised that that is what I was using.  He logged on to my account from Jerusalem, asked me the questions, and was able to upload the now completed document to NBN....minus the "essay", as some call the supporting statement.

I drafted the statement in Word, and sent it off to them a few days later, separately.

So, in a nutshell:  Be prepared to do the Aliyah application in one fell swoop.  Already have your '4,000 characters or less' statement prepared about why you want to make Aliyah, and then just copy and paste it into the box.  Once they receive the completed application, you will be given a different site to log into.  It's like having your own little private online file of what has been submitted, and what still is required.  The missing items are highlighted in yellow.  My first visit there almost blinded me, as the amount of yellow shone like the rays of the sun.  But as each item is checked off the list, it gets more manageable.  I now no longer have to wear sunglasses to view my page!  :)


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Post Script to Where Do I Start?

I need to qualify my previous comments.

When you go on your pilot trip, if you are on an organized tour, it will be quite pleasant for the most part.  The red carpet is rolled out for tourists.  Tourism is a (if not the) mainstay of the economy. 

The only negative experience that sticks out in my mind from my first visit (a 10 day whirlwind tour) was the disorganization and chaos at the Buffet in the larger hotels.  This wasn't due to the staff, who were generally kind, courteous, and attentive for the most part.  The problem was that "me first" mentality that I guess persists in some other countries as well, since the room was mainly filled with tourists from around the world.  Every meal served in this dining room was a shove-fest, as though the food would be taken away without a moment's notice.  I'm not kidding you, the majority of the people acted as if it was their last meal on earth.  I don't push or shove others, and I don't like it when it is done to me. We all should have more consideration for one another, human to human, in our interactions.   

Let me elaborate on a different point. When you become friends with Israelis, the whole scene changes. Friends become family.  They will literally take the shirt off of their back and give it to you if you need it.  Once accepted, there is no end to the hospitality.  It just sometimes takes a little time to get to that point. My observations in the previous post were not of friends.  But my question remains:  If we as Jews are to be kind to strangers...foreigners... widows and orphans....why was this not the rule instead of the exception in Israel, of all places?  I would say random acts of kindness/courtesy only occurred about 10% of the time during my extended visits in Israel over the last four years.  Pity.

My 'bad' experiences were mostly (but not solely) with Secular Israelis in a quasi-observant town. I am more in the Torah observant category, and maybe that's the basis for my perception.  Your experience might be totally different....I can only speak for myself.  Perhaps in a more 'religious' environment, kindness would prevail.  But that shouldn't be the criterion. We must live the Torah wherever life takes us and in whatever situations arise.  Regardless of observance level or religion (or not) of those whose paths we cross. 

And even a non-observant Jew can still be kind.  :) 

.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Where Do I Start?

I'm tempted to say at the Beginning, but that would be too simple!  Life doesn't often work like that anyway.

First off, you MUST make a pilot trip to Israel.  You need to know what you are getting yourself into.  You can dream all you want about a life in the Holy Land.  Reality can be a very different thing.  It's not a place of rainbows and roses.  Although every cloud does have a silver lining, roses still have thorns.  Israel can be a very thorny place.

I am not being a hater.  But if you come to Israel expecting the American, Canadian, or Western European lifestyle you are leaving behind, you may well be sadly disappointed.

It's a hard life in Israel.  The cost of living is higher with salaries generally lower. Patience and manners are often lacking. 

The homes/apartments are smaller.  Newer construction will have "open concept" in its design.....but there's a price tag attached.  The walls are cinder block, covered with plaster.  Wood is expensive to import, and I've been told they don't harvest from their own forests....that is not allowed.  So the very style of architecture that you may be accustomed to does not exist. 

It's very crowded, especially in the bigger cities.  I am a country girl, so I tend to shy away from the hustle and bustle.  If you choose to visit the metropolitan areas, I suggest using mass transit whenever possible.  It's quite affordable and very predictable.  If you choose to drive your own vehicle, the driving is one issue, but the parking is quite another!  Trust me, you will spend more time circling around looking for a parking spot than the quantity of time on the "autobus". 

Let me mention something about driving.  Gasoline is quite expensive.  My friend filled up his SUV and it cost $127.00 at the exchange rate at the time....and he was not running on empty.  It's normal for them, but shocking for an American when gas at the time was about $1.85 a gallon.  To fill up my little car was then a whopping $20 in the US!! Of course, it is sold in Litres over there, but the end result is still the same. 

Driving is a cross between the game called "chicken" and Nascar.  Yes, there are rules of the road, but most don't obey them.  Red and white striped curbs mean NO PARKING.  But I have a picture I need to find and post showing about 8 cars in a red and white no parking zone in front of a bank, with one car actually up on the sidewalk!!  I asked my friends, "Why do they do this?  Isn't this a towing zone?"  Their reply?  "Yes, but they're only going to be inside for a few minutes!"  Seriously?  (Found the photos--here ya go!)

Then there was the day we were driving to Tel Aviv.  It was a Highway, with 3 lanes in each direction.  The curb along this residential stretch was blue and white, permit parking only.   We round a bend in the road, and there is a car PARKED in the far right traffic lane, double parked next to the cars parked legally with their permits.  IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC!  No hazard lights.  Our driver just calmly swerves into the middle lane to avert a collision, and continues on as if that were normal.  "That car back there was PARKED in a traffic lane!" I remark, incredulously.  Reply?  "Yeah, he probably forgot something in his apartment....he'll be back in a minute". 

Maybe where you come from this is normal to you.  It's NOT normal for the Western half of these United States!  Just sayin'.  These are some of the things that you will have to get used to.

There's no such things as a line.  You may even go to a place where you must take a number and wait.  But be warned, it doesn't help much.  Everyone considers their time and their problem more important than yours.  The post office is the leader in this arena. 

Every country I have visited so far has an orderly way to accomplish meeting your buying needs.  It's an unwritten rule of common courtesy to wait your turn in line.  Newsflash:  It doesn't exist in Israel.  Whether you go to buy fast food, check into a hotel, check out of a supermarket, or bring your purchases to the cashier at a clothing store or pharmacy, there will be people literally trampling over you (as if you were invisible) to get to the head of the line.  I do not know why this is.  It's what I have labeled the "me first" mentality.  It was so disheartening to witness.  Where is Love Your Neighbor?  It does exist, but it's in the minority, unfortunately.  So sad.

If you were to smile at a stranger as you passed by, more often than not you will get a suspicious scowl instead of a smile in return.  Suspicion abounds if they consider you too friendly. Manners betray that you are a foreigner.  Don't be expecting an "excuse me, I'm so sorry!" if someone bumps into you by accident.  They just keep right on walking.  Doors will not be held open by the men for women, or even for mothers who might be pushing a stroller.  And getting in or out of an elevator should be considered Olympic sport!  Again, there is no courtesy..... Before you get ON an elevator, the people inside need to exit. Isn't this common sense?  Good luck.  The people will POUR in and block the path before you have a chance to get out.  It's the same situation trying to get in. The doors open and there is no order to the loading and unloading. 

Yes, these stories and many more were part of my reality check when I spent time in Israel.  My US friends can't imagine why I would go back for more.  At first, I wasn't sure I could handle my frustration and disappointment.  But I did a little Torah study that changed my mind.  We are taught to be kind to strangers.  As a new immigrant, I will be a stranger among my own people.  It is my goal to shine my light wherever I go.  All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the flame of one little candle.  It may be the hardest thing God has ever asked of me, but I will greet those I meet with a smile, and hopefully a kind word.  I will open doors.  I will say 'excuse me', and I will STILL say please and thank you.  I will live my life as if kindness depended on me.  Because it does.



Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am really thankful for Thanksgiving this year.  It is not celebrated in Israel, so this is my last real turkey dinner for a while.  In fact, I had difficulty finding turkey any time of the year in the Israeli markets where I shopped. I was told that some Jews don't consider turkey to be kosher ONLY because it wasn't specifically mentioned by name in the Torah.  It fits the kosher criteria, but there are always those who will take things to that "outer fence" level of Torah observance.

One day, though, I was walking by the heated display case in the market with all the cooked meat choices.  Mostly chicken....at about 35-45 shekels per package.  I was about to walk away when I saw a price tag of 5 shekels on something......what?  Oh My Gosh!!  It's turkey!!  2 huge turkey wings (I prefer white meat anyway!) for only 5 shekels!  That was about $1.50 at the time.  SCORE!!  I asked my friends why it was priced so much less than chicken, and they told me it's just not that popular.  If that's what keeps the price down, I hope the Israelis NEVER catch on how good it is!  :)

I did see on a website within the last week that a group of new Olim were invited to a traditional Thanksgiving dinner down in Tel Aviv.  I smiled.  There are a few things that are part of our American culture that are worthy of import to any country, and I think Thanksgiving qualifies as one of them.  Not that we need a day set aside to remind us to be thankful...but rather a special day to celebrate life and love with our family and friends.

Oh wait, there already is a Jewish Thanksgiving!  It's our weekly holiday known as Shabbat.  Now we just need to add turkey to the meal!  :)




Sunday, November 18, 2012

What's so special about Israel anyway?

The saying goes if you have 2 Jews you will get 3 opinions.  So if you have 13.5 million of us worldwide (give or take) I guess that would make over 20 million different opinions. Wink.

I went to Israel for the first time on a tour in 2007.  As the pilot banked for our landing, the "special-ness" out of my window was already palpable.  But not explainable.

We stayed that first night in Tel Aviv.  Headed up the coast early the next day.  I had this image in my head that Israel would resemble the Sahara Desert for some reason.  Yet to our left and to our right, nothing but fertile fields. Everywhere. 

I don't mean to mislead you- there are PLENTY of desert vistas, if that's your thing.  But for some reason, people are shocked when they see photos of rolling hills, forests and farmland.  

But the Land.  I had a connection to the Land itself.  I mean, to the very dirt.  I know it sounds a little far fetched, but I really wanted to just roll around in it....throwing handfuls of it over my head.  Crazy? Perhaps.  But it's what I wanted to do. (I did restrain myself!).

To walk the cobblestone streets inside the Old City of Jerusalem...to pray at the Kotel.....to see the Sea of Galilee (the Kinneret)....to watch the sun set on the Mediterranean....to float in the Dead Sea....to hike up Masada....explore the falls at Ein Gedi....The beauty of the Jezreel Valley....walking around the ancient ruins of Beit She'an....I could go on and on.  Each site has it's own history and unique quality. 

In addition to all the places you can go see and experience, there is a "feeling" that permeates Israel. (Especially on Shabbat).  I have often tried to put that feeling into words.  The closest I have come after 5 years of trying is this:  It's a place where past and future unite in the NOW.  You are fully present in the present.   I can't say this is everyone's perception, but it's mine and I'm sticking with it.  :)

Saturday, November 17, 2012

"Are You Crazy?!?!?!?"

It's usually the first thing people say when they find out I'm making Aliyah.  Jew and Gentile alike.  Why would someone leave the comfort of the USA to go live in Israel?  Don't know who I'm quoting, but "if I had to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand."

I am not knocking the country I was born in.  I love it here and will come back to visit as often as I am able. (Read: Afford).  Americans making Aliyah get dual citizenship.  The best of both worlds.

With the events in Israel these last few days, it only causes people to question my sanity.  I received more than a few emails from acquaintances saying, "PLEASE tell me that you are in the United States!"  I assured them that I was, knowing they won't understand why I still plan to make Aliyah.  Logically, I realize that it does not make sense to most to go off to a country surrounded by enemies and always on the brink of war.  But the soul has other ideas.  And God is in control.


 

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

First Day of the Aliyahu! Blog

If your web search has landed you on my page, a hearty Shalom! 

I am in the process of making Aliyah from the United States.  Nefesh b'Nefesh is the organization I have applied through.  They work in conjunction with The Jewish Agency.  It's a long process, so it's never too soon to get started. Hint, hint.

I have decided to document my journey in order to leave a trail of crumbs for anyone who might be contemplating the process. 

I have traveled to Israel many times, and plan on sharing my favourite photographs with you as the blog unfurls.  

This is just the humble beginning.  As time goes on, I hope to catalogue and cross reference information for you to be able to find what you are looking for, as well as to answer any questions you might have. I am happy to share with you everything I learn throughout my journey.  :)

All the best,
Aliana (Ali)