'Chutzpah&High Heels'

Jessica Fishman left the comfort of her Minnesota part of America in order to join the IDF, search for love and identity in Israel. Apparently, after almost three years, she achieved all the three objectives, but not necessarily in the way she ever imagined. She was able to be part of the office in charge with the media of the Israeli Army, but she had to deal with a lot of psychological abuse and situations when her knowledge and love for the land were not necessarily a big advantage. Love, she had it too, but ended heartbroken as she insisted to keep being with someone that for a long time was not really in love with who she really was. As for identity, her experience in Israel showed her that she cannot be anyone else but who she really is, and the various institutional and religious definitions assigned to her do not change her perception.

The fact that she realized that she can better love Israel from outside - from the diaspora - is common to many of people from the Western world - USA and Europe included. Especially if you are coming from a relatively liberal/reform background, dealing on an everyday basis with the struggle of surviving a mixture of religious and secular establishment is very frustrating. Especially when the lines between those two opposite sides of the society are so blurred. 

Jessica's 'problem' was that her mother converted through a system not recognized by the Rabbinate. Therefore, although she qualified to make aliyah, she could not marry there because not officially recognized as Jewish. The boyfriend who broke his heart wanted her to convert the Orthodox way, because this was the only way they could marry. (Why she accepted to stay any second with him when it was obvious that he really had some character flows, it's hard to explain, but they say love is blind for a reason). She refused in the end and the relationship ended, but his way of accepting the Orthodox restrictions although not observant is typical for many Israeli (especially young ones): they can drive on Shabbat without regrets, but keep kosher for instance. The fact that someone who doesn't want to deal with the Rabbinate for different reasons can actually marry in Cyprus or Czech Republic and the marriage - which can be secular - is accepted by the state of Israel but however, for the divorce, it should be done through the classical Orthodox way, tells galore about how complicated this country could be sometimes.

In the end, to stay or to go is a matter of choice but many young people especially coming from America or Europe are landing to Israel with their one way ticket full of hopes and dedication for the country. They are happy to finally be part of that Jewish life they longed for in their home countries where they attended the Jewish Sunday schools and the activities of the inclusive Jewish Community Centers. After a couple of weeks only they might figure out a different reality: bureaucratic nightmare, religious discrimination or, if you are into dating, lots of rude and unreliable men that might have once a spiritual awakening and end up leaving you unless you want to join him into one way adventure (most likely not). 

Books like Chutzpah&High Heels by Jessica Fishman - who after a short break(down), returned to Israel to keep living the dream - help those considering a big move to Israel to make a decision knowing all the details of the problem. After all, better have the mindset of 'no expectations, no disappointments' than to end up suffering of a kind of 'Jerusalem Syndrome'.

The book reads easy, has a lot of humour and self-irony, with some lessons learned and hilarious dating experiences. Having an idea about a country when not living there - and seldom visiting - might be a big contrast to the reality of living in that country on a daily basis. Is it possible to change something from within right now? Not sure about the answer but those who keep living there although in relative dissonance with the establishment - mostly the religious one, made their choice and could at least offer a different version of the reality. 

'Come to Israel...'

"Come to Israel, come and see the splendor of a desirable land, the splendor of the Carmel and of the Sharno, the splendor of the pleasant and beautiful azure skies, the magnificience of the clear, pure, and temperate air that reigns in its majesty and glory, even in Tevet. Delight and rejoice in this desirable, fair and pleasing land. A land of life, a land whose air is the wellspring of the spirit. How beautiful and graceful she is!

Come to Israel, come and see 'and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like grass' (Isaiah 66:14). Come and see how our beloved and precious nation like an eagle renews its youth, how she begins to stretch her bones, aching and shattered from wandering and bitter exile; some and see how she accustoms herself to standing erect as a date palm. Come and feel how our national invigorates its spirit by remembering its strength and majesty, by remembering its grandeur and glory at every turn. Come and delight in memories better than good wine, that exalt the soul and increase wisdom, memories of kings and princes, memories of heroes and prophets, memories of glory and strength, greatness and majesty. Come to the Land of Israel - here you will behold the vision of all this, here you will know that you are alive, living a life worthy of the name, in the land of life".

from Rav A.Y.Kook, Selected Letters, translated and annotated by Tzvi Feldman, Ma'aliot Publications of Yeshiva Birkat Moshe, Ma'aleh Adumim, Israel, 1976, pp. 239-240

The 'complainglos'

This is one of the articles that I love to read early in the morning: tonic, smart and logic: The 'complainglos' | Nate Dubin | Ops & Blogs | The Times of Israel
I am terribly annoyed sometimes by people that are in Israel complaining that they do not like what
they find and by people that did not make aliyah because complaining about the realities they do not know.
If you do not like something, try to change. If you do not like your community, go find something else. But do not complain that the others fail to be as you expect them to be.

Who are the Jews from Mexico

A good reminder of the traces of our history. Driven far away from our land, leaving refuge after refuge in the quest for the way to return home. This time, it is about the Jews from Mexico, who, as I saw recently, are starting to return to Israel, together with the other Jewish communities from Latin America.

We are ready to go back home. 

Our home

I didn't want to talk too much about what everybody it's expecting to happen in September, when various Arab groups and factions in and outside Israel warned they would proclaim a "Palestinian state". I was extensively trying to figure out how this so-called state will look like, what the political parties will be, the ruling elites, the educational plans, the diplomatic representatives, the budget and how the money will be used (maybe for roads, schools, education). I watched years ago how new states in former Yugoslavia, for instance, were created and how difficult is to create functional states although it was provided the local infrastructure.

Nothing by far in this particular case. Instead, the "leaders" (read it the supporters of various degrees of terrorism) are preaching terror and accusing Israel of their incapacity and, why not, to but it bluntly, idiocy.

Yesterday, they fully showed what they are offering to the world: terror, by killing innocent people - children and civilians - by using all their energies to plan terrorist attacks (dear CNN or WSJ or BBC, there were terrorist without brackets and not militants or other names you called those murders, ok?).

I watched for a while the comments on the online forums: people with various mental troubles and basic education, but free access to Internet, puke their hate against Jews and Israel. Isn't something new and it is how many people are thinking in private. They chew and chew and chew the same nonsensical propagandistic messages refusing to think.

We don't have to expect too much, but to be sure that the perpetrators of all the attacks of the last days will pay the highest price. Yesterday, shortly after the news of the attacks was on air, I've been asked "what's going on there?" I answer calmly that NYC or LA or London could be as or more dangerous than the state of Israel, but that in that case I trust that the situation will be under control and will not last too long.

And if this is how they will prepare to launch their "state", I am convinced that sooner or later the world will realize how fake do they are and how dangerous is to continue supporting them. And how much they depend of their sponsors - Iran and Syria among others - for playing the permanent tension against Israel. I wish that the fine intellectuals crying for the fate of the 5 stars hotels in Gaza will wake up to the reality realizing that the Palestinians aren't welcomed in any other country but in Israel where they could work and go to school and benefit of medical treatment.

Through history, we learned how to remain united and stronger. After the lessons of Tisha B'Av is time to forgot what divide us and be united. The fundings and sponsorships will always be limited, we can't live only with hating each other and we need to reflect upon who we are. And to hurry up going back home. It's about time.

Read also:

Haarets - Palestinians ultimate goal is to make Israel disappear

Judith Levy - The day two of the new war