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Aug 13, 2009
Israelis at their best
One of the greatest things about going camping, besides the obvious things like connecting to the land, bonding with family, cheap vacation, feeling like you really roughed it even though you had a 3G connection, is that you get to see Israelis at their best.
In plenty of situations, we are all to familiar with Israelis at their worst. They are famous for stealing towels from hotels, making noise and damage to tourist sites around the world, typical brashness, etc. If you go camping, you will see the opposite - the Israeli at his best.
We camped overnight in three different locations over the past few days. When camping out, Israelis are generally at their best. They clean up after themselves. The grounds were kept beautiful, and people were careful to pick up their trash. People shared excess food with others, or equipment or coals after a bbq was finished but the coals could still be used, rather than throw it out. People were friendly, and not rude. People davened together, despite the different types of people and dress - Haredim with Dati Leumi made minyanim together without hesitating, people in full dress garb along with people in shorts and t-shirt. People helping each other on tiyulim, whether actually lending a hand or just sharing information.
When you go "La-Tzafon" for vacation, you will see Israelis at their best.
In plenty of situations, we are all to familiar with Israelis at their worst. They are famous for stealing towels from hotels, making noise and damage to tourist sites around the world, typical brashness, etc. If you go camping, you will see the opposite - the Israeli at his best.
We camped overnight in three different locations over the past few days. When camping out, Israelis are generally at their best. They clean up after themselves. The grounds were kept beautiful, and people were careful to pick up their trash. People shared excess food with others, or equipment or coals after a bbq was finished but the coals could still be used, rather than throw it out. People were friendly, and not rude. People davened together, despite the different types of people and dress - Haredim with Dati Leumi made minyanim together without hesitating, people in full dress garb along with people in shorts and t-shirt. People helping each other on tiyulim, whether actually lending a hand or just sharing information.
When you go "La-Tzafon" for vacation, you will see Israelis at their best.
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Sigh. I wanna go home...
ReplyDeleteThis is a great site that you have here. I have a debate site myself and I would like to exchange links with you. We need to stick together. Let me know. Jason
ReplyDeletewe've gone camping only twice (once in alaska years ago and last year in jersey), and people generally responded with amazement. we're looking to go away for a few days and were mulling camping just for 1 night, and even that we can't make an easy decision on.
ReplyDeleteon the other hand, it's funny how common it is for frum people to go camping in israel (although i have to admit i was surprised about haredim going camping).
LOZ - aside from a great way to see the country, it is also very cheap/ if someone doesnt want to pay the cost of a hotel or zimmer, would will be hundreds of shekels (in the range of 400-600, plus with kids it means a few zimmers or hotel rooms) a night in the summer season, this is bupkes compared to that.
ReplyDeleteSure the logistics are more complicated, but the savings just on sleeping are humongous.
B"H
ReplyDeleteThis happens a lot more often...
You [we, I] just need to pay more attention...
[Not so] mysteriously, one NEVER finds evidence of this in the standard Israeli media.
I use to tell my students when they would get into silly little fights that when differing groups of religious Jews get into fights, SHulamit Eloni and Yossi Beilin are cheering.
That shut them up immediately.
Wow, what an interesting take on Ahavat Yisrael, BY.
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say? Certain "Israelis" are more likely than not, not considered "Yisrael" at all.
ReplyDeleteI certainly would not include Yossi Beilin in a minyan, among other things.