As an aside, in my younger days I would kiss the ground upon arriving in Israel. Back then one got off the plane on the tarmac and took a bus to the terminal. I always felt funny kissing the cement or tar of the paved tarmac rather than kissing the soil of the Land of Israel. Sometimes I would remember and later kiss soil as well.. I dont know why I stopped but maybe just because I have been here so long and dont travel much...