Tune-in From 8000 Miles Away

When you move away, there are little things you’ve learn to appreciate over the years that you must leave behind. Perhaps it’s the coffee shop around the corner. Maybe it’s the neighborhood park you used to visit, or a hardware store that carried your favorite supplies. For me it was a radio station I used to listen to.

How I came to be a [volunteer] Police Officer

I have been concerned about the driving culture in Israel. Even wrote about it in my blog “Looking for a Gentler Mr. Wheeler”. I get upset with drivers who disregard basic traffic rules and endanger themselves and others. And I swear - a lot. “If you are so concerned about the driving here, then why don’t you do something about it?” said my wife. Since I always (ok - at least sometimes) follow my wife’s advice - I did.

To Bomb [Iran] or Not to Bomb: That is the Question

You can’t really watch TV, listen to the radio or read the newspaper in Israel now days without coming across the question: “should Israel bomb the nuclear facilities in Iran, or not?” It seems to be the ultimate “you’re damn if you do and you’re damn if you’re not” question. There are little, if any doubts that Iran is frantically racing towards the production of nuclear weapons.  The specter of a nuclear Iran keeps many in the Middle East, Europe and America awake at night.

Between ‘Little Harlem’ and ‘Little SOHO’

There is some resemblance between Tel Aviv and Manhattan: The energy you sense on the streets, the cafés, restaurants and bars, the art galleries, theatres and more. Both cities also carry a ‘melting pot’ atmosphere, with people of all races and color filling the streets along with sounds of many languages.

Dining philosophers in a bathroom

Last week I met a friend at a restaurant. We had a good talk and managed to catch up on each other lives. After few cups of coffee and numerous glasses of water, it was time for him to leave.  Before hitting the road, I decided to visit an “important place”, i.e. the bathrooms. I borrowed the key from the hostess and followed her instructions to the bathrooms which were next door. All went “as planned”, until I tried to exit the bathroom and discovered I was locked inside.

A little bit of water can go a long way

Most restaurants in California will serve a customer a glass of water upon request. And some will even pour you water automatically the minute you sit down at the table. Occasionally the waiter will stop by to check if you need a refill. He will even leave you his water jar if you ask for it. Not so in Israel. If you ask for water, the waiter has to place your order with the bar and will bring over one glass at a time. Refills aren't automatic: your waiter has to order another glass from the bar, which takes time and requires a few friendly reminders.

Giving 'Green Light' to Young Drivers

One of my ‘pet peeves’ in Israel is the local driving culture. Admittedly, driving has improved over the last decade or so, especially after major investments in road infrastructure. Yet compared to California, I feel far more anxious on the road here. I wrote about my dissatisfaction with driver behavior before, as in ‘Looking for a Gentler Mr. Wheeler’. And according to my wife, I sound far less subtle when I sit behind the wheel and curse. One day after sending yet another driver to hell, she said to me “if you feel so strongly about the situation why don’t you do something about it?”. Ah, wives and their pragmatism…