IsRealli - the State of Israel official blog » 59 more reasons why I love Israel

59 more reasons why I love Israel

May 3, 2007 at 10:12 am | In Face to Face | Send to a friend

Today the JPOST brings us 59 reasons to love Israel. Enjoy:

1. ABC’s Good Morning America chose Jerusalem as one of the Seven Wonders of the world, and they were right. 2. There’s more to unearth. King David was the first king to rule Jerusalem, but his palace was only revealed in the City of David this year. 3. JNF forest rangers remained in the forests to put out fires while Katyushas were falling. 4. Twenty-five thousand volunteers helped replant the forests that did burn. 5. Six thousand spunky Israelis who left their homes during the war pretended they were vacationing on the beach. 6. While Intel Haifa workers were working in an underground shelter, Intel announced the new multi-core processor developed there. 7. During the Lebanon War, a northern kids’ butterfly center was moved to Tel Aviv. 8. Russian-speaking immigrants in the Haifa shelters offered hospitality to the American tourists who came to show solidarity. 9. We ask tourists why they don’t move here (even when the bombs are falling). 10. Banners on tourist buses reveal where the tourists hail from because we care.

11. OUR national bus company Egged was named by National Poet Chaim Nachman Bialik. 12. We have a national bus museum which features a bus called the Tepele (a pot in Yiddish). 13. The Children’s Museum in Holon offers a program on experiencing blindness. It’s booked months in advance. 14. In the archeological park in Caesarea you can ask a virtual Baron Rothschild questions, but he won’t give financial tips. 15. A rabbinical couple in Caesarea offered seminars on how to get through Pessah without family quarrels. 16. A school in central Israel offered an afternoon class on how to steal the afikoman. 17. A cheese called “blintzes filling” is marketed only before Shavuot. 18. Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) allowing us to speak internationally without phones was pioneered in Israel. 19. Two hundred thousand Israelis communicate without phones by lighting fires and singing in Meron on Lag Ba’omer, also pioneered in Israel. 20. Pizza parlors and felafel stands put up booths for Succot.

21. NOT JUST oranges. Researchers are developing edible flowers that look like marigolds and taste like radishes. Go figure. 22. You can buy kosher sushi in Jerusalem’s Mahaneh Yehuda. 23. We send SMSs in the language of the Bible. 24. Youngsters routinely travel to the cemetery at Kvutzat Kinneret to visit the graves of poet Rahel and national song laureate Naomi Shemer. 25. The driver in the horse cart in Kvutzat Kinneret sings Naomi Shemer songs for tourists. 26. Aviv Matzot exports its unleavened bread to Egypt. 27. We have sex symbols named Yehuda Levy and Pnina Rosenblum. (Thank you reader Carol Clapsaddle.) 28. An Israeli start-up wants to turn our ubiquitous olive pits into fuel. 29. An Israeli stand-up comedian turns brit mila into humor. 30. A diamond salesman from Bnei Brak invented a computer program to identify the handwriting on Torah scrolls in case they’re stolen.

31. NEWS Web sites graph the daily level of the Kinneret. 32. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reportedly came up with the name for the popular romantic comedy Pretty Woman. 33. Beersheba, capital of the Negev, has the greatest number of chess grandmasters per capita in the world. The town has cricket and rugby teams, too. Also a camel market. 34. Some of the fanciest wedding halls are run by kibbutzniks who rode to and from their own huppot on tractors. 35. The rise in matza sales is reported annually on the financial pages. 36. We turn our salty water in the desert into sweet peppers and mellow wines. 37. We’re turning our southern shooting ranges into potato fields and exporting the potatoes to Europe. 38. Tourists from the South Pole arrived on Pessah and were puzzled that there was no bread in the supermarkets. 39. No wonder foreign coffee chains fail. Even in a Golan Heights strategic site you can get a cappuccino to go called “Coffee in the Clouds”.

40. DESPITE the tensions and political dissension, Israel has the highest Jewish birthrate in the world. 41. Nine months after the war in Lebanon we had a baby boom. 42. Everyone in the park shares bags of Bamba. 43. Yad Vashem is so important there’s no entrance fee. 44. Our pilots fought over the honor of taking part in the fly-by over Auschwitz 60 years after liberation. 45. A popular mall in Haifa features an art gallery. 46. Cafes offer delicious Israeli breakfasts all day long. 47. We carry gifts of soup nuts, jellyfish repellent, sandals and jewelry to friends abroad. 48. How many countries have a tourist program that lets you hunt for the snails to make your own blue ritual fringes like those in the Bible? 49. The IDF has developed Shabbat-friendly pens, telephones, computer mice, electronic gates, and even sensor-activated faucets and urinals. Hi-tech or low tech? 50. “Push the Button,” the Israeli entry in the Eurovision song contest, will be performed by Teapacks, a group formed in beleaguered Sderot.

51. YOU can buy an alarm clock that sings “Modeh ani lefanecha,” the Jewish wake-up prayer. 52. In America, Dora the Explorer speaks English and Spanish on TV. In Israel, she speaks Hebrew and English. 53. Our top Broadway star plays the nursery-school teacher in a series of educational musicals for preschoolers. 54. Hamburger joints serve matza buns on Pessah. 55. We’re finally remembering to turn off our cell phones. 56. Sealy hopes to install an Israeli sensor in its mattresses to help control snoring. 57. We were always techy. A sophisticated steam room and bathing pool were uncovered on Masada in the middle of the desert. 58. The Red Sea resort town of Eilat is promoting a new birdwatching festival featuring laughing doves and Palestine sunbirds, also a belly-dancing festival. 59. “Hatikva” still gives me goosebumps.

20 Comments »

What a lovely picture!
BTW, there are more than 10,000 reasons to love Israel.

Comment by Amit — May 3, 2007
There are some resons why I do not love Israel:

1) Taxes are incredible. I can’t say they are highest in the world, but very close.

2) Israel is one of the most racist countries in the world - your rights are determined by your nationality and religion.

3) There is only few people who know what is HTML formatting. 59 numbers should be presented as list items, not plain text.

Comment by foreigner — May 4, 2007
I can’t wait to visit and see this wonderful place! I wish I had a year to spend there.

Comment by M — May 4, 2007
It seems that “foreigner” is anti-Israel and has obviously never been in that country. Israel is a Democracy where people of all nationlities, religions, skin colors and sexual orientations have equal rights.

Unlike all the other countries in the Middle East where only Arab and Muslims are considered to be human and everyone else is treated as a subhuman.
I, as an American Catholic woman, would rather live in Israel than in any other country in the Middle East, which are the most racist countries in the world.

Comment by Daisy — May 4, 2007
I had no trouble reading your list as plain text, some people just can’t help but complain. AAnother reason to love Israel… through probably mentioned… the Shabbos bell.

Comment by Daniel S — May 5, 2007
the loves i have for israel is unexplianabe

Comment by joseph — May 9, 2007
I Love Isreal ! Though I am not from Isreal I think they are the best …they know how to preserve their country from the enemies. I would love to visit this beautiful , small yet strong country. Cheers to you Isreallies….!!!
I am a Kashmiri Hindu living in India.

Comment by Rahul Dhar — May 9, 2007
Israel is obviously racist and clearly not a democracy. This is a country that requires one religion/race to be the majority. In order to accomplish that people of different religions are expelled, despite the fact they have lived there for centuries.

No one is fooled. Its clear that Isreal is an overtly racist country. Its better to be honest and admit the obvious. Then you can make the case that it should be a racist state because… (add your excuses here)

Here’s one small example with many more readily available on the web.

From Btselem:
http://www.btselem.org/English/Jerusalem/Revocation_of_Residency.asp

The Interior Ministry, which deals with the residency status of East Jerusalem’s Palestinian residents revoked residency from those who moved outside Jerusalem’s municipal borders. Palestinians who were unable to prove that they had lived in Jerusalem in the past and continue to live there were compelled to leave their homes forever. They could not live or work in Israel and they and their families lost their social benefits. The Israeli authorities never announced this policy, and never warned the Palestinians that by leaving Jerusalem they jeopardize their status and right to return to live in their homes in the city.

Comment by Greg — May 10, 2007
Greg;
Please go back to the anti-semitic hole you crawled out of! Arabs, Palestinians don’t exist, haven’t lived in Israel for centuries, more like decades. Israel is Jewish land, get over it!
Israel has expelled some Arab occupiers because they were terrorists. Israel is a Democracy where ALL religions are allowed to worship as they please.
Not like Saudia Arabia and the majority of the Arab and Muslim countries where all religions are banned except for Islam. What about that Greg or should I say “Ahmed?”
The term racism is ridicoulous when you’re talking about religion isn’t it? When did Islam become a race?
Arabs are definately racist. They hate Jews, who they consider an ethnic group, and want to kill them all. Of course Jews can’t live in any Arab country because they would be shot on the spot. THAT IS RACISM AT IT’S WORSE.

Comment by Daisy — May 10, 2007
Daisy,

Thanks for the response. Your comment eloquently expresses the vitriol and bigotry endemic to Israel. I’m fine with using the terms bigotry and Apartheid instead of racism if you prefer and you are welcome to call me “Ahmed” if that makes you feel better.

I see you have come up with some excuses for bigotry in Israel:
- “Palestinians don’t exist”
- “Arabs are definately racist” (sic)

and that you make no attempt to deny the well documented Apartheid practices of the Israeli government.

In short, I think your post complements and emphasizes mine.

Your comment also includes the standard tactic of Israel’s defenders: call anyone who opposes the policies of the Israeli government Anti-semitic. Saying that without a basis compromises the important work of combating real anti-semitism. That hurts everyone who strives to end bigotry wherever it arises, but that may well be your intention…

Comment by Greg — May 11, 2007
Typical respose from an anti-semitic terrorist supporter. First of all I’m not from Israel or even Jewish. I’m an American Catholic who became a supporter of Israel, after seeing all the hate and violence Arabs use against the only Democracy in the Middle East.
Anyone who singles out Israel for any mistake they make, while ignoring other countries that are facist and commit torture like Saudi Arabia, are anti-semitic!
I’ll use the words bigotry, aparthied and racism to describe most of the Arab and Muslim countries in the world where Christians, Jews are non-existant there because they were all killed or kicked out, are killed almost daily for practicing their religion.
If you really wanted to end bigotry you would criticize Saudi Arabia for oppressing, imprisoning, and torturing non-Muslims. But that’a not what you want. You just attack Israel because you hate Jews and have nothing better to do. LOSER!
What I wrote about the Arabs are facts, They are the most racist people and “Palestinians” don’t exist. There has never been a Palestinian country, language, culture or people. Jews were the first to be called Palestinian because that’s what they Romans re-named Israel thousands of years ago. It has no Arab connection whatsoever.
If you hate Israel than why don’t you boycott it? Throw away your cellphones, computers, certain medicines, etc. You’ll live like a barbarian but at least you won’t be a hypcrite!

Comment by Daisy — May 12, 2007
Daisy,
I am Israeli citizen from 2003, but definitely planning to move out. Making “Aliyah” was a big mistake. My family is already moved out, because we always will be strangers in this country. We were looking for developed democratic country, but all that we saw was corrupted government and police, lawlessness and discrimination.

Comment by foreigner — May 12, 2007
Daisy,

Once again, I think we agree on the basic Aparthied policies of Israel. Thanks also to “foreigner” for the new comment based on personal experience.

If your only defense of Israeli policies is that you hate “Arab and Muslim countries” then I think the matter is settled.

Unfortunately, that kind of excuse has allowed Israel to kill 824 Palestinian children in recent years in addition to many other horrible acts of violence.

So everyone knows that we are talking about real kids with dreams, hopes and a future, I’ve pasted the most recently documented atrocity here:
- ‘Abd al-Karim Khaled Salem Zaharan
15 year-old resident of Deir Abu Mash’al, Ramallah and al-Bira district, killed on 22.04.2007 in Deir Abu Mash’al, Ramallah and al-Bira district, by gunfire.
Did not participate in hostilities when killed.
Additional information: Killed while standing with a group children on a hill. A soldier in an army jeep fired at the children from a distance of about 300 meters, hitting him.
- from: http://www.btselem.org/english/statistics/Casualties.asp
- One note on who is racist. Dictionary.com defines racism as: “Discrimination or prejudice based on race”. Your statements look like prejudice against Arabs based solely on their race.
- One note on boycott. Boycotts definitely help put pressure on the Israeli government. It’s sometimes hard to tell which products come from Israel. You can tell by reading the bar code. If the numbers under it start with 729 then the product comes from Israel.
- One note on language. Your insults make you look infantile and detract from your argument, such as it is. Try reason instead of insults if you care at all about your credibility.

Comment by Greg — May 14, 2007
Greg;
All you do is talk in circles. You attack Israel even though you have no facts to back up your claims. Your silence on the human rights violations in Arab countries is deafening.
Israel is a democracy and Saudi Arabia has an apartheid system like most Arab Muslim countries do. Got that? You’re ignorance is unbelievable.
Most Arab children are murdered by their own people. Terrorists who use them as human shields. There countless of photos that show terrorists surrounded by small Arab children. The scumbags use these children as human shields so Israel gets blamed if these children are hurt or killed.
How about all the Jewish children who have been murdered in cold-blood by Arab terrorists? Little girls shot in the face, having their heads smashed in, raped and then beaten to a bloddy-pulp etc. etc.? Don’t these Jewish children deserve some sympathy?
The vast majority of Arab children are murdered by Arab terrorists and if the IDF sometimes is responsible it’s because it was an accident. Jewish children are always murdered by Arabs on purpose in the most vicious way. But you don’t care becaused you hate Jews.
Arabs are very racist towards Jews, Blacks and Hispanics. My Black friends have had bad experiences with very racist Arabs. What about their disgusting racism?
You seem to think that Arabs can do no wrong. They can murder, spread hate to their children, etc.etc. and all you do is criticize the Jews. You must be Arab or Muslim or just plain crazy.
I’m sure foreigner is about as Jewish as you are. You should boycott Israel and throw away your computer, cellphones, medicines, several products. Go ahead and do it now. You can’t reply to me anymore but at least I know that you’re actually a man of your word.

Comment by Daisy — May 15, 2007
cuz we both thought,that love last foreve. Stacy Fabian.

Comment by Stacy Fabian — September 19, 2007
our way to beautiful gir. Mihangel Caiaphas.

Comment by Mihangel Caiaphas — October 21, 2007
Oh, and did not know about it. Thanks for the information …

Comment by Andy — December 19, 2007
Greg,
I’m an Israeli citizen and I want to ask you, before you wrote your comments, have you seen the Israely people who live in fear for seven years because of the “kasam” bombs which the arabs shoot? Have you ever seen a bereaved family which lost her son in a terrorist attack? If we let go to these terrible terrorist to enter our country as the wish, we’ll be left with no country and no people in no time. I’m sad to see that there are anti-semitic people like you. Arabs have more than 20 countries they can go to, Jews have only one. You will be surprised to know that there are christian people in my school and I have never seen a rasict action. never. And I have been livind in Israel for a while. So please don’t suggest any solution to the problem before you even understand it.

Comment by Naama — January 27, 2008
most american christians like myself love you jewish people with all our hearts because we know God loves you even more with His heart. being from the south we understand that enjoying being with ones own people is hardly racist. but let us all face it these dang muslims would make mother terresa racist amen.

Comment by paul — January 29, 2008
I sorry it do not write very well in English, but I would like that the people know because I love ISRAEL, I have the hope that someone could translate it for my thank you.
En primer lugar lo amó por ser el pueblo que mi DIOS lo tomo para si y de las maravillas que hizo a fin de preservar a su pueblo comenzando con Noé, Moises, etc. La fidelidad de DIOS para con un pueblo infiel porque Dios nunca los Abandonó, las promesas cumplidas en su palabra

Comment by Aldo Sosa — March 23, 2008