Final Thoughts

I expected this to be a trip of my lifetime and it did not disappoint. I am amazed at Israel’s diversity in all respects – geography, cultural and religious. It is a beautiful country. It has the most ancient cities and ruins that I have ever seen. Tel Aviv is as modern as possible.

Israelis have a good life. The economy is doing well. Unemployment is low as is street or violent crime. Crime is not something that you worry about as you walk around.

I was surprised and maybe a bit angered to hear about the ultra-orthodox sects’ indifference to the government. The religious are financially supported to study Torah (the entirety of Judaism's founding legal and ethical religious texts) but say they have no use for the government. I understand that they believe they are achieving a higher ground but this it really practical in this day and age?

At times I felt as if I stressed out more about Israel’s security than the people that live there. When I questioned people about it, they do not let it interrupt their daily life but are well aware of the dangers that they face. They are also confident in their ability to survive. I knew that Israel is surrounded by enemies but looking at a map is very different from driving near the borders and seeing road signs that said “Danger – Land Mines”.

Almost all Israelis that I met appreciate their friendship with the U.S. and understand its importance, unlike countries such as Pakistan, or even Saudi Arabia or Egypt that take our money and give us the finger. Being Jewish, it makes me feel good that our support is not taken for granted. Israel may be our truest ally.

I have been asked by many friends since I came back if I now have a stronger affinity for Israel. Surprisingly to most friends, my answer is no. That does not in any way mean that I am not a supporter of Israel. I, however am not surprised because I was such a staunch Zionist before I went there that I think it was virtually impossible to feel any stronger about it.

I do think that I will become a more observant Jew. I have plenty of room for improvement in that department. I also want to use the trip as a Jumping off point to leading a healthier lifestyle. I also want to start learning Hebrew again. Time will tell. If I follow through.

The other question that I get is could or do I want to move there? My answer is not now. Language is definitely a problem. Almost everyone knows English to a varying degree but it would still be a long term issue.

I am definitely an American and proud of it. I have yet to travel anywhere that I would rather live than right here in the good old U.S. of A. HOWEVER, I will continue to support Israel and if things got bad I would do anything in my power to preserve her existence. I believe it is paramount for all American Jews to remember that if Israel existed earlier, the Holocaust never happens. Israel stands ready to accept any and all Jews. Her survival is vital.

I did and saw as much as I could but there is so much more to see. There are not many places that I visited that I would not want to go back to. I will return someday.