Besides wanting to learn the Hebrew language, I am also interested in learning more about the Israeli culture. In my first tutoring session I was able to learn many things about Israel and its Jewish people. My peer advisor Maya Tatro explained Israel to me as a “Little America, with better food.” They still have the fast food restaurants that we of course have in the States, but they also have better local food over there. I had always known that Israel was an ally to the United States of America, but I did not know that Israel is by far the most western state in the Middle East. Because they act like a western culture, in an area that does not look kindly upon the west, they are commonly seen as the enemy by their unfriendly neighbors. This is one of the reasons that Palestine and Israel do not get along. One can only hope that the struggle between Palestine and Israel can find a peaceful endpoint within our lifetime. However, as much as we hope for world peace, it narcissistically is not possible.
Another thing I learned was a Jewish American’s birth rite. In one’s late teen years or early twenties, they have a 10 day trip paid for to go back to Israel and its culture. The person doing the trip pays no money and is arranged through the Taglat, a wealthy group of Jewish people that feel as if the birth rite is so important that every Jewish American should experience it. Although Maya has not been on her Birth Rite yet, she explained it as an almost rush week sort of thing. Where the visiting party is showered with happiness and enjoyment, to encourage that individual to join that group. Throughout the ten day trip people are selling the idea of staying in Israel and not going back home to the US. I do not know how effective this is in keeping people in Israel, but as a young adult this sounds like an awesome trip to take part in.
The final thing I learned about the culture in my discussion was about the Israeli Army. Unlike in America, where we do not have to join the army, in Israel every person must join the army for 2 years. It is typically done between high school and college. Israeli’s like Maya still technically have to join the army if she were to return, up to a certain age. If Maya wanted to go back to Israel, she could only be there for less than 6 months lest she be put in jail for avoiding military service. From what I gathered, it is an honor and commonality to join the army when one reaches a certain age, so it is not like people are searching for ways to avoid fighting for its country and culture. As I briefly touched on in the first paragraph, Israel is constantly at war with its neighboring countries, if they were to find peace with these other areas, then perhaps a mandatory service in the army would not be necessary.
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