Lizrael Update

Category: what a country

  • Same, same but different.

    I saw not one – not two – but three different guys wearing “SAME SAME/BUT DIFFERENT” t-shirts today. When young Israelis finish the army, they collect whatever savings they have and venture off into the wilderness that Southeast Asia has to offer. One of their main stops is Thailand, where everything is cheap and shopping…

  • Weather report.

    Last night, in Jerusalem, we experienced a hot rain. It doesn’t usually rain here in May, and certainly not in a tropical hot rain kind of way. Today, the sky is yellow. See for yourself: I hope tomorrow it’ll rain cats and dogs so that we can be rid of that stupid phrase.

  • French introspection for today.

    “Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; Nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.” (Charles DeGaulle)

  • Israeli Pet Peeve #143: Elevator bitch.

    I don’t get it. If I’m standing in the elevator when it lands at my destination (say, the fourth floor) and you are waiting to get in to go to your floor, why do you stand at the door, and start pushing your way into it before I get out? Wouldn’t it be a lot…

  • A Cable Story.

    A couple of weeks ago we were sitting in the comfort of our main room watching a movie when we heard a knock at the door. At 9 o’clock on a Sunday evening in our badly-numbered building, it could only be a wrong number. It was not, indeed, a wrong number; it was two sketchy,…

  • Superbowl vs. super gooooal!

    Been living in Jerusalem two years, currently residing in Katamonim, and I haven’t been to a Beitar Yerushalayim game? Got a call after shabbat to join some Aussies to watch the game; we are no longer Beitar-virgins. The fact is, we couldn’t have rooted for Ashdod if we had wanted to; if you’re a Jerusalemite…

  • Cool facts about Israel.

    For some people (not really me) this stuff never gets old. So for you guys, here’s “cool facts about Israel” and some really decent photographs:

  • A black hole in the Israeli outlook.

    On Eretz Nehederet last week, the cast poked fun at Tzipi Livni and Condi Rice who met to discuss the usual. I’m sure there was a lot of good material there, otherwise why would they give it focus? But I was totally embarrassed when it showed that the extent they were going to poke fun…

  • Marry chrisstmas.

    Only a true arse establishment like ‘Claire’ on Emek Refaim would celebrate this Jewish holiday season with a mini Christmas tree and red lights to compliment the spirit.Or maybe I’m missing something; when did this become fashionable? I guess it goes along with the awfully sleazy wedding dresses they boast, eh?Meanwhile, across the street, someone…

  • The students strike.

    I’m not sure how far the news has traveled surrounding the university tuition increases in the face of the university budget decreases. I suppose if you are not an Israeli university student, the news wouldn’t particularly interest you. The state of university education is becoming more and more dismal here in the state of Israel.…

  • Change the channel.

    Irony: Changing the Israeli channel where Nasrallah is preaching and yelling to a Palestinian channel where a soccer match is going on.

  • On lacking style… American style.

    The (typically quiet) religious Ethiopian Israeli girl in my class was up for talking about her thesis topic and getting suggestions. She began to describe her topic, having to do with religious authorities in Israel discriminating against religious Jewish Ethiopian practices. One student in the class, a (typically argumentative) Ashkenazi secular guy, offered some information…