Lizrael Update

Lizrael Update: babbling about the expat life since 2004

  • No cold feet here.

    It’s the days that start off gray and cloudy and dark and like all hell is about to break loose that I really feel like a permanent resident here. Maybe this is a bit terrible, but it’s kind of like that I feel when the weather is bad, there’s nothing I can do about it;…

  • Onward and forward…

    You know what’s interesting? So now we have this Kadima party, supposed to be centered and all. We have political figures quitting their old parties to join from both the left and the right. This basically means that within the political party Kadima will be the neccesity for negotiations – level 2 negotiations, which happen…

  • When I grow up.

    I’m in love. It hit me today, like a club, like an enormous brainstorm. I want to be a mediator. Obviously, this was something I thought I want to do. I thought I could do. But as of today, I know: This is what I will do. I want to help people communicate. I want…

  • More than just a pretty 'tlush'…

    Now that I am an employee in the Israeli workforce… …hearing about today’s suicide bombing has a different take. Maybe it is because I have ‘more’ at stake? Maybe it is because I feel more settled here, so this is my fate more than ever before? …Israeli politics have a different meaning. It’s not just…

  • Pay it forward.

    Again, writing a letter to someone to help them out. Thought I’d share it, make the love go round: It’s cool to hear from you, and awesome to hear your aliyah plans have started to take action… The application process should be the least of your worries… as long as you have all the paperwork…

  • Do it in another country.

    t: is the oleh process getting easier as time goes on? do u find urself much more adjusted now than u did months ago?m: oh for sure… i have a job and school… i have no reason to return to america, and the only reasons i miss new york are superficialt: wow.. that’s great to…

  • No more American express.

    A ticket to the cinema on a Thursday night:Free if you have a Cellcom line (35 shekel normally). Popcorn and a soda:Dunno, too cheap to buy it. The Israeli movie-going experience.Actually priceless. ————————————————- So… Went to see The 40-Year Old Virgin on Thursday night. First movie I’ve seen in the Israeli cinema since I saw…

  • Bar Ilan students: Givat Shmuel vs. Jerusalem.

    Someone asked, and I thought there might be someone else out there who was curious, so I’m putting this up as a personal reference on the topic. The topic is: Bar Ilan – Is a modernly-religious student oleh better off living in Givat Shmuel (small community next to the school in Ramat Gan) or living…

  • Gaining experience.

    Sometimes it feels as though everyday is another humbling experience.

  • Keepsakes from the mother-land.

    Mother writes me today about some antiques she has found in the house and would like to know if I’d be interested in having them one day. My reply: “…I think that is stuff I would like later on when I have a more permanent living/life situation and want things from the ‘old country’ to…

  • Down-lowing drivers.

    Here’s the DL on Israeli drivers. Not so DL, really. When you heard those pro-touring-Israel slogans, ‘you have more of a chance of getting killed in a car accident than a suicide bombing’ (rosy campaign, yes) – IT’S ABSOLUTELY TRUE. In fact, it’s, I daresay, TERRORFYING. On the way to university I had a lift…

  • Thanks family giving.

    Hi family, Just because I’m a bit far doesn’t mean Thanksgiving hasn’t been on my mind… It’s definitely one of my favorite holidays. So just to update everyone, I’m working in creative marketing for Answers.com which is based in Jerusalem and in the evenings I’m taking my courses in Conflict Managament and Negotiation (masters) near…

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