7 days in Israel

There is a certain initial aggression that permeates the air here in Israel. I’m not certain whether that is because of the harsh syllables of a language I cannot decipher (the raspy Hebrew “hat” and “raish” sounds that come from the back of one’s throat), or the centuries of war and bloodshed that were fought over these lands, or the fact that it’s mandatory for every Israeli to do military service for three years of their youth, that gives this country the impression of being “playfully aggressive“.

Israel's national fruit, fresh pomegranates can be found  in the market.Like the fruit that is ubiquitous in their fresh fruit markets, the pomegranate (or rimmon as they call it in Hebrew), there is a toughness here that appears harsh and impenetrable on the surface. Vendors shouting their wares at the market, claiming that they are best at what they do, luring and enticing you into a room of knick knacks for the best prices. Insulting you if you do not buy.

Yet an aggression like this is not unfounded within a land with such a history of political neuroses. By this, I mean a land comprised of peoples who have long fought to establish their political borders. This hostility is coupled with a sense of humor and forgiving charm that masks a certain insecurity of a very newly established country. Remember, there was no State of Israel before 1948. This was hard fought land and the Israeli government has invested a lot of money to defend it. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Israel spent 6.2% of their GDP in 2012 on military expenditure. That’s a significant sum for such a small country.

The playful yet aggressive humor and charm of the locals expose harsh truths in digestible bite-size pieces. Here, talks of bombs and guns are matter-of-fact and casual, even over dinner. It comes with little drama, and perhaps even a joke or three. The locals I met during my stay have a great sense of humor, although it may run rather dark.

It is their reality (whether we judge it to be harsh or not) that the land they are living on has always been historically a very politically coveted land –the epicenter of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths. They know what they have and they don’t take it for granted.There is a very strong work ethic here and food does not go to waste. And once you understand what the cacophony of Hebrew actually means, it’s not that aggressive at all…  but instead liberal, witty, creative, open-minded, community-oriented and warm.

Like the tough exterior of their national fruit, once you crack open the surface of Israel, there is a multi-faceted feast – a cornucopia of cultures, religions and races (Christian, Muslim, Jewish, German, Yemenite and more) that co-exist side by side.I feel that in the seven days that I’ve traveled through Israel, I’ve only cracked the surface of this rimmon. I will definitely be back again soon to taste more of the fruit.

MUST DO

1. The Dead Sea
2. The Sea of Galilee (Lake Kineret)
3. The Kotel (Western Wall) in The Old City, Jerusalem
4. Walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel in Jerusalem's City of David, +972 2-6268700
5. Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem - HaZikaron, Jerusalem, 91034, Israel +972 2-644-3400

MUST EAT

1.  Uri Buri Fish and Seafood Restaurant - HaHagana 11, Acre, 24315, Israel +972 4-955-2212
2. Dr. Shakshuka - Beit Eshel 3, Tel Aviv, 68025, Israel +972 3-682-2842
3. Pomegranate juice from Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem
4. Vanilla Soy Ice Cream with Halva (crushed sesame seeds and honey) at Hatchazer in Jerusalem - 7 Derech Beit Lehem, Jerusalem, +972 02-6719922

MUST SHOP

1. Jaffa Flea Market - East of the Clock Tower,Tel Aviv, Israel +972 3-527-2691
2. Ahava – Natural Dead Sea Bath Products

MUST DRINK

1. Nightlife in Tel Aviv
2. Radio EPGB - Shadal 7, Tel Aviv, 65781, Israel +972 3-560-3636
3. Rothschild 12 - 12 Rothschild Blvd, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel +972 3-510-6430
4. Ilka Bar - Dizengoff 148, Tel Aviv, Israel +972 54-803-0706
5. Nanuchka - Lilienblum 30, Tel Aviv, Israel +972 3-516-2254

MUST STAY

1. The Efendi Hotel in Akko - Louis IX St. 24124 Akko, Israel +972-74-7299799 reservation@efendi-hotel.com
2. Ein Gedi Hotel - Dead Sea Ein Gedi 86980 Israel +972-8-6594222 info.resort@ein-gedi.co.il