"Frank, were you on this religious kick at home, or did you crack up over here?"

Living in Israel has it's perks, but the kind of things that really make me feel great about living here are the ones related to feeling like a Jew. Here are four things in no particular order, that I love about being a Jew in my own country.

- Being able to open the door while having a shabbat meal and not worrying about the neighbors complianing atht you are singing too loud.

- Seeing cars parked illegally with a note on the dash stating that they are paying a shiva call and would the metermaid be kind and not cite them for parking illegally (I've actually seen cards made up to put in your windshield for these occassions)

- Being able to walk down the street on shabbat and wish everyone you pass a hearty shabbat shalom and they don't look at you as if you are crazy, even if they are clearly not dressed for shabbat.

- Having an operator wish you a shabbat shalom or a shavua tov

- Not having to use vacation days for Jewish holidays

Tell me what other reasons you love about living (or visiting) Israel.

J.

Quote is from M*A*S*H* (1970)



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The possibility that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.
– Abraham Lincoln