The Message, Volume 46, Number 1, August 2010 Page: 1 of 18
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Hidden Selections of Houston’s African American and Jewish Heritage and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Rice University Woodson Research Center.
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Shalom oVw
with Rabbi David Rosen
Jerusalem, Israel
F^our guys are standing on a street corner - an American, a
r-“ Russian, a Chinese man, and an Israeli. A news reporter
I comes up to the group and says to them:
"Excuse me. What's your opinion on the meat shortage?"
The American says: "What's a shortage?"
The Russian says: "What's meat?"
The Chinese man says: "What's an opinion?"
The Israeli says: "What's 'Excuse me'?"
You have to know Israelis to appreciate the honesty of that joke. Israelis are
brash, direct and independent. You will never hear an Israeli wish you "a good day";
Israelis regard that line as insincere and patronizing. But all day Friday, you'll be
warmly wished "Shabbat Shalom" by everyone, from the flower shop owner to the
cashier in a neighborhood grocery.
Chain stores scarcely exist in Israel, and American chains have done particularly
poorly. Burger King finally gave up last month, following in the footsteps of Starbucks,
Dunkin' Donuts and a long list of well-intentioned but poorly-accepted efforts.
Israelis prefer local stores with shopkeepers and salespeople they personally know
and trust.
The "best buy" in a refrigerator is the one you negotiate with your army buddy's
uncle. Attempts to open "Wal-Mart"-like stores have repeatedly failed in a country
that, in its emphasis on community and relationships, is probably a lot like America
was in the 1940's and 50's.
In contrast to the small-scale retail environment, the country's high-tech sector
is dazzling. As recorded in Dan Senor and Saul Singer's marvelous book Start-Up
Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle, the brashness which can make Israelis
appear utterly chutzpadik in some settings works beautifully when it comes to building
businesses and thinking outside the box. On our travels up the coastal highway, we
saw big industrial parks where Microsoft, Intel and many other top-rung innovators are
creating the technologies that will power tomorrow's greatest and latest inventions.
Most of all, Israel is a nation where Jewish faith, culture and history are all
seamlessly woven together in a way that helps visiting Americans feel they are "home"
even if they are here for the first time.
The Hebrew on street signs and store windows is instantly familiar. The preparation
for Shabbat creates a national rush all day Friday to buy food, challahs and flowers.
A Friday night dinner with friends and family is de rigueur in Israeli homes, whether
families are religious or not. And when Shabbat settles in at last, the whole country
slows down and, in cities like Jerusalem and Safed, all-but-closes.
Yes, Israel is a unique blend of the very old and the very new, exemplified by
the high-tech multimedia light and sound show we saw that was projected onto the
ancient walls of the Old City. Regardless the painful realities that plague Israeli life
each day, Israel is a nation that stubbornly refuses to concede its right to be brash,
strong, independent and hopeful.
And as I leave Israel for the long ride home, how deeply stirred and very proud I
am of this little Jewish nation I so love. May 5771 bring Israel true peace.
August 2010/Av-Elul 5770
Vol. XLVI, No. 1
Houston, TX
■ High Holy Day information
Looking Ahead
■ Selichot Service Sat., Sep. 4
at 10:30 p.m.
■ Jr. Congregation begins
Sep. 25
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Congregation Beth Yeshurun
WWW.BETHYESHURUN.ORG
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■ Shabbat Jam & Dinner
Aug. 27
■ Young Adults Havdalah
Wine & Cheese Aug. 28
■ New Membership Services
Coordinator Ellen Petras
■ New Educational Director
Sheryl Eskowitz
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■ J.B. Greenfield Chapel
Pushke Fund activities
■ Family Album and
Bar Mitzvah
>■$1
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■ Yasher Koach, Yad Squad!
■ New Leaf on Simcha Tree
•l«7 «•
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Congregation Beth Yeshurun (Houston, Tex.). The Message, Volume 46, Number 1, August 2010, periodical, August 2010; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1318710/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.