A few years ago, well four to be exact, I went on BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL.  It is an organization that sends Jewish kids, ages 18-26, to Israel on the condition that they have never been with the not-at-all hidden agenda of turning them in to Zionists.  Well here’s to the converted!  Not only was that one of the happiest times in my life (yes, I met a boy, but that’s not why…), but also Israel, as it turns out, is the most magical place.  In no small part due to the fact that it is a country that is 90% Jewish.  I repeat 90% Jewish.  So, for example, say you meet a doctor and he’s not bad looking, maybe he’s single, maybe he’s a nice guy, well you know what else he is?  JEWISH.  You get in a taxi, the driver is talking up a storm, he doesn’t smell so good, you know what else? He’s JEWISH, so you give him a nice tip.  And on and on…

And who are we kidding?  I know if I meet someone and I like them, if I find out that they are even a tad Jewish (on either side, I don’t discriminate) I like them SO much better. Oh please, you know you feel the same…

On birthright, besides meeting a boy, I discovered that Israel is a beautiful country.  The people, the food, the sights and the coolest thing is they LOVE American Jews. Love. We are the reason that, in large part, they can continue to exist.  (That statement is not meant to be controversial, but a nod to the support of Israel by American Jews.)  They want you to visit a lot, eat even more and if you are not already involved leave with a husband or wife.

So it is no surprise that after that trip I vowed to return.  And four years later I did. This past week.  I was excited and nervous because of the high expectations I had placed on this tiny country.  What if my first experience was unique and I only did like it because of the guy?  (I swear I’m over him…)  Also, that trip had been a whirlwind.  It packed enough activity for two months into ten days.  I think on average we slept maybe 4 hours a night.

Needless to say, there was a lot riding on this trip.  And kids all I can say is the motherland did not disappoint in the least.  The country was as beautiful as I remember and the people were too.  What was most different about this trip as compared to my first was the fact that I wasn’t constantly on the go and I got a real sense for their “work to live” mentality. Which, despite its place in the world, is quite European.  That’s what so crazy about Israel.  It is a country the size of New Jersey in the middle of a hotmess (which I think is the technical term of f’ing terrorists that wanna blow your s**t up) and I couldn’t feel safer and more relaxed when visiting.  And because I like to back stuff up, I asked friends that lived there if they felt this safe, etc.  And the answer was a resounding yes.  That while they are keenly aware of the thin ice on which the country lives, they also take life day by day and really live it.  They are so appreciative of the fact that they have this amazing country that they don’t take it for granted.

Oh and did I mention how friggin’ ridiculously good the food is?  OMG.  Now if you are a meat lover it’s not your place, but the dairy, produce and fish are insane.  Insane. And the Hummus, the hummus!  Don’t even get me started.

Ok, yes I drank the Kool-Aid, but when it tastes this good and only makes me love being Jewish even more, why wouldn’t you?

Stay tuned for a special treat that I brought back with me.