Something Positive About Israel

“I have a lot of roots in Israel,” said Himel, the father of two grown children and a Magen David Adom volunteer medic who worked on emergency teams during the 2006 war in Lebanon and the most recent war in the Gaza Strip. “I have a great passion for this place. It’s a vibrant life, and I love the fact that the Mediterranean Sea is only a 10 minutes’ walk from my house.”

And while he finds Israeli politics “shamelessly corrupt” and the educational system “abhorrent,” he likes Israelis.

“The people are terrific. It is hard to be lonely in Israel. Everybody makes your business their business. Sometimes, it is oppressive, but if you are in trouble, many people are willing to help.

“And there is always something real to talk about. It’s never just, ‘What did you buy in town today?’”