63 Utterly Boring, Stupid, Absurd and Ugly Things About Israel

Ok, I lied: Benji Lovitt rips both humor and aliya a new one for Israel's 63 Independence Day:

Soon after making aliya 5 years ago, American immigrant Benji Lovitt began compiling slightly warped, but endearing aspects of what he loves about his adopted country. Here is his fourth annual list.

7 I love that you can talk to a complete stranger for five minutes, ask if his sister is single, and not get punched in the face.

8 I love how you can talk on a first date about how many kids you want to send to the army.

9 I love that during the summer, you could hike 40 kilometers underground and somehow still end up at an ice cream truck.

10 I love that I contacted Pelephone via Twitter, and within 24 hours, they had arranged for Ori, the customer service guy, to come to my house to pitch me their deal. (By the way, if you’re ever entering a hotel for a Twitter event and security asks you what you’re there for, just lie. Nothing sounds dorkier than “Tweet-up.”)

Do read the rest.

Original nature photos from Israel: 'Dawn of the Dead (Sea)'

Dawn of the Dead (Sea), a photo by Dave Bender on Flickr.

The sun peeks over the hills of Jordan, as seen from atop a rescue raft across the Dead Sea in Israel. Click the link to see the rest of the original nature series (and other) photos on my Flickr page.

Comments and critique are welcome.

Life On Mars (Israel nature photography)

Life On Mars, a photo by Dave Bender on Flickr.

Hotels along the edge of the the Dead Sea on the Israel - Jordanian border - the lowest point on Earth.

The water, sky and stark mountain backdrop prompted me to try for an alien, otherworldly mood on P'shop post-editing. All Rights Reserved.

'Flying Through A Dream' (original Israel nature photography)

Remnants of a salt-encrusted art installation along the edge of the the Dead Sea on the Israeli-Jordanian border, the lowest point on Earth. The water, sky and stark mountain backdrop prompted me to try for an alien, otherworldly mood in P'shop post-editing. Click the image or link for more photos.

Flying Through A Dream, a photo by Dave Bender on Flickr. All Rights Reserved.

The underwater salt reminded me of a cirrus-like cloudy sky, and the art installation object itself looked like a raft or a bed in a dream, rising off utterly still waters. So, flipping the photo helped give it a dreamlike unreality.

Click the image or link for more photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davebender/5641066504/

Jerusalem: Old City (Photo)

Jerusalem Alleyway: Old City
(Dave Bender: All Rights Reserved)

Hamas Now Using Dead 'Human Shields'

An Israeli Air Force drone filmed Hamas rocket crews firing missiles at Israeli territory from a graveyard somewhere in Gaza over the weekend.


Israeli Air Force pilots may actually appreciate this helpful gesture, which, a) simplifies heat-signature targeting (since the terrorists and rocket launcher are the only things there that are above ambient temperature - temporarily), and, b) greatly expedites the burial procedure of said rocketeers.

A tad militant of me, I know. Deal.

Exodus: The Social Network Version (video)

Aish.com brings the funny with a spoof on The Biblical Exodus from Egypt by the Children of Israel:

''A View With A Room' Along The Ancient 'Spice Trail' (photo)

'A View With A Room' (Dave Bender, All Rights Reserved)

I shot this recently at the ancient Avdat archaeology site, south of Beersheba, Israel where archaeologists believe thousands of Nabateans operated and lived in a thriving community that served as a winery for nearby vinyards, and a "caravanseri" waystation for traders along the ancient "Spice Trail," route from Saudi Arabia and Yemen to ports along the Mediterranean coastline, among them Gaza. I tweaked the image with a Photoshop action called "Pop Ice." (Google it)

'More Koreans Than Israelis Own a Talmud'

A fascinating, almost unbelievable story.

In South Korea there are close to 49 million residents, and they all learnGemara in school (www.ynet.co.il). “We tried to understand why the Jews are such geniuses and we concluded that (it is because) they study Talmud,” explained South Korea’s ambassador to Israel.

Korean Talmud (Photo courtesy of the Embassy of South Korea to Israel)

In a week of renewed terror including a bomb in Jerusalem (with 1 dead, 39 wounded, some still in critical condition) and the returning shelling to the south of Israel (with rockets now reaching the outskirts of Be’er Sheva and Ashdod), as well as a joyous announcement about the Elitzur Ramle basketball team taking the women’s EuroCup final, what’s the big deal about learning Talmud in South Korea?

“We were curious how come the Jews are so successful academically and have a much higher percentage of Nobel Prize winners in all fields… what is their secret?… one of your secrets is studying Talmud,” continued ambassador Young-Sam-Ma. There might be now more (translated) Talmud volumes in South Korean homes than in Israel! In his appearance on Israeli TV he spoke about shared values between the Jewish people and the Koreans such as the place of the family, respect for elders, education and culture. He was impressed with the fact that even in a small kibbutz there is a cultural center with on-going cultural activities.

Read the rest.

American - Israeli Blooz-Rocker Rocks Israeli Army Radio

Lazer Lloyd, a veteran blues-rock guitarist and American immigrant to Israel was recently featured in a live segment aired in Israel Army Radio, "Galatz" (Army Waves).

He and the midday live music show host, Yoav Kutner (himself a veteran local radio host and music maven), are chatting in Hebrew about Lloyd's background, musical influences and the fact that he's a devout Jew, succeeding in what secular Israelis often view that their own "cultural turf."

A bit ragged and out of tune, but what. ever. In any case, good stuff. (Thanks Sandy)

Here's Lloyd from a show at a local venue:


Added bonus: the commercial for a local bank's online services is fun, too...