If you had the opportunity to ask an Israeli anything, what would you ask? Think about that before you read on…

In religious school, our students did just that with Amit, one of Pittsburgh’s Shinshinim, our 18-year-old Israeli emissary who deferred his army service in order to be in Pittsburgh for a year. https://jewishpgh.org/shinshinim/

We are lucky enough to have had him at Temple David a few times and only wish he could be with us even more. He is a terrific hands-on teacher teaching us about culture, games, the political system and more. Our payment to him has largely been in Bamba and gratitude.

What were the questions that the kids asked? Here are some:

• What do other Jewish people in Israel wear?
• Do you have to be careful with the equipment when you’re in the army?
• What things do you eat for dinner?
• What are your friends like?
• Were you born in Israel?
• How old are you?
• Is it dangerous to be in Jerusalem given the Palestinian conflict?
• Why is the Dead Sea called that?
• In Israel on Shabbat does everyone go to shul? Is everything closed?
• What are some of the fruits and vegetables in Israel?

Amit had so many terrific answers and I will just focus on one light-hearted one. He said that one of the fruits that they do not have in Israel are berries or much pineapple. I have to say – for all my time spent in Israel – that that never occurred to me!

So often when we hear about Israel or think about Israel we think in headlines and stilted views of holding Israel to a different standard than even those countries, say on the United Nations Human Rights Council, who are critiquing her. Let us instead enjoy those small but day to day facts about berries and going to school on Sunday because Shabbat is the national day of rest and that the big meals are breakfast and lunch, not dinner.