One of my big problems is that I think I know everything. I even know I don't know everything ( following?) but I do think I know a lot and very few times, especially as I get older, am I shocked because something turned out to be different that I thought it was going to be. Chalk that up to life experience plus generally knowing everything. ( still with me?)
This past Sunday my wife and I went to a charity event here in Israel near the airport. I don't usually go to these things. I donate to organizations I believe in and don't think I need to get a free meal in return, especially when one of the things the organization does is provide people with food. I made the exception this time as I saw that the entertainment was Shalom Hanoch. If you don't know who he is , he is one of Israel's most famous singers and although he is now 73 years old, I knew my wife would really be into seeing him.
So I asked her if she was interested and as I surmised , she said yes.
See, I know everything.
The charity the dinner was supporting is called the Jaffa Institute. They deal with disadvantaged families and youth. You can learn more here http://www.jaffainstitute.org/our-work
One of the things I like about them is they help Jews, Arabs and even the children of illegal African immigrants ( or as you say in the USA, immigrants). The last one being very controversial here but as someone whose family was killed because no country would take them , I have the perspective that Israel, more so than other countries needs to figure out how to help these people. Especially as most of them really are trying to avoid war and for many of the children of these families, Israel is the only country they know.
The organization is a decent size as far as it goes with a budget of about 10 mil USD.
I wasn't expecting much of a turnout. I think I have mentioned in one of my past posts that statistically Israeli's are very low on the list of giving charity. I was expecting an intimate concert perhaps of me, my wife , Shalom Hanoch, and a few others.
Boy was I wrong.
There where over 1,000 people in attendance. The overwhelming majority where from Israel.
The majority of those were secular.
The honorees where a Dutch couple who has dedicated themselves to raising money and awareness for the Jaffa Institute.
They are not Jewish.
Up until that night I always thought that if secular Israeli's were donating to anything it was most likely universities or museums.
Generalizations ( some would say prejudices) have usually worked out well for me in the past but I was really taught a few things that night.
Israel is changing . The people who are successful , no matter what part of society they come from, are starting to realize that they need to give back. As a matter of fact quite a few mentioned that in their speeches. This was a great thing to see and hear.
Not everyone in Europe hates us. This was not only said by the Dutch honorees but they are a living example.
My wife has a crush on Shalom Hanoch
I really don't know any Shalom Hanoch songs and his music sucks ( just being Jealous)
There is stuff to do near the airport
I am prejudiced.
I already knew the last one. It is not that I don't like any specific group, it is just that I have many preconceived notions about groups of people that for the most part are true. ( I think that is the definition of prejudice)
The flip side is that I am not so Israeli that I say any bigoted, racist thing that comes into my head. I would write about all the words I hear on a weekly basis here that no one has said aloud it most of the civilized world for the last 30 years, but I think I could get into some kind of trouble.
Truthfully, I am very happy when proven wrong about these things. When I was young , I tried to believe in the best in people and as I got older, reality set in. It was refreshing to see that things are changing in the right direction.
I also suppressed my preconceived notions about the Israeli Postal Authority, and gave them the benefit of the doubt when I mailed a letter to Tel Aviv a few weeks ago.
For those of you who do not know the geography , it is a 20 min car ride at most from my house.
It only took 17 days for the letter to arrive.
That is not a typo.
17 days
It would have taken me less than 4 hours to walk there.
The word is that now that Amazon is here the Israel Postal Authority (IPA) is trying so hard to please them, that they no longer deliver the mail to anyone else. This is actually a thing. A business trade association has sued the IPA for just this reason.
Start-up nation at its best.