We Can Be Heroes

I met some friends for dinner last night in Jerusalem. This is a very unusual thing for me to do because frankly, I don’t like going to Jerusalem. Too much there reminds me of what I don’t like about my beloved country.

This was such an unusual event, that one of my daughters said,wow, you must really like them.

I do and that’s why we made the 2.5 hour round trip.

We ate at a restaurant that was recommended by several people. We had been there many years before, but it had since moved, and I am not sure it is even the same chef.

It is known as a chef's restaurant and has a reputation of being very good.

In any case, when we arrived, they seated us at a table next to the door.

That didn’t really work for me. I have issues with where I sit at restaurants (just add to the list of my issues). Since there were four identical tables that were empty, I asked for a different one.

I was told they could not do that. The reason was because that in their computer, my name was already attached to the table near the door and once that was done, too late.

I tried to express why this reasoning was illogical to no avail. That's when I remembered where I was.

I am in Israel.

I am Israeli.

" I am surprised that a restaurant with the reputation yours has, does not have the ability to seat me at another empty table. I will definitely tell my friends that they should not make the mistake of recommending you again"

A little while after we were seated at our new table, the chief of staff of the Israeli armed forces comes in with his wife.

He arrived with a few security personnel as well (the table next to him was kept empty the whole time).

It was like a rock star walked in.

I do not get fazed by celebrity, I barley looked up (disclosure - I have only approached one celebrity, John Cleese. I am sure you can understand)

People kept walking over, asking for selfies, handshakes, etc.

New Yorkers are known for not letting these kinds of things impress us. Most of us are just as important, aren’t we?

In any case, we think we are

but

these people would not leave the poor guy alone.

Very uncouth.

Then it dawned on me that this was the chief of staff of the Israeli army.

Why does anyone even know who he is or why would they care. The truth is I didn’t even recognize him but my friend visiting from the states knew who he was.

Ok, here is a question. Who is the chief of the armed forces in the USA ?

Anybody?

Well first of all he is called the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or CJCS ( American love acronyms).

His name is General Mark A. Milley.

Never heard of him? Me neither

I looked back at the list of CJCS. The first name I recognized was Collin Powel who was appointed in 1993 and I think that is because he was the first and only black CJCS. He then of course became secretary of state under George Bush.

What does it say about Israel that the person who leads the armed forces is so famous that people want selfies with him when he goes out on the town?

One thing it says is that we are under constant threat for our existence. The person chosen to lead our army is, in essence, in charge of protecting all of us

He is the guy who gets on the news to explain what is happening when that is needed.

That is why he is famous

Something is always happening.

I personally think that when someone like him gets to go out with his wife, he should be left alone. He is the one who needs to lose sleep so the rest of us don't have to.

Give him a break. On the other hand, it is nice to know that people recognize that he is someone who is important and should be fawned over.

Certainly, more than John Cleese

Shabbat shalom