מִשׁפָּחָה – family

In the two weeks that have flown by at Alexander Muss, I have noticed many similarities and differences between the culture and the values of people in Israel compared to America. In fact, American culture can almost be described as the complete opposite of the culture I have experienced here. According to stereotypes, many often see Israelis as pushy or extremely loud. But aside from those stereotypes, there are aspects of Israeli culture that are not spoken of as often that truly make Israel my home. In the short amount of time that I have been here I already have experienced too overwhelming examples of this. Just last week I was in the grocery store. I had to get some shampoo and conditioner but had trouble figuring out which was which. I finally decided to ask a lady standing right next to me and she went way beyond anything I would have expected her to do for me. She helped me learn how to read them, she made sure I didn’t take any dented or broken bottles, and she helped me checkout. Although she had no clue who I was she took so much of her time to help me with everything that I needed, and all with a grin from cheek to cheek. However, this isn’t the only experience like this that I’ve had. Recently, I went to the mall with my friends and we stood in the front waiting for our cab for a couple minutes. In that time an Israeli had realized that we were American and instantly came up to us to make sure that we were okay and did not need any help. He waited right next to us until our taxi came and ensured that we would return safely to the campus. These simple acts of kindness have led me see past these stereotypes for who Israelis truly are. While the people here may occasionally be pushy or loud, what’s more important is the love that each person feels for one another. Everyone cares for each other beyond compare. They always look out for one another and will help you in a heartbeat no matter what is going on in their life. This aspect of the culture is one that has left me mesmerized and has made me fall in love with these country over and over again each time that I visit. From the people in the grocery store, to the people who pass each other on the streets; everyone has so much love; everyone is a family.