Z"L

I had only been awake today a few minutes before I read on the news that Andrew Pochter, a 21 year old American Jewish student had been killed in Alexandria, Egypt. The initial details still seem a bit spotty, but what is known so far is that he was stabbed and murdered during an anti government protest. Whether it was known that he was a Jew is just pure speculation at this point. I can only express my profound sympathies and condolences to his family at this time. Based on what I've gathered from from this article in The Times of Israel, the type of qualities embodied in this young man are the exact kind that make me proud to be an American. The type of altruistic behavior that leads someone to willingly step outside of their comfort zone and travel half way around the world to volunteer and help strangers in a far off country is something we should all commend. It's part of what makes the American spirit so special. I've met so many young people like him, especially college aged students, who have now grown up with visions of hope and change ingrained in them, and with good thanks to President Obama. 

CAS News

There is a certain problem with this type of idealism though. Having myself gown up with a liberal education as well, I remember the type of romanticism felt when it came to my intrigue in regards to the Middle East. And yet at the same time how far and distant everything there felt. Now that I have lived and experienced the way life is in this region for some time, I can say supremely with confidence that this is not a place for idealistic naivete. As much as it pains me to say this, it's true. Maybe this is part of the reason why I ended up joining the army. Western sensibilities simply don't mesh with Eastern passions. Trying to apply them here is only going to be a recipe for disaster. And unfortunately can lead to a very rude awakening. Like it or not, this is still a region living by the sword. 

More than anything though, hearing about stories like this only fuels my anger. The loss of someone so humane and willing to help his fellow man, can't be taken lightly. The pronounced detachment of the established liberal elites in America about how life truly is in the Middle East, and that of the mentality of its people is where it all starts. If you are going to be the leading voices in academia on the Near East, at least try and get it right. Trying to embed a warped form of cultural relativism into the minds of young, impressionable students is not just irresponsible, it's thoroughly dangerous. The cases of Lara Logan and the thousands of women and Westerners who've been there and back, should have been sounding the alarm a long time ago.

The Big Orange

I just read the other day that there will soon be the first opening branch of the W Hotel brand in Israel, and in Tel Aviv specifically. This is a major step in the right direction for the city that has long been looking to make a big splash on the international tourist scene.

W Hotel. Tel Aviv-Yafo. Ynet

Not that I have really ever had the privilege of staying in any of the top high end hotels here, apart from a one night stay a few years ago. I think it will do wonders though to provide a classy contrast to many of the somewhat archaic beach front hotels that dominate the hospitality industry in Tel Aviv. Despite having been renovated quite nicely inside, many hotels still have the type of drab exterior design leaving you with the feeling that the socialist era has yet to end. Only within the past couple of years have some more niche styled boutique hotels sprouted up around town. Tel Aviv is not a cheap place to visit, so if you are going to come and spend money, at least in some of these new establishments, you will definitely be getting your money's worth.

The former 19th century French Hospital in Jaffa is the site of the future W Hotel

Overall, I think this is going to be a great venture and a prime way to showcase Tel Aviv and compete with some of the larger and more established top class hotels that exist in Jerusalem, and hopefully attract a crowd that might normally miss out on the city.

Back in the Day

Maybe this is all on the face of it, but things just looked classier back then.

1968 Jerusalem. IDF Archives.

IDF Archives

Call The Feds

Hollywood never ceases to amaze me. I've come to understand and become accustomed to the fascination with sensationalism and war that preoccupies so many big screen production companies, and of course, their audiences. This whole new concept that I've seen lately of destroying national landmarks (and making the same film apparently) seems to be something entirely new though. Within the confines of fiction, I don't see a problem with it. However, I think the trend may be a bit unsettling. It's clear that this is Hollywood's way of lashing out at the powers that be, whether as a means to object politically to the government or just a way of exercising their protests though their own forms of expression. And of course, pushing the boundaries of sensationalism in all forms, and marketing that to a mass audience who is all the likely to eat it up.

I don't even know where to begin with White House Down. It's not even out yet, but I can already tell what type of an absurd affair to expect. One that looks astonishingly similar to the anomaly that is Olympus Has Fallen. Which happens to be, just another more than coincidental number with Washington D.C and the U.S government once again falling under attack. Believe me, this is not satire. 

Of course, I will watch both.

This is Not a Love Song

I can't believe it's been five years since Waltz with Bashir came out. To say that this film has had an impact on me would be putting it lightly.

One of my favorite scenes in any movie.

Bahad 1 - IDF Officers Course: An Introduction

The IDF School for Officers. When it comes to the training and commissioning of the future leaders of the military of Israel, this is where it all goes down. Even in my time spent in the army, I had never been exposed too much first hand to what the experience of going through and completing Officers Course was like. Given that my service was shorter than the standard, not too many of my close friends had gone on to Bahad 1. Nonetheless, the stories I heard still impressed me. There was one female officer who I became friends with at the end of basic training who clued me in a bit more as to what it was like passing through Bahad 1. 

For my western oriented mind, it wasn't too much of a shock to realize that just like the rest of the IDF that I was introduced to in Tironut (basic training), and throughout my service, Officers Course clearly seemed to fall within the same different and distinct cultural sphere. In that the methods and application of training are all done with an unmistakably Israeli style (of course), which in essence happens to be dominated by a clear Middle Eastern approach to doing things. It makes perfect sense given the make up of Israeli society. Still, officers and soldiers are diversely represented in backgrounds from all over population, from Russian roots to American to Ethiopian, and plenty more. Maybe it's just the crappy Mizrahi music that's forced fed down your throat at every army event that is just impossible to get away from. This could definitely be the main catalyst.

Bahad 1 is unique in its own right for more than a few other reasons also though. It's not an accredited academic institution like West Point. Degrees aren't awarded upon completion and the overall course is only six months in duration. The acceptance rate to try your luck to become an officer is also much higher, as is the rate of commission. That doesn't mean however that it's not an elite institution. In my opinion, it certainly is, and in many ways, one could argue that the training is equally as comparable and rigorous to any other military academy, West Point and Sandhurst included.

זרוע היבשה 

It's long been known that the IDF is not a parade army on par with some of our peers. When we have to, we put on the full regalia for show and can hold ourselves to account pretty nicely on the parade grounds though. Of course, you won't get us confused with Her Majesty's Officers in the British Army. That for one is clear. However, don't let it be confused, we can still bust out the pomp and circumstance when necessary, and what's most important, successfully carry out a mission with integrity and honor.

זרוע היבשה 

Another Page Turned

It's been one more year and Hebrew Book Week has come and passed once again.  Many years ago, this event actually held some deep significance in the general consciousness of the Israeli public. Let's be honest, there is not exactly a strong literary culture in 2013 Israel. This is something I try and say with as little vanity as possible, and with the hope that things can only get better. I used to spend so much time getting lost in my favorite bookstores in the states, and discovering new ones whenever I would find myself traveling and in a new place. It's one of my favorite things to do. The fact that in Israel people don't really gravitate towards bookstores or libraries, and that both are somewhat few and far in between  is still something that's a bit hard to digest. I swear I'm not an elitist by any means, I just had to get that out.

Hebrew Book Week 2005. Wikipedia.

It's not all doom and gloom though. I can't say that the impact of Hebrew Book Week has completely dissipated. I was surprised to see a lively book stand right outside my office with workers stopping by in between breaks to check out what was on display. Of course, I admit that I'm partial to my native tongue, and as a non-native Hebrew speaker, I can't feel the full effects as profoundly, but at the same time I do realize that I am witness to something special. The revival of Modern Hebrew in my personal opinion is one of the greatest accomplishments of the Jewish people, and stands as one of the most impressive feats overall in any society. It's not every year that a two thousand year dormant language is revived and restructured into a modern  vernacular spoken as the native language of over seven million people.

I can't help but lament a bit however, especially given that we're supposed to be the people of the book after all. Apart from the classic stalwarts of Israeli literature, many of whom it's hard for me to relate to and to speak too fondly of. A.B Yehoshua in particular and those of his ilk, particularly tradtional Sephardim with their holier than thou Zionist attitude. There is nothing that turns me off more in fact than this short sighted and narcissistic ideological view. If anything, this is the type of thought process that only serves to damage the overall Zionist message.

Thankfully there are writers like David Grossman and some fresh faces on the scene like Etgar Keret who are there to shift the balance.. I can only hope that as the demographics keep changing, the prognosticators will be wrong and that another renaissance will be in order.

Summer camp

It's nice to know jumping through the old hoop is still a part of the core regimen

A little trigger discipline might be too much too ask either.

Red Pun

I don't know if it's a matter of having too much time on my hands, or just some sort of twisted appeal that pulls me to the most extreme train wreck movies. I really thought things couldn't get any worse then The Man with the Iron Fists. Then I saw the Red Dawn reboot. 

Seriously, who green lights this type of stuff? It makes Patrick Swayze look like Daniel Day Lewis in the original.

מחו"ה אלון

Someone asked me recently what having served at Michve Alon was like. Especially as an American having recently made Aliyah. I tried my best to explain, but I don't really think I did it justice. If I had to summarize the experience though, try to imagine something along the lines of a basic training base that doubles as a quasi short-term military academy for new immigrants, and can often seem quite dysfunctional. The catch and reward, a graduation certificate declaring you competent in Hebrew and qualified as a Rifleman 02 Plus. More importantly, a lively way to kick start your service in the IDF and see what the army is all about.

טקס סיום. Graduation Ceremony. 

More than that though, it's an overall crazy place, filled with people from all around the world. With most soldiers coming from Russia and other countries from the former Soviet Union. The majority of whom all really good dudes. A handful I remember had already completed military service in their own countries before and would comment often on the "operational differences". That's the politically correct way of saying things. To them, anything in the army was "Gan Yeladim". Most of the remaining guys in the platoon were French and American, with some Brits, South Americans and Ethiopians mixed in. Even a few from India. Almost all Lone Soldiers with no family in Israel. I won't get into discussing the French right now, but all I'll say is that I've never seen so many disproportionately "injured soldiers" in my life. I'll just keep it at that. All of this while under the control of 19 and 20 year old squad commanders. A good portion of whom were girls. Including all of the Hebrew teachers. 

View from the barracks of the Northern Galil on a fine day.

In terms of overall living, barracks at Michve are more spartan than even other IDF basic training bases. In comparison though, the food is actually really good. Certainly better than anywhere else I have served, with the exception of my brief stay over at an Air Force base. Which is the closest thing to having a vacation on duty as you can get. If only all bases had swimming pools and movie theaters like they do. You understand also why the Air Force are known to recruit the hottest girls. I digress here. Point being though, Michve Alon will always be a special place for me, and it's always fun recalling some crazy times spent there. Despite all of the crap, and being introduced to my first of what would be seemingly endless middle of the night guard duty shifts, there really is no other place like it in the IDF. 

Uptown Saturday Night

It doesn't get any more pulp than this.

Street Sweepers

This is the official former shoulder badge of the NYPD's Street Crimes Unit that existed from the early 70's until 2002, when it was disbanded following the death of Amadou Diallo. All officers in this unit worked plain clothed and never in uniform, and more often than not operated undercover. If you're someone like me who reads and watches more than the healthy amount of pulp detective novels and crime flicks, the real life stories behind this legendary unit are even crazier than anything you'll come across in fiction. For the simple fact that they actually happened. 

If you lived in New York City during the 70's up until the early 90's, you would think certain areas had just been devastated in a war. That's how bad it was. It was the most dangerous city in America. Like it or not, these guys were responsible for dramatic drop in violent crime.

Original reality tv. 

Old Town

I love those instances when at the most random of times you're reminded of something that has been buried deep in your consciousness for so long. Point in case, yesterday when I heard the name Exploding Hearts for what seems like ages. I used to listen to this album for a good three to six months repeatedly when I was in college.

The Exploding Hearts. Guitar Romantic. 2003.

Seriously, I don't know how I could have forgotten about this record, because it is just so damn good.

Fast Forward

Sometimes I'm convinced that there really is some type of strange current on the internet that just pulls everything together, where one far reaching corner of the web is suddenly connected to another. It was only a couple days ago that I randomly stumbled upon, and posted about a documentary from the 70's about British Army officers in training at RMA Sandhurst, through the enlistment process to their commissioning into Her Majesty's Armed Forces. One person in particular stood out as being markedly witty and up to the daunting task of filling the role of a successful British Army officer. In the documentary, sitting among his peers, he was described as the son of the Bishop of Exeter. It was Patrick Mercer.

Not that I am especially privy to the in depth politics of the British Parliamentary system and its make up. However, I do know that allegations of taking brides are usually never a good thing for a politician. In this case, Mercer, who by all accounts, seemed like a not so terrible bloke until that point. I guess things can always get worse

Plaited hair female soldiers

I will say this, I know that Mr.Mercer is not the first foreign dignitary or citizen to have experienced some issues with the way we run security here. He has every right to be slightly ticked off if he did in fact find himself placed in a rather uncomfortable position and was being harassed unjustifiably. Unfortunately, part of the drawback to having a near universal draft where service is compulsory for almost everyone is the appropriation of power that can come along without necessarily having earned it with merit. That's not to say that there aren't excellent 18 year old Israeli soldiers out there doing a great job, the majority of them are. I served with them and can attest to that. It has to be said though, that often times there is a lack of awareness as to the seriousness of the task at hand. When it comes to professionalism, sometimes we could use some improvements in certain areas. That doesn't change the fact that Patrick Mercer is still a dick.

Chief of Staff Benny Gantz

קיץ

This is what we call summer in Tel Aviv.

Secret Tel Aviv

The Highest Tradition

I love obscure documentaries, especially vintage ones about the military. Somehow I stumbled upon this old BBC Panorama doc about RMA Sandhurst. My only base of comparison of familiarity is Bahad 1 and West Point. This seems much cooler. The year is 1975.

Parklife

It was only last September that my gf and I had visited Istanbul for the first time. Apart from being an overwhelmingly beautiful city and one of the most historically significant in the world, I was completely pulled in and fascinated by the blending of East and West. There is really nothing like it anywhere else.

On the Bosphorus

When I first read about the protests a few days ago, I wasn't surprised. One thing that jumped out at me when I was visiting was how dense and compact the city center was, especially the Goldern Horn. It reminded me of Tel Aviv in the same way, albeit on a much larger scale. Even around areas by the water, the lack of major public parks was very apparent. Taksim Square is a massive place, however, it resembles a giant concrete slab. Not exactly somewhere you would go to seek respite from your surroundings. This is just one small reason why Gezi Park, which is just adjacent to Taksim is so important. More than anything though, it's a matter of principle, and a microcosm of greater problems. Turkish power and influence is increasingly growing and Prime Minister Erdogan has steadily taken steps to ensure that civil liberties are being taken away from her citizens. The fact that the move towards theocratic and dictatorial rule is being firmly rejected by young, secular Istanbulites is only another sign of the times. Yes, there are far too many differences between Turkey and other countries of the Arab Spring to list, however, the spirit acting against forces looking to impose their control is the same, and the need for change is clear.

Beautiful Yafo

Not that I needed too many excuses to get out of the city for the weekend, but still.