By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson
MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — With its unique mix of people from all over the world, almost all of them with Jewish roots, Israel’s population comprises a wide range of cultures, traditions, and even genetic composition.
The juxtaposition of so many people from so many different backgrounds has given rise to some unexpected friendships, relationships, combinations, and unions. The idea that this could happen “only in Israel” came to me as I was participating in an event to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of friends. The husband was brought from Yemen to Israel as an infant, the wife is a former “new immigrant” from the U.S. They met in Jerusalem, fell in love, got married and, lo and behold, their marriage has lasted for 50 years. Their drastically different cultural backgrounds weren’t an obstacle to their marriage and don’t seem to have got in the way of its endurance. I know that people from different ethnic backgrounds get married all the time all over the world, but this is the one I’m familiar with.
When new neighbors moved into the house next door, we wondered who and what they might be. On becoming acquainted with them we realized that these were in fact neighbors from heaven. Both husband and wife are translators, which is exactly the profession I have been working in most of my adult life. They are literate, well-read, cultured and pleasant (and don’t have a dog — unlike the three neighbors opposite whose five hounds bark all day and most of the night). In addition their son, Ariel (same name as my son, but much younger), is a gifted pianist and did very well at the recent Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition. As inveterate music-lovers, we were happy to hear him practicing on a Steinway grand piano at the other side of our shared wall. Having completed his studies in Israel and London, Ariel is now living in London and embarking on his professional career.
The young technician who came to our house a few weeks ago to attend to some equipment issue. When he saw our table-tennis table there, he challenged my 81-year-old other half to a game, and was amazed and impressed at being thoroughly trounced. Upon completing his assignment he gave us his phone number and told us to call him directly whenever we had a technical problem and not to bother calling the company. The only reward he required would be a repeat game of table tennis. Only in Israel!
During the coronavirus pandemic, when people were told not to go out and about, and before the vaccinations had been developed, we opted to order our groceries from the local grocery store. We would phone the owner with our shopping list, and half an hour later he would be at our door with the best-quality items as well as fruit and vegetables (and priced somewhat higher than the supermarket). This friendly personal interaction lasted throughout those long, dreary months of isolation, but eventually we got our jabs and life began to return to its normal routine, where we could venture out and go to the supermarket once more. After a few weeks had passed, we had a phone call from the owner of the grocery store inquiring about our health and indicating that he would like to see us in his store from time to time. We got the hint, and now try to make a point of going there as well as going to the supermarket.
Most Thursday evenings, my other half goes to one of Jerusalem’s major bakeries to buy freshly baked Challah, the special bread Jews have for the Sabbath. He likes to be sure that the loaves are really fresh and that they have not been touched by the hands of other customers. So he has got into the habit of phoning the bakery ahead of time to make sure that the Challot are out of the oven and ready when he comes. By now the serving staff recognize his voice on the phone, tell him when to come, that they have put some aside for him, or that he should go and get some groceries first. I doubt that one would find that level of intimacy and concern anywhere else in the world.
I might be wrong, but these and other examples give me hope for the future of the Jewish people and humankind in general.
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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson is an author and freelance writer based in the Jerusalem suburb of Mevasseret Zion, Israel. She may be contacted via dorothea.shefer@sdjewishworld.