Visitors discover oasis in Israel
Friends just returned from three weeks in Israel. It was household capabilities — weddings, bar mitzvahs, veal cutlet dinners, who knows what.
What they said after their return:
“You wouldn’t know the nation was in chaos. Beaches are packed. The massive impediment is getting a reservation at a coveted restaurant.
“The marriage ceremony was on the waterfront of historic Roman-era Caesarea. The bridal cover waterside. Hors d’oeuvres, cocktails. The couple emerged alongside a parapet constructed by the Crusaders. Atheists, they wrote their own vows. The marriage carried out by a buddy. Bride and groom stomped on the conventional glass recalling the destruction of the Temple 2,000 years in the past. Then consuming and dancing until midnight.
“Hotel Dan Caesarea was packed. Said a couple from London, ‘We usually go to Spain — but with the outburst of antisemitism, we came here where we knew we’d be welcome.’ ”
More notes on the journey:
“It was an afternoon at the motion pictures (‘Minions & Monsters’), then strolling the mall in North Tel Aviv, which had Chanel, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren. Plus Israeli manufacturers.
“Another day, brunch at a packed countryside dairy farm. This 10-minute drive from the chaos of the West Bank offered home made jams, oils, macaroons, breads, muffins. An Arab-Israeli household — Mom, Dad, two youngsters gorged on the sandwiches and pastries.
An artwork set up in Tel Aviv’s Jaffa neighborhood seen on Aug. 16, 2026. AP Photo/Oded Balilty
“Weekend was at Jerusalem’s King David Hotel. A nighttime tour of frenetic Mahane Yehuda market, sampling Libyan, Syrian, Polish, Palestinian, Turkish meals washed down with Israeli wine. Next day, the park and pool were wonderful. Then, feast at an Arab restaurant. A lit backyard under the bushes in a village in the Jerusalem Hills. Almost surreal.
“Rooms were with family north of Tel Aviv. Ritzy 10-story apartment building, four bedrooms, two bathrooms. A bedroom was also the apartment’s fortified safe room.”
Flying back was Lufthansa, Air France, Swiss, KLM. They flew dwelling nonstop — to the issues of their own nation.
Tribe of inventors
America’s movie business was formed by Jewish immigrants. Barbie? Jewish creator Ruth Handler, daughter of Jewish immigrants. Teddy bear? Created by Morris and Rose Michtom, Russian Jewish immigrants. Shopping cart invented by Sylvan Goldman, Jewish businessman from Oklahoma. Pushing groceries? A Jewish inventor is serving to you.
Jewish physicist Robert Adler? Key inventor behind TV’s wi-fi distant. Home online game console? Developed by Ralph Baer, a Jew who fled Nazi Germany. The youngster Germany rejected — identified as the father of dwelling video video games. His invention paved the approach for PlayStation and Xbox.
Even inside your abdomen, Israel may be current. Swallow a tiny capsule containing a digicam, that’s PillCam expertise pioneered by Israeli engineer Gavriel Iddan.
Eighty-plus years in the past, Nazi Germany murdered 6 million Jews. Today, the sovereign Jewish state is serving to Germany, with protection expertise succesful of defending German cities and lives.
And for this data we in New York thank Nadav Peretz.
And back in the USA, our most well-known metropolis is inhaling the stench of antisemitism.
Our world-famous universities train hate.
It’s parades, indicators, vandalism in synagogues.
United States of America. One for all and all for one. E pluribus unum.
Only in New York, youngsters, only in New York.