Keeping tabs on Israeli fashion & culture!

OK, so time for another new columnist, we thinks! Welcome to the world of Simona, originally from the US, who will be keeping you updated with Israeli fashion, style and pop culture. Crikey, does that mean I have to dump my flip-flops…?! Stay tuned if you want to know what’s happening and hip in Israel…and we know you do!

To kick things off, Simona tells us why she came to Israel…

What makes a twenty-something budding journalist give up a burgeoning career in the US for the chance to be a citizen of Israel? I have asked myself this question many times and still have no definite answer.

All I can say is this: so far, I believe I’ve made the right decision.

I was a fact-checker/reporter at a promising celebrity tabloid (now the magazine is even more popular) who’s job wasn’t as glamorous as it sounds, though it did allow me to write a few fashion captions and meet a few celebrities on the job. I wrote for a fashion blog on the side, had a few nice freelance writing gigs, and many an internship under my belt. But I wasn’t satisfied. I was looking for something more.

I had visited Israel 5 times since I was 18 years old. The first time was a graduation present from my mom who knew I was the one who loved Judaism most in the family. Second, was Birthright Israel. Third and fourth were excuses to get back to the country (a month-long religious program, a wedding for my mom’s best friend’s daughter…) I didn’t go to any other countries during this time. I always made it a point to go back to the Holy Land.

After two years at the celeb mag, I decided I wasn’t happy there anymore. I thought about becoming an independent freelancer, I thought about finding another job. And then I decided to do something that I myself didn’t even see coming. I decided to spend a year in Israel. I figured, I’d never done my so-called backpacking in Europe, post-college. I’d never had the year in Israel a lot of the more religious girls spend after high school before starting school. I thought, let me do it this way.

And I did. I spent the year doing three very different activities: studying at a religious girls seminary for 3 months, spending 5 months living in the desert studying Hebrew and traveling with a program called WUJS (no longer located in Arad), and doing a 3 month internship with the Israel21c website where I got to write many Israeli culture articles. I saw all aspects of the country from the desert to the city. While my new American friends talked amongst themselves, I befriended security guards and local café owners. I took pride in listening to more ethnic music and adapting Israeli style. I didn’t really fit in, but I felt connected—a part of them.

By April 2007, I knew I wanted to make aliyah. While I returned in July, my parents didn’t find out about my decision until September. I knew they wouldn’t be happy; they had immigrated to the US from Uzbekistan in hopes of giving their kids the American dream. For them, having a daughter who wanted to go to Israel was like a step backwards. For me, it was moving full speed ahead. “You were on vacation, my mother told me. Do you really know what it’s like to move to another country?!”  I didn’t. But I knew I wanted to try. I convinced them to let me stay, at least for a 3-year span. They figured I was going to come home. But in my heart, I knew. This was the place for me.

I don’t think I moved to Israel merely for idealistic reasons, but they do play a part. Being in a country of Jews has a lot to do with it—restaurants have tents on Sukkot, almost all the stores close off the “non-Kosher for Passover” sections when it’s time, there’s a menorah in almost every window, and of course, getting off for all the Jewish holidays (because they are national holidays here) is a plus.

But there’s more to living here than that (otherwise why would we deal with all the problems that come along with it!). What other country has desert, city, beach, and mountains all in one land? What other country has people that will tell you the truth no matter how much it helps or hurts? What other country will sing together, laugh together, cry together…?

A friend once told me that being in America meant being an individual. Being in Israel, however, was being part of a family. A big family that didn’t always understand, but was there for you when it counts. And that’s what being in Israel means to me—this 27-year old American girl who doesn’t know why she came, but knew the culture was right.

After 2 years in this country, my Hebrew may still be sub-par. I may be too infatuated with Israeli celebs and Israeli clothes. I may still have problems with finances and bureaucracy (you never fix your problems without going through many people first). I may always be known as “The American girl”, and I may have to educate my fellow Israelis on how Americans see the world. But I’m here, and I’m surviving. I’m living my dream.