Hello, Jews!  Benji here, making my first ever post on Jewlicious.  I’m not gonna lie-I haven’t been this excited since the Ben-Gurion Administration.  Or at least since my last chumus feeding around two hours ago.

I discovered this here blog upon moving to Israel almost five years ago and I’m thrilled to be able to add my own personal flavor to the site to impart on you guys what an awesome, crazy, and hilarious place this here country is.  Don’t believe me?  Just ask CK or Rabbi Yonah and they’ll tell you.

No, really-ask them now!  They won’t bite.

Hopefully you all had a great Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day.  On this side of the ocean?  We like to enjoy something called mangal, our version of BBQ.  Yom Ha’atzmaut is a time to celebrate, enjoy the best that this country has to offer, and of course, eat as much meat as humanly possible.

If you’ve never been here before, well, you need to get your tuchus over here pronto, either with Taglit-Birthright Israel trip, Masa Israel Journey, or another three-word program (I recommend Chumus-Wrestling Adventures.)  And if you have been?  You’re welcome to come too.

To all of you, I invite you to check out a tradition as revered as baseball and apple pie.  For the fourth year running, it’s my “Things I Love About Israel” list in honor of Israeli Independence Day as it appears in the Jerusalem Post.

Here are a couple of samples:

22. I love how the Tel Aviv nightclubs play religious music put to a dance beat. Even if someone hasn’t stepped into a synagogue since his bar mitzva, he’ll shake his rumpus to the “Mashiach! Mashiach! Mashiach!” song till 5 a.m.

39. I love that I came across a job advertisement seeking someone possessing “expertise in shwarma.”

So what do you love about Israel?  A belated chag sameach!

About the author

Benji

Since making aliyah in 2006, Benji Lovitt has spent roughly every waking moment doing one of the following: trying to make people laugh, eating chumus, or writing about chumus to make people laugh. In addition to working with tons of Jewy organizations to promote Israel, Benji has performed stand-up comedy about Israel for groups including Hillels, Birthright Israel, Jewish Federations, and of course, at Jewlicious Festival. His perspectives on aliyah and life in Israel have been featured on Israeli television and radio and in publications such as the Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, and the Jewish Daily Forward. It is said that every time he calls CK "Mr. Jewlicious", a tree is planted in the Jewish National Fund forest. For a hilarious comedy show, contact him at [email protected].

4 Comments

  • “We like to enjoy something called mangal”

    Is this a goat-based delicacy I presume?

  • Benji is now blogging for Jewlicious? How. Awesome. Is. That??? Great first post too. Where can I sign up for Chumus-Wrestling Adventures? I have a lot to learn about Israel but even I know a mangal is just a barbecue. Silly David Kelsey.

  • HEIL HITLER! I wish he was here to get rid of al jewish scum! Long live the Nazi! White power!