Yes, there are many such lists floating around the internet. Here’s a list of little things I love about Israel, that some people might not even notice.
1. Manhole covers. The ones I noticed were made by the foundry called “Tallismacher” which literally means Tallit-maker.
2. Street names and street-signs. Instead of numbering streets or naming them for tree types, Jewish history comes alive with streets named for prophets and heroes.
3. The drain in middle of the floor and the way they mop up. Get the whole stone floor wet and let all the dirt and dust go down the drain.
4. The way many common Hebrew words came about like “Doar” for mail, which is a scholarly indirect derivative from a Talmudic description. Or the phonetic transliterations from English with that distinctive modern Hebrew pronunciation emphasis.
5. How Israelis can live in the Diaspora for a second generation and still unequivocally consider themselves Israelis and nothing else.
6. That politics is the national pastime for young and old. Yes, there’s some interest and enthusiasm for sports, but nothing is as passionate as politics in Israel. Everyone is an armchair general, speak to any two Israelis and get more than three very opinionated opinions.
7. When changing our son’s diaper huddled around the stroller under the shade of a tree in the Old City of Jerusalem, German tourists came by up close to film the action.
8. The burned out armoured vehicles left to rust as a war memorial on the side of the road that winds up to Jerusalem.
9. Seeing a small picture of the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the visor of a bus-driver’s window.
10. The heartfelt words of Jeremiah about Rachel weeping for her exiled children, and the promise that they would return home, emblazoned in bold black letters in Rachel’s Tomb. These words give rich historical context and emotional depth to where you stand. The addition of terror victim Naava Appelbaum’s would-be wedding dress adds a contemporary level of sorrow.
11. Realizing that Rachel’s Tomb is indeed “on the side of the road”, just off the sidewalk actually, just as described in the verse.
12. The Zaatar spice is related to the “Ayzov” hyssop mentioned in the Torah. So it’s biblical and tasty. It’s great on Hummus, and in a number of other dishes.
13. It may be hard to believe it but you can really have an amazing time in Israel even without climbing Masada, stepping into the Mediterranean, visiting Ben Yehudah Street or kayaking down the Jordan River. Ordinary everyday Israeli life is what is most meaningful and memorable.
14. Standing high up on the steps in Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s tomb in Meron on Lag B’Omer, looking down at the heads of the dancers swirling in dance circles, the spectrum of headcoverings: from knitted kippas to plastic ones, black hats and Shtreimels, some with no Kippas at all – all dancing locked together, joyously.
15. Walking up Mount Meron on Lag B’Omer is in itself an experience. Roasting lambs, holy oil, all kinds of music playing, people camping out, what a smorgasbord of scents and sounds, a cacophony of the unusual and the unexpected.
16. Looking ahead over the seats of a crowded bus, seeing many different backs of heads. Each immersed in their own thoughts and or in animated conversation, all levels of socio-economic spectrum, levels of religious observance, from urban areas and rural areas, all types of professions, such a mix – all on the same bus!
17. Watching old men in Kfar Chabad whiz by on bicycles, their long white beards splitting in the breeze.
18. That “Percent” soft cheese spread (1.5% or 2.5%) tastes delicious on bread or cracker, especially with some seasoned Israeli salad, something between cream-cheese and sour-cream only with very little fat, so few calories, lots of protein – surprisingly good for you.
19. Despite the uniformity of Jerusalem’s white stone, there’s somehow so much individuality and character – even with most Jerusalem structures using the same building material.
20. Israelis can be informal and uptight at the same time, relaxed and chilled yet intense and passionate – especially the native born.
21. Coming from upstate NY where trees are big, leafy and everywhere, it’s striking to see vast stretches without trees, or trees of smaller stature. The north of Israel was refreshing in that way, rolling hills of rich, deep greens all around.
22. While I never was a fan of Israeli drinks Pri-Gat or Petel, nor israeli snacks Bamba or Krembo (though these snacks & drinks certainly have their fans), Bissli (aka Super-Snacks) was a summer staple of my childhood.Its amazing how an entire nosh industry came about by accidentally frying some soup mix. It is also fun to taste common and familiar treats that are only Kosher in Israel. And I do like the super sweet and rich Halva (in small doses) especially thin slices of chocolate covered marble Halva.
23. Israeli five year-olds impress me with their fluent command of Hebrew, naturally flowing off their tongues at lightning speed. All my Yeshiva education can’t match that.
24. Kosher symbols on fruit stands highlight the agricultural Mitzvot (like tithing fruits and the Shmitta Sabbatical year) that only apply in the land of Israel.
25. The Sadigura Rebbe’s Chassidic synagogue situated among the expensive, upper-class villas of secular Tzafon Tel-Aviv. Rumor has it that the Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged him to stay as a spiritual oasis in that neighborhood even as most Chassidim left Tel Aviv for Bnei Brak and Jerusalem.
26. Going to the Kotel for the first time, passing through the checkpoints, rounding the corner and then all of a sudden, almost as a surprise, the Kotel appears in view, closer and more real than you ever imagined from pictures.
27. The Cardo in the old city of Jerusalem is a good example of an old street beneath a new street, layers of history, peeled away centuries coming back to life. And what you find there today are modern shops from Judaica to jewelry.
28. It’s not really customary throughout Israel but when I lived in Israel’s south in the incredibly hot heat of the summer, everyone took a big long Siesta nap after noon-time, to escape the heat and refresh for the rest of the day. I miss that tradition and often wish I could relax like that midday here in America.
29. The old Tzfat cemetery is a stroll through the centuries. Four giant Jewish luminaries, all contemporaries from this little town in the 16th century are buried side by side: R’ Joseph Karo, Arizal, Alshich and R’ Shlomo Alkabetz. Hosea the prophet is buried off to one side, and all the way down the hill with a tree surrounded by a round stone wall is R’ Pinchas ben Yair, a pious man from the Mishna. Further up is the Rebbe’s brother R’ Yisroel Arye Leib, a mathematician from Liverpool, and in a few places are buried IDF soldiers from the first War in Lebanon. Walk a little this way or that way, and one simply wanders through generations of Jewish history.
30. The policemen are Jewish, as is the garbage-collector and the mailman. Yes, there are Arab and Christian workers as well, as others from distant lands, but for Diaspora eyes it is a whole different world to see Jews working in all of societies’ tasks, from the CEO to the janitor and everything in between.