ISRAEL

It has been said that Israel is one of the most unique countries in the world. Israel's population consists of different cultures and people from all over the world. There for the population includes Russians, Iraqis, Ashkenazim and Sepharadim. But what the majority has in common, which makes Israel so very unique, is that more than 80% of its population is Jewish. Israel is the only country in the world that has a majority of Jews. Each year, thousands of immigrants pass the border to every Jew's dreamland, the famous Israel, and settle in it.

If you ask anyone in Tel-Aviv, what his country's official type of food is, they will unrepentantly reply: "Falafel and Humus." People from all over the world come to Israel to taste the famous Falafel.

Israel didn't receive its independence from anyone, she had to fight for it like many other countries. Each year we commemorate Memorial Day, which is a very sad day. In contrast to other countries, where soldier rarely die, Israel's Independence Day reminds its citizens of the huge number of deaths in Israel as a result of war. Sadly soldiers are still in constant danger, and not one day goes by without a soldier getting injured. Although Israel has achieved peace with 2 Arab countries that surround her, it still has a long way to go, before people in Israel are able to live a calm and peaceful life.

Another big problem in Israel exists: the animosity between secular Jews and the Orthodox Jews. The secular Jews claim that the Orthodox force them to live a life theirs, which includes no activities at Friday evenings and Saturdays, eating Kosher and closing movie theaters. The Orthodox Jews, come to a neighborhood where the majority of the people are secular, and buy an apartment in a building. Then another family comes to live in that building, and therefore more families join that building, then street, and demand to close it on Saturdays, claiming it bothers them and dishonors them. The secular Jews despise their actions, and dislike their control over their lives. Although Israel has many problems, it is still one of a kind. Israel is a leader in technology, agriculture, medicine and education. It is a young and dynamic country with much to offer and hopefully it will know peace in the future. That is our dream.

By Daniel Dorfman, former pupil of Ein Ganim Israel, the class of Marsha Goren