2017-11-10

Sociocultural Advantages and Disadvantages of Living in Israel

Having had such a wonderful time in my three-week trip in Japan in October, I haven't been able to help ceasing to ask myself if there are still convincing reasons why I (should) remain here in Israel instead of returning to Japan, where I was born. So I've also started asking myself what are for me the main sociocultural advantages and disadvantages of living in Israel in comparison with Japan.

The most difficult thing for me to accept and get used to here is the way many natives behave, whether verbally or nonverbally. I get helpless and depressed rather than getting angry every time I encounter what seem to me immoral or selfish behaviors on their part in interpersonal relationships. What is especially depressing is the fact that these behaviors is the fact that they are no less widespread among frum, at least national religious, if not haredi, natives than among secular ones, that is, Judaism doesn't necessarily seem to have made the former more moral and less selfish, and average Japanese, the majority of whom have nothing to do with any established religion, are far more moral and less selfish than their (Jewish) Israeli counterparts.

By immoral behaviors in interpersonal relationships I mean what seem to me - of course, with my sociocultural bias - so fundamental as thanking and apologizing others. It's so sad that the only context in which many people suddenly become highly moral and selfless is when they see someone in trouble. So ironically, the best period I remember in this respect was during the Gulf War, when the whole nation was in great trouble.

Unfortunately, selfishness is so rampant in public here that in those rare occasions when I encounter selfless behaviors by someone, except when someone else or the whole nation is in trouble, I can't help asking them what's "wrong" with them. What bothers me more is not so much a specific selfish behavior itself but the mindset behind it, that is, the insensitivity to imagine how they can bother others around them by behaving in a selfish manner.

In spite of these disadvantages I still prefer living in Israel, especially in Jerusalem. The first advantage, which is more general, of living in Israel rather than in Japan, is that there is far more joy of life, whatever it means. One can't fail to feel joy of life or lack thereof in a society if one arrives there from outside. Every time I visit Japan, I immediately notice lack of joy of life there. I often tell my friends here in Israel that even dogs seem depressed in Japan. ;-)

The second advantage, which is more specific to Jerusalem, is that it's one of the world centers of traditional Jewish learning, thus one of the fountains of Jewish wisdom. Unfortunately, I can't say that I take full advantage of this fountain here in Jerusalem though I now have three weekly study sessions of the Torah, the Talmud, and Jewish philosophy with my haredi friend and mentors. I'm determined to dedicate more time and energy to traditional Jewish learning to grow intellectually and spiritually further.