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SEEING IS BELIEIVING
By Michelle Stark in The Israel Highway
I feel as though I've encountered just about every misconception about Israel that teenagers could possibly have. Some think Israel is a third-world country in which camel-riding serves as the primary means for transportation. After hearing something like that, I then try to explain that Israel is actually a hub of technology in our modern world. Unfortunately, misconceptions are hard to dismantle. Try as I might, a part of their Arabian Nights worthy images will not be derailed.
However, the misconception that I hear most often also pains me the most to hear. "I would love to visit Israel, but I can't. The country isn't safe and I'm scared that something will happen to me. Aren't you?" Every time someone says this to me a pang of disappointment hits me. The truth is I don't blame anyone for thinking that way. The media portrays Israel as a deadly war zone. Turn to the right and a bomb will explode, turn to the left and a soldier will have his gun under your nose. After prolonged exposure to all of the negative attention the media pays to Israel, one can hardly blame a person for shying away from a country that is viewed as a virtual dartboard for terrorism.
The problem is, terror sells. Only someone who has visited Israel can understand how extreme the exaggerations of the media truly are. Granted, some areas of Israel are not suitable for tourists for the sake of safety. However, simply avoiding those areas will hardly put a damper on a visit to Israel. Once you soak in the rich history of Jerusalem, the fast-paced nightlife of Tel Aviv, and the idyllic beaches of Eilat, your personal security will become more of a given than a concern. My trip to Israel this June renewed my complete faith in that statement. Standing on a balcony of my hotel in Jerusalem one night, overlooking the glistening old city, I realized that I couldn't feel safer or more secure than if I were sitting on my living room couch. However, such strong misconceptions need more convincing than a few paragraphs to be shaken. My advice is that "seeing is believing." Visit Israel. The country is a gem sitting in the middle of miles of barren desert. Perhaps after being an eyewitness to the marvels and culture that Israel has to offer, all of the misconceptions that surround the state of Israel will disintegrate.
Michelle Stark is a senior at Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, New Jersey.
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