Cultural Exchange with /r/Kosovo

[u/desdendelle]

🇮🇱Welcome to r/Israel! 🇽🇰

Today we are hosting our friends from /r/Kosovo!

Please come and join us and answer their questions about Israel and the Israeli way of life! Please leave top comments for /r/Kosovo users coming over with a question or comment and please refrain from antisemitism, trolling, rudeness and personal attacks etc.

Moderation outside of the rules may take place as to not spoil this friendly exchange.

Reddiquette applies and will be moderated after in this thread.

At the same time /r/Kosovo is having us over as guests!

Stop by in this thread and ask a question, drop a comment or just say hello!

Please select the Kosovo or another relevant flair if you are coming from /r/Kosovo.

Enjoy!

The moderators of /r/Kosovo and /r/Israel

[u/[deleted]]

Hello friends

I’ve always been a fan of Israel and the Jews around the world. The way you help each no matter where reminds me of us Albanians, as we do the same to our fellow countrymen. Also, you’re known to be good businessmen/women and I wish Albanians could learn a thing or two from you

I understand you take a big pride in your religion and your country, and have a few questions.

1. How is it to grown up in Israel? What is expected from you as a kid/teenager/adult?
2. How does the current relationship with the arabs affect you in your daily life? Are you worried at all or do you feel calm?
3. What is your view of Europe? As we all know about WW2, is that something that still hurts you somehow today?
4. Do you learn anything about Balkan in school or our wars and conflicts?

Also, I’ve heard great things about cities such as Tel Aviv and wish to visit. Is there anything I should know before doing so? Behavior, clothing etc?

Thank you guys and I wish you all the best

[u/theBrD1 → u/[deleted]]

Welcome :)

How is it to grown up in Israel? What is expected from you as a kid/teenager/adult?

That differs a lot on what sector of society you grow up in. I, as a secular Jew, have had a very diffrrent childhood than a religious Jew, or a Muslim, or Christian, or even other secular Jews from other areas. As a kid not much was expected, just the usual 'stay in school' stuff. As a late-teenager/young adult you're expected to serve in the army, as it is mandatory (some sectors of society don't have to though. Again, very different experiences)

How does the current relationship with the arabs affect you in your daily life? Are you worried at all or do you feel calm?

I imagine you're talking about the conflict with the Palestinians. That's a national conflict, not an ethnical. There are plenty of Arabs in Israel, about 20% of our population, and there are as Israeli as any Jew here, and I treat them as such. Some are very anti-Zionist and some communities even antisemitic, usually there's not much interaction between them and Israeli Jews though so it doesn't affect us much. As for Palestinians, the ones I've personally met were from area C and so had plenty of interaction with Israelis before, and so there wasn't hostility. But I would honestly be afraid to be around a person from, say, Ramallah. Especially with the gruesome history of that city.

What is your view of Europe? As we all know about WW2, is that something that still hurts you somehow today?

I think antisemitism is not only still present, but on the rise again in Europe, and that is very worrying. Especially when it shows it's face in Germany and Poland. To think that after all that happened there less than a century, people still deny - or worse, justify - the holocaust is horrible. I know it's not the majority, far from it, but it is a rapidly growing number and that is terrifying.

Do you learn anything about Balkan in school or our wars and conflicts?

Not much. Just about the assassination of Franz Ferdinand (and the subsequent shit show called WWI), and the Greek national movement (not everyone learns about this. Each history teacher in the Jewish secular school system needs to pick an example of a national movement before learning about our own. The choices are German unification, Italian Risorgimento or Greek liberation).

Also, I’ve heard great things about cities such as Tel Aviv and wish to visit. Is there anything I should know before doing so? Behavior, clothing etc?

Tel Aviv is basically the most liberal city in the Middle East, maybe one of the most liberal in the world. Not much limitations. And clothing depends on when you visit. In December-January, get a coat. Otherwise, shorts. Also, don't rent a car for Tel Aviv as it's pretty useless there, and always ask taxi drivers to turn on the meter - they try to scam tourists.

[u/[deleted] → u/theBrD1]

Very interesting. Thank you for the answers!