An American Jew in Israel
I listened to your program "An American Jew in Israel."
This piece was extremely interesting. During
the 'show', the 'host' had asked the listeners to share other
similar scenarios that they have encountered. Here is mine...
I think the rift between cultures within a culture portrayed
in the "An American Jew in Israel" is very similar to that
experienced by an Indian (Asian-Indian) living in a foreign
country. The Indian who has lived away from home for too long
OR an Indophile (India loving) second generation Asian-Indian who
looks at the country (India) as one that is culturally very
rich and extremely diverse in its traditions. When the big
trip to immerse oneself in this land of history occurs, many
times it ends up in being an anti-climax.
There is no simple reason for this. It is a combination of
various factors -- India is shaking off socialism and is trying
to embrace capitalism (capitalism with a capital U.S.!) -- so one
sees the new blend with the old; the ultra-traditionalists in
India view anything foreign with suspicion and contempt; the
Indophobic second-generation Indians (say, born in the U.S.) find
several things to complain about in India (and sing praises of
the U.S.); the Indophilic second generation Indians (say, born in
the U.S.) find the reality in India quite different from the
quaint dream that they had seen about their 'roots'
It will be interesting to see The Savvy Traveler follow up on
this story or other similar stories...
Karthik
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