Interview with journalist Joel Leyden who read " Leaving Home...."

Please find my comments below:






On Sat, Dec 11, 2010 at 10:05 AM, jason alster wrote:



Hi Joel,

I would like to interview you for my blog on the book. Can you answer the following questions about the book for me.

One - Why did you like the book?



The book is written by an American who has lived in Israel for over 20 years and has observed this tiny, democratic state with the accuracy of a medical scientist, for which Jason is. Furthermore, Jason is a gifted, natural writer - able to articulate all that he has witnessed and deliver it into exciting nouns, verbs and adjectives that equal some of today's most respected, read authors. It is an honest, objective, no hold punches account of Israel which maintains its own integrity while supporting the Jewish state.





Two- As an American who lived in Israel and came back to the USA to visit , was there something in the book you identified with?



Everything. Except for taking out emegency anti chemical war medicine and injecting it through my thumb ;>





Three- What did you learn from the book that you did not know previously?

Nothing. Jason and I have shared similar journeys through Israel and .... survived!



Four- In the short time since you read the book , how has the book influenced you or changed your life?



I feel that it is required reading for every person who is contemplating making Aliya, has made Aliya and cares to understand the inner workings of Israeli culture. It provides support for those who have made Aliya and those who have returned from their tour of duty in defending the Jewish nation.





Five - Whom do you think will benefit from the messages in the book?

Six - What did you think was the most important message?



From experiencing an Israeli McDonalds, the Aliyah experience (12 chapters are dedicated to this process), enjoying the colorful historical, biblical history, shopping, driving, marriage and divorce, doing business and then returning to your native country - this book covers it all. Learning how to "expect the unexpected" and survive. Learning to appreciate and adapt to completely opposing cultures (Israel is polychronic - relationship oriented while the US is monochronic - rule oriented) without judging which is right or wrong but rather embracing the differences is what makes this truly informative book shine.





Joel Leyden begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting serves a senior media consultant to the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is a professional journalist, publisher of the Israel News Agency, an Internet social networking pioneer, former IDF officer and an international cross-cultural consultant.









Thanks,

Jason Alster MSc

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