Attracted to joining the Israeli army and learning about her roots, Tali Vidal, 20, spent much of this year in Israel, trying to figure out Hebrew, and why her relatives prayed so much.
She moved from Nelson to her father’s homeland in April, and took with her a “just say yes” policy, which, she says, landed her in some pretty funny and enlightening situations. Her father went over with her at first, signed her up for Israeli citizenship, and then she was shipped off to a kibbutz – something she had previously never heard of.
Tali Vidal at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. She became an Israeli citizen and then was shipped off to a kibbutz – something she had previously never heard of. Photo: Supplied
You were living in a kibbutz for five months. What is that, and how did you find it?
It’s a community that houses around 400 people. There are traditional and modern day kibbutz; I was in a traditional one, where everyone earns the same amount of money, whatever job they have. Whether they’re working in a laundry or the manager of a big factory, all are all on the same wage, live in the same houses, have the same thing, all eat in the dining room, the same food – everything at the same time.
I was living as an ulpan – people from overseas, living there to study Hebrew – and was also volunteering there. I was working in a children’s amusement park; I didn’t choose that, but they put me there. I was working with Hebrew children and Arabic. I didn’t know a word of Hebrew or Arabic, and these kids didn’t know a word of English, so the first month I was using sign language. Over time I learned Hebrew and a little Arabic – it was fun.
While you grew up practising some of the Jewish traditions with your Israeli father, how did you find it being in the holiest area of the world?
In Jerusalem there’s so much culture, and all the different types of Judaism, from the modern day through to the highly, highly orthodox who won’t look at you because you are wearing short-shorts because it’s 40 degrees Celsius. I love it – it’s so spiritual, you can’t get that in New Zealand.
I was sitting in a restaurant every piece of food – potato, rice or a drink; everything – was prayed over. ... I was just sitting there like, “What the hell, let’s just eat!”, like a typical New Zealander.
I’m right amongst its iconic landmarks and the hundreds of years of history; I was living right next to a very, very old crusaders' fort, and 15 minutes away from the Wailing Wall. You don’t get a Wailing Wall at The Warehouse!
Yesterday I came back from one of oldest and holiest places in Israel, called Safed, a place where this rabbi wrote many books on the rules of Judaism. I went to his synagogue and to where he supposedly sat down in a cave with the angels in front of him, writing out all these books.
I guess the exposure to the religion would be the biggest culture shock?
Religion is definitely a culture shock, my aunties are really religious ... I was sitting in a restaurant having dinner and every piece of food – potato, rice or a drink; everything – was prayed over. They were praying over the food; I was just sitting there eating it. At the end you have to pray for the whole thing. My dad doesn’t pray over any food or anything. I was just sitting there like, “What the hell, let’s just eat! It’s getting cold”, like a typical New Zealander.
And how about the heated politics of the Middle East?
I was in Israel when news of a gas attack in Syria hit. Israel was freaking out of course, and there were dispatches for gas masks – everyone had to get a mask in case this happened. I didn't get a mask because they sold out. At first I was worried, then I talked to a lot of Israelis who said not to worry as it happened all the time, but that I should be ready in case... My kibbutz had six bunkers underground in the basement for when bombs go off, but there’s been nothing like that... yet!
Do you think you’ve changed much from being over there?
A friend said I’ve grown up more. I’m looking at things from a different angle. I hope to come out of it understanding more of my heritage, because I don’t know much about the Israeli and Jewish lifestyles; my father hasn't told me much, so this is one way: to live it.
Now you’ve got citizenship there, what’s next?
I’ve decided to go back to New Zealand to make money. I miss all my friends and family, and it’s also a chance for me to really see New Zealand, as I don’t really know my own country at all. It’s pretty embarrassing ...
My first draft date for the army is in February 2014, which is why I’m going back for six months months to two years. It depends if I enjoy it, but it does seem like my kind of thing.
It's compulsory until you’re 21, but I’m 21 next year, so I’m choosing to go ... This course will change you as a person: you come out very Israeli, you learn about all the politics, and you gain experience you couldn’t gain in any job or anything. The army becomes your new family, your new unit.
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