We're trying to play blog catchup, given that we didn't have access to a computer while in Paris, or for the last days in Israel as we were trying to do things and didn't have time to sit down and write. So therefore, I want to write two things about Israel as the time becomes available. This is the first - a discussion of the lamed cars. The second is our reflections on Pardes. Time for the first one first.
A "lamed" is the Hebrew "L." It's pronounced like an "L" and comes before the "M" letter in the Hebrew alphabet. It is also found on top of many cars. At first, we didn't know why. And then we figured it out.
Israelis aren't known to be the best drivers. They are very aggressive and can't handle anyone not driving as aggressively as they are. For example, the traffic lights turn both red and yellow before turning green. This is a warning for people driving manual transmissions to get into gear. If a car is a millisecond too slow, the car in back will let them know. If you are going too slowly on the highway, you will get passed, honked and cut off.
The lamed on top of cars is for a training car/drivers ed. (I don't know if the "L" is for the English word "learning" or just a coincidence. I would guess that it's a coincidence). Seeing these cars driving down the street is scary. They stop short, fail to see pedestrians and never start again after stopping. For example, I saw one stop really short for me while I was crossing the street. After the car squealed and stopped, I passed. The driver then stepped on the gas, but forgot to put the car into gear. Vrooom and no movement.
It also begs the question, why learn to drive? Israeli drivers drive purely by instinct and emotion. They really need a license to do this? Just let natural urgings govern the rules of the road.
Luckily, Seren & I made it through Israeli with nary a scratch or dent, unlike every car in Israel which shows the bruises of its Israeli existence.
Love,
Craig
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