By Daniel Dorfman, 6th grade, The class of Marsha Goren in Israel
It has been said that Israel is one of the most unique countries in the world.
Israel's population consists of different cultures and people from all over the
world. There for the population includes Russians, Iraqis, Ashkenazim and
Sepharadim. But what the majority has in common, which makes Israel so very
unique, is that more than 80% of its population is Jewish. Israel is the only
country in the world that has a majority of Jews. Each year, thousands of
immigrants pass the border to every Jew's dreamland, the famous Israel, and
settle in it.

If you ask anyone in Tel-Aviv, what his country's official type of
food is, they will unrepentantly reply: "Falafel and Humus." People from all
over the world come to Israel to taste the famous Falafel.

Israel didn't receive its independence from anyone, she had to fight
for it like many other countries. Each year we commemorate Memorial Day, which
is a very sad day. In contrast to other countries, where soldier rarely die,
Israel's Independence Day reminds its citizens of the huge number of deaths in
Israel as a result of war. Sadly soldiers are still in constant danger, and not
one day goes by without a soldier getting injured. Although Israel has achieved
peace with 2 Arab countries that surround her, it still has a long way to go,
before people in Israel are able to live a calm and peaceful life.

Another big problem in Israel exists: the animosity between secular
Jews and the Orthodox Jews. The secular Jews claim that the Orthodox force them
to live a life theirs, which includes no activities at Friday evenings and
Saturdays, eating Kosher and closing movie theaters. The Orthodox Jews, come to
a neighborhood where the majority of the people are secular, and buy an
apartment in a building. Then another family comes to live in that building, and
therefore more families join that building, then street, and demand to close it
on Saturdays, claiming it bothers them and dishonors them. The secular Jews
despise their actions, and dislike their control over their lives.

Although Israel has many problems, it is still one of a kind. Israel is a leader
in technology, agriculture, medicine and education. It is a young and dynamic
country with much to offer and hopefully it will know peace in the future. That
is our dream.


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