Presents to inspire someone to travel to Israel

September 17, 2018 10:43 AM

I would like to get a meaningful gift for a man who is in his 60's and has expressed a great amount of passion around the idea of someday going to Israel. He is Jewish. I am about 25 years younger, and consider him a friend/mentor. I would like to give him an appropriate gift (or group of gifts) that might inspire him to take the plunge and visit. I am not Jewish or Israeli. Please help!
posted by cacao to Grab Bag (8 answers total)

What sort of thing are you thinking of? A guidebook/travel memoir? A product connected with Israel, like dead sea salt? Something functional to make travel easier?
posted by mosst at 11:45 AM on September 17, 2018

Honestly the issue of Israel is so complicated for Jews living in diaspora because it's become an apartheid state whose government has increasingly been trying to de-legitimize Jewish identities that don't directly support Israeli nationalism. At the same time many of us have been indoctrinated growing up to very strongly identify with Israel and with the ancient history and traditions of our people. So it can be a kind of sore spot full of cognitive dissonance, especially if it fells like somebody who doesn't share our experiences and depth of emotional wrestling is trying to push us into a decision we feel conflicted.

Personally I might react to such an attempt at inspiration with "mind your goyishe business", but maybe a better way to do it would be to start a conversation by asking him to explain to you what reasons he has for not having visited.
posted by Jon_Evil at 11:47 AM on September 17, 2018 [16 favorites]

Best answer: In my opinion, you don't need to feel sheepish about this, and not all of us buy into the anti-Israel rhetoric, and I don't support one word of the comment above, so make your own judgement call! But how about getting a tree planted in his name? It used to be really common, and is a nice idea. It is a beautiful, progressive country in about a trillion different ways (LGBT, trans, environmental protections, historical preservation, etc.), and the Mefi line is not all there is on the subject.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 11:57 AM on September 17, 2018 [5 favorites]

Best answer: If he’s into nature at all, you could avoid the issue of Judaism and Israeli geopolitics altogether and get him a nice book about the Negev, like a coffee table book of photographs showing the unique and beautiful flora and fauna. It’s kind of a famous area in my circles based on its ecology and biogeography, independent of the thorny socio-political issues others have (prudently imo) warned of.
posted by SaltySalticid at 11:59 AM on September 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

It may not fit your friend's demographic, but there's a graphic novel called How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less that deals with a lot of the ambivalent feelings about Israel. Told from the perspective of a young woman with a lot of issues about Israel who takes a Birthright trip. I enjoyed the book, which I read after I visited Israel a couple of years back.
posted by sagwalla at 2:25 AM on September 18, 2018

Hi, so while I usually tend to advise people not to try to influence other people, I'm someone who has influenced other people to travel, and I love Israel, so maybe I can help you.

Is your friend's hesitation because he hasn't traveled much and isn't sure how to go about it, or does he fear Jerusalem syndrome from seeing the sites in person (this is a real thing) or what?
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:56 AM on September 18, 2018

Response by poster: More details.

I've been to Israel myself, and I'm from a Muslim background. Despite any political concerns I believe in the right to love one's community, and respect many of the Jews in my life. I'm not going to give him anything that is not of a secular-ish nature. I do not believe he will be insulted at all, as long as it's not something like an Israeli flag, but rather something that is of a fine quality and evokes the country somehow.

I'm not going to get into deep conversations about why he hasn't been or his feelings towards politics. I want to give him a gift that shows him appreciation while encouraging him to do something that he wants to do, not because I want him to do it, but because he wants to. I really like the trees suggestion, and the coffee table book suggestion (although I couldn't find a good one). Right now I'm also considering some Israeli honey that is packaged nicely.

Thanks for your suggestions!
posted by cacao at 12:34 PM on September 18, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I wonder if he's the kind of person who would get a kick out of something like this for learning a little conversational Hebrew? (I picked Pimsleur because I loved their audio materials for a different language ages ago, so not a specific recommendation for this product). Another secular idea maybe a subscription to English HaAretz, either digital or print? Or a care package of assorted Bissli or Bamba snacks? (Can be ordered on Amazon).
posted by Salamandrous at 5:59 PM on September 19, 2018