South Tel Aviv

On Fridy, we had the very unique opportunity to go to “The other side of the side of the tracks” in Southern Tel Aviv. This was an eye opening experience for me. I am used to helping homeless people in New York, but for some unknown reason, I always had this idea that Israel was perfect. It was really interesting to see that Israel didn’t have an answer to do with all of the refugees. One of the most shocking things was that there was a street and its name was just numbers. This was because no one wanted to have their name on one of the worst streets in Israel. Another memorable moment for me was when we were standing in the old train station that has become a “home" for addicts and prostitutes and at the same time we could see the most expensive apartment in Israel. It was so sad to me that instead of helping support people living in Israel, that these people pay so much to live in a fancy apartment. 

While we were walking I didn’t feel like I was in Israel and I didn’t feel safe at all times. Clearly some people do care about this issue, but a lot of people also don’t. It was really nice to see that they had set up a library and that Israelis come to help teach these people Hebrew once a week. I want to think of ways that EIE can help these people and its really hard to think of ways that we can help. I think that’s a problem that a lot of people face. They see that there is a problem, but they either don’t know how they can help, or make it so it’s not relevant to them. I think it’s important that we think of ways that we can help so we are not just pushing aside what so many other people have. I know that we’re not living in Israel for much longer, but I believe that while we are still here that it is our duty to help make the country better in whatever way we can even if that sounds really cliche.