I write a lot in this blog about funny stories and weird occurrences in Israel. And sure, I’ve had my fair share of odd shit go down, usually completely independent of my actions. Crazy situations just tend to unfold in front of me, and I follow them because why not? But my day to day life here is pretty tame. I wake up early, I go to work in Jerusalem, I return in the afternoon, navigating through the completely hellish Jerusalem bus station and I’m back in Tel Aviv by early evening. Tal and I go to the gym, make dinner, see some friends, watch...

When Mike, one of my closest friends from college, announced that he was going to visit Israel in early summer, I was thrilled. I was excited to welcome a buddy to what was now my home and take him out drinking, gallivanting and causing general debauchery, just like the old days (you know, college), but more so, I wanted to go on a trip. A camping trip! One with hiking! And hopefully animals and a campfire and beers aplenty! The good kind of camping.

My friend Sam took care of transportation arrangements, and I handled supplies. In a pleasant tu...

Several of my friends have told me lately that ‘funny/weird/exciting things just seem to happen’ to me. But I would disagree. Not about the funny/weird/exciting part — that is definitely true. Ask me about my Mississippi story sometime, it’s a doozy. But the ‘seem to happen’ part doesn’t sit right with me. I think, and I say this with utmost modesty, I have a hand in coaxing along the adventures in which I constantly find myself. And here’s the key: I ask questions. A lot of questions. I ask for directions. I ask if I can try your food. I ask whe...

I not-so-recently found the greatest falafel stand in all of the world, and I regret that I’ve only had time to write about it now. But yes, no hyperbole, the best in the entire wide world of falafel stands is in the shuk in Beersheba, and if you eat one you will never, ever be the same again.

But first, a primer: The standby rules to keep in mind when ordering falafel.

The first: Do not buy it in a bus station. Bus station falafel is almost universally bad. Yes, I know, it’s really cheap and convenient when you are running from one bus to the...