Conversation about Israel

The following conversation was held between myself and a Jewish friend of mine in Russia. Since English is not her native language, any spelling and/or grammar mistakes she made should be understood in that context; I, on the other hand, have no excuse.

[10:35:36 AM] Matthew Rozsa: Are you still planning on going to Israel?

[10:36:28 AM] dvoiris: of course, I cose finally the trak. I go in October, it's progressive judaism programm with a good hebrew-level in Jerusalem

[10:36:41 AM] Matthew Rozsa: For how long will you be in Israel?
[10:36:48 AM] Matthew Rozsa: What do you plan on doing (and where do you plan on going) after that?

[10:36:51 AM] dvoiris: for 5,5 months
[10:37:21 AM] dvoiris: probably moove to Israel

[10:37:36 AM] Matthew Rozsa: Isn't it dangerous to live there?

[10:37:41 AM] dvoiris: it's

[10:37:46 AM] Matthew Rozsa: Isn't it safer in Russia?

[10:37:52 AM] dvoiris: I doubt )
[10:38:10 AM] dvoiris: diffrent kinds of danger )
[10:38:28 AM] dvoiris: in Israel - it's war, in Russia - people

[10:38:52 AM] Matthew Rozsa: :(
[10:39:14 AM] Matthew Rozsa: I am lucky to live in America.

[10:39:32 AM] dvoiris: probably )
[10:39:46 AM] dvoiris: if you are happy there where you live -thats for sure

[10:39:56 AM] Matthew Rozsa: I am very happy in America.
[10:39:59 AM] Matthew Rozsa: I love this country.

[10:40:10 AM] dvoiris: I love Israel

[10:40:10 AM] Matthew Rozsa: It is my home.
[10:40:15 AM] Matthew Rozsa: I like Israel.
[10:40:19 AM] Matthew Rozsa: Israel is not my home.
[10:40:37 AM] Matthew Rozsa: Israel is a place where my ancestors lived before the ancient Roman empire expelled them nearly two thousand years ago.

[10:40:51 AM] dvoiris: well same for me

[10:41:19 AM] Matthew Rozsa: Israel has great historical significance, not just for the world at large but for me on a very personal level.
[10:41:25 AM] Matthew Rozsa: That said, I do not consider it to be my home.
[10:41:31 AM] Matthew Rozsa: I do not feel an individual connection with it.

[10:42:26 AM] dvoiris: interesting, because I do feel that personal connection, what it depends on?

[10:42:35 AM] Matthew Rozsa: It depends on a multitude of variables.

[10:42:46 AM] dvoiris: what?)

[10:42:50 AM] Matthew Rozsa: Certainly I am proud of my Jewishness, so I doubt that the lack of identification has to do with an absence of pride.
[10:43:00 AM] Matthew Rozsa: I'm sorry, I forgot that you aren't fluent in English.
[10:43:02 AM] Matthew Rozsa: :P
[10:43:04 AM] Matthew Rozsa: ;)
[10:43:47 AM] Matthew Rozsa: I guess the best way of putting it is that, although I am proud of my Jewish heritage, I view it as being a part of my larger American identity.

[10:44:16 AM] dvoiris: so, you dont consuder Israel as important spiritcenter for jewish people?

[10:44:17 AM] Matthew Rozsa: I am an American who happens to be Jewish, just like I have friends who are American but happen to be of Irish descent, or are American but happen to be of Dominican descent, or are American but happen to be of Polish descent.
[10:44:48 AM] Matthew Rozsa: Of course it is an important spiritual center for the Jewish people.
[10:45:04 AM] Matthew Rozsa: What does that have to do with my relationship to the country?

[10:46:20 AM] dvoiris: is Israel for you for the same meaning like any ather country in the world, or it's smtng special?

[10:47:03 AM] Matthew Rozsa: It is special to me because I know that my ancestors came from that nation.
[10:48:17 AM] Matthew Rozsa: Even though my great-grandparents, when they immigrated to America, came from Hungary and not Israel (which at that time didn't exist anyway), the reality is that - ethnically speaking - they are Jews, descendants of the Hebrew nation that lived in the land of Israel before the Roman diaspora.
[10:48:27 AM] Matthew Rozsa: Israel is therefore the nation to which I can trace my lineage.
[10:48:41 AM] Matthew Rozsa: But it is not the nation that I consider to be my home.
[10:48:47 AM] Matthew Rozsa: It is not a country for which I have any sense of loyalty.[10:49:03 AM] Matthew Rozsa: I am an American and a Jew.
[10:49:11 AM] Matthew Rozsa: The two are not mutually exclusive.
[10:49:18 AM] Matthew Rozsa: Does this make sense?

[10:50:27 AM] dvoiris: well maybe I would fell the same if I were burn in America, but unfortunatly I'm russian jew, and I dont love Russia like you love America
[10:51:01 AM] dvoiris: thats why Israel is my prior country for the moment

[10:51:46 AM] Matthew Rozsa: If you move to Israel, won't you have to join the Israeli army?

[10:52:01 AM] dvoiris: no
[10:52:38 AM] dvoiris: I;ll be too old for the obligatory joyning, and I can go there only if I have a wish

[10:52:51 AM] Matthew Rozsa: What will you do if you move to Israel?
[10:52:55 AM] Matthew Rozsa: What will your career be?

[10:53:11 AM] dvoiris: studying first, and then will see

[10:53:18 AM] Matthew Rozsa: What do you think of America?

[10:53:28 AM] dvoiris: I dont have specific plans for that point
[10:53:39 AM] dvoiris: I like Amerika
[10:53:47 AM] dvoiris: but nithing more
[10:54:11 AM] dvoiris: I could live there
[10:54:22 AM] dvoiris: and maybe I will some day ;)

[10:54:33 AM] Matthew Rozsa: :)
[10:54:40 AM] Matthew Rozsa: We could hang out if you did that.

[10:54:48 AM] dvoiris: I know that )

[10:55:14 AM] Matthew Rozsa: :)
[10:55:21 AM] Matthew Rozsa: On that note, I am going to have to sign off Skype
10:55:24 AM] Matthew Rozsa: Talk to you later?

[10:55:30 AM] dvoiris: ok

[10:55:36 AM] Matthew Rozsa: Have a good night!

[10:55:41 AM] dvoiris: you too )