Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., May 15, 2008 Iyyar 10, 5768 | | Israel Time: 21:35 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Pen Ultimate / Aging state seeks new job By Michael Handelzalts Tags: Israel, independence day "You only live twice" - that's what people who reach the age of 50 used to say. I guess when they were younger, they thought you lived eight times, at least. But when you reach the "age of counsel" (according to "The Ethics of the Fathers"), you know you better take counsel and prepare for a second career. Two Israeli 50-somethings, psychologist Carlo Strenger and former adman Arie Ruttenberg, have recently published a book about the need for, and the resulting bliss of, pursuing a second career during our one and only lifetime. I will not bore you with my reflections on a prospective second career (at least not this time) because public matters take precedence over private stuff: Our state is now 60 and that, according to the same "Ethics" cited above, is the age of "the elder." But that was in the old days, and since then our lifespan has lengthened. So, although it is a bit late for the state to prepare for a second career, it's better late than never. We should all make an effort to see how we can prepare her (the state is female, after all, in Hebrew) for a second career - or prepare one for her. Even if Israel is ultimately not a state of all its citizens, but only of the Jews - if they deserve to live twice, so does she. Sadly, the first thing that needs to be considered is: Who would want to employ a state that is 60, and between ourselves, not in the best shape? In Hanoch Levin's "Hefetz" one of the characters, Teiglach, is a man of about 60, who is "made redundant" by his wife. He tells her: "You used me, you sucked me dry, and now you send me - to where? To my parents? Do you have anything to offer a man my age?" Advertisement And while we are on the issue of aging, it needs to be said, again sadly, that the state did not provide for her dotage. When she was young, she had to deal with a lot of expenses incurred while she was created; when she got a bit older, she had to pay for ongoing maintenance and defense. Plus there were wars and crises and inflation, and loans to be repaid, and at 60 it is a little late to start a pension fund. They say the most important thing to consider when planning a second career is to face facts and acknowledge the things you are good at and the things in which you are lacking. That's how you benefit from your initial life experience when gearing up for the second time around. Our state is at its best, undoubtedly, when it comes to short-term projects with extreme risks, and it excels, for instance, in establishing things. Just let Israelis create a state, out of nothing, against all odds, with insurmountable obstacles, with two hands tied behind the back, while absorbing hundreds of thousands of refugees - and it happens, and the whole world is astounded and admiring. Indeed it turns out that we are even better off when we are "fighting with our backs against the wall" (cf. Six-Day War or this week's Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team vs. Siena). Our third forte is being "a robbed Cossack." For the uninitiated, this Jewish expression refers to a perpetrator who pretends to be the victim - i.e., a robber who pretends to be robbed. This should not be taken too literally: We are indeed attacked and threatened. But even with the strongest army in the Middle East, we will forever claim that we were (true), we are (not anymore) and we forever will be (doubtful) victims. Virtues and vices Our main weakness, as we all know, is dealing with routine. We are pretty bad at maintenance and get bored easily. That is why, when we are told to fight with our backs against the wall again and again, the experience loses its novelty (cf. Maccabi TA vs. CSKA Moscow). Especially when the back is not a back anymore, and the wall is really a wall. "Masada will not fall again" (an expression from the Hebrew, which means "never again") - not because it already fell once. Simply because the second time around is not as exciting as the first. In other words, booorrring. So, what are the "job openings" for a state aged 60, with such virtues and vices? There are very few vacant positions for establishing a state nowadays. Yes, of course, the Palestinian state needs professional help, but I'm afraid our chances to get that job are pretty slim. Not because we can't do it - I mean, we can furnish CVs and letters of reference - but because of what would probably end up being discrimination against our race and religion. Yes, we could lodge a complaint in the appropriate instances, and even win the case, but we still won't get the job. A pity; we would build quite a state for them. As to the chances of landing a job in "fighting with our back against the wall" - that sort of work seems to be available in abundance; no problem locating a lost cause to fight for in any part of the world. But here the rub is with the competition: Most such positions are already taken by private entrepreneurs, many of them trained by our own state during its wars. In this capitalist world of ours the private sector has an advantage over any state: It can easily submit the lowest offer. In the "robbed Cossack" department the problem seems to be the opposite: a surfeit of supply and a very low demand. All the positions are taken, and the waiting list is as long as the Jewish Diaspora (and only half as funny). We can put our name on the list and wait for an opportunity, as we all know that the graveyards are full of tombstones of irreplaceable robbed Cossacks. So, if the state wants to start a second career, it has to report to the employment office, register, sign up for benefits, enroll in a Wisconsin Plan for unemployed countries and acquire new skills. It needs perseverance, the ability to deal with routine, lower expectations and a willingness to live life day by day. Exactly what we don't know how to do. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Grass is greener For the cannabis-growing residents of Lebanon, recent fighting has been a blessing. Piggy bank savings Welfare Minister Herzog unveils a plan to open savings accounts for every Israeli child.

Read & React Barak: It won't be long before Israel stops rocket fire Responses: 110 Bush: We must be firm in face of those who murder innocents Responses: 95 Israel dismayed over allies' burgeoning trade with Iran Responses: 81 MI Chief: Rockets could reach Be'er Sheva within two years Responses: 67 Abbas: It's time to end the Nakba of the Palestinian people Responses: 77 More Headlines 20:09 Bush to Knesset: U.S. stands with Israel, Masada will not fall again 21:32 FM: Palestinians will celebrate independence when they stop using the word 'nakba' 18:57 Obama says Bush politically attacked him in Knesset address 20:12 Barak warns against hasty military action in Gaza Strip 16:45 Hezbollah declares crisis over after Lebanon gov't climb-down 20:39 Philly Jewish paper accused of kowtowing to its funders 16:53 Israeli film at Cannes explores 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre 11:59 MI Chief: Rockets could hit Be'er Sheva within two years 15:41 U.S. billionaire Daniel Abraham: I never gave money to Olmert 15:54 Google co-founder lauds Israeli innovation in tech, environment 18:19 Reuters demands explanation from Israel for death of cameramen 16:24 Rupert Murdoch: Spreading technology in region can help Mideast peace Previous Editions Select Day 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Products Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off. The Terraces Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya Together Celebrating Israel's 60th The Jewish Agency and You - together making history Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved