ISRAELIS page 153

such as Israel's telephone com-
pany, Bezek, have bought Man-
go phones in bulk to enable their
employees to be in contact with
the office while out in the field.
Despite their convenience,
they often prove an inconve-
nience, never failing to ring in
movie theaters, PTA meetings,
restaurants, supermarkets, at
the mall and on the beach. "Don't
leave home without it," seems to
be the rule of the day.

simply enjoy the benefits of con-
venient, cheap communication.
This includes working moms,
business people, journalists,
plumbers, electricians, all for
whom a quick phone call can
make all the difference in the
world.
Soldiers, who often took their
cellulars with them when on
duty, recently were told that this
is no longer allowed. How, they
were asked, can you bond with
your unit when your mom
keeps calling to see if you're
okay?
Israelis may have some oth-
er unique reasons for being so
attached to their cellular
phones. In the wake of the re-
cent terrorist bombings, many
people were able to call friends
and family, putting an imme-
diate end to worry or concern.
And more recently, residents
of Kiryat Shmona have felt less
isolated with a telephone for
company down in their bomb
shelters.
What does this cellular
phone phenomenon mean in
the big picture of Israeli soci-
ety? Maybe the uncertainty of
living in such a politically
charged climate makes people
want to be in control in other
aspects of their lives. A cellu-
lar phone certainly helps in
that regard.
Or maybe having a Pele-
phone is proof that this is re-
ally a fully modernized society.
Or maybe Israelis just love to
talk and argue, and this is
Once the land of milk and honey, Israel is
just another means to do so.
now the land of phones.
Whatever the reason,
For some, cellular phones are scores of Israelis join in the cel-
a status symbol. Macho men of- lular phone craze by the day,
ten tote their phones in holsters with absolutely no end in sight.
on their belts, armed and ready So much so that there may come
for conversation. And their fe- a day that Israel is no longer
male counterparts can snap their known as the "land of milk and
cellulars out of their leather honey," but rather the "land of
`Is-that-your-phone-ringing-or-
handbags in a flash.
However, many of Israel's cel- mine?' " O.
lular phone users are those who
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Paralympic
Powerhouse

HUDSON'S

Israelis have won more than 350 medals
since 1960. What's their secret?

You're never too old
to quit blowing smoke.

MELANIE A. LASOFF SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

here's a difference between
Israeli Olympic athletes
and Israelis in the Para-
lympics, says Israel Consul
General for the Southeast Arye
Mekel. Olympians attend the
games to participate, he said. The
Paralympians attend to win
medals.
Since the Paralympic games
were first held in Rome, Italy, in
1960, the Israelis have brought

T

home more than 350 medals, in-
cluding 135 golds.
What's the secret of the Par-
alympians' success? Some of the
60 members of this year's Israeli
Paralympic delegation attribute
their high success to Israel's
world-renowned rehabilitation
centers for disabled war veterans
and athletes. Others say the Par-

PARALYMPIC page 157

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