What exactly do they teach teens who go to Israel?

[slackerinabox]

I went to a highschool that had a lot of jewish kids in it and many of my best guy friends ended up going to Israel.. I've kept in touch with them and have noticed one alarming thing: all of them are oddly different people due to their experience. None of them talk about it and evade my questions about what exactly they did there. All of them seem like they're going through a midlife crisis - they're in their 20s and are doing wacky things that 50 year olds do.. Bungee jumping in the swiss alps, 6 month long hiking trips.. What exactly are they being taught? Some of them have an odd new attitude that bothers me as well - are they being taught religion or are they being taught how to be a stereotypical male? This is an honest question, I like all of these guys but they refuse to talk about my questions (no, i don't ask rude questions - i ask waht they did there.)

 

[dighn]

it's a conspiracy. if they talk they can die

 

[fredtam]

Bungee jumping and long hikes are things that 20 year olds do not 50 year olds.

They are most likely being taught the foremost Jewish law. Get the money. Now they can simply afford to do those things.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: fredtam
Bungee jumping and long hikes are things that 20 year olds do not 50 year olds.

But it feels like it's part of a midlife crisis.. All of them seem to have this fear of dying before they finish a check list of goals.. I would understand that if they lived in israel.. but these kids are american - are they being taught that life can end at any moment?

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: fredtam
Bungee jumping and long hikes are things that 20 year olds do not 50 year olds.

But it feels like it's part of a midlife crisis.. All of them seem to have this fear of dying before they finish a check list of goals.. I would understand that if they lived in israel.. but these kids are american - are they being taught that life can end at any moment?

They don't have to be taught. Here in America you are generally in a comfort zone. Outside the US you see things that make you realize life is a little shorter than you thought so you do the things you want to do. My bet is they just like having fun.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: fredtam
Bungee jumping and long hikes are things that 20 year olds do not 50 year olds.

But it feels like it's part of a midlife crisis.. All of them seem to have this fear of dying before they finish a check list of goals.. I would understand that if they lived in israel.. but these kids are american - are they being taught that life can end at any moment?

They don't have to be taught. Here in America you are generally in a comfort zone. Outside the US you see things that make you realize life is a little shorter than you thought so you do the things you want to do. My bet is they just like having fun.

OK, I understand that.. But why not talk about what they did? What's with the pompous attitude some of them have now? I'm not saying it's because they're jewish - I'm asking what was the catalyst for their emotional change?

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: fredtam

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: fredtam
Bungee jumping and long hikes are things that 20 year olds do not 50 year olds.

But it feels like it's part of a midlife crisis.. All of them seem to have this fear of dying before they finish a check list of goals.. I would understand that if they lived in israel.. but these kids are american - are they being taught that life can end at any moment?

They don't have to be taught. Here in America you are generally in a comfort zone. Outside the US you see things that make you realize life is a little shorter than you thought so you do the things you want to do. My bet is they just like having fun.

OK, I understand that.. But why not talk about what they did? What's with the pompous attitude some of them have now? I'm not saying it's because they're jewish - I'm asking what was the catalyst for their emotional change?

How long were they there? I would think if it was the entirety of their latter teen years they just grew up. I have plenty of friends that I used to be close to and after a few years of seperation and different experiences we have little in common and conversation is labored. They just aren't the same people you knew and you aren't the same either.