According to Israeli law, citizens are allowed to make as much noise as they want on Independence Day.
So I was informed by the police, when I called - at 4.15 a.m. - to complain about the noise from a rooftop party taking place one street away. I had closed all my windows (despite the perfect spring weather) and pulled the quilt up over my ears, but the hosts of the independence day party had clearly invested in some serious stereo equipment: the bass of the deep house or trance or whatever you call that electronic noise emanating from their super-sonic amplifiers was making my windows vibrate and my head pound.
I tend to turn into a female version of the Incredible Hulk when I am confronted with extreme rudeness and a total lack of basic civility. Not to mention appalling taste in music. It’s best to stay out of my way until I either calm down or achieve JUSTICE.
So I grabbed the essential 21st century tool - my mobile phone - and went out to investigate.
On the the door of the building, at 17 Feierberg Street, the hosts had taped the following notice:
Translation:
Dear Neighbours,
Today, Independence Day, there will be a party in apartment 17.
The party will continue until late and it will be noisy.
We regret the temporary inconvenience.
Thank you for understanding,
Idan and Sam
Apartment 17
(the following morning, someone scrawled: “Please clean up.”)
***
Okay, Idan and Sam, here’s the thing: If you had made a noisy party that affected only the people in your building, and they were all cool with that, and you actually made an effort to be quiet after - say - 2.00 a.m., and the next day you went around to all your neighbours with some kind of symbolic gift (a bottle of wine, flowers, or something similar), then fine.
Instead, you just announced - dictator style - that you were going to make as much noise as you felt like making and you really didn’t care how miserable you made your neighbours. I am assuming you didn’t ask for their permission - let alone inquire whether there were any exhausted mothers trying to calm their screaming babies at 3 a.m.
But besides that, the noise you made was not confined to your building. The bass from the electronic shit you played until 4.30 a.m. was bouncing off the walls of this whole neighbourhood for a 150 meter radius. Apparently you just decided that you had the right to prevent hundreds of people from sleeping that night. Who cares if they are tired, or they have plans that involve getting up early in the morning, or they have little kids? Your party is much, much more important. Right?! Of course right!
It is true that you were not breaking any laws. But there is this thing called common decency - a.k.a. civilized behaviour. I gather from the median age of the people at your party that you are in your late 20s or early 30s. Given that you are already earning enough to afford a flashy pad in a renovated building in one of Tel Aviv’s most expensive neighbourhoods, I’m assuming you have an education. Pity there’s no required university class called Basic Good Manners 101.
Idan and Sam of 17 Feierberg Street, Apt. 17, Tel Aviv: you are inconsiderate, selfish dicks. And if anyone reading this blog knows Idan and Sam, I encourage you to pass on my message.
27 responses so far ↓
ido grumer // May 8, 2008 at 5:28 pm
unfortuntely - i’m not too surprised…
our prime minister is under (endless) investigation….
our former president - we all know. he is still safely at home….
Sam and Idan ask themselves - “SO WHAT”…?
HAPPY SIXTY ANNIVERSARY…..
Yael // May 8, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Oh poor you…. Though I was under the impression you have been living here long enough to know better. In this place, you are suprised when someone is nice/not trying to take advantage of you/considerate. Sorry for the cynical tone, but a lot of people just don’t give a fuck and you are right, it is appauling. I hope you have a happy day today and a peaceful week-end.
Yael: The truth is that I do know better. But even after all these years - and so much bitter experience - I just refuse to accept the situation! I know it’s a futile waste of energy, but I just cannot stop trying to change my reality. Hubris, I guess. And I don’t know if I need to get over myself or try harder. Lisa
adina // May 8, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I am not trying to one-up you, but yom haatzmaut is just one night. Try living in the Little Portugal neighbourhood of Toronto during the eurocup or the world cup of soccer - every two years!
I swear, it gets ethnically inappropriate epithets streaming out of my mouth after the first week. It is almost worth it plan to have a baby on an “off” year - I can’t imagine finally getting the baby to sleep, only to have the effing soccer fans honk and holler him awake again. Also, I LOATHE flag-waving of any variety. Always feels like a precursor to violence.
Hmmm…perhaps outrage and indignation are genetic, eh sister?
Savtadotty // May 8, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Don’t be so Canadian! It’s only once a year (I hope, for your sake) and they won’t stop no matter what you do. My neighbors across Yehuda Halevi St. do the same thing, and after fussing and fuming for the first few years I just got used to it. And I don’t think they ever post a warning note, which is kind of sweet for Israelis.
Sweet?! Try passive-aggressive! Besides, I believe in universal standards of basic courtesy. I might get used to outrageous rudeness, but the day I accept it is the day I start to re-assess, um, a lot of things. Lisa
Ken Klempner // May 8, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Lisa, dearest Lisa…why didn’t you join the party? it’s a funny thing being 30-40…then 50 hits and you’re out there partying again…because you can!! and you want too.
I have a house full of 16-21 year olds with their friends (some home from university, where they have had no parental supervision) who are all nocturnal…like it’s time for something major to eat at 3:30am…like let’s get the bar-b-que going and empty the freezer.
Only once did I leave and get a hotel room …not twice…the second time I stayed at a hotel room on the way home from business because I knew that they and their friends were all there…
Okay, this is getting weird: the Israelis are sympathizing, while my Canadian cousin and my American neighbour are telling me to lighten up?! What’s going on? Don’t tell me I’m turning into an intolerant cow..!Lisa
Peter S // May 8, 2008 at 11:24 pm
“I tend to turn into a female version of the Incredible Hulk when I am confronted with extreme rudeness and a total lack of basic civility. ”
Which means that you spend 90% of your time in Tel Aviv being green and looking like you’re bulked up on steroids?
Are there any pictures?
Tom Barman // May 9, 2008 at 1:52 am
Really, you solved the equation in your posting. They’re young, affluent, and in Tel Aviv. QED. This leads to bloated egos everywhere.
Vivian // May 9, 2008 at 3:31 am
As a fellow Canadian with a feisty nature - I understand your difficulty with being polite but going crazy when the Idans and Sams of the world have their way…why don’t you just go over to their place and speak to them? Very often, when confronted in a reasonable way, such cretins wither…or…write them a note…you’re a bold chick…
You know what? I am going to go over there. You’re absolutely right. I’ll update you.
mic // May 9, 2008 at 4:25 am
Lisa, you should come back to Japan …
Oh, Mic, no… Japan was one of the biggest traumas of my life. I couldn’t eat sushi for two years after I left.
tamar // May 9, 2008 at 7:56 am
Wise woman to out them. Shame and embarrassment can stifle unacceptable actions (not everyone is the PM, former president, and countless other “high-level” felons, crooks, outlaws, and their kin). Punks like Idan and Sam have bosses (who might be punks, too) yet ultimately someone will at least acknowledge the wrong. And maybe think twice repeating it. And I’d put posters on the building and in the 150-meter radius, outing them as you have here: names and address and offense. I’d be happy to help you post.
My friend not far from you suffered nightly (dawnly?) for weeks from similar noise pollution. On a day when she was centered and calm, she went over with a male (who said nothing but was, well, male). When she spoke (from a script she had rehearsed), using all those clichéd phrases on calming the offender while making her points, she noted in him mild shame and embarrassment. The pollution abated, for now.
Don’t quit holding to standards of common decency though do continue to manage your disappointments (by blogging, for example) to protect your soul. It’s a balance, and the irony of the offense on THIS day is not lost. Absolutely nothing is wrong with you.
Next time I see you, I will give you a pair of EPA-approved earplugs, the kind air traffic controllers use. Not impenetrable though useful, and handy wherever people, uh, express themselves. Borrowing from the immortal words of American Express; I “Don’t Leave Home Without Them.”
Dave Trageser // May 9, 2008 at 8:01 am
Susanne and I can relate to your anger. We have tried basic earplugs, and I am thinking of upgrading to better ones.
In the same non-civility vein, I yelled at a motor-scooterist the other day who ran the green crosswalk (with about 8 people in it!), and it felt good! I can’t understand how people here have gotten so used to bad (and unsafe) behavior.
Dave from the Seder dinner
K // May 9, 2008 at 9:29 am
Lisa - what a fantastic post - and good for you for putting up a picture of their front door!
We had a much milder problem years ago, with some young and noisy neighbours downstairs. We put up with their party noise for hours until I could stand it no longer, and hammered on their front door. They were really, really embarrassed, turned the noise down right there and then and put a note of apology through our letterbox the next day.
I’m not sure your neighbours (albeit distant ones!) would have done the same though…
I hope you have a peaceful weekend!
Irene // May 9, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Ah, earplugs! This morning, I haven’t heard my radio alarm clock. It has been playing for 15 minutes when I finally woke up - I sleep with “Ohropax classic” in my ears and my head under the quilt. I guess my neighbours could hear my radio, but as I usually get up quite late, I hope I am still within civility
These earplugs are available in Israel too, but I can’t guarantee that they are Idan-and-Sam-safe…
http://ohropax.de/1-1-home.html
(This is no viral marketing shit. If anyone wants to invent a kind of Lisapax, I wish good luck :-))
Jennifer // May 9, 2008 at 12:53 pm
And Happy belated Independence Day to you, too. The louder and more vivacious the better! (FWIW-either Mack’s silicone earplugs or your favorite relaxing CD on your mp3 player do wonders.)
Of course if Sami and Idan continue partying until all hours on a regular basis beyond Independence Day, then by all means out them. Oh, wait, you already did that. :->
Sara // May 9, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Are you sure it was not illegal? At least in Jerusalem, noise above a certain decibal is prohibited after 11:00 P.M. It may be that there is no such ordinance in Tel Aviv, or that it’s know police policy to turn a blind eye (or deaf ear?). I myself have summoned the police under similar circumstances, and they have actually turned up.
Matt Hoffman // May 9, 2008 at 9:18 pm
What’s the big deal? It’s once a year… have a little fun… enjoy celebrating the country… even if you are tired for the next day. ONCE a YEAR you can’t even handle some fun?
m.bee // May 10, 2008 at 8:52 am
I’ll see your Independence Day party and raise you power ballads every week. I’ve slept through two major Florentine sleep parties this year, but have contemplated vicinicide many a night. Celine’s caterwauling (”cos I’m your laaaaaaaaaaadeh and you are mah maaaan” ) has actually driven me to tears. True story.
Nominally Challenged // May 10, 2008 at 11:27 am
Oh, all you really need to do next year is to get into the rhythm of the day a little earlier on. Go to sleep in the afternoon of Yom Hazikaron like everyone else, wake up at 9:00 pm, and then walk the streets with an inflatable hammer looking for a good party to crash.
Manuel // May 10, 2008 at 11:55 am
Everytime i visit my sister in TA (off Rothschild Blvd) I go crazy for that noise and bustle. And everytime I come back to Germany I just hate that calm boredom.
Be happy to live a city with so much lust for life (even if it runs over occasionally)!
Yoav // May 10, 2008 at 6:19 pm
In my Lonely Planet guide for Israel, the author mentioned about Israelis that “It’s not that they have bad manners, it’s that they have no manners at all.”
Oh come on, Yoav. This is about Idan and Sam’s bad manners - not the entire population of Israel. And besides, LP’s guidebook to Israel is a disgrace. Not only did they fail to update it for 7 years, but when they finally did get around to the task they hired a guy who writes as though he ran around the country for 10 days while using one hand to write and the other to hold his nose. Lisa
Yaeli // May 11, 2008 at 3:33 am
Wow they left a note? Sorry but that is like kind of considerate. It at least let the neighbors know they should maybe seek a hotel in advance. My neighbors across the street had 5 million guests and speakers out on their balcony and the street boomed and shook until the sun came up. They did not leave a note.
And yeah, on Independence Day it is legal to make as much noise as you want as late as you want (as I discovered my first year here when I phoned the police to complain about the ear damage occurring from just on the other side of the wall)
Mohamed // May 11, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Hehe.. Justice, Lisa style!
Well, move to Ramallah. I can guarantee, we had a very quiet Yom Hatsmaout.
You might need to get acquainted to the occasional gunshot, though. )
(and did the dude misspell להמשיך or is it just my beginner’s impression?
Uh, I’ve been telling my mother for three years that Ramallah is perfectly safe - and now you have to go and mention gunshots?
Regarding the verb that you so cleverly spotted (little polyglot that you are), you have just bought yourself a free Hebrew grammar lesson - courtesy of my friend Noa’s boyfriend, Shai. This is the נפעל
form of the verb with the מ.ש.ך. root.
נפעל is passive - which makes sense here, because a party is not a sentient being so it cannot continue on its own. Others, however, can make it continue - i.e. Idan, Sam and all their friends.
beachdiary // May 11, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I think I am just too much of an Israeli to find anything wrong in having a party on Independence Day till whatever hour or in whatever volume…
But then I love noise, people and wouldn’t mind to go to sleep like that every night
When I was in the Netherlands I couldn’t get to sleep because the silence was killing me!
Take care, Tse.
Mohamed // May 12, 2008 at 10:59 am
Lisa’s mom - there are no gunshots around here. I was merely joking. It actually is boringly safe. I mean, even driving is less, hmm, ‘adventurous’ than in Tel Aviv…
(there.
And thanks (Lisa, Shai, Noa?) for the grammar lesson! I’ll go showoff with my newly acquired knowledge now.
Benjamin // May 13, 2008 at 3:57 am
Mohamed,
Not bad hebrew at all. As opposed to the active Lehamshich, this is pronounced Lehimashech.
I worked in the Upper Galillee, and quite often the Arab celebrations included the firing of gunshots in celebration (weddings included). To me, that is pretty foolish, since anything which goes up will go down, and if it hits someone, it will injure them just the same. I guess this could be termed “Arab Roulette” ?
As for the gunshots, I am not certain you were loking
Lisa,
While they could definitely be more considerate, as others have voiced, let’s at least enjoy and celebrate Independence Day. Not like there is much other cause for celebration with our leadership so poised for “metzuyanut” and “toar ha midot” (not).
Regards from Denver!
Mohamed // May 13, 2008 at 9:19 am
Benjamin — we were just trying to convince Lisa’s mom that all’s well around here. Shhhhhh…..
‘Arab Roulette’ — hehehe. Aside from the bullets falling back, there have been many instances - i can think of a few in rural Egypt, where we also fire gunshots to celebrate anything - where a happy chap wouldn’t get his aim towards to sky but end up shooting someone in a nearby balcony…
In Ramallah though I haven’t seen celebratory or demonstrators’ gunshots; however you’ve got the drunken teens in Tira with a Heineken in one hand and a rifle in the other; then you have the 1 AM Israeli night patrol roaming the streets of Ramallah…
Alright, time to ‘lehimashech’ writing this memo - for it won’t write itself, will it?
Liza R // May 13, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I’m sorry, but those of you who are chastising Lisa for not enjoying Independence Day, where did you get the idea that she didn’t enjoy it? Perhaps she had a fabulous evening enjoying a plethora of festivities, followed by plans on the day itself (I know nothing, just a bit of speculating…).
Crazy loud music (coming from 150 meters away, no less!) at 4:15 in the morning (and I don’t care what day of the year it is) would turn me into a bitch from hell, and I’d have called the police far earlier (so kudos to you, Lisa, for holding out as long as you did
).
Noise pollution is one of my biggest pet peeves - my home is my sanctuary, and there are few things that make me crazier than having to put up with someone else’s noise invading my space.
Go Lisa!
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