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.
