There is a certain type of person who, upon moving to a new country, throws herself into learning its geography, its neighborhoods, its hidden corners. She buses somewhere new every weekend. She has a favorite hummus place in four different cities. 

And it’s not because I don’t like to travel. If anything, the opposite is true. I may have traveled to more European countries in the past year than I have to Israeli cities.

I live less than two hours away from Mitzpe Ramon, Yam Hamelach, and a range of perfectly pleasant, long-weekendable Israeli spots. My issue with them is that Israel, and all its “hidden gems,” often feel small, claustrophobic, and worse, interchangeable.

Part of the problem is New York. Growing up there warps your sense of scale irreparably. Fifteen minutes on the subway and you’ve passed through four income brackets, overheard six languages, and passed countless adorable cafes, each with its own distinct aesthetic combination you won’t find anywhere else. The city is relentlessly sprawling and diverse, and you absorb without trying the idea that a place should feel inexhaustible.

Israel, through that lens, can feel stifling. You go to the mall in Herzliya and it has the same Castro,........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)