Book Cover, Catch the Jew, by Tuvia Tenenbom.
There seems to be nothing Israelis dislike more than long waiting lines. Though this country has a robust universal healthcare system, my recent visit to a somewhat chaotic system pharmacy in Jerusalem perfectly demonstrates the phenomenon. At virtually any venue in Israel where lines are encouraged to form—checkout counters, post offices, city hall, the various governmental ministries—it seems like all attempts to proceed in an orderly fashion are vigorously opposed by the natives.
Often in several tongues.
After taking a ticket for service as I entered the pharmacy door, I experienced a classic example of the infamous Israeli distaste for decorum and found myself wondering, Why?
