Today was another Rita Stravinsky day. Exactly one month from my last visit to the unemployment office, I had to go back to “report” that I had failed to find new employment and “sign on” for another month.

10:16 – Parked outside the building
10:17 – Sat down in an almost empty waiting area.
10:18 – Rita became free, the person in front of me sat down at her cubicle.
10:19 – Rita became free, I sat down at her cubicle.
10:21 – Got back in my car and drove off.

Ritas same large smile radiated as I took my seat. No questions, she just took my card, checked my details on the computer and signed me off for another month. Total conversation, less than twenty words including “Thank you very much, good bye”.

It was that damn easy! These people make being unemployed a pleasurable experience.

Israel is still undoubtedly a socialist state and, as is always the case in such countries, buraucracy reigns supreme. I could document numerous perplexing encounters since I have been here (including the legal nightmare of trying to get my wifes anus of an ex-husband to face up to his paternal responsibilities, but thats a whole different subject for another day). However I have to tell you there can be few countries in this world where the government employees who look after us poor unemployed provide a service equal to, let alone better, than the state of Israel.