Israelis aren’t like the rest of us.

They’re often perceived as rude, pushy, and outspoken, saying exactly what's on their minds without worrying about how their words might affect others—or at least, that’s the impression many tourists and new immigrants to Israel get.

But there’s another side to Israelis that’s often overlooked. From personal experience, I can tell you that Israelis are some of the most generous and community-minded people you’ll ever meet. They’ll literally give you the shirt off their back to help someone in need. I once witnessed a young man at a bus stop do just that—he took off his shirt to press against the forehead of an elderly woman who had fainted and cut herself, stopping the bleeding until help arrived.

In today’s episode of Inside Israel, I sit down with cultural trainer Osnat Lautman to delve into the complexities of the Israeli personality and explore why Israelis think, act, and behave (and sometimes misbehave) the way they do.

Osnat, the author of two books on cultural differences, specializes in helping Israelis collaborate effectively with non-Israeli colleagues, and vice versa—because understanding the Israeli mindset is crucial to working with them.

We also tackle the question of cultural differences in today’s politically correct world. Is it still okay to say that people from different nationalities or ethnic groups think and act differently?

More about Osnat Lautman: www.olm-consulting.com

Osnat’s newest book, Global Cultural Interplay, on Amazon: here

To learn more about Inside Israel and to submit a question for Joel to answer on-air, visit www.joelchasnoff.com/podcast

Sign up for Joel’s newsletter, Hebrew Is Magic: www.joelchasnoff.com

Joel on Instagram: @joelchasnoff

Israel 201, co-authored by Joel and Benji Lovitt and Winner of the 2023 National Jewish Book Award: www.joelchasnoff.com/books

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