Eight months ago, on May 22, 2025 I received the initial notification from the Ministry of Transportation that my drivers’ license would expire on November 18th and it was time to initiate the renewal process.  I finally received it in the mail this morning, 246 days later.  Truly unbelievable and extremely inefficient as well.

As a good citizen, as soon as I received the notification, I began the process of getting the various medical certifications completed.  At my advanced age of 86 that includes both an eye exam and a physical exam, both of which are required in order to receive the next two-year renewal, another age-related limitation.

Within a week I had both examinations completed, both approved and authorized by the various medical professionals authorized to do so.   The forms themselves then had to be sent through the Israel Post in the return envelope provided.

It is simply amazing to me and most other thinking people as well, that in this age of electronics the Ministry of Transportation still requires applicants to submit these forms by mail with no electronic options available whatsoever.  I don’t know what the situation is elsewhere in the country but in Jerusalem all corner post boxes have been removed with the remaining ones existing only at the local post office.  However, in our neighborhood in Jerusalem most of the local post offices have now been closed.  The facilities in Rechavia, on Emek Refaim and Chopin are history, having been closed in the last five years with the one remaining open facility at the understaffed outlet on Tchernichovsky Street.

Of course, while the post boxes there used to be curbside the street itself has been under reconstruction for the last two years.  As such, the post boxes were moved........

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