When you’ve lived somewhere for almost ten years, you stop noticing the little things. My parents’ first visit to Israel reminded me to see this country with fresh eyes.

Before they arrived, most of what they knew about Israel came from the news—war, conflict, and headlines. But after spending just one week here, I can already see how much their perspective has changed.

The first thing they noticed was how quiet and peaceful everything is. During their visit, things were calm, allowing them to experience everyday life in Israel as it truly is. The neighborhood where we live is peaceful. My parents even told me, “If we didn’t know what we see on the news, we wouldn’t think there was a war.”

They also noticed the people. Every morning when we walk in the park, strangers greet us with a warm........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)