A lot of native-born Israelis have told me that I speak Hebrew with a French accent. How did that happen? they ask. Is it because you're Canadian? Well, no. Actually, I grew up in a city that's 5,000 kilometers away from Quebec, and I learned French - which I speak very badly - in high school. Sometimes I claim that I acquired my strange accent 20 years ago, when I shared a dormitory room at the Hebrew University with Miryam-from-Toulon.

The truth is that I was just really anxious to get rid of the non-rolling Anglo "r" that Israelis so love to mock. But instead of acquiring a guttural Israeli "r", somehow I ended up with a French-sounding "r" that's a bit forward on the palate. I guess I overcompensated.

The results can be somewhat amusing. Take today, for instance. I called directory assistance to obtain a phone number I couldn't find online. I don't understand why you can't find the number, I said to the nice man who tried very hard to help me. It's a well-known place of business in central Tel Aviv.

And then he switched to French - very polite, formal French with more than a hint of a Moroccan accent. I'm so sorry, Madame, he said, I've checked every possible spelling under a number of categories. I wish I had more information for you but I simply don't.

My sense of mischief could not be denied. I answered him in French. Je comprends, I said, It's not your fault and I certainly appreciate your efforts. By the way, you speak French very well.

Oh, he said. Thank you very much.