Great post, Lisa, and I look forward to gettting the book when it comes available. However, I have a question. About three weeks ago in Ha'aretz, Ari Shavit identified one of contemporary Israel's problems as the illusion that it was a 'normal' society - that like other European or Europe-derived cultures it could be 'normal' in its hedonism and general joie de vivre. Shavit seemed to be saying that this actually dissipated the essential energy that Israel needed to invest in its own survival, its ability to defend itself, its military prowess - imperatives that arise from its inherent 'abnormality'. A small voice inside of me asks if celebrating Tel Aviv's night life, lifestyle, clubs and restaurants is not maybe part of the illusion that Shavit is attacking - that there are sterner necessities in which to invest during these increasingly difficult times for Israel and its friends. I don't mean to derail the thread, and I certainly mean no officne, but this thought did occur to me as I watched the display on the publication's homepage.