Ben is a third-generation Jewish American... or is it 4th? His great-grandparents came with their parents to the USA sometime back at the turn of the century (20th, not that last one). They came from places like Belarus and Romania and Italy (or South Philly). None were ever born in Israel, that he knows of. He spent more than a few of his 'good' years on the beach at Frishman/Gordon, walking the stones of the Old City, bustling Ramat Gan, and (the once sleepy) Arad. He has climbed Masada 22 times at least, remembers sleeping in the hotel of 1,000 stars at Nahal David, and almost drowning in the Jordan River once. He has long dreamed about being an Israeli Tour Guide (for the free falafel). He works in IT, but it's really not his 'thing'.