Would you like to?

Question

I have a question for Jews who are no Israeli Nationals.
Would you like/live or visit Arabs countries? Like the UAE or Oman?
Would it maybe cross your mind to work in these countries for a certain time? Taxfree salary, with housing, transportation, furniture allowance etc. provided?

This question is maybe mostly going out to Jews living aboard.
Would you like to live in an Islamic country and to be accepted.

If yes: why?
If no : why?

Please no nasty answers!

edit papperbag: I told you before.Just get you a second passport and you are good to go. I'll promise you, you will love the UAE and no religious/jewish/israeli issue comes up as long as you do not start on it.
In the UAE all people of all kind of Religion live together peacefully. You'll love to live in this Islamic country.

edit NYC: You are so right!

edit paperback: sorry for the typing mistakes in your name. It's 3am and I am tired.

edit Jdrivin: I do not know where you come up with your knowledge about Dubai. Of course you can wear a cross and you also can carry a bible. You even can buy Jesus figures in the store. Think about all the Catholic Philippinos living in the UAE.

Answer 1

Interesting question.

My answer is yes, absolutely. Most of us who have been fortunate enough to interact with the "other" in a non-hostile environment have quickly come to the conclusion that we have more in common than apart. This is especially true in predominantly Christian areas like the American midwest.

I would absolutely love to visit or work in an Arab country-- why not?? As long as my safety was not an issue, I would jump at the chance. I love Middle Eastern culture and travel, and always welcome the opportunity to put myself in a new and different situation.

So yes, I would love to temporarily live in an Islamic culture and be accepted-- but not at the price of dishonoring my Judaism or Israeli friends and family. If both I and most of the citizens of the country were respectful of one another, I would love it!

Answer 2

I would like to go to Morocco some day. I don't know about working there, since I don't know the language. I would also like to visit Turkey. (Do either country need someone to teach college math in English?)

I am going to visit Petra (in Jordan) on my next visit to Israel in March.

I think both Turkey and Morocco will let me in, even though I have Israel stamped in my passport. If a country won't let me in, then I won't enter. Yes, I know I can get a replacement passport, but I won't.

I will not go to any country where women are beaten for not dressing modestly enough. I wouldn't stay long anywhere women may not drive.

At the moment I can't leave the US for too long unless I can bring my dog with me.

Answer 3

I would love to visit those countries with historical sights (shopping doesn't interest me that much), but judging from what I read (not by Western media), including postings on this site, I don't think I am welcome in most of them at the moment, Israeli stamp or no. One exception is Uzbekistan, and it's very high on my list of places to visit.

Whether I would want to work in one (the Jewish issue aside) -- it would depend on the local culture. I had a friend whose parents worked in Saudi Arabia, and she spent 15 of her 19 years there. She did not speak a word of Arabic, and never developed a friendship (or an acquaintance even) with any Saudi. That, along with some other things she related, gave me the impression that Westerners in KSA lead a very isolated lifestyle in gated compounds, and don't really get to experience local culture, except in the most cursory ways. Some people thrive in this environment, but it wouldn't work for me -- even with a tax-free salary and space-age housing. I'd rather live in a pre-war apartment building and pay taxes; I consider these to be acceptable costs of being part of society.

As for living in an Islamic country -- I don't know whether by Islamic you mean one where most people identify themselves as Muslim, or an actual theocracy. I wouldn't want to live in ANY strongly clerical state.

Answer 4

I am open to the idea of working in some of the Arab countries. Dubai sounds nice. Don't think I would like KSA as I am a woman who likes to drive :) I would however insist on a clause in an employment contract that I would be able to cancel with no penalty if the work and living situation was not to my liking. and of course I would not accept a menial job. I would like to visit Egypt and see the pyramids and the famous museum in Cairo. Peace might come faster if we had more interpersonal contact rather than letting our governments continue their disagreements. I would also like to see more respect for human rights in many places.
H you do come up with interesting questions.

Answer 5

I would love to visit any of the gulf states (except Saudi Arabia) I could also see myself working for a short period of time in a place like Dubai.

My father works in the Petroleum industry and has many friends and co-workers that have worked long stints in the area. As such I have a decent idea of what to expect.

I realize of course that I would have to keep my religious and ethnic background discrete. While I would be fine with that in the short term I could not see myself doing it for a long period of time and certainly not raising a family their.

Answer 6

Would love to visit Dubai.... one day soon I will
A country full of surprises

The idea of living in an Arab country sounds interesting however I do not believe it would be possible during my generation, as the old old saying goes a Leopard can not change his spots.
I AM sorry


ultra

kol hakavod eze teshovot kol mila pnina vegam yoter

Answer 7

Yes, since the UAE has a highly industrialized economy that makes the country one of the most developed in the world.

Anyway, how about discrimination in the workplace?

Answer 8

If I go to Dubai and I wear a cross around my neck they won't let me in until I take it off. Catholics are poorly received there.
Why would anyone believe a Jew wouldn't find discrimination?
I see Ultra is still rude crude and wallowing in his own ego as usual.
As I have said before he doesn't deserve America. Bigotry is ignorance not intelligence Ultra.

Answer 9

I would love to visit Morocco - does that count? I've always been interested in this country but I gather that I can't go there at the moment, because of the Israeli stamp in my passport. I hope that will change in time.

Dubai also looks amazing; I was watching a documentary on cable about that famous hotel..... the....... the name escapes me.... the Burg Al Arab - something like that? It looked fantastical!

Unfortunately, I think the same thing applies with Dubai so I can't go there. But one day....!

I would like to think that I would be accepted in an Islamic country but as you know I am very outspoken in my support for Israel. So if I was to hear anything anti Israel or anti Jewish it would be a massive problem.

I've also always been intrigued by Iran!

Answer 10

I would love to visit Arab and Muslims countries; all of them!
Although I have an American passport, it does say I was born in Israel, which means I would not be able to visit any of these places, right?