A Good Samaritan in Tel Aviv

A couple of weeks ago I went out to dinner with my girlfriend, and we were in a hurry so we took a cab (don't do that too often, but it was a special occasion).  As soon as we arrived at the restaurant my girlfriend noticed that she didn't have her phone, and she immediately assumed that she left it in the taxi.  I told her that she probably forgot it at home, but as soon as we got home and looked everywhere we knew that it must have been left in the taxi.  Luckily, ever since I opened my tutoring business I've been asking for receipts whenever I spend money, and on the taxi receipt we had the driver's name and identification number.

The following day, after my girlfriend went to the ministry of transportation and after to the police station where she was able to track down the driver and called him.  When most people heard that my lady left her phone in a taxi they told her it was as good as gone, but what do you know, the driver had the phone and happily returned it.  It was really great for me to see someone who did the right thing, when he could have easily sold the phone for some quick cash.  So often people take the less moral path, but luckily this guy turned out to be a good person.

As a biker rider I'm not the biggest fan of taxi drivers in Tel Aviv, but after this incident I'm slightly more understanding when they honk at me for crossing at a crosswalk and for riding in the street even though I have just as much of, if not more than a right to be on the street than they do.  Last week some lady repeatedly honked at me for riding on the street, and I argued with her about the fact that I have a right to be on the street and that the sidewalk is actually for pedestrians.  She didn't want to hear it, but it's the truth.

I've recently heard a few Olim say that they think everyone in Israel is a criminal and is looking to rip them off, and I want to tell you all that there are plenty of good people here.  This guy could have easily sold the phone and gotten a nice amount for it, but instead he did the right thing.  There are definitely plenty of cases that go the other way here, but for those of you frustrated with life in the big city (Tel Aviv that is), know that there are good people here and that not everybody is looking to rip you off.