Dos and Don’ts of Dating Israeli Men

Living abroad in another country is hard, especially when you have to adjust to cultural differences. One of the major differences I found between life in Israel verses that in America is the dating culture. Certain dating norms that are acceptable in America cannot be applied to the dating scene in Israel. If you ever find yourself in Israel, whether for a short vacation or a long-term stay, consult this list before you hit the daring scene of dating Israeli men.

Dos and Don’ts of Dating Israeli Men

Do

Be spontaneous

Many Israelis believe in spontaneity, and rarely choose to make plans far into the future. So, there’s no need to plan dates days in advance. Although it might be tempting to make plans immediately after meeting a guy, try to be patient–chances are he will call or text. If he asks you to drinks in a few hours, embrace the spontaneity and say yes!

Israeli men are very straightforward, blunt, and truthful. Don’t worry, he will tell you his opinion about everything on his mind and won’t hold back. These are great qualities to ensure honesty in a relationship. But, you have to be straightforward also.

Be straightforward

Israeli men are very straightforward, blunt, and truthful. Don’t worry, he will tell you his opinion about everything on his mind and won’t hold back. These are great qualities to ensure honesty in a relationship. But, you have to be straightforward also. If something is bothering you, don’t be passive aggressive; he won’t be able to read your mind and he probably won’t know that something is wrong unless you say something.

Embrace the pet names

But don’t read too much into them. Israeli guys are very affectionate. Even after one or two dates, they’ll start calling you pet names and will show their affection in public. Expect to be called pet names like motek, metukah, or mammi, all pretty much the equivalent of sweetie or babe. But do not read too much into these pet names. Although they are signs of affection, they don’t signify a serious relationship. At all

It’s culturally normal and he might even begin to call you pet names on your first day. Yes, really. Overtime, if you keep dating, the pet names will likely become more meaningful and heartfelt.

Impress his mom

No matter where you are in the world, a Jewish mother is a Jewish mother and she will love her baby boy more than anything. When you do meet his mom, make sure she knows you care about him just as much as she does. If you’re in it for the long term, you are going to want her approval.

Even if she’s not your cup of tea, keep in mind, she raised him. It’s her hard work that made him that man he is. And, hopefully, you’re dating a great guy. So that deserves some respect.

Go home and meet his family

We’ve all heard the joke that when you go on a second date with an Israeli guy, the date could be with the whole family. Although this is a bit of an exaggeration, Israeli families are very close knit. You are bound to meet his entire extended family much sooner than is deemed acceptable in America.

Unlike in America meeting the family isn’t a big milestone in a relationship in Israel. But, the best part of dating an Israeli guy is getting to know their family, because once you are in, they will treat you like one of their own. So have fun and enjoy a nice Shabbat meal with his family.

 

Dos and Don’ts of Dating Israeli Men

Don’t

Use apps like Tinder

If you are looking for a serious relationship, or really anything more than a casual hookup, don’t use Tinder in Israel. Like in many other countries, Tinder is used for the one night stand, and many guys using the app have that mentality. Unlike in America, where there are various dating app options like JSwipe, Hinge, Coffee Meets Bagel, etc., there aren’t as many options in Israel. If you’re looking to date, stick to the old fashioned way and go to a bar to try to meet Israeli guys.

Play games

Israeli guys aren’t into the games that plague the dating scene in America. If you give a guy your number expect a call the next day. They’ll tell you exactly how they feel, making it very clear what they want. You’ll know right away if an Israeli guy is interested. They don’t wait three days to call or one hour to answer back a text message. So don’t play the game in Israel, because it’ll get you nowhere.

Enjoy the journey and feel free to express how you really feel. Yes, really. You may surprised to have and have a quality conversation. Not a superficial one in while you feel you can’t she what you truly feel.

Go on dates during the weekend

Because Israeli children are in school Sunday until Friday afternoon, many places are filled with children from Friday night through Saturday evening. Malls and restaurants will be packed, and parking will be slim. If you want a relaxed, quiet evening for a date, do something during the week—grab drinks or dinner on a weekday evening.

Be weirded out if he lives at home

Since there is mandatory military service for Israelis after high school, most Israeli guys don’t start studying for their undergraduate degree until they are in their twenties. Because of this, many Israel guys still live at home while they are in school. So, if you meet a nice, cute guy at a bar, don’t be freaked out if he lives at home.

He probably just finished the army and has started his studies. It’s completely normal in Israel for a guy to live at home and commute to school.

Try to be right all the time

All men hate to be wrong–Israeli men take that to a whole new level. They are very stubborn and opinionated. It’s hard to get an Israeli guy to admit that he was mistaken or wrong. Even if you know you are right about something, if it’s a trivial argument, let it go. You’re better off biting your tongue than getting into an argument.

Dating isn’t an exact science. Even though some of these dos and don’ts may not apply to every Israeli guy you meet, keep them in the back of your mind, as they will be useful in the future. Before you start dating in Israel, check this list so you know what to expect from dating an Israeli man!

Dos and Don’ts of Dating Israeli Men

Related Reading

• Dating Israeli Men: Is it Possible to be Good Enough for their Mothers?
• 10 Tips That Will Make Every Woman’s Trip to Israel So Much Better
• 20 Hebrew Slang Expressions You Need to Know

Have you dated Israeli men? What are some other dos and don’ts that you recommend while dating Israeli men? Email us at [email protected] for information about sharing  your experience and advice with the Pink Pangea community. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Dos and Don’ts of Dating Israeli Men photo credits: Unsplash, Jessica Shen and Molly W.