Now Boarding

The first place travelers to Israel encounter is usually Ben Gurion Airport. What they’ll remember of that experience depends in part on their relationship to the country. Are they coming home? Arriving at a place they’ve always dreamed of visiting? Passing through, with fear or wariness, en route to someplace else?

In this 2016 episode of Israel Story, we hear from people who have had unforgettable encounters in or on their way to TLV.

In the first act, we hear how Israeli airport security is really tight, and it’s a huge issue that gets a lot of people – both Israelis and foreigners – riled up. In the second act, Julie Subrin takes us back to the sixties, and to one fourteen year old boy, who just had to fly. Listen here:

About Israel Story: Israel Story is the award-winning podcast that tells extraordinary tales about ordinary Israelis. Often called “the Israeli ‘This American Life,’” we bring you quirky, unpredictable, interesting and moving stories about a place we all think we know a lot about, but really don’t. Produced in partnership with The Times of Israel.

Subscribe to Israel Story on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.