Usually the words “Israeli government” and “efficiency” are contradictions in terms. But today I’ve experienced the wonders of what can only be called “extraordinary efficiency.”
See, next Thursday before the crack of dawn I need to be on an airplane winging my way to give a keynote address at Oxford University. I’ve never gotten around to getting my Israeli passport, always having other pressing things to do and, having a teudat ma’avar (temporary passport), it wasn’t high on my list. Until, preparing for the upcoming journey, I collected all my documents (what, Yaeli being efficient and pre-organized?!) together. I chanced to flip open the teudat ma’avar to remind myself of how bad the picture was in it (yo people, it was even worse than I remembered) …and noticed the expiration date. It had just expired! Holy moly. You can imagine the utter panic I experienced with this discovery. I mean, anyone who has ever gotten a passport in the U.S. will know that it generally takes weeks, sometimes up to 6 weeks, to get that puppy once you put in the application. You can pay for expedited service but there is a) no guarantee it will actually arrive sooner and b) sure as heck ain’t gonna arrive almost immediately –it will be at least a couple of weeks.
So experiencing extreme levels of angst, recriminations at my idiocy and negligence, and simply oozing panic I arrived on the doorstep of the Misrad HaPanim first thing this morning, new (better but pretty bad) pictures in hand. I went through security (2 minute wait), filled out the form (took about 3 minutes) and got in the passport line. I’d filled out the form checking the “renew teudat ma’avar” boxes in the hopes that, since I already had a teudat ma’avar renewing it would be faster than applying for the real deal passport. And I was ready to beg and plead on bended knee and cry if necessary. After standing for only 2 minutes in line it was my turn. I handed in the paperwork and the pictures and began explaining my “big problem.” She stopped me and asked “when do you need to fly?” Next Thursday morning really early. “One moment, let me check.” She picked up the phone and spoke to someone for about a minute and then, hanging up turned back to me with “I’m sorry” –my heart sank to my toes –”I can’t get your passport ready for you today, it would be different if your flight was this evening or tomorrow morning, but you can pick it up first thing on Sunday morning.” REALLY?? Wow no need to be sorry. I was literally dancing up and down with happiness.
And wait, did you say passport? “Yes, you don’t need a teudat ma’avar, you should have a darcon.” In other words, a real passport. An official passport. And she was sorry that they were too busy to do same-day service. Thud.
Kol ha’kavod and many thanks!!