I can’t believe the trip to Israel is only two episodes. That’s a long way to travel for such a short amount of airtime. In case you missed it, Sherv gave a great interview about their trip, and many other things. Check it out!
We begin with everyone awake and dressed and ready to face the day, except for MJ who seems very clearly hungover. Last week, MJ was super drunk and inappropriate with some of the locals. Let’s just say this was not Tommy’s favorite episode.
A Day In Akko
The plan for the day is a trip to Akko where Christians, Jews and Muslims live together in perfect harmony according to Asa. Asa wants to make a documentary to include interviews with three spiritual leaders and some man on the street shots. Akko is a stunning city right on the Mediterranean sea. When they arrive, Asa goes to speak to the leaders while the rest of the crowd checks out the market.
Asa goes on a tour of the Ethnographic Museum that is inside the ancient walls that surround the city. I am loving this walking tour. The whole world peace theme to her conversations with the spiritual leaders could not have been more timely.
I am not loving idiot Reza feeding all of the stray cats. That would drive me up a wall. Apparently, Mike agrees. Even more annoying is that this group is randomly going up to people with a video camera in their face and asking them what religion they are. What is wrong with these people? Apparently, Mike and Reza are afraid of Arabs. They are freaking out that they are in an Arab area and there is a call to prayer from the nearby mosque. These two really needed to have gone with Asa and sought spiritual guidance. Her solo excursion has me singing “Father Abraham had many sons, and many sons, had Father Abraham, I am one of them, and so are you, so let’s all praise the Lord.” I wasn’t taught the part that some sons were Muslim and others were Jews. So that is sort of a systemic religious segregation right out of the box.
GG is as mystified as I am as to why the big men in the group are so nervous when she is just fine. Reza freaks out because there are toy guns in the children’s toys. I wish this were scripted but I don’t think it is based on Sherv’s Interview.
Asa comes back from her religious experience to a crowd that was totally non-receptive to her sharing. Reza grunts at some passerby for walking to close to MJ’s ample rear end. Asa tells Reza he is emitting a ton of negative energy. Mike and Reza think that people are “making gun noises” when that is likely not happening. This is disheartening. I can’t even recap his discussion with Asa. I understand that as a gay man he has issues with the government of Muslim countries. But was it not just two weeks ago when he was able to separate the Iranian government from the people of Iran?
On the bus, Mike’s bigotry is just as annoying. Everyone is trying to explain to him that he needs to accept other people and be open to other cultures and religions but he is convinced that the merchants were all planning to shoot him. GG has had enough of Mike’s anti-Islam attitude. This is not new for Mike, he freaked out in Turkey about all the mosques and the calls to prayer. I’m embarrassed for him of his lack of knowledge. He seems literally afraid of any culture where he doesn’t speak the same language or know what they are saying. It’s paranoia. How does he ever travel anywhere? MIke says the people of Israel see them as westerners who are constantly talking shit about their country. WTF is he talking about? Most of America and certainly nearly every president thinks Israel is the bees knees. We send tons of money to Israel. They have better missile protection domes than we do. Very few Americans seem to have any problem that Israel has occupied Palestine and taken the homes and land from their rightful owners and continue to have constant conflicted with the occupied citizens. That is all perfectly fine with America. We are a very pro Israel country. Nothing is going to happen to you in Israel, Mike.
I am so ashamed of Reza and Mike’s behavior. And now Mike wants to celebrate Shabbat with his family?
I am easily distracted by the gold bangles on Asa and MJ. I feel like I need more for my arm. Is that wrong?
Shabbat with Mike’s Family
I love seeing Mike greeting his family for the first time in ten years. It almost makes up for his Islamophobia all day. Almost. It’s GG’s first Shabbat. I’ve never had the pleasure of attending one. There seems to be drinking and bread and lots of good food. Reza has had a bit too much wine and he makes a toast at the dinner that refers to the Arab people in Akko as not “the real Israel.” Who says that? Who comes to Israeli and decides what is really Israel and what is not? I am mortified. When did GG become the voice of reason?
The Wailing Wall
Mike gives everyone a small notebook to write their wishes and dreams in for the Wailing Wall (Western Wall). It is not as they say the holiest place in the entire world. Again, offensive, but also it’s not the holiest place for Jews either, as that is the temple below the wall. Of course, Reza doesn’t really understand the concept of prayer, and wants to tell MJ she is doing it wrong. Reza things prayers are about asking for things. That has never been what prayer was about. Prayer is for glorifying God and asking for him to guide your steps and help you to grow as a spiritual person.
Seeing Jerusalem makes me a bit weepy. I get now why Luis from MDLNY is spending so much time in Israel right now. It’s like the center of mankind. I am looking for reminders of when I went as a child. Sorry I could not recap the scene at the Western Wall. I was just totally immersed in the experience.
Didn’t I see an episode of Parts Unknown where Bourdain said that the Jewish blessing people were all a scam? Am I misremembering that?
Next Week: Still in Israel! YAY.
I really enjoyed this episode. Unlike the housewives trips where there is so much drama, this was like a balm. I loved seeing this beautiful country and I loved Asa’s love fest with the spiritual leaders. I thought Shervin had a great point about being Muslim yet being very open to enjoying Israel vs the way Mike and Reza we’re acting. I also loved Mike’s Shabbot dinner with his family. I have not always been a fan of this bunch but I am really enjoying their trip and that they are behaving for the most part!
just a correction – the wall is considered PART of the Temple Mount, so it is part of the holiest place.
Jews are not allowed to pray in the Temple (or are Christians) – so the Wailing Wall is the holiest place that Jews are allowed to pray.
I found GG telling Reza that while it sucks that most Middle Eastern countries’ governments would stone him together (or set him on fire, or throw him off a building) he should get over it and enjoy them anyway really insensitive. (First of all, as a Persian, it isn’t like he doesn’t celebrate aspects of his culture of origin already)
Again, I find Mike and Reza’s feelings understandable. They could certainly dial back their actual behaviors.
I hope you do get to celebrate Shabbat with someone someday. It can be beautiful.
The Wall is NOT PART OF THE TEMPLE.
So your point of clarifications was bullshit.
The Wall surrounds it, and is part of the original building of the 2nd Temple. The truly holy site is behind it – and again, they are not allowed to pray at that site, so the wall is important. To deny that significance is baffling.
Wow Tamara you sound like a drunk housewife, ” bullshit!”
Also, the Israeli’s fail to acknowledge this is the place where the Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven.
Yeah, they don’t really think Jesus ascended, either. That would be why they’re three different religions. Hey, speaking of three different…why do these people keep saying they’re different than “white people?” Yeah, yeah, I know they mean European, but I have to wonder if they don’t know Persians are white and speak an Indo-European language. Like, the Caucuses are in their homeland. Mike thought he and Jessica were an interracial couple? Ooookkkkk. Inter-ethnic couple, I guess, but there are only three anthropological races. I just find it to be self-serving, as if they’re trying to set themselves apart in a really unnecessary and maybe patronizing (to actual racial minorities) way.
The Wall is NOT PART OF THE TEMPLE.
So your point of clarifications was bullshit.
Why can they not be “mistaken”?
Please….. Is anyone as sick as I am of Asa as being the only pregnant woman in the world? Really. Please get ahold of yourself. This is not the second coming….
Or the 1st or 3rd depending on your perspective… LOL.
What a wonderful episode. Love the term “balm”. It was, ‘cept for the “penis-touch-means-you-are gay” bit.
Really enjoyed the reality of people’s feelings, raw as they might be.
TT, you are correct. Jewish Israel and the US are tight.
Checking my passport; this is a trip I want so badly that I can taste it.
Finally, MJ. Spilling her guts in her lengthy “prayer” was both funny and poignant. But her clothes make me cringe. As does her belief that she wants a child. Not even sure how she plans to cope with THAT reality.
Bravo needs a 2 hour special of the scenery and the buffets. I would be riveted.
I really wish the entire season was the Shahs in Israel.
It would certainly be more eye opening and accepting that the shit going down in the US currently. Which is just heart breaking.
WIsh they has gone to a Kibbutz and worked for a day or so.. Living as those that live there live.
That would have even awesome! My fave shoe maker started off on a kibbutz. Naot shoes are amazing!
This episode got to my heart– which is the thing about this show- the let you into their family life and the struggles the have.
I am a weepy PMS mess. However what Asa did I found absolutely incredible, amazing and such a cool thing for her son. It seriously touched my heart.
The ignorance from the others, not so much. I am jealous Mike has such a large family but found their Seder to be nice.
I did feel a bit poorly for Shervin. He was literally between a wall and a hard place.
You should try to find the episode when Anthony Bourdain went to the wall. He was unmoved but trying to figure out how to be respectful.
I was proud of GG for sitting it out for religious purposes,
I would have prayed, and I am agnostic.
I’m Catholic and am more into my religion since losing my younger (only) brother suddenly. I would have prayed. It certainly can’t hurt, right?
I totally got where GG was coming from and sadly from next weeks previews it seems she was treated in an extremely ugly way.
Religion and praying to me is SO personal that when I watch the Shahs I cringe a bit– only because I fear the backlash.
The Temple Mount is our holiest site…but our access and activity is very limited.
GG needs to know that she is welcome to pray at the wall…but I am NOT able to pray at the Temple Mount…this is why there is prayer at the Kotel (wall) that GG wants to knock down! Someone, please throat punch her!!
Also constantly having a look like you are smelling Shit and wearing army fatigues kind of draws attention to yourself!
Asa may be all peace and love, but I wonder if she confided to the Imam that she us unmarried because that would not go over so well.
When this was filmed, there were a lot of random stabbings going on. I had friends visiting there about the same time and daily warnings were given at the hotels, so I don’t blame Mike and Reza being apprehensive. The way that MJ, GG and the other dingbat behaved was crude as usual and you don’t do that.
Mike’s Shabbat dinner was very touching. Shervins “Shabbat Shalom” was lovely and appropriate.
Seeing Reza wrap tefillin and pray at the Kotel truly touched my heart.
May the memory of Mike’s aunt always be a blessing.
Agreed. Minus the issue regarding Asa not being married. It wouldn’t be smiled upon by the Catholic Church but it is certainly viewed by the Pope’s modernization view as a blessing.
@Meredith: Please understand that I do NOT have a problem with Ada being married or not…but the Imam WOULD.
One of my dearest friends in college was a Jordanian Princess. We had many deep discussions in the middle of the night. Dating out of the faith and especially a child out of wedlock are huge no nos. I lost touch when my friend started dating a guy here…not Muslim…and fell in love. She disappeared for a while. Her father sent a squad here on a private plane to find her and take her back to Jordan.
Make that, ASA….stupid auto correct!
No I totally get it. It wouldn’t be smiled upon on at most Catholic Churches either. That said my husband isn’t Catholic and my parents nor I carefully about not marrying “in the church”. If we wanted children I would have at least been able to have them baptized.
Religions can be… baffling? Odd? Yet comforting. My brother didn’t make his confirmation as a Catholic but had a traditional Catholic mass.
As an aside I just cannot with Reza and the feral cats. Does he want rabies? Scabies? Seeing non domesticated animals makes my heart burn but they aren’t family pets used to being domesticated.
May your brothers memory always be a blessing.
Thank you. That means a lot. We Burundian his cremains on the day he died on 9/30. Not looking forward to it but this site cheers me up!
Ugh burying I should read before I post!!!
would not have been smiled upon by the conservative / hasdic jews either.
My sentiments exactly. However I was distressed at gg. Her comments were very ignorant.she should go back to Iran. If she loves it so much.
I just do not understand why people keep making these types of comments. Telling people to go back where they came from is just unacceptable in my mind. WE are all from somewhere else and have certain loyalties or affiliation with that heritage. We can agree to disagree with her words but she is very much welcome here in America forever
Wow! They get to go on the best trips! I’m glad they all toned down the tacky a bit for the praying wall but I had to laugh at the fact someone had to tell the women to cover their chests. It would seem like common sense for any holy place. I’m glad that Reza has found peace with the inner turmoil he’s felt for so long. Anyone else think that eventually MJ will end up having Reza and Adams baby?
MJ is 45. She’s not having anyone’s baby.
I am an animal lover…feeding the cats does not bother me. When we were in Greece (Athens) there were so many stray dogs. I felt awful for them. Animals have it better in this country than in many others.
I have complicated feelings about the Israeli government…but the country is beautiful.
I wish the this trip to Israel could have lasted 3-4 episodes because this is the stuff I want to see!
I agree with GG when it comes to Reza and Mike’s behavior. I understand the guy’s apprehension but at the same time they were so revved up that they were sending out negative vibes just as GG and Asa said. I think Asa should waited until she was there and do the interviews herself because she would have known how to approach the locals in a non threatening way.
I think if GG has a Israeli tour guide with her that would have helped. When I traveled to Netherlands, France and Spain I had a tour guide who provided valuable historical information and context for what I was seeing.
Great Britain has amazing tour guides, it is a respected profession there. There is a company that does “walking tours” we did several of them, they give you so much information. On our tour of Westminster the guide was a former barrister in Parliament. Really gives an appreciation for their historic country.
Mike and Reza were ridiculous but I know a few people like them who feel that they are still being persecuted and that everyone hates Israel. They are fed propaganda on a daily basis. I don’t blame GG for being angry with them. They were safer there than we are in the states. A few stabbings? This happens in every city on a daily basis in the US
I found GG just a little hypocritical as she had some of the same and in some cases more extreme views prior to the trip She too was concerned about being “killed” and thinking about it overnight (after reading the poster above), camouflage maybe was not the best fashion choice for a visit to the wall. I was a bit put off by her disdain for the “barrier” in front of her.
Since Reza & Mike do not typically interview people, maybe Asa should have rolled back that assignment, she knows them better than anyone.
I’d guess Mike’s mom had something to do with his paranoia….I felt sad for his aunt…really glad he was able to see her before she passed.
TT, I admit to ignorance with a lot. That’s why I’m reading recap and watch, then read again.
Never can learn too much.
I get so overwhelmed by so much information I have to take time to figure out. That’s why you will never see me comment or participate in politics, or religion. I don’t know enough to honestly contribute a view, and despise people who throw out opinions, just to have one.
All I know is you don’t go to the Gaza Strip.
So, today, I’m going to learn something.
Maybe I should add, raised strict Italian Catholic.
Tamara, I appreciate your well informed re-cap. What a breath of fresh air!
I agree, a whole season of them (without Destiney), in Israel, would have been really great.
The acting up, is just too much.
One thing I’m really confused about. Why was Mike so afraid, and he has a huge amount of family there.?
Jerusalem is so pretty. They prayers were very much “I want, I want”. Thanks TT for saying the meaning of prayer.
The only issue with GG is that she is hypocritical. She wants everyone to love Islam and not criticize any aspect of it but she thinks the `wall`is just a `wall`. She is the one being divisive. Yes, Reza and Mike were a little bit revved up (it`s true) but going around with a camera and interviewing random people who (some, I`m sure) do not like Westerners, is not a smart idea. You never know who is watching you and may interpret your behavior as òdd`and want to start some kind of fight with you. GG herself – before going to Israel – was saying how she was so worried she`d be killed by Israelis. For someone who loves Islam so much, why not adhere to the religion or simply go back to Iran. You can`t have your cake and eat it too. And I myself am not religious but I would still participate in the wall prayer just to show my respect to the faith. The burka, by the way, was implemented by men to subjugate women. The Prophet never said women were to be covered head-to-toe. Even God thinks that that is extreme!
So are you some sort of prophet speaking for Allah now?
So would you appreciate someone coming up to your face in your home time asking if your christian and then going further asking, are you Catholic or protestant? Their behavior was stupid and ignorant. Mike was fear mongering. The fool thinks he has blond hair and blue eyes. You idiot, you look Arab they would never think you were Jewish unless you told them.
Muslims are a lot safer in Jewish areas than Jews are in Muslim areas. Israel grants civil rights to Muslims; Iran persecutes Jews. The two cultures treat each other completely differently. I don’t blame Mike and Reza for feeling uncomfortable, but they could have tried to look less alarmed. Going up to people with the camera was a terrible idea–Asa should not have assigned them that.
I think religion is a personal and private relationship. I would feel uncomfortable with a stranger coming up to me asking about my religion. It’s even worse to do so in a country that is not afforded the religious freedom we have here.
Their behavior was stupid and ignorant. Mike was fear mongering. The fool thinks he has blond hair and blue eyes. You idiot, you look Arab they would never think you were Jewish unless you told them. Reza always using him being gay to justify his bad behavior. Mike is clearly a racist with his comments about Asa’s baby, his true color are out.
As a gay Muslim who also comes from a Persian speaking, albeit Afghan, background I was disappointed by Mike and Reza, although I understand the underlying behavior. It’s unfortunate because this show offers a platform for dialogue (yes, I’m talking about Shahs of Sunset) that doesn’t really exist- anywhere- in the world (leave it to Andy Cohen and Bravo). I felt like Mike and Reza were hamming up their Islamaphobia, rightly or wrongly, to the point that- as a Muslim- I found their grandstanding, innuendos and racism so off-putting that it made it really difficult to appreciate the genuine beauty of scenes like Asa, MJ and Destiny praying at the Kotel or Mike’s reunion with his family. If they were trying to sell Israel, they failed horribly. Until seeing this episode, Israel is somewhere I always wanted to travel…My Jewish and Israeli friends have always been so welcoming and so- the opposite of whatever hate-show Mike and Reza were starring in. Oddly enough, Asa, GG, Destiny and Shervin came out looking the most open, tolerant, spiritual and loving. Reza just looked like he was getting punked by that guy at the Wall (lol). And- I would love it if we could share the Temple Mount/ Noble Sanctuary. To me, praying alongside Jews would only enhance and heighten my spiritual experience. SHARE IT!