Okay, so maybe Israelis haven't quite gotten down the concept of “line” as we Westerners understand it, and maybe they speak at a decibel level far above what the human ear can tolerate – at a mile (sorry, kilometer!) - a minute. But they have their good points: As a group, Israelis are very honest.

 

 

It doesn't cost anything to sign up at Ebood, and when you do, you can post items you've found, or look at details of items others are trying to return (note that Hebrew is predominant on the site, although basic information about each item is in both Hebrew and English). In only six months, finders have listed almost 1,000 items of all kinds: cell phones, books, cameras, keys – all the usual stuff that people lose, plus some unusual items, like in the category called “bags full of stuff,” which could entail anything from luggage to groceries to spray paint (!). Although, to be fair, the finder said he found it right after Purim.

 

And then there's money: People on Ebood seek to return not just photos with sentimental value, but cold, hard cash. Lots of it, like one ad that lists NIS 2000, another that offers $500, and several with undisclosed sums. Each ad lists the general area where the item was found, and each finder sets the criteria for proof of ownership, with many asking for “simanim,” or unique identifiable signs known only to the true owner.

 

Ebood is new, but judging from the popularity of the site, it's likely to grow as word gets out. After all, there is a huge backlog of items waiting to go home. Like this one: “Found at the Kotel, about 10 years ago, possibly on Jerusalem Day, medium size purple sweatshirt. Will be happy to return it to its owner and/or descendants.” Israelis may not get lines right, but they do know what's right.