The other night we had some amazing fish at Pappa’s. What’s Moosar in English? Whaever it is it was with white wine, capers, mashed potatoes and it was extraordinary. i like to drink it with Perroni and follow it with fresh strawberries and yoghurt. And while I’m on the subject of food, stuffed fruit at Suzanna’s in Neve Zedek, anything at Assif’s.
Pollard now. no comments.
We were driving home this afternoon from a wedding in Jerusalem – a wedding that made me feel particularly good about the world – when Ezi called to tell me about the terrible bus accident on the Eilat road. Dozens dead, dozens wounded. The worst accident ever in Israel. There was the sudden feeling of claustrophobia – how do i get out of this car – how can I get to the hospital in Eilat to help – But of course, who am I and what can I do? But I found it amazing that rescuers and doctors from all over made their way to the site of the accident and the small hospital to help. Doctors on vacation in Eilat, professionals in the field of rescue, numerous people who could actually do something to ease the situation made the effort to help.
And now we’re going to have a rain of rockets from Hamas in response to the killing in Jenin. This is not a great week. Madoff’s fraud has caused the closing of all kinds of charities in Israel, charities that were very much needed. That lovely wedding I was privileged to attend was the only positive direction today.
The best show in town tonight: the municipality meeting in Tel Aviv. The council meets in the round on the stage of the Einav Center, and above and around it is the cheering jeering audience. It was like the colliseum, and the crowds want most of the gladiators dead. When Dov Hanin walked in, applause broke out. When Yael Dayan was nominated to lead the meeting, boos filled the room. Okay, the peanut gallery was packed with Hanin kids, but the lack of trust in government was palpable, the feeling that the leadership can’t be trusted in any way.
At least it rained today. It was only for a few minutes, but it reminded us what the weather is usually like around here. Tomorrow is traditionally the day our building turns on the heat, and I’m always the one pushing for it, and everyone else try to put off the date a bit, but there’s no argument this year. It’s still balmy.
December 13, 2008
This video of Beit Leyvick is very informative of the Yiddish scene in Tel Aviv. I’m doing something myself there next Saturday.
But tonight I’m going to try again to see Waltz with Bashir.
SPOILER: Now I understand why Sharon Moldavi called me when he saw the pre-viewing of Waltz with Bashir and told me to run and see it. Early in the movie the animated protagonist asks his friend if he can draw him and his son playing in the snow. “As long as you don’t film it,” he answers. At the end, the widows and orphans of Sabra and Shatillah, real and not animated for the first time in the narrative, run towards the camera and an old lady shouts in Arabic, “FILM THIS!” This is a film that had to be made, a film that has to be shown, and one I really had to see.
Being in the Lev theater in Dizengoff reminded me of an earlier time we were there, in 2002, when a fire put me into a state of paralysis here. I was so wired that I was sure we were about to blow up, but it was only a fire in the mattress store. A little trauma can go a long way.
I promised myself I would not write too much about the economy here, or the rockets, or the threats of extinction, unless I have something interesting to say. But today, because Shusha had to have an operation, and the vet’s office is right next to the mall, I found myself once again wandering the shops of the local mall.
And it was crowded. That’s all I noticed at first. Then, after I waited in line to buy some socks behind some little girl who bought a toy guitar in a thick Arabic accent, and I said something to her mother which brought no response, I remembered it is Eid el Adha. “Mother, come here,” i heard a little boy call, half in Hebrew and half in Arabic. And the mother, who was on the phone, ended her conversation with “yalla, bye,” which is the usual Hebrew corruption of Arabic-English farewells. The holiday atmosphere was palpable, but such an interesting twist! I don’t remember ever feeling a sense of a Muslim celebration on the streets.
Shusha, by the way, is fine, Just had a few growths removed.
Let’s see, I promised you Tel Aviv. Everyone was eating out today. When we went into a tiny restaurant on Lillienblum named Assif, there were some good friends – friends with good taste I might add – with the family – babies and all. We got a table in the opposite corner of the ‘balcony’ and were seperated by a table of five people with four dogs. The five of us ordered completely different things – I was still into breakfast and everyone else was into lunch. But it was all interesting, and very cool. We watched a photo session across the street, a few dialogues between cats and enthusiastic people, and many interesting diners.
Now I hope we’re finally going to see Waltz with Bashir. We may be the last people in Tel Aviv to see it.
later that day
They were out of tickets – and we ran up and down the stairs at Dizengoff Center looking for books (there are at least 3 book stores there) and then DVDs and then coffee. It’s a confusing place, with many levels and few attractions.
Do me a favor. Check out these poems about the Galapagos and tell me what you think.
http://www.karenalkalay-gut.com/galapagospoems.htm
Really
I’ve finally started putting my readings online again. Of course it’s just the skeleton, but you might want to check out the readings link. here: Http://www.karenalkalay-gut.com/readings.html There will probably be some in the US late January.
The kassams are back up to their usual number – somewhere around 10 a day. Everyone says it is unacceptable but I kind of like Haim Rimon’s responses – forceful reactions to each kassam. Except the thought of the Gazans getting hurt stops me. How do you prevent one citizenry from getting hurt without hurting the other? I don’t see an option.
Last night everyone was talking about the farmers market at the port on Friday mornings. “You have to get there early,” Carol said, “before the crowds. And they have the best vegetables! I just drive over to Reading, park, cross the pedestrian bridge, and then in five minutes I’m there. I buy my vegetables and I’m out of there within an hour.” My family all chimed in and agreed. Yes. Early. Gets you to kick-start the morning!
So at eight this morning, I turned over in bed with a special glee, thinking about all my friends who would meet at the market and shlep their vegetables to the car. It made my morning nap so much richer.
And then Tami called telling me about the lecture about Israeli movies in Cinemateque she was going to. For a second I considered going too. Then I turned over again.
I can’t avoid the previous committments, the dinners, the lunches, the physiotherapy, the papers I’m still correcting, but otherwise I’m taking the weekend off.
Anyway I did enough for one day. While reading Haaretz, I discovered that I had given my opinion on Tel Aviv Horses.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1043836.html
I read the article and agreed with myself. Then I went out to leave water for some of the feral cats outside. It is so hot and dry outside the animals are parched.
