Tel Aviv Diary: Karen Alkalay-Gut

I can see that everyone here is using these 10 days for purification. Old friends who disappeared years ago have suddenly turned up – long-lost relatives are inviting us for coffee – charities i haven’t heard from for months are running after us for donations – and conversations seem to be much more profound than usual. Today I found myself sitting with a perfect stranger, both of waiting for our mutual acquaintance to arrive, and heard the problem of trusting an other after a painful divorce. I shared my own history with him, all the time wondering at the situation. An hour later, at a business meeting, someone whispered to me as I was leaving, “I’ve always admired the way you lead your life.” It blew me over. We’d never had any personal conversation in a long acquaintance. I think I attribute the intimacy to the need for reflection. My own conversations seem to be more profound, with a sense of hovering finality.