blog, israeli politics, my life in tel aviv

time to consider values.  the fact that we have ‘overbought’ and have vaccinations to spare means that we can give some away.  But to make the giving conditional on political concessions is somewhat questionable to me,  morally.  Diplomatic decisions – not clinical ones.

and who decides?  the government? the prime minister?  

and who decides who deserves vaccines?  our neighbors?  

Precisely because of the reversal of values characteristic of Purim, I wrote this poem It is connected to my fear of the decisions we make in the inebriation of success. 

february 24, 2021 – another thought on purim Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv,

from the alexander river to netanya

Things didn’t go as usual for us on the trail.  It was a great trail, as usual.  It was much harder than promised, as usual.  But our mix-up made it harder.  Because we spent a whole morning cleaning the tar from the shoes we wore to the beach last wednesday, we really didn’t feel like ruining another pair of shoes on the beach walk.   The oil spill was only announced on Thursday, but it has been repeated over and over on the news that the entire coast is polluted from an oil spill.   So when Rami posted that we’ll be walking along the beach but it was clean, we  didn’t believe him, and we found the oldest possible shoes, with as few ridges as possible.  Mine were summer sneakers, Ezi’s were old worn-out dress shoes.  

But the beaches were totally clean.  Alexander River kissed the sea.  

and the boulders along the shore kissed each other

But we had no traction.  I was slipping and sliding when we left the beach – especially because, as it turned out, my shoes and my socks were full of sand.  Ezi slipped going down a hill and turned his ankle.  

We should have believed our guide.

and then we raced home so I could do a zoom with the IAWE.

 

 

 

february 23, 2021 – israel trail Read Post »

israeli politics, my life in tel aviv

This is a shamefaced confession.  We have elections in less than a month  and it should be a no-brainer for me. I’ve always voted Labor.  I believe in their ideology.  And Benny Ganz is considered such a loser that 150 Generals today asked him to take himself off the ballot because he won’t get enough votes to get into parliament.    But yesterday when someone asked me who I wanted most in the government I found myself saying his name.  The courage he showed by joining the government against all advice because he wanted to influence the decisions in the past year has proven effective.  He has forced a measure of honesty and answerability it has not known in ages.  A gadfly of the highest order, he took time to find his voice – but voice he found.  And I’m proud of him.  Doesn’t anyone else believe this?

february 22, 2021 – Benny ganz Read Post »

blog, israeli politics, my life in tel aviv,

Since almost everything opened yesterday, I have been scared to leave the house.  It seems like a no-brainer that everyone mixing together is going to create a wave – one like we have experienced numerous times in the past year.  

and tomorrow we’re going on the Israel Trail – mostly along the polluted beach.  I’m still recovering from our last visit to the beach.  It was just the beginning of the oil spill and the tar along the coast.  We don’t seem to be talking about the identity of the ship that perpetrated the crime because we are trying to make peace with our neighbors, but we’re really in trouble because we’re not containing the spill.  We’re just mopping up.  What’s more important? Turtles or peace?

 

february 22, 2021 – which masks for purim? Read Post »

israeli politics, ,

It’s been bothering me for years – the way Bibi has treated the democratic party for years.  As a fervent democrat (I went all the way with Adlai in 1952) my issue may initially have been swayed by party loyalty, but every time Netanyahu spit in the face of the democrat presidents I want to throw up. 

The past week was the worst.  After Biden made it clear by waiting a month to call Bibi (even though his government officials had been in conversations with Ganz and other officials from months), clearly hoping it would affect Bibi’s ability to manipulate their connection for the coming elections,  Bibi is trying to make book on this phone call.  One thing I’m sure of, Biden won’t consult with Bibi on the Iran deal.

 

february 20, 2021 – biden’s phone call to bibi Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv,

Instead of going out to nature today we wound up cleaning up the tar from our shoes from our walk a couple of days ago.  Even though Ezi took the cleaning outside, the whole house smells of kerosene.  And the situation has gotten worse 

The whole coast from the northern border down to Ashkelon is full of tar.  Friends who are more active than we feel today have gone to the shore to help clean up, and some even volunteer to spot creatures wounded by the tar – turtle eggs for example.  The cause of the tar is probably dumping some ship from the north, but whatever it is, it is deadly to the plant, fish, amphibian and animal life here.  We’re under siege.

later: it seems that this tar comes from a ship that got flipped in the storm.  That may mean the leak will go on for a while causing even more damage to the environment, and apparently, to the health of those who are trying to clean it up. 

february 20, 2021 – tar Read Post »

israeli politics, ,

Last night, as the children picked tomatoes from our window sill in the middle of the storm, I was amazed by the power of this rain that was still much diminished from the night before.  And then, this morning, when I opened the window, and saw that still more tomatoes had ripened, this poem would not leave my mind.

There came a wind like a bugle
by
Emily Dickinson


Next
 

There came a wind like a bugle;
It quivered through the grass,
And a green chill upon the heat
So ominous did pass
We barred the windows and the doors
As from an emerald ghost;
The doom’s electric moccasin
That very instant passed.
On a strange mob of panting trees,
And fences fled away,
And rivers where the houses ran
Those looked that lived—that Day—
The bell within the steeple wild
The flying tidings whirled.
How much can come
And much can go,
And yet abide the world!

february 20, 2021 – Emily dickinson in tel aviv Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv

how we remain human under more and more restrictions?  We can’t imagine evgrandchildren be able to renewt erything is supposed to change on sunday when so many places open up.  Will all the lonely people in the country find partners after a year of being alone?  Will all the grandchildren be able to renew their ties with their old grandparents who have been keeping themselves safe and apart?  

one of my strange comparisons – that comes unwillingly but inevitably – has been with my parents’ successful negotiations during the war.  who am i to complain when they spent 6 years in semi=hiding, trying to get out of Danzig before the Germans conquered Poland? 

so we spent an afternoon and evening with children and grandchildren, going through our fears and relief, and forgetting to be very careful – pretending – for the moment – all is well.

february 19, 2021 – pretending it’s over Read Post »