invitation – april 1 – erica jong Read Post »
israeli politics
“Thanks for your participation in this session,” the host says to the hundreds of zoom guests, “Now we will take a short break – to see what’s happening with the elections….Not that anyone cares.”
It was a great session – the poetry of Sharon Olds and wonderful translations into Hebrew. But I took one last look at the participants and wished they had as much sensitivity to their lives as they have to the poetry. Even if it isn’t going to make a difference – you have to try,
march 21, 2021 – poetry festival and elections Read Post »
blog, my life in tel aviv
What a surprise! For her birthday Rachel Talmi took a few of her friends to the Shalom Asch House in Bat Yam. I have long looked for this house, but it was always closed when I looked for it. Its significance is clear, as Shira Turnov explained years ago, but its accessibility eluded me. This is unlike Asch himself who wrote novels that were not only accessible but incredibly absorbing. They were not part of my parents’ library – their antiestablishment nature, their depiction of Jews as human beings as opposed to shtetl stereotypes, was a bit too daring for them, I suppose. But somehow I got to him anyway. And just before the first lockdown, I saw two of his plays. Scandalous. Wonderful.
Anyway his house was full of all kinds of fascinating things – paintings by great artists, letters from famous people, furniture, and artifacts of great depth. And a writing desk that simply inspires one to create.
Of course there are a few problems with visiting right now – it’s open for a few hours a week and the parking may be a problem. But you can call first.
march 21 – the Shalom Asch house Read Post »
blog, my life in tel aviv
I know I’m way behind, but we have been incredibly careful about meeting with friends – to the point that we almost have lost the ability to make connections with people. Every meeting now with friends is a big deal – we learn so much – the ways our friends have been entertaining and educating themselves – no one says much on zoom, and we don’t really chat on the phone. It’s like we’ve forgotten all that sharing – but we seem to be beginning to exchange information again. Today one friend reminded me that her daughter has a wine-tasting company that sends you different wines. Another friend has flight tickets for next week. But most people believe that as soon as the election is over, we’ll go back into shut down, and everything will be back in the nightmare.
march 20, 2021 – brunch Read Post »
israeli politics
I really wanted to go to sleep and not write tonight – it’s been a long day – but then when I tried to shut my eyes the nightmare came up: Bibi is going to win with the help of a lot of extreme parties, even though he only has 49% of the popular vote. In part, this is true because people don’t trust the capabilities of the alternative – Yair Lapid – and in part because the left and center haven’t been able to get together in any way and a lot of votes will be wasted. Also – because many of the people who don’t believe in Bibi don’t believe in the system at all anymore and they’re not going to vote. Then there’s the fact of the imported vote: The extreme religious parties have been bringing in people just for the purpose of voting, but my Israeli friends abroad would not think of voting if they don’t live here
The part that scares me is that our enemy is very close to a nuclear weapon that will be used against us.
But then I’ve been in more than four wars and I think that’s enough. I’m ready to hide under the iron table we had in London during the Blitz. My brother used to pull me under the table whenever there was a loud noise. It’s one thing I don’t want to have to live through.
israeli politics
Do you know who you’re going to vote for? Do you know who you would vote for if you could vote? All my conversations with friends end up with uncertainties. I say I’ve always voted ‘labor’. But I want to make sure my vote is in the right place to displace Bibi. I’m pretty sure we would not be in the same place with Iran as we are today if he had not been strutting around lecturing to the world. Our negotiations should have been silent and strategic, not boastful and narcissistic.
The associates of the PM have to go because they are as corrupt as their leader.
The nation-state law is another source of shame for me.
And the handling of the virus – don’t ask.
But who? Who can lead the country?
As far as I’m concerned it’s got to be a shared effort, and not an ego-trip – but my experience tells me that it will never work. So I’m back to square 1.
march 18, 2021 – elections Read Post »
blog, my life in tel aviv
Everywhere in tel aviv tonight the cafés were open and crowded. There were a few masks here and there, but I felt like a dinosaur in my hospital mask. We just rushed past the happy people on the streets, hoping to get by without catching something, hoping someday we’ll be able to join them.
Not that we were not celebrating. We’ve been gradually moving out of our shell for weeks – a bit reluctantly – wishing we’d finished some of the projects we’ve promised ourselves to complete. A few more weeks of cleaning, of writing, and we’ll be set…
or is it only me who feel guilty that i’ve wasted a year.
march 17, 2021 – tel aviv cafes today Read Post »