blog, my life in tel aviv

so I have these little grandchildren who are in quarantine even though they’ve tested negative for covid-19, and their parents are working overtime and going mad so they connect every chance they get, and I miss them, but I’ve got all these doctorates to review and I injured my toes again on the Israel trail yesterday and I’ll never get my Egypt book out on time for Passover because I messed up all the photographs and all the other usual corona complaints and then I get this phone call that puts everything back into proportion.

A woman tells me she’s from the municipality and am I okay – do I have people to do my shopping, and take care of me, am I in need of help with taking a walk or getting some air…

I suddenly realize I’m in such an amazing place because I’m worrying about stuff that is much less relevant for a person in my situation.  Hell, I’m fine!

But I really want to tell people about Egypt and all the connections with Judaism I had there just before the lockdown.  I really want to show pictures of Rambam’s synagogue in Cairo.  I really want people to know they feel a connection to Moses there…

Never mind.  There’s always tomorrow.  And I’m fine.  Really.

march 10, 2021 – so…today Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv

again and again the same conversation:  “I want to vote for  — but on the other hand i don’t want meretz to be erased, and I don’t want Gantz to disappear, and … ”  In other words the system is such that we cannot vote for the person we want –  we’re always voting for a system that we hate.   The old idea of two Jews three opinions has become 2 Jews 30 opinions.

march 10, 2021 – public footprint Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv

Why was I surprised when Toi told a story of house-hunting so she could buy a house near where she worked?  She would go alone because she was lightskinned and could pass for white, and her husband would appear just before signing the sale.  Why was I surprised in those days when just before that we ourselves seemed to have problems as Jews getting accepted in something of normal society?  

it was my sixth grade class when the recognition was the most extreme.  In a class of about 30 children there were four jews.  Miss Faye was certain never to call on us.  Perhaps she didn’t even see us because we had been placed in the back corner of the room.     For the final play of the year we were given a dance to do in the back of the stage.   The year after – in 7th  grade – we took over the stage, the class, enjoying every moment of free expression.  Mr. Cruikshank saved our lives.

But I digress.  When my younget neice married a dark man we were not surprised, since she had been brought up with an adopted sister of color, and perhaps she knew that her cousins and aunt saw nothing unusual in her choice.  

march 9, 2021 Toi Derricotte and women or color Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv

The Israel Trail.  Yes.  I’m too old for this.  Yes.  If I Can manage this I’m in pretty good shape.  

Yes, I learn a lot about the archeology of Israel.

As a teacher, our tripper is very knowledgeable and transmits the complex history and the intense botany with great clarity.  

But my goodness he walks fast.  For four years we’ve been following him, 10 kilometers every 2 weeks, and I still can’t get used to the race to the finish.

Today we walked from Harsuf to Apollonia, an amazing trail especially at this time of year, when the weather is perfect and the verdure is at its peak.  Our emphasis is always on archeology and today our attention was split between the flowers and the crusader wars.  

But we have a schedule – places to get to, a trail to complete… in short, I’m exhausted.

But the amazing part now is that we’re visiting places not far from where we live – places we know, and never knew about!

march 9, 2021 – the Israel trail Read Post »

israeli politics

i had spent the day talking with friends about plans for vacations, air b&bs, dinners we’ve had and will have, and all that kind of stuff.  But towards evening I had a zoom with Toi Derricote and Alicia Ostriker talking about their lives and expressing real emotion.   I’m too overwhelmed to process this right now.


march 8, 2021 – Toi and alicia Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv, poetry, ,

restaurants – finally eating food not from my kitchen! cafes – crazy, a place to meet! schools – kids no longer wasting their minds! flights – beginning again!  all very wonderful!  But because Ezi’s getting treatment so his lymphoma doesn’t come back, he’s failed his serology test and has to stay protected.  he’s staying away from others, and I’m careful not to transfer anything to him.  And yet, we zoom to be doing fine.  I’m even seeing some friends for lunch tomorrow, very carefully, and introducing my wonderful friends, Toi Derricote and Alicia Ostriker, at a zoom meeting in the afternoon.  Want to come? Here’s the zoom: “We Feel Now a Largeness Coming”:
Black Women Poets in America. I’m pretty excited about this and hope you are too. 

 

march 7, 2021 – we’re opening up – but not for me Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv, poetry, ,

i was sure it would be out for Passover, and I’d be able to send the mobi file to friends for the fun of comparing the stories of Passover with the reality of Egypt and the slaves and the Jews.  I spent at least 2 days editing it so the pictures align with the text.  but this afternoon I was informed that it all came out a mess and I have to start over and a kindle book would be impossible.  it’s such a fun book and to me so enlightening I’m really broken-hearted.  And I have a ton of paperwork from the IAWE to take care of before I leave.  But never mind – I’ll give you a poem in advance:

 

 

Footstool

 

See how each slave is unique –

But Sudanese, Philistinian, or Jew

they’re all tied in one unyielding queue

and you know they’ve been brought

from all over the world,

together on one footstool

under the heel of the Pharaoh

who will never let

these people go

a poem in advance:

 

march 7, 2021 – Egypt: an israelite returns, editing Read Post »

israeli politics

What a wonderful morning we had as we wandered through the Land of Israel Museum.  Not only was there a superb exhibit -(not crowded because so many people had already it before the lockdown and the numbers were regulated).  This glass-blown Harley blew me away. 

We also had a walk through the grounds

It has been years since we’ve visited the olive presses, and it was just very pretty walking through the many paths. 

We even had a chance to buy a little gift for a friend in the museum store, and to get some tasty food at the restaurant to sit outside and devour.  But there was something in the salad that I must have been allergic to because I’ve been really ill all afternoon and evening.  And that is why you haven’t heard from me all day.

march 6, 2021 – take-away? Read Post »