israeli politics

The Tel Gezer archeological site is in all probability the most important place I’ve ever visited.  Even though it’s a mess archeologically because it was dug up in a disorganized years ago, there’s no funding to unravel the mess, and UNESCO and Israel parted ways a few years ago – it’s hands down the most interesting site I’ve seen.  I first heard of Gezer where I saw a plinth in the Cairo Museum at least 3000 years ago that Gezer had been conquered and the entire Israeli seed destroyed.  And it is an enormous, well-fortified site.   You have to see it!!! But you have to know exactly what to look for, and it is not for the faint-hipped.   Lots of climbing and ruins that don’t mean much if you don’t have an archeologist along to explain them.  We’ve seen other sites like this – Megiddo, for example – but nothing matches Tel Gezer in size and complexity.   Start looking for it on Wikipedia here

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october 5, 2021 – Tel gezer archeological site Read Post »

israeli politics

For me, it started in 1962 – the French teacher at the university was so charming I decided to stay in the class even though he was speaking French and I was in the wrong room.  He told a story – about how in his year in Paris he went to the post office every day to send a letter home to the US and stood in love and bought a stamp and put the letter in the slot next to the clerk.  There was a stamp machine outside the post office but no one ever used it.  “Why?” he asked one day, and the people in line all answered, “Because if we start using the machine, one day it will break down, and we’ll be so used to it we won’t know what to do.”  

Addiction.  I’ve always tried to avoid it, even though I write in these pages every day and seem to like my nightly pills a little too much…  I try to stay away from relying on any one machine – and now it’s turned out to be the right thing to do….

 

october 4, 2021 – never rely on machines Read Post »

israeli politics

I don’t know why today was so tough for me.  I think it was because I am afraid of going back on the Israel trail tomorrow.  The long fast walks are really too much for me today.  It’s my bloody anniversary, and we have not had a minute to ourselves yet.  And tonight is a grandson’s birthday, and I have to make sandwiches for tomorrow.   I may just stay home and watch travelogues on tv…

 

 

october 4, 2021 – israel trail Read Post »

israeli politics

We had a tiny bit of rain today, maybe to remind us that outdoor events may become iffy in the near future.  This may become a problem for us – we’ve been spending most of our social time outside since March.  But of course we have to be reminded of rain just from the week’s bible reading about Noah’s ark.  And maybe someday we’ll be visiting the real Ark in Turkey.  The Jerusalem Post has an article about the discovery of the real ark today – click here.

 

 

october 3, 2021 – noah and the flood Read Post »

israeli politics

a quick trip to the museum.  So much to see! Unfortunately, I suddenly realized in the middle that I’ve developed a UTI from my sea-bathing and have to give up on the goodies at the museum and have to go home.  The UTI bothered me less than missing all the excitement of the exciting art and the exciting situation. 

i mean just seeing those little girls in love with the dancer, just thinking that Gustav Klimt’s painting is not allowed to cross the line, just seeing myself inside a work of art … These are not the usual experiences of a museum, but we were both starved for the interaction.

october 2, 2021 – museum Read Post »

israeli politics

I think I’ve been silent on Iron Dome too long.  Maybe I’ve mentioned the many times it saved my life. Maybe I’ve told you about the times I’ve seen rockets diverted from very populated places and about the big surprises that always await us.  As much as my heart is with the people of Gaza I don’t think that rockets are a good way to talk and show us that they are good neighbors.  It is difficult to counter the arguments that their satisfaction can only come with our total destruction.

october 1, 2021 – iron dome Read Post »