“This is crazy!” I say to Ezi. “It’s the middle of June and my hip feels like rain.”
And sure enough, the skies opened up and thunder and lightning began. “JUNE!”
Tell me about climate change/ Tell me about the uncertainties in the world – politics, fashion, crime. I went to the men’s department at Zara and couldn’t believe it was for men. Lots of clothes for me, but none for Ezi. I’m not even sure Bibi will be going to jail.
rain – June 13, 2023 Read Post »
the concept of poetry that is incipient in all things in and of themselves, is the basis of this book. And our task as poets is just to listen to our projections….
In any case, this book came out today from Ekked Press, a press I left long ago but was persuaded to return to because of the enthusiasm of the editor and president, Shilhav Kest. And I must admit that her enthusiasm is contagious. I hope you enjoy it in Hebrew or in its previous incarnation, in English on Amazon.
שירים תלוים – hanging Around the House Read Post »
I don’t know whether I mentioned this but the other night there were 6 shots fired on the corner here. 102 people murdered so far this year. Gang wars, family honor, lack of control, and a need for leadership. It would be so easy to turn this situation around with the proper management and I have a feeling it can happen.
shots – june 11, 2023 Read Post »
Everybody chooses June for celebrations – weddings, bar-mitzvahs, graduations, final plays, world cup, etc. And of course, there is no time or money to buy the appropriate clothes. I don’t know when my head is where most of the time. The header of this entry though came to me from a tv commercial in the 50’s for jello pudding where the housewife is running around with her chores and the (male) announcer chants “busy day, busy day, busy busy busy day – busy work busy play – busy busy busy day.” How times have changed where these tasks are tangential and what we spend our time on is so much more socially and politically oriented. I think we in Israel spend more time on family and friend relations than anything else. I do my shopping online and leave the house to go to seed, but I couldn’t miss a production of “Annie” by the Orna Porat Drama School with Tamar in it, or watch Omer’s end-of-season film. Gotta find him some clothes for the bar mitzvah first.
busy day busy day – june 11, 2023 Read Post »
Full speech of Hungarian protest leader Katalin Törley speaking at the protest in Modiin tonight:
Good evening Modiin! Erev Tov Modiin!
My name is Katalin Törley, I am a teacher. It is wonderful to be here and see you all!
I came to you from a great country to a beatiful country, so how come these countries are still unhappy?
Visitors to Budapest see a quiet and peaceful, cheerful city. The outside observers do not think that there is poverty and dictatorship in Hungary, because they do not see the countryside regions falling apart, and because there is generally no violence on the streets. But dictatorship does not reside only in weapons.
You shout “if there is no democracy, there is no health”, and our public health system in Hungary has collapsed – we have to wait months even for the simplest test, and those who want treatment turn to private providers. Pay or die.
Do not let that happen to you!!!
You shout, “if there is no democracy, there is no academy”, academic freedom has been abolished in Hungary, and the European Union no longer gives scholarships to universities, because our universities have been subordinated to the politicians.
Do not let that happen to you !!!
Almost one million of the 10 million Hungarians left Hungary. Many grandparents only see their grandchildren on a screen.
Orbán’s relatives and friends win government tenders, and food prices have increased by more than 40 percent in the past year.
Do not let that happen to you !!!
Being homeless is a crime, and women seeking abortions are forced to listen to their fetus’s heartbeat before making the decision. Tear gas is fired at protesting students, protesting teachers are intimidated and fired, while the teacher shortage is staggering. They modify all the time the laws and the constitution according to their own financial and power interests.
Do not let that happen to you !!!
You shout “if there is no democracy, there is no education”. In Hungary, public education is destroyed, we teach the same curriculum from one single textbook. The government abolished teacher autonomy and school democracy, and maintains school segregation. There is no peaceful coexistence without inclusive education! And I shout “if there is no free education, there is no democracy”!
Do not let that happen to you !!!
I have been participating as an activist in the protests for more than seven years, and the situation is getting worse, more hopeless. It’s a fair question to ask why I haven’t given up yet. My answer is simple: for me, protesting and standing up for my professional and human dignity is a moral issue. If I stopped, I wouldn’t be able to look in the mirror and my children’s eyes, and after losing my job, I would have to leave my country as well. No way!
You should not only look at the immediate results, and not only at your goals. The most important thing is to maintain self dignity and pride and to set an exemple.
I am here to strengthen you protestors. Because your personal stand is the only thing that can protect you from abusive power. If you persevere and don’t give up! If you remain united and in solidarity!
In Hungary, every sector demonstrated alone: when laws were passed against doctors, doctors protested, when against teachers, only teachers demonstrated for a long time. But now the students and many parents are with us!
Here I see many colors together: I see you protesting together with red, blue, green and many other t-shirts. Keep it up – solidarity is your strength. Don’t let the power turn you against each other!
We all deserve to live in a happier, free, democratic country, to leave a happier, free, democratic country to our children. Because their future is at stake!
And because you have no other land.
Ein Lachem Eretz Acheret!!!
Beersheva on a Saturday afternoon is like a ghost town in Death Valley. “Where can we have coffee?” we asked the museum guard. “It’s Beersheva,” he said, his hand buried in the biting embrace of a tiger cat. “It’s Shabbat. There’s Nothing.” Eventually, he admitted that there was an ice cream shop not too far away – the famous Glida Beer-Sheva – but he was looking as if he needed coffee to answer me at all.
All this is to explain why I was so surprised to encounter the power of Anat Propper Goldenberg’s exhibit. The transformations and incorporations of identity woke me up immediately –
Anat Propper Goldenberg – June 10, 2023 Read Post »
If you’re going to Hebrew Book Week, save the 19th at 8 for the signing of the hebrew version of my book. (Booth 99 in Sarona)
The English version (and they’re different) came out a few years ago during covid and I never celebrated it, so it’s about time I do it now. If you’d prefer the English version ( only some of the poems are completely different), let me know and I’ll bring along “Hanging Around the House.” I love them both, but differently.
save the Date: June 9, 2023 Read Post »
what a choice! Gay pride parade or World Cup – Israel against Uruguay!
And we chose World Cup and Israel lost. I was sure that with three religions on our side, we would have an amazing chance. But it looked to me like we didn’t know how to play on grass.
Never mind, we didn’t play at our best, but we made it to the finals and maybe we’ll make it to third place. What brings me to the game is the fact that our players are Jewish, Arab, and Bedouin and all worked together.
what a night! june 8, 2023 Read Post »
