israeli politics

It has always been more difficult to get a doctorate in Israel than other countries.  Our funding – for libraries, for grants and fellowships that allow full-time studies, the lack of renumeration for professors, etc.  All this makes it harder for studies.  But it happens.

And I really try my best to help out – I’m still doing dissertations with amazing students, most of whom are working full time and raising children at the same time.  Maybe it keeps me on my toes.  Maybe it makes it almost impossible for me to take vacations.  And I don’t get paid.  But I do get them through.   And once I get this batch through, I’m giving up.

dissertations – august 8, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics

Try whatever you can to enjoy the last few months of this country.  The beach, beer, neutral conversation.  Smotrich. No. Ben Gvir.  No.  Bibi.  No.  Grandchildren.  Pets.  The sea.   Carravagio.  The university.  The financial troubles.  The end of academia…

And the sea was crazy – We walked in, gave up after the third wave, and walked out for another beer.

beach, no politics – aug 8, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics

I don’t remember when I was last on a train, but it must have been before Covid.  Now that I have spend the evening going back and forth to Rehovot, I have earned my miles.  First off, there is no charge for old ladies, and second the ride is clean, comfortable, polite and not painful in any way.   

But I would much have preferred staying in bed.

 

train – august 7, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics

A few things directed my gut to tell me to stay home last night.  One was Ezi’s sleeping for hours and hours all afternoon and evening, and one was my own bloodpressure. And I had a feeling that this wasn’t going to be a fun and games evening that would make me feel hopeful.  So I happily joined my poetry workshop instead.  And then there was a terrorist shooting near where my son hangs out and I wasn’t sure he wasn’t there. And the demonstration – although crowded – was reserved and quiet in memory of the man who had been killed.  And when I finally got to sleep I dreamt that had I gone I would have been maced like my daughter had been a few weeks ago. 

It was all about my gut, not the politics, which only change in intensity from week to week.

 

gut feelings – august 6, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics

Thinking that our kids deserve a day off from our grandchildren, we invited some of them over for the sabbath.  Then we invited the others for lunch.  Then I noticed Ezi nodding off.  How can we go to a demonstration when we’ve only had four hours of sleep?  One thing I’m sure of – I need a break. A sabbath.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

sabbath for parents – Read Post »

israeli politics

this is Shimon Peres’ granddaughter.  Her Hebrew talk is followed by an English one.  It scares me but maybe we should go low when they go low.  Anyway, it’s here:

The point is it is very hard to fight clean when the opponent fights dirty.  Peres always fought clean, even though there were all kinds of stories about him.  When I think of some of the dirty tricks that have been played by the opposition, it seems that Bibi has not only been the master, but he has also surrounded himself with dirty players.  And we have been so gentle…

 

tough talk Read Post »

israeli politics

We spent the morning giving things away – clothes to wizo, glasses to an optician who distributes to disabled, tableware to a public nursery, etc. etc.  The afternoon went on IAWE organization.  And all that time Ezi was busy fixing things in the house.  I don’t thing there has ever been a repairman in my house, and now that Ezi is on the housing committee everything in the building gets fixed for free.  The pleasure he gets in helping others and helping himself is contagious.  

And then I remembered how we used to make packages for Israel when I was growing up in the US – clothes, canned food, shoes, bags.  Sometimes new, sometimes old.  Our relatives depended on those packages.  

And we felt that we were contributing something important to the world.

 

 

 

 

giving away – august 3, 2023 Read Post »