israeli politics

For those of you who just joined us, this is a totally spontaneous journal started over 22 years ago about Tel Aviv and me.  Sometimes I write nonsense, but I wouldn’t know because I don’t read it.  It’s too scary.  I mean I began it because there were suicide bombers all over Tel Aviv and I would sit in my son’s cafe as if I could protect him.  I thought my friends abroad would want to know I’m okay so I began to check in every day.

But only tonight I realized that even though we’ve been demonstrating for 39 weeks, I may never have explained why and how we demonstrate.  Let’s begin with the elections.  We didn’t know what hit us when Bibi managed to form a coalition by cobbling together the extreme right and extreme religious parties, some of whom don’t even believe in the existence of a Jewish State and have managed to live off our tax money for ages. And while our children are drafted into the army at the age of 18, theirs are already married with children and not working… 

See, I ramble.  I’ve got a grandson in the army and it grabs my attention sometimes.

So the first thing the government did once it got in was to start changing the laws, limiting the courts, making themselves invincible.  So within a week there were hundreds of thousands of people on the streets.  

I blame us for being passive in the past – for accepting shamefacedly that law that was passed making Hebrew the national language when up to now it had been Hebrew/Arabic.  We let bad things happen in the past. Things that went against our declaration of independence. No longer.

We let the whole idea of a constitution go too – we knew it was necessary to confirm a democracy, and were supposed to do it in 1949.  Unfortunately, there was a war and we let it go.  

Oh, so much has gone wrong.  I was just so happy I had a country I just wanted to enjoy it.  Now I realize how much work it takes to create and maintain a democracy.

Oh dear, I’ve been rambling again…

 

Anyw

recap – sept 30, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics, my life in tel aviv

One day on the street I started talking to a man who was handing out oppositiion tshirts and as an afterthought asked him who he was voting for in the municipal elections. “Not the mayor,” he said.  “He makes deals with the haredis.”  I hadn’t thought about the high holiday services in Dizengoff circle before.  It actually seemed to me like a good deal.  But since there was a major confrontation about the establishment of a separation between men and women on Yom Kippur, the major has cancelled the permission of Rosh Yehudi to organize prayers in public spaces in Tel Aviv.   Regretfully, he said.

Right after the cancellation was announced I got a text asking if it was important to me that the mayor respect Jewish values in the same measure as he respects democratic values. 

I didn’t answer.

It was a loaded question, and sets up a division that has only come up for me in recent years – and only because of the rabbinate, not the religion itself.

tel aviv prayers Read Post »

israeli politics

You must know this – there are murders almost every day in Arab towns and city.  They’ve been going on for years, but now there are even fewer law enforcers, more of a sense of freedom because of negligence, and I am less likely to visit my Arab friends than ever before.  

And revenge killing is endless – there always remains someone who has to take revenge for the previous killing.  There has to be someone in charge to arrange a forgiveness, a sulchah,

 

revenge killing – Sept 28 Read Post »

israeli politics

Last night we wandered along the new walking paths on the shore.

Everyone was walking there – couples of course, groups of friends, single people, kids, a middle-aged man with an old lady…

.,,

Today we went to the university pool.  It was all about swimming laps or learning to swim.  I discovered I am incredibly out of shape and couldn’t even use the ladder – so I dove in and made it through 2 laps and hated myself every minute for my style and strength. Gotta get into shape.

Now what is better – wearing out your body in the afternoon or strolling by the shore in the evening?   

 

shores – sept 28 Read Post »

israeli politics

The holidays upon us terrify me.  I can’t bear the thought of the crowded aisles and the empty shelves.  I even threw a tantrum when Ezi offered to go with me.  And really, not that many people are in the country, anyway.  Most of my friends are traveling, and my family is busy.  But who knows who will show up for dinner?  How can I shop for my small fridge for all the possibilities – including the possibility of war?  

Nevertheless – I’m going.

Now.

now.

So we went.  To the new French supermarket.  Which somehow seems to remind me of Paris even though the food is boring and local – cold, cute, expensive, and utterly useless. 

Now I’ll order online. Quantities of water, catfood, rice, flour, fresh vegs.

 

 

fear of supermarkets – Read Post »

israeli politics

After the coverage over the mess created in Tel Aviv by the Times of Israel, I decided to join the Times.  Haaretz wasn’t clear enough for me, and I can’t get hold of my kids – who were probably there – because they’re working or sleeping.

This is what I understood 

  1. when the decision was made by an organization named Rosh Yehudi  to hold the prayers in Dizengoff center because of the covid rules against gathering indoors, the genders were not separated.  But this year there was a movement to enforce separation between men and women, but the municipality and the courts upholded the idea that public spaces must be open to both genders.  Nevertheless, the gender barriers were put in place, disturbing the worshippers.  
  2. The worshippers protested, the police appeared to enforce the illegal barriers, and violence ensued.
  3. The blame is being put on the protesters – particularly by Netanyahu and his family.
  4. Bibi has a lot more to atone for than yesterday.
  5. the barriers had been in place in the past, but the ruling this year was against the,
  6. the organization of Rosh Yehudi is Jerusalem-based and seems to be missionary concerning Tel Aviv.
  7. the rabbi is homophobic.
  8. what are we allowing this for anyway?
  9.  

jeepers! On Yom kippur yet! – sept 26 Read Post »

israeli politics, my life in tel aviv,

Usually we meet friends or family to break the fast.  This year I’m in bed watching tv – especially programs about the war.  The entertainers who risked life and limb to entertain the troops during the yom kippur war.  Surprisingly, it is fascinating.  I knew it when it was happening – although I don’t know how.  From Leonard Cohen to Danny Kaye, from Yardena Arazi to Aliza Kashi – there were so many of them witnessing horrors, experiencing bombings, kissing and hugging soldiers who wanted only clean socks and underwear. 

I have to find something to help me forget those bombings.

 

apres fast – sept 23, 2023 Read Post »