israeli politics

Vance - 7.18.24

When my brother graduated from Columbia, I think it was 1966, he secured an apartment for us close to the university.  It was particularly slummy, with a police lock on the door and a peculiar smell.  My mother delighted in calling it “Hotel La Vance,” since vance are bedbugs or lice. 

This is not an unknown fact.  Here it is on “M.A.S.H.

  She used to tell about how the German soldiers (WWI) would laugh at the Jews scratching themselves all over – until they too started scratching.  Lice, we thought, was a thing of the past.

p.s. i got the link from the Forwards

Vance – 7.18.24 Read Post »

israeli politics

Philharmonic - 7.17.24

The worse the situation gets, the better the orchestra gets.  Eyal Shani has shaped the players into an amazing group.  Tonight I couldn’t breathe when Shani directed the Pathetique.  The depth of feeling from an amazing piece of music is echoed in the hearts of the mourning audience – as if our 9 months of terror, hope, fear, resolution, and pain followed the melody.  

Eyal Shani is a master.

 

philharmonic – 7.17.24 Read Post »

israeli politics

News - 7.16.24

If you’re looking for real news, I hope you’re reading the real newspapers because I can’t touch the news today.  In fact, just writing the word news puts me in a panic attack.  I keep remembering a dinner party in New York a month or so ago when a friend said ‘this is the end of Israel, isn’t it’ and I blew up on her, managing after a minite or so to incorporate my attack into a discussion.  I feel that way now, and I’d be going over old territory if I explain more.  I’m very angry and helpless.

So I’ll go back and tell you something more positive

– The National Library  is collecting all writing about October 7.

https://www.nli.org.il/en/at-your-service/announcements/7-october-documentation-initiative.

I guess I’ll have to send in some of the things you’ve sent me and some of the things I’ve been writing in these pages.  I’ll bet they get so much stuff they’ll never be able to process it.

 

 

News – 7.16.24 Read Post »

israeli politics

National Library - 7.15.24

This is probably the most elaborate, inclusive, historical and innovative site in Israel.  We went as a group of writers and were all astounded by the grandeur and accessibility of the library.   

There is something so warm and inviting about this immense edifice.  I have been to the grand library at Alexandria and this establishment is more my style.  Modest and useful but enormous and inclusive.  I’ll be writing much more about it.  Check out the site:  https://www.nli.org.il/en

 

 

 

National Library of Israel Read Post »

israeli politics

tremp - 7.14.24

‘Tremp’ in Hebrew means hitchhike and comes from  the English word, ‘tramp.’  

This evening a number of politicians have been speaking about the terrifying results of criticisms by demonstrations and by news inquiries.  At best, they feel hindered by the irresponsible criticisms of their policies – at worst they feel threatened.  Since this morning there was an attempt on the life of the former president of the United States.  It seems our politicians are taking a ‘tremp’ on Trump.

We must be very careful to preserve democracy and dignity.

Tremp – 7.4.24 Read Post »

israeli politics

Mohammed Def may be dead.  I know we should be pleased, but our satisfaction comes from the success of the mission, not the death of a human being.  

The experts at our lunch table watched the footage of the attack and announced that the bodies being carried out of the bomb site were those of young men, soldiers and not citizens, and I’m supposed to be relieved.  Yes, they are Hamas soldiers and have raped and tortured and killed our people, but no one should rejoice in their death.

 

Def – 7.13.24 Read Post »

israeli politics

Human Shields - 7.13.24

We have been seeing the use of human shields in Gaza, the population in protected areas protecting their leaders.  But despite this, the major leader. Mohammed Def, was killed today.

This means we have to protect ourselves – I’ve opened the joint shelter, turned on the lights, opened the door to the building so passersby can come to hide if the rockets fall in our area.  We’re not shielding anyone or anything, but we’re targets for the expected revenge.

 

  

human shields – 7.13.23 Read Post »

israeli politics

Joe Biden - 7.12.24

I know this isn’t about Tel Aviv, but I have been identifying with Joe Biden so much I feel you should be aware of our limitations and attributes.  For years I have been messing up names.  It was at least twenty years ago when I stood in front of a class of hundred and referred to – what’s his name? Shakespeare.  I do things like that more often now, and it happens more when I’m under pressure, or when I’m talking to someone who is judging me.  But I’m also wiser than ever.  Really.  I’ve been through most of the situations we’re going through now.  I was born in war, came to Israel in time for the Yom Yippur War and have been around for every other tough situation in the middle east.  And I think the experiences taught me something people who live a normal life don’t experience.  And, oh yes, I’m a professor.  absent minded and retired.   But still publishing academic work.  Like Biden, it’s hard for me to move, hard for me to look into the sun, and hard for me to remember names.  

joe Biden – 7.12.24 Read Post »