of course we are all excited about the hostages being return – terrified about their condition – but estatic about the return.  And we don’t care about the cost.  

but now, only now, am i realizing how absolutely terrified I’ve been – not so much about survival – but the survival of the whole concept of Israel.  The people – I believe – have become far more knowledgable and determined, and our dreams are somewhat more realistic.  We know our limitations.   

This morning, during one of the interminable waits at the hairdressers, I had a chat with another hairdresser, who has completed his studies at some alternative psychotherapy college.  His initial discussion was about the trauma Israel has endured – “I don’t mean this war,” he said, “but the history of persecution” and the collective trauma of the Jews, that’s why we make all these bad decisions.”  He then began discoursing about insufficient breast-feeding and parts of all kinds of theories from very different directions that have to be used to break our behavior to make it more positive again.  

Me, I’m thinking of some comforting fireside chats, with people from antithetic groups – not to talk to each other, but just to explain their views of what is going on and what can be done, with an ubershrink straightening out the different talks and bringing them together.  

but certainly not the hairdresser, as wonderful a friend as he is. 

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