blog, my life in tel aviv

last year at this time we were returning from Egypt.  It was a great voyage – in many ways and I am planning to publish a kindle in the next weeks about this trip.  I’ll send you a copy if you ask.  But the big thing i now remember is the miracle of our salvation.  We didn’t catch covid.  At one point, in the temple of Abu Simbel, I suddenly stopped listening to our guide and noticed that all around me I’d been hearing Chinese and Italian for days, that some people were even wearing masks, and we are among a close crowd of people.  That moment of clarity disappeared as we continued touring throughout the country, standing very close to numerous strangers.  A few days after we returned we realized how dangerous it was as we came down with some kind of violent flu, asked immediately to get tested, and understood that a woman who returned to Israel only a day after us, had died of Covid.  We didn’t catch it then, but it was just a matter of enormous luck.  Let’s hope that luck holds…

march 3, 2021 – Egypt Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv

So many parents have had to return to work, including teachers who had been teaching on zoom.  And the children, who have been deprived of school, of friends, of clubs, are now home alone without parents.  I’m thrilled that people are going back to work, that the recently impoverished families may regain a modicum of normality.

But oh those lonely children – I am certain they will recover, and perhaps with more enthusiasm than ever when they return to their social environment.  But as a grandmother, my heart is breaking over every one of my seven grandchildren who are all suffering from various results of the covid virus.

From the oldest to the youngest, a lack of fulfillment, of completion

 

 

 

 

march 2, 2021 – lonely children Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv,

Ezi has been going through the boxes of his family’s pictures – he’s never seen some of them.  Last week he discovered this photo – which I immediately grabbed and placed on my desk.  I can’t take my eyes off it and decided to share it with you.

Where is the embroidery from?  Who is this beautiful woman?  What is this jewelry?  It was customary for young women to dress up as Rebecca at the Well, but I can’t imagine what amazing photograph took this picture – It says on the back that the studio was in Jerusalem and the woman is a friend of Ezi’s grandmothers.  

This photo made the holiday for me.  

fenruary 28, 2021 – Purim – last shot Read Post »

blog, israeli politics, my life in tel aviv

we’ve been getting an inordinate amount of variants lately – most likely from the people who were allowed special entry into the country even though the borders are, theoretically closed.  It has been said that the airport is the entry point for the new mutants.  And who are these people? those who have been given special permission because they will be voting for the parties of the right?  I don’t know how true this is.  But I know of a few people who can’t seem to get back home to Israel, and some of them are fearful that they won’t be able to return to vote.  It’s an interesting way to win an election.

february 27, 2021 – who will be let into the country to vote? Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv

we were going to meet the kids before the lockdown tonight at 8:30.  yesterday morning I bought chicken breasts to make for their dinner, something very unlike Ezi’s taste, but standard favorite fare for Ezi.  And Challahs.  And hamentaschen – something very unlike my taste – but standard fare for Purim.  And we made hummus and all kinds of salads.   And we planned for sushi take-out too, because our granddaughter has a big competition in artistic gymnastics tomorrow and she’s freaking out.  So now we’re stuck at home alone with no room in the fridge.

In a normal time, I would have invited a whole bunch of friends for a party instead – but no one can go out.  the kids are next door.  maybe we’ll just dump all the food on them.  

 

In the end they showed up for tea.  And we found a place in the freezer.  And of course, we talked politics.

 

 

february 26, 2021 – Purim Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv

Every time I see grandparents with their children, my heart goes out.  I’d love nothing more than to listen to the megilla in costume with little children.  Not in a dry reading, but the humorous version of someone like Mendy Kahan, who reveals a different costume as the story focuses on a different character.  Or perhaps a Purim Shpiel  – my role as haman as a child left a mark on me.  I so enjoyed being part of the story that every aspect of the tale is burned in my character.  What is evil?  What is good?  When does Good become evil?  What is fate?  What is fated?  How can fate be changed?  How can we know what should be done?    

in any case, my kids won’t be exposed to the entire spectrum of human heroism, hatred, and deception.  They know the story, they have acted in the plays, but it has been softened severely – these kids have suffered enough.  

and we can’t celebrate with them.  They have to meet other children, with and sometimes without masks, and anyway, they have forgotten our significance in their lives and won’t run to us to show us their costumes, or tell stories about their successes or failures at the parties.

february 25, 2021 – purim parties for corona Read Post »