blog, my life in tel aviv,

Because Michael Kagan mentioned his participation in a zoom tonight at the Ghetto Fighters Association – Lochanei HaGhettaot, I was able to join in.  Michael was one of the stars, talking about his father’s participation in the escape tunnel.  And the evening was so fascinating that I clung to every detail  throughout the two hours, wishing I could get a question in about my aunt and her fate.   all i have are different stories in different books. and a slide of 60 fighters divided into 3 groups.

there are other faceless people in the chart, but only my aunt is a woman.

i’ll be talking a little more about her tomorrow at 1 EST here

february 14, 2021 – zhedtl Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv, ,

sometimes a chance conversation leads you into strange places.  i’m sure my granddaughter was not expecting these answers, but they elicited a true story I would never have thought of telling:

So what have you been up to, Grandma?

We bought a slingshot not realizing it’s considered a weapon and it was stopped at customs

the slingshot sounds fun, a shame they wouldn’t let you keep it

We’ll make our own slingshots.

what will you do with them?

Scare the wild parrots who eat the flowers  off the tree in front of our window

It’s a problem now because in the lockdown we kind of adopted a wild cat who comes to eat every day and then leaves.   But she has to let us know when she is downstairs and needs to get in the door.  For a while she was calling us from outside the window .  But now she climbs the tree and looks in our window and meows.  When she sees us, she climbs down and goes  to wait at the door.  But if we start shooting beans at the birds , she’ll get scared and fall out of the tree…

She’s an old cat. She has to watch her step.  See?  We have an exciting life.

february 14, 2021 – whatsapp conversation with granddaughter Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv,

we may be masked, we may be keeping far away, but we’re beginning to creep out of our holes.  With less than a thousand a day diagnosed positive, we are beginning to open up.  There were people in the park, friends visiting, and a wonderful sunny day.  We didn’t do much, but the world seemed to be suddenly – promising.  Tomorrow  we are even going to a birthday party! two! one during lunch, and one in the afternoon.  you’re welcome to join in the afternoon if you’d like – Rivka Bassman is 96 and launching her latest book.  here’s the link to register: 

february 13, 2021 – people, people1 Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv

We pass it often on the way to the medical center, the statue of Raoul Wallenberg. Most times I get very sad at his heroic and tragic history.  But there are times I want to be his friend, to play with him and make ammends to him.  

So today we walked over to him and played.  He disappeared in the year I was born, and died in a Soviet prison two years later, but his generosity and the salvation of thousands of Hungarian Jews will never be forgotten. I hope that if his spirit remains, his generosity extends extends even to me, and I made him smile.  

february 9, 2021 – the statue of Raoul Wallenberg Read Post »

blog, israeli politics, my life in tel aviv,

Everyone in our building has seen the jackal.  Most of the time in the same place, on the left patch of ferns near the entrance.  But when we call the municipality, and they come with all their equipment to get rid of the potentially rapid aminal, the beast is nowhere to be found. 

Not surprisingly, Bibi has managed to elude the courts for almost 5 years, when the case opened, but today when he appeared, he was out within 15 minutes, after his plea of not guilty.  He managed to squeeze in a meeting with the minister of health in the hallway, and appear incredibly busy with political matters the entire time he was in court.  And he seems to have managed to postpone the trial until long after the elections.  And all the news that claim that the case against Bibi is rigged means that with every appearance in court, he gets more votes. 

Maybe we should vote for the jackal.

 

 

february 8, 2021 – politics and the jackal Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv

it’s not the lymphoma that worries him – it’s the serology.  His Ichilov doctor for 13 years told him to make sure he takes a test.  But when he asked about the results, they told him that it would take a month.  That’s when he realized that the test was for research, not for him.  By chance I had a test scheduled in Assuta, so as soon as he returned I dragged him along, and we both go the tests together.  After two hospitals in one day the poor guy is exhausted, but we should know if the vaccine works on immune-challenged patients in 24 hours.

 

Feb 7, 2021 – Ezi’s final – continued Read Post »

blog, my life in tel aviv

“He was just here, in our front yard,” our neighbor says. “I chased him away.  “He was sick.”  Another neighbor races out of the building  “I called the city, but you chased him away so now they won’t come. ”  “They have to come.  It’s sick!”  “Next time, don’t throw stones at it.”  “It won’t come back.”

That was yesterday.  The jackals have been moving closer to populated areas as the streets empty out.  And they are hungry.  People have been bitten, and an infant was snatched from its mother’s arms.  In the north there have been rabid jackals crossing the borders.  They are killed on sight, but it sometimes takes a while to see them.

I was worried about our cat, and she didn’t show up yesterday.  What if she was gobbled up? or bitten?  

Today the cat turned up, and ate enormous amounts.  But when I went to let her out, she wouldn’t go, and showed inordinate amounts of affection – for a wild cat who bites at being touched.  Finally I walked her out and met a third neighbor. “Be careful,” she said, “I saw a jackal here this morning.” 

The cat had raced out of the front yard, and hid for a moment under a car.  Then I saw her racing up the street. 

She knows about the jackal – that’s why she didn’t want to leave.  

 

february 6, 2021 – the jackal Read Post »