israeli politics

revelation? - 10.18.25

I promised myself to avoid everything connected to politics – both American and Middle-Eastern.  I promised myself to stay out – even of the “No Kings” demonstration.  Even though it was all around us.  “I’m cool.” I said – “I’m taking care of us now.”  So I’m standing in a shoestore surrounded by some of the most gorgeous shoes I will soon own, and the salesman asks me casually where we’re from.  We tell him, expecting the usual blank face, but he answers, “I’m so glad for you all that it’s over, after so much loss and bloodshed.”  And would you believe it, I began to cry.  So much bloodshed, I muttered, again and again.

So much for me being cool.  

No wonder I’m not being productive – just keeping us together.  It may be the first time I haven’t promoted a book, or done readings, or whatever.  just trying not to jump when a siren goes off.

 

revelation? – 10.18.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

speaking hebrew in the streets

one of the justifications we hear some time for a Jewish state is that Jews are endangered all over the world, especially now because of the bad name Israel has for having committed genocide.   

I’m not getting this much.  True, the salesladies in Macy’s don’t fall all over me when it turns out I’m from Israel.  But there is more hebrew on the streets here than anywhere,  I haven’t really confronted anyone and asked them if they have any trepidation about being attacked as a jew, but they all seem very much at home, and not at all worried about being identified.  Neither do the religious jews seem to be hiding their identity in any way.  But it’s interesting that i even thought of the link between anti-Israel feelings and the necessity for a homeland.  One of Robert Frost’s characters says “Home is when you have to go there, they have to take you in…” and suddenly it hits me on the New York streets – thank goodness you don’t have to go there.

this is a bit nonsensical, I know.  I’ve been doing too much unnecessary shopping.

   

speaking hebrew in the streets Read Post »

israeli politics

did i call? was i supposed to? totally farmished. 10.16.25

One relatively minor thing about the war was that you never knew how to plan anything.  or what would happen the next day.  And now, even though the fighting has, for the moment stopped, and I’m far away I can’t plan for the future.  the calendar should help me out, but I keep getting lost in it.  what time? what country?  who is invited? to what? who pays? who eats?

can i speak hebrew here?  why not? no one seems to care?  will Mamdani win? is he really as clueless as he sounds? why do my best friends and relatives love him? is it because it’s been so bad here for so long? 

why do all the restaurants taste the same to me? why do all the storefronts seem to be peddling similar clothes?  how many bloomingdales are there in new york?

 

 

did I call? was I supposed to? totally farmished. 10.16.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

where are the bodies? 10.14.25

When a country signs an agreement they usually are prepared to FULFILL the agreement. The fact that 24 bodies are missing are not only tragic for the families – it is an indication that even more agreements were not taken seriously and will not be fulfilled.  I frankly am worried.  

so soon after Israel announces that Rafah isn’t opening and soon after that the some bodies were discovered….

 

 

where are the bodies? 10.14.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

celebration from afar - 10.13.25

The first celebration in Israel from afar and we are in a rainstorm thousands of miles away.  I know there are many bodies not identified and not brought home so the celebration is qualified, but I cannot stop smiling and watching CNN over and over instead of going out and enjoying the pleasures of new jersey…

 

celebration from afar – 10.13.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

now it's time for Jews to come together - 10.13.25

now it’s time for Jews to come together and understand each other.  There are so many different kinds of Jews and so many antithetical opinions.  And that’s part of Judaism – the individualism. 

But we have to learn to get together.  We have to learn to tolerate each other and not irritate each other.  I myself am repulsed over and over by many kinds of Jews – the kinds that embarass me.   Some that infringe on the comfort of others by their demands on others, some that register hatred and disgust of other jews.  we’ve got to learn to be tolerant of each other and that will allow us to be tolerant and tolerated by others.    And then we can start learning to work with the rest of the world.

there is much more to say about this, and much more to learn…

 

now it’s time f -10.13.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

better you shouldn't know

Since I’ve been here we’ve been asked endless questions that prove to me how little is known outside Israel of the life we’ve been living for the past two years.  and in a way I thank the Lord that they don’t know.  Why should everyone have to suffer?  What they see is Gaza destroyed, and Gaza’s suffering is surely great.  But Gaza had control over saving their people in the same we our government had control.  I am sure we were bombed almost as much, and we kept the sites and the details out of the press to minimize the accuracy of the bombs.  Here, when I see the destruction in Gaza that isn’t emphasized as much in Israel, I can understand how there is little understanding or sympathy of our situation.  

let us hope we can make this into something positive.

 

better you shouldn’t know – 10.12.25 Read Post »