israeli politics

High Court Judges are warning, Military Commanders are warning, former Prime Ministers are warning us, that this government is a disaster.  And yet we don’t seem to be able to do anything to stop it from becoming a reality, from it taking over our lives. 

There is something that I have been noticing for years and even spoke about in an interview last year on the radio.  Then I said that in a country where there is no love, there cannot be love between people.  Now I see hatred everywhere – between individuals – where there used to be warmth and understanding. It’s within families, on the streets, on the roads.  

But there remains a great love in this country – something that may well overcome the terrible feelings we have of frustration.  We’ll just have to see….

how low can we go – dec 27, Read Post »

israeli politics

I know I’m grasping at straws looking for reasons to welcome a new government – right now it looks hopeless to be happy about the fascist laws that are being enacted.  

So I think about butter.  The previous government opened the dairy market up to free enterprise, the prices went way up as high-price imports flooded the shops here, and now no local butter is to be seen.  

In the old days of socialism we used margarine and were happy,  I’d gladly go back to margarine to get rid of all these capitalists.

And don’t get me started on those extremists in power now who are making life impossible, recommending that doctors not treat people they find objectionable.  It was Rambam who enumerated the ethics of medical obligation.  

I can’t even begin to describe my disgust and humiliation.

 

butter – dec 25, 2022 Read Post »

israeli politics

The more candles we light, the more we realize that the holidays are coming to an end.  We keep saying that bad things are going to happen, that the opposition has to unite, but we know that without a unifying agent there is no way to bring the individual parties together.   Tsipi Livni looks good to me as a uniting agent, but she knows how impossible her role would be, and I’m betting she’s not going to take the risk.  She’s the one candle left.

 

 

hanukkah dec 24, 2022 Read Post »

israeli politics

I knew a guy who always complained about family events – he actually loved everyone individually, but couldn’t stand being in the room when all the people were talking to one another and he would have to make an effort to be nice. 

He was thinking of the enormous family he lost in the holocaust, and the ones who remained couldn’t make up for the memories.

Now I have no right to bring this up tonight – while we are lighting candles, though, I keep remembering the Yiddish song I’ve never seen translated that begins “Oh, you little candle-lights,. You tell little histories/ Innumerable tales./ You tell of blood-spilling, skillfulness, and courage – wonders from long ago.”

here’s a version:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXYlbK3fmyI

 

family – dec 24, 2022 Read Post »

israeli politics

From the wonderful atmosphere of Haifa, the sense of freedom and unity, we came home to the political reality and the advice of our mayor – civilian revolt.  

“Do you really think the people will revolt?”  a friend asked me.  That’s when my mother-in-law’s saying returned to me.  “We will not let them defecate on our heads! We will open out mouths!”

And don’t expect it to take a while.  We’ve already swallowed the second and third,

 

from haifa to Tel Aviv – dec 23 Read Post »

israeli politics

Haifa puts it all together.  Girls with Hajbs eat Kyortosh and our kids are gobbling down chiros, next to a giant menorah next to a Christmas tree – and all in view of the Bahai temple.  I am too tired to show the blurry pictures I took of the tamarind man, the Santas, and the dancing.  But I’m worn out.  Tomorrow we’re doing more of the Carmelite and all the wonders of Haifa.  But I want to go home quickly and pick up the other grandchildren I left at home.  They have to see this,

hannukah christmas -Dec 22, 2022 Read Post »

israeli politics

i have been waiting up to hear the news – and then it came at 10 minutes to midnight and now I can’t sleep. Bibi has formed a government – meaning he has made enormous concessions to extremists. Because they have no faith in his promises, they managed to wait him out until the last minute and get concessions that will not only cost us in freedom, but also in taxes. What we have is 50% of the country maintaining 100% of the population. Good night.

new government Read Post »

israeli politics

We had the privilege of seeing the actors of the forthcoming updated version of Oedipus Rex talk about their roles and their performances.  We’re only going to see the actual play in a few weeks, but this discussion and performance were enough to make me want to see every play the Cameri is putting on this year.   There was something so invested in every person involved in the production that made me want to see every play they are doing this season.  Great theater, great actors, and there are always English subtitles for the language-challenged.

 

cameri Theater – Dec 20, 2022 Read Post »