when I was asked to translate a few poems by Shaul Tschernichovsky I knew it would be difficult. His language is so antique and he wrestles with words to fit them into rhymes. And the subjects are often archaic. I asked Ezi if he would work with me because I have so many other projects I would have to postpone. He agreed, but as soon as the new variant of corona appeared, he had to concentrate on refiguring his behavior in the face of his lack of immunity. So I wound up alone with Shaul.

And I found myself incredibly involved – especially in the poem, “I Believe.” I kept thinking I was talking with my father, who lived by the creed of the song. I kept remembering the summer courses my mother would drag me to when she was trying to get her certificate for teaching Hebrew. The students would sit around the dinner table and sing the song in Hebrew with tears in their eyes. Like never before I put my heart into translating, and every time I thought it was ready to submit I would reread it and change a few words. I’m not going to look over that poem anymore – I’m way behind on everything.

the heatwaves this year have confused all of us. These pomegranates next door are not due to ripen until the new year in September. Never mind – I’ll enjoy them anyway.

I happened to catch the tail end of a talk our Minister of Defence, Benny Ganz, talking about the food crisis in Lebanon just now, and how we have to find a way to help. But when I tried to find out more, I wasn’t successful. There are articles such as this one. https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/lebanon/lebanon-declared-hunger-hotspot-by-humanitarian-organisations-1.1191277. But we have to find a way to help. I’ll get back to you on this.

Ganz has proposed helping through Unifil – the article is in Hebrew. Now I found it in English.

But is there no way to get food directly across the border? We’re so close… Hizballah would do everything to prevent it, but – there must be a way.