blog, israeli politics, my life in tel aviv

time to consider values.  the fact that we have ‘overbought’ and have vaccinations to spare means that we can give some away.  But to make the giving conditional on political concessions is somewhat questionable to me,  morally.  Diplomatic decisions – not clinical ones.

and who decides?  the government? the prime minister?  

and who decides who deserves vaccines?  our neighbors?  

Precisely because of the reversal of values characteristic of Purim, I wrote this poem It is connected to my fear of the decisions we make in the inebriation of success. 

february 24, 2021 – another thought on purim Read Post »

israeli politics, my life in tel aviv

This is a shamefaced confession.  We have elections in less than a month  and it should be a no-brainer for me. I’ve always voted Labor.  I believe in their ideology.  And Benny Ganz is considered such a loser that 150 Generals today asked him to take himself off the ballot because he won’t get enough votes to get into parliament.    But yesterday when someone asked me who I wanted most in the government I found myself saying his name.  The courage he showed by joining the government against all advice because he wanted to influence the decisions in the past year has proven effective.  He has forced a measure of honesty and answerability it has not known in ages.  A gadfly of the highest order, he took time to find his voice – but voice he found.  And I’m proud of him.  Doesn’t anyone else believe this?

february 22, 2021 – Benny ganz Read Post »

blog, israeli politics, my life in tel aviv,

Since almost everything opened yesterday, I have been scared to leave the house.  It seems like a no-brainer that everyone mixing together is going to create a wave – one like we have experienced numerous times in the past year.  

and tomorrow we’re going on the Israel Trail – mostly along the polluted beach.  I’m still recovering from our last visit to the beach.  It was just the beginning of the oil spill and the tar along the coast.  We don’t seem to be talking about the identity of the ship that perpetrated the crime because we are trying to make peace with our neighbors, but we’re really in trouble because we’re not containing the spill.  We’re just mopping up.  What’s more important? Turtles or peace?

 

february 22, 2021 – which masks for purim? Read Post »

israeli politics, ,

It’s been bothering me for years – the way Bibi has treated the democratic party for years.  As a fervent democrat (I went all the way with Adlai in 1952) my issue may initially have been swayed by party loyalty, but every time Netanyahu spit in the face of the democrat presidents I want to throw up. 

The past week was the worst.  After Biden made it clear by waiting a month to call Bibi (even though his government officials had been in conversations with Ganz and other officials from months), clearly hoping it would affect Bibi’s ability to manipulate their connection for the coming elections,  Bibi is trying to make book on this phone call.  One thing I’m sure of, Biden won’t consult with Bibi on the Iran deal.

 

february 20, 2021 – biden’s phone call to bibi Read Post »

israeli politics, ,

Last night, as the children picked tomatoes from our window sill in the middle of the storm, I was amazed by the power of this rain that was still much diminished from the night before.  And then, this morning, when I opened the window, and saw that still more tomatoes had ripened, this poem would not leave my mind.

There came a wind like a bugle
by
Emily Dickinson


Next
 

There came a wind like a bugle;
It quivered through the grass,
And a green chill upon the heat
So ominous did pass
We barred the windows and the doors
As from an emerald ghost;
The doom’s electric moccasin
That very instant passed.
On a strange mob of panting trees,
And fences fled away,
And rivers where the houses ran
Those looked that lived—that Day—
The bell within the steeple wild
The flying tidings whirled.
How much can come
And much can go,
And yet abide the world!

february 20, 2021 – Emily dickinson in tel aviv Read Post »