israeli politics

I know that the Battle Hymn of the Republic is a abolitionist song, and it isn’t a prayer – but I had the terrible feeling that Trump believes that the Lord saved him from the assassination attempt, and he identified with the last verse of the song: 

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me;
As he died to make us holy, let us die that all be free!
While God is marching on. 

I hope he knows what he is doing.  He spent half of his speech kvetching and then the other half alternately giving me hope and scaring me to death.  

 

 

Inauguration – 20.1.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

Hostages - 20.1.25

Ronny Sommek sent me a poem to translate today:

Hostages

 

they drew

their eyebrows

with embers

 

and beneath them

their vacant eyes

burning the fire

of lionesses

smuggled out

from the gates

of the zoo.

 

 

hostages -20.1.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

first three hostages - 19.1.25

I doubt whether anyone in Israel breathed today.  Despite the terrible fear that the hostage release can break down at any given stage, we were overjoyed that this moment took place.  I have no words for the joy.

And the fear.  Not only for the next  group of hostages, but also for the future, the fear of the next phase of Hamas and the Nukba.  Their hatred is so great that any step we take toward peace is bound to be foiled.  

I will update this soon.

On their way to the hospital to be checked out, I imagined the way the girls feel, and the how their emotions will change in the coming months, and how much that will depend on who else is freed.  So many unknowns – how long they’ll be in the hospital, what has happened to them, what proceeds from here.

 

What an amazing day.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this could be the beginning of an agreement!

  

first three hostages – 19.1.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

wrong again - 18.1.25

so i am lying in bed at 10 a.m. revelling in the possibility of relaxation, and blabbing with Haim on the phone,  and the sirens go off.  Ezi hears them first because he’s at the window watering the flowers, and alerts me.  Within a minute we’re down in the shelter, recalling the Yemenites promise that they were going to stop when we had a ceasefire with Hamas.  

So no relaxing.  

So don’t trust me – especially when I’m optimistic.

wrong again – 18.1.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

the table - 18.1.25

I decided it was time to clear the table.  Even though the 2 glass tables we had worked for us for at least 20 years, they became too bulky for me too handle and not flexible.  So we went out and bought a very ordinary table that can expand, and today the Ukranian immigrants came to take them away.  

The new table arrives on Sunday and I am imagining it will be new beginning – a clean slate – that will allow me to find to imagine a way out of the terrible dilemma I see as our future.

 

the table – 18.1.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

relax for tonight - 17.1.25

 We’re in for some big emotional experiences in the next few weeks – at best.  If nothing goes wrong – and there are all kinds of things that can go wrong with this deal – we’re in for a very wild ride.  Each person returned to us – living or dead – will bring us great joy and great suffering.  So we have 2 days to relax and pay attention to daily life.

After that, we’re going to need all the strength we have.

 

 

re Read Post »

israeli politics

I don't hear the song yet - 16.1.25

it ain’t over yet.  

and I’m still praying for the lives of all of the hostages.  

i Read Post »