Everyone here has a different definition of what democracy is. For me, it’s rule by an educated democracy that takes the needs of the entire population into consideration. There aren’t many countries that ever fulfilled the definition, but right now the very concept is in danger, and I don’t know what will be achieved by uniting with Hungary and Poland and maybe France and Germany and the US to preserve democracy – but it’s a nice idea.
How do you create a great society? Teach all the children how to contribute as they grow up – to learn what happens in the society, how they can fit in, and how they contribute.
Sadly, we stopped doing that a while ago – without an equal and generous system of education that emphasizes the interrelationship of individuals, we can’t have good, responsible teachers. I must admit that when I first started teaching here, I was impressed by the sense of purpose my colleagues all had. I don’t feel that any more.
Responsible Education Read Post »
One day on the street I started talking to a man who was handing out oppositiion tshirts and as an afterthought asked him who he was voting for in the municipal elections. “Not the mayor,” he said. “He makes deals with the haredis.” I hadn’t thought about the high holiday services in Dizengoff circle before. It actually seemed to me like a good deal. But since there was a major confrontation about the establishment of a separation between men and women on Yom Kippur, the major has cancelled the permission of Rosh Yehudi to organize prayers in public spaces in Tel Aviv. Regretfully, he said.
Right after the cancellation was announced I got a text asking if it was important to me that the mayor respect Jewish values in the same measure as he respects democratic values.
I didn’t answer.
It was a loaded question, and sets up a division that has only come up for me in recent years – and only because of the rabbinate, not the religion itself.
Usually we meet friends or family to break the fast. This year I’m in bed watching tv – especially programs about the war. The entertainers who risked life and limb to entertain the troops during the yom kippur war. Surprisingly, it is fascinating. I knew it when it was happening – although I don’t know how. From Leonard Cohen to Danny Kaye, from Yardena Arazi to Aliza Kashi – there were so many of them witnessing horrors, experiencing bombings, kissing and hugging soldiers who wanted only clean socks and underwear.
I have to find something to help me forget those bombings.
apres fast – sept 23, 2023 Read Post »
Every time I hear Yariv Levin speak I get depressed and scared. I understand that most people do not sign petitions because they’re afraid of the information being used against them, and I remember how my father was terrified that I read about communism when McCarthy was destroying the lives of many famous people because they had signed a document. My brother bought the magazine, USSR, and when my father saw it, he warned him, “They watch the newstands!”
I was worried about hanging up a sign from my balcony that there would be retribution, but today I woke up and decided to do it. Stay hopeful, it says. About as innocent a sign as could be, but I don’t see many signs around, and it’s not for want of support for the opposition.
Once I realized that we’re in it for the long haul, and we have to succeed, I let go.
And for Shabbat Tshuva, I’m ready.
hang in there – Sept 22, 2023 Read Post »
Here I was about to talk about art as a form of escape, and the post disappeared before my eyes. I was trying to upload pictures from the exhibit by Ilya and Emilia Kabakov in the museum. It’s about surviving in the face of a society that would get rid of you if they knew you existed.
So I’ll try again
See?
The exhibit is called Tomorrow We Fly
and my mind kept bringing me back to the spirituals about sprouting wings and escaping from a terrible situation. I remember thinking about it when in high school I got put into the wrong art class and instead of learning about the old masters I wass in shop class as the only white person, the only girl, And for me it was great fun, but for everyone else in the class their future was determined and limited.
That’s what our future will be – if we make it.
There are two reasons why we may not. One is war.
The other is the Saudi deal. We may have a great future if this deal goes through, but this may also be a check-mate. I mean, how can we refuse the offer? And how can we believe the Saudis won’t use the atomic weapons they will be able to make?
museum escape – sept 21, 2023 Read Post »
Aviya Kushner wrote in her substack today about two poets who write about the holocaust. I’m one of them. Check it out. Here’s a page
I’ll be talking a bit about it on the 9th of October at Writers House on 6 Kaplan St…
About inheritance – august 24, 2023 Read Post »
I don’t mean children orphaned from their parents. I mean grandparents orphaned from their children. Children who are leaving the country because the opportunities are better somewhere else. Too many of my friends have said goodbye to the grandkids they helped raise knowing they will do well far away. They raised their children in a wonderful nurturing environment – but the next generation will grow up in a different education and culture. Unless…..
Orphaned – August 22, 2023 Read Post »
