January 21, 2006
A few nights ago i had the honor of hosting an evening in the honor of Milan Richter, a Slovakian poet who post world war ii european perspective left a strong mark on me. There were many talks, but Aliza Reshevitz and Rafi Weichert stood out to me as the strongest in their contrast. While both emphasized his seriousness, Reshevitz pointed out his complex irony and linguistic humor, and Weichert noted that in dealing with the realities of holocaust Richter used no metaphors, no ironies. I had wanted to discuss this issue with Richter, who was obviously aware of the complexities of this, but he was surrounded by admirers.
So no artistry when it comes to discussing the holocaust.
Ezi is off for the week to the U.S.
January 22, 2006
As I was sitting in the car waiting for Orit to bring me the best felafel in tel aviv from Hakosem this afternoon I pretended I was a guard and tried to figure out who was suspicious. One of the more dangerous-looking guys turned out to be a local soap opera star on closer observation, and another was the manager of the place. So much for my judgement. All in all, however, i swear that even if i were a real pro, there was no way i could handle all those people. Because they all look alike to me. I could, however, tell the tourists immediately. And there are a lot of them. And they all look like they're really enjoying themselves.
Now this is something you have to see. It's a clip of 80 kids - 40/40 - and Bill Clinton singing Imagine. Click Here. I cannot get over it.
"What should I read?" Ezi asked me yesterday and someone else asked today, and I suddenly realized there is a real plethora of books in Hebrew - books that my friends love, books that people talk about at parties, books that I've never read. The number of books in Hebrew - with intelligent, attractive covers, with great reviews - books I don't know, is really amazing! Now I know I'm a lazy reader - that I'm too stressed to concentrate on a book - but even then there is so much to choose from. SOMEBODY MUST BE READING ALL THESE BOOKS. This still must be the land of the book.
Psachya is performing. Saturday night in Brooklyn. If you live near - you should really try to go!
January 23, 2006
Can anyone say anything today except in relation to the poverty report?
January 24, 2006
Here's a poem of Constantin Kavafis: Voices
voices beloved and ideal
of those who have died or are as lost to us as the dead
talk to us sometimes in our mind
the soul sometimes thinks it hears them
And when their echo sounds it momently responds
with all the other echoes
of the first singing of our lives
voices hallucinating and beloved
like music that vanished in the distance
in the night
not great but the best i can do tonight.
I guess it's all those bickering doctors who are getting me down. And despite the poverty report i rewarded myself by buying a pair of gold shoes from Shiruzzi. They are the kind of shoes you smile at every time you notice them. Maybe I'll take a picture tomorrow so you can see what they're doing....
January 25, 2006
As we passed the knesset this afternoon I couldn't help but mutter, half to myself, the old riddle, "What's the different between Parliament and a condom," and the answer: "There's only one prick in a condom." And Shlomi who is ever kind said, "Well, yes, but things are changing a lot around here.
And when you think of it, the elections in Israel as well as Palestine are promising surprising revolutions. It seems almost impossible to predict what the new political structures and people will bring.
Me I'm having problems with my internet so i'm keeping my entries shorter than usual. I'm just too frustrated to think straight.
Bear with me.
What is this satirical group "Shukran" first discussed by Sayyed Kashua and then on channel 22 tonight? It looks amazing! Creating a unique Israeli-Arab identity - it's different from Jewish, different from Palestinian... I can't wait to see it!