Tel Aviv Diary - July 13-17 2013 - Karen Alkalay-Gut
July 13, 2013 On the eve of Bastille Day, we have our own little revolutionary protest. Thousands at Habima square - and many more who couldn't get there, like me. My friend Liz asked me if I'd contribute to a campaign for a one-state-solution. I told her I would not - that i don't think any declaration of any thing is going to make anything happen. The only thing that can work is if people decide together. July 14, 2013 Hillel Schenker tells it better from up close. Tisha B'Av is nearing - we begin the evaluations, the mourning, etc. early. But I fear that this is a holiday that leads to idol worship. Mourning the exile is one thing, but mourning the temple has to be carefully thought through. July 15, 2013 Nope. No more pretense to tolerate idol worship. Why is all that needed? The very concept of an abstract God is so amazing, so absolutely overwhelming - the rest is embroidery. sometimes beautiful, often inspiring. But my favorite part right now of the whole bible is that soon after Abraham understands about monotheism he tells Lot That whole concept of a divine being that includes everyone and everything I find fascinating. Belief is another story.
July 16, 2013 Somehow it seems there was much less emphasis on mourning this year. There was even a non-tragic film yesterday on television, "Footnote." The restaurants were open for the first time in years last night. I don't even think the movie theaters closed. Maybe with all that's going on around us we're getting ready to mourn our future.
For me, this was a quiet day - before and after the stormy ones. Time to get ready for grandchildren birthdays, for new exams, for books. Just the thought is exhausting. July 17, 2013 Appropos grandchildren, try explaining the news on tv to an eight-year old. "Why are they taking the five-year-old boy away?" We didn't have news like that when I was a kid. They didn't have cameras.
:ח. וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם אֶל לוֹט אַל נָא תְהִי מְרִיבָה בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ וּבֵין רֹעַי וּבֵין רֹעֶיךָ כִּי אֲנָשִׁים אַחִים אֲנָחְנוּ:
ט. הֲלֹא כָל הָאָרֶץ לְפָנֶיךָ הִפָּרֶד נָא מֵעָלָי אִם הַשְּׂמֹאל וְאֵימִנָה וְאִם הַיָּמִין וְאַשְׂמְאִילָה:
"Let's not fight and let's not let our shepherds fight, for we are brothers. Here is all the land before us - if you go right then I'll go left."