March 24, 2018
nothing like a visit to the Tel Aviv museum to discover things you should have known. The exhibit of Pamela Levy for example. Worth seeing
...... March 25, 2018
At last the insurance inspector came to look at our damage, and when i heard the list of things he was recording i realized how bad we had been hit by this burst water pipe. now we must wait to see how they will compensate us. but the seder will still take place amid cracked and discolored walls.
Tonight is the big reading - we will be there at six to set up the wine and crackers and cookies and coffee and stuff. the reception begins at seven and the reading and speeches at 7:30. i'm tired already.
March 26, 2018
Greetings from Tiberias!
We began this morning with a visit to Zichron and then Amy at Bat Shlomo and then a major traffic jam to Tiberias. What a relief. I didn't listen to the news, didn't answer phone calls, didn't even thank all the wonderful people who helped my celebrate my book last night, and didn't connect to a network until just now. It has been heaven.
This even though Tiberias is just as icky as when Mark Twain visited it around 150 years ago. And the sea is less beautiful.
March27, 2018
As the site of Jesus' baptism was closing down, we went for dinner at 'on the river,' and watched the ducks taking over the river. more tomorrow.
March 28, 2018
Here's a scene for you: Grandmother (me) recormmends we visit the cemetery where at least three women poets are buried: Rachel, Elisheva, and Naomi Shemer. Family is compliant. The children are much too young to know these poets but enjoy looking at the book of poems next to Rachel's grave, looking at the gorgeous view, and comparing the graves with my age. "Here's on who was born in the same year as you!" says Omer, "Did you know him?"
The cemetery is full of the history of the settlers in Deganya. But the big thrill for the kids remained finding my birthday on graves. Nevertheless I highly recommend reading the stories of the people who were brought to the shores of the sea of Galilee to burial.
March 29, 2018
Elisheva Bikhovski was the one who's ironic burial has been gnawing at me since we visited her grave on the anniversary of her death sixty nine years ago. A Hebrew writer who remained true to her Christian faith she lost popularity by her indifference to the Zionist movement and was about to leave the country when her ill health brought the hebrew writers association to send her for a rest cure to the baths of Tiberias. There she was found to be ill and soon died of cancer. Her burial in a Jewish cemetery was aided by the writers' union but she is placed behind Rachel Blaustein, as if she is hiding.
what can i tell you - she was always in the wrong place at the wrong time
And now to my birthday - it is the wrong time to be celebrating birthday - right before the seder preparations, right after the dust storm, right before the rain storm. I think I'll wait a week to be 73. not more
want to read my latest book? It's here. to diary