we’re definitely dividing into tribes – the extreme religious are following their own rules while we can’t seem to get any one else to follow them as long the others don’t. in other words, everyone is going their own way. We may be the only ones observing everything that the crazy government forces on us, But that’s because we’re terrified and old. okay, so we broke them by meeting with kids, and maybe going a little farther than 1000 meter here and there. but it doesn’t count.

but people need to do what they need to survive. the religious feel their rabbis understand much more than the government that hasn’t proved any succees in fighting corona. They hide their sick at home and bury them in secret and put a top priority on sending their kids to school – talmud torah, and yeshivas. they say that 25% of the men have contracted corona. on the other hand the arabs have seemed to stop the spread in the villages by cooperating with each other.

most of my neighbors also seem to follow the rules, but we all cheat. even though we don’t have financial problems, we’re going crazy from loneliness and boredom.

we ‘re not in the situation of the people in small business who have been shut down without any air, and means of support or any hope for the future. the people who work in the market, the little shops who have been having to contend with big businesses and chains for years and now are totally screwed. the government has no interest in them and doesn’t sustain them in any way, and their have gone past despair. maybe they’ll help us get back to socialism if we live that long…

in the meantime, we’re all trying to get by in our small groups – leaderless and frightened.