israeli politics

divorcing the government - 8.26.24

The mayors of some of the towns up north have had it.  They’re divorcing the government.  And boy I don’t blame them.  They’ve been living all over the place – everywhere but home – for almost 11 months and no one is doing anything to make their situation even the tiniest bit easier.  At first we were donating clothes, household goods, books and stuff to give families of 5 or more living in one room some of the basic necessities.  But even that movement has slowed down. Money promised from the government has disappeared in the Minister of Finance’s offices.  Shelters promised to the schools before the school year never appeared, so thousands and thousands of kids will be missing their second year of school.  And the days of rockets don’t seem to end.    

I emptied my closet last year but even if someone is enjoying my stuff, I know they are wearing down and more stuff is needed.  But what they really need is normality – home, school, work, farms…  Will the broken homes ever be repaired?  Not if this government is in control.  

 

 

divorcing the government – 8.26.24 Read Post »

israeli politics

day begins - 8.26.24

We wake up every day at a different time – most depends on the kind of night in the skies we had before we went to sleep.  Las5 night had nothing to do with the skies.  2 rockets aimed at rishon kept me awake for hours.  i slept in my clothes and suddenly Ezi and I couldnt find room for each other in our bed.  Now we’re hearing about Hamat Gader and a whole bunch of rockets in the place where I has hoping to visit my friend and iron out the bruises in my back.  She must be in hysterics and angry beyond measure by the behavior of the government which they think has forgotten them. 

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israeli politics

what a night - 8.25.24

700 soldiers have died since the beginning of this war that Hamas began.  The number of people evacuated from the north, displaced from the south, is more than a quarter of a million – but many more have gone abroad on vacation and who knows if they will return.  And if and when school starts next week, we have no idea if the teachers are going on strike.  No wonder we’re jumpy.  

At the pharmacist today I asked for Xanax, and Mahmoud said, “We’re out.”  “Lots of nervous people around,” I said, but he doesn’t know me, and doesn’t know how to react, so he smiles and looks down.  

It’s not only that I have a weird sense of humor that not many people connect with it, it’s also that lots of us don’t know how to react to each other – we’re really all on edge.

That xanax would have been nice.

  

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last night Read Post »

israeli politics

so far - 8.25.24

150000 rockets altogether so far.  Last night I took pain medication (in addition to the usual) and slept through the big rocket attack, the rocket prevention we operated, and we’re back in the whole deadlock.  My plans for today are of course cancelled.  

Maybe I’ll venture out to get my eye test and my medication in the afternoon.  But I hope we move from defence to offence today and I’ll have to stay inside.

 

 

so far – 8.25.24 Read Post »

israeli politics

metulla poetry festival - 8.24.24

It’s in Jerusalem.  As we say in Hebrew, “Alek Pestival.”  I mean, not only have we deserted Metulla, and mitigated the tragedy of a forsaken town, but I don’t think there will be one poem read about the past year.  Nevertheless, I am longing for culture to continue in this country – for writers to hear each other and learn.  And I’ll be there if I can.  I’m supposed to appear on each one of the 3 days.  

The whole thing is a bit of slapdash – a poetry festival that’s half prose, no english schedule.  Here’s the Hebrew:

https://www.confederationhouse.org/page_18072

 

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israeli politics

return from the other planet - 8.22.24

If you have not heard of Ka. Tzentnik, or the LSD treatments of Jan Bastians, it’s time to learn.  See the movie, Return from the Other Planet (2023),I admit I never read Ka. Tzentnik, but I knew a lot about Auschwitz from the survivors I grew up with, and about Bastians from his son, Roland.  

What I didn’t quite realize was that Bastians and his treatment of Post Auschwitz  survivors must have been derived from the psychiatrist who was my teenage idol, R.D. Laing. 

But that’s another story. 

The story here is this amazing film about Ka Tzetnik and the books he wrote about the Holocaust, a work you must see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ4mm7t33KE

return from the other planet – 8.22.24 Read Post »

israeli politics

taagad - 8.21.24

Because the situation is so bad here I couldn’t read the paper or watch news, so I started watching old army series.  The soldiers are so naive, so warm, so fine.  The problems are so innocent – it is a perfect escape.

I heard today that solders with pdsd are being treated the same way Katzetnik was treated after he fainted at the Eichmann trials  – with hallucinogenics – to relive the trauma.  The doctor was asked if the government was subsidizing the treatment – and he laughed. 

I don’t know how to do it yet, but I’m going to find a way to contribute to this institution.  And if you have any information, please let me know. 

maybe here: https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/with-2-million-raised-maps-israel-looks-to-use-psychedelics-to-treat-post-oct-7-wave-of-ptsd/

 

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israeli politics

I'm out for the day - 8.19.24

Fell. By tomorrow I’ll be well enough to party, but today the wind got knocked out of me by a petty fall.  There’s probably big news but today I’m reading a bio of Rambam and Cordoba is much more interesting than Tel Aviv.

 

I’m out for Read Post »