blog, israeli politics, my life in tel aviv

This is one of those health days.  The morning was spent in the skin clinic in Ichilov where Ezi had some procedures done.  Afternoon at the Hygienists.  Amazing to me how well we are taken care of even in war time.  Even my friend who’s been evacuated from Metulla and is now in a hotel in Tiberius had cataract surgery in Jerusalem is now clamoring for some light reading.  I’m collecting books and will bring them to her from Tel Aviv in a day or two.  Yeah, we’re suffering, but we’re holding on.

 

 

skin deep – jan 2, 2024 Read Post »

blog, israeli politics, my life in tel aviv, poetry

Don’t you wish you could leave this year behind you?  Don’t you wish you could leave the last 4 years behind you?  

We never really celebrated on New Year’s Eve.  Years ago Canadian Radio, “As It Happens,” asked me to record what we were doing on New Year’s and Shlomzion suggested that we go to see the lion on Anonymous Alley get up and crawl to Bethlehem street, just like Yeats described the second coming: “What rough beast, it’s hour come round at last/ slouching to Bethlehem to be born?” 

Here’s the confused video:

 

But the beast did rise up, although for a short time – midnight brought us a few rockets on Tel Aviv.

Rena thought I was crazy to think there could be a possibility – but I pointed out the shelter as we sat waiting for the pizza.  And I made sure to be near safety – under the cover – when the clock struck.

 

new year’s eve – dec 31, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics

Family simches bring me to the synagogue now and then, and when it is an orthodox shul I always have a hard time.  Sitting in the women’s section when I can barely hear and cannot participate always drive me wild, but today was a particularly difficult time because news broadcasts from the past months kept flashing in between the prayers.  The guns of the soldiers below kept intersecting with lines like “He frees the imprisoned,” “He heals the sick….”

We keep talking about PTSD but i didn’t realize until this moment that I too am suffering from it.    

prayers – dec 30, 2023 Read Post »

blog, israeli politics, my life in tel aviv, poetry

just a scene from every day life – haven’t got it perfect yet.  I’ll put it away for a while and see…

 

 The soldier before me at the pharmacists

shrugs his M16 further back on his shoulder 

as he takes his prescription out of his fatigues

and hands it over the counter.

Mahmud examines the paper and says,

“It must really hurt, but I’m not sure we have

a cream with that degree of intensity.”

The meticulous pharmacist and the casual trooper

drop their voices and move closer together.

I can’t even hear that they whisper.

 

My turn is next, old-lady prescriptions

stocking up for the next 3 months.

“Do you really want all of this at once?” he asks

as if he fears I’m going to binge and kill myself.   

I realize that I’m all disheveled and sweaty,

Perhaps seem even demented, and not in control

and he probably doesn’t even recognize me

from before the war.

 

                                                The war.

I had forgotten for a time that there is a backdrop

to this scene, a screen behind us and a divide

between that makes even the simplest of encounters

obscene

draft – Dec 29, 2023 Read Post »

blog, israeli politics, my life in tel aviv

For the second time this year we went to synagogue at 7 a.m. on thursday to witness a grandson put on tfilim and prepare himself to become part of the male Jewish community.  It was only announced the night before because thirteen year olds now have much more important things on their minds, but both of our kids proved they were at ease in the community, and remembered the prayers and what they were supposed to do. 

There was dancing and celebrations – of course the women were watching from the balcony.  

A grandmother would normally be sitting in the balcony enjoying the feeling only fulfillment – but I couldn’t stop thinking of the women in this war, how we are the victims in the balcony -and the men are making the decisions and determining our lives.

Of course that’s extreme – and the government we have now has lots of very vociferous women, almost all of whom I despise.  But the women of Gaza are the ones above ground, while the men of Hamas are in the tunnels.  

All right – I’m not making sense. I barely slept last night and I’ve spent the day keeping busy so I wouldn’t think about the internet and/or the war. 

tfilim Read Post »