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

I was born in a bombed hospital in WWII- and I know the terrible consequences of bombing a hospital.  But I also know that there are military centers in those very hospitals that house Gazans who have been treated in Israeli hospitals. 

The Israelis have invested a great deal in the health of Gaza citizens, not only in medical treatment but also in transportation to and from hospitals in Israel. 

Two days ago one of those hospitals was hit – in Ashkelon.  The Child Development Center in Barzillai Hospital

So I was a bit surprised that Naftali Bennett had to go back in history to remind us that Dresden was bombed by the Allies and London was bombed by the Nazis.  Why not use a local illustration?

Of course I don’t like it.  I’m not a giggling terrorist chortling as he shoots the parents in front of the bound children before he burns them all up in their homes.  I would much rather be saving lives than destroying them.  And that doesn’t make me self-righteous.  It makes me human.

hospitals – friday the 13th, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics

Once we got set up in the US, after 5 or so years, when I was 8 or so, we started sending packages to Israel.  Outgrown clothes that weren’t needed by the refugees coming to the US, blankets, rations… 

Now we’re doing it for displaced families and individuals who have moved to less dangerous areas of Israel.   Many are being forced to start what is left of their lives over again and at the very least they need support, hope, renewal, promise.  Packages of encouragement are well-appreciated.  People have undergrown trauma, slaughter of their loved ones, destruction of their past,  Any comfort you can give them is helpful.  Whether they answer or not doesn’t matter.  They will need this is in the years to come.

packages – oct 13, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics

Of course anyone who can help in any way they can think of is welcome.  We are washing baby clothes and stuffed animals to donate, and buying diapers like crazy.  There are a lot of babies who are being sheltered in our neighborhood.  I’m sure every neighborhood is organizing to donate whatever they can.  

It keeps us from feeling totally helpless.

helping is distracting – oct 12, 2023 Read Post »

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

All day long we hear about victims and witnesses.   I see my friends talking about how they were talking to their children when it happened and heard them being killed, grandparents explaining to their grandchildren how to care for their bullet wound until someone arrives. I hear my friends on the phone explaining that they have found shelter in someone’s home but don’t have money to buy food – even their credit cards were stolen and maxed out by terrorists.  The stories are endless.  Here’s one:

 

 

victims, survivors – oct 12, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics

I wake up to announcements of bombings.  Arab villages too – where I have friends, and now the round of phone calls I have to make is growing.  Teibe!  I can’t believe it!

By my count Hamas – now Isis to me – has clearly used up half their weapons from Iran.  The shut-down at least makes this stock a finite one.

Now to get properly dressed and ready for a new day.

 

bombing Arab villages – Oct 12, 2023 Read Post »

blog, israeli politics, my life in tel aviv,

23 “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare[c] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25  genesis 18

I cannot bear the sense of satisfaction I get from seeing an explosion in Gaza.  I hate myself as much as I hate the terrorists who slaughtered my friend’s daughter and son-in-law while he was on the phone with them.  The rapes, decapitations, incinerations, are beyond forgiveness, but I have been with people from Gaza, and I know there are rightous people there.  

I have become salt.

 

 

sodom – oct 11, 2023 Read Post »