israeli politics

Because I’m writing for some encyclopedia, something I haven’t done for years, I am surprised to learn that so many people are listed as “of Jewish Descent.”  A friend of mine told me a few months ago that this was a new trend, to integrate Jews into the Anglo-Saxon world, or to eradicate the idea of Jewishness.  So I want to use this opportunity to say I am Jewish and I demand to be listed as a Jewish woman.  I don’t want my gender to be erased and I don’t want my religion to be ignored.  Tell me your thoughts on this.

of jewish descent – sept 3, 2022 Read Post »

israeli politics

,

The  photograph of Herzl against the backdrop bridge in Basel and conceiving of the idea of a Jewish State, was duplicated by our president Isaac Herzog.  I copped this one from the Times of Israel in honor of the World Zionist conference there this week. 

We really haven’t discussed the definition of Zionism in years, so I want to make sure I’ve updated my personal definition. 

hmmm

I’m here.  

Primarily because I loved it so much when I first came and I never felt like leaving

 

 

zionism – sept 2, 2022 Read Post »

israeli politics

If you couldn’t make it on August 25, and thought you’d see it on youtube – well, no.  the video was screwed up badly.

If, on the other hand, you didn’t make it because you were insulted that you weren’t invited to read, you will have another chance.  i’m going to repeat the event in the near future on zoom with a complete recording.

I spent the entire reading apologizing to those who didn’t get an invitation, or who got confused about the time and place because I wasn’t clear enough, so I missed the news, I missed updates about the first day of school, and I missed setting up different events.

sorry.

apologies – September 1, 2022 Read Post »

israeli politics

As I watched this class of kids training for the army I kept thinking – would I want to prepare for years ahead of hard labor?  I’d probably want to stay in bed and watch movies.  I watched the girl at the end of the line for hours keeping up with the crazy exercises – crawling the sand, running around in a circle – and couldn’t stop admiring her.  Wouldn’t you?  When she finally gets to basic training she’ll be so ready.

getting ready – August 31, 2022 Read Post »

israeli politics

so many people, like Richard, have been writing that they feel lost in this uncertain world, that I thought you might like this wonderful poem!

CAMINANTE NO HAY CAMINO

Caminante, son tus huellas
el camino y nada más;
Caminante, no hay camino,
se hace camino al andar.
Al andar se hace el camino,
y al volver la vista atrás
se ve la senda que nunca
se ha de volver a pisar.
Caminante no hay camino
sino estelas en la mar.


[Traveler, your footprints]

BY ANTONIO MACHADO

MARY G. BERG AND DENNIS MALONEY

Traveler, your footprints

are the only road, nothing else.

Traveler, there is no road;

you make your own path as you walk.

As you walk, you make your own road,

and when you look back

you see the path

you will never travel again.

Traveler, there is no road;

only a ship’s wake on the sea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

august 31 – 2022 – traveler Read Post »

israeli politics

 

That’s what we need – magic.  it may be the only thing that will save us now.  so we went to the exhibit in Muza of “The Art of Enchantment”

and to me, the most enchanting thing was Victoria Hanna

and her magic spells from prayers, kabbalah.  Everything else seemed to be ABOUT magic, not magic itself.  

But it could very well be that I am prejudiced.  After all, some of those charms had been used on me.  

They didn’t work, but they connected me to something inside myself.  Even though the charms brought me to an antithetical decision, I seem, eventually, to have gotten rid of the evil eye.  It’s still in the neighborhood, but it is not sitting on me right now. tfu tfu tfu.

I’m also prejudiced because I’ve known Victoria for scores – ever since Ronen Shapira brought her over one evening, told us that she was wonderful, and then commanded her to sing, and her voice filled the room, the apartment, the house, the street.  

I don’t think that even white magic is all good,  but sometimes you need a little black magic to destroy evil.

Magic – August 30, 2022 Read Post »

israeli politics

“Everyone’s traveling!”  the agent said, when I registered my COVID reluctance to sign on a trip to Japan.  “It’s no worse there than here.”  I know for a fact that he has no idea what he’s talking about and Japan has got the highest numbers it’s had the whole time.  But like the comedian, Shelly Berman said when he saw the wing on his plane was on fire, and he didn’t mention it to the stewardess

I’d rather die than make an ass of himself.  I signed the agreement.  But boy am I going to get the best insurance I can find, and I’m taking a suitcase of medications.

But it’s true – everyone is traveling. All summer long the airport has been packed, and now that school is beginning it may slow down, but we are still not sure there’s not going to be a strike. 

And that’s nothing compared to what is going on at our borders…

How are we living with this amazing uncertainty, that we have no sense of what will happen one day ahead of us. 

 

to japan – august 29, 2022 Read Post »