this section of the Israel trail, fourteen kilometers long, right in our neighborhood, was a surprise for me
the seven mills
the yarkon river
the many memorials in Yarkon Park
e
Tel Kasira
Ezi took much better pictures – but he’s fast asleep already. And me, I’ve got sunstroke…
april 20, 2021 – israel trail Read Post »
I’m not afraid of heat, and didn’t mind walking through Tel Aviv today in 40 degree heat. But it’s almost sunset and it’s still 35 – Celcius of course. I remind you – this is April. Imagine what it will be like in the summer.
And I remind you, this is Ramadan. That means almost a quarter of our population is fasting all day – no food OR water until sunset.
It shouldn’t be surprising that we had something of a riot in Yaffo last night. We’ve been gentrifying the neighborhood for almost a generation – It must be almost 20 years ago that I was rehearsing with Liz in her house in Jaffa when a stone flew in the window next to me. “Just children playing,” she said, and went back to our music. I saw a video yesterday of a tv interview we did together in her practice room and it reminded me of that moment. What were we doing playing jazz in that neighborhood anyway? I don’t mean that Jews shouldn’t be able to live in Arab neighborhoods, because we have many Arabs living in our Jewish neighborhood. The problem with Jaffa is that the very nature of the neighborhood has been changed by wealthy entrepreneurs.
april 19, 2021 – 35 degrees in the evening Read Post »
This is just a bit of autobiography – but you’re welcome to write me about your reactions. In case you don’t remember my address is gut22@tauex.tau.ac.il.
april 18, 2021 – an old video Read Post »
There are things about Biden that bring tears to my eyes – his humanity, his honesty, his sense of equality. And yet, sometimes he scares me. What if he’s right, but the rest of the world is so wrong we’re going to blow ourselves up in the meantime? what if he is so interested in working with Iran that a bomb is enabled within months that will be used immediately on us?
april 18, 2021 – biden, iran, and maybe u Read Post »
It was really thrilling for me to translate Emma Lazarus’s New Colossus to Hebrew. Even if you don’t know Hebrew, you’ll get my amazing enthusiasm about the poem in the clip… Let them know if you like it.
It was the first poem that brought me to tears when I was growing up, but the more I studied poetry as a student the more embarrassed I was about loving it. No one seemed to take the poem as seriously as I did. But today, when I heard Biden quote a line from the poem, I realized once again that it was the quintessential poem for me, and I was proud that I always believed in the ideals it represents.
April 17, 2021 – The new colossus Read Post »
Even though cemeteries are locked on Saturdays, when Muma expressed a desire to visit her father’s grave on the anniversary of his death, we went. After all, we’ve missed the memorials of Ezi’s parents for two years, and it has always been their way of mourning. No kaddish, no candles, no speeches. Only a moment of silence over the grave.
But although the gates were, of course, barred, we knew of a back door and found our way through the deserted cemetery. “Not a living soul,” Muma remarked.
Something there chilled me to the bone, and I find myself frozen in bed under heavy covers. I’ll watch Prince Philip’s funeral like many many of my fellow Israelis, and see if I can’t get up to go visit the kids.
april 17, 2021 – cemetery Read Post »
Every conversation I’ve had with friends has been the same – what have I done with this year. It’s a total waste. If I had known at the beginning it would go on like this I might have taken up a project. Maybe I would have learned a language, remodeled my house….
well we didn’t and now that maybe the corona is over for Israel – we don’t know what to do.
but let it be over first, and then we’ll talk about the pecular ptsd we’re going through.
april 16, 2021 – ptsd corona Read Post »
so that’s what I’ve learned in the past two days. I’ve become terrified of naivete and unpredictability – viz: children. the hotel we went to was one Ezi decided was boutique, meaning luxurious, quiet, childless, with exclusive food. But we arrived together with a sea of children that should have made us turn around and go home. Because it meant we would not go near the pool area, would not have quiet in the evenings, and could have noisy and chaotic meals.
But I have learned from this. One – it is not the children, it is the parents. Two – we get along anywhere. Three – Ezi should not be allowed to choose vacations without careful supervision.
april 16, 2021 – are you afraid of children Read Post »
