israeli politics
I don't hear the song yet - 16.1.25
it ain’t over yet.
and I’m still praying for the lives of all of the hostages.
israeli politics
A surprising reading from my past - 1.16.25
https://www.loc.gov/item/95770505/
Karen Alkalay-Gut and Jorie Graham reading their poems in the Montpelier Room, Library of Congress, Oct. 19, 1995
There was another time I read there, together with Dan Pagis, Yehuda Amichai, and Natan Yonatan.
Contemporary Israeli poetry
https://www.loc.gov/item/85754082/
a Surprising Reading from my Past – 1.16.25 Read Post »
israeli politics
Mishmar HaEmek is where the defense of Israel began. The stories that our guide, Boaz Hadashi, told, reminded me of why I came to Israel in the first place. His discussion of history and the beginnings of the defence movement made me realize the position of Israel today, the importance of co-existence, the humanity of socialism, and the possibility of the future. I would love to be able to see what he does with Korea and Japan, where he’s leading a trip this summer. Look for him here
Mishmar HaEmek 2 – 15.1.25 Read Post »
israeli politics
Poetry and the Druze - 15.1.25
Some of my favorite poets in Israel are Druze, but I hadn’t considered their situation here in these troubled times.
https://www.haaretz.com/life/2025-01-15/ty-article/.premium/how-to-write-a-poem-in-the-midst-of-chaos-notes-on-a-poem-by-a-druze-israeli-writer/00000194-6472-d2ad-a19d-767fc13a0000?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_content=author-alert&utm_campaign=Vivian+Eden&utm_term=20250115-13:20.
I hope she’ll be around more to tell us about poetry in Israel. We really learn so much more from poetry about the real atmosphere of a country.
Poetry and the Druze – 15.1.25 Read Post »
israeli politics
Mishmar HaEmek Part 1 - 14.1.25
Amazing that in all the years we’ve been going on trips around Israel, we never go to the same place twice. Today was perfect for getting away from the news, which have been and continue to be cliffhangers by the second. We walked on the Megiddo trail for hours and now I see I’m too tired to find pictures or tell you about the amazing guide we met at Mishmar HaEmek. In a way his stories were the perfect antidote to the news today.
But you’ll have to wait for tomorrow to hear about it. In the mean time check out the background: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mishmar_HaEmek
mishmar haEmek part 1 – 14.1.25 Read Post »
israeli politics
waiting - 13.1.25
I could think of a thousand things we’re waiting for – everything from whether we’ll be shooting down another missile from Yemen tonight to whether our elevator will get stuck again this week. But the tension of what will happen with the hostages is the worst – will they be returned? who will be returned alive? what condition will they be in? when will it happen? Will it be tonight? Will it start next week? After 465 days…
Each individual is so significant – my mind keeps shifting from one to the other. One after the other. I dream of embracing each child, each woman, each man, each soldier.
But why should I break your heart as well as mine? The answers will come soon. Be still. Wait.