israeli politics

judges 19 - 5.1.25

Somehow the subject of Judges 19 came up in a conversation on why not read the bible.  This sent me to read the chapter and I was horrified.  Such terrible crimes, such murder, such silly battles, such a stupid loss of life.  

There was a lot that reminded me of today, and then I came to the last line – “ In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.”

This is the perfect introduction to the next books – of Samuel and Kings and the beginning of order.   But we don’t need a king, we just need leaders who aren’t criminals and who behave justly – for themselves and for us.

 

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israeli politics

The Filly - 4.1.25

When a conversation was recorded between 2 Hamas men about a new captive, and they referred her as a “filly,”  I was filled with such terror I cannot describe. 

The Filly – March 4, 2024

Today a video was released of one of the girls in captivity, and the family refused to allow it to be shown in Israel.  

I can imagine why they refused.  You can too.

 

 

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israeli politics

4 a.m. - 3.1.25

Because I have some kind of flu that makes me dizzy, it was hard to wake up at 4 in the morning or whenever it was that the Yemeni missile was shot down. I managed the steps down to the shelter, but I had to be fully conscious to do it so I really focussed.  And then of course I couldn’t get back to sleep.  So today is going to be a waste at best.  

 

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israeli politics

Local Testimony -1.3.2

Local Testimony - 1.3.25

This year’s photography exhibit at Muza, the Eretz Yisrael Museum, focuses on the horrific events of October 7, and the terrible consequences to Israeli society.  The way we feel, not only the terrors we have endured, but also how we have been turned into animals by the multiple wars we are enduring again and again.  My deepest prayer is not only that the hostages will be freed, and will be able to overcome their tortures and recover what is left of their lives, but also that we will be able to regain our moral ideals, to live like human beings.  

https://www.eretzmuseum.org.il/en/exhibitions/local-testimony-2024/

What is missing there are photos from the Gaza side.  Why?  Because the Gazans won’t let us use any photos from Gaza.

 

 

 

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israeli politics

bourbon St - 1.1.25

I have been there, on New Years, on Bourbon St.  It was a rousing time, and the sense ofnonymity lent a particularly unique feeling of freedom. The events this year, however, altered the significance of that sense of anonymity. 

Everyone is a target.

When I sit in the shelter with my Arab neighbors I used to think – well, they are collaborators so there is some “justification” for them to be targeted like me. But we have to accept the fact that the innocent people who are killed in attacks like that are not just collateral damage – chaos is the goal – the overturning of civilized society. For the extremists at least.

 

 

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israeli politics

Happy New Year - 31.12.24

What a year we’ve been through.  What 5 years we’ve all been through around the world.  No wonder we’ve changing our characters, our relationships with others, our sleep habits, etc.

Let’s try to make this year one in which the our world is a better one because of us. 

We went to Tiberius today to see my old friend, still exiled from her home.  But when Metula is fixed, will she be able to return?  She has gone through so much she may no longer be able to return to her home, to take care of her home, to take the chance of infiltrators….

Let’s hope that we can return and pick up where we left off.  After we’ve learned what we need to learn….

 

 

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israeli politics

Early Missile - 30.12.24

sorry for the delay.  I had to go to the shelter.  The Yemenites surprised us with an early rocket.  

I’ve been talking to a friend who has been pressed by BDS to join the campaign against us.  How well I understand how terrible the situation in Gaza is.  How easy it would be to return the hostages and stop the violence.  Bibi’s announcement that he would stop only at the destruction of Hamas seems to have foiled that possibility, perhaps because he feared their surrender.  who knows?  All I know is that all of us are suffering in ways that cannot be repaired.  And no one deserves to suffer the way we Gazans and Israelis are suffering.

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