The Katzav Affair

I heard one journalist calling this mess "Clinton for the poor". sadly its True, Moshe Katzav, which still is the President of Israel, is probably going to face a trial regarding few rapes/sexual harassment.
I had some respect towards him, not because his personality or achievements,more about his biography- Born in Iran, making Aliyah as a child, involved in community work in development town, becoming a mayor, a minister and then a president - living the big Israeli dream. I also had much respect for The President, in my family symbols matter, and that institution symbolizes the sovereignty of the Israeli state. You see, I belong to a generation that finds those things important.
Therefor I feel embarrassed.
I feel embarrassed for him to represent me or to represent any other Israeli , I cannot understand the reasons for him to still try to keep his job, I think he should have resigned a month ago, but really the sooner the better.

First day of rain!

Yesterday we asked for rain in our prayers, and today it rained for the first time this (Jewish )year .
If only all our other prayers will be answered so quickly!
Amen.

Catherine Tate

A great piece with her from The Observer. I admire her, not only because she makes me laugh, there are some other deeper reasons.

So.. I started working today, sort of. Its ok, It will get better - I promise to update.

Tonight its Simchat Torah as in Israel we celebrate one day for both Shmini Atzeret & Simchat Torah.
One of my continuing wonders regarding Simchat Torah in England was the alcohol. For some reason (Marketing?) it became a booze for Jews day, with no reason. Check the first paragraph from wikipedia about Simchat Torah:

Simchat Torah (שמחת תורה) is a Hebrew term which means "rejoicing with/of the Torah". It is one of the happiest days in the Jewish calendar and is marked with festivities in synagogue that include singing, dancing and (typically) a moderate consumption of alcohol.Wikipedia

I find this a contradiction to the whole Idea of sukkot and Simchat Torah itself. During sukkot we celebrated the freedom of the soul, that needs no house, that accepts its diffrent parts. On Simchat Torah we rejoice with our spiritual heiretence, we are proud to be the people of the book. Again not so intouch with the material side.
And alcohol. what it has to with that? No idea.

I hate banks, really. Dont even ask. Like what`s the point? I earn a living and they take some of it month by month by pretending it legal to charge me 2 shekeles for this or that, come on, be honest with your self. Its a theft.
Were`s Rubin Hood when you need him?

Getting Old or Getting Stylish?

Well, some of you might be surprised. I have a little group of white hairs, on the left side of my head, sort of above the left ear`s tip. I had three long ones there, and I decided to check, by myself if the common belief that If you pull a white hair ten others will grow instead is true.
I promise to update you in a month. It can be quite cool, having a silver line decorating my hair, or even better all-white hair like Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, rather lovely.

Read the morning newspaper, when you don't work you have time to do that. I noticed Haaretz and Maariv both have a Suduku table. I find it a bit passe'. You know, like playing the Hungarian cube or something like that in public...

A morning walk in Ra`anana

Woke up early this morning and went for a walk, back in London I used to walk either to Snaresbrook Pond while I lived in South Woodford or to Cheery Tree Wood after moving to East Finchley, so you can get the general idea - a pond or a wood. Exactly. Here in Ra`anana I walked towards the fields , when I grew up it used to belong to Nehemia- he was a farmer and it was all potatoes or strawberries. This morning I discovered they all got to grow into nice flats or cottages.
I resent that for few reasons - nostalgic (It was beautiful living near those fields, back in the days), ageist (another evidence of the natural progression of my age), and environmental ( Hello, we do need some Green space, what about a nice park Heyyiii?), but I appreciate the irony - It was worthwhile for Nehemia to be a farmer for this fifty odd years - now he sold his land and he is wealthier than he ever was You see, you never get much from selling potatoes...

Part of being back home, and frankly LIVING at home, is sharing thew duties. So this morning I helped my mother going through my fathers` books. We found few books that were printed in Lithuania in 1923, in Vilnius. We found a book about trains my mother received for her 4th birthday from her uncle, he bought it in London for her as a special gift. Books my father received for his Bar Mitzva, one of the signed by Menachem Begin, and many other gems.
It made me feel sad, getting to think about my father from the angle of the books he left behind him, and then I found a photo - its of my father and his classmates, I think they are around the age of 10. But I cannot recognize him, there is one boy there that looks slightly resembles my brother. I will ask my aunt if it is/was my father.

Recommendation for the next generations: circle yourself and avoid confusion.

My New Car

Good news - I got my newish car yesterday. Its a Hyundai Getz. white. I looked for a coloured one but decided to join my people - and get a white car.

For all of you that asked: Yes I went to see my hairdresser. Now my hair looks the same, just shorter and healthier.

The North Circ

Last week had many hours of driving and I desperately miss radio4 (yes I am a pseudo intellectual)I just had to invent this new game. I imagined myself driving on the North Circ. The starting point was Sinclair House of course, and as I progressed I brought up the different landmarks as mental images My rout included: Charlie Brown roundabout, the South Woodford bridge, Water Workers Corner, Sainsbury at Chingford, Costco etc.. I think by the time I got to Haifa I was some where near Gatwick. I think I miss London. Can you tell?

Poem of the week by Admiel Kosman

Admiel Kosman

NAMES UNTO THEM


Through the scratched plastic window of the central
bus station I saw a young couple. Early
and next to him stood his wife
Eve by the wall.
Through the scratched plastic window in the first
rain dripping humbly down the window
I saw a young couple. I saw a man who was
a distant relative of mine as was
his wife delicate his beak lightly touched
her beak so I gave that
man the name of good bird, and his wife called
Birdie.
Translated by Vivian Eden

*******
I love Admiel Kosman`s work. Some ten years ago I sent him few of my writings. I still recall his feedback everytime I sit down to write.

Good news: My mother is out from hospital.

Everyon`is a little bit racist

I called 144 today - Its the israeli version of 118118 or 247247. I have to admit I was quite relived to discover I wasnot directed to a call center in India/Scotland/Ireland. Nothing about those dear and much loved countries. its the accent, you see.

New Career?

In the last week I drove more than 900 kilomoteres. If you think about it, I did it over four days, as I don`t drive on Shabbat or Yom Kippur and Friday and Sundays are half days. Not bad. If you add to this the fact I was one of three Lady drivers for the Limmudfest van, you can clearly see my next carrer move!

The wall. Saw few sides of it during last week. It made me feel deeply sad and worried. Any ideas?

I stayed at my brother`s for Yom Kippur, the synagogue there is Sephardi, so I had the moving experience of being part of a Sephardi Slichot Service, the tunes are different, so are many of the Piyutim. It felt right. The Ashkenazi Mynian we had in the morning was built from 15 people, and it felt right, intimate with tunes I knowband love.
Yom Kippur was different for me this year, maybe its a post war thing, maybe being with my family.
PS Still miss South Woodford!

My mother is in Hospital, went to visit her today. In Hebrew the word for Hospital is Beit Holim - the house of the ill people. Not very cheerful indeed. So the House of the Ill people she is at is going through rebranding as the Health Care Campus. The have a nice little mall there with Aroma, Shawarma and a bookstore. Health Care indeed.