Hoping Against Hope

November 30, 2006 by · 2 Comments
Filed under: A New Reality 

Yael, the Israeli blogosphere’s official optimist, shares her hopeful thoughts on the peace process and a hopeful music video to go with them:

I haven’t said anything about the extremely fragile and not exactly being upheld by the Palestinians cessation of hostilities in Gaza because when it was first mentioned that it might happen I believed it like I’ve believed all the numerous claims that Gilad Shalit was going to be released “within a few days” –he’s still captive and it has been more than 5 months.

Still, it has sort of gone into effect in that Israel is adhering to it. We’ve ceased all activity in Gaza and our troops are not in Gaza at all. It has semi gone into effect on the Palestinian side in that rather than daily rocket barrages of Sderot and surroundings that numbered in the double digits only (”only”) about 4 rockets are being launched at our civilian population a day. But Abbas (I really do like Abbas) has sent a whole ton of police to monitor the border and to try to stop the truce-violators.

I’m still afraid that saying anything about it will somehow jinx this “not quite a cessation” and that we’ll see a return to daily madness. I have to say that I am very much hoping something positive will come of it.

I am hoping with all my heart that our inept leaders will enter negotiations that will result in the return of Gilad to his mother and his father and his country. I am hoping that it will lead to negotiations on the future of a Palestinian state side by side with us. I’m hoping Jordan will stop having a complete panic attack caused by fears that any resolution we come to will result in Palestinians wanting or trying to move to Jordan. I’m hoping Jordan might even agree to open their borders to allow goods from the West Bank to flow through and out into the world so that we are not the only country to allow the products of the Palestinians to reach the rest of the world (and of course, because of security issues, these products are often stuck right where they were produced).

I have a lot of hopes. I don’t have a lot of trust or belief. But still, there is a tiny ray of light and so in honour of that little ray, I’m going to share with you guys one of my favourite songs from a group called ??? (sheva which means 7 in hebrew). The band is called Sheva because it consists of seven members. The band lives close together in the Northern Galil and they are famous for the special instruments from India that they play as well as the ones they make themselves. Their songs express their hope for peace and harmony among nations. In this spirit, their band has members that are Arab and Jewish Israelis.

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Posting on “Israelity” about a post on “Israellycool” that’s about a blog called “Israelli.”

November 30, 2006 by · 7 Comments
Filed under: Blogging 

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Dave has discovered the (not so) new relaunched Israeli Foreign Ministry blog that’s coming out of the NY consulate and offers his impressions:

The Israeli Consul for media and public affairs in New York calls this “the official blog of the State of Israel”, and “the first state Blog out there.” They also want feedback.

1. It’s better late than never, but why did it take so long?

2. Do we really need another blog that plays on the words “Israel” and “real”? It is so unoriginal and cliched. Ok, I’ll shut up now…

3. The blog looks nice.

4. They need to extend the blogroll to include a great many more pro-Israel blogs.

5. The blogroll should be located on the main page.

6. Good to see the government is rebranding Israel as promised, evidenced by the Hot in Israel banner in the right-hand sidebar.

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Religious Ranting

November 29, 2006 by · 1 Comment
Filed under: General 

When we get bored with political controversy around here, there’s always religious controversy to get us worked up again.

Danya Ruttenberg, a religiously observant feminist, is very unhappy with a recent conference by haredi (ultra-Orthodox) on the subject of women’s modesty, which only seemed to fall a bit short of recommending that women walk around in full-scale burka and veils.

Nothing says haredi Judaism like thousands of men packed in a room talking about what women need to do, does it?

A huge, married-men-only conference on modesty was held a week-plus ago to discuss the necessity of buckling down on dress codes for women and girls. As far as the article indicates, male modesty and/or a more broadly defined modesty as humility and care for the other were not discussed.

There was, according to reports, one woman who spoke there. But her remarks ticked Danya off as much as any of the mens’.

The one woman that they quoted used the tagline of the recent modesty handbook Oz Hadar Velevusha (which is replete with debates about the permissibility of patterned tights and the like) –“Just as the Torah is most important to men, so is modesty for women.”

I have never understood this. Torah isn’t important for women? Even if this was intended to mean “Torah study,” it still sounds awful. Men get God’s 613 commandments and a book describing the covenant between God and Israel, and women get implored to make sure shirts are at least 10 centimeters longer than their waistlines?

(Rabbi Yehudah Henkin observes, “This ideology prohibits a woman from standing out—and from being outstanding. She must not act in a play, paint a mural, play an instrument or otherwise demonstrate special skills in front of men, lest she attract attention and her movements excite them.”)

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Pay to Pee

November 29, 2006 by · 2 Comments
Filed under: General 

OK, Benji’s freaking out a bit, and all because of — the horror — Israeli establishments that charge a fee to answer Mother Nature’s call:

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What’s the deal with THAT?! This seems to be fairly common at bathrooms at bus stations in major cities in this country. Who decided it was ok to charge people to take care of business? That just doesn’t seem right to me. What’s next? A fee to respirate? Sometimes the security system is a revolving door requiring a shekel coin (G-d help you if you don’t have change), and sometimes, it’s a woman like the one shown above. At least she was nice enough to hand me some squares of toilet paper during my grand entrance. I’ll have to remember that when Hanukkah begins next month…..

What kind of benefits could a job like that offer someone? Do you think she gets to use the bathroom for free across the country (ech omrim “professional courtesy”?) That could certainly come in handy when traveling (especially after a few cups of Nescafe). What happens when she calls in sick? Does a temp show up? Management can’t be losing their 2 shekels! I asked Mrs. Dr. Evil why they charge and she explained that management has to raise money for upkeep and whatnot. It’s a BATHROOM! What, are they installing some French windows in there??? This is one of those annoying situations where management passes on their expenses to the customers (like how tenants in New York City have to pay exhorbitant amounts of money to their doormen for Christmas. For Christ’s sakes, that’s what EMPLOYERS are for! I never understood why they relied on our Christmas tips to put food on the table. I hate Christmas tipping in New York-it’s as if certain businesses arbitrarily decided,

“You know what, Bill, I have a crazy idea but it just might work. Let’s pay our employee less than minimum wage, create a culture that says that the CUSTOMERS have to pay for his/her salary, and you and I spend our winters in Bermuda!”

“Jack, you crazy rat bastard! It’s crazy but it just might work!”

In the end, of course, Benji took a deep breath, paid his two shekels, and did his business.

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A Wish List

November 29, 2006 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Life 

This is Stephanie’s holiday season wish list. I think we could all use a little of what she’s wishing for:

Here we go into Christmas Season friends and neighbors. Hold onto your hats! Ho ho ho.

Except over here in Holy Land Central (HLC) there’s none of that Americana style build-up, commercialization and shop-till-you drop spirit. We Jewish tribal types, in fact, are only marginally – if at all – aware of Yule; It isn’t celebrated, for the most part, this side of the green line. In Bethlehem, parts of Jerusalem and the West Bank, yes. Not Tel Aviv.

Nonetheless, I am taking this opportunity to present Stefanella’s 2006 Holiday Season Wish List. Why not? As my Buddhist friends say: You have to put it out there for the karma to find you. More simply phrased: If you don’t let Santa know, how’s he gonna drop it off at your house?

1. Expendable Income – I don’t want to stand in the supermarket aisle comparing nutritional value versus cost versus how far a food item can be stretched. In fact, I don’t want to think about budgeting at all. I want extra cash. I want to find 100 shekel notes in my jean pockets and casually remark: “Oh that’s nice” rather than fretting that such a find might induce a coronary.

2. Day Spa – Sue me for my trespasses. I’m allowed the occasional shee-shee girlish whim. I want to wallow in a jacuzzi and sauna, doze off to the tones of New Age chimes while melting under the nimble kneading of a deep tissue masseur, get a peel and facial and drink freshly churned carrot juice while lounging in a white robe and scanning the latest copy of Vanity Fair.

3. Subscription to Vanity Fair -….come to think of it.

4. Indulge my Offspring – I want to take my son on an elephant ride in India and on African Safari. I want to encourage his artistic slant with visits to the Louvre and the finest oils, ceramics and private lessons money can purchase. I want to be able to say “yes” more often to his requests for toys. I want him to have a carefree life.

5. Teach my Offspring – I want my son to learn that giving back through volunteerism and donation is a responsibility and an honor. That each person can make a difference. That we’re all here for a purpose and once you figure yours out, you’re in.

6. More Fun – Less thinking, more action. More visiting with friends, less worrying about time constraints and work. More outings, less work. More cultural exposure, less worry over finances.
7. A Thigh-High Pair of Spike-Heeled Boots – to wear around the house with my pretend mini-skirt while singing “..that’s just what they’ll do. One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over…”

8. Chocolate Truffles and Creme Brulee for the Masses – Well I had to end on a positive note, no?

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