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 |  My life in Tel Aviv. Welcome to Israel! |
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Shalom! I was born outside of Haifa, moved to Tel Aviv when I was twelve, and served in the Israeli Defense Force for two years. Now, I am a student at TAU. I hope I can show the world the humanity of my nation. We're not so different, after all.
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Whoever destroys a single life is as guilty as though he had destroyed the entire world; and whoever rescues a single life earns as much merit as though he had rescued the entire world. |
| Child to soldier: Have you ever killed anybody? Oh, G-d, what a question. Honesty disagrees with morality, duty disagrees with obligation, religion disagrees with humanity, and so how can such a question be answered? Yes, and no, and then it is the same, is it not, even if it was not you? You were there, and who knows if it was your gun or his gun or her gun? Does this matter? The dead are still dead. But they say the living are living, so this most important. This is what they say to you so you do not feel guilty. But to find an Israeli with a light conscience is almost impossible. And the child, in his innocence, exposes the deepest crack in our society. |
| My ears today are sensitive. The world is too loud. Stressed. So much to be done. No time for beach or cappuccino or writing. No time for friends or dancing or cooking. All there is time for is studying, and not even enough time. Soon, it is Chanukah. Soon, soon... |
| Here is a world where people can justify giving Nazis a break because they are old and sick, and then forget about the victim of such Nazis who were also old and sick, and who were given no chance at mercy. It makes me feel ill. Why do we forget? Today, I was rude to many people, I am sorry to say. I am stressed because here at TAUniv. we have examinations coming, and I must study and write many papers and give many presentations and speeches. Is very stressful, especially because soon I must think either of law school or graduate school, so my grades are important. I need to spend time at the beach today. I need to relax. Sleep. I am too high-strung now, and so people think that I am in bad moods. And I am, but this is not so good. I could now angrily talk much about international politics, but I feel as though this is not so appreciated  , and also I will be taking out my stress on Ahmadinejad, who certainly deserves none of the blame... My brother is talking about the IAF. Oi vey. He has two and half more years of service, so he can do this, but then he will have to be in the army for longer. Is big decision, and he is only eighteen so he is not so mature, I think, to make this. We will see. |
| Chanukah is coming! Chanukah is coming! Let us sing, let us celebrate, let us be thankful for our family, our prosperity, and our happiness! Latkes  . My favorite. Also doughnuts!Shall we sing? Rock of ages, let our song Praise Your saving power; You, amid the raging foes, Were our sheltering tower. Furious they assailed us, But Your arm availed us, And Your word, Broke their sword, When our own strength failed us. May you find peace today. |
| Chechnyan terrorists are back at work in Russia. Is interesting. Sometimes in my comparitive politics classes we view Israel and the PA in relation to other countries with "separatist" populations, such as Russia and the Chechnyans, China and the Tibetans, China and the Taiwanese, Canada and Quebec, etc. And, coming from an Israeli perspective, part of me sympathies with the larger governments, but then part of me sees the minority groups and thinks they should have freedom to exist, too. A delicate world, yes? Major protests in Jerusalem. Thousands are angry at the Haredim. Members of the Likud party called Obama "the worst President for Israel." In Tel Aviv, people are protesting the settlement freeze. Micah took me to ice cream today  . We did not once talk of politics! We were too busy discussing Dostoevsky. |
| Shabbat shalom. I love my family. I do. But is like, my father cannot accept my opinions as legitimate. I know that he is a very intelligent, educated man and he knows very much. But I read, too, and I know what happens in the world. Is okay, I think, if we disagree, but he does not respect what I say, I feel. Is frustrating, and makes me feel bad about myself. With my brother, it is the same. He can never obtain my father's respect. Maybe it is a miracle to. Netanyahu: either build the settlements or don't, but either way, stop talking about it and make a decision. I'm tired of this. Going to an Arab comedy show. Irony. |
| Back in Israel, back in the heat of politics. A terrorist was on his way to Eilat to blow it up when he was stopped (baruch hashem--I have family near there), there was a terrorist attack in Hebron, our administration is angry with the U.S....every day life . But the Hajj has started in Saudi Arabia, so the religious terrorists will hopefully be in Mecca and away from us. No hot water in my building means cold showers. This is not the best way to begin a day, even though outside it is only like 15 degrees out right now. Cold! But New York is like seven degrees, so is better here. |
| Great. awesome, sweet, hot, epic... American words are of many meanings! If I say in New York, "This restaurant is hot!" it does not mean that the temperature of the room is really high, but that I like the restaurant. Nobody tells me this. I am like shivering on the way to Statue of Liberty because is so cold on the water, and somebody says, "Lady Liberty is French, man. She's hot." This does not mean that it is going to be warmer on the statue. I was disapointed. In the airport my friends and I were waiting in terminal for the plane to come. We were speaking in Hebrew like normal and an American woman who was waiting in a terminal across an aisle turns to us and asks where we are from. We say we are from Israel. She was confused, and then wanted to know if we had trouble with security. She says this: Woman: Because you are Arabs, aren't you? I mean--obviously you are Jewish, you're Israelis, but you are like the Muslims. So they probably gave you a hard time? Not that--not that Jews blow things up, obviously. Don't get me wrong, Jews commit crimes, too--look at Madoff, Wall Street...But not terrorism, you know? Me: We are not Arabs. Woman: Really? Because--no offense--you look Arab. So then it was like really awkward, and my friend and I went to get food. But this was the only person who every was not so polite about us being Israelis. So this is good, I think .For the record, we are looked at a little strangely when going through security. Is like, American security knows Israelis, but they are suspicious always because of course we are Middle Eastern. |
| Back from New York, and absolutely exhausted. It is not at all the same time here. A long, tumultous flight, and then security which always takes hours, but is okay now because I am back in Tel Aviv. New York was great! It was nice to have vacation .Will write more when I can keep my eyes open long enough to do so! |
| Today, I found Heaven. Is called Bloomingdale's. My poor, thirsty bank account... Americans! You have a wonderful city! Today I have eaten Italian food that was really, really good. Having great time! |
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