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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. |
| 7:50 P.M. - getting ready to go to club! Going to lose my membership in two weeks =(. So only two more weeks of this blog, unfortunately. That makes me sad. I was having a lot of fun writing this, but ah well. There's nothing to be done. WEEKEND! |
| 3:36 P.M. - Herzliyya Ban ki-Moon: "I urge the government of Israel to commit fully to its obligations, including to freeze settlement activity and natural growth. If Israel continues settlement activity, it will not only be acting contrary to international law but also to a strong international consensus." Hundreds of protestors are ascending the Temple Mount in protest of increasing international pressure to freeze settlements. For a week there have been flyers, and the one handed to me read: "We'll let Barack Hussein Obama and Binyamin Netanyahu know that we're not moving from here." And "Go to the Bible to find out to whom this land belongs!" You have to understand what these messages mean to Israelis. Someone with political power is ordering them to leave their homes and the surrounding area so that others may move in. This (a) is reminescent of anti-Semitic movements in places like the former Soviet Union and fascist Europe, and (b) is a reversal of land hard-fought to earn in our War for Independence, in the first Lebanon War, in the Sixth Day War... And if someone was to tell America's President that he needs to give all states west of the Mississippi river back to the native Indians were lived there, he would have a difficult time accepting this, too. Israel is not some timid, cautious, dependent little country. We are furiously passionate people with one of the world's greatest militaries. And our economy is one of the world's only economies that has seen positive growth for nearly two decades. And yet, somehow, the international community can justify bossing us around. I am more than a little defensive, I suppose. This is one of the first times in my life that I have seen the Israeli people so divided. And the scary thing about that is that we've always been a nation of great unity, and what do we have if we start to lose that? We have joined the international community (and economy), so is that the inevitable result? |
| 4:22 A.M. - Home Can't sleep. Should probably not have gone out last night. Should probably have studied for chemistry assessment but there was temptation and I gave in. I caved. I am sorry now, of course, but what can I do? Dear G-d*, Shalom. It is just one of your chosen children in the land of milk and honey (but no oil. Thanks, Moses), unable to get the sleep I need in order to possibly not fail horribly my chemistry assessment in a few short hours. I would kindly remind you, G-d, that I did not steal the money I found on the ground in that store earlier this week. Remember? That was good of me, right? No, I did not go to the synagogue this week. No, I did not go last week. Did I go the week before? Maybe; I won't rule it out. I think I did. I know I intended to, for what it's worth. And besides, who needs to spend the Sabbath indoors when I can be out in the beautiful sunshine and thanking you silently, privately, occassionally in my own head? Right? Anyway, G-d, I'm not asking to pass this assessment. I did not study nearly enough and, yes, I went out last night. See? I recognize what I deserve, and I won't ask for what I don't deserve. But I deserve some sleep, I think. Just an hour, maybe two. I think if I get one or two hours of sleep my morning coffee should sustain me. I'm not asking for a lot, here, G-d. Just a little help from you, you know? Some divine assistance. Some mercy. Merciful rest, isn't that a quote somewhere? Isn't that a Talmudic principle, or something? No, I do not go to the synagogue often. No, I do not pray often. No, I do not thank you every time someone I know cheats death. Do I deserve the world? Of course not. But some sleep? Surely that will be easy enough to grant! Two hours. Please. If it's not too much to ask. Thank you. Shalom. Baruch Hashem, etc. -Noa *should you possibly exist |
| 4:45 P.M. - Cafe waiting for food Bothered. (A) Palestinian parts of the West Bank is on fire and people think it's the Jewish settlers (great). This is bad news for several reasons. We like to think that we do not resort to things like rock throwing or fire burning, and that such techniques are employed by our less-civilized Arab cousins, but of course this stands to be argued. Also the settlers are in the process of losing their land in the West Bank thanks to international pressure (international pressure named Barack Obama, to be specific), and if this is their first round of retaliation we could be in a little bit of trouble. First the Hasidim, now the settlers...Politics, politics, politics! (B) Just recieved a review from an American Jew calling Israeli views on the Holocaust "ambivalent", and I do not know what to think. I am part offended, because I do not appreciate being scolded as a Jew by a Jew for my behavior toward Jews (I get enough for that from my mother). But I am also part indignant, as if nobody understands the Israeli psychology. Is it unsympathetic and harsh to use the Holocaust to teach children what kind of Jew not to be (a victim)? Is it cruel to tell our suvivors that they need to accept, learn, and move on because crying and lamenting plays into the hands of the Third Reich? It is disheartening to see just how much the outside world misunderstands Israel. We surely cannot be that different! I am splitting a pizza with friends and drinking iced tea--how different from the Americans can I be?  |
| 3:45 P.M. - University Gilad Shalit has been in captivity for 1,120 days. He was taken by Palestinian terrorists, and the only way Hamas will release him is if Israel gives up everything--the land, the government, the people, the cities, the money, the weapons... Gilad was nineteen when he was taken, in his first year with the IDF. He could be my brother, who is the same age, or even me a few years ago. He could be any of the soldiers that went back to work today, or any of the soldiers that will begin to serve in a few months' time. He could be any of us, and that is what is so terrifying. Because I do not think that the heart of war is not who bombs who. The heart of war is who is caught in crossfire, and how every innocent victim plays into the final decision. The Israeli government of course would never surrendor anything for one boy. No government would. It doesn't matter how much his mother cries, or how much his father pays, or how much his peers worry. This is war. And to win--to survive--there is a cost. It's when that cost is still living and breathing, suffering at the hands of the enemy, just out of reach, that things become complicated. Because if Gilad had been killed, it would have been a tragedy, but it would have been a reason to fight harder. Gilad is still alive, and that is what is so unsettling. I wonder what he thinks? His country is not willing to pay what it costs to free him, but surely he does not expect it to? He is a soldier. He understands the risks. But then I wonder if he really does at nineteen; can anyone understand that much at nineteen? Long day! Time for the beach and something good to eat, I think. |
| 6:55 P.M. - boardwalk eating falafel! I am a wonderfully moral and near-perfect person, I am telling you. For today, as I walked home from lunch with friends (having skipped out on temple, regrettably) I came across a sizeable amount of money on the ground of a store I was shopping in. I could have easily pocketed the money (and, indeed, I was considering a purchase of a similar amount), but I, being the divine Child of G-d that I sometimes am, chose instead to turn it in. And now, when I accuse others of lacking a certain morality, I can claim that I am not one who would sacrifice ethics for monetary assets. If there is a G-d, I would like to ask him if this makes up for my pathetic synagogue attendance record as of recently? |
| 12:26 A.M. - finally home! Meir Amit has died. May he be remembered and his memory honored and cherished. During Shabbas a few hours ago, my brother and my parents got into an argument about whether or not soldiers should go to temple. He says they should not because they are fulfilling their military obligation and they deserve time off. My parents think he should be grateful for what he has and that he should thank G-d for his health and his life and his good fortune. During my military service, I went to temple only for major holidays. I wanted time off to relax and have fun. I do not blame my brother. He is young--all of our soldiers are young. This whole Jerusalem Haredim mess has taught us less religious Israelis something important: that this is a Jewish country, and that the Haredi will not tolerate the government or law enforcement messing with their way of life. Never again, right? I am not sure why, but knowing that makes me smile. Of course I do not want them rioting or hurting police, but the thought that they will, and that they will not be helpless victims means haShoah will remain where it belongs: history. |
| 12:55 A.M. - University room Thursday night! Weekend! Going to go out to have some fun in a few minutes. I can hear the music from down the block... France beat England in soccer/football in the Maccabiah! Now they play Argentina. My brother might be asked to testify in world court if the IDF is formally charged with war crimes because of what happened in Gaza last winter. This makes us all very angry and defensive. Hamas uses human shields, and ISRAEL is accused of being inhumane? This Breaking the Silence thing on YouTube is trying to show Americans how Israelis really are, but some soldiers are being very unpatriotic. I was one of these soldiers two years ago--I know things, too, but that does not make me turn against the country that has kept me safe my entire life. All armies partake in questionable behavior. This is war! Our enemy has no intention of playing fair. You must fight fire with fire, or face the repercussions. Hamas wants to destroy Israel and every Jew who lives inside its borders. What does the United Nations expect us to do, let them do it? Also there is much talk of America's President. Many are afraid of what he will try to do, like force Netanyahu to make certain concessions that will be detrimental to Israeli interests. America has much power to blackmail us. We are at their mercy. We should not be at anyone's mercy. I am afraid of what the President is allowed to do--I thought there were checks and balances, but Israeli has a large presence in Washington D.C. and it does not seem as though Obama is consulting with our government, or even his own. But perhaps this is just Israeli paranoia. We trust no government, after all. Thursday night! Going to go out to a club. My brother will be home tomorrow and we will discuss this all over Shabbas dinner. |
| 6:05 P.M. - Beach Here is an example of how politics shape many plans in Israel. I was going to go to Jerusalem tomorrow to visit family, but the Haredim are rioting so this is perhaps not the best idea. I do not understand the Haredim. I know they are deep in their faith, and I know they are Jews like me, but they are so extreme. They were burning garbage cans and things and breaking into union buildings. They were also throwing around the word "Nazi", which bothers me. I do not think this is a word we should throw around as Jews. This is kind of like diminishing the severity of the word's implication, I think. The Haredim think their community is always being attacked. They think if they cannot be safe and allowed to flourish in Israel, than where else? I think they need to be thankful. Attacking Israeli police? That is not good. Jews have had enough enemies! We should not turn against ourselves, I think. Perhaps my trip will be postponed. |
| 6:03 P.M. - beach!! Last night I watched the opening Maccabiah ceremony in Ramat Gan. Very exciting! I went last year, but could not take time away from my studies this year. The Israeli athletes wear the yellow ribbon for Gilad Schalit and then all the non-Israeli Jews were asked to make aliya and everyone was unified and patriotic. There were athletes from Austria, Australia, America, Germany, Uzbekistan, Britan--I think 66 countries in all. Very fun and uplifting. We need some cheer and happiness, I think! More good news! Israeli is no longer like the top country for suicide (not counting the Arab suicide bombers). Depression is still a big problem, drug use is still a big problem, but in the elderly over 75 suicide has dropped almost 32%. And as for the Russians here, it is still a big problem. Hopefully this will change. We have enough people killed, we don't need them killing themselves! We will make a fire at the beach tonight and play music. Hopefully eat something, too, because I am hungry... |
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