As an unpopular Prime Minister in the mid 90’s (after Oslo started to slip and Yitzak Rabin’s assassination), Bibi could have ridden the wave to have Likud win by acknowledging what he learned from his last sojourn in the PMO and how much he contributed as minister of Finance under Sharon. Instead, he was the least outspoken of all the leaders, certainly in the print and radio media (I don’t really have a cable TV). So the results reflect a certain mistrust for Bibi, Ehud Barak…in fact most Israeli politicians. That is itself is sad, as we certainly need strong leadership in the viper pit of Middle East politics. People here were more caught up by Obama Mania than in their own elections. So for the next week, we wait till Shimon Peres asks someone if they want this thankless job….My last full week in Jerusalem was just that; FULL. We started out on Shabbat with Ariel, who had been really under the weather all week, coming for Shabbat so he could just take it easy. A good night’s sleep and some good food (even chicken soup) seemed to really help; by Shabbat Afternoon he really seemed better (with the help of some antibiotics for his sinus infection as well!). We had Nomi, Elan and Shoshana for Shabbat lunch, which gave me the chance to really cook for Shabbat for the first time in weeks. I have to stay in practice for Cote St. Luc, you know. Ariel and I had coffee and bagels and a great chat after we did some paper work on Motzei Shabbat. The week went on with more lab work, trying to get the projects organized to continue now on two different continents.
Monday was Tu B’shvat, which allowed me to bring some really nice Israeli (not Turkish) fruit to our lab meeting. We shared stories of Tu B’shvat and I told everyone of our care packages with rock hard boxer (carob) every year in elementary school.
Then came the ‘last’ Tuesday night dinner,… for now. A spectacular feast of filet of sole, pasta primavera and Greek salad, topped off with strawberries, melon and rogelach. I think that Eli Cohen, who crashed once and became a regular will miss our cooking as much if not more than our kids! Shoshana enjoyed the past, strawberries and melon very much. I will try to post the strawberry video tot Facebook!
Tu B’shvat is a spectacular time to appreciate Israel. There are amazing blossoms on the trees, and the weather was starting to warm up. Till Tuesday, that is, when the temperature dove, the winds picked up and we had a major thunderstorm with rain on and off for about 24 hours. I got caught in a hail storm coming back from Elan and Nomi’s house. Thank G-d for the Inbal where I was able to duck inside before I became a victim of hail like in the 10 plagues. Wednesday I went to the Wedding of a graduate student in our lab, at a beautiful setting called Ganei Cananaan. It is just past Ramle about 15-20 minutes from Tel Aviv. The Chupa is on a pond with criss-crossing walkways. Very pretty and the Chattan and Kallah were properly feted by their friends and family. On Thursday I was invited to be taped for a new Web site providing allergy information for parents and children. It was a marathon session at my friend Ilan Dallal’s office in Holon (Wolfson Hospital) and hopeful they can find enough good clips for a useful presentation. Look for AllergyMD.com at a internet kiosk near you!!
Lost in Translation, Israel style: On a store on Jaffa Road: “We have past to 22 Haneviim” (Does that me that's their old address??)
(Hebrew for moved to a new place is “Avarnu”, which shares the root ‘past’, as in past tence, as well as ‘l’avor’ to cross over” )
On a bus shelter, an add for a general handyman for your home: Special! Apartment Constriction!! (and I thought Israeli apartments were small already! Apparently not….)
Since this is the last Jerusalem post, I have to comment on something I have noticed now that I have been around for almost 6 months. Israeli’s are not all that friendly to strangers, although not unfriendly, just kind of apathetic. This is probably for a good reason; there are so many tourists and chutznik-part timers, that you never know how ‘serious” someone is about living here. Israeli’s, whether native or new immigrant, certainly take pride in their ability to tough things out and live here in spite of the odds. It is really quite amazing sometimes, when people work 2-3 jobs and do what ever they have to to make ends meet, just to experience living here. Therefore, “Johnny come sometimes” people are not rapidly acknowledged. This may sound like a generalization, but I have been to a large enough number of synagogues to tell you that the ‘spontaneous greeter” is not commonly found, especially in Jerusalem. However, in the last few weeks, I have definitely noticed a difference; it is as if I have crossed an invisible threshold and have hung around enough to be greeted like other ‘regulars’. Oh well, just as I am leaving. With the kids here and especially Shoshana, I guess Barbara and I will be back soon in any case.
Please wish refuah shlema for Gilad Hillel ben Bracha Mirel, Naama Bracha bat Devorah and tamar Dina bat Smadar
Happy Birthday to someone, I am sure (tell me who I forgot!)
Shabbat Shalom to everyone, and greet one stranger this Shabbat. Maybe with little kindnesses we will merit more Devine assistance in this crazy world!
Bruce and Barbara
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