Trials

This is the start of a month long experiment for me. I have friends who have gone out of town for the month leaving behind their dog and apartment. I offered to stay in the apartment and watch the dog for them. I have always wanted a dog of my own, and since moving out of my parents house have often contemplated getting myself one. This month will probably be the deal breaker. I'll eiither move out sure I want one, or don't... Also, for the first extended amount of time I have my own apartment. I have thought off and on about getting my own place. Since moving to Israel I have always had 2 roommates.. in NY I always had one... What is life like without any? Well...I'll find out... i'm still in my neighborhood a walk of under 4 minutes from my real life apartment... I moved in tonight...so begins my trial month...

WOWed by the past

The most interesting person I had the chance to meet in a long time was Yom Tov night. I was staying with a friend by her adoptive family and we went to visit a friend who was spending the chag at the same yishuv as us. He was staying by a family he had become close with while at yeshiva in the neighborhood. We were sitting in the random people's house catching up on old times and politics, when the host dad walked in and sat down. It started pretty innocently, as he asked me and the other friend I had come with where we were from. Two hours later we walked out having sat through the most interesting history lesson I have ever had the chance to attend. Our host had been born in the old city, where he spoke Yiddish to the Jews and Arabic to the Arabs. At 13 he was handed a gun to fight the Jordanians when he was taken POW for a number of months. Since then he fought in every Israeli battle. He spoke of political ups and downs throughout the years. He spoke of Gush Katif and the incoming knesset. He spoke and the three of us sat there enthralled...only disappointed when he decided to call it a night, and we went out to the street to discuss what was, what is, and will we be able to enthrall the future with our past.

...and in other news...

I don't know which would bother me more. If the Knesset pushed off the swearing in ceremony out of respect to those murdered, mutilated, maimed, and hurt in the attack today, or if the Knesset did not change anything so not to let terrrorists dictate our lives. I think if we as a nation internalized each attack more, let it affect us fully, flew the flag at half mast, sounded the siren for a minute of mouning for each victim....We'd hate our enemy enough to destroy them. There's a country song that came out after 9-11 about US seeking revenge by Darryl Worley.

"They took all the footage off my T.V.
Said it's too disturbing for you and me
It'll just breed anger that's what the experts say
If it was up to me I'd show it everyday"

I think Darryl is onto something here. Those just sworn in should be present at each of the funerals, and speak to each of the survivors. Myself included. Yes, I am a survivor of this attack. No, I was not in the vicinity. I was not even in the same city. No, I don't think I knew anyone personally who was physically injured. Yes, I still claim to be a survivor. I will not be the same as I was before this attack. The same as I haven't been the same since the last attack, the one before that, and the first one I remember hearing about. I hope you are not the same either. If you are...perhaps you need to learn a little about each of the victims who were physically there.

Moadim L'Simcha

In honor of the Chag I took a day off of work. I was going to hike with some friends from Beit Shemesh to Jerusalem through a few caves and whatnot...but the hike was cancelled as the rain caused fear of cave flooding... The family in the Negev who was rescued by helicopter would agree it was probably the best decision... Instead I decided to get all my errands done. I went to the doctor man to sign my license forms that I am not likely to die while driving a car from foreseeable reasons, to discover that his office has closed. No, not for the chag...shut and moved. I went to the license office to see if what i have already is good enough...but alas they are closed for the week. Fine, my last stop was the bank...which of course was closed because of the chag. Whoo-hoo! So, instead of being productive I met some friends for lunch, checked out the "town" scene. Did a little window shopping. Went to a birthday party. And watched a movie. Tomorrow's a regular work day. Wonder if there's anything for me to do in the office. I heard today they watched a movie through a projector on the wall. It's a hard days work to find 9 hours of things to do when nothing needs to get done. Oooh the life :)

all the fuss...

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Kadima Party official and acting Foreign Minister Tzippy Livni told ABC's Nightline program that Arab attacks on soldiers should not be considered terrorist attacks and could be seen as "more legitimate" than attacks on civilians.

Her statements have garnered much press and she reiterated them in an interview with Israel Radio on Tuesday.

Livni defended the statements by saying that she had worked for years to convince the international community that Arab terrorists were not "freedom fighters."
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I'm not sure why everyone is up in arms about this. It is not an act of terrorism. This is an act of war. As we are being attacked war style we need to seal the borders and attack back. Go Tzippy and your leftist thoughts...Bring on the WAR and let our soldiers destroy the enemy.