Anyone for cake?

A year ago today, I was sat in the middle of a mess. Boxes surrounded me, photographs were on the floor, clothes in and out of cases, and I realised it was less a month until I were to make aliya, I needed to pack, so I did the responsible thing - diversion tactics, I started a blog. My first post was full of anticipation for my move. Twelve months of writing later, there have been ups, downs and "what am I doing" days, most of which I have documented here.

Today, I am sat in a clean and tidy house, shabbat is a few hours away. Boxes are emptied, photographs are on the walls, clothes are in and out of cases (new wardrobe arrives next week) and I realise it is less than a month until my Mum makes aliya. She has packed and is doing the responsible thing - moving to Israel.

Shabbat Shalom.

ALIYA ~ ISRAEL ~ ZIONISM

Trust Everyone; Don't Trust the Devil Inside Them

A Politican denial is as believable as a cheap rate in a Jerusalem taxi, but Sharon is on his soapbox, promising not to do a Barak and split Jerusalem. History is known to repeat itself, then again, "history is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon" Napoleon Bonaparte.

With election day set, the excitement should have begun, but there doesn't seem to a lot of noise in the arena, just the usual. Bibi is calling Sharon names, Peres is sitting tight, pleased to still have his name on headed notepaper, and the Likud party needs to choose a leader.

“Sharon’s people are exposing what he’s trying to hide, but everyone already knows – Sharon will divide Jerusalem and bring the Palestinians to the 1967 borders,” Netanyahu said. LINK

Now, this could be the usual pre-vote war of words, and no doubt the heat under the collars will continue to rise as we race towards March, but why anyone would vote for Sharon escapes me. There is one thing fpoliticiantican not to follow through on a promise, and while that is not really acceptable, it is taken for granted, but to be elected on one platform and do a complete about turn is a gamble that would rarely pay off.

Sharon lied to the nation and his kid is up against all sorts of charges, that behaviour must have been learned somewhere. If I don't trust someone, I won't have anything to do with them, not in a sociaprofessionalional context, and I certainly don't want them leading my country.

While filling a gap in the political spectrum, Kadima has created another too. The new centrist party has pushed the Likud further right, leaving the centrist-right with less of a voice. The party seems to be in ruins too.

I do not believe with the "never forget, never forgive" camp that want to hold on to the pain ofdisengagementement and use it as a pawn. Forgive but don't forget. We must learn from the mistakes of this summer and make sure it can't happen again, but to bare a grudge is not a Jewish ideal. Giving back land is not a Jewish ideal either, but two wrongs just get more people wound up and does not help the cause.

Sure, many people putting their X in Sharon's box come March probably didn't vote for him last time, but at the same time, can you trust a leader that stabbed his supporters in their back last time round? It has been said that only a right wing Prime Minister can bring peace, and Sharon certainly isn't on the right anymore. Even the lefties should be able to understand that one.

ALIYA ~ ISRAEL ~ISRAELI ELECTIONS ~ ZIONISM

Behind the headlines

The Jewish and Israeli Blog Awards 2005 have nominations opened, you can read more here. Last years JIBs were held at the same time I started to write a blog, and got me into the whole blogsphere thing and introduced me to a wealth of opinions and stories from people with much more experience in the crazy land than I have. A year on, I am living it out in Israel and have shared some of my experiences and views with the wider public.

My trip to the UK keeps coming up, most likely due to the fact that I just got back to Israel. While in England, I had the misfortune to hear a radio phone-in show about the price of milk. All sorts of figures were being thrown around, including which geographical and demographic groups earn more or less. The Men earn more than Woman theory has been found to be true in many countries and this morning it made the headlines in Israel.

According to Galgalatz (radio station), men in Israel will earn up to 60% more than women, Israelis 15% more than Arabs, and an Ashkanazi 33% more than a Sephardi [Wikipedia provides a definition: Ashkanazi / Sephardi]. The man-woman thing isn't new to me, and the Israeli-Arab thing doesn't really surprise me, not that I think either of these is fair, but hearing the final statistic wasn't the closing sentence I was expecting.

Equality is one of those words people like to throw around, it's politically correct for everyone to be equal and it keeps people happy, and don't get me wrong, I don't think anyone deserves to be treated or paid differently due to their racial or social background. If one does a job, and does it well, they deserve the pennies in their pocket, no matter who they are.

Other than hilighting yet anther social rift that I was unaware of, this story made me smile to myself. It was one of the first times in a long time I had listened to a headline and the story catching my attention had no connection to terrorism, death, shootings or traffic accidents. It was a normal, run of the mill headline that I could have heard anywhere in the world. Maybe Israel is taking small steps towards normality, but then again, what is that?

ALIYA ~ ISRAEL ~ ZIONISM

What do you like about Shabbat?

NEW PHOTO'S now online at www.yosef84.com

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Shiny white tablecloths aside, Shabbat is a lovely way to end a week, recharge and get ready for any chaos that will follow with the coming week. After two weeks away, I was looking forward to a nice normal Shabbat in Baka with my friends, cheap wine and a meal thrown together sometime late in the week. Friday night was lovely, a friend's parents hosted me at the Inbal for dinner, then other mates were celebrating the birth of their firstborn son, so I popped in to wish them Mazal Tov [congratulations] and share a wee dram of 18 year old Glenmorangie. As for Shabbat lunch, mates came round and we enjoyed a meal at home.

I don't think I could get through the week without Shabbat. A day off, no work, no phones ringing, just a time to be with friends and family and enjoy 25 hours without the headache of life resting on your shoulders. When I worked at Camp Monroe a few summers back, some on the non-Jewish friends really enjoyed the Shabbatot they experienced, and for a few weeks after camp ended, they kept Saturdays as a special day to turn off.

Shabbat is one of those things that can ignite the "Israeli/Jewish State" argument. We are not living in a state that follows the absolute letter of Halacha [Jewish Law], but the country is one that speaks Hebrew, and preserves aspects of Judaism. Sure, there are loopholes, and the secular Israeli public seek to use them. At the same time, the ultra orthodox want to preserve the sanctity and holiness of the land and have everyone conform to their standards.

Israel is a diverse society, and an article I read last night seems to reflect that. It would seem that the government is seeking to reform the Shabbat law that ensures public transport does not run and malls keep their doors closed. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable at home, right? Maybe. I don't think I want buses running down my street on Shabbatot. I chose to move to a Jewish State for a reason.

One of the many things that frustrated me on my to the UK was the closed mindedness of the frum [religious, but that doesn't really translate it, there is a connotation to the word too] communities. The way that some halachot [laws] have been blown out of context to a ridiculous extent and the religion has become a burden and not a joy. It reminded me that had I stayed in the UK my religious observance would have slipped away, not because I don't want to practice or be a Jew, but so not to be associated with a practice I feel is off the mark. I am practicing Jew because I want to be, and because I believe I am doing the right thing, not because my Rabbi or neighbour thinks it's good for me.

Of my Jewish friends, some of my closest are charedi [ultra orthodox], so I am not intentionally being a bigot and tarnishing everyone with the same brush, but, from where I see things, there some things fundamentally wrong with assuming all Jews wish to practice and conform.

Taking the other side of the spectrum, there is only so far you can manipulate the religion without it becoming something else entirely. There is more to the religion than wearing a Magen David [Star of David] round your neck. Reform, Conservative, Feminist, Reconstruction and other nouveau forms of worship are all well and good and may suit some, but maybe there is a line that needs to be preserved. Should you cross that line, call is something else.

Israeli's have a form Shabbat. It is a day that they have off from work. Many, whether religious or not, preserve the weekend as family time. Friday nights are enjoyed with families coming together. Sure, many families may break the laws of Shabbat in the process, but Friday night dinner is enjoyed by those identifying as Israeli as well as those that identify as being Jewish.

Personally, I don't care what individuals do on a Shabbat, or how they practice, as long as it doesn't harm anyone. It's entirely up to them, but in order to preserve the Jewishness of the worlds only Jewish State, it would be nice if national symbols, such as Egged could keep their keys in their pockets one day a week.

Media Wilderness

It's good to be home, and I feel like I haven't been away. It's so easy to slip back into the normality, especially when it is what you have been craving for a while. Don't get me wrong, I loved every minute spent with my friends and family in chu"l this week (photos coming soon!), but now I am sat in the lounge with my new flat mate, and we're blogging away.

There were a few signs letting me know I was back in Israel, aside from the Russian technician that spent five hours in the house installing a phone line today, the Nesher [group taxi] driver started to talk Politics with me, there was just one small problem. While spending the last two weeks sleeping on a myriad of different people's couches, I didn't get too much time online, thus I missed out on my hourly news fix.

I did hear of the Netanya bomb while I was away. The fifth suicide bomb, targeting the innocent, since my aliya, and today, Israel burried more of her victims. Events like these don't get forgotten in Israel, especially when a general election is looming. Kadima, Sharon's new party, seems to be popular, and the cabby is planning on putting his X in Sharon's box, voting for the first time since 1968. As yet, I can't comment, but as soon as I top my media knowledge, I will vent my annoyance right here.

Tonight, I am off to hang out with friends at Sugar Hill, then tomorrow it's up early to sort out Shabbat for the myself and the mates that are round for lunch.

Shabbat Shalom!

Have Google, will Travel...

...no, I'm talking about Google Earth. I am in a Google Space at Heathrow airport, with an hour or so to kill before my flight, what better thing to do is there than get online. Apparently the internet in my apartment has been disconnected so I will add that to my to do list when I return to the really world tomorrow.

Driving to the airport gave me time to reflect, not just on the last two weeks, but on all sorts of things. I have lived in Israel almost a year now, but as my rights start to dwindle, my Mum's are about to get started. Nothing I own is left in England, it's either being handled by El Al baggage as I type (I was only 35kg over my weight allowance for this flight, but they had the kindness just to charge me for 10kg of my overweight baggage), or it's on a ship making its slow journey to me by boat. My Mum's aliya is no longer months and months away.

Another chapter is about to begin, an exciting new phase that I have been looking forward to for a long time, but at the same time, the door to that younger life is no longer open, and that is a new reality to adjust to. I don't think I've worked out how I feel yet, but I do know I can't wait to get back to Israel, sleep in my own bed, and have my Mum living in the same city as me once again.

I'm going to miss some of my friends in the UK a lot, and have enjoyed spending the last two weeks hanging out with them, and I hope that one day, they too will make the move and live nearby too - but I'm realistic, and for now, will have to make do with Skype!

The world is my oyster, but I only have one home.