I guess it's telling ... I had this whole idea of what I'd write for my 8th aliya'versary blog yesterday, and I just plainly forgot to write it. Too busy at work, too busy at home and Liverpool were playing too. Oh well, so now it's 8 years and 1 day now ... It's odd to look back at the sparks that created this dream for me, or the determination and motivation in the months leading up to the move. I've thoroughly enjoyed this journey - the ups and the downs - and have no regrets. I'm looking forward to every day and every adventure life here with my precious family brings.
Other aliya'versary blogs: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
***
Aaron and I were both members of WUJS's February 2003 group. Last week, he told me that he was making yerida with his family due to various issues. Israel isn't for everyone (at least not now), and it's a difficult challenge at times to make it work here. It's tough to lose good people like Aaron & his family, but one can only wish them luck and hope that they return (and if not the parents, then the children!). I hope their new adventure in the US only brings them happiness and fulfillment.
***
In the last two months, the Tunisian & Egyptian governments have been overthrown by massive internal unrest. In Lebanon, Hezbollah succeeded in a silent coup to rid the country of the democratically elected Said Hariri, the man who's father they murdered. These events have lit a fire in the Arab world - riots, protests, fatalities and hundreds of injuries have followed in Syria, Bahrain, Jordan, Yemen, Libya, Algeria & Iran. What does this mean for them? I really don't know. I am not very optimistic considering what we've seen happen in Gaza & Lebanon, or what has happened in Iran since the overthrow of the Shah in '79. I hope moderate, respectful leaders somehow get into power and usher in a new era for their people. I really do ... I'd rather not think about what happens if they don't ...
***
I watched a documentary about Yossi Gispan yesterday. The man is responsible for writing most of the Mizrachi hits that have propelled this genre to the forefront of the Israeli music scene. It was really interesting until the end where a music analyst and various artists decided to take shots at Yossi's genre (No points for guessing what they all had in common):
"This music is destroying the Hebrew language"
"I see a direct correlation between the success of the Mizrachi genre and that the most watched shows in Israel are reality TV shows that don't require thought or 'deep thinking'" (Ivri Leader)
"There's no Israeli culture, they've ruined it" (Mati Caspi)
"Israeli Music is at a low point that's it's never seen before. There's no way back from this vulgarity. We won't be able to return the rock, the pop, or 'Israeli country music' (שירי ארץ ישראל) to their old, good place. The Mizrachi singers also sing our repertoire, the white people." (Chava Alberstein)
Wait a second ... Elitism? Racism? Naaaah, not in Israel.
***
Should have probably blogged about this last month ... The King came back.
***
Talya & I are expecting #2 b'h in early April ... The roller coaster ride continues! :)
_
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Sigh, yerida. I see friends on Facebook who are still in Israel, and have made it work. They'll always be Anglos, but more or less, they have integrated into Israeli society, to the extent possible. I wish that could have happened for me, but looking back, the deck was too stacked against me. Little to no connection with non-Anglos, bad language skills, on my own, too old for the army, working in a strictly English speaking environment, which turned into no job at all. There was no way I was going to be able to stay on, and I should have left before it got really depressing.
I'd love to go back someday (I'd settle for a vacation at this point), but I try to look at what I've gained (friends, life experience, a love for schwarma with amba and harif), rather than the failure of coming back to the States.
Hey Cyndi - Thanks for the comment.
I don't think yerida is a failure. It's a personal decision made by an individual (or a family). As it says in Pirkei Avot, you shouldn't judge a man until you're in his shoes. Obviously, I want everyone to be here but I'm a realist and that's not the reality right now.
Shabbat Shalom.
Post a Comment