Is Raf OK? -- Installment #17

2023-10-26 -- Tel Aviv --

Oct 26, 2023

(This entry has been mildly edited since its original publication to correctly reflect the relationship of the killed members of Kibbutz Beeri to my friend.)

Seen

Only eight people at the yoga studio today. At the beginning of every event and class, the instructor says: "If there is a red alert, the way to the safe room is ____."

Heard

The language of the first week (two?) reminded me of the weeks and months after 9/11 in the U.S. I recall my Uncle Michael Rauch, of NYC, relating, "There are people in New York, established, educated, considerate people, who say we should reduce Afghanistan to a crater."

Such things were said about Gaza in the past few weeks. Captured in this dark humor (that I saw in Hebrew):

"Why disconnect the water and electricity to Gaza? It works better to connect them."

Thomas Friedman pointed out the contrast between "Gaza’s evident human poverty and the wealth of weaponry Hamas has built and deployed." This maps to humanitarian aid that lacks needed diesel fuel. Hamas uses that fuel to, among other things, build and deploy its rocket arsenal. How likely are Israelis on the ground, on the receiving end of thousands of missiles over the past three weeks, to countenance aid that can be repurposed? (The warheads on the rockets are made largely of fertilizer and sugar... basic stuff.)

Hamas has, for decades, killed hundreds on the street via summary executions[1], and (per Human Rights Watch) adult women are controlled by their fathers and husbands.

I learned conditions in Gaza are (and have been) such that when folks are able to get out, Hamas' oppression may be a basis for claiming asylum in Europe.

Interviewed

The Israel Story podcast was on site at the Jerusalem hotel where refugees from the south of Israel are staying. The complex of hotels is now also hosting hundreds from the north of Israel, as the city of Kiryat Shmona has been evacuated in the face of violence from Hezbolah/Iran.

Felt

For two days in a row I have been moved to tears. Both times over the captives. Yesterday the blindfolded teddy bears. Today a new clip of Shlomo Artzi singing one of his classics: We don't need more. The chorus has a couple variations:

את הגשם תן רק בעיתו,
ובאביב פזר לנו פרחים,
ותן שיחזור שוב לביתו,
יותר מזה אנחנו לא צריכים.
Let the rain fall only at night
In the spring scatter on us flowers
Let him return home again
More than that we don't need
and
את הגשם תן רק בעיתו,
ובאביב פזר לנו פרחים,
ותן לנו לשוב ולראותו -
יותר מזה אנחנו לא צריכים.
Let the rain fall only at night
In the spring scatter on us flowers
Let us see him again
More than that we don't need

Felt 2

There have been two red alerts in Tel Aviv so far today (it is 7:25PM as I write this). I read that Hamas rockets carry bombs of 10-20kg. There were five blasts in the more recent attack (usually there are two). Here is what my Home Front Command app says today:

Seen 2

Yesterday, I mentioned going to a שבעה רגילה - a “regular” shiva. How can you tell what kind of shiva you are going to? There are clues on the shiva announcement.

Yesterday, it was this:

That says: Our father and grandfather.

A good friend has a son. The son has a girlfriend. Her uncle and cousin were members of the kibbutz defense committee and were killed defending the kibbutz. Their shiva notices:

One says: The Israel Defence Force announces with sadness the fall of Sergeant Major...

The other: With Great Sadness We Announce The Murder of our son, brother, grandson and friend

Relief Area

Alef

Bet

Eretz Nehederet is a comedy/satire show, parallel to Saturday Night Live. They put out an impersonation of Bibi Netanyahu. I made English subtitles (if they aren’t there click the “cc” button).