First World Hazards:
I like nuts. And dried fruit. And dates. Biblical feasts and poetry come to mind. The scents. The food's sensuality. In Tel Aviv, one source is a shop: Nut Station.
In the blocks leading to the store (which, tragically, I have no choice but to pass on my way home - g) I thought: Is it time to kick (curb?) my cashew habit? The decision: Almonds. The result: Almonds and pistachios. The danger:
Oreo-covered cashews.
And
Oreo-covered pecans.
I didn't know those existed. They’ve been there for always, but: a) I usually get dried fruit at this shop, so haven't spent time in the nut corner; and, b) I don't easily parse English words in Hebrew (still)--it took some staring to understand the sign. Only then did the danger materialize.
This being the Middle East, there is an obligation to taste. I did. Not once.
But purchased not.
Ignorance isn’t bliss. Oreo covered cashews are!
Shifting gears:
Al-Shifa Hospital
Al-Shifa Hospital (Arabic: مستشفى الشفاء Mustašfā š-Šifāʾ [musˈtaʃ.fa‿ʃ.ʃiˈfaːʔ]), properly known as Dar al-Shifa Hospital (Arabic: مستشفى دار الشفاء Mustašfā Dār aš-Šifāʾ [musˈtaʃ.faː daːr aʃ.ʃiˈfaːʔ]), is the largest medical complex and central hospital in the Gaza Strip, located in the neighbourhood of northern Rimal in Gaza City in the Gaza Governorate.
6 minute tour of initial findings at Shifa hospital
How To Stop The War
A cease fire at this point means one thing: More war.
To minimize suffering in Gaza, Charles Lane at the Washington Post has figured it out:
"If Hamas cared about Palestinian lives, it would surrender." Charles Lane, columnist at the Washington Post says it all. (PDF here)
Hot take: No one is going to live next door to Hamas. Not Israelis. Not residents of Oakland California. No one. Not an option. (It never was, but you know Homo Sapiens... Don't do today what can be postponed until tomorrow...)
Three minute video: Ceasefire now!
Some Contrast
Israeli soldiers in Gaza
Army Service & Dog Lovers
Because the country is small, soldiers come home. Every week or two for a day or two. Not just to do laundry. I have been at Friday night meals, and a member of the household shows up mid meal. In uniform, for shabbat off. The family gets an update, asks questions. Depending on what unit the soldier is in, you get either all kinds of news. Or just a smile and a grunt. (A mouth full of food is an excellent way to dodge questions.)
At the moment, soldiers with office jobs are off one day a week, and soldiers in the field typically come home for 48 hours every two weeks.
A clip of dogs greeting such arrivals
Clips From Gaza
"Gaza Bollywood"
A video from a few days ago that is running strong on Arabic language social networks. The boy pretends to be injured (for Hamas/Palestinian social media propaganda). His mother (apparently) thinks he is really injured, and then they remove the bandage from his head and reveal to the mother - nothing's wrong, everything is fine.
FWIW, Raf has seen a few other clips out of Gaza with the same theme. Girls and boys with make up on, on stretchers.
Closer to Home
Looking out over East Jerusalem at sunset, the Muezzin's call comes from left, right and center as the various Mosques start their services. The landscape comes alive. I joked: It could be quite an "arms race" if one of them bought bigger speakers.
Well, the joke is on Raf. This happened recently in Jaffa -- a 20 minute walk from my apartment. It is so loud that people are moving out. Conversation is cancelled at cafes for blocks around. Five times a day.
Relief Area
Alef
From the Israel rally in Washington D.C. a day ago:
Bet
Gimmel
Dalet
(this is unverified)
Top photo: Last week Jewish homes were marked with Stars of David in Paris.
Bottom photo: This is how it looks today. The bigger text says “Am Yisrael Chai” and the smaller one says “We are all together with Israel”. עם ישראל חי!
BBC Apology
In case you missed it.
It was a nice day in Tel Aviv. Lunch with a friend. Personal growth moment: I discovered that I don’t know how to calculate when Thanksgiving falls. (And even bought plane tickets based on my mistaken understanding. Fun fact: El Al, the only airline flying to Tel Aviv this month, is super flexible, keeping tickets, even last minute tickets, at normal prices, and it may yet work out!)
Never stop learning!
g
Raf
(Thanks to A.K. and M.N. for content. Thanks to A.K. for feedback.)