Is this a dvar? No. It is a response to the many texts, whatsapps and messages of concern.
Writing earlier in the day...two days in a row! It is Friday. Before two P.M! Haven't seen a bathroom since before eight. Bladder full. Stomach empty. Been cooking for five hours. No energy to make lunch. I'll chew some gum. I'll be right back.
Phew. I feel better now. Water and chewing gum go a long way.
At the sandwich factory all week, there wasn’t a lot of thinking. Fifteen people, all volunteers but for two, making omelette sandwiches. 40 to a box. Boxes picked up and shuttled to someplace-that-needs-them. Passers asking non stop "Are these for the soldiers?" Answer: "They go to womens' shelters, hospitals, army units. We don't actually know."
Today, a little different.
For starters, yesterday they told the volunteers not to come on Friday. And then three of us, "You three, be here in the morning."
OK.
We came. Not doing sandwiches. Making shabbat meals (dinner for tonight and lunch tomorrow) for an army unit of 30. This unit had a difficult week.
There is an organization in Israel called Zaka (Hebrew: זק"א, abbreviation for Zihuy Korbanot Ason, זיהוי קרבנות אסון, lit. 'Disaster Victim Identification' ). If there is a road or industrial accident, natural disaster or terror incident, the members of this organization come to collect and identify the bodies (and parts).
The army unit we cooked for spent the week with a Zaka team.
I smell of charcoal smoke. Shirt. Hair. Hands.
The cafe chef brought a chef-friend. And a high end pastry chef. Joe, Elimelech and Pua directed ten of us in the production of 60+ classy shabbat meals. Two kinds of fish. Challot. Deserts baked and fruity. Four or more salatim. I was assigned to Elimelech to: Torch eggplants; Lightly char pears; chop things; direct a couple of other volunteers; turn away frequent spontaneous offers of help (“Hi Friends! Can you please stay there at the entrance? We are overstaffed.”) (The guy who handed me several hundred shekels was a give-and-go.)
The grill at hand is funky. Not a designed thing (no airflow, wobbly). The chef says: Point that electric fan at it. NOW we have real fire. Stuff really roasts now.
Across the street, the corner store (thankfully) sells charcoal. The real thing. Pieces of charcoaled wood. The shopkeeper donates them.
This small cafe doesn't have much of a kitchen. The one oven has to churn through all the baking, then trays of fish. The team wraps up around 12:30. The chefs stay on for another hour or two to make the fish.
Seen
Bet Lechem street continues to be reasonably alive. Barber shops and salons are open. In Tel Aviv reports say corner stores, groceries and coffee shops are open.
Heard
All kinds of "the rules have changed" and "Arab mentality" talk. Talk of early, hasty responses last Shabbat by the IDF being confused messes. One of my assistants today runs a PR consultancy for tech startups. Now he orients masses of journalists who have just arrived. In the hostage situation.
Messages Incoming
Every organization that has my number has sent their mental health hotline. I must have five or eight professional hot lines I could call (in as many languages). From a couple of different ministries. From my HMO and a couple NGOs. And several less formal options (synagogues, language school, etc.).
Not Heard
No red alerts in Jerusalem the last couple of days. I think also none in Tel Aviv. My main yoga studio is closed. Secondary studio is on zoom. UPS and the Post Office are delivering. No idea if the yoga mat I ordered a day ago will be shipped soon.
Thoughts
A few months ago, I saw the film Savoy about the 1970’s attack by terrorists on the Savoy hotel in Tel Aviv. I walked out thinking "Classic. Muscular Israeli military response that doesn't seem to have saved any lives. Is that response the “best” one?"
Thinking of the current government, my mind keeps playing one of the final scenes of the very recent film Golda: Golda Meir is speaking to Ariel Sharon (whose bold maneuver against the Egyptian army had just succeeded): "They will make you Prime Minister for this some day. Just remember: All political careers end in failure."
And Now
I need to eat something and take a nap.
I'd say "pray for peace" but that is empty. Perhaps "pray to heal the propensity for violence and vengance"
My legs are sore.
Shabbat shalom.
How To Help
Donating to Hatzolah (the ambulance and paramedic service in Israel — where else in the world do you see ambulances that say “Donated by the ____ family of _____” ? )
On line: https://israelrescue.org/
By Wire or ACH:
Beneficiary Name: Friends of United Hatzalah Inc.
Beneficiary Bank: Chase Bank
ABA Routing #: 021000021
SWIFT Code: CHASUS33
Account #: 160225630
Bank Address: 850 Third Ave, New York, New York 10022
Tax ID #: 11‐3533002
Relief Area
Caption: Israeli soldiers after another few weeks of all the care packages you are sending.