Tel Aviv Diary - June 27-July 1, 2014 - Karen Alkalay-Gut


June 27, 2014

A little class in silk screening in the artists village of Ein Hod today. Simple,pretty, commercial. It kind of interested me even though I've forgotten most of my artistic skills. The kids liked it and they made some great t-shirts.

We're in the middle of a heat wave and it looked impossible to me to wander around Ein Hod to see the art but we enjoyed a little of the local stuff before we dug into the steaks at the only restaurant, Dona Rosa. It's been a while since I've been to Ein Hod, but much longer since I've been to this restaurant that overlooks the village, but long ago, when we used to visit here we'd sit there for hours and talk about art. Now it's an Argentinian meat restaurant - not bad but not like I remember...

Ramadan Kareem

June 29, 2014

With all the heat in the past two days it seems impossible to move - and yet so much is happening. A ball of fire and a factory is destroyed by rocket fire in Sderot, causing millions of shekel in damage and unemployed, and frightened, residents. And of course we retaliate. The search for the missing boys continues, and maybe is turning corners. We're now employing Jordanians in our hotel kitchens...It seems that we're all living on kindling.

Went to a conference at the Mofet center today to talk about creative writing, but was more impressed by the people and the place than my reading. Everything is so organized and new and shiny there. I kept comparing it to the university. First, the staff is polite and helpful and kind. Second, the toilets are clean and new and work. The building is new, everything is designed to enhance teaching, and everything works. Why am I surprised and why should I be?

June 30, 2014

Blessed be their memory. Of all the scenarios we imagined, this was the most realistic.

July 1, 2014

"They are born with hatred in them!" our trainer says, and we argue futilely that no one is born with hatred - it is instilled, and in this case it is instilled with our extended help.

Anyway I don't believe anyone has the right to explain this kind of act in any way in terms of justice. When Job looks for answers he is told, and I think this is one of the few times there is a divine voice - "38:2 Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 38:3 Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and you will answer me. 38:4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you possess understanding." We just don't have enough information to make such judgments about people.

And while I'm spouting religion, I might as well add that I don't believe in prayer that asks for favors. (Anyway, by the time all these prayers began here the boys were lost).

I know I'm only picking up on a small aspect of this whole terrible tragedy, the shower of rockets in the south, the entire atmosphere of sadness that is permeating this country, but I can't make sense of anything, right now.

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