Lizrael Update

Tag: israel

  • Morning Jerusalem.

    This morning was the first time in a long time that my heart sang for Jerusalem. It was 5:45 am and we were in a cab on the way to the bus station. The sky was dark and the air was crisp. The streets were almost empty. And my heart was stirring a song for…

  • Israeli Jew on Christmas.

    Back home in New York, Christmas for Jews means Chinese food and  going to the movies (apparently). Because I have a TV this year, I can’t forget that tonight the rest of the world is celebrating various versions of this holiday. My Australian husband has recalled the Chinese food and movies tradition (which I’ve actually…

  • American self discovery (finally, a use for my English major)

    I finished Slaughterhouse-Five today on my way across Jerusalem. One of the most finger-pointing themes of the book – relevant to me these days – is expressed in the following lines, by character Howard W. Campbell Jr., as he describes American prisoners of war compared to others. “[Americans] were known everywhere to be the most self-pitying,…

  • Small world for us (Flatbush) Jews.

    My high school was big on its alumni culture. For four years I endured being laid on thick with Israel, Zionism, Hebrew, and… the amazing alumni culture of the Yeshiva of Flatbush. I guess people always had stories about meeting fellow alumni halfway across the world or neat twists on finding each other after all…

  • Adam Sandler's Israeli side.

    Like so many of us, I am an Adam Sandler fan, for better or worse.  I’m not yet sure if this is best or worst, but his latest – You Don’t Mess With The Zohan – is certainly… relevant? Adam Sandler definitely takes on one of his most ridiculous roles – and worst accents –…

  • Leftover Chanukah gelt: the shnekel.

    I saw the brand-new two shekel coin today. There’s already a group on Facebook petitioning everyone to dub the coin the “shnekel” or “שנקל”. Well, why not? It’s shnei shkalim (two shekels). Not only that, but the shnekel has it’s own website, too: www.shnekel.org I guess this it’ll make it easier at those כל פריט…

  • The youth of the Bezeq parrot.

    I recently finished reading a book I found on my shelf – Vernon God Little – and as I was reading it, a postcard fell out, as if by some will of the powers that be, I was meant to find it and comment:   I couldn’t believe it! It was the freaky Bezeq parrot,…

  • Polite/funny/logical Israeli building notice?!

    I got this forwarded to me the other day and I felt it was important to share this ‘holiday season’ of giving. In case you don’t read Hebrew, here’s the gist: On Saturday night I’m having a small party on the roof. It might be a bit noisy (until the acceptable hour) so right before…

  • Get me latkes, woman.

    Here’s (another) חנה זלדה video… Courtesy of some bored (genius) IDF soldiers… Happy Chanukah!

  • Hey everybody, look! Funny Arabs!

    Tonight we went to Off the Wall comedy club (apparently the only comedy club in Jerusalem) for their open mic, where my new favorite Arab-American comedians were performing. Unlike a Mideast peace conference, this was not disappointing! (budump-bump?) Ray Hanania (Palestinian-American) and Sherif Hedayat (Egyptian-American) have been running around Israel – along with a few…

  • Today's word: Etrog Journalism.

    I learned a new word – or rather, term – today at the Arab-Israeli Journalism panel I sat on: etrog journalism. The idea, thunk up by a Haaretz reporter a few years ago, is that certain items of news need to be treated as delicately as an etrog, the yellow citrus fruit we Jews use…

  • Brothers, sons, teachers, students.

    Not quite street art, but temporarily tonight Keren HaYessod street was painted with the anger and frustration of local teachers: The sign reads: “Brother, brother! Your son is my student!” Sometimes, this country seems like one big block party where literally everyone is separated by a few degrees. In this case, the holders of the…