I came to Israel in 1994 with my husband Laurence and three children, and we now have two sons-in-law and a grandson. For several years I wrote a column about everyday life in Israel, first for the JC and then for Jewish News. I live in Ra'anana and I am a freelance writer, editor and film-maker.
"Calm down! You are now making a fool of yourself. I can see as someone who let's not put too finer a point on it hates Jews (zealots/fascists as you call them) who live in Judea and Samaria you wo(...)"Advis3r
Today is exactly 17 years since I came on aliya with my family. While I do sometimes despair at the various goings-on here, I have never regretted making the move.
I've documented many aspects of Israeli life in columns that I wrote for the JC and Jewish News. More recently, I've been making films about Israel with my colleague and fellow former Brit, Sally Halon.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker is joining an international flotilla of boats sailing to Gaza aboard "The Audacity of Hope". Writing on the CNN website, and in much more detail on her blog, she explains why:
Yelena Bonner, the outstanding human rights activist and former Soviet Union dissident, died 18 June 2011, one week before the fifth anniversary of the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit.
Here is part of Yelena Bonner's memorable speech to the Oslo Freedom Forum, delivered just over two years ago when she was 86.
For those of you who have been waiting for Israelis to emulate their Arab neighbours and get out there on Facebook, Twitter and the streets to demonstrate and demand change, that day has finally come. And what is the major issue that is making Israelis’ blood curdle? Cottage cheese.
Finally, I’m relevant in Israel. My opinion is sought; my knowledge is useful. As soon as people realise I’m originally from Britain, they want to know details about the Royal Wedding. Yes, stories about it are already appearing in the Israeli media, which doesn’t usually carry such frivolous news items.
Well, well. The day I have long hoped for has arrived - sort of. It has been announced that Ehud Barak is leaving the Labour party. Don't get too excited. He's not r-e-s-i-g-n-i-n-g. Please. Israeli pols don't do resigning. They leave to go on lucrative lecture tours, to begin prison sentences, whatever, but they always come back.
The Labour party has no place in this government and the task now is to elect a leader who commands and deserves respect, who will regroup and rebuild the party. There are MKs in Labour's ranks who qualify. Let's hope he or she is elected.
Firefighter Danny Hayat died yesterday of the injuries he sustained in the Carmel Forest fire. He was severely injured as he tried to rescue prison cadets from the burning bus. He leaves a widow who is about to give birth, two young sons, parents and siblings. Unthinkingly he risked, and has now given, his life to save others. That’s what true heroes do. That’s what our emergency service personnel and those of our children who serve in the IDF are trained to do. Risk everything, without thinking twice, to rescue people and to protect Israel.
History was made today when the money refund law came into force. At long last, Israeli consumers can take back
goods and receive a refund rather than a credit note, which in Israel is a tiny piece of paper known as a "petek". And perversely, the higher the value of the credit note, the tinier the petek will be.
Excellent piece by Akiva Eldar in today's Haaretz, asking why we need a record 29 ministers (out of 120 MKs) if we then outsource two key post- Carmel fire jobs to Joseph Ciechanover, who will lead efforts to salvage Israel's relations with Turkey, and to Netanya Mayor Miriam Feirberg, who will oversee compensation for victims of the fire.
So now we know: a small fire was spotted by a pilot giving a flying lesson and he reported it immediately, but it took more than two hours for fire-fighting aircraft to arrive.
It was late afternoon when I heard the horrific news of the fatalities in the fire which is still raging out of control as I write. I’m reminded of the Maccabiah bridge collapse and the Versailles wedding hall disaster – both avoidable tragedies which unfolded right before our eyes.
It is too early to suggest that mistakes have contributed to the outbreak or the extent of the fire, or that it was an act of arson. Right now we must all help those who have suffered directly in any way we can.
It’s one of life’s less rewarding jobs: removing the wax that accumulates on the menorah through the eight days of Chanukah. I’ve bought so-called dripless candles like I do every year, but it’s dollars to doughnuts that the wick still won’t be thick enough to prevent the leaks.
Two days on, and I’m not quite ready to stop my media intake of the newly engaged William and Kate. I’m not getting my information from any Israeli newspapers – and that’s precisely the point. Here in Israel, there’s no such thing as front page tittle-tattle about local celebrities. The news is always about politics or political figures. The best we got today was a story about Bibi Netanyahu’s son holidaying privately in America with a state-funded bodyguard. Wow. That's sure to provide endless fascination for the masses.
I see the Queen has launched a Facebook page for the British monarchy. According to today's Daily Telegraph, "The British Monarchy page provides a hi-tech version of the traditional Court Circular, detailing the daily engagements of members of the Royal Family and allowing users to comment on the arrangements. The new Facebook page has been described as 'the final frontier' of the Queen's foray into digital technonogy."
LATEST DISCUSSIONS
RE: A positive story to celebrate 17 years of living in Israel
"Lovely piece, Marian. It shows the best of Israel, and congratulations for standing it for 17 years and not changing your values." Joe Millis
RE: Israeli zealots take advice…from TV satire
"Calm down! You are now making a fool of yourself. I can see as someone who let's not put too finer a point on it hates Jews (zealots/fascists as you call them) who live in Judea and Samaria you wo(...)" Advis3r