Tel Aviv Rooftop

Purim in Tel Aviv 2008 I came across an article in Ha'aretz on Purim in Tel Aviv written by the Hungarian Jewish journalist and author Arthur Koestler (who later became a British subject). Koestler lived in British Mandated Palestine , from 1926-29, first on a kibbutz in the Jezreel Valley ("Heftzibah"), and later in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where he almost starved. Describing the Purim carnival for one of the Berlin liberal dailies of the time, he contrasted the chaotic and hedonistic atmosphere in Tel Aviv to that of the grim sanctity of Jerusalem. Here are a few excerpts (translated from the Hebrew, itself a translation from the original German) "My Tel Aviv, 'Spring City', on the coast, the kitschiest city in the world, you, who stand facing Venice, how my desecrating heart loves you. When young men, faces blackened like the chocolate boys in the 'Talmi' margarine advert and dressed in Hollywood loinskins pull the Purim Queen on a cart through the...

While soldiers, policemen and Israeli missions overseas entered a state of super-high alert for a reprisal to the assassination 40 days ago of Hizbullah 'defense minister' Imad Mughniya, the rest of us prepared for Purim. Frazzled mums stayed up all night putting the final touches to the costumes of the little ones to show off at school or at the bigger Purim carnival adaloyada parades like the one in Holon that is happening today. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv's older balyanim (clubbers?) were preparing their own costumes. The tradition of Tel Aviv adloyada carnival craziness goes back to the 1910s and 20s. The tradition of a massive street party in cool Florentin is much younger but this year caught on big time. On Thursday night, attempting to disguise our age with outdated Purim costumes, we mingled with the twenty-somethings as they danced the night away to the sounds of outdoor DJs and live bands. The alcohol flowed like water until the revellers, in the Purim tradition, fai...

Three days at a spa hotel at the Dead Sea - even for a teambuilding exercise - can do wonders for your state of mind. Horizons , like the mirror-still water, flatten. The hazy weather meant that the Jordanian side was invisible, giving the impression of a real sea. The hot soporific weather, an aromatherapy massage and 15 minutes in the mineral baths help to slow down the pace and the absence of constant news updates keeps you stress free. At 6.30 a.m. two buses disgorge groups of fit-looking Russians (tourists?) who delight in the novelty of the bouyant waters. and find a double twist on the classic reading the paper photo. The road north between Ein Boqeq and Ein Gedi reminded me sometimes of the Sinai coast. The Dead Sea Works at night. In fact the main Dead Sea hotel area is situated not on the sea itself but opposite huge industrial pools that serve this plant that gathers minerals like potash Now that the flow of fresh water from the Jordan River to its north has completely sto...

Almond tree in full blossom near Amuka Spring has definitely sprung and the evidence is everywhere, starting with the rooftop itself which is coming to life after its winter hibernation and is sprouting buds where once there were dead stalks and pushing out flowers through formerly brown wilted leaves. The swallows are also back and while it's true that one swallow does not mean spring, scores of the nimble daredevils certainly do. Following their aerobatic displays, as they swoop around the rooftop, adds a touch of excitement to your morning fruit salad and yoghurt. Last weekend we were in the Galil where the almond blossom overpowered the senses and fell to the ground like snow (see pic above). On the downside, after a week of blessed lull (more or less), there's also a springlike resumption of hostilities in Gaza, following an Israeli assault on an Islamic Jihad cell in Bethlehem, in which senior Jihad military commander Mohammed Shehadeh was killed. As the Israeli pop song...

On Thursday night there was an horrific terror attack at the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in Jerusalem but today, after the Hamas got in the "last shot" we seem to be on the verge of a new cease-fire halevei, Insh'alla To prematurely celebrate the outbreak of this illusory peace and quiet I opened a web album to share some of the over 4,000 photos (and counting) I've taken over the past 3 years or so. You can see it at. http://picasaweb.google.com/david.kriss I'll be gradually updating and expanding it. Technology is wonderful but it sets you free while simultaneously tying you down.

Wall painting in Yaffo For the past few days the IDF and Hamas have been battling it out in a round of mutual deterrence at the end of which neither side seems deterred and both sides vow to continue. The result has been about 100 Palestinians, two Israeli soldiers and one Israeli civilian killed. According to the army about 90% of the Palestinians killed were militants; according to the Palestinians the number is 50%. The truth is no doubt somewhere in the middle. In Israel, Ashkelon was hit several times with longer range katyushas , including a direct hit on a house. This is a strategic achievement for Hamas . In Gaza the destruction was far greater, the Hamas leadership was forced underground and PM Hania's headquarters were reduced to rubble. Behind the battle scenes, by all accounts, some sort of negotiations are going on with the mediation of the Egyptians, and the involvement of Israel, the US, the PA and others, to reach an overall cease-fire, a prisoner exchange ( ...