Good morning from Jerusalem, a city I have heretofore seen only at night and, in large part, from the back of a bus. All I wanted to do yesterday was wander around the Old City, to stay looking at the Western Wall and quietly weep; this, because without having any forethought of the idea, I realized I was seeing this for Tim, my daughter’s late father, who would have wanted to be here so much, it mattering not at all what religion people were practicing, he was himself infused with a love of Christ (whom he credited with helping him in a snap stop drinking, more on that in a moment), and what the wall does and means; the millions of people pouring their belief and grief, it would have poured into him. He was an appreciator, of everything and everyone, even if it was, say, a bite of a cookie. He would have loved so much to see and receive the wall, and Israel, but since he cannot I saw it for him. I don’t Tim would mind me pasting what is below, the idea of seeing something for someone else, he was after all a friend of Sam Elliott’s.
Thanks again for the We Stand Divided rec. just started it last night and it’s such a fresh perspective (to me). Love his writing, too. I’m in that in between generation where my parents revered the Israel of the founders and I was seeing the occupation of Gaza and the WB take its toll. Now I’m seeing the rise of the Progressive Left in the US turn vicious against Israel and it’s pushing me more protective/defensive of Israel. It’s a weird place to be.
Jesus take the wheel.
Take it all in. Write down the parts you can share.
Thanks, Nancy.
Thanks again for the We Stand Divided rec. just started it last night and it’s such a fresh perspective (to me). Love his writing, too. I’m in that in between generation where my parents revered the Israel of the founders and I was seeing the occupation of Gaza and the WB take its toll. Now I’m seeing the rise of the Progressive Left in the US turn vicious against Israel and it’s pushing me more protective/defensive of Israel. It’s a weird place to be.
At the risk of seeming like a stalker, I don’t have a twitter account but I went on to see the comments on your posts. I saw Yael mention the Lion’s Den, the new militia group operating out of Nablus. I recently read this piece about them in the Christian Science Monitor (of all places) and thought it was great -- very balanced. Wanted to share while you’re still there https://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/amphtml/World/Middle-East/2022/1027/In-the-Lion-s-Den-What-a-new-militia-offers-young-Palestinians
Loving these briefs! Thanks for sharing as you go along.