We don't discuss politics and we hardly ever talk about the current security situation. Heck, the guy doesn't even read my articles. He says that they're too deep and heavy for him.
But if you listen carefully, this man of few words can encapsulate seemingly complex issues in a nutshell. Yep, the sabra who grew up in the same neighborhood as the Rabins, Dayans and Sharons has a better handle on what's going down here in Israel than many of our most learned academics and media icons.
So on a recent morning, while I was preparing tuna sandwiches for the kids and he was brushing his teeth, I took note of my husband's 7:00am remarks on the top news stories of the day. What follows is my commentary on his comments.
News item #1: Sha'ul Mofaz told a gathering in Eilat that settling the Gaza Strip was a historic mistake, and there will be no more Jewish settlers in the Strip in five years time.
Ilan's comment: Does Mofaz know if he'll be here in five years?
Ellen's commentary: This is not incitement. This is a basic truth. None of us, including today's policymakers, knows what tomorrow may bring. What we do know is that this land is our eternal inheritance and that the righteous endeavors of the Jewish residents of Judea, Samaria and Gaza have a better than excellent chance of outlasting many of our current leaders and the defective ventures that they've undertaken.
News item #2: Daniel Barenboim angered both President Moshe Katsav and Education Minister Limor Livnat by talking about "occupation" instead of music when he accepted the Wolf Prize last Sunday at a formal ceremony in the Knesset. Barenboim plans to donate the 100,000 dollars that comes with the Wolf Prize to a Palestinian music conservatory in Ramallah.
Ilan's comment: In his next life, Barenboim will be born a Palestinian.
Ellen's commentary: Again, no curse is intended. If the maestro is so tied to the destiny of the Palestinian Arabs and this is truly where his heart is, then it seems only right that he be given the opportunity to live with those with whom he most identifies.
News item #3: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Cabinet ministers last Sunday that he was devising a new plan to withdraw Israeli troops and Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip...
Ilan's comment: Isn't it amazing how those who have everything are so comfortable giving away the possessions of others?
Ellen's commentary: No further explanation needed.
There was another top news story that failed to elicit a coherent verbal response from either one of us.
Top news story: A pair of Palestinians dressed as women were killed by Israeli soldiers yesterday after spraying bullets at a memorial service for a pregnant mother and her four daughters, slain in an ambush last week.
Commentary: It seems that in the above case, our actions would speak louder than words.
But if you listen carefully, this man of few words can encapsulate seemingly complex issues in a nutshell. Yep, the sabra who grew up in the same neighborhood as the Rabins, Dayans and Sharons has a better handle on what's going down here in Israel than many of our most learned academics and media icons.
So on a recent morning, while I was preparing tuna sandwiches for the kids and he was brushing his teeth, I took note of my husband's 7:00am remarks on the top news stories of the day. What follows is my commentary on his comments.
News item #1: Sha'ul Mofaz told a gathering in Eilat that settling the Gaza Strip was a historic mistake, and there will be no more Jewish settlers in the Strip in five years time.
Ilan's comment: Does Mofaz know if he'll be here in five years?
Ellen's commentary: This is not incitement. This is a basic truth. None of us, including today's policymakers, knows what tomorrow may bring. What we do know is that this land is our eternal inheritance and that the righteous endeavors of the Jewish residents of Judea, Samaria and Gaza have a better than excellent chance of outlasting many of our current leaders and the defective ventures that they've undertaken.
News item #2: Daniel Barenboim angered both President Moshe Katsav and Education Minister Limor Livnat by talking about "occupation" instead of music when he accepted the Wolf Prize last Sunday at a formal ceremony in the Knesset. Barenboim plans to donate the 100,000 dollars that comes with the Wolf Prize to a Palestinian music conservatory in Ramallah.
Ilan's comment: In his next life, Barenboim will be born a Palestinian.
Ellen's commentary: Again, no curse is intended. If the maestro is so tied to the destiny of the Palestinian Arabs and this is truly where his heart is, then it seems only right that he be given the opportunity to live with those with whom he most identifies.
News item #3: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Cabinet ministers last Sunday that he was devising a new plan to withdraw Israeli troops and Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip...
Ilan's comment: Isn't it amazing how those who have everything are so comfortable giving away the possessions of others?
Ellen's commentary: No further explanation needed.
There was another top news story that failed to elicit a coherent verbal response from either one of us.
Top news story: A pair of Palestinians dressed as women were killed by Israeli soldiers yesterday after spraying bullets at a memorial service for a pregnant mother and her four daughters, slain in an ambush last week.
Commentary: It seems that in the above case, our actions would speak louder than words.