My power-walking partner Ellen and I were making our way down a lovely Israeli boulevard on a chilly December night recently when I sighed with longing.
"I miss seeing the trees turn colors in the fall. Here in the Holy Land, broad leaves stay green and on the trees all year, let alone the evergreens. They never turn color no matter what country they're in. I learned in grade school that the change in temperatures causes the tree sap to make the leaves turn gold, red and brown. Remember those magnificent purple leaves from oak trees? No oak trees in Israel. I'm from Oak Park, Michigan, Ellen. I need my fall colors," I said.
Being a practical woman, US-born and educated, Ellen responded that Israel's absence of fall colors was indeed a mystery. Then she asked for my opinion on why our school civics lessons never alluded to the fact that the head of a parliamentary government could fire ministers at will. "Parliamentary governments are coalitions. There are votes, and the public is represented by casting votes. But here, the Prime Minister can fire anybody who doesn't agree with him. It's not a coalition is it?"
"Ellen," I said, "Nothing in the old country prepared us for life in Israel. The rules in any country don't prepare their Jews for life in Israel, either. Those can't apply here. This country survives on G-d's will, not human rules of engagement for war, politics or weather. Look, Ariel Sharon just went through two no-confidence votes. And the government is still standing. On borrowed time, I'm sure. Can you imagine Canada surviving what this government goes through? England?"
We walked in silence, except for our huffing breaths making small clouds in front of our faces.
"Yocheved, who's going to be prime minister after Sharon?"
"Moshe Feiglin," I answered. "After the whole country goes nuts from a political crisis. The army won't have a commander in chief. Any business that can strike will strike. The dati'im will help each other. All Israelis who have ethics about doing for each other will pull through the crisis together. Then, Israel will get its act together while HaShem is arranging the chessboard that is Earth. HaShem's rules always override human rules."
Ellen and I looked meaningfully at the stars above. Then we did a 180 for the walk home. "Have you noticed that the only level surfaces in Israel are inside buildings?" I asked. "Everything else is like a middot roller-coaster. You're either going up or down when you're outdoors."
"Beautiful night. It's cool, clear and no rain since Sunday. Perfect for walking up hills," Ellen remarked.
I stared sadly at the trees nearby. "Yep. And the sap doesn't care," I said.
"I miss seeing the trees turn colors in the fall. Here in the Holy Land, broad leaves stay green and on the trees all year, let alone the evergreens. They never turn color no matter what country they're in. I learned in grade school that the change in temperatures causes the tree sap to make the leaves turn gold, red and brown. Remember those magnificent purple leaves from oak trees? No oak trees in Israel. I'm from Oak Park, Michigan, Ellen. I need my fall colors," I said.
Being a practical woman, US-born and educated, Ellen responded that Israel's absence of fall colors was indeed a mystery. Then she asked for my opinion on why our school civics lessons never alluded to the fact that the head of a parliamentary government could fire ministers at will. "Parliamentary governments are coalitions. There are votes, and the public is represented by casting votes. But here, the Prime Minister can fire anybody who doesn't agree with him. It's not a coalition is it?"
"Ellen," I said, "Nothing in the old country prepared us for life in Israel. The rules in any country don't prepare their Jews for life in Israel, either. Those can't apply here. This country survives on G-d's will, not human rules of engagement for war, politics or weather. Look, Ariel Sharon just went through two no-confidence votes. And the government is still standing. On borrowed time, I'm sure. Can you imagine Canada surviving what this government goes through? England?"
We walked in silence, except for our huffing breaths making small clouds in front of our faces.
"Yocheved, who's going to be prime minister after Sharon?"
"Moshe Feiglin," I answered. "After the whole country goes nuts from a political crisis. The army won't have a commander in chief. Any business that can strike will strike. The dati'im will help each other. All Israelis who have ethics about doing for each other will pull through the crisis together. Then, Israel will get its act together while HaShem is arranging the chessboard that is Earth. HaShem's rules always override human rules."
Ellen and I looked meaningfully at the stars above. Then we did a 180 for the walk home. "Have you noticed that the only level surfaces in Israel are inside buildings?" I asked. "Everything else is like a middot roller-coaster. You're either going up or down when you're outdoors."
"Beautiful night. It's cool, clear and no rain since Sunday. Perfect for walking up hills," Ellen remarked.
I stared sadly at the trees nearby. "Yep. And the sap doesn't care," I said.