Harris Berman's Blog Page

This was my religious day. We started out on my mission to find a time share or condo to purchase. Time shares are not big in Tel Aviv, where I want to be. Prices are sky high. So I did some homework and am not close to making a deal. Then off to Jerusalem and the Wall. I put notes in the Wall for the speedy recovery of Buddy, Mark Hyman a high school classmate of mine who contacted me online after all these years, remebrances for my father Sam and father in law Milt, my dear uncle and friend Abe, and other notes given to me by Rabbi Plotkin, Harry Brown and Shirley Frankel. I wanted to attend services at an orthodox synagogue I heard about in the German colony and we did. It is the only orthodox synagogue in the world that allows women to participate in the service. They still sit separate divided by a curtain. Sagi, being like most Israelis has no interest in going to synagogue.. I asked him to go and he agreed. He lasted about 20 minutes and left. I fully understand his feelings and probably agree with him after a heated discussion we had on way back to Tel Aviv. Israelis feel that they do not have to prove they are Jewish as they are reminded of it every day. He said who are people to tell me what being Jewish is when we are here and they are somewhere else. He said I don't see Jews in America sending their children here to fight, so they have no business telling me that to be a Jew I have to be religious. It is hard to find fault with his argument when he tells me that he went into the army at 18 and served 3 years, some in Lebanon and some in Hebron where there are 4,500 Jews surrounded by 125,000 Arabs and he is must do reserves 28 days a year until he is 45. Not to mention he can be called to combat at any time. He said when he was discharged at age 21 he had the mind of a 60 yr. old. Only recently as he reached 30 has he been able to start learning how to enjoy life a little. In addition both his brother and sister have served. A compelling position and only by being here and hearing his anguish could I possibly understand this. As I typed these words I completely broke down and have just composed myself.

When we got back to Tel Aviv we went to the old seaport and had a wonderful dinner at Boyars. I have been there before and it is as good as ever. Boyars is the place where Cliton gave his greatest and only gift to Israel. He played the saxaphone there. He is despised here. Considered a liar who failed to keep his promises (can you imagine). The consensus from all I have s[poken with is that Bush did nothing at the beginning of his term to help. He just did nothing to correct the situation. But they are saying that 9/11 changed it all and Bush came to realize the threat of terrorism was real and had to be confronted. They now consider Bush the president who has been the greatest friend ever to Israel. Many of my friends do not subscribe to this. I am not giving any opinion, because it is well known, I am only relaying what I hear.

We met after dinner with 2 friends of Sagi, Daliah and Elon. Dahlia is in the catering business and is a carbon copy of Cookie, both in looks and energy. We had a few drinks and then I was delivered back to the hotel.

Tomorrow will be a day off. I invited two young boys, brothers, I know well, Etay and Guy to join me at the beach, then we shall have pizza and go to the cinemaplex.

Shalom