Sing to me softly, and take my eyes...
17 August, 2008 - Posted by: Lena
And now for a little bit of entertainment...my favorite Arab song ever: "Ghani Li Shweya" sung by Umm Kulthum. A million thanks to whoever put the original clip from the film
Salama on YouTube.
If you're at all into world music, check it out.
A post on the weekend I spent in Zichron Yaakov with family that I didn't know that I had until about a month ago is coming soon.
Imagine me a spark
13 August, 2008 - Posted by: Lena
I never remember dreams, but for some reason, I remember this one.
I had this dream last night that I had just gone back to Virginia for a visit. For some reason, I ended up at my old elementary school (Spring Hill in McLean, VA, if anyone's curious)...why there instead of, oh I don't know, Dulles Airport, I have no idea. I was standing on the sidewalk between the door and the playground under an awning which, come to think of it, I don't think is actually there. But no matter. There were a few other people there (names withheld because I don't actually
know these people, I just happen to admire them), but I was on the phone, alternately calling my mother and father, asking them to come pick me up. Neither seemed to want to, and I remember offering to walk home. I think that it's a couple of miles between there and the house...I suppose it would be do-able.
And then I woke up, and looked around. And I will admit that there was the slightest bit of disappointment. And then I ended up Googling pictures of McLean, Vienna, and Tysons Corner...just because. I don't understand this because
I do not ever want to go back and live there again. But sometimes I miss being around my old friends and participating in things. And I haven't made a lot of friends here, and I'm terribly frightened of new people, and I don't know what to do to change that.
Follow me to heaven
13 August, 2008 - Posted by: Lena
This took place a week ago, but I haven't felt like writing about it until this evening.
The Temple Mount itself is open to visitors only twice a day (though I imagine not on Fridays): from 9 AM or so until 11 AM and then again from 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM. We had heard rumors that Israeli Jews were not allowed on the space itself, but...well...no one asked me for identification of any kind, and I didn't offer any. Try as we might, however (and my friend argued!), only Muslims are allowed inside the Dome of the Rock itself.
Some pictures:
English wars
04 August, 2008 - Posted by: Lena
I always knew that I didn't feel particularly comfortable with Jews in America but
this is just too much.
Now, admittedly, for an Israeli prime minister not to speak competent English is a problem. I will grant the American Jewish community that one. But for an Israeli prime minister not to speak English which is
good enough for them is something entirely different.
The issue in this particular article happens to be the English skills of Tzipi Livni, Shaul Mofaz, and Bibi (Netanyahu). The principal problem, apparently, is Mofaz's English. It is apparently, to be frank, not too good. Now, an Israeli prime minister must be able to interact with American officials (not to mention the rest of the international community) in decent English. But listen to this Seymour Reich guy:
"I hope any new Israeli leader will be fluent in English and will be able to understand both the subtleties and phrases."
This is perhaps the most difficult aspect to comprehend when learning a language which is not one's mother tongue. Now, maybe I'm overreacting here, but it sounds to me as if Mr. Reich were demanding that any new Israeli prime minister speak a level of English which is to Reich's own satisfaction. I wonder, to myself, whether Mr. Reich understands the subtleties and phrases of the Hebrew language. I'm willing to bet not.
Now, we turn to Tzipi Livni, who obviously speaks competent enough English to enjoy a close relationship with Condoleezza Rice. However, read:
Livni was also praised for the improvement in her English skills, although her accent needs to be improved.
Her accent needs to be improved? Do you understand her? Ok. Shut up.
Bibi, of course, speaks perfect, unaccented English. Good for him. He lived with his family many years in Philadelphia and as such had a chance to pick up speech from the inside. Not everyone gets that chance and only a small number have good enough ear training to listen to intonations and mimic perfectly.
What really annoys me is when American Jews demand that Israeli leaders (or Israelis in general) meet their expectations. That always annoyed me about America - that attitude of "we're America, now do exactly as we do."
In which I write a guest entry for Gordon
24 July, 2008 - Posted by: Lena
Gordon has asked that I write a guest entry over on his journal while he is off at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. He asked for it, he got it.
If you're interested,
go on over and check it out.
Just don't expect any substance.
A plea for help to the techies
24 July, 2008 - Posted by: Lena
I have been trying for weeks to install Captcha (and sometimes Recaptcha) on this site to filter out those annoying spam comments. As might be obvious, I have had no success. I have put in the code many times, and it simply will not take.
Might someone shed some light on how to do this properly? I'm not great when it comes to programming...
Thanks in advance.
