Israel – Dr Rod’s Odd Blog (almondemotion)

Anxious Jew

Rod reflects on the interface between anxiety and a long-line of Jewish ancestors.

Israel / Sheffield / Palestine & Stone throwing

There are 8.8 million people living in Israel.

That is 0.11% of the world population.

Around 20 per cent of children in the UK’s 68 million are living in poverty.

Consider the involvement of Russia and China in perpetuating the Syrian crisis.

Pishers, Michael Rosen, viral illness and the Passover story (timely I know, as it is Easter soon)

Well, talking with my family when I had the distinct need to panic buy and hoard face-masks and rubber gloves the other day, (I didn’t); not only is this deeply rooted in the brains of every one of us, it is (at least I believe) amplified in some groups.

Where you from?

I gave this guy, who to me appeared to be of Greek or Turkish origin himself (with the assumption that I would answer him, ‘From Ankara…’) the response I used last week

Spiral (4)

It became us versus them; a competition for resources, doctors, nurses, pathways and investment.

inwards

I sit on the veranda, Un-noticed. Adults are awake, admiring the dark water. No one looks up. A child, five or six, would see me, older folk are mostly fixed on the ground, watching for hazards, lost in thought, Inside their heads; Not where the beauty is revealed.

Spiral (3)

Level one.

Family.

It is more than this.

It is survival.

Attack!

I guess we need those people who can take a beating and come back for more, who can’t ignore their beliefs or principles.

Eve

It is the big night. Haggis hot neaps and tatties all prepared. Adequate single malt. 1970’s middle-class, middle-age, middle of the road affluence. Stands prepared memorised the words Rabbi* Burns Toast to the… Mind-block is fascinating. One moment all is ready, the next, nothing. I remember a similarContinue reading “Eve”

Watch it…

(When was the last time anyone checked the dirt level of an NHS keyboard)(Oops, should have said that – the snap response there is sometimes keyboard-condom rather than ‘clean the thing’ the former making touch-typing a nightmare)(when you do get to type, rather than write, which is a mixed-methods form of data collection, common in the health service).

Fake news, the NHS and Middle East

…this of course doesn’t mean that you won’t be the sucker to die on the tablet, you are just less likely.
(lots of references!)

Do I look Yemenite in this?

This evening I had one of those encounters; We were out for a meal at the local Indian restaurant. Head Waiter: You from Yemen? RK: Glasgow. HW: Glasgow? RK: Glasgow. WH: Oh. I get this in various iterations, usually when I meet someone from a different culture, often an immigrant to the UK – folkContinue reading “Do I look Yemenite in this?”

Shtetl (2)

Your dad offered me 10 Zlotys then he changed his mind and offered me eight. I took the eight.

Cushion

On the subject of cushions, I remember, 1985 On El Al flight to Israel, My mum asking the purser if I could see the cockpit. I was allowed up-front, Yes. El Al jet, and I was allowed-in. And the captain, Handsome, Tanned, Completing a crossword In English. How do you spell cushion?Continue reading “Cushion”