I was wondering what had happened to the organic dates I ordered through a dear Jerusalem friend. In this 3.5 Israel lockdown, a much tighter to lockdown 3.0, we are not allowed to commute between cities other than for vital work.
My ordering of dates, was a solidarity-induced transaction that would enable “M”, my friend’s partner from the South, to be allowed in to Jerusalem, on the basis of sustaining his kibbutz’s agricultural business. Well, “M” fell ill with the flu, my friend wrote in her email today, and the dates’ delivery will be postponed for another week or two past his recovery.
My attitude these days, to keep my life in relative balance, is to flow with what is. To disattach from things having to happen as they “ought to have happened.”
The dates were not delivered today as they were supposed to and … “Nobody dies.”
I learned the “Nobody dies” direction in a co-counselling course I had enrolled in some twenty years ago, which thanks to practice is still alive in me.
I now work from home and …”Nobody dies.”
My exercise class has not met in two weeks and ….”Nobody dies.”
Lockdown 3.5 in Jerusalem has rendered me more of a Buddhist. Over the lockdowns I have learned and keep on learning the lesson of non-attachment, the lesson of not clinging to a particular modus vivendi.
And here is a big one. Our 18 year old, who is enrolled in a leadership program in the North of Israel, is not allowed to return home for the weekend for as long as this lockdown lasts and ….”Nobody dies.”
Stripped of my motherly role to my eldest, stripped of my going to work, stripped of my exercise class, I choose to enjoy the extra time to myself. Time to read, time to zoom-call with friends, time to order up the house and my thoughts; Time to read the paper daily.
Today’s paper confirms “Women Make Up 70% of Lockdown Unemployed.” “The Inequality worsened in latest closure, new employment service figures show.”
I pause to digest the HaAretz headline.
I find it hard to digest.
I think of single mothers caught up in unemployment with one, two, or three kids to feed and feel uneasy. “Nobody dies,” I remind myself, but it must be hard, very hard to make ends meet. In Israel, a country run by men, I wonder who will stand for women’s rights, and in a world run by men, who will safeguard women’s sustenance in it?
Our choices can help sustain those around us.
By supporting local businesses. Our ordering of the organic dates is in sync with this principle. So is our weekly shopping from Muhammad’s falafel and bagel stand. These days, we figured we would support small, local, businesses, that sell local produce and give work to fellow Jerusalemites. Shopping can be one way of showing our solidarity and care for the other.
I relate to my friend enjoying the company of her partner over a weekend in lockdown. We relate to supporting local organic agriculture, and local Jerusalemites earn a living.
We are consciously, happily, eagerly willing to wait another week or even two for “M” to get well and deliver the dates to us.
Each date we’ll bite will have this extra sweetness of supporting “M” to meet his beloved who is our beloved friend too!
From Jerusalem with love,
Yvette Nahmia-Messinas
P.S. To place your order of dates please write your name at the comments below, and my friend will get back to you, Thanks!