Sarah 10

The ways of secular Israelis still are largely incomprehensible to me. It's not like I see mainstream society, more like being cloistered. Then this crew is so ultra polite, so afraid of offending me that conversations usually lack depth.
One of the new people falls into step with me. Wicked smile, "how on earth do you cope with all this? Don't you get a wild insane desire to pick up a Tavor blaster, fire off the whole thousand round clip?"
"At least thrice weekly, I've learned to just ignore that urge."
Laugh, "thought this stuff would be fun, it ain't. This here's the armpit of the world, or at very least the armpit of Israel."
"Try focusing on something positive. Perhaps there is some interesting way to pass the time?"
She pauses, "yeah, could borrow Yiddish books from my uncle, give it a shot. Suggestions as to authors?"
"Sure, starting with US settings, there is ..."
"Does it not seem strange to you, so many books set in New York?"
"Yes, no, what can you say? If you have the mighty US dollar in your hands, the publisher caters to you."
"But that's sad, so arrogant. These American Jews act like they're the only Jews outside of Israel."
"Maybe just the only ones with any real purchasing power. Sure there are Jews in India and Ethiopia, but mosta them are challenged getting enough food. Yiddish literature would surely rank low on their budget."
"Don't you wish you were a guy? Study in yeshiva instead?"
"Didn't I just hear you grumbling how boring this is? Don't you think yeshiva would be more so?"
She laughs, "yeah, guess you're right. So the women end up the winners after all. They get to read historical novels; the guys are stuck with Torah."
We both laugh.
She grins, "so almost total segregation, like South Africa in ancient history."
"From what I've heard, there are advantages to a husband away mosta the time, less trouble."
"One thing I'm dying to know. That riot in Ramallah, why'd they join in?"
"You know how men get after drinking."
"Don't gimme that, I can sense there's more, what you ain't saying."
"Ok, it's the men hate seculars worse even than they hate Palestinians. Add in the loss of inhibitions that goes with five days drinking. What else do you expect would happen?"
"Oh but they paid the price. A full four months. Not like me and you, three years."
"I've noticed the world lacks fairness."
She laughs, "yeah, guess it does. Shot any Palestinians yet?"
"Not yet."
"Next year in Nablus."
We both laugh.

(So ends Part Two; the blog may be inactive for several months as Part Three is being prepared.)