Gadi, Mike, the Farmer and the Tomatoes

Trying to live in dangerous times

It’s been almost two years since the horrible, indescribable massacre of October 7.

How quickly so many denied what happened, blamed Israel, and jumped on the “Free Palestine” bandwagon. I remember those first few days of shock as my non-Jewish friends and quite a few of my “As a Jew” friends started to spout terrorist propaganda. Never since has even one of them expressed any concern for the hostages or their families, any care at all about the real genocides of Christians and Muslims at the hands of other Muslims across Africa and the Middle East, or any concern for American Jews who have faced a level of antisemitic rhetoric, violence and slander that we had hoped was a thing of the past.

I’ve stopped being shocked. I allow myself to laugh every once in awhile at pro-terrorist useful idiots who would be the first to be murdered by Hamas. It’s not really funny, but there is something absurd about people advocating for people who would happily and rapidly destroy them.

After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the masks have come off. Not only could anyone get killed for their opinions, religion or political stance, it seems that anyone can be killed for existing. I just heard about a man shooting people at a wedding and screaming “Free Palestine.” As though shooting random people at a country club would do anything at all about the situation in the Middle East. Many people seem to have come completely unhinged, and too many on the Left are excusing it or cheering it on.

“Celebration of violence is a form of incitement in its own right.” — Mike Doran

A person who grew up conservative might think that someone on the Left should get a hold of their people and tell them to stop this foolishness. It is making them look so very bad in the eyes of normal people who vote. But if you spent time on the Left, you will know that no one is in charge. Can you think of a clear leader among them? Gavin Newsom? Mamdani? The Left is almost artistically disorganized. Unfortunately, this makes them easy prey for those who are more organized, such as foreign infiltrators who fund and agitate young people to break the rules of their universities and the laws of this country. I feel terrible for the young people being misled and put in real danger. I wish someone would do something. There is very little I can do, though I try my best.

Meanwhile, I attempt to live amidst the crazy. This weekend has been beautiful. My favorite place is the Farmers’ Market, where I’ve known farmers for ten years now. One of my favorite farmers owns a farm where they humanely raise beef cows, chickens, and pigs. I rarely buy any meat from anywhere else. Last night I made my dollar store beef stroganoff with their beef, plus egg noodles and Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup from the dollar store for dinner with a friend in the neighborhood.

The farmer’s kids have grown up since I met them ten years ago. His two sons were little boys, and now they are teenage young men. One of them won a prize for the best celery in Pennsylvania a few years ago, and introduced me to what farm fresh celery tastes like. The young men are always extremely polite and friendly as they help their dad at the family farm stand. Watching this family work together to sell the meat and produce they have grown is truly beautiful. There is no need for chores when a family works together, as families did for thousands of years until very recently.

It reminds me of how I worked in the college library when my mom was the library director. I got my work permit as soon as it was legal and became a Student Assistant. I got no special treatment - rather, I got a stern lecture from my mom before I started about how I had to show respect for the grown up ladies who were librarians, follow their instructions, and do my best. I did. I was a pretty good Student Assistant. It was fun to go to work with Mom and earn a real paycheck. I feel sorry for kids who do not get such opportunities. Privilege can be a curse, if parents don’t create ways for kids to learn the value of work.

I went to my Zen practice this morning then spent the afternoon making my Israeli salad with delicious tomatoes and peppers from the Farmers’ Market while catching up on Israel Update with Gadi Taub and Mike Doran. For some reason I couldn’t find a cucumber, so it’s a bit unbalanced, but it’s still delicious. These are the best tomatoes I’ve had this year, and I look forward to enjoying them with the fresh lemon juice and dash of sea salt. I’ll add some extra virgin olive oil that my ex MR the Giraffe sent me.

Life finally seems pleasant and even peaceful. I am almost afraid to say it. Things have been so hard for so long. Health challenges of my own, health challenges in my close family, my father’s death, economic insecurity, and loneliness in a place where I have few in person friends. Things are getting better. I even got to meet my good friend L’s cats yesterday. She and her husband have six! The giant fluffy ones were friendly and the kitten was rambunctious and cute. These things are good.

I’ll write more clever, incisive things soon. For now, I am trying my best to enjoy life just a little bit. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, as one of my favorite Jewish conservatives likes to say.

Love to you all, and I wish you farm fresh tomatoes!

Try fresh yellow tomatoes with Nancy’s Organic Cottage Cheese! (I am not being paid by either the tomato lobby or Nancy’s, but I’d be happy to accept sponsorship from either and do infinite product placements!)