Chanel 10 News

Last week we were invited by one of Stewart's classmates from Tel Aviv University to go and see where she works.  She just happens to be the anchor woman on the 7 o'clock News (Nana10). Wow!

 

Meet Romy (together with Israeli President Shimon Perez).

Romy was great with the kids, and gracious enough to show us all the ins and outs of TV studio.  We learned a lot about how the news is put together, and all the different roles at the TV station.  Romy researches and writes her own script every night.  I was amazed.  I thought all TV news personalities just read the prompter.  I had no idea just how hands on her job is until now.  Truly impressive.

The kids got a big kick out of sitting at the news desk with her.

I think Lydia may have found her calling.

The studio had fantastic views of Tel Aviv. It was the Israeli version of NYC's Today Show.

Stewart and the kids sat down for some frank discussions on Israeli politics and the climate of stability in the middle east.  The general consensus: no one had a clue. "Balagan!"

Will giggles in the spotlight, while Lydia waits for her chance to grill him on the current state of playground conduct.

What a cutie.  Too bad these pics were taken with a camera phone.

Romi shows us what the design team has picked out for her for tonight's broadcast.

Next, Lydia and Will took turns in the Radio sound booth. The 5-minute live radio broadcast that comes on at the top of every hour was recorded right here while we watched from the next room.

To say that Israelis are addicted to News is an understatement. Most of them read multiple newspapers, listen to radio, check the internet, and of course, watch television. Therefore, Romy is not only well known, but also a respected journalist in Israel, and a keen student of Middle Eastern History. This was a fascinating little family field trip and we're hoping it will inspire the rugrats to dream big (& work hard in school). 

Shalom Y'all,

Stew & E

Now back to you, Romy...

Book Review: "From Beirut to Jerusalem"

In an effort to learn a little bit about our new temporary home, we've been doing some reading. A lot of reading, actually. We'd like to share some book reviews from time-to-time for anyone interested in learning a little more about the Middle East in general, or Israel in particular.

"From Beirut to Jerusalem"  Thomas Friedman

The book itself details Friedman's adventures as a New York Times correspondent in Beirut during the early 80s, and his coverage of Jerusalem through the start of the first Palestinian Intifada in 1987. He's pretty far left, but he can definitely turn a phrase, and I think that he has a keen insight on this land, it's people, and the reasons for the seemingly unending conflict that continues here to today.

When I told my god-father, Doug Waller, that we were moving here for 2 years for cultural immersion, he recommended I read this book by his friend, Tom. He told me, "Look Stew, I know it was written 25 years ago, but trust me, only the names have changes...the story is exactly the same." Doug would know, he covered the Middle East for Time and Newsweek during the 90s. After living here a year, having taken classes on the history of Israel, studied the First and Second Intifada, and talked to lots of Israelis, I think his view is accurate. In terms of the peace process, Israel today is very much like it was back in 88, but with more settlements in the West Bank.

Here's a short sample from Friedman:
"Israel is the most difficult, outlandish experiment in Jewish history--an attempt to build a Jewish nation out of Jews who have never lived together. Yes, they dreamed about living together. Yes, they prayed about living together. But in the real world radical Russian Jews and primitive Moroccan Jews and South African Jews and hot-blooded Argentinean Jews never actually lived together in the same space, let alone in the harsh environment of the Middle East. Taking Jews from so many diverse cultures and moral backgrounds and asking them to form a society that will be the carrier of Jewish history in the modern era is no easy task...The country is still teeming with differences, jealousies, unfulfilled dreams, not to mention people who have to hustle their banker just to get to the end of the month and who were not raised on the writings of Thomas Jefferson. It is also filled with excitement, kinetic energy, and amazing achievement for so young a society."

Well said.

I recommend this book not because I agree with every perspective presented (I don't, by a long shot), but because Friedman gives an insight to many of the competing tensions and pressures at work in this complex little country. Enjoy...

Shalom Y'all,
Stew

Dance Party

This one is mainly for the grandparents, but we have a wee bit of catching up to do.  Lydia had two major performances at the end of June.  Well, major to a six year old at least.  The first was her end of year school performance.  This was performed by her kindergarten class for all of the parents.  The theme for the entire school year was "health."  This translated into lots of lessons on healthy eating (which has a slightly different vantage point from the states) and exercise.  The kids prepared several songs complete with dances to show the parents all they had learned over the course of the year.  Lydia practiced these earnestly at home for weeks before the big day.  It was really quite cute.

Lydia's other big performance was her dance recital.  Lydia took dance classes once a week for an hour with friends from the neighborhood.  We really liked the studio and the laid back and fun approach it provided.  After seeing the 2 hour recital complete with smoke machine, random movie segways, and mediocre dancing  - we might be looking into gymnastics for next year.  Lydia's dance exhibition was pretty much what I expected from her age group, but oh my... the older dancers....wow.  That was another story.

It's always a cultural experience, and this time we had our dear friends, the Keithleys, along for the ride.  Thankfully, they are still our friends, although I am sure Lance is sad to never get those 2 hours of his life back.  Best part of the night?  Watching random old lady dump a tray of Bourekas into her purse after the show - you know, for when you get hungry later.

Shalom Y'all.