Shanah Tovah! Country on a String: comedy toward dialog and change

I have been seeking a timely message this Rosh Hashana, Jewish New Year 5770. And, finally, with a Stetson-size hat tip to Checkpoint Jerusalem, I saw this birth announcement of twins, Humor and Hope, delivered by The Palestinian Saturday Night Live Version.

Watch the promo video here (4:31 minutes).

It's a Palestinian comedy shown on Palestinian TV, featuring Palestinian creators poking fun at themselves, each other, their lives, and sometimes desperate circumstances. In the tradition of the world's great self-mockers, this team is helping to beat depression, anger, even injustice in delivering its black-humor-laced episodes. And remedies are implied when not stated outright.

Laughing at myself helps lift me. And, usually, I find, in the laughing, roads leading to hope, change, and betterment.

This 5750, I salute my brave Palestinian cousins who pick up pens, not guns, and who look within and without in a bid for lightening and lighting the long way ahead for us all.

L'Shanah Tovah, Have a Happy New Year 5770!

My previous Rosh Hashana posts

• 5769 (2008)
• 5768 (2007) here and here
• 5767 (2006)

In Israel's Golan, multitasking

"Noa is older than Noam but he is bigger
and sitting on a taller seer [Hebrew: chamber pot]."

Shalom Tami,

Last week the whole family spent three days in the Golan. Everyone had a lovely time. As you can see from the picture, we were very much into toilet training in front of the zimmer [German: a room. Modern Hebrew: a country guest house]. Noa is older than Noam but he is bigger in size and sitting on a taller seer.

I just love the Golan, the landscape, the weather, the small settlements.

We are already back to work, and getting our act together for next year. . . . Your emails are so interesting. You are involved with important causes, always learning and doing!

Hodesh Tov [Hebrew: a good (new) month] & Shabbat Shalom,
— Gila