Corona Stream of Consciousness
While we are still in the middle of this psychedelic trip known as Corona, I've decide to write a few of the things racing around in my head.
As you get older you think you have seen everything. I certainly thought that was true to some extent. I have been through several stock market crashes, real estate market crashes.
I had to deal with mobsters. I was told which garbage company to use for pickups, which contractors, truckers etc..
I have been to mass rallies, slept in front of the Soviet ( that is Russia for you young ones) embassy and stood up for Israel on campus.
I had babies ( well my wife did), grand kids too. I used to get into fights. I have had several car crashes. I have experienced the loss of close friends and family. I have made and lost friends,
and made them again,
and lost them again.
I have made and lost money. I have watched as countries have thrown off the yoke of dictatorship. I have seen them revert.
I have been in a country at war.
More than once.
I live in a country whose existence is threatened EVERY DAY.
I put three kids through college, two through graduate school and one in the Israeli army (so far).
When I was in my twenties I never could have imagined most of these things. As a matter of fact after I saw the movie Logan's Run I was convinced I would not last past 30.
I also realize that this is nothing special ( well maybe the Logan's Run thing is). I am sure everyone who is my age , or older, has similar stories and experiences.
Now, I think about all these things as we are living through one of the craziest times in history. It is just proof of the old adage, you ain't seen nothing yet.
Here is a list of some of the wackiness in our recent past in no particular order.
The entire world shut down for 2 months or more. No trains, planes , restaurants ,movies ( you get it)
There is a Crazy person running the most powerful country in the world
The next election will be between him and a senile 77 year old man who, statistically, should die in office.
There are equally crazy people running the second and third most powerful countries in the world.
My country endured three elections to basically end up where it started.
Antisemitism is the highest it has been in decades. Nazis are a real thing again.
The defenders of Israel are now Germany, Austria, Poland and Hungry. Our biggest critics, Ireland and Norway.
There are protests all over the world to fight injustice. One of the only things that have united people from everywhere in a long time.
There were riots and looting as well and the government couldn't do anything about it.
Part of Seattle is a now free country
People have decided the police are no longer necessary.
Debate and discourse have disappeared. They call this cancel culture.
People are guilty before being proven guilty.
Business owners are evil.
Real estate is no longer a safe investment.
Busy people who take days to answer emails get back to you in minutes and want to keep the conversation going because they are locked down with their spouse and kids and are losing their minds.
So as I am solidly entering middle age, I realize that there is a lot more to see and experience.
To be honest this post started in one place ( I was going to talk about annexation, aliyah, confederate statues ..) but somehow ended up like this. I have no idea how or why. I will try to get to those other things soon.
One thing I want to add is that I went to a Shiva call a few days ago. It has been a long time since I was able to perform this mitzvah and I was happy to go and pay proper respects to someone who certainly deserved it. It was the father of a friend of mine, who was undoubtedly one of the foremost experts on the Rambam ( Maimonides) . He was one of those people who made you feel like you were smart just by sitting near him but at the same time made you realize that you weren't.
He coined one of my favorite terms which comes to mind all the time. Judeoidiots
These are people who twist our religion , know what G-d wants, etc.. One of my favorite topics.
It is the perfect word.
He was a master of explaining how Judaism is a thinking person's religion. Rational, based on facts, not superstition and nonsense.
They don't make Rabbis like this anymore.
It is a shame that we lost another one .