Q & A

There are some questions that people have asked me lately, so maybe you are wondering some of the same things:

--Are your kids in school?

Nope. Schools, even preschools, are required to be closed across the country. Ilana hasn't set foot in school in three weeks and there isn't even a proposed date for schools to reopen. Penina has some Zoom classes and is working on her ever-important bagrut matriculation exams so she has a bit more of a schedule (Ilana's school sends worksheets and some videos out but has nothing at any particular time), but, basically, I fear those kids (and every other kid) will have forgotten how to get up and out of the house in the morning by the time schools finally reopen. Shalom Shachne describes them as being on semi-permanent summer vacation.  And not in a good way....

--Where's Chana?

Woohoo--delightfully, she's still here. She works US hours (4-midnight) as the Fellow in the Online Education Department of the college she graduated from, and is taking some classes in English literature at an Israeli college during the day. Since these classes are on Zoom, her goal of meeting other age-mates locally who share her love of English literature has largely gone unfulfilled, but at least it's giving her something to do.

--Did you get your second vaccine?

Yes! 3/4 of our family has received their second dose! I have tremendous respect and thanks to the Israeli government for running this program beautifully-well and smoothly. For example, the moment I made my appointment for the first vaccine, a second appointment exactly three weeks later was made automatically.  And 48 hours after receiving each vaccine, we got a text asking us to fill out a survey about side effects.

his comment: "5G enabled"

--Which vaccine did you get?

Israel has only given out the Pfizer vaccine so far. And good job, Israel--almost 40% of the population has received at least one dose, including over 80% of people over 60!  Currently, anyone age 35 and over (no "reason" or pre-existing health issues necessary) can get the vaccine, as well as 16 and 17 year-olds with parents permission (this country is *obsessed* with those bagrut matriculation exams).

Want more? Here's a Good article in the Wall St Journal

--Do you work virtually or in-person?

I feel like most of you reading this do know this answer, but I'll say it anyway since someone did ask. I work in-person running health clinics for English-speaking students here on gap year programs. I wear full PPE and have a limit on how long I can spend with each student, all to ensure that I don't end up in quarantine or ill (hopefully not so likely since I tested positive for antibodies several months ago and have received two vaccine doses, although still waiting for full effectiveness from the second dose).

--Seen Cousin Jillian lately?

No. And it stinks. The country has been in strict lockdown for weeks. There are roadblocks on major roads and passing through them requires an official letter or proof of a reason such as a medical appointment. Sadly, visiting cousins does not count as an official reason. Although it doesn't really matter since it's illegal to visit others in their house.....I don't think those of you in the US (who can still go to Target [although you might have to wait in line b/c they're only accepting 25% capacity], and can go to normal-size weddings and funerals and, and, and) can quite fathom the lockdown-ness of what it's like here.....But I'll keep trying to give a little glimpse of what it's like here

--Puppy?

A definite bright spot!!!!  Percy is adorable and a very good snuggler. As a true pandemic puppy he's less-than-thrilled with most (erm, "all") people outside of our family, but he's been great for us. 

--Any final thoughts for this blog post? (okay, no one has asked that. I just made it up)

Other "fun" things going on here:

The airport is now closed to both incoming and outgoing commercial flights, including for returning Israeli citizens and new olim. 

And, finally, according to the Jerusalem Post today, Israel has the extremely-dubious distinction of leading the world in number of days spent in lockdown: 139 so far. 

Hopefully in my next post I will have better news to report, although given how swiftly the Covid variants are going around the country, I'm not sure I will ;(

Hang in there, everyone!

Covid Good News/Covid Bad News

Let's get the bad things out of the way first: DRAT. Israel's cases are now topping 8,000/day. We've been in "sorta" lockdown for about a week now, but there has been veeeery little enforcement. While many stores are closed, more than just essential stores are open (I was in Tel Aviv yesterday, and I find it hard to believe that Laline [which is like the Israeli upscale version of Bath and Body Works], and Toys'RUs are essential businesses....). Schools have been open for every grade, which means that Ilana actually got to go to school for almost three weeks--hurray!!!!  Too bad this week has been midterms (did they even learn enough to make a test on?) and they go in for one test a day and then come home. Too bad because, BOOM, Thursday night we go into full-on, country-wide, they-really-mean-it-this-time lockdown, which means every grade above preschool that's not special ed will be closed. And roads closed. And stores closed. And WAAAH....

The Old City is the only place that has been seriously locked down, again with the doors closed to entrances (I seriously didn't even know those giant doorways even HAD doors there until the last lockdown), police checking that people live or work there, and empty streets.

Here are a few new photos of the empty Kotel (seriously amazing job perk that I can go here when so few other people can)....

the prayer book section, which is usually a mess of siddurim put haphazardly away, with the staff seemingly never able to keep up. Monday I found an Artscroll Ashkenaz easily on the beautifully-organized shelves, but almost couldn't get it out of the over-stuffed bookcase

Penina just got out of a week of bidud due to first one and then a second teacher of hers being Covid positive. Thankfully, she got two negative tests which gets you of of quarantine ten days after your exposure. But definitely not fun....

On the good news front (speaking of which, I get a very nice weekly email from Good News Israel), Israel is leading the world in vaccinating its citizens against Covid, with over 1.5 million people receiving their first doses, including 3/4 of the eligible members of our family (Ilana is too young), 4/5 if we include Cousin Jillian who smartly played the "I'm a medical student and really need one" card despite not being an Israeli citizen (it's still being worked out if/how vaccinations will be given to non-residents [at least, non-residents who aren't medical students!], which is a big question in a country with so many students in it)

I was feeling SO full of gratitude at this moment. Like, "the beginning of the end of this horrible time is RIGHT NOW". Mixed with a fair bit of, "See you soon(ish), Mom and Dad!"

Israel is making up guidelines for those who have been vaccinated, giving them (us?) "Green Passports" that will get us out of testing and quarantine when we come into contact w a Covid + person, or when we enter the country.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, I looove the superhero nurse character

I'm just hoping all goes well with people here getting their second dose on time and without incident.....And, if so, my prediction is that the Likud Party and Netanyahu will win when we go to elections, sigh, yet again, in March. 

Lastly, a fun fact: applications to Nefesh b'Nefesh are up over 200% since Covid started, with the highest number of applications by people over 55 (perhaps aided by the fact that people over 60 here are automatically able to get the vaccine??). Not-so-fun-fact for those of us renting but hoping to buy: this has meant that real estate prices have gone through the roof. Oh well, you're all welcome anyway.

Gotta end with a Percy pic! "Sleeping Cutie"