March 03, 2005
Schwartz - Hail and Farewell, Holy Land (Part I)
February 4th, 2005
Goodbye Israel-Palestine...
...hello United States.
Click on "continue reading."
January 29th, 2005 My last visit to Beit Sīra...
The sleepy little town of Beit Sīra, with Israel-Palestine's second largest mosque.
Zechariah and his brother Ibrahim, my friends.
Zechariah smiling over a photograph of him and his wife when they were first married. His wife is seated in the background, holding their youngest. I shall miss Zechariah very deeply. I wrote this poem in his honor...
Beit Sīra
across the verdant pasture was Beit Nuba
and not much farther had been Imwás
Mōdi`in rises, regal and austere
they call it the “city of the future”
but we know what once was there
Zechariah looks at his photograph and smiles
he can’t believe how long it’s been
shams, shemesh, old Jehovah, he is a’setting
and yes, Maccabīm does glisten so prettily at night
but the ghosts, Hebrew and Arab, they are a’crying
Zechariah, the fearful are building a wall
oh my friend, shall I ever see you again?
February 2nd, 2005 Campfires
Sunset over Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salaam.
My last two months in the village, I began making campfires behind the volunteers' bloc. These turned out to be very popular with the villagers. For the high schoolers and college/army brats, it proved a relaxing way to spend the night. For the old-timers, it roused memories of the early years of the village, when everyone used to gather together to tell stories and jokes. My second-to-last night in the village we had a huge get-together. In the photograph, from left to right: Amir (the tiny fellow), Tom Kramer, Yonaton Shippen, Aton Kramer the gardner and my last boss, and Ori Sonnenschein.
Left to right: Noam Shuster, who'll be studying in Manhattan come this September (awesome!) and Ahmed Hijazi relaxing with the arngila.
Rayek Rizek chilling out by the fire.
Adham from Kufr Manda and Zuhair, son of Voltaire. They helped me prepare my farewell fire.
My friend Wisam and Ariela ben Ishay, one of the coolest old-timers. On either side of them are the new volunteers: Yudit from Germany (whom, based upon our political discussions, can only be described as an "anti-Fascist Stalinist Zionist." Yes, I did just say that) and Heidi from Oregon (the "Hippie.")
A very scraggly me proudly standing beside Ariela.
Two days later... The night of my return to the USA, I lit one last bonfire. I gave my loafers a Viking's funeral, for having served me so well over the last four years. The Negev finally did them in, melting their rubber soles. I also cremated a pile of socks for which I had no space in my luggage. An evil looking fire, no?
February 10th-20th, 2005 Trip to Philadelphia
Philadelphia city hall.
Sunset over LaSalle University.
My long lost Chon reading a book. I love this photograph (she probably hates it) and I feel that I may love this girl...
Index
Part I: My last visit to Beit Sīra; Campfires; Trip to Philadelphia
Part II: Other Photographs and Reminisces
Part III: Travels (Photographs and links)
Part IV: Favorite Locales
Part V: For my brother Scott (Christmas photographs)
There must be peace between symbols An article I wrote inspired by my time in Israel-Palestine, published in The Journal News newspaper.
