Small town life is very different from big city life.
In the big city, a stranger knocks at your door asking for charity and you can give or not — it’s your own business. Here, a stranger knocks at your door saying that the village rabbi is making a charity collection, and you dig into your pocket and pull something out. In the big city, you move into an apartment and that’s it. Here, it’s news for the entire community, and you find about a week’s worth of groceries for a gift, not to mention offers of help from all sides. Here, you look to see if you can find things to give to charity. Your neighbors help you, and you need to be prepared to help your neighbors. And, because of the way you are treated, you want to be. Here you see the saying, “what goes around, comes around” in a very real way.
Another example; that charity we gave left us without enough money to go to Jerusalem — a fact I didn’t realize until the 7:30 came lumbering into the bus stop. I told the driver we were missing two shekels of the 22 shekel fare into town because we had given charity. He just rang up the fare and took the twenty shekels we offered and pointed to the receipt coming out of the machine. Returning from Jerusalem in the afternoon, my wife pointed out that this was the same driver as had picked us up in the morning. At one of the stops along the route, I walked through the bus, and offered him the two shekels. He waved it away. This never would have happened in New York. We would never have been allowed on the bus. It might have happened in St. Paul but would have been unlikely. In Jerusalem, the likelihood would have been greater — but it still would have been small.
Article comments
1 - Michael J. West
Good for you, Ruvy. :-)
Will you be changing your screen name?
2 - troll
It looks beautiful there Ruvy
may coexistence in the 'west bank' prove possible in the long run
troll
3 - Christopher Rose
Nice place, glad you're safe and well, wish you were further West.
4 - jack e. jett
ruvy
if you are in israel, please tell your folks to leave this poor children and old people alone. let them get the services they need.
we all now know your are big, tough, rednecks. we know you can kick ass. does it give your country a hard on to kill the elderly and the children.
sick, twisted piece of shit of a country.
jack jett
5 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Troll,
The photo was taken from the top of the synagogue and is primarily of the eastern part of the village. We live in the western part. For the moment the country is at war and tempers, my own included, are not fitted to peace. But trust me, I've not forgotten my concepts.
It is written as prophecy that the Children of Kedar will sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem. So, it is as a matter of faith that I try to work out a method of reconciliation between the Children of Israel and the Children of Kedar (the second son of Ishmael).
6 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Mike,
Thanks for the kind thoughts. For all the facts of living out here, I still view myself as a Jerusalemite. Whenver I have to do any serious business, it is to Jerusalem I go.
So, I'm keeping the same moniker.
7 - Elvira Black
Ruvy, so very glad you're safe and sound. Your new community sounds idyllic. All my best to you and yours.