Isaiah 33


"The Angels of Peace weep bitterly"

August 11, 2006 "Soldier mourns Soldier"

July 31, 2006

Diary August 7, 2007
Letters from Meshi Taib and Avishai Perlson
-- I do not only sigh but really cry,
thank you for helping me with those terrible feelings
of being "content" with the blows
that Israel's military self-confidence receives now.
Thank you for letting me create a song,
which melts the bitterness about my People:

From Meshi Taib, Sent: August 06, 2006

From: Christa-Rachel Bat-Adam, Sent: August 07, 2006

Dear Avishai,

Before I opened your beautiful appreciation for me,
I read the above poem
and am still in tears,
I danced my sama'a (see puzzle piece 17 - the page about movement)
and so much pain came out,
while on the other side there is so much anger.
Those prophets of old expressed it in writing,
they were identified with their anger,
they could not see, that the stupidity is happening in their own drama,
and that they therefore are responsible for it,
not to be blamed, but responsible
(like when we young Germans in the late fifties started to torture ourselves
and read a book, which made this clear:
we are not guilty, but we are responsible)

Meshi is one of my five "star-children" (now between 17 and 19) here in Arad,
Zipi is the one who started this relationship and is also geographically the closest,
Meshi is not yet 18.
But she "knows it all".

From: Avishai Pearlson Sent: August 07, 2006 3:46 PM
Subject: Shalom from Israel
[Sent to his family and friends in the United States]

These are hard days.
Many Israelis are dying from Russian and Iranian rockets , supplied by Syria to the extreme militant Muslim group of Hezbollah, fired daily from their hiding places near and within towns and villages in South Lebanon.

Many Lebanese are dying from Israeli artillery and Air Strikes, using US and Israeli made weapons.

The destruction and pain , the loss of life and physical and emotional wounding is horrific.

Any contact I have with the reality of this nightmare is followed by confusion and disbelief. Is it true? Is this really happening, right now, right here?

I am at my parents home, Kibbutz Kfar Hanassi, in the Upper Galilee.

Rockets have been falling in the vicinity for over 3 weeks, however only 1 fell near by, in an open field outside the fence.

Whenever any rockets are fired from Lebanon towards this area, sirens are sounded in all towns and villages, and there is about a minute to get into a shelter or the protected room (built in all newer houses in Israel). We hear the sound of the rockets falling, usually within 3 or more KM from here, and then it is safe to go out until the next siren.

Today, so far there have been no sirens, however, most days there are several, and only during daytime, the nights are safer here. Most families with children have left to safer places in the center and south of Israel. Bigger towns in the north are mostly deserted, as they get hit harder.

There is an IDF artillery base somewhere not far from here, and we hear and feel she shelling constantly, several times a minute, night and day. This is a constant reminder to me, that war is going on, that bombs are falling constantly, killing and maiming humans not too far from here, including children.

In the quiet moments, I am surrounded by the so familiar vistas of the Galil and the Golan, with blue skies, warm, sunny days, and lovely summer nights, I am with family and friends, I forage to harvest summer fruit: sweet, luscious Sabres- the prickly pear fruit, ripe grapes, sensual Lychees, fallen pears and juicy lemons.

How surreal, when my guts are turned with each roar of artillery and wail of a siren. Here we go...the siren is wailing now.

Hard to tell between the falling Katusha's and the sending artillery. My father is teaching me that the double boom is the outward.

They all sound scary to me.

In the rest of Israel the war is felt mostly through TV and other media, and life goes on, however people are nervous and growing tired. There is a growing call for immediate ceasefire.


Several hours later...

This afternoon is quiet. I spend time with my father (rest of the family are in Tel Aviv area, in safer grounds), I cook a lot, visit, talk to friends and family on the phone and I get to teach Breema classes nearly every day.

Last night I taught my 3rd class in the central Bomb Shelter of the Kibbutz, the only place approved for gatherings of any sort.

16 people showed up, responding to an SMS that was sent to all residents that same afternoon (we just received a new SMS alerting us that in 20 min there might be rockets falling, so stay near safe rooms. This is the first time we get that kind of a warning. How do they know?). All communication is through SMS's now.

Many folks that have never been to Breema classes in my past visits are showing up, seeking a moment of peace, and tools to get calm and centered in this crazy existence. One woman said she has 4 sons in the army now, two of them in Lebanon, and she needs a break from the TV and the ongoing anxiety. She left class smiling.

This evening I'm invited to Zafed, the town up the mountain, 10 km from here, that had been hit heavily and is mostly deserted.

I will give a Breeme intro class to a group of 20 volunteers that are in town to help old residents, clean and maintain shelters, feed the needy etc. Their director received Breema from me, and realized that is what they need, to relax and be supported to keep going.
I also get to give short sessions to the medical staff at the Hospital in Zafed, where many wounded arrive (soldiers and civilians). That is very rewarding and heart warming.
Are there any benefits in this nightmare? Crazy question. Yes, there is a refreshing level of sincerity, of openness, of desire for meaningful interactions and experiences.

On Friday Merle and I taught a full day workshop in a healing center in Alonei Aba, in NW Israel, east of Haifa. We deliberated about the safety, and chose to keep with the plans. 16 students showed up, from all over the North, and we had an amazing workshop. 2 hours later a rocket fell in an open field about 300 meters from the building we where in. There where no injuries. I heard the falls from where I was having dinner, about 5 km away.
When I am present with my activities, all is well. When my attention is on the news, and analysis, and political discussions, I am afraid, angry, and anxious. I see that my work is to focus on what I Can do, and let go of that which I have no effect on. I swing between the two constantly.

I also see that I have a lot to be grateful for, and I shift immediately from worry to joy, whenever I express my gratitude and blessings.

Thanks to all that have written.
I am safe and intend to return to Berkeley Aug 14.
I pray for sanity and hope this loud wake up call is waking us all up.
Much love,
Avishai

Here is a short clip from CNN, an interview with a brave Lebanese lady that speaks up.