Paul S' books and stuff in 2017 - 2 - Israel

I think I better start a new thread/t with my Israel pictures.


the tempel mount with the Western Wall

Masada

books read so far:
1) Death in summer by William Trevor
2) Mad Elaine by Helen Stevenson
3) Das erste Buch Mose : 1. Teil Kapitel 1 bis 11 by Hansjörg Bräumer
4) The documentary hypothesis and the composition of the Pentateuch : eight lectures by Umberto Cassuto
5) Provokativ : Denkanstösse aus Israel by Johannes Gerloff
6) In Basel ist die Göttin los : Kriminalroman by Michèle Sandrin
7) Eifel-Schnee : Kriminalroman by Jacques Berndorf
8) Oskar und die Dame in Rosa : Erzählung by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt
9) Die Steinflut : Novelle by Franz Hohler
10) Ein diplomatischer Zwischenfall by Agatha Christie
11) Du musst stark sein : meine Flucht aus der täglichen Hölle by Doris Jordan
12) Mit Lili durch Basel : Ausblicke, Rundgänge, Wandbilder by Johanna Gerber
13) The book of J by Rosenberg and Bloom
14) Cat's cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
15) Die Karawane am Boden des Milchkrugs : groteske Geschichten by Franz Hohler
16) Asterix & Obelix feiern Geburtstag : das Goldene Buch by René Goscinny
17) From Noah to Abraham : Genesis VI 9 - XI 32 ; with an appendix: A fragment of part III by Umberto Cassuto
18) A-on in Surinam : Eine Erzählung aus Guyana by Elisabeth Oehler-Heimerdinger
19) A commentary on the book of Exodus by Umberto Cassuto
20) Unter Engeln und Wasserdieben : tausend Kilometer auf dem Israel National Trail ; 10 Wochen zu Fuss durch Israel by Stefan Tomik
21) Niemand kann zwei Herren dienen : eine Erzählung aus China by Elisabeth Oehler-Heimerdinger
22) Die Liegenden by Michele Serra
23) Die Strasse : Roman by Cormac McCarthy
24) Eine Reise mit Alice by Diane Broeckhoven

My city!!!!

So glad you had a wonderful trip to Israel (and Jerusalem) and am very excited to see your pictures!

>4 SqueakyChu: Hej Madeline, give me some breath here :) I am still uploading some pictures and sorting out my new thread. You know I am a Bernese, I am pretty slow.
Never tell a joke to a Berner on Saturday evening - because he'd start laughing during Sunday morning service :)

Glad you recognized the city despite the angle.

early morning in Basel

My wife was already in Korea. So nobody could bring me to the airport (the tram didn't run so early). But the librarian of the Woman's Library brought me there.- A nice, librarylike beginning of my trip. And I only took one single book with me and always made a huge detour around wild running books :) *sigh*

Tel Aviv - one hour difference to Switzerland

First experience with bus drivers: According to the internet there are direct buses to Arad - nope, they just stopped that service this week. The clerk at the ticket office was not able to tell be how I get to Arad, he just repeated again and again that there are no buses to Arad. Then I asked a young soldier. She went to different bus drivers and found out that I have to take a bus to Beersheva and change buses there.
Note: never try to get information from a bus driver, ask soldiers they are usually very friendly and helpful.

Happy new thread, Paul. Thanks for sharing your photos.

arriving at the Dead Sea Adventure Hostel Arad at night



at arrival I was told that the next morning I will get pancakes for breakfast - it was formulated as if that was a special treat. But then we realized that pancakes is the usual breakfast food :)

ceiling of the restaurant Muza in Arad - football scarfs from almost everywhere - only the Swiss clubs were missing


Schnitzel in Europe is usually pork meat, but not in Israel
(I hope they know that when they are ordering a Wiener Schnitzel in Switzerland)

early morning in the desert - in the distance there is some ground fog visable

clever cat reading the newspaper in the shade

no way one could swim properly here - strengthening the skin


good coffee and a treat - strengthening the inner values

>8 Ameise1: you're welcome, Barbara, glad you enjoy them

Love the pictures, especially the one of the cat reading the newspaper. Was the newspaper in Hebrew or English? Was the cat bilingual? ;)

Happy new thread Paul and great photos; thanks for sharing them.

>15 SqueakyChu: Hahaha

>10 paulstalder: I would have taken the grilled salmon.

Lovely photos. The cats in Israel come in a distant second to the Israeli love for their dogs.

The first Hebrew word my daughter-in-law learned when in Israel on her honeymoon was khatool, the word for cat! :)

Gorgeous photos, Paul. Is that you floating on the sea?

Happy new thread, Paul! Thank you for sharing the photos of your trip!

>15 SqueakyChu: That was a Hebrew newspaper, so it must be a local cat :) There were also some Arabic newspapers around. Arad has a quite mixed population. There are many Orthodox Jews there because it's cheaper to live there than somewhere else.

>16 PaulCranswick: Good choice, the salmon, Paul. But in this case I went for the 200 gr burger with potatoes, humus, onion rings and olives.
Getting to that restaurant was also a typical experience with bus drivers. I asked for 'City Center' and he dropped me at the 'Zim Center', so I had to walk back two bus stops :)

>17 avatiakh: The cats were sometimes a nuisance. They also entered the court yard of the restaurant, jumped on a just vacated table and inspected the left overs.

>18 SqueakyChu: I tried to learn a few Hebrew words but I keep forgetting them. What I learned (again) was the Hebrew alphabet. But without vocalization it's almost impossible to guess the word.

>19 Ameise1: Yep, that was me getting wet and salty.

>20 harrygbutler: You are welcome. I have so many good memories about Israel that I am very pleased to share them here.

attack of the birds on the left overs just after somebody left the table, at the end there were over 20 birds on that table

pigeon holes


water irrigation (see the channels below the fortress which guided the water into the cisterns, then they had to climb down to get the water up)

I am fascinated by Masada. They pigeon for food, and a very elaborated water system. All built already by Herod. It is said that much of the things (even dates and wine) was still usable when the resistance fighters got up there. It was a hard battle for the Romans to conquer that stronghold.

sunrise on Masada overlooking the Dead Sea
(a picture sent to me by a German backpacker when she left Arad)

25) Am Montag flog der Rabbi ab : Kriminalroman by Harry Kemelman. Rabbi Small moves to Jerusalem, he wants to experience Israel and come to terms with his own kind of midlife crisis. In the neighbourhood a bomb exploded, and after the second bombing he starts to think about it. Not so much a mystery as more the musings of a liberal rabbi about his faith, his calling, and Israel. I enjoyed it. I took with me to Israel and thought I finish it there and leave it there. But I only finished it on my flight back.

Beautiful photos.

>26 paulstalder: Have you read the others of this series, too? Another branch of my library has got the whole series.

>27 Ameise1: Barbara, I have read one about Rabbi Small years ago. I chose this one now because he flew to Jerusalem :)
I like the way the Rabbi thinks, so I will read more about him.

Now that you're back from Israel, Paul, try reading some Israeli authors. Having visited that nation, you'll understand their novels much better. For starters, try Amos Oz, A.B. Yehoshua, or David Grossman.

Happy new thread! Those pictures are wonderful.

Our pastor just wrapped a "Jesus and the Nation of Israel" series yesterday. Yesterday's sermon was "Jesus and the Mountains of Israel." He has been to the Holy Land 22 times or something like that. He has lots of personal photos he uses to illustrate sermons quite often. I'm glad you enjoyed your trip so much.

>29 SqueakyChu: Amos Oz is on my TBR list, the other two authors are new to me. I did read some Ephraim Kishon and Batya Gur, I also read Alles Gaza by Etgar Keret. I also read some historical books about Israel, its railway, Conrad Schick etc. I will see what comes next into my hands :)

>30 drneutron: Thanks Jim, pleased to please you.

>31 thornton37814: That sounds interesting, Lori. Showing pictures is a good way of keeping one's concentration.

a wadi in the desert - dangerous if it rained nearby, one could be surprised by a spring flood


the huge desert around Arad, with some oasis in the distance

there is life in the desert


beware of these caterpillars - don't rub your eyes after having touched one of these, it burns hellish

We also made a visit to the atelier of the artist Rick Wienecke in Arad

the 'Rail Menora' Wienecke made for the Memorial for Refugees here in Riehen (there is a railway track going on Swiss territory where they also transported Jews from rural areas of the Black Forest to the concentration camps)


Wienecke also sculptured the 'Fountain of Tears', a wall with seven panels, each having the crucified Christ on the wall and in front standing a concentration camp figure (life size). He links the suffering of Christ with the Holocaust. Each of the seven words Jesus uttered on the cross are responded by a figure from a concentration camp. The six pillars in between symbolize the 6 million dead of the Holocaust. There drip water down these pillars which then flows out to water 6 olive trees. Theologically there are some difficult issues, but the links are there.


The most hard breaking scene: Christ quoted Psalm 22,2 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me', a verse which was often quoted by Jews in the gas chambers.

It was not an easy visit to make. And I feel inadequate in giving an impression of the piece of art in just two pictures and a very short text. It deeply moved us.

>32 paulstalder:. Great! I'll follow your reads and might even join you in some.

>35 paulstalder:. That seems like fascinating and moving art work. I never had the chance to visit Arad.

Happy new thread, Paul, and thanks for sharing your travel pictures.

>35 paulstalder: The 'Fountain of Tears' looks like a very emotional piece of art...

>36 SqueakyChu: Welcome, Madeline, but you may not like everything I read :)

>37 FAMeulstee: Thanks for visiting, Anita.

Wienecke is preparing to install such a wall near a concentration camp now (Birkenau in Poland), a Dutch organization is supporting that http://fot-foundation.org/

A day after leaving Arad we came into the mountains and the more the vegetation changed. More life.


a shepherd with his sheep and goats


death


life

Then we came to Drejat, this Bedouine village where we dined in an exquisite cave.


some courageous boys wanted to have a foto


the mosque of Drejat in the evening sun


our breakfast

26) Die Vermittlerin : Roman by Dee Henderson. Kate O'Malley is a hostage negotiator and is called to heal with a bank attack with hostages. Among the hostages in the bank is also an FBI agent, Dave. Kate was able to solve the crisis, so with herself and others being injured. Then she and Dave start to investigate together. A mystery with a romance. It is a Christian novel, so Dave and Kate start discussing faith, especially the relationship of justice and mercy. The first part of the O'Malley-Family series

Well, this breakfast looks delicious.
I went to the library and picked the first two books from the Rabbi Small series.

>42 Ameise1: It was delicious. I am not used to get humus and cheese for breakfast, but it was a good tasty combination.
Enjoy Rabbi Small

Hi Paul, wishing you a wonderful Easter weekend.

Thanks, Barbara, wishing you a blessed Easter, too.

The change of landscape is pretty striking. The first picture is on the Southern slope of Mt Amasa, the second looking down on the other side into a reforested area.


going uphill


looking down towards the North-West

storks in the meadow


how to drink water - 3 l per day (or more)

best camping site ever.
After we put up our tents, an Israeli family came to the same place. The kids, a boy and a girl, were around 10 and there rucksacks were around 10 kg! They didn't have a tent, just put some insulating mat on the ground and then their sleeping bags. Frank hat met them already further south in the desert. Because he had some days rest with me in Arad, the family was able to catch up with him. They left the next morning much earlier than we did. Great adventure. I met them again in the Kibbutz Lahav where they visited relatives.
A dog was following them since two days. The kids adopted it already and named it 'Shwili' (shwil: path, trail in Hebrew). The mother was a bit worried what to do when the dog will follow them further north.

a disturbing sight: the wall between Israel and Palestine

We avoided politics as good as possible. But we sensed some uneasiness about that border with all Israeli: Some Jews consider the wall not as border, only as a kind of divider. They ignore the fact that they cannot go there freely....
Some Arabs seem not too disturbed by the idea that the Palestinians are kept there....
Most Arabs ignore the reality of the Jew's history, they deny the Holocaust and so have no idea what a Jewish state means to the survivors....

a run down building was our accomodation in the Kibbutz Lahav
The sockets were coming off when pulling a plug out .... the mattresses were so smelly, I put my insulating mat first on them and then my sleeping bag ...


at least there is lemon tree in front, so we plucked some lemons and made hot lemon juice - tasty

'...but nothing ever happens, and i wonder
I wonder how, i wonder why
yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
and all that i can see is just a yellow lemon tree
i'm turning my head up and down... '

On the trail one day we were singing the alphabet through a-z, starting with 'Amazing grace' and finishing with 'Zünde an dein Feuer' (based on the Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem). For Q we only found 'Quattro cavai che trottano', but that we didn't know properly - shame. But we had German, English, Swiss German, Hebrew, and French songs in the repertoire :) luckily nobody heard us

Great pictures and stories so far, Paul. I was not in Israel after the wall was built. I know it has cut down on the incidents of suicide bombers, but still...seeing a picture of it leaves me uneasy.

The "accomodation" so reminds me of fun times as a volunteer visiting other volunteers on different kibbutzim. The building you pictured made me smile.

And yet...when I returned to my family's kibbutz Shaar Hamakim (in the Jezreel Valley) after an absence of 18 years, I was so sad that what I remembered as so beautiful had become run down over the years. I was devastated that the older dwellings were showing their age...although the newer dwellings were beautiful. There was a flat that had once been my aunt's. It had a porch covered with beautiful foliage. She no longer lived there then, but had been moved into a senior citizen's apartment. I went to visit the site of her old flat and was brought to tears when I found it in disrepair. I loved those old buildings.

>46 paulstalder: - >50 paulstalder: Thanks so much for showing us more photos and what you saw and felt. Beautiful spot where the tents are. The wall picture makes me very sad. I remember the wall in Berlin (mid 70s). The feeling then was a very uneasy one. Everytime I see in my opinion such an unneccessary wall, my heart cries.

>50 paulstalder: Fresh lemons! Yum!

>51 SqueakyChu: The owner is apparently not prepared to invest some money into the free accommodation for the shwilistim. He pointed out to us that the last group of hikers only left a few 10 agarot coins in the box .... so we felt obliged to pay 50 nis. But there was no cooking facilities, only a water heater - but that only worked when the heater for the shower was off ... so either coffee or shower.

It's the only Kibbutz which raises pigs for research and sells the surplus of meat to non-kosher shops.

Going back to old places has its set backs: It never looks the same as in my memory. When I saw the old farm house where we lived for some time twenty years later, I was disappointed.

>52 Ameise1: Thanks Barbara, for coming round and enjoy the pictures.

Did you see the article 'Kein guter Ort für Clowns' by Arnon Grünberg in the recent 'Das Magazin'? He writes there that he was doing some interviewing in the occupied territories and heard some comments about killing all the settlers and thinking that his own sister lives as a settler in a kibbutz there ... no easy solutions around.

>53 thornton37814: yes, Lori, the lemon was the best we had in this place :)

I listened to the Easter sermon by Dean Haun online. His meassage was very encouraging. He often refers to his visits to Israel, seems to know the place quite well :) making me want to go again

thorns and thistles


a Bedouin farm

we met some 'snail researchers' from an Israeli university. They were collecting snails (no slugs) and counting their population and spreading, the boss was writing his PhD on snails. Then they took us along in their car over the hilly land. No proper roads, many paths, so they had to use their GPS to find the next snail hub :)

modern Israeli railway (Bombardier I think)


an old railway bridge of the former Ottoman railway

fun fact: a Swiss banker, Johannes Frutiger, started the first railway on Israeli territory in 1889, the Jaffa-Jerusalem-railway (J & J). Since he was Swiss, they had to put down the name of an Ottoman citizen, Joseph Navon (a Jewish businessman who later moved to Paris and died there). I met Frutiger's grandson here in Basel.
Johannes Frutiger (1836-1899) : ein Schweizer Bankier in Jerusalem by Hans Hermann Frutiger

Philip's Farm
the worst night we spent in Israel was here. It is so close to the motorway that there is no quiet to be expected. It is a shed with a restaurant under it. We could sleep on the wooden floor. But I had to move my sleeping bag during the night because rain was dripping through the roof.


the wiring of this fan looks interesting - to say the least

The Farm is apparently quite well known for its paintball resort. When we arrived, a family was celebrating their daughter's 11th birthday (with over 20 kids) - but half of the kids were already crying because they were hit by a paintball on the head or on the chest (they were wearing helmets and other protective gear, but still...). But they didn't want to finish. One girl had a pretty bad bruise below her left ear - that will shine in all colors by now.

>55 paulstalder: making me want to go again

We should have an LT meetup in Israel! :)

>56 paulstalder:

I always kept a vase of dry thistles in my room in Hebrew Language school (ulpan). It was so decorative!

The snail search sounds like so much fun.

>58 paulstalder:

Time for a new roof, I guess.

My son was a computer support techie for our county school system. He would often encounter such nests of wires. Then he'd post pictures of them on Facebook. They sort of looked like the wires in your picture! Ha!

I could never see what my boys found fun in paintball. Except for the fact, maybe, that one of their playmates went on to become a Marine as an adult. Happily, he finished his term of service and is working as a civilian now.

>55 paulstalder: He takes groups over to the Holy Land and serves as a guide. He probably goes at least twice a year. He's been over about 25 times, I think. It may be more.

>59 SqueakyChu: So, next year in Jerusalem, Madeline, at the Tmol Shimshol? Would be a good place to discuss books and Israel.

I am always fascinated when seeing such wiring. Also the signs which are put up on the power poles are interesting: 'Danger of Death', I didn't regard Death as a danger so far, just as a consequence of something dangerous. But I am still learning.

>60 thornton37814: Lori, did you go yourself to Israel on one of his tours? Guess that would give some good introduction into the (Biblical) Israel.

a power pole with a sign 'Danger of Death' (well, too far away to actually see)

27) Das Geheimnis der weissen Raben by Wolfgang Ecke. Perry Clifton is asked to investigate some haunted castle up in Scotland. His friend, the 12-year-old Dicki accompanies him there, so they can be normal guests there. Just after been shown into their apartment, Dicki's vanity bag is replaced by a white raven .... and after midnight, some raven cries and rattling are heard ... A detective story for children, fun to read.

>61 paulstalder: I haven't been able to go yet because of timing. One of these days!

>64 thornton37814: Maybe we should plan an LT meeting in Jerusalem :)

Just found an old picture of Jerusalem (around 1900)

The Citadel and the road leading to Bethlehem, published by the Syrisches Waisenhaus in Jerusalem (Schneller Orphanage)

and an old map

published by the Leprosy Asylum 'Jesus hilft' in Jerusalem 1902

Oh, I love old maps of all kinds. This one looks very interesting!

Wonderful pictures, Paul. But I'm not sure about the sleeping-accomodation...

>68 drneutron: I found the map in the archives of the Basel Mission (http://www.bmarchives.org/). I guess you can get free access, too. You have to register when using it. It's a great collection of old maps and photographies

>69 Trifolia: Monica, this wooden floor experience close to the highway was luckily the only such experience in Israel. Next morning we came across a little wood about an hour after Philip's Farm. That would have a far better place to put up our tents - but we didn't know that

a vineyard near Lachish
But they do not produce wine here, these grapes are for eating, not drinking.


what irritated me a bit, is this chemical supply station
But there was nobody around I could ask about the chemicals they use here.

Lachish

Here we made our rest - reminded me of Texas or California.

Frank met an Israeli couple earlier on his trip in the desert who were there on the way with their bikes. We now got an invitation from them to visit them and spend Sabbath with them. Since I was feeling very tired, we accepted and headed West to Ashkalon. Since it was already Thursday afternoon, there were no buses running from Lachish anymore. But a friendly car driver took as along and drove us have way to a place he knew we would be able to catch a bus to Ashkalon. There we met our friend Ilan and we were able to put up our tents in his garden in the moshav Ge'a.

I know I will never get to go to Israel, so I'm very much enjoying my visit through your eyes.

>73 countrylife: I am happy to give some glimpses of the things I've seen and experienced in Israel, Cindy.

We had a quiet and lovely Sabbath in Ge'a. Friday evening we were invited to the Sabbath beginning ritual/celebration dinner. Since I was the oldest present, I received the cup of wine first :) I' ve heard about such Sabbath beginnings already, but never experienced it. The blessing words were in Hebrew so I didn't understand much, lehem, adonai - not more. Then we received a really festive menu with humus, chicken and different vegetables, and a dry red wine.

They asked us where we want to spend the next night and so we talked about Bar Giyora and a restaurant there, named Bar Bahar. I misunderstood and asked Babar? The woman started laughing and asked if I know about L'histoire de Babar the little elephant. She was fluent in reading French. So we started talking literature. She has been to La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland. She read Hans Fallada and other German authors in French. But she doesn't like Hebrew authors much. She doesn't like Amos Oz or Batya Gur. Part of the discussion was in French. So great to meet somebody like that so unexpectedly.

We also learned about the connection between olive trees and water rates: If somebody has several olive trees in the garden, they can get more water at a lower price. And to move or even fell an olive tree is quite a bureaucratic battle.

Saturday morning they left with their mountain bikes and went for a ride with friends to the Mediterranean and we went by taxi (no buses on Sabbath) to Ashkelon.


morning sun in Ge'a

old Ashkelon with a Roman amphitheater


the beach in the nature reserve at Ashkelon
The water was too cold to actually go swimming, but we got our legs wet.

>75 paulstalder: What a lovely Sabbath! Shabbat Shalom!

>76 paulstalder: My husband and I once spent a day in Ashkelon at the beach with our infant son (who is now 36 years old). He told me that I used a turned-over boat as a table on which to change my son's diaper. Haha! I don't remember that.

I just love your pictures and stories so much, Paul. They bring back such fond memories for me.

In 2010 there was apparently a 'Samson and Delilah' Stone Sculpture Symposium in Ashkelon

untitled: these are the two parts of that sculpture:

--
I don't quite get the message here: Samson is between two pillars (the verse mentioned is Judges 16,25) and then pushes them apart so that the whole temple with all the Philistines in it collapsed. But why twice two pillars? One with an X? Is that the male symbol and in between the other two pillars are Delilah's breasts? I think I make a poor art critic.

artistic roundabouts in Ashkelon



Noah's big fish? spitting him out on land in Ashkelon?

Israeli burger


here we ate (one of the few restaurants which were open on a Saturday)
I made the 'mistake' and asked for an ice-tea. The waiter took it down, a few minutes later a young woman came to us and asked if I wanted tea with ice - I said yes and she brought me a glas of ice cubes with a tea bag :) okay, so I asked for a glas with hot water so I could make my own tea and then put the ice in it. Well, it was an experience for the waitress and me.

flowers


--

>77 SqueakyChu: We had a very good time with this family. He was a mechanic at one time and now he mends all kind of vehicles. He just prepared a mini tractor for his grandson's coming 5th birthday, even so the boy was far too small :) but hej, what are grand dads for?



Since they live so close to the Gaza strip we also asked about their feelings living there. They were showing no fear, and said that it is a nice, a bit noisy neighborhood. It sounded as if they would go there every so often. When pressed a little they confessed that they have actually no right to go there, no way they could bike down to Gaza. But they talked about the conflict there as maybe somebody from the suburbs of Los Angeles would talk about the problems they have in downtown LA. They just want to live as undisturbed as possible. All four kids served in the army and their grandchildren will do that, too, one day. So they are aware of what is going on.

Happy Sunday, Paul. Thanks so much for sharing all those photos and memories of your trip. I enjoy it very much.

>83 Ameise1: Thanks for coming over, Barbara.

sheep crossing our path


hiking in the rain doesn't make much fun

That killed me. The mud was so thick on my boots, that I always slid on the path. I became so exhausted that we decided in the evening to skip the last two days of the trail and head directly to Jerusalem. I was to look for a bus but Frank would do the rest by foot (and so we did).

Bar Bahar in Bar Giyora

28) Mezek by Yann. Björn is a Swedish mercenary helping the Israeli Air Force to fly the Mezek (a Czech variant of the German Messerschmitt) and so to set up the IAF in 1948. But why did he come to Israel?
A graphic novel about a part of Israeli history by this French comic strip author.

I'm laughing so hard about the "iced tea"! Hope you don't mind that I shared that anecdote with my sister in Texas - Texans are big on iced tea!

-- --

>88 countrylife: Cindy, it is a hilarious story, so no qualms about being told to others. Gives a good laugh.

>82 paulstalder: I loved seeing little kids climb all over parked tractors when I visited kibbutzim. My son always lets his son (now three years old) ride the tractor (for lawn mowing at their house). They also have a bobcat on which my grandson rides with his dad as well. He always wears his ear protectors for that. He just LOVES all kinds of trucks and machines.

Israelis go about their lives as usual. They have learned to live with their situation and just want to live in peace. The last time I was in Israel someone asked me if I was not afraid to go there. I was no more afraid than being in my own home in the US. When I got back from my Israel trip, a work colleague told me that a murdered body was found in the street that week when they went out for lunch. It was also (2001) a year in which an American couple was detained in China. I also asked my Chinese friend who was traveling to see her family in Beijing if she were not afraid to go to China. We both laughed. It's true that some places are more dangerous than others, but it's basically luck as to who survives and who doesn't. If you are planning a visit to dangerous places, it's wise to take precautions. For example. my hitchhiking days in Israel were over. On my last trip, I was taken all over the country by private car instead.

>87 paulstalder: That looks good! I wonder if that is published in English?

>91 SqueakyChu: People asked me too, if I'd felt safe in Israel. I really felt safe - safer then a few years ago when we visited relatives in Sacramento CA. My daughter went running around the block. When my in-laws came back, he was upset and afraid, jumped in the car again and drove around till he found her and told her never to do that again here....
In Israel we had never a feeling of angst or insecurity (well, only when we heard jackals and hyenas howling during the night). Some people told they'd never go to Israel because of the unstable situation - but the same people go to Turkey on holidays ....

>92 SqueakyChu: I found only French, German and Danish editions, sorry

>93 paulstalder: Tour guides and Israelis go out of their way to keep tourists as safe as possible. I can't believe all of the dangerous things I did when I actually lived in Israel. I guess I did those things because I felt safe. I'm glad you felt safe as well.

Too bad about the graphic novel. I hope they publish it in English at some point. Imight have to brush up on my German and read it in German! :)

>94 SqueakyChu: We had never any concerns putting up our tents on the trail or accepting a lift by any car drivers.

Bar Giyora

Rivka, our host, was alone with her two little girls when we arrived. There was a load of clothing on the couch waiting to be folded together. But when I asked about helping she first refused, saying that men can't do that. So I only folded towels and other square fabrics - which she found tolerable.

Her husband is working as an archaeologist in Jerusalem. He was among the students who discovered the illegal digging on the Temple Mount by the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement in 1999. The Arabs disposed over 9,000 tons of dirt mixed with invaluable archaeological artifacts. Zachi and his colleasgues were able to safe that dirt and started sifting through it. They found coins (for example a half shekel from around Jesus' time), pottery, glass, bones, metal objects from the first Temple period till our time. They started the Half-Shekel-Project, a crowd funding project, for getting money to sift everything - interested people can go to Jerusalem and help in the sifting process. I have no archaeological knowledge, but it sounds fun (and hard work) to wash a bucket of dirt and sort out every small object... https://templemount.wordpress.com/

The four-year-old daughter was very eagerly explaining different games and objects she showed me. I didn't understand a word! I then started to answer her in Swiss German and we had a most pleasant talk. But when I tried to ask her what the things on the table were named in Hebrew, she always answered with 'melach'. so I asked: Pepereoni? - melach -- Tomato? -melach -- Olive? - melach --- the mother started laughing and told me that her daughter always answered 'salt' to everything I said. How on earth should I learn any Hebrew that way!?

The husband drove me to Jerusalem the next morning. So, for me, the adventure of the trail was over. My friend hiked the last part and we met in the evening in the same hostel in Jerusalem.

Abraham hostel where we spent our last days together in Jerusalem


writing on the wall in the hostel

upon arrival at the hostel I was told that there are daily free tours through the City of David. So I hurried down to the Jaffa Gate and joined such a group. Our tour guide showed us the four different quarters of old Jerusalem withing an hour. A very good introduction, she made a very good impression.

--

then I visited Christ Church


there I met an old friend: this model of the Temple Mount made by Conrad Schick in the 1873 here on St. Chrischona. This model was restored when I was librarian at the Pilgermission St. Chrischona and I often showed the model to guests. A few years ago it was sold to Christ Church in Jerusalem. I still feel a bit sad that this masterpiece of modelling left Switzerland. Okay, it's now in a good place ... still ....
An article I initiated 2001 about the model is found here:
Schätze als Alltag : Dokumente aus kirchlichen Archiven und Bibliotheken by Jochen Bepler
https://conradschick.wordpress.com/modells/models-at-chrishona-center-basel/

Conrad Schick also planned Mea Shearim (the living place of the ultra Orthodox Jews built by an Evangelical Christian :) ). He also imported tons of cuckoo clocks. The students put them together and sold them to embassy staffs in Jerusalem. Christ Church is planning an exhibition on Schick for next year. Now, they would like to have such a cuckoo clock on display ... would be fun to track down such a clock. Another reason to travel to Jerusalem again.

What an interesting time you had in Jerusalem! For sure you have to go back.

29) Meine Beschneidung by Riad Sattouf. 'When I as eight years old, I lived in Syria.'. So the story of Riad and his suffering: when peeing with other boys, they realized that Riad's penis looks different. They think he must be an Israeli (well, they think, Israeli, as their enemies, can't be circumcised). But then his father decides to have him circumcised. But the boy only hears murderous stories about 'cutting off his skin' - he is so afraid and has nightmares about it.... An interesting tale about a boy's coming of age. Humorous. Shows the half-knowledge of the peer group and the impatient remarks of fathers when asked personal things.

30) How to read the Bible as literature : ...and get more out of it by Leland Ryken. Looking at the Bible from a literary standpoint: He points out that almost everything in the Bible can be defined as literature (narrative, comedy, tragedy, poetry etc.). He points out the different literary types and genres and applies them to Biblical passages. Therefore one has to take the Biblical text as it is, as a whole passage. Dividing a passage into arbitrary parts makes no sense when regarding it as literature. He also shows that the Bible as a whole is a literary unit in terms of themes and styles.
Basic introduction to literature and good examples taken from the Bible and thus applied.

statistics for April

1402 pages, 6 books

5 books were written in German, 1 in English, and 0 in Swiss German

nationalities: CH , F 2, D 1, USA 3,
dead 2, alive 4
male 5, female 1

oldest 1976, newest 2015 (printed)

Yesterday, I walked along with the March of Life 2017 in Basel. On different places in the city we remembered different aspects of the history of Jews in Basel and elsewhere. In the 14th century there were huge pogroms against the Jews, basically because the bishop and other wealthy people had great debts with the Jews and were looking for a way to get rid of these. The mob and the authorities captured around 70 Jews and put them in a wooden house on an island in the Rhine and set fire to it. All were burnt to death or suffocated. That was the 16th January 1349. So, the first Jewish community in Basel came to a brutal end. After that there were no Jews allowed to live within the city for the next 400 years.

a Holocaust survivor from the Warsaw Ghetto gives his testimony

the cantor sings a ballad about the Holocaust in Hebrew (he sang the names of Auschwitz and Birkenau, which is all I understood)

>104 paulstalder: *sigh* Why is it that Jews cannot live in so many countries in peace? Why are they always singled out...in almost every generation it seems.

>100 SqueakyChu: Oh, I'd love to go back to Israel *dreamy eyes*

>105 SqueakyChu: Big question, no easy answer - part of the answer is the fact, that Israel is a chosen people - they survived Old Egypt, Babylonia, Rome, Germany ...

'We don't to play with you. You are an Israeli!'
(their penis look like a champignon, Riad's look like a trunk/snout)


two hours before he gets circumcised - all the relatives show up


punishment in school for skipping school or offending a teacher in Syria

description of the Library of the Pilgermission St. Chrischona and the model, Schick built


Conrad Schick's model of the Temple Mount, when it still was at Chrischona, Switzerland
from: Schätze als Alltag

31) Falling out of time by David Grossman. A couple mourn the loss of their son. The man gets up and wants to go there, where his son is. With memories and speaking out the words, he wants to see his son again. He walks around the city, other parents join him. Memories are grief; no memories mean no grief?
Written in poetic languages in a 'genre-defying drama' (blurb in the book). Gripping to read, saddening to think along. How can one defy the death of a child? Are there memories without grief?



- But what is there? There's no such place. There doesn't exist!
- If you go there, it does.
- But you don't come back. No one ever has.
- Because only the dead have gone.
- And you - how will you go?
- I will go there alive.

---------------

For five years
we unspoke
that night.
You fell mute,
then I.
For you the quiet
was good,
and I felt it clutch
at my throat. One after
the other, the words
died, and we were
like a house
where the lights
go slowly out,
until a sombre silence
fell -

We spent one day in Yad Vashem.


the museum through the windows


the sculpture 'Death March in Dachau'


'The Unknown Righteous among the Nations', 1987, by Shlomo Selinger

the Wailing Wall

chalva (I took bits with almonds and pistachio home)

a bookshop in the Arabic quarter of Jerusalem (the books on the top shelves are all editions of the Koran)

Thanks to avatiakh I visited Tmol Shilshom, a lovely bookshop and coffee in Jerusalem


http://www.tmol-shilshom.co.il/homepage/




finding it wasn't easy!

the menu is made like a book

Your pictures are wonderful. They really do tell a story, Paul.

>106 paulstalder: I wish they'd choose someone else for a change! :)

>116 SqueakyChu: Thanks, Madeline. I try to share pictures which are not so much the typical touristic ones. There are better ones online.

>109 paulstalder: Di you read that book by David Grossman, too?

I've enjoyed your photos of Jerusalem and the March of Life. I read Falling out of time when it first came out in English. I've read several of his books, some are easy reads, others are difficult but rewarding.

I'm currently read All the Rivers by Dorit Rabinyan, it's controversial because the Israeli Ministry of Education didn't include it on the high school literature list and it was said the decision was for political reasons in that it portrayed a romance between an Israeli woman and a Palestinian man. I'm well into the book and can say that I would never include it on any school reading list as so far it's a clumsy, contrived romance novel.

>115 paulstalder: What a creative menu!

By the way I love all the photos and really want to eat some of that dessert up in message 112. Thanks for sharing your Jerusalem experiences.

>118 avatiakh: Thanks for coming by. I am still glad that to gave me the hint about Tmol Shilshom. I got another book by Grossman, Kommt ein Pferd in die Bar = A Horse Walks Into a Bar. Let's see how good I will like that one.

>119 thornton37814: Lori, I really enjoyed reading the menu there, a lovely way of doing it.
Don't eat too much of it! It's very filling. I heard that some Israeli soldiers take it with them and just live from it, well, surely exaggerated, but it is very nourishing.

henn_kim
Read all about you / 너를 읽다
.
숨겨둔 네 이야기들을 보여줘
하나씩 읽어가면서 난 너와 더 가까워지겠지
조금씩 천천히
(Show me your stories.
As I read one by one, I will be closer to you,
gradually, slowly)

32) Fliegenpapier by Hans Hillmann. A gangster moves from Chicago to New York and befriends a girl from a well-to-do family. Then he gets shot dead and Sue escapes with another gangster called Babe. They disappear. Then one day her father gets a cable asking for money. A private detective is asked to be the messenger ...
A graphic novel adapted from the mystery Fly Paper by Dashiell Hammett. Black and white pictures, one pictures on each side.

Fliegenpapier by Hans Hillmann

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, Paul

Thanks, Paul.

33) Inspektor Jury gerät unter Verdacht : Roman by Martha Grimes. Inspector Jury fells in love and wants to marry Jane Holdsworth. But then she is found dead in her apartment. So, Jury is suspended. But he sends his friend Melrose as a librarian to the Holdsworth estate in the Lake District... A bit a complicated plot but an easy read.

Last day in Jerusalem


I visited (the modern) Mt Zion with the Dormition Abbey (here a statue of St Benedict)


I found the grave of Oskar Schindler (know from the movie 'Schindler's List')
But I didn't find the graves of Conrad Schick and Samuel Gobat .
I asked an Arab sitting at the Zion's Gate about the way and he first asked me for money - he'd show me the graves. It was already late afternoon and the other cemeteries were already closed, so I didn't believe him. But he wouldn't show me which way I should go ... He explained me that he is one of the best tourist guides in Jerusalem and he has got the keys to almost any important sight seeing place I'd care to see ... I had a nice chat with him but I still doubt that he even knew whose graves I was actually looking for...


the Kidron valley


a last look back

Thank you for the wonderful pictures and stories, Paul.

Wow, Paul! You packed a lot into your short trip! Love the pictures.

>128 SqueakyChu: >129 countrylife: You're welcome. It was a very enjoyable trip and I loved sharing it here with LT friends.

>127 paulstalder: I love the last look back, Paul.

I take it that you are safely back and I trust that you will have a great weekend.

>131 PaulCranswick: I love the last look back, Paul.

Me, too. It made me kind of sad.

>131 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Yes, I am safely back in Switzerland, as well as my friend who returned April 30 as well.
I like that picture as well - partly because it is not such a common angle, from the modern Mt Zion to the old one.

>132 SqueakyChu: Hej Madeline, in what sense did that picture made you sad?
For me it's a bit like a promise: Jerusalem awaits me, it's still there, makes me sentimental, but nod sad.
I noticed something else, too: Jerusalem, the most Jewish city's skyline is marked by mosques and churches ...

>133 paulstalder: Don't worry, Paul. It makes me sad in a good way. It represents saying goodbye to that city. Every time I've left Israel and Jerusalem, I've felt so sad upon leaving them. For me, it's a visceral thing which makes me tearful (even after many years of no longer living there). It's like saying goodbye to a dear friend with the hope you'll see that person again.

It made me sad because you titled your picture it "a last look back" instead of "Hello, Jerusalem!". :(

Jerusalem is truly an international city even with respect to religion. I actually think that Tel Aviv would be the country's most Jewish city.

>134 SqueakyChu: It made me sad because you titled your picture it "a last look back" instead of "Hello, Jerusalem!". I think I did say hello when starting this thread with the first picture :) and now it came the time to say goodbye.

I just read the sentence 'Maybe going somewhere else was an act of remembrance, of where you were from.' in Once the shore by Paul Young. Funny, I was very much aware that I am Swiss in Israel. I don't know why I had that feeling more often than in other places.

34) Amazing Grace : John Newton und die bewegende Geschichte seines weltbekannten Liedes by Steve Turner.
John Newton was a rascal. He was trained by a Christian mother to learn the catechism but when she died, his faith was belittled and so he every such ideas aside. He was forcedly recruited and put on ship to Africa, there is joined a trader but was kept on an island as a kind of server to the slaves of the master's wife. He nearly died. But later his father sent message to bring him home. On that journey home, the ship nearly went down. John remembered his childhood faith in a grace which was given undeserved to sinners. So he converted. He married and became a slave trader, three times he went to Africa, bought slaves and sold them in the USA. Then he became ill and had to stay home. He was writing Christian songs already when sailing. He then was ordained and became a minister. He wrote 'Amazing Grace' in order to illustrate a sermon of his on 1 Chronicles 17,8 in 1772. Later he met William Wilberforce and started to preach against slavery. The song was not well know in Britain, despite the fact that it is a British song. But in the USA it became very popular. It was first sung with different melodies, the melody we associate with that song nowadays was definitely attached to it since 1835. John Newton wrote 6 verses, of which 3 are still printed in modern hymnbooks, a fourth verse was added (When we've been there ten thousand years...) which does not come from Newton's pen but from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Newton understood 'grace' as something given by God freely without attachments to those who realize that they are sinners. Not his works or understanding did save him, only this amazing grace given by God through Jesus' sacrifice.
Very interesting reading.

>135 paulstalder: Goodbyes are so sad!

I was very much aware that I am Swiss in Israel. I don't know why I had that feeling more often than in other places.

Interesting. When I was living in Israel, I had a friend, a volunteer on my aunt's kibbutz, who was Swiss. I remember being impressed by all of the languages she knew fluently. In Israel, particularly in Jerusalem, I also found it fun to meet people from so many countries. Now I have a mini-UN here in my home city of Rockville, Maryland, which is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. I think it's fourth or something like that. I love being around people of many different cultures. A monoculture would bore me.

>137 SqueakyChu: Goodbyes are so sad! not necessarily, it also gives the chances of seeing something else and return. Also, if there are no goodbyes, there are no good stories to share with those whom we meet later :)

Monoculture: I remember when my in-laws from the USA visited us in Zürich in the 1980s. He is black, Southern Baptist. We were walking along the Bahnhofstrasse in Zürich, our wives window shopping. Then two other Blacks came along and my brother-in-law approached them with a friendly 'Hey, Bro!' and outstretched hand. They stopped dead still, shook their heads, muttered something in French and walked off... Till then he just didn't realize that we have more Black Africans than Black Americans in Switzerland :)

Suki starts with radiotherapy (Röntgen) today. She has a lot of pain in her shoulder, so they hope to reduce the karzinom there with these radiations.

35) 'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore. A father awakens by some strange noise and sees St. Nicolas approaching, coming down the chimney and bringing gifts for the children.
I didn't know this story. Nicely illustrated by Jessie Wilcox Smith.

>139 paulstalder: I hope all goes well.

>141 SqueakyChu: The first day went okay. The effects will be noticed in a few days and even later...

I found an interesting documentary book with facsimiles of letters:
36) Herzl, Hechler, the Grand Duke of Baden and the German Emperor, 1896-1904 : documents found by Hermann and Bessi Ellern, reproduced in facsimile. Documents from the late 19th century showing the rise of the idea of a Jewish state. Letters by Herzl, Hechler, Wilhelm II. (German emperor), Friedrich I. (Duke of Baden), Nicolas (Russian czar). All started with a letter written by William Hechler, then chaplain to the British embassy in Jerusalem (and later in Vienna), to the Grand Duke of Baden about Herzl's recently published book 'The Jewish State'.

The initial letter by W. H. Hechler to Friedrich, the Duke of Baden
'To his Royal Highness
The Grand Duke of Baden
May it please your Royal Highness
May I venture to draw Your Royal Highness' attention to a very remarkable book, which has lately appeared in Vienna, and treats of a subject on which I have repeatedly had the honour of speaking to you. I mean the Return of the Jews to Palestine, foretold by the Hebrew Prophets.
"Der Judenstaat. Versuch einer modernen Lösung der Judenfrage", is a book, which must greatly help forward this movement. Dr. Theodor Herzl, the author, was until lately the Paris correspondent of the "Wiener Neue Freie Presse", yand is now "Feuilleton" writer of the same paper in Vienna. After reading this book I called to see Dr. Herzl, who was a perfect stranger to me, because I was wondering, whether the Dr. was trying to fulfill prophecy. This would be wrong, for God will in His own good time and in His own way bring about His wonderful purposes. This was however not Dr. Herzl's wish, for he knew nothing of the special prophecies on this subject. His book can therefore be summed up with his own words: "Der Judenstaat ist ein Weltbedürfniss!"
... (he goes on about the prophecies in the Bible and counts the time when the Jewish people would return to their land)
If this is correct, then the 42 prophetic months come to an end in 1897 to 1898.
...
I cannot help thinking, that if Germany and England were to take this movement and such a new state under their protection, and Palestine were declared to be a neutral country, something like Belgium, the Return of the Jews would become a great blessing to Europe, and put an end to the anti-semitic spirit of hatred, which is much detrimental to the welfare of all our nations.
...
William Henry Hechler
Chaplain of the Britannic Majestiy's Embassy in Vienna, and lecturer at the Imp. University
Vienna
March 26. 1896.

Wilhelm II. to Friedrich of Baden, 27 IX 98
The German emperor tells his uncle about his positive sentiments towards the Zionist movement. He would be pleased to take the Jewish immigrants to Palestine under his protection and wants to intercede on their behalf with the Turkish Sultan. The Sultan is bankrupt and the Zionists would bring money to the Near East and so help the Turkish.


Herzl to Wilhelm II. 18 10 98
..., wage ich es, mich an Eur. Kaiserliche Majestät mit der unterthänigsten Bitte um Gewährung einer wenn auch nur kurzen und geheimen Audienz noch in Konstantinopel zu wenden. Die gründe hiefür sind die folgenden.
Der Empfang der zionistischen Abordnung im Heiligen Lande wird zweifellos der öffentlichen Meinung Europas Stoff zu Discussionen geben. Wird mit dieser Manifestation zugleich ein - wenn auch nicht in seinem ganzen Umfange bekanntzugebendes - fait accompli gesetzt, so kommen die etwa feindselig gemeinten Interventionen Anderer zu spät, und Alle werden sich darein finden müssen.....
Selbst wenn Seine Majestät der Sultan nicht gleich einsehen sollte, welche Hilfe Seinem verarmten, verfallenden Staate durch die Zionisten gebracht würde, so wird er bei einer unmittelbaren Aussprache den Rath Eurer Kaiserlichen Majestät annehmen, wie man Seine Administration und Finanzen regenirien könnte.....


Theodor Herzl to Friedrich I. of Baden

Nicolas II. to Freidrich I. of Baden
Monsieur mon Frère et cousin,
C'est avec un bien vif intérêt que j'ai pris connaissance du mémoire de Mr. Herzl, qui se trouvait joint à votre lettre, et je tiens à remercier Votre Altesse Royale de cette obligeante communication.
La théorie du "Sionisme" pourrait certainement être un facteur important par rapport au développement de la tranquillité intérieure de l'Europe, mais, pour ma part, je doute qu'une application quelque peu pratique de cette théorie soit possible même dans un avenir éloigné.
L'Impératrice, qui comme moi, conserve le plus agréable souvenir de notre récente entrevue, me charge de vous transmettre, ainsi qu'à la Grande Duchesse, ses sincères amitiés. Je prie Votre Altesse Royale d'agréer en même temps l'assurance des sentiments de haute estime et d'invariable attachement avec lesquels je suis
Monsieur mon Frère de Votre Altesse Royale
le bon frère et cousin
Nicolas
Tzarskoi Lilo
ce 13/25 Décembre 1899.


cable about Herzl's death to Wilhelm II.

37) Asterix plaudert aus der Schule : Goscinny und Uderzo präsentieren fünfzehn Kurzgeschichten von Asterix by René Goscinny. Short stories about Asterix and Obelix, collecting all the kids and bring them to school (kidnapping the kids for a good purpose!?), Obelix trying to kiss Falbala under a mistletoe, Asterix and Obelix being the security arrangements when the Olympic committee visits Lutetia so the games to there.... well, and bashing the Romans.
Fun read

>143 paulstalder: Fascinating.

>148 avatiakh: I found it a very interesting reading, seeing the interconnected European politics, some based on marital relations. Hechler was quite aware of the increasing antisemitism and warned of a catastrophe in Europe, if the Jewish state should not be realized soon.

38) Once the shore : stories by Paul Yoon. Short stories, loosely connected by the place: an imaginary island in Korea (well, it resembles Jejudo) at the end of the Japanese occupation of tha country. All stories are dealing with loss of locals and some immigrants. A girl is logins her mother and later her father plans to sell the farm and move away. She starts seeing visions of her mother in the forest lying in the snow ... An orphan later works in a hospital near the orphanage when one day a wounded soldier is brought in whom she seems to recognize as her love of her childhood ... All stories are melancholic, some hopelessness since all characters are so embedded in their situations, that all there is in the end are memories, and the difficulties in coming to terms with them.
Like most Korean (traditional) songs the stories have no happy endings.



Arirang.
아리랑, 아리랑, 아라리요...

아리랑 고개로 넘어간다.
나를 버리고 가시는 님은
십리도 못가서 발병난다.

Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo...
Crossing over Arirang Pass.
Dear who abandoned me
Shall not walk even ten li before his/her feet hurt.

39) How Helen Keller was taught speech by Sarah Fuller. Helen Keller (1880-1968) was a blind and deaf writer. This pamphlet by her educator tells the story of how Helen, as a 10-year-old, learned to speak. She touched the teacher's mouth/tongue/teeth/throat when she making a specific sound and then tried to put her vocal parts into the same position and so learned to speak very fast. A very encouraging story to read.

40) Die Blütenzweige der Tscheti : Erzählung by Paulus Auer (Illustrator). An anonymous love story from India. First translated into English by F. W. Bain.
A king wants to pacify his enemy with giving him his daughter in marriage. But the enemy was betrayed by his former wife and so now lives alone in an old temple, only contemplating his misery. But the new bride hears good things about her future husband and so starts a scheme in order to bring away from his misery to a new life and love for and with her. she sends her maid each day to him with a single blossom of different plants ... a romantic story with Indian views regarding men and women, married life, sorrow, luck etc. A good read.

illustrations by Paulus Auer

-
title page -- peacocks

41) Als die Welt noch jung war by Jürg Schubiger. A collection of short stories for children with fantastic imagination and absurd homour. Like people exhibiting their everyday things like a cow, a bed, a hut etc. in a park and asking for a contribution, a girl that lives on top of a cupboard, a car that behaves as a pet (sleeping in the bedroom of the parents), ... I didn't get warm with all the stories.

>154 paulstalder: I felt the same, Paul, a few stories were good, and rest was not worth publishing :-(

>155 FAMeulstee: Well, the Germans apparently like it because it got the Deutschen Jugendliteraturpreis, and that's not so common for a Swiss author (the book contains several Helvetisms which are explained in the foot notes).

>155 FAMeulstee: The judges here did like it too... got a Zilveren Griffel, the highest possible award for translations.

>157 FAMeulstee: Maybe the illustrations by Rotraut Susanne Berner were more appealing?

--
Adam and Eve meet for the first time in paradise -- a car as a pet

--
a city travelling around the world -- a sorcerer with only one spell: he transforms people into tableware

Yes the illustrations were very good, Paul, but there is a seperate award for illustrations, the Ziveren Penseel. If the book had won that one I would have agreed.

>159 FAMeulstee: :) agreed

statistics for May

1823 pages, 11 books

6 books were written in German, 4 in English, and 0 in Swiss German, and 1 with 3 languages (German, English, French)

nationalities: CH 1, IL 1, D 1, USA 4, GB 1, F 1
dead 5, alive 4
male 7, female 2
several authors from different countries (all dead) 1
anonym 1

oldest 1905, newest 2015 (printed)

42) Die kalte Schulter : Roman by Markus Werner. Moritz Wank is a painter but at the moment not painting his own pictures but putting colour on display dummies. He is living in a cold world, always getting the 'kalte Schulter' (cold shoulder), looking for sense in his life but not finding much, 'Es geht nicht weiter, weil alles immer weitergeht.' (It does not go on because everything always goes on.) The only warm spot in his life is his girl friend Judith who tries to bring understanding and love in his life ... but also turns her cold shoulder on him ... A romantic tragedy

43) A Woman in Jerusalem : a novel by A. B. Yehoshua. An unknown woman is killed in a bombing in Jerusalem and lies unidentified in a morgue for some time, a journalist puts her case in his weekly paper with a picture of a piece of paycheck by a local bakery. The owner of the bakery feels guilty and wants to atone for that failure of 'forgetting' her and orders his human resources manager to identify the woman and then brings the corpse to her homeland in order to be buried there ... a kind of odyssey starts.
I found that tale very well written, beautiful languages, great 'pictures', but somehow the main character evaded me.

>163 paulstalder: I liked this novel and also the film that was made based on the book. I made a few Israeli suggestions on my thread a while back.
I wanted to suggest many Israeli writers/books but will just mention these:
David Grossman's To the end of the land features a mother who goes hiking to avoid being home if the army knocks on the door as her son serves out his last days of service during a serious offensive.
Assaf Gavron's The Hilltop - about an illegal settlement
Liad Shoham - crime novels set in Tel Aviv
Ayalet Gundar-Goshen's Waking Lions - set in Beersheva and surrounding area

graphic novel:
Jerusalem: A Family Portrait by Boaz Yakin

nonfiction:
The Prime Ministers by Yehuda Avner - memoir
Jerusalem: the biography by Simon Sebag Montefiore - history
A tale of love and darkness by Amos Oz - memoir

>164 avatiakh: Thanks Kerry, for all the recommendations. I put most of them in my wishlist and hope to read them when I'll get them. Very helpful comments.

44) Geisterfüllt leben : Leben ohne Langeweile by Charles F. Stanley. A pamphlet about life with/in the Holy Spirit. Clear and practical essay about Christian living.

45) Das Sprachengebet by Kenneth E. Hagin. A pamphlet which tries to explain why every Christian should speak in tongues/different languages. He quotes all the relevant passages but makes some of them saying something quite different. For examples when quoting Paul's warning about not speaking in tongues in a community when nobody can interpret what was said, he takes that statement meaning to speak in toingues everywhere (else) where we are: at home, on the way, in the office ... which was definitely not Paul's intention when writing that passage. Disappointed.

>165 paulstalder: Another that I haven't read as yet but sounds very good is The Secret Book of Kings by Yochi Brandes, a religious biblical scholar.

Just dropping by to wish you well, Paul.

>169 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul for passing by.

>170 paulstalder: Always a pleasure Paul. Your thread always takes longest to load with the quantity of photos and so on for our delectation.

>171 PaulCranswick: I know, there are so many things to share :) And I just looked at your collection of lighthouses - there are some very beautiful pictures to see.
Thanks for investing so much time into LT despite your own busy and tricky circumstances.

On Friday, we had an outing with the Caritas team into the Jura. We took pat in a Fox Trail in Delsberg/Delémont. Very interesting. We had to follow certain hints which were given on the way. Once we had to sit in front of the Bibliothèque municipale and look at a house wall with some windows which were giving blinking signals. We had to push a button underneath our bench and then the lights gave us the direction we had to take from there on ... At the doorstep of the police station I had to grope for hints where to go next. There were some letters (UNIA), but some policemen came out and asked me what I was doing there ... they didn't know that there were letters hidden underneath there entrance :) ... we had to fold a paper ship and throw it into the river and follow it downrivers and see which brigde it passes after three minutes ... we had a lot of fun. And I also discovered a 'Boîte à livres' (book box) filled with free books in French and German :)

>173 paulstalder: That does sound like a fun time, Paul! Did you bring home many books from the box?

>174 harrygbutler: Harry, it was a great time. We had two hours 20 minutes fro the trail, the next group had 3 1/2 hours :). It's great to have different people in one group, so each one with his or her abilities/ideas. I, for example, was the man to grope for things in holes and so (the ladies were afraid of spiders).
I only took one book home, I only had a small bag with me and no time to look propeerly *sigh*

When in Delsberg/Delémont we also saw the preparations for the comic weekend (Delémont’BD 2017 http://www.delemontbd.ch/). Sadly we didn't have time (and no interest anyway from the others) to actually go around and see anything. Original works from Swiss comic authors presented: Augustin Rebetez, Pierre Wazem, Christine Boillat, Stéphanie Jeannet, Tom Tirabosco, Léonard Félix, Eric Winarto, Alexia Turlin, Mirjana Farkas, Denis Kormann, Thanh Vu, Pascale Favre, Malizia Moulin... - ahhh! more then half are not listed in LT *sigh*

--
book seller's tent -- a mural

life size goats walking up the wall...

--

Art Basel 2017 - with Now I won by Claudia Comte - made of 23 tree trunks above an artificial hill
on the back are different stalls for throwing balls, dancing, bowling etc. - 'an immersive funfair installation, which actively engages the public to compete in a range of games and competitions'

46) Der Aufschub : Gesamtausgabe by Jean-Pierre Gibrat. Julien escapes from a transport which should bring him to the front in order to support the Germans there. Then he is declared dead and hides in a building in his village during World War 2. His aunt is bringing him food and everything he needs, his girl friend finds the way to him, but the war is not over yet and the village is split between the resistance and the supporters of the Germans... Is he a hero or a coward?
A nice bande dessinée (comic) by this French author, a good historical novel with a surprising end.

47) Der Israel-Trail : mit dem Rucksack durchs Heilige Land by Judith Galblum Pex. I got that book from a Korean friend, who was serving in UN troops on the Golan heights, before I left for Israel. So I only read that little part I was about to walk myself. Now I finished the book. A great adventure. A couple in the late 50s is running a hostel (The Shelter) in Eilat and hears about the trail. When they found a replacement in their place, they leave for the trail. They walked for 42 days, in the South, in the desert, they have a tent and stay on the trail, later they start to contact friends who live away from the trail, but they were brought back to the same spot. Judith is an American Jew, her husband John a Dutchman. They married in the USA and then moved to Israel, where they became Christians. What is the most fascinating about her tail, are the many encounters they have with all sorts of people - making me want to set off again and do another part of the trail. Also a very valuable book for practical tips for the trip. They offer everyone doing the trail a free night at their shelter in Eilat :)

48) Kommt ein Pferd in die Bar : Roman by David Grossman. Dovele, a stand-up comedian, invites his old but estranged friend from childhood days to his show. But the shows turns into live confession whereas Dovele basically tells the story of him being either unnoticed by other or used as their match ball (literally). He tells jokes and his sad childhood...
I had some difficulty finishing the book. But I felt spellbound and wanted to know how it ends, so kept on reading, as the listeners of the show in the book are doing: many leave during the show but a few stay till the end. Interesting tales of growing up in modern Israel.

I totally neglected my add-ons, so here are some of them
121) Tanz unter Sternen : Roman by Titus Müller
- Mondlicht spiegelte sich in den Pfützen am überschwemmten Tunnel der Untergrundbahn.
122) Das grosse Heft : Roman by Ágota Kristóf
- Wir kommen aus der Grossen Stadt.
123) Endlich! : Roman by Ildikó von Kürthy
- Der Tag tut so, als sei nichts.
124) Das Leben in 5 Sekunden : 200 Biographien von Gott bis Pippi Langstrumpf by Matteo Civaschi
- Gott
125) Der Schneeleopard : ein Rizzoli-&-Isles-Thriller by Tess Gerritsen
- Im schrägen Licht des Tagesanbruchs entdecke ich ihn, die Konturen fein wie ein Wasserzeichen, eingeprägt in die nackte Erde.
126) Drei Frauen im Schnee : Weihnachten, Geburtstage und andere Katastrophen by Blanca Imboden
- Ich liebe unser gemütliches Frühstück am Sonntagmorgen.
127) METEORA : Geschichte, Kunst, Mönchtum by Theotecni (Schwester)
- Im Nordwestwinkel der thessalischen Ebene ragt eine einsame steinerne Welt mit über tausend Felsnadeln und -blöcken aus dem Flachland empor.
128) Auf Null : Roman by Catharina Junk
- Ab jetzt möglichst ein Leben ohne van Gogh.
129) Das dritte Testament : Roman by Daniele Nadir
- Das Wirtshaus leuchtet in der Dunkelheit wie ein Versprechen.
130) Die Asche meiner Mutter : irische Erinnerungen by Frank McCourt
- Mein Vater und meine Mutter hätten in New York bleiben sollen, wo sie sich kennengelernt und geheiratet haben und wo ich geboren wurde.

-- -- -- --

131) Das Vogelmädchen und der Mann, der der Sonne folgte : Roman by Velma Wallis
- Vor langer Zeit lebte in einem Land, wo die Sonne im sommer Tag und Nacht schien, aber während des bitterkalten Winters beinahe ganz verschwand, ein Stamm namens Gwich'in.
132) Die neununddreissig Stufen : Roman by John Buchan
- Gegen drei Uhr kam ich an jenem Nachmittag aus der Stadt zurück, und das Leben machte mir keinen Spass mehr.
133) Die Frau, die allen davonrannte : Roman by Carrie Snyder
- "Gehen wir, Aggie?"
134) Tod oder Reben : ein Wein-Krimi aus Südtirol by Michael Böckler
- Der Auerhahn hatte falsche Erwartungen.
135) Merkels Tochter : Roman by Petra Hammesfahr
- Auch nach achtzehn Jahren hatte Irene noch nicht eine Minute des Tages vergessen, an dem sie alles verlor, was damals ihr Leben ausmachte.
136) Jubal Sackett : Roman by Louis L'Amour
- Ein kalter Wind blies vom Hanging Dog Mountain, und ich hatte kein Feuer.
137) Schwertlilien : Töchter des Regenbogens by Karine von Rumohr
- Und tatsächlich
habe ich dich
in meinem Herzen
behalten
verschlossen
vor allen Zweifeln und Ängsten
du musst es nicht wissen
nur will ich mich wärmen
an der Liebe
die alles übersteht
und nichts mehr verlangt
138) Acht Minuten : Roman by Péter Farkas
- Die alte Frau nahm mit Zeigefinger und Daumen ein Stückchen Butter, hob es vor die Augen und betrachtete es erstaunt.
139) Eine Krähe war mit mir : Roman by Peter Lotar
- Auf Mareks Schreibtisch steht ein Bild der Mutter.
140) Blitz, der Hengst des Sonnengottes by Walter Farley
- Alec Ramsay machte einen Dauerlauf rund um das Innenfeld der Pferderennbahn.

-- -- -- --

141) Von Pillkallen nach Schadrinsk : Vergeben ja, vergessen nie - Meine Zeit im Lager "6437" by Hildegard Rauschenbach
- "Drei Frauen raustreten zum Essenfassen", ruft die russische Dolmetscherin in unseren Waggon hinein; der russische Posten ist noch dabei, die schwere Holztür beiseite zu schieben, und schon schreit auch er mit heiserer Stimme sein "bisträ-bisträ-dawai".
142) Marjellchen wird Berlinerin : Heimkehr aus Sibirien und Neuanfang by Hildegard Rauschenbach
- "...und dann lege ich mich ganz behutsam, beinahe andächtig, in das weiche Federbett, kuschele mich ein und schliesse die Augen.
143) Zuhause in Pillkallen : Dorfgeschichten erlebt in Ostpreussen by Hildegard Rauschenbach
- "Na, da haben wir ja die Prinzessin", soll die Hebamme Frau Kairies, gesagt haben, als ich das Licht der Welt erblickte.
144) Die grosse Weihnachtsüberraschung by Martha Zollinger
- Es war zwei Tage vor Weihnachten.
145) Auf dem Abstellgleis : Kriminalroman by Pierre Boileau
- Es sind 412 Schritte bis zum Tor.
146) Der Trick mit da Vinci by Pierre Boileau
- Als die Uhr der Kathedrale zu Vomoire halb zwölf schlug, bog eine graue, schwere Limousine langsam in die Rue du Marché à l'Avoine ein
147) Die Vögel : stories by Daphne Du Maurier
- Am dritten Dezember schlug der Wind über Nacht um, und es wurde Winter.
148) Nacht : Roman by Edgar Hilsenrath
- Der Mann war leise eingetreten ... so leise, als hätte er Angst, die Toten zu wecken.
149) Die Katze, die nicht sterben wollte : Roman by Inger Frimansson
- Sie war eine gewöhnliche graue Katze, eine Hauskatze eben.
150) Ein mörderisches Wochenende : Kriminalroman by Joan Smith
- Das war wohl der übelste Streich, den man einer Dame je gespielt hatte.

-- -- -- --

The Belgian king came to a visit to Switzerland. He seems to be a bit shy.

>184 paulstalder: Wow, 150 books added this year!

>186 FAMeulstee:, well there are actually more, but I didn't find the time to add them here...

49) Helena : Roman by Evelyn Waugh. A biographic novel about Helena, the mother of Konstantin and the finder of the cross of Jesus in Jerusalem. Waugh starts his story in England because he thinks that Helena was the daughter of an English chief - which might be possible. When Konstantin became emperor, he made Helena empress. Later she converted to the new Christian faith and started a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in search of remnants of the cross, on which Jesus was crucified. A good tale, mostly based on historical facts. But somehow Helena never became alive for me, there was always something hidden. Her character wasn't consistent, never quite comprehensible for me.

Wishing you a great Sunday, Paul.

Hi Paul. I was so h6sy at work that I missed such a lot of your beautiful thread. I have to go for another busy week until summer break. Have you any plans for your break?

>189 PaulCranswick: Pleased to see you here, Paul.

>190 Ameise1: Well, I was busy as well. Last week I was in Hemberg (St. Gallen) on a 'Bücherfreizeit' (book week), discussing books and readin in a Christian context and on Friday I leave for the South Tirol for a few days.

My wife finished her radiotherapy, but now the pain grew stronger and she went to the emergency room in the hospital last week. She is back home again, but with much more pain killers.

statistics for June

1279 pages, 8 books

7 books were written in German, in 1 English, and 0 in Swiss German

nationalities: CH 1, IL 3, D , USA 2, GB 1, F 1
dead 3, alive 5
male 7, female 1

anonym

oldest 1959, newest 2016 (printed)

50) Fizz : how soda shook up the world by Tristan Donovan. A very intrerstaing tale about soda. '... the soda business gave us the world's most famous brand, the concept of coupons, the drive-in restaurant, and new approaches to advertising. It reshaped our shops and our streets, encouraged prohibition, covered up the moonshine, helped us to become a throwaway society, and set MIchael Jackson's hair on fire. ... And it alos helped to make us fat. ...'
Good researched and well written, a bit too friendly on the Coca-Cola side to my taste

51) Kuckucksuhr mit Wachtel : Reklame der Jahrhundertwende by Emil Waas. Since I am looking for information about German watches sent to Jerusalem in the 19th century, I thought that this book could give me a hint. Nope. It is a collection of advertisements of the time: Fun to look at but no further information given.
Things advertised are still about the same as today: Beauty cremes and pills, slippery books, how to make money, gadgets...

-- --
cuckoo watch with a quail -- no crying of children in the Metzner-buggy -- Sinalco (sine alcoholica)

-- --
corsets from Paris -- the way to export leads through Das Echo (a journal) -- to kiss - a delicate skin is wished for

52) Tales of the Black Widowers by Isaac Asimov. A group of men meet once a month for a meal and discussions. Then they hear a mystery story by a guest and try to solve it. Their waiter then comes up with questions and so solves the mystery. Reminded me of Miss Marple, Pater Brown, and others. A collection of short stories which were first published in a journal and now are put together with added stories. I knew Asimov as science fiction writer, but these mystery stories are also well written.

53) Ein anderes Israel by Harvey Pekar. Pekar wants to write a book about Israel, a history. He draws it. He starts in biblical times and tells the story till today. He mentions all the important things going on in Israel (leaving out Jesus Christ) and stresses the critical points in modern history. He tells us that the land was stolen by the Jewish settlers from the Arabs (as Moshe Dayan and others noted) - and the Arabs were never in a position to rule the land, they were always occupied by somebody.
Critical issues clearly mentioned, he proclaims more dialogue and historical awareness on both sides.

-- --

-- --

>196 paulstalder: Hi, Paul! I read Tales of the Black Widowers many years ago, and I recall that I enjoyed it. I bought another copy not too long ago, but I haven't gotten around to rereading it yet. Maybe I should bump it up the list.

I'm very sorry to hear that Suki is in such pain, Paul. Sending lots of good vibes that this awful pain will lessen. Both of you are in my thoughts.

>199 harrygbutler: I enjoyed the different short stories and the different approaches to solving it. And I liked the sequence of stories. I think David Baldacci' took up' the idea of the male club in his camel Club series.

>200 Ameise1: Thank you so much, Barbara. She got now some Morphine drops to help her at peak times, along with her other medications. And she knows that she is supported by friends praying for her.

Hope all is well with you and Suki.

>202 avatiakh: Thanks Kerry. It was a busy month. I was on a 'book holiday' (a camp about reading and books in a Christian context), then I was a few days in the South Tyrol and a then hiking in the Alps (around the Wildhorn). It was a bit too much for me. I am pretty exhausted now.
Suki is in a rehabilitation (?) clinic for psycho-talks, physiotherapy, pain clarification/relief etc. They talk about another Chemotherapy (which is out of the question for Suki). She comes home this weekend. I work here in the library and will see her later at home.

Wishing both you and Suki well. I am sure that you will be happily reunited this weekend.

>204 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul. It was a good weekend then. But they found new cancer cells in her breast. She is now in the hospital again for a PET-CT (screening) and she is till in pain very much. We will have a 'oncology-panel' tomorrow morning with all the different specialists from the hospital to talk about future actions - operation, chemotherapy, palliative care ...

I myself fell into depression and I would like just to disappear for two-three weeks, just to sleep, read, and eat. Well, humans don't hibernate ...

statistics for July

851 pages, 4 books

2 books were written in German, in 2 English, and 0 in Swiss German

nationalities: CH , IL , D 1, USA 3, GB , F
dead 3, alive 1
male 4, female

anonym

oldest 1967, newest 2016 (printed)

54) Gras und Sand : Roman by David Schütz. A German immigrant to Israel wants to know his family's history. But his mother and siblings (with different fathers) are not so keen on digging in the past. An interesting family tale of a disturbed family who split up during World War II and ended up in different parts of the world. But not an cosy read.

55) Von der Pflicht zur Freude by John Piper. A very good book about Christian hedonism - the joy of knowing God.

56) Jesus - unsere Chance! by Busch Wilhelm. A collection of sermons about the Prodigal Son by this famous German pastor. A great read (which I actually read last month).

57) Die einzige Zeugin : Roman by Brandilyn Collins. A Christian mystery. Chelsea has a vision from God wherein she 'sees' a killing of a young woman in the wooded park. She then goes to the police who do not know anything of that crime, they don't believe her till she finds the corpse ... A good read, interesting premise.

58) Wilder Mann : Krals erster Fall ; Roman by Rainer König. A West German sailor becomes a policeman and then is sent as an exchange among police forces to East Germany (in the late 1980s) where he helps solve a murder. He gives an important hint to the kind of knot which was used for tying up a victim - a nautical knot he remembered from his time on sea. The plot is okay, more fun was the description of East German police work.

59) Der Herr siehet : Erinnerungen aus dem Leben des Pfarrers J. M. Ludwig by E. v. Engelhardt. A lively memoir of this old pastor Johann Melchior Ludwig in Davos-Frauenkirch (born 1798). He died in his late 80s when celebrating a funeral in the Alps... A short biography of this pastor, whoi had a heart for the people living high up in the Grisons.



The cover shows the church outside of Davos - surrounded by a wall and a design to resist avalanches.

The first name of the author stays a mystery, the archives in Basel and Bern do have the book (earliest edition published 1883 in Basel) but give various names .... So I stay with E.

>205 paulstalder: So sorry to read about your wife's illness, Paul. That is hard to cope with for you both...
(((hugs)))

>213 FAMeulstee: Thank you. She is now back in the clinic and can hopefully rest a bit. The results will come tomorrow.

Bad news from the hospital. The cancer exploded since last month and is now in liver, bones, lungs etc. Suki will move to the paaliative care wing of the hospital and they will try to ease the pain, change medication from morphine to something else.

Also tomorrow I will receive my new pin tooth. Some month ago the dentist implanted a piece of a cow bone and that piece is now overgrown by my own bone and so everything is ready for drilling a new tooth into my mouth ....

And also tomorrow is the meeting with our son's teachers in his first year of training as a nurse (well, he is not too keen of us appearing anyway).

>215 paulstalder: Ohhh no, I am so sorry, Paul, sending comforting thoughts for all.

>216 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita, all our kids were here on the weekend, Suki was able to came home, too. We had a tough weekend with preparing all the 'important' papers for the doctors, lawyers, government etc in case Suki will die or lose consciousness ... Talking about such things in a general matter is one thing, but finalizing them in binding form is another matter. Thursday Suki will talk with a friend of ours who will probably lead the funeral.

60) Schlafstörungen und was man dagegen tun kann by Michael Dieterich. A booklet about sleep disorders and some practical help for a better sleep. Useful.

61) Ihm gehören, um Ihm zu dienen by Benedikt Tscharner, Letters by this evangelist from the Alps, working in the Grisons, visiting all the little farms high up in the different valleys to talk about the faith in Jesus Christ.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and Suki and your family, Paul!

Thank you, Harry, thats very kind of you.

Medication make her dizzy and unconcentrated.

62) AG Pinkerton und die Tigerbande : Eine Kriminalgeschichte für junge Leute by Heiner Gross. The three teenaged detectives of the AG Pinkerton read in the newspaper about a group of youngsters are terrorizing tourists and demolishing restaurants in the Ticino, the Italian speaking part of Switzerland. They decide to travel South and capture the gang ... Easy read, young adult detective story.

63) The Twits by Roald Dahl. A mostly funny and partly mean story about an old strange couple...

>215 paulstalder: My thoughts and prayers are with you and your lovely wife, Paul. Life is a challenge at the best of times without that bloody letter C.

>224 PaulCranswick: Thank you very much for your thoughts. I know you have a tough time, too. Thanks for coming by.

Suki was able to come home from the hospital for today. Our second daughter is going to chose a wedding dress today - and she is happy that mother can come along. Also Suki's sister arrived yesterday from Korea and joined the ladies on this important shopping event :) The wedding is planned next spring, so we don't know if Suki will still be around then ....

64) Das Leben in 5 Sekunden : 200 Biographien von Gott bis Pippi Langstrumpf by Matteo Civaschi. A funny way of drawing events/names/ ideas.

I'm very sorry to hear the news about Suki's condition, Paul. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I wish you lots of strength and courage during the upcoming time. {{{hugs}}}

>227 Ameise1: Thank you very much, Barbara, for your support.

The shopping event was a good highlight for Suki, but also a bit too much excitement and stress. She came back quite in pain and had to get some additional morphine. Now she is asleep in bed - hopefully sleeping through the night in peace.

statistics for August

2013 pages, 11 books

10 books were written in German, in 1 English, and 0 in Swiss German

nationalities: CH 3, IL 1, D 3, USA 2, GB 1, I 1
dead 4, alive 7
male 9, female 2

anonym

oldest 1967, newest 2013 (printed)