Paradise Lost and Sand Dunes... V,O XXX OO V G

Hello everyone,

Israel 1948-1951

Our neighborhood
in Jerusalem

    The War was over... The siege on Jerusalem came to an end and the British      left our country for good!... My brother Rami and I, were excited to come back        to our neighborhood and friends! We could see the distractions which the War     left behind; Mr Kaplan's Grocery Store, suffered a direct hit, killing him and destroying the building, except for one wall... Uri, my brother brother's best friend who lived in the apartment building next to ours, lost a leg! The candy shop became a Kiosk and the Greengrocer's store, belonged now a Shoe maker.  Our neighbors were glad to see us coming back and Rami and I, were happy to play again with  our old 'Neighborhood friends' as we did before the war...My father was busy working in his Garage, I returned to my kindergarten and Rami went back this school. Every Saturday we went to visit my father's dad, Saba Eliyahu, in the"Old People's Home"; where he lived... During the summer, we would move to Tel Aviv for a few of weeks, to enjoy the warm water of the Mediterranean Sea... Our Vegetarian parents old us that :"Salt water and Sun are good for our health; especially for growing children like you!"

Lemel School

   I have 'Vague Memories' from the day we were sitting around the radio, listening  to our new Prime minister David Ben Gurion's voice, who was behind the creation of the State of Israel! Another clear memory, is my first day in First Grade at the Lamely School, where most of the neighborhood's kids, were attending. I remember  how overjoyed I was (almost Ecstatic) when I was finally able to Read! It was like Magic, to see a short sentence suddenly 'Jumping at me' from the page! One of the stories I read, was about a family who lived in a 'Moshav' (Agricultural Village). I can still remember the red tractor, green fields and the few white and black cows walking around, eating grass all day...

    Each morning the students would be standing in lines at the school yard, watching with awe, the       Flag with the blue Star of David, being raised up to the top of the pole...With hearts full of pride we    sang 'Hatikva' (our National Anthem) before walking to our class rooms. On the walls, were the photos      of Theodor Herzl; the Visionary Leader of our Jewish state, Chaim Weizman; the first first president of Israel, David Ben Gurion; our first Prime Minister and Golda Meir, the "only woman in the Government" who would serve at one point in the future, as the Prime Minister of Israel, during the Six Days War...

Theodore Herzl	Chaim Weizmann	David Ben Gurion	Golda Meir

   As I have written before, my parents were among the first group of "Vegans" in Israel; which were "Extreme Veterinarians". I remember my mother in our small kitchen, grating carrots and squeezing        out the Juice, through a 'special cloth', in order to separate it from the Pulp (No 'Cuisinart' in those days)    so her children drink fresh carrot juice:"Which is the most important of all juices!"  There were 'Three Deadly Whites' which were forbidden in our Vegetarian Kitchen: Bleached Flour, White Sugar and Salt!  (A bit of 'Sea Salt' was allowed') My brother and I, took every opportunity, when our parents were not around, to grab the 'Sweets' which were offered to us, by our Aunts and Uncles, who would shake  their heads with pity, feeling sorry for "The deprived children, who are not aloud to have White Sugar...

  When I was about seven, at the middle of my Second Grade, my parents decided to leave Jerusalem    and move to a 'Moshav: The agricultural Village "Mishmar Hashivah". This agricultural community      was different from others, since it was available for 'Vegetarian Families Only!' My parents said they    had enough of "This Unhealthy life in the big city, with the exhaust fumes, people are forced to inhale   and the Asphalt roads and sidewalks, which are "Choking the“Prana!”(Life giving energy)...  It is known, that these obstacles, are preventing 'Mother Earth', from sending us it's Nurturints and Healing energy... This was the only 'Moshav', which accepted Vegetarians Only! "We wish to raise our children    in Nature; have them breath Clear Air and eat Home Grown fruit and vegetables, free of Pesticides and   be Judged and Ridiculed, for our belief in Vegetarianism! Here we are all the same...

  My parents couldn't wait to move and live in a place, where they will no longer have to justify their   'Way of Life'; to their neighbors, friends and family members; who were concerned about Rami and       me, for not getting enough Nutrients and Protein, because of the "lack of meat" in our diets... They      were tired of being judged or made fun of, because of their Vegetarian way of life... We couldn't wait       to meet the new neighbors, in our Vegetarian Community! People who are like us, who were sharing     the "Same Ideals'! There was no Television in Israel during that time...Every evening after dinner, our parents would sit next to the 'Glass top table' (with the photos underneath) reading books and magazines about Vegetarianism; learning how to plant and harvest, what was the amount of water for the plants and how to protect the 'Young Buds', from the Elements,without using Chemicals which are "Pure Poisen" "We'll live in Nature now! You kids will grow up to be healthy and strong! People will no longer look at  us, as if we are 'Weird', because we are Vegetarians; since our neighbors and their children (your new friends) are also like us!”

   Rami and I were watching and listening to our parents, who were sipping Herb Tea and nibbling         dry dates, figs and raw almonds (Instead of cakes with "Poisonous White Sugar!") "What about my  school and  friends?" My brother was lementing, but my parents laughed..."Don't worry! You will be going to another school and have many new friends!" I began to cry:"But I don't want to move to    another place, I don't want new friends, I want my old friends! I don't want to live in a House! I           want to stay in our Apartment!" I said. "Keep quiet you dummy!" My brother said to me:"Just              shut up!" I began to cry harder and my parents told  Romi, that Wards like these are not allowed               in our house! Rami made 'a face' at me and left the room... I still remember the "Sweet Revenge"              I felt when I stuck my tongue at him...

   One day a big truck stopped in front of our Apartment Building, in Jerusalem and our possessions    were loaded on it...The furniture were covered with our blankets and towels, so were our lamps and    other breakable things. The 'glass book shelves', our big table's glass top and two mirrors, were also warped, so were the plates, cups, glasses and other small "Breakables; where warped with old News Papers. Next came the boxes with our pots, pans and whatever remained at our kitchen and loaded on    the truck...The chairs, were carefully wrapped with our blankets, my mother's Singer Sawing Machine  and our tall old Grandfather Clock, which was playing every fifteen minutes, parts of the tunes which    Ben in London, was playing...The Neighbors came to say goodbye, bringing cakes, fruit and candy!      The women were crying; hugged and kissed us and the men looked sad, when they shook hands with  d "Aba" (dad... We stopped for the last time at his Garage, to part from his partner Moti and the employees After all the 'Hand shaking, hugs, back clapping and good luck wishes; we finally took of, to materialize my parents dream, of a new healthy life, in the Vegetarian Moshav...

The Moshav

First corn

   Living in the Moshav made me feel as if I was Alice in Wonderland! Growing up in the Gray old city of Jerusalem    I was fascinated by the colors around me! Flowers, butterflys Birds and all kinds of 'Crawling Creatures', have never seen in Jerusalem! Almost everything was new and colorful: The  flowers and fruit trees, the yellow dry leaves in the Fall and  the fields of Vegetables... It was all  so new to me!  I once found a plant, which 'Sprayed'  my hands with 'Dark liquid' similar to Ink... It gave me a great idea: "I'll collect this 'Natural Ink' and sell it to 'Vegetarian Stationery Stores, because it did not contain any Chemicals!" I decided not to tell anyone about it, so people wouldn't 'Steal my Idea'; just like Aba's "Patent", his ' Elusive invention of "creating a  motor," which would be running by the Energy of Gravity!" (what (ever it means...) 

   My new school was located in a small town named Yazur; a thirty minutes walk from our home. My    next door neighbor Yehuda and I, were in the same class. Every morning he would stop to 'Pick' me up'  and we would walk together to the school, talking and laughing... I believe that even though, we were  only eight years old; we had some kind of a 'Childish Crush' on each other... Ten minutes before our arrivel, the two of us would split and walk separately; so the kids wouldn't  Tease Us about walking    "Side by Side"... Life was good ,with only a few painful moments in between...   One of the biggest Humiliation, which would follow me throughout my school years, was caused by the fact, that in this   new school, the student already learned the 'Multiplications Tablet', which I didn't learn yet Jerusalem  For some reason, I was afraid to tell my new teacher, that I didn't learn it yet and was cringing, trying      to disappear, when she would call on a student to come to the blackboard, take the white chalk and     solve the 'Math Problem' written on it, fearing that the kids may think I am stupid...

A mystery
cave...

Old stairs 

 

    My parents were busy getting to know their new neighbors, they met  in  many meetings, where they talked about the way of growing and selling their crops (Individually or Collectively)... I was walking 'Intoxicated  by the Nature around me (Maybe my parents were right about the power of 'Prana and Chi'...) It was amazing to discover a new, ever changing world!  Walking 'Barefoot' on the brown warm earth, climbing trees, hanging on the branches, falling, wiping away a few drops of blood from my bruised knees...xxxwhich I found next to the broken stairs, which were leading to Nowhere?" Dr Netsach, our Vgiterian  Physition was treated as if he was some kind of a God... In his 'Fiery Speeches' he was condemning the "Medical Doctors", who are "Poisoning' people with Toxic Medicines!" He said in his loud voice (almost Screaming), waving his thin arms  and was rewarded by loud cheering and Hand Clapping of his Vegetarian Admirers... Dr Netzach warned his followers, who were looking at him as if  he was some a 'kind of a God', to refuse giving the children X Emune Shots; since "These shots are nothing but Pure Poison!"... In those days "Immune Shots" were given in the school... Our parents told Rami and me, to run away if anyone tries to inject us! (to which we were glad to obey!)  Dr Netzach was very tall he had thin arms and yellow long hair... His shy 'Mousy wife', was always busy nursing a new baby, or wiping the 'Running Nose' of one of their five small, blond children... His kids looked just like their father with Blondish long hair, down to their shoulders (even the boys)... Dr. Netzach was adored    by all his Vegetarian Followers... Whatever he said was received as one of the 'Ten Commandments'!         I disliked him! (to put it mildly) When ever he looked at me, I felt as if his pale blue eyes, were digging  into me, wanting to find out all my little secrets... With the natural intuition of a child, I did not trust this man...Whenever I saw him coming towards me, I would run to hid behind a tree or a rock... Dr Netzach  (who seemed he could see everything) would yell at me to come out; but I never did...  

   I was too young to realize what was going on, when my parents' Dream' was turning into a Nightmare and Cruel Awakening... My father was a Mechanic not a Farmer... Some of the vegetables he worked so hard to plant, shriveled and were' rotting away'... ("Not enough water? To much water?") The fruits  on   our trees were eaten by birds...("No Pesticide!" Dr. Netzach sad...) I remember my 'poor dad', standing and watching the Corn he planted, growing tall and green, then turning into yellow and die...  

The flood

  The water level was High and Rising, we were unable to leave the house...The   only 'Good thing', was the news that we 'Couldn't get to school', because of the floods... People in boats were delivering Drinking Water, Bread and other kinds of necessities. The small group of neighbors, who were shocked and disillusioned, as much as my parents, were now fighting with one another... My Dad became very ill and my 'shocked mother', was tormented by paralyzing fears and worries, about the results of the "Disaster" and was watching their "Big Dream", collapsing in front of her eyes:"Why did we ever Listened to your Crazy Vegetarian Sisters, who 'Brain Washed' us, to come to this place? " Ima would tell my dad: "It is your older sister Shoshana's fault! She is the one, who came back from Germany, with all these crazy Vegetarianism  Ideas and Brain Washed all of us! Why did you sell the garage? How can we feed our children? What are we going to do?!"

   My Mom escaped' into a “Cleansing Fast” of eating nothing Solid and drinking Orange Juice, mixed with Green Juice only... (In the future this 'Behavior' would be called "Anorexia Nervousa"). Ima was losing a lot of weight; becoming very thin and uncommunicative... "Don't worry so much!"X my father      said;X"You know that my partner Moty, owes me the money for half of the Garage and has been sending me parts of it, every month! We have what to live on, until I find a job! After all, I have a Good Profession and Years of Experience as a MechanicMy poor dad tried to assure her... My father was the family's 'Eternal Optimist' and was trying to calm down our frightened mother...Unfortunately, this time he was unable to do so...The Currency was going through one Devaluation after another, Making  his partner's  payments almost worthless"... The "Safety Net", which was supposed to 'Keep us Afloat', until all the vegetables and frute were ready for the markets, was  Xdisintegrating and my poor father, who blamed himself for the move, became gravely ill... Even though I was only nine years old, I was mature for my age and very sensitive... I became very ill and Dr Netzach's Herbal Medicine did not seem to help much...

Children's hospital

  My father's brother, uncle Aron, received an 'Urgent Letter' from my despaired mother, asking him to come immediately (No phones during those days) He had      to change three busses, before finally arriving to our home... When he saw how    sick I was, my uncle accused my parents of being"Fanatic, Crazy Veterinarians"   who trusted a 'Fake doctor!  He then went to see him and was yellin that “If this child dies, it would  be Your Responsibility!" Dr Netzach, who seemed very scared, got over his aversion for the 'Conventional Medicine' and instructed my parents to take me to the nearest hospital right away"!

   In later years, I would often wonder if getting so sick, was my way of 'Escaping, what seemed to be        my parents "Breakdown"... My father's black hair, seemed to turn Partially White"over night",within     one year, he started to look like an old man... My mother seemed to be a shadow of herself... At night  after my brother and I went to our room, we could hear them arguing and blaming each other, for the decision of selling the garage, leave Jerusalem and move to the Moshav... "It is all your Sisters fault!"   my mother was daying, "Your sister Shoshana and her Crazy ideas of Vegetarianism! She was the one who pushed us to make this Terrible Mistake; selling the Garage and move here! Why did we ever listen  to her?! We were so happy in Jerusalem!"  It was during my two weeks stay in the Hospital, that I started  to be adivted to books! I was eight years old, when I picked up a book at the Children's Library of the hospital and read it from beginning to end in One Day! The book which was translated from English to Hebrew was 'The Last of the Mahicans' (Adopted for young readers)... From that moment on, I began to 'Devour' Books, I becoming an "Obsessive/ Compulsive Reader!" Reading, became my escape into another world... Away from the Harsh Reality of my parents fears and Teen Age brother's bitterness and rage, over moving away from his friends in Jerusalem... I was becoming a "Compulsive reader!" Even now, so many years later; there is nothing like a good book, to lift my spirit up to another world;calming    my busy mind and sooth my soul...

    My parents were growing apart... The only thing which united them, was the frantic search for a way       out of the 'Wreckage of their dreams' and the urgent need to find a safe Harbor, for their small family...   My Dad was finally able to find a job as a Mechanic, in one of the Post Office Garages in 'Tel Aviv', next to the Old City of Jaffa... It must have been 'Humiliating' for my 'Proud' father, to find himself  'Starting All Over', after having his own Garage... Somehow, my parents were able to sell the house in the Moshav  ("For a third of what we paid!") and find another house in a small neighborhood, next to the large city of Hulon... The few houses were built on 'Dunes of sand', looked like the 'Sahara Desert'..."You don't realize what a Great Deal you made!" The Slimy Real Estate Agent (whom I instinctively disliked!) was telling my poor parents "In a short time, this place is going to become bigger then Tel Aviv! Mark my words! I  am promising you, that the price is going to Quadruple, in less then a Year!”  My poor father believed  him (what else could he do?)  Many years later, during one of my visits to Israel, my brother said that   this "God forsake Place', is still their and looks the way it used to be when we lived there ...

With Love and Light,
Shira