29 March 2015

Haifa Fragments: The Politics of Literary Feminist Writing

Haifa Fragments: The Politics of Literary Feminist Writing Isha L’Isha - Haifa Feminist Center, my feminist home and community, are hosting a book launch of Haifa Fragments on 14 April 2015. We will engage in an an open discussion about Haifa, women breaking barriers and boundaries, love, writing and identity, belonging, and feminism Galia Aviani will facilitate the event, and Lilach Ben David will read from the book. A link to the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1031851226828505/

17 March 2015

why I decided to vote for the Joint List

To vote or not to vote. That is not the question.

The Joint List has at first thrown me into confusion. I’ve always perceived voting as a personal responsibility as a citizen. But for the first time in my life, I had my doubts. I was confused. How can I vote for a list that has Islamists and nationalists and polygamists in it? So I decided I would not vote. But as the days passed, I realized that more than a responsibility, voting is my right. And it is a hard-earned right that women before me struggled for on my behalf. How can I not vote?
I started watching Ayman Odeh speak on TV. I read his statuses. Ayman, the shy kid who was my classmate in elementary school and then in high-school. Slowly, I began changing my mind. 


There is something I can’t quite put my finger on about Ayman. His discourse is at once fresh and nostalgic. He remains calm in every situation. He represents a new kind of leadership. Change. Something new.

I am voting for the Joint List because I’m sick of the old. With all its challenges and problematic aspects, I think it’s time to embrace change and uncertainty, because the old ways surely didn’t get us anywhere. So I am giving a chance, in the hopes that it will lead to change. Sometimes, we have to stride forward, change direction, and embrace uncertainty.