Lifebytes:: Spinning, Jerusalem and more Free Hugs

Just a collection of things. I learned the term LifeBytes from Jonathan Klinger, who updates his Hebrew blog more frequently.

SpinningOne evening I was walking back from work, and I realized that I was getting close to a party. As I got closer, I found out that it wasn’t a party, but rather a spinning class that a some gym took outside. About 30 people were riding a bike to nowhere on a sidewalk on a rather busy junction in the city with loud music that was definitely too much for the speakers. Is that your idea of healthy sports? I couldn’t help pulling out my camera, and then I heard the instructor shouting: “Faster faster, you’re going to see yourselves in the paper tomorrow!”.

I’ve also been to cold Jerusalem to visit some friends. Walking through a street named Emek Refaim in the German colony (one of the busy streets at night I guess), I could hardly hear any Hebrew. So many people were speaking English! I couldn’t tell if they were mostly tourists or immigrants, but they were all American Jews. Even the guard at Caffit cafe spoke only English. I really liked it. It felt like being a tourist, and I can also understand the language. No need for sign language, like in various places around the world.

And finally, last Tuesday I’ve been again to the (original) free hugs in Tel Aviv. I found out that there is another group doing the hugging thing on Fridays on Rotschild boulevard, and that a group of students from Ben Gurion university in Beer Sheva did the hugging thing on the first day of school. It is spreading around, also after the media is gone. The original guys, that I got in touch with, aim to reach 10,000 hugs before quiting. They still have almost 8,000 to go. I didn’t take pictures this time, but I met a fellow Israeli English-blogging guy, Idan Gazit, who did take photos. Superb photos. He has the equipment and the talent. After Some other people and myself asked him a few questions about it, he put up a serious post about it. I’m looking forward for his next photography lessons.

Anyway, the next hugging event is as usual, this Tuesday, October 24th 17:00 – 20:00 at Rabin Square. I’ll be there from around 19:30

Tel Aviv Free Hugs – with flying colors

Tel Aviv Free HugsThis time it was in Rabin Square. These great guys got lots of media. Two TV crews, radio, a few newspapers, etc. They will also be on air tomorrow morning in an early morning show. It’s amazing how it happened so fast. hey started it just one week ago, with a follow up on Friday. This time it was really big.

Original pictures are here. Please credit if you copy the pictures, and do process them (they are very dark, I must improve…) .I didn’t have mine taken, so if any of you caught me on his camera, please pay it forward.

Contrary to my previous experience, this time I wasn’t cynical. It was quite fun. At the end, I also raised a Free Hug sign and offered hugs. I had to work hard to convince someone to come out of the car and hug me, but it was nice. I missed out on the media celebration (working late). Well, like this I got to speak to the people behind this campaign. Maybe knowing the people helps you get closer to the whole campaign. I also got to know a few other nice people that joined in like myself. Everybody was very nice. I guess that when you hug a stranger, you instantly feel like you can open up to them.

The main guy behind it set a goal of 10,000 hugs. Well, after the push from the media, I’m sure that he and his companions will get lots of help from people who were exposed to this great campaign. I heard that other groups in Israel consider opening “branches” in other places across the country.

Except reporting, where am I in all this story? Well, I came from curiosity, and then was asked for pictures, which of course I gave. Now I’m sure that they have lots of material. Tonight I spent an hour with these good people, participated shortly, and talked to them. I can now say that I am a supporter.

And what’s next? My political mind threw a joke at the end of my previous post, about trying this thing in West Bank blockades. Meanwhile I found out that I wasn’t the sole person thinking about this issue. So, there is some chance that this joke I popped will turn into something that I’ll do. I’m sure that this is far from the intentions of the initiators of the campaign. They just want to hug, be hugged and create warmth between people, not sexual and not political. Going with such a sign to hug Israeli soldiers and Palestinians will have a political left wing stamp. When you are hugging passers by in Tel Aviv, it is different from stepping out and hugging people who you usually hate. Well, l still have to think it over, and see if and how to do it.

Anyway, I had lots of fun with the good people handing out free hugs for everyone. A Hebrew post will shortly follow.

And I hope to report from the next free hugs!

 

Free Hugs – now in Tel Aviv

Free Hugs in Tel AvivThe Free Hugs phenomenon reached Israel. A blogger named Shay went to Rabin square a few days ago and hugged 232 people. He got help from a few others. One of them wrote about it in her blog (Hebrew). I saw that they were doing another hugging campaign on Friday morning quite close to my house, so I went there. Tali filmed and edited it. See the movie!. (My apologies for not crediting beforhand).
Free Hugs in Tel AvivAt first I was embarrassed. I just came for a peek, and suddenly I was offered a few hugs. I must admit that I turned red, but afterwards I also joined the hugging and also took some pictures before running into the air conditioned mall.

I spoke to some of them. One guy said that he just joined spontaneously. Another came there to shoot a video for a website. They said that they will probably continue this thing a few more times.

I like the initiative. I wonder if this buzz, that some people consider as very touching could work out in blockades in the West Bank. Will we see a queuing Palestinian or an exhausted Israeli soldier raise a sign reading “Free Hugs” and accept a hug from the other side? Could be a funny picture…

Two comments about the Pope

Well, a lot has been report and a lot of analysis has been written about what the Pope said and it’s consequences. I just have 2 short comments:

1. Doesn’t he have a media consultant? He’s quite old (maybe senile), and he’s a very public figure. I think that the Holy See should also hire the services of a media consultant. They would advise him to refrain from such a statement.

2. Luckily we’re not involved in this mess. For those outside Israel, Haaretz reports that the chief Sepharadi Rabbi expressed sorrow for the Pope’s words against Islam. Aren’t we supposed to be against Islam, thus pro-Pope in this case?

Being secular is so much easier…
I could write more nonsense, but I’m tired.