Yohay Elam

This 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!