Those of you who have been following my blog closely over the past year and a half, will no doubt have noticed my changing attitude to the current pandemic and, more specifically, to the much vaunted Pfizer (and other) vaccines…
Like millions of others, I welcomed the vaccine rollout. Despite a certain measure of trepidation as to reported side effects and, in particular, to the possible long-term effects of the vaccine, when my healthcare fund began vaccinating my age group, I was swift to answer the call (even if I was sufficiently perturbed at stories I had heard to make my Will the morning scheduled for me to receive the first shot).
In the weeks that followed, I proudly wrote about the vaccination statistics, and documented the (presumed) effect of these on the morbidity rate. And the number of cases did fall – only to rise again.
And then they told us that the vaccine was effective for less than six months and that we would need booster shots after that period.
And they began using coercive methods to “persuade” those unwilling to comply, to fall in line.
And now they want to vaccinate children under 12 – even though nobody has any idea what the long term effects of frequent, repeated vaccination with this type of “vaccine” might be, and even though, for the most part, the disease itself is not dangerous for children.
And I began to wonder about the lack of transparency regarding so many matters related to the pandemic and to the vaccine – such as the censored portions of the Israeli Government agreement with Pfizer, and the broken promise to open to the public the discussions of the Ministry of Health advisory committee on child vaccination. Instead, they were held in camera, with the excuse that doctors expressing support for the vaccination of children had received death threats.
Perhaps, then, the next step is to bar the public from discussions in the Knesset?!
But enough of this for now. Anyone interested in my evolving opinions on this subject, who has not been following my blog, is invited to read all the previous posts headed “The Corona Chronicles”.
For those who need a “safe space” – albeit temporary – I now offer an opportunity to catch up on my musical activities over the past few weeks, music being my lifeline, my way of holding on to hope.
First up, then, was the “Clal Festival” – a 3-day music and jazz festival held in Jerusalem’s iconic Clal Centre (about which I have written in the past). This was not the first time we have appeared in the Clal Centre and I have to admit that not everyone shares my poor opinion of the acoustics at that venue. In point of fact, Beethoven’s 6th Symphony (the Pastoral), performed in the central atrium by the Jerusalem Street Orchestra, didn’t sound at all bad…
Another concert later that same evening (October 28th) saw the street band Las Piratas Piratas launch their new single “We’re Still Here” – with the participation of members of the Jerusalem Oratorio Chamber Choir. I am going to be perfectly honest here and say that the band is openly political (they call themselves a Social Protest band). I also wish to make clear that I do not subscribe to all of their agenda – or even to a large part of it. How, then, did it happen that I took part in it? Well, for one thing, one of the trombone players is the son of one of my fellow choir members. And, for another, the concert itself was non-political, and, as I have repeatedly stated, I am not, in general, in favour of boycotting artists because of their political views.
And, all in all, I am glad I did take part because – well, they really are a very good band, as you can see for yourselves 🙂 .
A special guest at the concert, which was held on the roof terrace, was famed Israeli rapper and hip hop artist Sha’anan Streett:
And then came “the song you’ve all been waiting for” – the band’s new single, “We’re Still Here” featuring the Jerusalem Oratorio Chamber Choir:
That was supposed to wind up the evening, but the audience wanted more and they got what they craved.
Brass band – Klezmer style:
I actually enjoyed myself far more than I was expecting to – although I was somewhat disconcerted the next day to discover that a local “Social Influencer” had described us, on her Instagram account, as “a choir of sweet grannies”!!!
The other bright light in the firmament was the opening of the opera season earlier this month with a perfectly delightful production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute). In this co-production with the Komische Oper Berlin, live singers interacted with animated characters on screen, the characters were dressed in the style of 1920s Hollywood, and the not inconsiderable spoken sections of the opera (this is, after all, a singspiel) were replaced by written narrative on the screen, with live piano music accompaniment, in the style of a silent movie.
Photography is, of course, not permitted while the performance is taking place but I found this film on YouTube. The commentary and explanation of the plot is in Hebrew, but even if you are not a Hebrew speaker, the interview with the creator of this production, the Australian Barrie Kosky, is in English and the songs are, of course, in the original German. Enjoy!
I did.
And last, but by no means least (although not a musical event) – my brother arrived at the beginning of the month for a two month stay, which means that, for the first time in I don’t know how long, all the family will be together for Hanukkah!
What could be better than that? 🙂 🙂 🙂
THE VIEW FROM THE PALACE 
I am with you on your feelings about the jabs, totally! I wasn’t going to have the booster shot, but I did, this week! Only because of not wanting to be a social pariah and that can’t be right! My ex sister in law has totally refused to have any, and I think she is brave to take the stand, but a little of me says that she’s being rather selfish! As regards the music, the choir of sweet grannies comment had me laughing out loud!!! Very enjoyable, all of it!
I am with you too…all the way on the inoculations. And the poor innocent children who have NO say in this! Bad enough we are beaten to death over it as adults (it may come to that). What’s in those shots that makes them so anxious that EVERYone has them?
It’s because if you don’t, you become a social pariah. I feel that it’s totalitarianism by the back door!! Also here in the UK if you don’t have the full complement you are ostracised and not allowed in to certain places!
Here in Israel, people stand to lose their jobs if they don’t comply. They do have the option to be tested every couple of days but that’s at their own expense, and who can afford that?
Talk about control!!! They do here too. People who work in the care system have lost their jobs because they won’t be jabbed! I think they have their reasons and it should be respected!
And this morning, I heard on the news that the infection rate is up again and that “apparently” it is being driven up by the as-yet-unvaccinated under 12s. How convenient! Every time the vaccine is authorized by the American FDA for emergency use on a new population group, we are told that “apparently” that particular group is responsible for the rise in the previously falling infection rate. One has to ask – what came first, the chicken or the egg?
Very convenient!!