COPING WITH CORONA IN KARMIEL, GALILEE

As the Karmiel Municipality today announced NIL coronavirus cases in the city, the 006 live news outlet reported that the Magen David Adom emergency services had put an immediate break on potential celebrations by declaringing it was preparing for a 'second wave' of the disease. The report added that MDA intended to establish a 'command room' that will be insulated from winter weather! Meanwhile Galilee Park, the city's largest gated recreational area that lies directly opposite the town hall, is due to reopen tomorrow, Thursday 28 May on the eve of the Shavuot holiday weekend. It is clear that new Corona cases continue to drop throughout Israel and today, Wednesday 27 May, The Times of Israel reported that the Ministry of Health had failed to give its customary daily update: " No new coronavirus figures reported by ministry The Health Ministry has yet to publish figures showing new coronavirus infections, deaths and other data as of Wednesday morning.

IDF new Home Front Command chief, Major General Uri Gordin , has proven that Magen David Adom is a top priority by making an official visit to its Kiryat Ono, Tel Aviv headquarters during his first week in office. During his visit, Major General Gordin was greeted by MDA Director General Eli Bean , who outlined MDA's operational routine and emergency activities.  Major General Gordin saw rescue vehicles operated by MDA teams in both routine and emergency situations and a wide range of hi-tech equipment. Also reviewed were Magen David Adom's activities in recent months in its role at the forefront of Israel's fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. ---------------  .  At time of writing, Israel has suffered 279 Coronavirus fatalities including the passing of the country's youngest victim,  Avishalom Rosilio ,33, from Migdal HaEmek.  Both Rosilio, an IDF Golani Brigade veteran and his wife, Lihi had  recovered from cancer. He is also survived by his 11-m

Etihad Airways  - perhaps best known in the West as the sponsor of the UK's  Manchester City Football Club - has now made Middle Eastern history by flying the first known direct commercial flight between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel. The flight to Ben Gurion Airport yesterday (Tuesday 19 May) brought medical supplies to Palestinian Authority citizens affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. There were no passengers on board. This remarkable story along with the one I repost  below unedited from the Magen David Adom emergency service endorse earlier reports that the pandemic has strengthened Arab-Israeli relations: "Magen David Adom is at سخنين:  -  Sakhnin  (an Arab town in the Galilee that neighbours Karmiel). Against the backdrop of continuing MDA teams at the forefront of the fight against the Coronavirus, dozens of MDA youth volunteers in Sakhnin underwent lessons to improve Hebrew in order to bridge the language gaps in teamwork and medical care.

As the Israeli Coronavirus infection and  death rates reduce to a trickle and recoveries increase every day, politicians and diplomats are now in a tailspin over the sudden death of China's new envoy to Israel aged only 57. Du Wei , who presented his credentials in February, is being said to have died of 'natural causes'. Some sources say he suffered a heart attack.  Meanwhile, Israel's close ties with both the United States and China make it the increasingly tested middleman as hostilities between the two major powers worsen daily.  More happily, Israel's education system is opening fully this week while beaches may be used officially from Wednesday. At time of writing, potential tourists should note that entry to Israel is still restricted to     Israeli passport holders, residence visa holders and passengers with specific entry approval. Further, the 14 day quarantine rule still applies to anyone returning from abroad. A list of airlines flying t

It's said that Shakespeare wrote King Lear during a plague year, but what about The Tempest ? Certainly the line "Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows”, spoken by someone who had been shipwrecked and found himself seeking shelter beside a sleeping monster, could well be said of Israel and her immediate neighbours in our time of Coronavirus. Most astoundingly,  Qatar Airways has included Israelis in its allocation of 100,000 free flights to medical professionals worldwide. Airline CEO Akbar Al Baker said of the 'thank you' giveaway during a CNN interview that “There is no difference, no barrier in medical fields". Meanwhile,  World Israel News  has reported that the pandemic had brought Israeli Jews and Arabs closer together while The Times of Israel told us that  three Arab Gulf states had contacted Israel seeking help in their own war against the common enemy. All of this has taken place against a background of increased Sin

Many of us feel personally affronted when we spot others either not wearing face masks or appearing to wear them as fashion items.  It can be equally irritating to be challenged for removing a mask for a permitted activity like a hair cut as I was on Sunday, only to see another person without a mask on the street sipping coffee - and smoking! Here I repost a video clip featuring Dr Ben Fox , who for almost four years has been the  Director of the Pulmonary Institute at the Shamir (Asaf Harofeh) Medical Centre, near Tel Aviv. In this Arutz Sheva presented interview, UK-born Dr Fox outlines which masks are most effective in protecting the population from the Coronavirus and the best way to wear them. He emphasises that face mask wearing may be at once 'selfish' (self-protective) and 'altruistic' as wearing them will help to protect others when we inadvertently cough or sneeze. An intense heatwave is forecast to start in Israel within the next few days

It is said that a writer's duty is to 'bear witness'. The same may be observed of all art, be it penned, visual or aural, so it is no surprise that for many people, the biblical psalms are an intense part of the mental landscape that enriches their lives. Their spiritual value aside, the verses attributed to King David evoke the terrain of the countryside as he would have known it while a shepherd boy. I consider this, not only on learning of the vast amount of fine new writing triggered by Corona but also being aware that today, Sunday 10 May sees the opening of the 'digital edition' of the four-day Jerusalem Writers' Festival. As I wish those taking part every success, I hope  both celebrity speakers and audience will not miss the chance to discuss how the pandemic is affecting them and the best way they may offer their testimony to future generations. Those following the progress of this  'Coping with Corona' project may ask how

UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has offered warm support to those of his community who have refrained from holding family celebrations due to the continuing Coronavirus lockdown regulations. In a video message "for those who should have had simchas (celebrations) at this time!", Rabbi Mirvis based his remarks on the current week's Torah reading and many viewers may interpret his words as criticism of those ultra Orthodox groups and individuals who have defied official regulations during Coronavirus lockdown. Below is the full transcript. "When can the performance of a great mitzvah bring our people into disrepute? The Torah, in Parshat Emor, gives us the mitzvah: ‘ vlo techalelu et sheim kodshei – you must not desecrate my holy name’. Here Hashem is telling us that none of our deeds should, God forbid, give a bad name to Hashem, to our Torah or to our people. Then the Torah continues with a second mitzvah , ‘ Vnictashti b’toch bnei Yisrael – and

I n barely three months of Coronavirus -forced worship via Facebook and Zoom it's clear that the era of virtual prayer has most precociously come of age. Tomorrow evening Friday 08 May,  for example, members of  Kehilat Hakerem Congregation, Karmiel may choose to join one of two Sabbath eve services in Jerusalem, surely dismissing the unused alternative as 'the one I don't go to'. But as the health news brightens and the Israeli authorities begin cautious preparations to lift the stiffest restrictions, perhaps it is time to discuss the virtual and actual treats being provided for the ever-culture-hungry public. At the depths of the crisis, those with no immediate work and education schedules were happy to 'binge-watch'  movies, plays, musicals and television shows round the clock. But a universal thirst for knowledge and high quality entertainment was  also slaked by a wide range of  generous charitable and commercial enterprises.

Magen David Adom , Israel's  'first responder' emergency service continues, with the Ministry of Health , to be in the vanguard of the state' s valiantly successful  fight against  Coronavirus . Yesterday, MDA announced via Facebook that more than 20,000 citizens had been tested for the virus while seated in their own vehicles during two round-the-clock shifts at its "test and travel" complex  in Tel Aviv.  This approach has also allowed many thousands of other citizens to be checked throughout the country each day. The first, and largest testing centre was set up in Ganei Yehoshua, Tel Aviv under the management of Mickey Segal , Deputy Director of the MDA. "About two months ago, when we were just setting up the complex, I didn't think we would reach more than twenty thousand people", said Segal.  "However, from the first moment, it was clear to us that the scope of the work would be wide and we needed to comple

Last night's official  statements from the  Prime Minister's Office and the Health Ministry   announced a full return to normal life from  Coronavirus  restrictions as of  Sunday 14 June .   WATCH: Israeli doctors, nurses dance with joy as corona wards close This relaxation, if there are no hiccoughs caused by an unexpected return of the virus, will mark exactly three months since the toughest rules were imposed. Further, I write this as the early May weather has reverted to being unusually cool and stormy and it seems unlikely that many citizens - no matter how restless - will make an immediate dash to the beaches, national parks, nature reserves and heritage sites as outlined by the linked news report. Meanwhile, Israeli hospital medical staff are showing their relief: dedicated Corona wards have been closed in several hospitals and some masked - therefore semi-disguised people - have been caught on a video clip (that I cannot verify as genuine) literally danci

The title of this blog update comes from  To Althea, from Prison by the English 17th century Cavalier poet, Richard Lovelace .  He lived at a time when the country was plagued by both physical pestilence and the Civil War between King Charles I's supporters and the republican Puritans. What words could be more appropriate, I wonder, as  today marks the 51st since the  moadon  - clubhouse -  of the  Karmiel English Speakers' Club  was formally shut late morning on Sunday 15 March. I pen this piece as the Israel Government  announces a further easing of lockdown restrictions and the Karmiel Municipality prepares to start a staged reopening of local educational facilities. Even last week, parts of the downtown BIG shopping centre were reopened along with suburban hairdressers and beauty parlours, while today -  officially sanctioned or not -  customers were seated outdoors at a cafe adjacent to the KESC premises. But the images above of the notice of the cl

MDA and IDF Throw Beam of Light on Corona In Jerusalem, there is a special station where Corona specimens are tested. The station, which was developed by the IDF and Magen David Adom, is intended to perform sampling on civilians when they arrive on foot, and without the need for a private vehicle.  The "beam of light" station can move from place to place and, thanks to its structure, may maintain order and distance between people. The station has been operated by MDA paramedics with the technical aspect being entrusted to the IDF's land-based technology division. ©CoronaFizz (03 May 2020) ENGLISH SPANISH ARABIC In Jerus alem, there is a special station where Corona specimens are tested. The station, which was developed by the IDF and Magen David Adom, is intended to perform sampling oncivilians

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Despite everything - that terror -  that  dragging dread - of the invisible unknown - there are small daily joys in our war against Coronavirus. The pictures and words social media friends are posting prove that half-normal, new-normal life continues somehow, everywhere. So now is the time to collate the varied material being produced as an eye-witness, first-hand record for future generations to understand how the general public fared in the 2020 battle against COVID-19. I envisage publishing the material first in rolling, regularly updated posts here, then in pdf format and finally, should there be sufficient interest, a an ebook. This is a stand-alone project for which I take full responsibility but will have no personal gain. It has no link to any extant organisation and is aimed at all English language speaking and writing present and past citizens of Karmiel, no matter your age, religion or ethnic background.  All serious contributions will be accepte