Photo Montage: Faces of Levinsky Park

Caption: The men I met in Levinsky Park were men who had nowhere else to go. They sleep on the playground, they build support around each other and at the end of the day, they find reasons to smile. Luckily, they were willing to smile for me - they wanted to make certain I didn't forget. I never will. My afternoons in Levinsky were often filled with stories of men who's lives had been shattered, some had come from places where they were teachers, managers, business owners or engineers. But they told  me, where else could they go? Now they survive. They were kind and told me that I was one of so few that would stop and talk to them. I prayer for their continued safety

View the rest of the Photo-Gallery,* Living in Levinsky Park, at: http://www.dw.de/top-stories/world/s-1429

Article can be read at the following link about one man's survival from a Sinai Torture Camp.

(Full Article to Come).

Special Report: Body Found Near Hilton Beach Marina

(Tel Aviv) The body of an Eritrean boy was found in the Marina next to Hilton beach in Tel Aviv late this afternoon. The boy, "Abraham," has been swept away from waves and wind while swimming near rocks at the beach with his brother earlier in the day.

The drama unfolded around 12pm when the two boys went out to swim in the rough Mediterranean waters. The elder brother was heard screaming near the rocks on the north end of Hilton Beach. Local surfers, a jet skier, as well as a lifeguards in canoes made their way out to pull him to shore.

It would be nearly 30 minutes before maritime police approached the scene to begin looking for the drowning boy. A search and rescue helicopter joined the search sometime after 1-pm. Their search focused around the rocks near where the boy was taken by the current.

During the search, the brother, who is 24 years old, was brought to the steps of a local beach bar where he sat in the sand, mourning and crying over his lost brother. His tears drenched his face and he beat the sand with his fists, devastated over his lost brother.

He cried, "My brother was looking so forward to this day! He couldn't wait to come out to the beach and go into the sea! My brother was waiting for this day!"As time went on, his demeanor slumped lower into the sand and he wept harder.

Two Tel Aviv police officers stood by and watched without offering to help. Medics were not to be found and an ambulance did not arrive.

Locals and tourists who were enjoying the beach stepped in to comfort the young man, offering him water, a cool towel and words of encouragement. Several residents approached the police officers asking them to assist him and get him to a hospital, for which they refused. One official watched the young man, seemingly amused and denied a woman who appealed for his assistance, saying there was nothing he could do about the situation. 

After nearly 3 hours, another woman was ab

le to get in touch with social services who said they would come to help. 

Two more police officials came on the scene and threatened to arrest the Eritrean man if he did not come with them willingly. A woman, with her arms around the man, told the officials to wait until the social worker arrived.

Israeli locals and tourists were appalled at the comments made by police, sharing comments like, "This is shameful," and, "Why won't they do something?" or, "I can't believe they're just standing around!"

The search for the missing brother was called off just after 3pm, and the police took the Eritrean man to a local police station. The social worker never arrived.

Sailors in the marina found the drowned boy’s body, approximately 100 meters south of where the boy was initially swimming around 5-pm. It is unknown at this time what has happened to the mourning brother.

Boston to Jaffa Port: Running Against the Wave

I ran with Boston in mind. I needed to clear my head, but I felt a strong connection in the exercise. There was more pressing. The heavy physical exertion had a subtle solidarity. 

So as it started, and my shoes hit the pavement  - down the street - up and down the stairs, I thought about how their race turned into one for their lives. And 3 were lost. The people were brave. They faced terror with so much strength; Freedom wins again. We came together.

Now, as I turned the corner at the bottom of the stairs, my shoes landed on the dock, the Port at Jaffa. As I passed the boats, I closed my eyes for just a moment: nothing but the sound of the Sea reached my ears...and my soul.

I pushed my body, jumped over the dock benches and took a deep breath. The clouds sprinkled fresh rain, the waves rushed and lapped together - it was harmony, peace, perfection.

There was no music to listen to on this run, phone turned off and in my sleave, laptop left behind. The morning was dreary and the only people out were fisherman and restaurant staff. I broke a sweat and released daily stress, mental and physical tensions.

When I came to another set of stairs, leading down to the beach, I raced them up and down avoiding the thought of trying to be Rocky, and focused on the task of pushing myself as hard as I could, because my brothers and sisters did it only a day before - even in the face of an attack.

I climbed up a stone platform - looked over the Sea and bowed with a nod of Namaste. For the next 25 minutes, I formed, positioned myself and challenged the high sea to a duel. Fierce yoga versus the swallowing waves. A battle of soulful recognition and gracious acceptance. The waves showed me power and I showed them strength.

When I finished, I ran up the stairs, back down the dock, through the streets and finished satisfied.

Lost in the 'Promised Land'

Courtesy of Google Map & Pixlr App

Israel can do better than this, he said.

I'm broken today, my friends. I was saddened when I left a meeting with a contact.

I learned when Africans come to Israel, they have no where else to go. This is there last stop, the refugees flee hoping each place they go will be better and Israel, they are often stuck. They are not easily offered status and more often when they arrive, they are literally dumped on a sidewalk with nothing but the clothes on their back.

Government, society will not deal with them. If they are able to avoid detention and gain a place in the country, it is only won through the courts and only if the presiding judge is compassionate enough. Many of them have fled hostile countries, others trafficked into the country - all rejected - and it breeds deep racism from their Israeli counterparts, rejection and many of them turn to crime or end up in hopeless situations.

The organization here relies heavily on outside donations and cannot keep more than about 50 people in their shelter at any given time. They work with community leaders to help provide jobs, training, status, physical and mental healthcare for the refugees. But many of them, if the they can help with relocation and help them set up, it is not in Israel, the success is often found in international relocation.

The contact I spoke with said while he believes what he does is important, it is difficult. Having been a refugee, detained, participated in a hunger strike and opened the first NGO to assist with African refugees and focus on their needs; the challenges are complicated and frustrating. His eyes were sad. But he holds on, he must hope change can be made. Small steps at a time. He's passionate.

I left heavy - as I begin approaching the stories of people here who so desperately need to be heard, I don't know how much of a dent it will make, but like my new friend - I have to think; if one person's life can be improved in anyway by one story, then maybe humanity still exists in Western Backed Ideals. It's important. It's necessary humility.

Electricity Fizzing Flat

Dear Reader:

It is time again I tell you a story, and I must say, you’ve been painfully patient. If I could give you all a cookie, I would. Oreos, in fact.

Now, where was I? Oh yes, a story. 

Well you see, it all started the morning I was to leave a couch surfing couple and head on to a flat. Like any other morning without sleep, I sat up, awake and my hair in dishevel. The apartment manager sent a text, ‘Can you meet me at the flat now?’

I flew out of bed and avoided telling him what I really wanted to say, ‘Shut up, I’m going back to bed. It’s is too early.’

But I knew better and frankly, I wouldn’t have slept another minute. There was a Dog. And the Dog obviously made sure I never slept. Between midnight barks, knurling at his foot and frequent scratches in the corner – he would look me in the eye; he knew what he was doing. The moment I made it to my feet, exhausted and grumpy, he followed. The Dog headed for the door, blocked my way and barked as loud as possible. I skirted around trying to calm him down. It never worked. Hadn’t worked in days, why should I place any hope on a Sunday morning? I shouldn’t  - so I didn’t. I finally flung myself from the door, dragging my luggage and tripping forward onto the sidewalk, again.

Not a great start. But, enough. I headed in the direction to the rooftop flat and after a series of turns, getting lost, walking only four blocks away, I was exhausted. How did I talk myself into 3 bags on this trip? Really.

7-flights up, all the way to the top, old building, and no elevator – whew - I made it. After quick instructions and a mini tour; the guy finally handed me the key.

The first moment alone in days; I just wanted to lie on my back...on the bed. I dared not fall asleep; I knew how much I needed to get done, even on a Sunday. But just for a moment I enjoyed sheer silence. The rooftop-flat had one simple purpose: marveling over the city of Tel Aviv.

After a shower and a little organization, I decided to plug in my Mac and get started. Seemed simple enough, until I plugged into the outlet of a freshly turned on electrical signal and my right hand surged with sparks which shook my forearm and threw me back on the bed. A loud whispered squeal escaped my vocal chords. I had electrocuted myself and felt like a cartoon.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my hand visibly shaking and thought, ‘What the hell was that?!’

Slowly I got up, fumbled for a chair and climbed up to the electrical box to reset. I had also blown the fuse. Nice.

The rest of the day proved uneventful. Shocks and shakes through my arm lasted a few hours, I worked, I napped, I spoke to a friend, I took a walk. Nevertheless, the when sunset came, there was nothing more satisfying than to look out over the city and take it in. No thoughts or words, just Tel Aviv - for a moment, even if it never came again. 

Until Next Time, 

Yours Truly. 

Rooftops & Wires

The Next Installment: Rooftops & Wires was written as a guest spot on http://denofthelioness.com. 

Click the following LINK to read more. 

Photo Essay: SlutWalk 2013 - Tel Aviv

The SlutWalk was initiated in April 2011 in Toronto after a police official commented women would be safer against predators if they didn't "dress like sluts." Women took to the streets and the protests grew around the world. Events were held in India, Australia, the US and Israel. Tel Aviv's march was its 2nd and a few hundred women, children and men turned out for the event. While I was able to obtain many great photos, here's just a taste of the characters who joined the event including a woman who also protested in solidarity with the Palestinians this week.