They can do yoga too

At Yoga in Gan Haheshmal I tell a funky dark classmate who’s sitting on the sofa next to me that I went to Bethlehem yesterday.

‘They’re totally trapped there. They can’t do anything, go anywhere,’ I say.

He listens. He has square glasses. The kind that are ugly, but ironically so, like a reference to a 60s newscaster or something.

‘I mean it’s so sad,’ I blunder on. ‘Two places so close together but so far apart, so utterly different.’ Struggling to translate Bethlehem to Tel Aviv, I settle, rather inadeqately, on: ‘We’re here today doing yoga – it seems ridiculous when you think of what they’re going through.’

The centre has perfect blue and lilac cushions and music playing softly so we can relax after class. Cookies and tea are served.

My classmate thinks for a minute. He must be imagining the life of people in Bethlehem. Empathy after the deep spirituality of of our class.

'They can do yoga too,' he says.

Comments

[Nizo]

I love the story, especially the Marie-Antoinette-esque ending.

Am I being fair? was his tone à la "let them eat cake"?

[Leila]

Hi Nizo - glad you like this story and I think you're being entirely fair: dismissive, clueless, are adjectives that spring to mind. L

[erp]

Yoga sure, but can they boogie?

[tamar]

suggest you check w the person to see what he meant. when i read the comment, i thought -- hmmm. he is being practical. an immediate resolution to the problems in bethlehem is not available. meanwhile, among all other efforts, yoga might be a right thing to do. not unlike prayer. sometimes it is an option, the only one (besides attitude adjustment -- see viktor frankel).

best, tamar