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I wept at the shuk this morning

Photo by Chaya Lester

Photo by Chaya Lester

I admit, I wept

At the shuk this morning

Talking to the fruit seller

About the weather

and the cucumbers

…and the war

It wasn’t empty today, like the past 2 days

It was tentative, post-rain, pensive

More expensive

There are shortages already, you know

The grapes for 9 shekel a kilo

Are now 25

No milk in the makolet

…the costs of lives on the line

The Arab workers are nowhere to be found

And believe me, I checked…

I ask the fruit seller

Where they are

He says most likely on lock-down

On the other side of town

And there’s that familiar cocktail

Of feelings going down

Of colossal relief and the grief

The nagging guilt, the utter disbelief

Glad they are on lock down

Sad they are on lock down

I mean, what would my progressive friends think

To hear me speak

My truth

That this morning I would rather have a Jew

Selling me fruit…

Because the truth of truths

Is that we must do what we must do

To protect ourselves.

Sorry not sorry

In the face of this bitter brutal story

Sorry not sorry…

for the lockdown on the other side of town

And for everything that is about to go down…

…about to go down…

And that’s when the tears started

And the fruit seller stopped his packing

and gave me a persimmon

and a tender look

Like an older brother would

And I asked him how his family is

And he asked me about mine

His family, my family.

Our families

Our families are strong

Our families

Are fine…

About the Author

Psychotherapist, inspirational speaker, wordsmith, performance artist & Co-Director of Jerusalem's Shalev Center. Chaya lives in the heart of Jerusalem with her husband R'Hillel & their 4 energetic children. Read more pieces like this in real-life book form: https://www.amazon.com/Lit-Poems-Ignite-Jewish-Holidays/dp/1623930219

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