My hometown of Modiin is usually considered a very quiet, even boring city for many. It is known as a so-called “bedroom community,” a city where you only spend the night and then go straight back to work in another city the next morning.
Our eldest son also shares this opinion about Modiin. After only six months in their own apartment in Modiin, he and his wife moved back to Tel Aviv, where both also work. He didn’t feel like commuting between Modiin and Tel Aviv. I can understand him, but personally I loved coming back to my quiet Modiin after working in Ramat Gan for the past year. That doesn’t mean that I don’t like Tel Aviv. On the contrary, I love walking through Tel Aviv and feeling this special free atmosphere. But it’s too hectic for me to live there. I need the rest I have here in Modiin.
But that calm has been disrupted for the past 27 weeks, ever since the demonstrations against the controversial judicial reform began. Because, as I reported previously, we live only five houses away from our justice minister, Yariv Levin. Anyone who passes through Modiin today will certainly not see it as a quiet “sleepy town,” because unfortunately the quiet is over.
Several times a week there are planned or spontaneous protests in front of our neighbor’s house. I previously wrote about a particularly violent demonstration at half past five in the morning. Here is a short video that I took from our garden. It shows the difference between the peace I love so much on Shabbat mornings and the noise we now have to endure here:
This has been our Shabbat morning reality in Modiin for the past 27 weeks. And lately it seems to be getting worse. Everyone is talking about Modiin. A few days ago, during another demonstration, I had to show my ID twice to get home on my street. This is the “sleepy city” of Modiin.
From our garden I have a wonderful view of a hill that is part of the so-called “Southern Hills of Modiin,” recently declared a national park. Unfortunately, this hill is now also used by the demonstrators.
It doesn’t sit well with me. I don’t care who is demonstrating. And so I wrote a message to the Modiin Municipality via WhatsApp. And after a short time I got a call from a city official. “This is Avi, I’m on your street, where exactly is this sign?” he asked. I was surprised. A little later I was in my yard giving directions to the municipal employee who had climbed the hill to remove the sign. “You have no idea how many signs we’ve found,” Avi casually told me. “But where exactly is this sign now?”
“A little more to the right and then up… yes, exactly!” I said. “Yes we have it, thanks,” Avi replied. Another sign couldn’t be removed, it was behind an electric fence meant to keep the cows that often graze there from getting onto the road. I’ll have to get used to that sign. It probably won’t be long before there will be new signs again, with more or less kind words for our neighbors, such as the huge sign I took as the feature photo above, which was put up a few days ago during a particularly raucous demonstration. The demonstrators cleverly made a play on the justice minister’s first name, Yariv, which in general Hebrew speech means “opponent” or “adversary.”
I miss my quiet city of Modiin. But it will probably be a while before things calm down again. Last night I drove into town with my youngest son to have something to eat. And unfortunately it was anything but quiet there, too.
Demonstration in front of the police station in Modiin. The demonstrators were demanding the release of one who was arrested during a protest.
I can now hear the screams of the demonstrators even when there are no protests. It rings in my ears constantly. This fight has to stop. Otherwise I could also move to Tel Aviv.
‘Don’t trample our vote’: Reform supporters rally outside Supreme Court
Can Israelis be trusted with democracy?
Israel’s Reformers Look to US as Model for Selecting Judges
Knesset Advances Bill to Nix ‘Reasonableness’ Standard
Protest Movement Fails Netanyahu’s ‘Reasonableness’ Test
Violence in the Name of Democracy?
What Is the Kohelet Forum, the Organization Behind Israel’s Judicial Reform?
Professors Condemn Anti-Reform ‘Revolutionaries’ for Rending Israel’s Social Fabric
One of Israel’s darkest nights, but the testing has just begun
Tachles with Aviel – Everyone thinks they are doing the nation a favor
Where does Netanyahu really stand on judicial reform?
The other side of the reform struggle that nobody reports on
Even in the Bible, Reform-Minded Israeli Leaders Were Unpopular
“Jewish and Racist”: Anti-Government Protests Shift Focus to “Occupation”
How the West misperceives Israel’s judicial reform
Netanyahu: IDF Refusals the Real Threat to Democracy
Genuine crisis, or media hype? Is Israel’s military unfit for action?
Israeli FM Slams Kamala Harris: “She Can’t Name Even One Thing”
‘March of the Million’ Shatters Opposition Claim Nation Opposes Judicial Reform
Estimated 600,000 Supporters of Judicial Reform Gather Outside Knesset
How good are US-Israel relations?
Rabbi harassed on Tel Aviv streets; Barak: “There will be blood”
My neighbor, the Minister of Justice
Nobel Prize Winner Is in Favor of Israel’s Judicial Reform
‘Barak detailed plans to bring down government three years ago’
Tachles With Aviel – Hear Your Neighbor as Yourself
NYT admits the problem isn’t Israel’s judicial reform, it’s who’s doing it
Republican Party, or Jewish Heritage – What’s Guiding Israel’s Judicial Reform?
S&P Maintains Israel’s High Credit Rating
Why there will be no civil war in Israel
Netanyahu assures Americans that Israel is still a democracy
Will Netanyahu Resume a Judicial Reform That’s Tearing Israel Apart?
Typically Thought a ‘Silent Majority,’ Government Supporters Rally in Tel Aviv
Upside down: Judicial reform supporters gather in Tel Aviv, opponents in Jerusalem
Supreme Court-Knesset showdown as justices put Basic Law in crosshairs
President Herzog issues Tisha B’Av plea to Israelis: Tone down the protests!
ANALYSIS: The Iranian resistance axis and the unrest in Israel
Are the Protests Against Judicial Reform Escalating in Israel?
The day after
Supreme Court’s power waxing as judicial reform falters
What Orthodox Jews Think of the Controversial Supreme Court Reforms
Day of high drama in the Knesset
Paradox of Laws & Outlaws, and a Prophesied Solution
Protests in Jerusalem ahead of final votes on ‘reasonableness’ bill
Israel’s military intelligence warns Benjamin Netanyahu
President Herzog Says Israel Needs Judicial Reform
Tachles with Aviel – Conscription or judicial reform?
The coalition and the opposition both have to lose in order to save the nation
Tachles with Aviel – Everyone wants to be right, but nobody seeks justice
A ‘Resistance’ Coup Just Defeated Israeli Democracy
“Bibi, Don’t Be Afraid of the Left!”
Netanyahu, Levin reportedly seeking to halt judicial reform
Security group to IDF: Take tougher stand against refusal to serve
The Struggle for Judicial Reform in Israel Continues
A little perspective, please: Israel did not cancel judicial review
Israel Today Membership
Monthly Membership
Yearly Membership
Save 18% Per Month.
Six Months Membership
Save 9% Per Month.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Only members can read and write comments.