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Orit is a writer and painter who immigrated to Israel from Los Angeles in 1999.
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Olmert on Orit's Pinchas: "I appreciate you taking the time to share with me the analogy of Pinchas. I hope to be able to serve the country well in these interesting days."
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By Orit
July 6, 2007
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| Orit's painting of Esther |
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Publisher's note: This piece was originally published in February 2006, and is repeated this week, to coincide with the reading of the Torah portion Pinchas. When originally published, several readers complained that the painting of Pinchas initially included with this article was too graphic a depiction of the climactic scene of the Biblical story (Numbers 25:10-30:1). While we think the painting, presented by the author to then-Jerusalem mayor Ehud Olmert, is germaine to her piece, we have inserted below a reduced-size rendering of the painting with the artist modestly covering the "naughty parts" and we have added an "advisory" on the home page blurb linking to this op-ed. We apologize for any offense we may have caused, and will try to be more sensitive in the future without sacrificing, in the spirit of Pinchas, the bold sharpness of the Insider's no-holds-barred -- and no-holes-bared -- commentaries.
It was at the pool courtyard of the King David Hotel where I first met him. He was then Mayor of Jerusalem and it was the height of the intifada. I even remember what I was wearing, a glittery golden tank top and ruby lipstick. We were at a fundraising shindig for the Israel Museum, where I worked in the PR department. I was happy and idealistic then. I believed that elected officials -- by virtue of their position -- cared about their citizens.
Standing next to him I looked up and said, "I have something to show you."
He raised his eyebrows, looked at my name tag and possibly my cleavage, and charmingly said that he first had to make a speech, and then he would be with me.
After he uttered his platitudes about the importance of art in Israel and whatever else the rich Jewish donors like to hear, we snuck near the lobby of the hotel entrance. I pulled out a postcard of my painting of Queen Esther, and said: "This is my painting of Queen Esther. She's holding a cup with the lion of Jerusalem. You see, the city will be saved!"
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He raised his eyebrows, looked at my name tag and possibly my cleavage, and charmingly said that he first had to make a speech, and then he would be with me.
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He complimented me and asked me where I was from and we had some small talk, but all I wanted was to inspire the leader of my war torn city. I wanted him to hear what I had to say.
That same year on Tisha B'av I saw him again at a march around the old city of Jerusalem where he expressed his adamant belief in the unity of Jerusalem. I approached him, and he said, "hello Orit!" I couldn't believe he remembered my name. He must have read Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People, which advises that a person's name is the sweetest word in that person's vocabulary. We even took a picture together.
About a year later I saw him again at the Israel Museum where he was being honored, and this time I prepared a letter with a postcard of a new painting, Pinchas, which depicts the famous scene of the Israelite zealot stabbing the idolatrous Israelite and Midianite ritual prostitute in the act. He had just been advanced to Likud's Minister of Industry and Trade, and the painting of Pinchas had an even stronger message than Esther, which I stated in my letter:
"I see in Pinchas a powerful analogy for current affairs. Today, Israel is 'sleeping' with the enemy and giving into the temptation to make an unfair peace - a peace where our enemies trade their non-value, which is the cessation of violence, for a value, which is our land and our recognition. Pinchas represents the symbolic "killing" of such a dangerous partnership and compromise.
I hope you find truth and inspiration in the message of Pinchas, and carry it with you into your new position as you help put an end to Israel's contemporary idolatry."
A few months later I received an e-mail from Mr. Olmert. It said:
"I appreciate you taking the time to share with me the analogy of Pinchas. I hope to be able to serve the country well in these interesting days."
Interesting days, indeed. Needlessly to say that I was a little disappointed that he didn't relate thoughtfully to the content of my letter.
At the time I lived in the Holy City and was literally the Prime Minister's neighbor. (It's a good thing I moved away from there.) Walking home one day with groceries - lo and behold - Minister Olmert is standing outside the Prime Minister's residence. I shout out, "Hi Mr. Olmert!" and he waves back and calls me over.
Then he introduces me to Omri Sharon, and I shook his chubby hand. (Gross!) It was then that something rubbed me the wrong way about Olmert; it looked as if they were some mafia machismos about to discuss some dirty deal.
Things between us went downhill from there. In May 2004 I saw him again at the Jerusalem Convention Center where I was exercising my right as a Likud member to vote against the Disengagement. I saw him from afar but this time I didn't approach him. It was clear my Pinchas painting meant nothing to him. His letter to me was just a diplomatic gesture attempting to secure my favor. He made rounds at the election booths happily greeting the clerks, and then when he saw me, he stopped in his tracks, turned my direction, and extended his hand towards me. Had I known back then what I know now, I would not have accepted it.
For I'm not that innocent anymore. Back then I really believed that Israeli politicians had some integrity and cared for the people. I believed that they had our best interests at heart. I mistook his friendliness as a sincere love of his constituents, only to realize now that he's a sneaky charmer who cares more about connections, deals, and power than he does for ideals, morals and people.
Since then, I've been witness to Olmert's machinations, abuse of power, and downright brutality. It first started with the Disengagement plan, but even in his position as Minister of Industry and Trade the seeds for authoritarianism were evident.
Several months ago I wrote an article on a new Israeli design award, Ot HaItzuv, established by Israeli design lovers. It was dubbed the "Oscars" of Israeli design and acknowledged designers in the fields of interior and industrial design. One of the founders of Ot HaItzuv angrily related to me how the government tampered with their noble efforts. He claimed that out of jealousy Olmert's ministry created their own industrial awards to show that they're doing something for Israeli design. Time came for all awards to be displayed at a huge design exhibition in Tel Aviv. Olmert's Ministry asked exhibition organizers not to let winners of both awards appear in the Ot HaItzuv exhibition. The Ministry wanted to appropriate the glory for itself. The Ministry also sought to prohibit the placement and size of the Ot HaItzuv banner, when all these private citizens wanted to do was to serve their country and its artists.
Then came the whole episode of the American winter clothing relief shipment for Israel's needy and poor, which was tirelessly organized by my friend Daryl Temkin in my hometown of Los Angeles. Tons and tons of clothing, toys, and medical supplies destined for Israel's needy as well as the Gush Katif refugees were stuck in Israeli customs because Olmert revived an antiquated tax law placing duties on charities from abroad. He refused to relent, citing, in part, his favorite excuse for callousness and autocratic rule, "the rule of law." Americans and Israelis diligently worked to lower the duties on the relief shipment which was up until then treated as commercial goods. The tax authority made minimal adjustments and taxes were paid just to bring clothes to those in need.
And now, after inheriting power through no virtue of his own, Olmert is violently pitting his government against his people, but now that doesn't surprise me. It was never people that interested him. He wants a statist government where citizens are meant to serve and sacrifice themselves to the state, and not the other way around. His show of force in Amona and refusal to accept a last ditch compromise to remove the homes peacefully has resulted in scores of Israeli teenagers wounded and almost killed. These are the same Israeli teenagers with whom he stood around the walls of Jerusalem. Back then he acted like their friend, and now he's bashing in their skulls.
If I ever saw Olmert again I don't know what I would do or what I would say. I wonder if he would remember me or treat me with the same apparent friendliness. As far as I'm concerned, it's over between us, and I hope come March Israelis will wake-up and tell the world that it's over between him and Israel as well.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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