boarding a plane in israel an hour and a half later landing in heraklion the largest city in the greek island crete half of the people on the island reside in this city the entire crete population is a little more than half a million the international heraklion airport sits on the beach small and
“A used heart is much more desirable than one fresh from the package.” (Elyakeem Kinstlinger poeticizing a story from R. Simon Jacobson) heading to friends’ wedding up in the northern mountains of israel several days prior to the ceremony the men and women separating from each other women staying together in big house overlooking the
“You’ll never need to buy me a single scallion again.” – She the greek named it askolonion originating from the philistine town of ascalon modern-day ashkelon in israel today it is known as green onion in usa spring onion in england shallots in australia cibies in scotland regardless of the name it never forms a
“In the next world, a person will be judged for all the fine fruit that he saw but did not eat.” – R. Abbun, The Talmud getting phone call from a brooklyn orthodox synagogue asking me to lead a tu b’shvat seder that will include a talk about nutrition and ecology tu b’shvat is the
“Chanukah had either the good or bad fortune of being close to Christmas.” – Rabbi Jonathan Kligler spending the holidays in woodstock the town looking like fairytale all covered in white snow the cemetery is quieter than usual christmas eve the entire town gathering at the main square anticipating the arrival of santa claus who
all residents of the eco village in costa rica including kids, dogs, and horses packing up clothing gathering mattresses, hammocks, kitchen supplies heading down towards the valley some by foot others on trucks or motorcycles everyone meeting again at the river spot setting camp big dinning area to feed 150 people three meals a day
few days prior to yom kippur met a woman at a party asked her if she’d like to spend yom kippur with me she asked what does this entail answered her fasting together watching movies at home and having sex she turned down the invitation explaining she couldn’t handle the fasting © 2003. All Rights
crossing the land border into the kingdom of jordan greeted by large photos of king abdullah II and his father, late king hussein passing the last jordanian soldier who checks our passports and here we are on jordanian soil only one person stands outside the border crossing we ask him “are you taxi?” “no” he
time traveler between urban and nature haven’t figured out yet which is past which is future the movement puts on the gown of present © 2005. All Rights Reserved. Zemach Zohar Wilson, New York, January 2005
brahma the dog lives in costa rica brown, strong, happy, tail-wagging dog one day buddy the dog passes near brahma buddy holding sock in his mouth full with excitement from the prize between his teeth brahma grabbing the sock with his mouth buddy and brahma standing face to face both holding on to the sock
left israel 15 years ago now getting chance to rediscover this land of contradictions and surprises been traveling the north of the country lake of galilee, land of mountains, ancient city of safed hills full with graves that are considered sacred each grave with specific miracle attributed to it grave for infertile women to visit
from the most painful place emerging with a dance smiling at the pain crying sitting laughing in motion cry and laughter blending smile washed in moisture wish i didn’t exist flooded by waves of gratitude for the privilege of taking a breath © 2000. All Rights Reserved. Zemach Zohar Wilson, Pune, India, August 2000
for the september body temple party we had agreement with the owner of the space to end the party at 3:30 am not bad for party that began at 7 pm people kept pouring in even late at night the action on the dance floor after 3 am was clear message from the participants –
heard that the international rainbow tribe has been gathering on native american land on turtle island in quebec canada had strong calling to get to this celebration of living in nature and family sharing began looking into options of getting there right when we were about to rent car for this long journey our friend
spending a month in woodstock legendary hippie town in the catskills mountains living at the footprint of mount overlook with its beautiful tibetan monastery and temple since many artists have been living in the area mount overlook is the most-painted mountain in the usa the area has many ice cold rivers with waterfalls, forests, and
life is an ongoing u turn into new places last video game i played was atari’s night driver this was twenty years ago of all places it was at the navy training base as part of tests the navy conducted on me to evaluate my level of coordination in order to find out where to
when i was a child our moroccan neighbors bought a lamb he was cute, soft, and friendly the kids named him jano he became their pet followed them around on the streets played with them in the playground jano became friends with my german shepherd asi they would spend hours together playing licking each other
14 hours drive to the gathering including challenging ride on dirt roads and a two-hour walk from the point that even 4×4 vehicle couldn’t cross one thousand beautiful brothers and sisters have gathered from all over the world to live together in nature for one month without any electricity or cars on a beautiful land
walking up the hill barefoot on sunny day the sandy patches of the path are pleasant to the soles the pebbly patches painful trying to skip them avoid them when possible going for the sand walking down the hill on rainy day the sandy patches of the path are very slippery trying to skip them
driving a rented car in costa rica with israeli friend visiting hot springs, volcanos, powerful rain forests year-round rain non stop display of rainbows including lots of double rainbows on our way back to the town of santa elena driving up the mountain on dirt road at night when around the curve coming towards us
this is a love affair no other words describe this better over the past few years began spending more time in costa rica the climate, beaches, jungle, fruits, people, animals love affair with this beautiful country two days ago arrived back in new york after two months in costa rica when i left new york
christmas and new year’s in a spiritual and ecological village in costa rica spending two weeks of silence 100 people living together working, eating, meditating together all in total silence each time i visit the place can’t help noticing how the place keeps growing moving from pioneers living in tents in the jungle into a
bubbles in between our palms bursting po-etry po-etry blue eyes into blue eyes ocean into sky swimming and flying simultaneously po-etry po-etry © 2003. All Rights Reserved. Zemach Zohar Wilson, Costa Rica, December 2003
you asked how my day was it was very sincere excitement on your face expecting to hear stories about the beach or tales from a river maybe adventure of the forest you asked me how my day was it was very sincere so was my answer my day is on your plate © 2003. All
asking the tea for guidance in the process of let go from evaporated love to create space for the rain of open heart reaching out to the grace of earthly mother for her to embrace on the journey of disolvng blockages to clear the path for the renewed forest of freedom expanding upward to the
just got back from two weeks in oregon and northern california journey began at the international raw food festival outside of lebanon, oregon great learning experience with the top experts giving workshops, presentations, and food demos powerful four days with viktoras kulvinskas known as the grandfather of raw food, dr. douglas graham, dr. fred bisci,
first we keep ourselves clean for each other all places touchable all surfaces lickable as excitement fades away old sweat and dirt remain unwashed then we smell and taste urine © 2003. All Rights Reserved. Zemach Zohar Wilson, Costa Rica, August 2003
darwisha kissed with god gave him her gypsy smile left him floating confused between sun and passing clouds © 2003. All Rights Reserved. Zemach Zohar Wilson, Costa Rica, July 2003
came to brazil for a month of shamanic work in a beautiful healing music community in a land surrounded by jungle sleeping in a casita on the bank of small creek falling asleep to the sound of living water my back yard is a mountain with seven waterfalls after breakfast taking shower in the waterfall
from all things i love best to smell my pantyhose right after i take them off they remind me of french cheese but i behave myself and don’t put them in my mouth © 1987. All Rights Reserved. Zemach Zohar Wilson, Israel, 1987
demolition and destruction peace and love i slaughter you with caresses of endearment stars blowing up explosive powder with the smell of honey cemeteries filling up with pleasant choicest marble flower that has been ignited draws life from the flames recycled garbage escapes to the margins landfill in nature we unload the truck black wet
as she was singing for my father at night he felt the potential encouraging and pushing her driving her to become professional singer his father asked him not to marry her her skin was too dark she became big star of the 60’s and 70’s 25 years later the record company publishes three-cd anthology of
midnight getting ready to fall asleep scorpion speeding upside down on the tent’s ceiling then disappearing under pile of clothing searching for him to get him out of the tent moving the pile of clothing the quick guy is already somewhere else underneath the sleeping mat moving out things from the tent searching for him
new moon night dancing inside the jungle my feet are leading me away from the party along a narrow dirt road no flashlight can’t see the ground stars sparkle through the tree tops music fades as i’m drifting further and further away trusting my steps letting my legs predict the way bumping into a parked
warm autumn day first avenue corner of 11th street old man in big coat lying on his back his body on the sidewalk his head hanging down the curb touching the road i kneel next to him leaning towards his face his open eyes are looking at me i say to him “are we having
riding the first avenue bus overwhelming joy all is beautiful the gray sky naked trees dirty buildings heavy traffic the music through my earphones too happy no room for squeezing in more happiness but it keeps sneaking in getting off the bus entering a building into the rest room instead of peeing start crying dripping
you called me my king you were my gypsy princess sneaking our love behind the school’s kitchen twenty seconds of a loving hug holding hands eye to eye an hour long kiss in the club inches away from the loud speakers smoky and crowded not for us once the obstacles were removed we felt naked
welcome to the roller-coaster of the celebrations and fears the laughter and the tears the bitter and the sweet the pleasant and the disturbing the itching and the caressing the wrapping warmth the stripping cold penetrating looks happiness is superficial moves on a horizontal line sadness touches deep riding the vertical © 2000. All Rights
a month ago i wanted to run away from feeling betrayed from the pain didn’t have the physical strength for the journey felt that even if i escaped the pain will join my travels won’t let go will keep biting without taking a break at the osho commune there could be intermissions time intervals between
my dear sara been placing on you a heavy load attributed to you many weaknesses it was comfortable seeing you as the source of fears the fountain of tears the helplessness the poor good hearted built such a stereotypical character out of you deep has this load buried you a convoy of trucks was needed
dear alok it’s me sara writing to you i know you’ve been feeling lately that i’ve been taking over you that i’ve been taking away from your masculinity that i represent your weaknesses that i’m the source of your problems come my love and i’ll tell you something i’m not the one you think i
pune love the past days at the osho ashram been very intensive been experiencing things i never did before life is full of surprises my girlfriend, who was resistant in coming to the ashram is rediscovering herself and as a result decided to be a free woman very painful seeing her around with her italian
your glasses smell like wood your clothing smell like mothballs your body smells like sweat and only i smell like a designer © 2000. All Rights Reserved. Zemach Zohar Wilson, New York, December 2000
13 hours on an old bus from pune to hospet torn seats tilted all the way back without option of pulling them up many small water ponds on the way in one pond shepherds bring their cows into the water for a wash in a second pond rickshaw drivers bring their rickshaws into the water
gave four indian men to taste a nori seaweed sheet they chew it carefully smiling very curious not understanding what it is told them it’s japanese chapati © 2000. All Rights Reserved. Zemach Zohar Wilson, Rishikesh India, August 2000.
after spending time in the crowded quarter of rishikesh decided to move up to mountain to the bandhari swiss cottage breathtaking view the clouds sometimes lower than the mountain peaks waterfalls everywhere went wild took fancy room with big double bed red carpet private toilet and shower even with hot water balcony overlooking the ganga
travelling from pune to rishikesh 30-hour train rides from pune to delhi comfortable and good service india style soothing delhi hot and sticky crowded streets hotel rooms with no windows dirty spent there two days enjoyed it night bus from delhi to rishikesh small city on the ganga river ashrams everywhere people bathing in the
india never ceases to amaze me after seeing big cities small cities villages pushkar was familiar yet so different pushkar a tiny city around a miniature holly lake only thirteen thousand people very old city the guest house i stay in is more than 400 years old used to be a palace rooms scattered around
arrived at quito from the galapagos islands after a week on small sail boat traveling from island to island hanging out with marine iguanas sea lions and gigantic crabs they all keep spiting salt to a distance from their nostrils birds of all kinds blue-footed booby mask booby albatross pink flamingo frigate birds that follow
he’s telling again the same old vagina joke i listen and keep quiet once i kept trying today i can’t even fake a smile again, he fell asleep on the sofa saliva drips on his undershirt next to him a wrinkled paper i don’t try today i don’t even bother to wake him up and
crossing the border from israel to egypt taking with us group of people from usa and europe the border crossing looks like a scene from the movie ‘the day after’ no passengers only bored israeli and egyptian soldiers inside windowless terminal building reminder of the car bomb that exploded nearby week earlier heading south to
visiting the sinai desert in egypt staying with bedouins in a tent on the shore of the red sea one morning being asked by the woman in the kitchen to go with suliman the driver to the nearest town and get some veggies heading south on the curving desert road mighty red and yellow mountains
gracefully unsuccessfully trying to open sweetfully failing in getting it open please keep on missing the right angle keep on losing a chance for grip so i can keep watching you gracefully unsuccessfully trying to open sweetfully failing in getting it open rare grace of no success the flower of failure produces the sweetest juice
visiting a spiritual and ecological commune in the costa rican rainforest the local greeting is pura vida – pure life pitched my tent inside the jungle on bank of tiny river at night must use flashlight to get back to my tent walking through the jungle down and across the river and up again the
osho commune in pune, india a cocktail of happiness and sadness participating in mystic rose a three-week process first week laughing second week crying third week silence it was during the first day of the crying phase that i received the message that my dear friend eran has expired “expired” is the indian terminology for
i used to be a suit working in an office for corporate america until a friend told me about a school the institute for integrative nutrition went for an orientation at the school it was free and they even served delicious organic dinner a bold guy in black blazer led the evening he told info
tuesday september 11th been receiving phone calls from family and friends in israel checking to see if all is alright role reversal more used to check on them after bombs go off in israel been on the roof saw the second tower collapsing saw all the smoke and dust my friend krisztina found out that
got new bed but the stairwell in my building was too narrow for bringing the bed into the apartment placed the bed in the building’s basement knowing that in three weeks the super will throw it out to the street didn’t know what to do didn’t want to lose the new bed didn’t know how