Amazing Mamala

January 2020

The sky was grey, the clouds looked grey, almost black, I was cold and I was suddenly fed up with the traffic. I would take a short cut home (coming from the square). Instead of waiting for a long line of cars to go down David Hamelech, I turned right opposite the Park Hotel into Bialik opposite and then left into Harav Kook. Suddenly, I noticed as I turned, a police car at the curb and the policeman waving me to stop. I stopped and asked him very innocently if I had done something wrong and he replied you have committed three road offences. I looked at him absolutely amazed and he said, number one, you did not stop at the stop sign before you turned. Number two, you did not allow the woman waiting at the crossing there the right to cross and number three you are not wearing your seat belt. I was stunned and mumbled something like…so sorry, I don’t usually turn into this road, always wear my seat belt, I’m a very careful driver, 20 years here and no offences but I don’t feel well and need to go home to bed.

He looked at me and said – driving licence, you have got one haven’t you and please wait at the curb.

Amazing Mamala By Linda Hirsch

I waited for about 20 minutes, wondering what on earth he was doing so long in his car, maybe having a snack or something, but mostly worrying about the enormous fine and what I would use as an excuse to explain it to my husband, Ernie. He came back, knocked on the window, and first thing he said was could you just confirm your age. I thought oy vey this is it, they will take my licence away and what will I do! I said in a whisper, 84, but I never did this before. He looked at me and said – AMAZING MAMALA – I KNOW. I CHECKED AND THAT IS WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO – GO HOME, GO TO BED, TAKE A HOT DRINK AND SLEEP. TOMORROW, B’EZRAT HASHEM, YOU WILL FEEL BETTER. Of course, I have to give you a warning, and he handed me a paper all rolled up. So this warning will be on your record for some time – go, he said, and I went. WHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD COULD THAT HAPPEN TO ME? – NOWHERE! I THOUGHT, AS I DO EVERY DAY, HOW LUCKY I AM TO LIVE IN THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY, ISRAEL, OUR HOMELAND. o