NumbersNumbers

1 1 is the number of States is the number of States

between Jordan and the seabetween Jordan and the sea2 2

is the number of states there is the number of states there will be herewill be here

3 3 years and years and

4 4 months I was in the IDF. I months I was in the IDF. I wasn’t a professional, I was wasn’t a professional, I was

in Nachal.in Nachal.

5 5 shekels is the cost of a city shekels is the cost of a city bus. Well actually, it’s 4.90, bus. Well actually, it’s 4.90, but it’ll take a few months but it’ll take a few months

before this disk comes out…before this disk comes out…

I was I was 6 6 when Sadat came to the countrywhen Sadat came to the country

7 7 when they signed the agreementswhen they signed the agreements

8 8 is the number of Uri is the number of Uri

Malmilian who is without Malmilian who is without doubt my childhood doubt my childhood

hero.hero.

9 9 times I’ve been too close to a times I’ve been too close to a

pigua – so far…pigua – so far…10 10

is the classic Israeli answer to is the classic Israeli answer to the question – how’s things?the question – how’s things?

I’m just like every I’m just like every other Jew – busy other Jew – busy

with numbers with numbers 24/7/12 months24/7/12 months

My wife is 27 and I’m 30 – My wife is 27 and I’m 30 – getting to the age of wanting getting to the age of wanting kids but we’ll want them to kids but we’ll want them to have it all – food, clothes, have it all – food, clothes,

football, gamesfootball, games

This doesn’t bother the CEO of This doesn’t bother the CEO of Bank Hapoalim, cos he brings Bank Hapoalim, cos he brings

home every day 29,816 home every day 29,816 shekels. Jeez! Divide that up shekels. Jeez! Divide that up by 2, by 15, and it still ends by 2, by 15, and it still ends

up a very nice monthly salary. up a very nice monthly salary.

They’ll agree with me, the They’ll agree with me, the 1000s of unemployed textile 1000s of unemployed textile

workers in the south.workers in the south.

The annual growth of the The annual growth of the Israeli economy in 2001 was -Israeli economy in 2001 was -

0.6%0.6%

People who yesterday People who yesterday were in work now see were in work now see

tomatoes in the bin and tomatoes in the bin and think – what a waste!think – what a waste!

The state of the economy in The state of the economy in Israel is the worst it’s been in Israel is the worst it’s been in

the last 48 years.the last 48 years.

(48 – now that number’s (48 – now that number’s familiar from somewhere – familiar from somewhere –

what the hell is it?)what the hell is it?)

4 cellphone companies 4 cellphone companies compete for the ear of 75% of compete for the ear of 75% of

Israelis.Israelis.

CEO of Cellcom goes to the CEO of Cellcom goes to the bank once a month to deposit bank once a month to deposit a salary of 674,000 shekels. a salary of 674,000 shekels.

There are ¼ million There are ¼ million unemployed. 36,000 of them unemployed. 36,000 of them

appeared this year.appeared this year.

I guess Eli Luzon was right I guess Eli Luzon was right when he sang: (“What a when he sang: (“What a

State!”)State!”)

I’m just like every I’m just like every other Jew – busy other Jew – busy

with numbers with numbers 24/7/12 months24/7/12 months

Bootleggers offer for 10 shekels a Bootleggers offer for 10 shekels a disk we’ve worked on for 4 disk we’ve worked on for 4

years.years.

The dollar rose by 10s of agorot in The dollar rose by 10s of agorot in 3 weeks and shot the rent up of 3 weeks and shot the rent up of

100s of 1000s people 100s of 1000s people

There’s not enough in the There’s not enough in the pocket for school books and pocket for school books and

trips – what did the trips – what did the government do in response? government do in response? Cut 12% off all child benefit.Cut 12% off all child benefit.

When a woman goes to work, When a woman goes to work, she’ll bring home on average 7 she’ll bring home on average 7 shekels, 20 agorot less than a shekels, 20 agorot less than a man will for the same work and man will for the same work and I’m not a prophet, but between I’m not a prophet, but between 500 and 600 people will die on 500 and 600 people will die on

the roads this year – the Rt Hon the roads this year – the Rt Hon minister for transport – how minister for transport – how

does that figure make you feel? does that figure make you feel?

And still the largest number so And still the largest number so far that represents the hope far that represents the hope but proves the disaster that but proves the disaster that when it’s mentioned all sane when it’s mentioned all sane people stand to attention and people stand to attention and

that’s that’s

6 million6 million

I’m just like every I’m just like every other Jew – busy other Jew – busy

with numbers with numbers 24/7/12 months24/7/12 months