The Israeli Sunday is just another manic Monday

By Ori J. Lenkinski October 6, 2011 | Edit

It was last Sunday morning. The clocks went back the night before, meaning that I would have to take the train back from work in the dark. Boo.

I stared at the computer screen, my mind swirling with the seven thousand things I have to take care of, sort out, rearrange this week and I felt dizzy. And then the Bangles’ nasal, 1980’s reminiscent voices pop into my head, “just another manic Monday.”

Oh how I wish I could let myself be carried away by the tune, albeit a slightly irritating one. But I can’t. And why? Because it isn’t Monday, it’s Sunday.

In Israel, this scene is a weekly event. What was once my favorite day of the week, my sacred day, my brunch with friends, college sweatshirt, droopy eyelids, NY Times crossword puzzle day has become the most hated day of the week, and what’s worse? Because our week has to be so “different”, so “special”, I can’t take solace in all of the tag lines and mottos about Monday being a stinky, evil day. “Looks like somebody’s got a case of the Mondays.” No.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChfIyHZqEd8[/youtube]
And you can’t say “Looks like somebody’s got a case of the Sundays,” because somewhere, deep down, you know that that’s supposed to be a good thing.

To me, now, in Israel, Monday is just another day. It has been stripped of its painful, sinister, back to another week of work essence and replaced with a dull, middle-of-the-weekness. Monday threw Sunday under the bus.

Of course, you can argue that Thursday has really won out in this scenario. Thursday, who used to be one breath away from TGIF, is the star of the weekdays in Israel. Thursday is the day you take a long lunch and then troll on Facebook for most of the afternoon. Thursday is the day when you allow yourself to collapse on the couch after dinner and stay there for the remainder of the evening. But you can’t really say TGIT, can you?

I don’t mind loving Thursdays. But I hate hating Sundays.


Ori J. Lenkinski was born in Canada, grew up in Philadelphia and attended McGill University in Montreal. From there, Ori moved to New York City to pursue a career in dance. Among others, Ori performed with Noemie Lafrance/Sens Productions, Nai Ni Chen Dance Company, Axis Danz and Monica Bill Barnes and Company. She acted as a program director for Galapagos Art Space in Williamsburg Brooklyn, where she initiated several programs that continue to run to this day. Ori's love affair with Tel Aviv began in 2007. In Israel, she has danced for Kolben Dance Company, Rachel Erdos, Ariel Cohen, the Israeli Opera and others. She has performed and taken part in festivals and workshops in Africa, Europe and North America. Shortly after arriving in Israel, Ori began writing for The Jerusalem Post, specializing in dance, fashion and design. Ori’s writing has been seen on www.danceinisrael.com, www.telavivster.com, www.danceusa.org and in Dance Magazine. She is mildly allergic to pineapples.