When you ask an Israeli how he’s doing and he replies “on the face,” that means things aren’t going very well. The expression is short for “falling on one’s face.” Usually, Israelis will tell you they’re “al hakefak” (great!), “eser” (ten, perfect score), “sababa” (great!). When they say they’re “on the face,” you know something’s wrong.
Sadly, things are very much “on the face” right now in Israel. I hope things cool down soon. To the readers in Israel: I’m with you, even though I’m way out in California. A and I have been glued to ynet, haaretz, and jpost, as well as channels 2 and 10. Hang in there, and stay safe.
