Postings
This Web page will include postings of a general nature
The following posting describes memories of Colette from the late 1970-s.
A favorite pastime for Phoebe in Jerusalem was visiting her acquaintance, Colette Muscat. Phoebe had been introduced to Colette by Cousin Tzipi Suesskind. Colette considered herself a therapist who used art and other imaginative techniques in her practice. One day, Phoebe found herself sitting across from Colette sipping tea served by her husband Ari.
Colette and Ari lived in a small house at # 7 Rehov Shimoni, reachable by a bus from the center of Jerusalem. Phoebe describes her visits with Colette:
Sometimes I found Colette’s quarters easily; other times, I walked back and forth on her street for many minutes before I spied her blue door. The exterior of the building was unadorned cement but the interior of Colette’s living room was decorated with a profusion of scarves, plants, paintings and wall hangings. She was a French Algerian Jew. She told us that before she came to Israel, her family had been very wealthy and she was treated like a princess. She said that every hour had its own auspicious location in their home. For example, at 12 noon, one might work in the southeast corner of the room; at 2:00 p.m., the area along the western wall would be more comfortable; and at three o’clock, the middle of the room would be best. Colette followed these guidelines in her daily life, moving from one position to another.
Visitors from all over the world came to work with Colette, some for just a day, others for weeks at a time. Some paid nothing for her instructions while others paid whatever they could afford. On Friday evenings, Colette extended an open invitation to anyone who wanted to drop in. These sessions were known as Colette’s Salon and there was always someone interesting and stimulating to speak with.
I think Colette must have been very beautiful at one time but now she was elderly and she had a faint mustache across her upper lip like the artist Frida Kahlo. It was difficult for her to move about and her husband Ari did all the shopping, cooking and cleaning.
(Posted on July 19, 2004 by Werner Frank in Calabassas, California USA phoebestar04@hotmail.com)
July 19, 2004