31st December 2009.
Shabbat Shalom to you all – Shabbat Shalom and a fulfilling 2010
Personally I am quite relieved to see the 00's behind us and ready to turn over a new page and leap into the 10's!!
SMS/text messages, Skype, Facebook and Twitter, Webcams allowed me read bedtime stories to my grandchildren overseas but took away the intimacy of real conversations. We are living longer through unbelievable medical advances yet become hysterical over flu and through it all Israelis brought home more Nobel Prizes.
It was a decade where the sheer immensity of the terror imposed upon the world went beyond borders and beyond our wildest and most shocking imagination; buses, trains and planes became weapons of mass destruction and we had to learn a whole new vocabulary to say Islamic terrorists since the truth may offend someone!
It was the decade which taught me the meaning of real bravery as our nation lived through the horror of Intifada 2 and the kidnapping and murder of five young men to Hezb-Allah – the warriors of Allah. We came together because we are willing to risk hundreds more deaths of innocent victims in exchange for the child of Noam and Aviva. It was a decade when we came together with the people of the USA, of Bali, London, Moscow and a time when everyone seemed to care about Sderot. Most of all it was the decade which taught me that one should never give up hope because a miracle is always around the corner; it was the decade in which gave me the honour of loving Kinneret Chaya. Those of you who have not met Kinneret Chaya through my letters – ask me and I will send you her story- to everyone else I will give you news to brighten all hopes for the next decade… Kinneret Chaya and Amir are expecting another baby in January!!!
Last decade I heard the sweetest words imaginable "Safta Sheila" as four of our five children gave us 9 wonderful little people – we became grandparents!
For the next decade
I pray for leaders who possess greater understanding and bravery; leaders who are prepared to defend us and our way of life; leaders who recognize and have the intelligence to differentiate between friend and foe; we need to be proud of ourselves, our countries and our achievements; we, like our leaders, need to find the inner strength to stand up and create a world that we want to leave for our grandchildren. We need to care enough to be indignant and lobby until we become effective.
I pray for a world able to laugh at itself
I pray for the ability to fight for what I believe in yet be willing to listen to other views.
I pray for the strength to stand up for myself and my people
I pray for a generation which will grow up willing to see the other side while holding fast to their faith and beliefs.
I pray for justice, no more no less – justice in the judgment of Israel.
I pray for a time when all I write about is Mahane Yehuda, Shouk Ramle, the Old City, the wild cyclamen in the Valley of the Cross and of course our guests who sit and admire amazing view from our veranda.
Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem City of our dreams and our prayers.
Wishing you a fabulous 2010 which will give us all hope, joy, laughter and fulfillment to carry us all the way through till 2020
With all our love
Sheila and of course Zvi
Thursday 31 December 2009
Thursday 24 December 2009
Shabbat Shalom letter from Jerusalem
091224
24th December 2009.
Shabbat Shalom, and a truly wonderful Festive Christmas Season of joy and love.
I don't intend depressing anyone this Festive week but have to address two subjects. This is the link to my "No Room at the Inn" letter concerning the plight of Christians in the Palestinian Authority http://shabbatshalom-theviewfrommyveranda.blogspot.com/ We can't continue to ignore the situation - we have to make the media and our leaders take this on.
The IDF recognises the situation and has given all Christian Palestinians unlimited access to Israel during the Festive Season http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=46771
The other subject on every Israelis heart is Gilad Schalit. It appears to be such a simple decision – give "them" what they want a get Noam and Aviva's son back home – but it isn't. Israel has already set a precedent of talking to terrorists unlike other allies because we cannot break our promise of bringing our soldiers-children home. It is so complex a decision that PM Netanyahu has had daily consultations with the most senior of military and diplomatic experts. It is a decision of Solomonic proportions; how many master terrorists can you release for one young lad? What are the risks? Where should the terrorists be deported on their release – knowing they fully intend fomenting hatred wherever they may be? How many Israelis will die as a result of their release? The simplistic approach does not work – the demand that they be released and the IDF, Mossad and Shabak be more alert is naïve, they do a brilliant job already but the risks change. On the other hand we all need to see Gilad at home with his family since that is what we stand for and who we are.
It is 70 years since the SS St Louis was turned away by the American, Canadian and Cuban governments who refused to accept the Jews. The tragic journey from Miami Beach to Antwerp is legend and the story is told in Resolution 111 of the United States Senate. http://thestlouisproject.com/?p=491 The story was brought to me by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, great friend of Israel and the proud recipient of an Award by the St. Louis Project. Zvi and I are proud to call Ileana friend.
One of the greatest paradoxes of all time is why the Jews are always (or almost always) the scapegoats when they are the biggest givers to our world. In this interview with George Gilder he addresses that question and hopefully answers it as he did in his book "The Israel Test" Why hate the Jews in what he deems the Golden Age of Palestine? Because they failed the Israel test! http://www.road90.com/watch.php?id=PeTgdgQZmH
We went to a concert on Tuesday night in the Henry Crown Hall of the Jerusalem Theatre. "Life and Peace" presented and supported by Italian cities and the President of Italy and given in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. An amazing evening of brilliant musicians and great music the crowing glory was the phenomenal musical and emotional interlude of "The Intercultural Journeys Ensemble" consisting of a young Arab-Israeli violinist, Hanna Khoury, in a wonderful, "loud" suit (black on black stripes so shiny I swear I could see my reflection!) and a very soberly dressed Jewish-Israeli cellist, Udi Bar-David with Puerto Rican percussionist Rolando Morales-Matos. They played n perfect unison melding Yiddish Shtetl, Israeli and Arab melodies in a stream of harmony and joy, smiling at each other exuding love. It brought tears to our eyes and a standing ovation from the audience. Most of the invitees were Christian representatives of all denominations including the Nuncio of the Vatican. An audience filled with kipot, dog-collars and cowls.
Jerusalem will not have a White Christmas but many of my readers on the East Coast of the US and in Europe are snowed in and snowed under, but we had a Wet Chanuka instead! The sun is shining and the weather crisp as Jerusalem goes about her regular business giving tribute to those for whom this is the Holiest of Seasons.
Let's make a New Year resolution for 2010. Although I would never demean the influence of wonderful organizations such as MEMRI, Honest Reporting, Media Watch and so many others who have a profound effect on all of us and on the media – let's do something different. I was taught that if you speak badly of others then their sins reflect back upon you so let's start sending out positive news, positive vibes about us, without referring to our neighbours or their errant ways. Instead of pointing the finger outward let's wave our hands to draw attention to our own achievements on the scientific and the diplomatic level, on human rights, one big celebration on all the good things and the good news that happens here. Let's stop whining about the way the world treats us and start reminding them of how we treat the world!!!
Finally I want to send a special greeting to a very special man. Canon Andrew White, the Bishop of Baghdad, a pragmatic yet hope-filled curator of good relations between the faiths, is actually going home for Christmas. Andrew called me from Amman on his way to the UK and I was so thrilled with the effectiveness of his latest MS treatment in Baghdad. His voice came over the wires loud and clear. "Hey Andrew, have you given up the booze, you sound amazing?" "Yup" he answered "gave it up for Christmas!" No slurring and his voice of reason can again ring out to the world. Bless you Andrew you are one of a kind.
May G-d Bless you and keep you safe from harm – Shabbat Shalom, a blessed Holy Day, happy birthday to my big sister Eddie in Toronto and a happy anniversary to me! Christmas Day will be 18 years since my official Aliyah to Israel. Chai, chai chai!!! Always did have a sense of history and humour since I actually arrived here on April Fool's Day!!!!
With love from the heart and soul of our peoples, Jerusalem the truly Eternal City of David, son of Jesse; psalmist, romantic poet whose poetry lives on in the language it was written, 3,000 years ago in this City of Gold.
Sheila
24th December 2009.
Shabbat Shalom, and a truly wonderful Festive Christmas Season of joy and love.
I don't intend depressing anyone this Festive week but have to address two subjects. This is the link to my "No Room at the Inn" letter concerning the plight of Christians in the Palestinian Authority http://shabbatshalom-theviewfrommyveranda.blogspot.com/ We can't continue to ignore the situation - we have to make the media and our leaders take this on.
The IDF recognises the situation and has given all Christian Palestinians unlimited access to Israel during the Festive Season http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=46771
The other subject on every Israelis heart is Gilad Schalit. It appears to be such a simple decision – give "them" what they want a get Noam and Aviva's son back home – but it isn't. Israel has already set a precedent of talking to terrorists unlike other allies because we cannot break our promise of bringing our soldiers-children home. It is so complex a decision that PM Netanyahu has had daily consultations with the most senior of military and diplomatic experts. It is a decision of Solomonic proportions; how many master terrorists can you release for one young lad? What are the risks? Where should the terrorists be deported on their release – knowing they fully intend fomenting hatred wherever they may be? How many Israelis will die as a result of their release? The simplistic approach does not work – the demand that they be released and the IDF, Mossad and Shabak be more alert is naïve, they do a brilliant job already but the risks change. On the other hand we all need to see Gilad at home with his family since that is what we stand for and who we are.
It is 70 years since the SS St Louis was turned away by the American, Canadian and Cuban governments who refused to accept the Jews. The tragic journey from Miami Beach to Antwerp is legend and the story is told in Resolution 111 of the United States Senate. http://thestlouisproject.com/?p=491 The story was brought to me by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, great friend of Israel and the proud recipient of an Award by the St. Louis Project. Zvi and I are proud to call Ileana friend.
One of the greatest paradoxes of all time is why the Jews are always (or almost always) the scapegoats when they are the biggest givers to our world. In this interview with George Gilder he addresses that question and hopefully answers it as he did in his book "The Israel Test" Why hate the Jews in what he deems the Golden Age of Palestine? Because they failed the Israel test! http://www.road90.com/watch.php?id=PeTgdgQZmH
We went to a concert on Tuesday night in the Henry Crown Hall of the Jerusalem Theatre. "Life and Peace" presented and supported by Italian cities and the President of Italy and given in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. An amazing evening of brilliant musicians and great music the crowing glory was the phenomenal musical and emotional interlude of "The Intercultural Journeys Ensemble" consisting of a young Arab-Israeli violinist, Hanna Khoury, in a wonderful, "loud" suit (black on black stripes so shiny I swear I could see my reflection!) and a very soberly dressed Jewish-Israeli cellist, Udi Bar-David with Puerto Rican percussionist Rolando Morales-Matos. They played n perfect unison melding Yiddish Shtetl, Israeli and Arab melodies in a stream of harmony and joy, smiling at each other exuding love. It brought tears to our eyes and a standing ovation from the audience. Most of the invitees were Christian representatives of all denominations including the Nuncio of the Vatican. An audience filled with kipot, dog-collars and cowls.
Jerusalem will not have a White Christmas but many of my readers on the East Coast of the US and in Europe are snowed in and snowed under, but we had a Wet Chanuka instead! The sun is shining and the weather crisp as Jerusalem goes about her regular business giving tribute to those for whom this is the Holiest of Seasons.
Let's make a New Year resolution for 2010. Although I would never demean the influence of wonderful organizations such as MEMRI, Honest Reporting, Media Watch and so many others who have a profound effect on all of us and on the media – let's do something different. I was taught that if you speak badly of others then their sins reflect back upon you so let's start sending out positive news, positive vibes about us, without referring to our neighbours or their errant ways. Instead of pointing the finger outward let's wave our hands to draw attention to our own achievements on the scientific and the diplomatic level, on human rights, one big celebration on all the good things and the good news that happens here. Let's stop whining about the way the world treats us and start reminding them of how we treat the world!!!
Finally I want to send a special greeting to a very special man. Canon Andrew White, the Bishop of Baghdad, a pragmatic yet hope-filled curator of good relations between the faiths, is actually going home for Christmas. Andrew called me from Amman on his way to the UK and I was so thrilled with the effectiveness of his latest MS treatment in Baghdad. His voice came over the wires loud and clear. "Hey Andrew, have you given up the booze, you sound amazing?" "Yup" he answered "gave it up for Christmas!" No slurring and his voice of reason can again ring out to the world. Bless you Andrew you are one of a kind.
May G-d Bless you and keep you safe from harm – Shabbat Shalom, a blessed Holy Day, happy birthday to my big sister Eddie in Toronto and a happy anniversary to me! Christmas Day will be 18 years since my official Aliyah to Israel. Chai, chai chai!!! Always did have a sense of history and humour since I actually arrived here on April Fool's Day!!!!
With love from the heart and soul of our peoples, Jerusalem the truly Eternal City of David, son of Jesse; psalmist, romantic poet whose poetry lives on in the language it was written, 3,000 years ago in this City of Gold.
Sheila
Tuesday 22 December 2009
No room at the Inn - Christians in Bethlehem
Christmas is a time of joy and celebration for Christians around the world. The paradox is that for Christians in Bethlehem it is far from joyous - it is a life of fear and desperation.
22nd December 2009.
No room at the Inn?
Public disregard for the situation of Christians in the PA is a disgrace which has few equals. Not only have their numbers been slashed through emigration under threat of death, killing and kidnapping, their dead are then exhumed, posthumously indicted of defiling the holy Moslem ground of Gaza. No-one cares, no one helps.
The local clerics of all denominations, are afraid to make a noise or tend to their flock for fear of retribution and as a result their flock is being killed off, one by one and two by two, by the marauding wolves. The clerics also maintain their delusions of denominational superiority rather than present a united Christian front. You may think that I am exaggerating and falling into rhetoric but I am not. Life for Christians in the Palestinian Authority (to say nothing of the persecution of Kopts in Egypt) has become a living hell, never knowing if one will wake up the next morning, if ones sons are dead or ones daughter has been kidnapped and married to a Moslem man to produce Moslem children and all attempts to rescue her could end in her murder.
P. is in a deep depression. He is trying his best to send his children to university so that they can find a way out of this living hell. He knows that he is in a smaller and smaller minority and no-one cares enough to reach out a helping hand. His formerly Christian home town is now about 85-90% Moslem and they make the few Christians who still live there into outcasts.
Most of the Christians of this town love Israel and would move here in a flash but they have the misfortune of being born in Jordan even though their home town is in close proximity to Jerusalem which frustrates them even more since they cannot escape.
What is their home town I hear you ask. The name of that town means House of Bread – Beit Lechem – or as you know it Bethlehem.
Bethlehem's Christians are dying out, being killed and shunned, physically and actually and no one seems to care. Not one major politician is willing to stand up and talk about it; not one diplomat is willing to make an international issue about it; not one representative to the United Nations has raised it; not one of the supposedly humanitarian organisations has offered help; incredibly none of the leaders of any of the church denominations has reached out; apparently, even now, as we enter the Christmas season there is no room at the Inn.
For the story of the Christians of the Palestinian Authority to reach the light of day we, each and every one of us must shout and yell and scream and demand until something is done by our leaders and representatives. We must be the brave and unafraid because our leaders spend too much of their PC time kow-towing to bullies.
Why does the media ignore the facts? I have a theory which seems to explain this deliberate shunning of the biggest scoop of such huge proportions. Until now the boundaries of this conflict have been clear – Israel is the evil occupier and the Palestinians are the underdogs. Good and bad – black and white – good and evil, a simplification of a complex situation satisfied everyone and the scapegoat was clearly defined. If Israel is not the “bad guy” then that would entail an entire rethink admitting that their self-created court of public opinion has indicted the wrong “criminal”.
Only by constant lobbying can we take off the public blinkers and change the judgement. Neither the Christians of the Palestinian Authority nor the State of Israel deserve to be on death row because of public ignorance or diplomatic convenience. The first steps along the green mile are already here.
It is Christmas, a time of joy and thanksgiving, a time to celebrate the birth of a Baby Boy who changed the world. I have a feeling that if we don't do something soon our leaders will throw out The Baby with the bathwater.
22nd December 2009.
No room at the Inn?
Public disregard for the situation of Christians in the PA is a disgrace which has few equals. Not only have their numbers been slashed through emigration under threat of death, killing and kidnapping, their dead are then exhumed, posthumously indicted of defiling the holy Moslem ground of Gaza. No-one cares, no one helps.
The local clerics of all denominations, are afraid to make a noise or tend to their flock for fear of retribution and as a result their flock is being killed off, one by one and two by two, by the marauding wolves. The clerics also maintain their delusions of denominational superiority rather than present a united Christian front. You may think that I am exaggerating and falling into rhetoric but I am not. Life for Christians in the Palestinian Authority (to say nothing of the persecution of Kopts in Egypt) has become a living hell, never knowing if one will wake up the next morning, if ones sons are dead or ones daughter has been kidnapped and married to a Moslem man to produce Moslem children and all attempts to rescue her could end in her murder.
P. is in a deep depression. He is trying his best to send his children to university so that they can find a way out of this living hell. He knows that he is in a smaller and smaller minority and no-one cares enough to reach out a helping hand. His formerly Christian home town is now about 85-90% Moslem and they make the few Christians who still live there into outcasts.
Most of the Christians of this town love Israel and would move here in a flash but they have the misfortune of being born in Jordan even though their home town is in close proximity to Jerusalem which frustrates them even more since they cannot escape.
What is their home town I hear you ask. The name of that town means House of Bread – Beit Lechem – or as you know it Bethlehem.
Bethlehem's Christians are dying out, being killed and shunned, physically and actually and no one seems to care. Not one major politician is willing to stand up and talk about it; not one diplomat is willing to make an international issue about it; not one representative to the United Nations has raised it; not one of the supposedly humanitarian organisations has offered help; incredibly none of the leaders of any of the church denominations has reached out; apparently, even now, as we enter the Christmas season there is no room at the Inn.
For the story of the Christians of the Palestinian Authority to reach the light of day we, each and every one of us must shout and yell and scream and demand until something is done by our leaders and representatives. We must be the brave and unafraid because our leaders spend too much of their PC time kow-towing to bullies.
Why does the media ignore the facts? I have a theory which seems to explain this deliberate shunning of the biggest scoop of such huge proportions. Until now the boundaries of this conflict have been clear – Israel is the evil occupier and the Palestinians are the underdogs. Good and bad – black and white – good and evil, a simplification of a complex situation satisfied everyone and the scapegoat was clearly defined. If Israel is not the “bad guy” then that would entail an entire rethink admitting that their self-created court of public opinion has indicted the wrong “criminal”.
Only by constant lobbying can we take off the public blinkers and change the judgement. Neither the Christians of the Palestinian Authority nor the State of Israel deserve to be on death row because of public ignorance or diplomatic convenience. The first steps along the green mile are already here.
It is Christmas, a time of joy and thanksgiving, a time to celebrate the birth of a Baby Boy who changed the world. I have a feeling that if we don't do something soon our leaders will throw out The Baby with the bathwater.
Thursday 17 December 2009
Shabbat Shalom letter from Jerusalem
17th December, 2009.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Orim Sameach
Today's letter will be rather long but the information it carries is essential so please bear with me.
Due to an aberration in British Law, intended to protect and sustain the rule of justice, Former Deputy Prime Minister Livni, or for that matter any Israeli Minister or High-ranking army officer, can be arrested for war crimes during Operation Cast Lead if she goes to Britain http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_article/article6958044.ece . British Foreign Minister David Milliband has issued a statement and personally apologised to MK Livni but can do nothing until the law, or the dangerous loophole, is repealed. Ironically this law was introduced post WW2 in order to enable us and the British to prosecute Nazis.
The self-righteous Danes are hosting the world conference on global warming and ecology whereby world leaders came to Denmark to find solutions on Global Warming without even one speech reviling Danish ecological transgressions when they cruelly "cull" dolphins for sport. http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/whale-dolphin-massacre-europe-2
Why stop only Jewish building in Yehuda and Shomron and for how long? Yosi Sztrigler asked the highly relevant question why should the IDF be asked to "fight' with other Israelis, since many of the young men who stand up and defend our nation are totally against the building freeze. I believe that he is absolutely right this should not be the job of the IDF but rather the police. Chief of Staff Ashkenazi agrees.
The Cabinet has approved a list of National Priority Areas which will receive fiscal aid from civil funding toward creating jobs. What does "priority" mean? Some of the areas deemed eligible for inclusion are in the "building hiatus" regions in Yehuda and Shomron. Very confusing! http://jta.org/news/article/2009/12/13/1009692/cabinet-vote-on-priority-map-postponed
Sad pre-Christmas news - "Hamas digs up the bodies of Christians from Christian burial sites in the Gaza Strip claiming that they pollute the earth," said Reverend Majed El Shafie, President of One Free World International http://www.onefreeworldinternational.org/ . "Every three minutes a Christian is being tortured in the Muslim world, and in 2009 more than 165,000 Christians will have been killed because of their faith, most of them in Muslim countries." Where are the Human Rights groups when we need them? http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1260447421970
Last night the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem http://www.icej.org/articles/about_us held a reception for Rev. El Shafie in the King David Hotel. I spoke to two exceptional people about the situation and how to "get it out there". Dr Jay Rawlings www.jerusalemvistas.com compared the abhorrent Hamas behaviour toward the dead to the Jewish one. He told me that ZAKA, http://www.zaka.org.il/index_e.php the first responders who devotedly collect body parts after a terror attack, collect the remains of homicide bombers and return them to the family for burial.
I also spoke to Dr Malcolm Hedding of the ICEJ a former South African who found haven in Israel when he was banned for publicly opposing Apartheid. Malcolm is incensed at a world which compares Israel to Apartheid South Africa believing that it is not only a gross misrepresentation of Israel's open society but an insult to 80 million black South Africans who suffered real Apartheid. Dr Hedding finds it hard to understand those Jews who accept the media-fed, Arab initiated, idea that Israel is anything but democratic and benevolent.
The Jews who burned the Mosque in Kfar Yassuf disgust me. If we descend to the nadir of human behaviour how can we expect to engender respect either in ourselves or others? Don't claim that synagogues and churches are regularly burned and blown up in the Islamic world - we must behave according to our mores not imitate lesser standards. Jewish residents of the area brought new Korans to the people of Kfar Yassuf as an expression of their dismay. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1134687.html
President Shimon Peres released a statement harshly condemning the burning of the mosque in Kfar Yasuf. "This grave act of arson stands against all the values of the State of Israel and its obligation to respect all faiths and beliefs. The government, security forces, and enforcement officials must use all means possible to find those guilty and bring them to trail for their grave acts. An extremist group cannot jeopardize Israel's fundamental respect for the law and tolerance of all faiths."
British Historian Andrew Roberts believes that the Foreign Office is the reason that Queen Elizabeth has not visited the Holy Land, unlike her husband and eldest son. The Foreign Office is the UK's equivalent to the State Department, and has similar policies on Israel with a long history of Arabist leanings. Mr. Andrews also believes that the current government in the USA is the least pro-Israel since Eisenhower. Full article http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1260447430804&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
Since I don't want to test your patience by writing too much today I want to point you in the direct of three exceptional and deeply important articles.
The indomitable Brenda Katten's article in the Jerusalem Post entitled Zionism - a tarnished word? http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1260447441083
Tom Gross' important article in the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/dec/07/obama-interference-independent-palestine
Finally the erudite Isi Liebler on British Jewry
http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=1951
Israeli wines have advance considerably since the days of sickly sweet sacramental Kiddush wines. The Israel 21C article
Israeli wines are out there on the circuit, garnering great reviews. Just last year, renowned American wine critic Robert Parker reviewed wines from 40 Israeli wineries and awarded high scores of over 90 points to 14 different wines. That's impressive in the wine world, where a score of over 90 points places a wine in a class of exceptional character and complexity. Moreover, 11 of those wines happened to be kosher, and Parker pointed out that the kosher label was simply not relevant to the quality of the wine. That's another major statement and one that puts the Carmel Kiddush wine reputation to rest, and for good. http://israel21c.org/culture/quench-your-thirst-with-israels-eight-best-wineries
Boris Abramovic Gelfand, Israeli, won the World Chess Championship!! Yet another brilliant infusion from the FSU! Gelfand was born in Minsk, Byeloruss and made Aliya to Israel in 1998. Bravo Boris, we are proud of you. http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3820150,00.html
With the start of Advent the lights go up on the road to Bethlehem. Border controls are lightened as Israeli Christians head for Bethlehem during the Christmas period. The Jerusalem Municipality is handing out free Christmas trees and between our two wonderful Festivals everyone is smiling.
Chanuka is upon us; Chanukiot are displayed on street corners, highways and windowsills and the Jerusalem Chanukiot are placed outside homes http://www.slideshare.net/off_nick/hanukkah-in-jerusalem-presentation . The air is redolent with the sickly sweet, fried aroma of "sufganiyot" - doughnuts of spectacularly heavy dough, to say nothing of the equally healthy latkes! Rather than dwelling upon the desecration of the Temple we concentrate upon the wonder of an amphora of oil and pieces of cast lead – and food! Zvi's definition of a Chag is "They tried to kill us, we won, now let's eat". We mustn't forget that this is predominantly a festival of survival - of a very few great heroes (Maccabees) who stood up to a tyrant and succeeded in protecting our faith. On the way to Tel Aviv on road 443 on passes Modiin, Maccabim, Hashmona'im the young Haredi border guard wishes you Chag Orim Sameach (Happy Festival of Lights) and at dusk breaks into his duties and lights a huge chanukia!!
I had a truly amazing time in London with my children and grandchildren. I was washed with love, my daughter-in-law spoiled me rotten and I got to see the historic Temple and Inns where my son spends his days. Amazingly I travelled beside old friends both on my way there and returning on El Al – Jewish geography only works on El Al! Today our eldest grandchild is 5 years old. Yosef Eliyahu has chosen to spend his birthday, the sixth candle of Chanuka, with Safta Sheila and Saba Zvi. I took on the number 99 Jerusalem tourist bus http://www.egged.co.il/eng/main.asp?lngcategoryid=2773 and let him wonder at this amazing city as we do. Then we got down to grandparent business in the toy store.
Diane Steinfink sent me the best Hanuka/New Year wish ever. A wish that sums up all that is important in life- Optimism, joy, humour and health
Shabbat Shalom, Chag Chanukah Sameach, 6th day of Advent and every good thought you wish yourselves and your family.
With love from Jerusalem, as beautiful, spiritual and meaningful as ever.
Sheila
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Orim Sameach
Today's letter will be rather long but the information it carries is essential so please bear with me.
Due to an aberration in British Law, intended to protect and sustain the rule of justice, Former Deputy Prime Minister Livni, or for that matter any Israeli Minister or High-ranking army officer, can be arrested for war crimes during Operation Cast Lead if she goes to Britain http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_article/article6958044.ece . British Foreign Minister David Milliband has issued a statement and personally apologised to MK Livni but can do nothing until the law, or the dangerous loophole, is repealed. Ironically this law was introduced post WW2 in order to enable us and the British to prosecute Nazis.
The self-righteous Danes are hosting the world conference on global warming and ecology whereby world leaders came to Denmark to find solutions on Global Warming without even one speech reviling Danish ecological transgressions when they cruelly "cull" dolphins for sport. http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/whale-dolphin-massacre-europe-2
Why stop only Jewish building in Yehuda and Shomron and for how long? Yosi Sztrigler asked the highly relevant question why should the IDF be asked to "fight' with other Israelis, since many of the young men who stand up and defend our nation are totally against the building freeze. I believe that he is absolutely right this should not be the job of the IDF but rather the police. Chief of Staff Ashkenazi agrees.
The Cabinet has approved a list of National Priority Areas which will receive fiscal aid from civil funding toward creating jobs. What does "priority" mean? Some of the areas deemed eligible for inclusion are in the "building hiatus" regions in Yehuda and Shomron. Very confusing! http://jta.org/news/article/2009/12/13/1009692/cabinet-vote-on-priority-map-postponed
Sad pre-Christmas news - "Hamas digs up the bodies of Christians from Christian burial sites in the Gaza Strip claiming that they pollute the earth," said Reverend Majed El Shafie, President of One Free World International http://www.onefreeworldinternational.org/ . "Every three minutes a Christian is being tortured in the Muslim world, and in 2009 more than 165,000 Christians will have been killed because of their faith, most of them in Muslim countries." Where are the Human Rights groups when we need them? http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1260447421970
Last night the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem http://www.icej.org/articles/about_us held a reception for Rev. El Shafie in the King David Hotel. I spoke to two exceptional people about the situation and how to "get it out there". Dr Jay Rawlings www.jerusalemvistas.com compared the abhorrent Hamas behaviour toward the dead to the Jewish one. He told me that ZAKA, http://www.zaka.org.il/index_e.php the first responders who devotedly collect body parts after a terror attack, collect the remains of homicide bombers and return them to the family for burial.
I also spoke to Dr Malcolm Hedding of the ICEJ a former South African who found haven in Israel when he was banned for publicly opposing Apartheid. Malcolm is incensed at a world which compares Israel to Apartheid South Africa believing that it is not only a gross misrepresentation of Israel's open society but an insult to 80 million black South Africans who suffered real Apartheid. Dr Hedding finds it hard to understand those Jews who accept the media-fed, Arab initiated, idea that Israel is anything but democratic and benevolent.
The Jews who burned the Mosque in Kfar Yassuf disgust me. If we descend to the nadir of human behaviour how can we expect to engender respect either in ourselves or others? Don't claim that synagogues and churches are regularly burned and blown up in the Islamic world - we must behave according to our mores not imitate lesser standards. Jewish residents of the area brought new Korans to the people of Kfar Yassuf as an expression of their dismay. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1134687.html
President Shimon Peres released a statement harshly condemning the burning of the mosque in Kfar Yasuf. "This grave act of arson stands against all the values of the State of Israel and its obligation to respect all faiths and beliefs. The government, security forces, and enforcement officials must use all means possible to find those guilty and bring them to trail for their grave acts. An extremist group cannot jeopardize Israel's fundamental respect for the law and tolerance of all faiths."
British Historian Andrew Roberts believes that the Foreign Office is the reason that Queen Elizabeth has not visited the Holy Land, unlike her husband and eldest son. The Foreign Office is the UK's equivalent to the State Department, and has similar policies on Israel with a long history of Arabist leanings. Mr. Andrews also believes that the current government in the USA is the least pro-Israel since Eisenhower. Full article http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1260447430804&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
Since I don't want to test your patience by writing too much today I want to point you in the direct of three exceptional and deeply important articles.
The indomitable Brenda Katten's article in the Jerusalem Post entitled Zionism - a tarnished word? http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1260447441083
Tom Gross' important article in the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/dec/07/obama-interference-independent-palestine
Finally the erudite Isi Liebler on British Jewry
http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=1951
Israeli wines have advance considerably since the days of sickly sweet sacramental Kiddush wines. The Israel 21C article
Israeli wines are out there on the circuit, garnering great reviews. Just last year, renowned American wine critic Robert Parker reviewed wines from 40 Israeli wineries and awarded high scores of over 90 points to 14 different wines. That's impressive in the wine world, where a score of over 90 points places a wine in a class of exceptional character and complexity. Moreover, 11 of those wines happened to be kosher, and Parker pointed out that the kosher label was simply not relevant to the quality of the wine. That's another major statement and one that puts the Carmel Kiddush wine reputation to rest, and for good. http://israel21c.org/culture/quench-your-thirst-with-israels-eight-best-wineries
Boris Abramovic Gelfand, Israeli, won the World Chess Championship!! Yet another brilliant infusion from the FSU! Gelfand was born in Minsk, Byeloruss and made Aliya to Israel in 1998. Bravo Boris, we are proud of you. http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3820150,00.html
With the start of Advent the lights go up on the road to Bethlehem. Border controls are lightened as Israeli Christians head for Bethlehem during the Christmas period. The Jerusalem Municipality is handing out free Christmas trees and between our two wonderful Festivals everyone is smiling.
Chanuka is upon us; Chanukiot are displayed on street corners, highways and windowsills and the Jerusalem Chanukiot are placed outside homes http://www.slideshare.net/off_nick/hanukkah-in-jerusalem-presentation . The air is redolent with the sickly sweet, fried aroma of "sufganiyot" - doughnuts of spectacularly heavy dough, to say nothing of the equally healthy latkes! Rather than dwelling upon the desecration of the Temple we concentrate upon the wonder of an amphora of oil and pieces of cast lead – and food! Zvi's definition of a Chag is "They tried to kill us, we won, now let's eat". We mustn't forget that this is predominantly a festival of survival - of a very few great heroes (Maccabees) who stood up to a tyrant and succeeded in protecting our faith. On the way to Tel Aviv on road 443 on passes Modiin, Maccabim, Hashmona'im the young Haredi border guard wishes you Chag Orim Sameach (Happy Festival of Lights) and at dusk breaks into his duties and lights a huge chanukia!!
I had a truly amazing time in London with my children and grandchildren. I was washed with love, my daughter-in-law spoiled me rotten and I got to see the historic Temple and Inns where my son spends his days. Amazingly I travelled beside old friends both on my way there and returning on El Al – Jewish geography only works on El Al! Today our eldest grandchild is 5 years old. Yosef Eliyahu has chosen to spend his birthday, the sixth candle of Chanuka, with Safta Sheila and Saba Zvi. I took on the number 99 Jerusalem tourist bus http://www.egged.co.il/eng/main.asp?lngcategoryid=2773 and let him wonder at this amazing city as we do. Then we got down to grandparent business in the toy store.
Diane Steinfink sent me the best Hanuka/New Year wish ever. A wish that sums up all that is important in life- Optimism, joy, humour and health
Shabbat Shalom, Chag Chanukah Sameach, 6th day of Advent and every good thought you wish yourselves and your family.
With love from Jerusalem, as beautiful, spiritual and meaningful as ever.
Sheila
Tuesday 8 December 2009
Midweek shalom from London
Dear Lovely Friends
I thought I would drop you all a line from London where I am with my wonderful children and their children out in the greenest of green parts of London. The constant rain ensures the lush pastures even though the dampness seeps into ones bones - especially mine since I am not used to it any more! To all the friends and family who feel that I should have contacted them - I have just one week with my beloved grandbabies and will not give up a precious second - sorry it doesn't mean I don't love you or care about you - it means I want to be with them and only them!
Since leaving Israel many stories have emerged which tend to fit the category of "same old same old" - without any resolutions. The usual claims that Abbas wants to declare independence unilaterally and of the marvellous agricultural co-operation between the West Bank and Israel which has produced a source of income for the PA. The papers are still talking of Gilad Schalits release yet we see no results. The reason for the delay is clear - we are being asked ot release so many killers, some of whom are serving multiple life sentences for their heinous crimes- and as much as every single Israeli wants to see Gilad home with his family, the government cannot take their release, indeed the release of even one lightly. Popular opinion wants us to just get Gilad back without thought of the consequences but having seen an interview with Palestinians released in a former deal for the bodies of our boys in Lebanon, listening to them living their lives in Dublin while still preparing the next attacks on Israel, we cannot, cannot think only of the emotional knee-jerk reaction. Yes the IDF is the caring army which always cares for its soldiers but ordinary citizens much be protected too.
Fabulous news for Israel - we have a new Attorney General. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/134631 Yehuda Weinstein is different to any of the more recent AG's and is the choice of the Minister of Justice. I feel that the legal conundrums of the country are in the hands of someone who understands the questions from all aspects - the academic, the defence attorney, the legislature and the citizen. I am content with the choice.
My article about Zvi's meeting with Golda Meir was published in the Jerusalem Post last friday http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1259831449853&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull. The heading for the article was not my choice and misleading, but every word I wrote within the article was true. There were a few very cranky people who misinterpreted what I said, suggesting I denied the phenomenal work of those who preceded and followed the historic meeting, but they are mistaken. I fully appreciate what was done, who did what and that without the incredible concerted effort of those who both led and followed, the dream could not have been achieved. It was a single meeting, a catalyst to a government decision - a truly momentous government decision - no more no less. It is irrelevant whether I wrote it or a stranger. He is not a braggard and few knew of his story so who better to write it than me? I am inordinately proud of my husband and to demean his achievement would be churlish, mean-minded and historically inaccurate.
I leave for Jerusalem on thursday morning. It is so hard ot leave the children- although they may be glad to see the back of me!!! I love travelling El Al since it feels like home the moment I get on board! faces are friendlier, the sense of urgency to find the "bestseat" irrespective of the fact that we are all assigned - the determination to put all sixteen pieces of handluggage into the overhead bins and of course the food. I don't know why but El Al food is the best!!! I may not be the hottest, but seeing that little pretend parchment scroll denoting which Rabbi gave his seal of approval just seems ot make it taste right!!!!! Breakfast is almost always an omelette and lunch and supper "Off u Bakar" Chicken or Beef? The crew are prepared to do almost anything for families - no matter how noisy the children and they smile so much - and tease each other. Landing may not smell the way it used to in the days when one walked down the stairs to get the bus to go inside the terminal with the legend "Welcome to Israel" over the portal. Now the scent is of a bright new terminal then it was the phenomenal mix of pine, orange groves, humidity and ......... gosh I don't know how to describe it.... of ISRAEL!!!
Zvi will collect me at the airport and will drive along highway number one. The road is wide and easy and fairly level until we reach Latrun which the climb through the Jerusalem Hills begins. I can never hide my excitement as we near the city and the joy of arriving home and rushing to open our shutters to reveal Jerusalem before me. Oh joy! My heart is split between London, New York and every place my dearest family and friends may be - but home, my home and our home, is Israel - Jerusalem. Actually, maybe we will come home through road 443 instead. That way I can ease my longing for the London and NY children by calling in on the Jerusalem ones!!! After all, why should Zvi carry all the presents up to the house when I can just drop it off on the way!!!
Hope to talk to you before Chanuka
With much love from London where after all the Balfour Declaration was signed after poor Herzl had travelled the world looking for someone to help him reach his dream.
Sheila
I thought I would drop you all a line from London where I am with my wonderful children and their children out in the greenest of green parts of London. The constant rain ensures the lush pastures even though the dampness seeps into ones bones - especially mine since I am not used to it any more! To all the friends and family who feel that I should have contacted them - I have just one week with my beloved grandbabies and will not give up a precious second - sorry it doesn't mean I don't love you or care about you - it means I want to be with them and only them!
Since leaving Israel many stories have emerged which tend to fit the category of "same old same old" - without any resolutions. The usual claims that Abbas wants to declare independence unilaterally and of the marvellous agricultural co-operation between the West Bank and Israel which has produced a source of income for the PA. The papers are still talking of Gilad Schalits release yet we see no results. The reason for the delay is clear - we are being asked ot release so many killers, some of whom are serving multiple life sentences for their heinous crimes- and as much as every single Israeli wants to see Gilad home with his family, the government cannot take their release, indeed the release of even one lightly. Popular opinion wants us to just get Gilad back without thought of the consequences but having seen an interview with Palestinians released in a former deal for the bodies of our boys in Lebanon, listening to them living their lives in Dublin while still preparing the next attacks on Israel, we cannot, cannot think only of the emotional knee-jerk reaction. Yes the IDF is the caring army which always cares for its soldiers but ordinary citizens much be protected too.
Fabulous news for Israel - we have a new Attorney General. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/134631 Yehuda Weinstein is different to any of the more recent AG's and is the choice of the Minister of Justice. I feel that the legal conundrums of the country are in the hands of someone who understands the questions from all aspects - the academic, the defence attorney, the legislature and the citizen. I am content with the choice.
My article about Zvi's meeting with Golda Meir was published in the Jerusalem Post last friday http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1259831449853&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull. The heading for the article was not my choice and misleading, but every word I wrote within the article was true. There were a few very cranky people who misinterpreted what I said, suggesting I denied the phenomenal work of those who preceded and followed the historic meeting, but they are mistaken. I fully appreciate what was done, who did what and that without the incredible concerted effort of those who both led and followed, the dream could not have been achieved. It was a single meeting, a catalyst to a government decision - a truly momentous government decision - no more no less. It is irrelevant whether I wrote it or a stranger. He is not a braggard and few knew of his story so who better to write it than me? I am inordinately proud of my husband and to demean his achievement would be churlish, mean-minded and historically inaccurate.
I leave for Jerusalem on thursday morning. It is so hard ot leave the children- although they may be glad to see the back of me!!! I love travelling El Al since it feels like home the moment I get on board! faces are friendlier, the sense of urgency to find the "bestseat" irrespective of the fact that we are all assigned - the determination to put all sixteen pieces of handluggage into the overhead bins and of course the food. I don't know why but El Al food is the best!!! I may not be the hottest, but seeing that little pretend parchment scroll denoting which Rabbi gave his seal of approval just seems ot make it taste right!!!!! Breakfast is almost always an omelette and lunch and supper "Off u Bakar" Chicken or Beef? The crew are prepared to do almost anything for families - no matter how noisy the children and they smile so much - and tease each other. Landing may not smell the way it used to in the days when one walked down the stairs to get the bus to go inside the terminal with the legend "Welcome to Israel" over the portal. Now the scent is of a bright new terminal then it was the phenomenal mix of pine, orange groves, humidity and ......... gosh I don't know how to describe it.... of ISRAEL!!!
Zvi will collect me at the airport and will drive along highway number one. The road is wide and easy and fairly level until we reach Latrun which the climb through the Jerusalem Hills begins. I can never hide my excitement as we near the city and the joy of arriving home and rushing to open our shutters to reveal Jerusalem before me. Oh joy! My heart is split between London, New York and every place my dearest family and friends may be - but home, my home and our home, is Israel - Jerusalem. Actually, maybe we will come home through road 443 instead. That way I can ease my longing for the London and NY children by calling in on the Jerusalem ones!!! After all, why should Zvi carry all the presents up to the house when I can just drop it off on the way!!!
Hope to talk to you before Chanuka
With much love from London where after all the Balfour Declaration was signed after poor Herzl had travelled the world looking for someone to help him reach his dream.
Sheila
Wednesday 2 December 2009
Shabbat Shalom letter
091202
2nd December 2009.
Shabbat Shalom is coming early this week since I am off to visit my London grandchildren tomorrow at the crack of dawn. I spend one week immersed in them and rarely see anyone else or do anything else and am happy, satisfied and loved!
David Ben Gurion was a founding father, but was sorely mistaken in his belief that once we have a country we no longer need Zionism. The implication of the word may have changed but the significance remains. Today it means that we understand why we came back and that if we do not pull together it will be a different "gerush" (exile) but an exile nonetheless – and probably no less bloody.
IDF Chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi expressed the malaise of our society at a conference with school principals. It is the malaise of Israeli society, which I care about as our standard bearer, and Western society in general.
"We witness the problems young people take with them into the army, from excessive alcohol consumption to dropping out of the education system.
"There are soldiers who do not know the country and its heritage. A
third of the soldiers visited Jerusalem for the first time within the
framework of their army service. There are soldiers who think that we conquered Masada in the Six Day War. There are immigrant soldiers who don't know the language."
Our youngsters do not understand why Israel is, where it is or why, because neither parents nor teachers have bothered to spend the time to teach them. We take Israel for granted, both here and in the Diaspora. We have forgotten how to be proud of whom we are which is why we whisper to ourselves when leaders emasculate Israeli leaders – when Italians and Swedes dare to tell us to give our Capital City to the Arabs! Unless we learn to be proud of our heritage and stand up to be counted we stand to lose everything. Israels survival does not depend upon the phenomenal advances in science and hi-tech nor its brilliant doctors nor its agriculturalists who teach the poor countries to feed themselves – Israel's survival depends upon us being proud of who we are – Jews and Christians alike.
The Jewish and Christian leaders who have the guts to really lead with brilliant initiative are few and far between. I can think of maybe half a dozen that stand head and shoulders above others. If our leaders cannot lead from the front we must lead from behind. Lobby, lobby, lobby.
We had the painters in this week; they came from Bethlehem, Christian Arabs from Bethlehem. They told us tales of unspeakable persecution, of loneliness, of their desire to attempt to fund their children scholarships to local universities so that they can get out of what is now a 90% Moslem city.
B. came into our study and was able to put a name to every photograph of every Israeli leader from B-G to BiBi – few of our Israeli friends could do so with such confidence. We are their hope. C. stood on our veranda – the one I always talk about – and said "You do realize it isn't ours, the world has given it to them already. Jerusalem is not Jewish, Jerusalem is not Christian, Jerusalem is Moslem because no-one will stand up and say otherwise."
It looks as if it will really happen – Gilad Schalit will come home. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+the+Headlines/Behind+the+Headlines-+Six+months+in+terrorist+captivity+11-Jan-2007.htm The last video sent to his distraught parents showed him even frailer than his natural boyish frame and it broke his parents heart. The captors promise and renege so frequently that we are scared to believe it will really happen and not be just another ploy like the Hezb-Allah return of dead bodies. The price is heavy, maybe too heavy – the long list of prisoners for whom freedom is demanded includes many masterminds behind terror attacks. They underwent trial and were convicted of triple and quadruple life sentences but will spend their lives in freedom in Europe planning Israel's downfall. But that is who we are. Israel doesn't leave her boys and girls behind – if a child s taken prisoner he is brought home.
Life goes on as always. We laugh, we cry, we shop, we create and go to theatre and we eat fabulous local food We don't sit and mope, this is a society which knows how to live life to the full but we are aware of the dreadful lies being told about us and it hurts. To quote Shylock "When you prick me do I not bleed"?
I am off tomorrow at the crack of dawn in time to see the scarlet sunrise over the Jerusalem skyline before heading off to Ben Gurion Airport. For one whole week I will wallow in babies smiles and giggles and innocence and have long talks with my amazing daughter-in-law, argue hotly with my adorable son and try to see a few friends. It will rain, skies will be grey and I will love every second! Being with ones children means one always misses the one you are NOT with but relishing the one you are.
I can but think of my friend Jill. When asked about her feelings toward Israel she said "Israel is my Mother and my child. I feel protected as by a Mothers love and feel intensely protective as one is of ones child."
Shabbat Shalom to you all
Sheila
2nd December 2009.
Shabbat Shalom is coming early this week since I am off to visit my London grandchildren tomorrow at the crack of dawn. I spend one week immersed in them and rarely see anyone else or do anything else and am happy, satisfied and loved!
David Ben Gurion was a founding father, but was sorely mistaken in his belief that once we have a country we no longer need Zionism. The implication of the word may have changed but the significance remains. Today it means that we understand why we came back and that if we do not pull together it will be a different "gerush" (exile) but an exile nonetheless – and probably no less bloody.
IDF Chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi expressed the malaise of our society at a conference with school principals. It is the malaise of Israeli society, which I care about as our standard bearer, and Western society in general.
"We witness the problems young people take with them into the army, from excessive alcohol consumption to dropping out of the education system.
"There are soldiers who do not know the country and its heritage. A
third of the soldiers visited Jerusalem for the first time within the
framework of their army service. There are soldiers who think that we conquered Masada in the Six Day War. There are immigrant soldiers who don't know the language."
Our youngsters do not understand why Israel is, where it is or why, because neither parents nor teachers have bothered to spend the time to teach them. We take Israel for granted, both here and in the Diaspora. We have forgotten how to be proud of whom we are which is why we whisper to ourselves when leaders emasculate Israeli leaders – when Italians and Swedes dare to tell us to give our Capital City to the Arabs! Unless we learn to be proud of our heritage and stand up to be counted we stand to lose everything. Israels survival does not depend upon the phenomenal advances in science and hi-tech nor its brilliant doctors nor its agriculturalists who teach the poor countries to feed themselves – Israel's survival depends upon us being proud of who we are – Jews and Christians alike.
The Jewish and Christian leaders who have the guts to really lead with brilliant initiative are few and far between. I can think of maybe half a dozen that stand head and shoulders above others. If our leaders cannot lead from the front we must lead from behind. Lobby, lobby, lobby.
We had the painters in this week; they came from Bethlehem, Christian Arabs from Bethlehem. They told us tales of unspeakable persecution, of loneliness, of their desire to attempt to fund their children scholarships to local universities so that they can get out of what is now a 90% Moslem city.
B. came into our study and was able to put a name to every photograph of every Israeli leader from B-G to BiBi – few of our Israeli friends could do so with such confidence. We are their hope. C. stood on our veranda – the one I always talk about – and said "You do realize it isn't ours, the world has given it to them already. Jerusalem is not Jewish, Jerusalem is not Christian, Jerusalem is Moslem because no-one will stand up and say otherwise."
It looks as if it will really happen – Gilad Schalit will come home. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+the+Headlines/Behind+the+Headlines-+Six+months+in+terrorist+captivity+11-Jan-2007.htm The last video sent to his distraught parents showed him even frailer than his natural boyish frame and it broke his parents heart. The captors promise and renege so frequently that we are scared to believe it will really happen and not be just another ploy like the Hezb-Allah return of dead bodies. The price is heavy, maybe too heavy – the long list of prisoners for whom freedom is demanded includes many masterminds behind terror attacks. They underwent trial and were convicted of triple and quadruple life sentences but will spend their lives in freedom in Europe planning Israel's downfall. But that is who we are. Israel doesn't leave her boys and girls behind – if a child s taken prisoner he is brought home.
Life goes on as always. We laugh, we cry, we shop, we create and go to theatre and we eat fabulous local food We don't sit and mope, this is a society which knows how to live life to the full but we are aware of the dreadful lies being told about us and it hurts. To quote Shylock "When you prick me do I not bleed"?
I am off tomorrow at the crack of dawn in time to see the scarlet sunrise over the Jerusalem skyline before heading off to Ben Gurion Airport. For one whole week I will wallow in babies smiles and giggles and innocence and have long talks with my amazing daughter-in-law, argue hotly with my adorable son and try to see a few friends. It will rain, skies will be grey and I will love every second! Being with ones children means one always misses the one you are NOT with but relishing the one you are.
I can but think of my friend Jill. When asked about her feelings toward Israel she said "Israel is my Mother and my child. I feel protected as by a Mothers love and feel intensely protective as one is of ones child."
Shabbat Shalom to you all
Sheila
Friday 27 November 2009
Shabbat Shalom letter
091127
Friday, November 27th 2009.
Shabbat Shalom and to all my American friends, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, commemorating a time when Christians were persecuted, founded a nation and "settlers" was not a dirty word.
I want to write a different Shabbat Shalom letter today. Of course I will give you the news but I want to take you around my Jerusalem – as if you were a journalist who was trying to suggest that this is not a just society.
Mendel Kaplan z"l was a strong, fervently Zionist, outstanding Jew who gave his heart and soul to Israel. Mendel and Jill, his devoted and loving wife and partner, walked the walk – intolerant of those who just talk the talk. Always one to speak his mind and seek justice without "niceties" Mendel was a great Jewish leader and a fine man. Before the 1988 elections for Mayor of Jerusalem Zvi suggested and Teddy Kollek approved the initiative to persuade Mendel to become Mayor of Jerusalem but he chose to become Chairman of the Jewish Agency instead feeling his talents better served. His honesty will be missed in the double-speak world of Jewish Diaspora Affairs. May his soul rest in peace and his family know no more sorrow. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129725.html
I was horrified to read that a Florida middle school has decided not to take criminal action against 10 pupils who organized a "Kick a Jew" Day at school but to suspend them for a day and hold 20 minute lessons on tolerance in the school. No wonder our society has no concept of responsibility for their actions. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/134628
The world is turning on its head, Kick a Jew Day and then this in Australia – a country which has zero tolerance for terrorism or its values. http://www.youtube.com/user/trueausse#p/a/u/1/081-MHMLRh8 Watch it and absorb.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a 10 month moratorium on building in Yehuda and Shomron (West Bank disputed territory). While I am more than aware that it takes a hawk to make peace and a dove to make war this does not seem to fit either category. Not a man to take decisions lightly I am certain he was in a "no choice" situation, but I would understand it far more if the demanded "freeze" were even handed. I recognise that Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat has not made the PM's situation easier by his strong and possibly inflammatory statements but it is surely racist to insist that only Jews stop building homes without demanding the same of the other side of this complex equation. Maybe I could accept it if our enemies, whose demands are constantly appeased, would stop planning our annihilation.
A particularly Israeli paradox- a couple was waiting at the "trampiadah" – a hitch-hiking point- beside a petrol station in Kiriat Arba, close to the Biblical City of Hebron when a terrorist leapt at them with a knife shouting Allahu Akbar as he stabbed them. An off duty security guard stopped the terrorist who was seriously injured. All three were taken to Hadassah Hospital in Israeli ambulances for treatment. They will all receive the best of Israeli medicine. Israeli paradox or not?
Now for your tour. Imagine you are a journalist from CNN or the New York Times and I have been given 24 hours to convince you that Israel is a democratic, multi-cultural society. I assume you have a skimming knowledge of the Biblical meaning so I will take you to my Jerusalem rather than the Old City.
Let's start in Gilo, currently in the news. As we climb the wide road from Pat to Gilo we see the marvelously colourful metal statues of people running, waiting climbing and standing which run the full length of the grassy central reservation (go on Arlene laugh)we turn left to a breathtaking vew of Jerusalem, from Nebe Samuel to the Old City, the town centre to Baka to Talbieh. Up to the top of the hill and to the glorious view of Bethlehem and its multitudinous minarets, the lone steeple of the Church of the Nativity proof of its former glory. We drive slowly to take in the brilliant artists who painted the wall built during the Intifada when Palestinians were shooting from Beit Jalla – give us lemons we always make lemonade! Back through the busy commercial centre we head back down the hill to Beit Safafa and my favourite store. Inside you will hear the stories of the head family in Beit Safafa, who recognize their freedom here in Israel where they suffer from bureaucracy just like us!
Down the hill to Pat, a poor Jewish neighborhood of Jerusalem where we see the difficulties of poverty and lack of education so familiar to a big city and then on to Bet Hanina and its grand villas with "Eiffel Tower" satellite receivers to get the Arab stations.
Shouk Ramle and its cornucopia of trivia, delicacies, spices and cheap clothes reflect the rainbow although no place reflects it more vividly than Mahane Yehuda. The costermongers and the throng reflect the full gamut of humanity. From ultra-orthodox Jews to black clad Orthodox Christians; from noisy tourists to even noisier customers; from the famous falafel stand to the elegance of the coffee shop; Jews, Arabs, Christians, Moslems, Druze, religiously reverent and impiously scantily clad the atmosphere bears no tension nor antipathy, just mingling and a zealous determination to choose the finest produce for their home. The jokes among the costermongers are in both Hebrew and Arabic since most of them are either Israeli Arabs or Jews who fled Arab countries.
The Malha Shopping Mall and the City Centre complete the openness and from there our tour takes a strange turn as we head for either Hadassah or Sharei Zedek Hospitals. The emergency rooms and the wards reflect the equality of this society far more than any other place. Israel has socialised medicine we do not differentiate between the insurance haves and have nots and the array of patients, doctors and nurses reflect the fact. We do not discriminate; Israel was created with specific and strong moral codes which are in place today despite the attacks upon our very existence.
If I could I would then take them to the United Nations Central Command which is in the former British Governor Generals home in Talpiot. It is an exquisite building with views over both Jerusalem and Bethlehem and the seat of one of the most influential people in the world – but I can't. We were in the building just once many years ago and it was only because the then Central Commander of UN in the ME was General Ganguza an open minded Italian who invited us to supper and was kicked out for doing so. 98% of the staff are Palestinian and Israelis are not welcome!!!
To complete our day I would invite them to supper on our "mirpesset" our veranda. I would suggest they bring anyone they wish to sit with us and talk freely and openly on any subject they wish; in particular I would ask them to discuss our day and what we saw and heard. We could discuss the fact that Israel protects the right of Moslem prayer on the Temple Mount http://www.answers.com/topic/temple-mount to the detriment of Jews and Christians at the demand of Moslem leaders who claim that for non-Moslems to walk on the Temple mount would defile the site! We could discuss that while it is difficult for Arabs to pass through barriers it is harder for Jews who are not allowed through at all! We could discuss the fact that Israel gives medical, agricultural and financial aid to developing countries and has first response teams to fly to disasters all over the globe http://mashav.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/missionhome.asp?MissionID=16210& and http://www.israaid.org.il/ whereas the PA only takes and never gives.
My virtual tour was somewhat selfish since I haven't left home for 12 days having been struck down by some virus – and I miss my usual traipsing around – wandering through the streets, alleyways and markets of this fascinating city.
Being a good Yiddische Momma I must return to my pre-Shabbat preparations. Zvi has gone to his Parliament in the coffee shop at the petrol station so I can do some cooking without him sending me to bed!
I wish you a beautiful Sabbath – remember that every day is Thanksgiving – with or without the turkey!!!
Shabbat Shalom
Sheila
Friday, November 27th 2009.
Shabbat Shalom and to all my American friends, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, commemorating a time when Christians were persecuted, founded a nation and "settlers" was not a dirty word.
I want to write a different Shabbat Shalom letter today. Of course I will give you the news but I want to take you around my Jerusalem – as if you were a journalist who was trying to suggest that this is not a just society.
Mendel Kaplan z"l was a strong, fervently Zionist, outstanding Jew who gave his heart and soul to Israel. Mendel and Jill, his devoted and loving wife and partner, walked the walk – intolerant of those who just talk the talk. Always one to speak his mind and seek justice without "niceties" Mendel was a great Jewish leader and a fine man. Before the 1988 elections for Mayor of Jerusalem Zvi suggested and Teddy Kollek approved the initiative to persuade Mendel to become Mayor of Jerusalem but he chose to become Chairman of the Jewish Agency instead feeling his talents better served. His honesty will be missed in the double-speak world of Jewish Diaspora Affairs. May his soul rest in peace and his family know no more sorrow. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129725.html
I was horrified to read that a Florida middle school has decided not to take criminal action against 10 pupils who organized a "Kick a Jew" Day at school but to suspend them for a day and hold 20 minute lessons on tolerance in the school. No wonder our society has no concept of responsibility for their actions. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/134628
The world is turning on its head, Kick a Jew Day and then this in Australia – a country which has zero tolerance for terrorism or its values. http://www.youtube.com/user/trueausse#p/a/u/1/081-MHMLRh8 Watch it and absorb.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a 10 month moratorium on building in Yehuda and Shomron (West Bank disputed territory). While I am more than aware that it takes a hawk to make peace and a dove to make war this does not seem to fit either category. Not a man to take decisions lightly I am certain he was in a "no choice" situation, but I would understand it far more if the demanded "freeze" were even handed. I recognise that Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat has not made the PM's situation easier by his strong and possibly inflammatory statements but it is surely racist to insist that only Jews stop building homes without demanding the same of the other side of this complex equation. Maybe I could accept it if our enemies, whose demands are constantly appeased, would stop planning our annihilation.
A particularly Israeli paradox- a couple was waiting at the "trampiadah" – a hitch-hiking point- beside a petrol station in Kiriat Arba, close to the Biblical City of Hebron when a terrorist leapt at them with a knife shouting Allahu Akbar as he stabbed them. An off duty security guard stopped the terrorist who was seriously injured. All three were taken to Hadassah Hospital in Israeli ambulances for treatment. They will all receive the best of Israeli medicine. Israeli paradox or not?
Now for your tour. Imagine you are a journalist from CNN or the New York Times and I have been given 24 hours to convince you that Israel is a democratic, multi-cultural society. I assume you have a skimming knowledge of the Biblical meaning so I will take you to my Jerusalem rather than the Old City.
Let's start in Gilo, currently in the news. As we climb the wide road from Pat to Gilo we see the marvelously colourful metal statues of people running, waiting climbing and standing which run the full length of the grassy central reservation (go on Arlene laugh)we turn left to a breathtaking vew of Jerusalem, from Nebe Samuel to the Old City, the town centre to Baka to Talbieh. Up to the top of the hill and to the glorious view of Bethlehem and its multitudinous minarets, the lone steeple of the Church of the Nativity proof of its former glory. We drive slowly to take in the brilliant artists who painted the wall built during the Intifada when Palestinians were shooting from Beit Jalla – give us lemons we always make lemonade! Back through the busy commercial centre we head back down the hill to Beit Safafa and my favourite store. Inside you will hear the stories of the head family in Beit Safafa, who recognize their freedom here in Israel where they suffer from bureaucracy just like us!
Down the hill to Pat, a poor Jewish neighborhood of Jerusalem where we see the difficulties of poverty and lack of education so familiar to a big city and then on to Bet Hanina and its grand villas with "Eiffel Tower" satellite receivers to get the Arab stations.
Shouk Ramle and its cornucopia of trivia, delicacies, spices and cheap clothes reflect the rainbow although no place reflects it more vividly than Mahane Yehuda. The costermongers and the throng reflect the full gamut of humanity. From ultra-orthodox Jews to black clad Orthodox Christians; from noisy tourists to even noisier customers; from the famous falafel stand to the elegance of the coffee shop; Jews, Arabs, Christians, Moslems, Druze, religiously reverent and impiously scantily clad the atmosphere bears no tension nor antipathy, just mingling and a zealous determination to choose the finest produce for their home. The jokes among the costermongers are in both Hebrew and Arabic since most of them are either Israeli Arabs or Jews who fled Arab countries.
The Malha Shopping Mall and the City Centre complete the openness and from there our tour takes a strange turn as we head for either Hadassah or Sharei Zedek Hospitals. The emergency rooms and the wards reflect the equality of this society far more than any other place. Israel has socialised medicine we do not differentiate between the insurance haves and have nots and the array of patients, doctors and nurses reflect the fact. We do not discriminate; Israel was created with specific and strong moral codes which are in place today despite the attacks upon our very existence.
If I could I would then take them to the United Nations Central Command which is in the former British Governor Generals home in Talpiot. It is an exquisite building with views over both Jerusalem and Bethlehem and the seat of one of the most influential people in the world – but I can't. We were in the building just once many years ago and it was only because the then Central Commander of UN in the ME was General Ganguza an open minded Italian who invited us to supper and was kicked out for doing so. 98% of the staff are Palestinian and Israelis are not welcome!!!
To complete our day I would invite them to supper on our "mirpesset" our veranda. I would suggest they bring anyone they wish to sit with us and talk freely and openly on any subject they wish; in particular I would ask them to discuss our day and what we saw and heard. We could discuss the fact that Israel protects the right of Moslem prayer on the Temple Mount http://www.answers.com/topic/temple-mount to the detriment of Jews and Christians at the demand of Moslem leaders who claim that for non-Moslems to walk on the Temple mount would defile the site! We could discuss that while it is difficult for Arabs to pass through barriers it is harder for Jews who are not allowed through at all! We could discuss the fact that Israel gives medical, agricultural and financial aid to developing countries and has first response teams to fly to disasters all over the globe http://mashav.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/missionhome.asp?MissionID=16210& and http://www.israaid.org.il/ whereas the PA only takes and never gives.
My virtual tour was somewhat selfish since I haven't left home for 12 days having been struck down by some virus – and I miss my usual traipsing around – wandering through the streets, alleyways and markets of this fascinating city.
Being a good Yiddische Momma I must return to my pre-Shabbat preparations. Zvi has gone to his Parliament in the coffee shop at the petrol station so I can do some cooking without him sending me to bed!
I wish you a beautiful Sabbath – remember that every day is Thanksgiving – with or without the turkey!!!
Shabbat Shalom
Sheila
Thursday 19 November 2009
Shabbat Shalom from Sheila
091119
19th November 2009.
Shabbat Shalom
This week I was angry. Not the anger that one feels toward those whose hatred is overt but rather the anger one feels toward those who claim undying friendship yet fail to deal an even hand.
Let me describe the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Gilo for you. White stepped buildings typical of Jerusalem's hillsides roll down toward the Israeli Arab neighborhood of Beit Safafa; they have an incomparable view over Jerusalem to the Old City. The railway line which formed the pre-67 border with Jordan is just down in the valley and one sees clearly where the old border cut Beit Safafa in half, splitting families who are now united under the Jerusalem Municipality and consider themselves Israeli.
Gilo is home to nearly 50,000 people, good regular folk who just want to go about their lives. There are medical clinics, drug stores, local corner shops and stores, pizza parlours and a good shopping mall; there are parks and schools, old people's homes and normal, normal life. These are not extremists they are people just like you and me and the popular Jerusalem neighborhood needs more homes. To call a press conference stating that building in Gilo is the only stumbling block to peace is an insult to our intelligence and treachery in the first degree. The greatest stumbling block to peace is the fact that our neighbours are sworn to kill us! The greatest stumbling block to peace is that we are told to stop building on disputed (formerly Jordanian) totally empty land while the Palestinians build at a phenomenal rate with impunity.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat stated: "Israeli law does not discriminate between Jews, Muslims, and Christians or between eastern and western Jerusalem. The demand to halt construction by religion is not legal in the United States or in any other free place in the world. I do not presume that any government would demand to freeze construction in the United States based on race, religion or gender and the attempt to demand it from Jerusalem is a double standard and inconceivable."
So why was I so angry? Why was this day different from all other days? Because not one TV report mentioned the fact that simultaneously the Jerusalem Municipality is building housing in Arab neighborhoods too! The announcement came over the wires exactly as the others but only IMRA chose to pick it up. http://imra.org.il/story.php3?id=46452
All the major US Emissaries from Dennis Ross to Martin Indyk leave their positions and tell of the unyielding stance of the Palestinians yet, while "on duty" they refuse to speak up. No-one refers to the fact that the Two State Solution was executed in 1948!!!
Incidentally, Gilo is part of a contiguous city - part of Jerusalem - all the photos you saw which indicate that it is a settlement on the top of a hill were taken from the formerly Christian Palestinian village of Beit Jalla or the formerly Christian town of Bethlehem. You can see the protective wall which was built when the Palestinians were shooting at Gilo.
The Palestinian Authority intended unilaterally declaring statehood, or not - depending upon with whom one speaks. Terrific! It would cut our taxes by at least 10%; mean that we wouldn't have to give free water, gas, electricity and hundreds of trucks of aid each week if the Palestinian Authority became an independent state. Unfortunately I think they did their sums and decided that they prefer milking us all dry instead. Vast quantities of money have been sunk into the PA, money which should have relieved hunger in Africa and Asia, but has been squandered on the corrupt Palestinian leaders by countries who want to keep everyone's attention on this tiny area so that no-one will notice their own mismanagement at home. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2002/6/International%20Financial%20Aid%20to%20the%20Palestinian%20Aut . I know where my tax money goes since it is all published http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2009/Increased_humanitarian_aid_Gaza_after_IDF_operation_Jan_2009.htm but I am not sure that you do.
This week Zvi gave one of his entertaining and informative speeches before the marvelous and highly appreciative Buffalo Mission in the King David Hotel. The hotel was buzzing with the Saban Forum attended by President Clinton, Governor Schwarzenegger, Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham. They met with PM Netanyahu and many other Israelis but in essence they talked, travelled to Ramallah came back to the finery of the King David and went home. Good intentions have done nothing to bring peace but the attendees enjoyed Israeli hospitality at its finest.
One of the finer aspects of Israeli generosity to the PA is shown in medicine. Whether through the free passage of Palestinian patients to Israeli hospitals for treatment or the training of PA medical professionals at Haifa's Rambam Hospital this week for a seminar on the treatment of cancer http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1258489190455&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter
Israel's scientists are rated number four in the world in scientific activity and publications. Not bad for a little country eh? http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1128738.html
Just in case you had any doubts as to Israel's contribution to our world "Tikkun Olam" click on the link and watch this outstanding video and then send it to everyone you know. I believe it was inspired by the brilliant letter by Barry Shaw http://97.74.65.51/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=875 after attempts to boycott Israel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbIQto3KPUM&eurl
In Judaism we are told that we must leave the world a better place than that we found. This Israeli team has built a hospital in Equatorial New Guinea where they live with the nationals and serve them, teaching and nursing. This Youtube video shows you the side of Israel and the Israelis we want the world to know - the real one. Sorry it is in Spanish and Hebrew but the message is clear without words. http://www.youtube.com/v/JkI537wmYY0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1
Incidentally the Governors of Trondheim University in Norway halted another attempted boycott. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1127734.html
This amazing video, Mexican entry to the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is required viewing for Mr Ahmedinejad, David Irving, Jeremiah Wright and Mahmoud Abbas whose doctoral thesis was on the premise of Holocaust revisionism, indeed anyone heartless enough to claim there was no Holocaust. http://www.youtube.com/user/SFJewishFilmFestival#p/a
It rained again this week and my veranda is rewarding the Heavens with a sudden surge of growth and colour. The Jacaranda tree is losing its leaves, gathering strength to produce its long lavender flowers next spring; the vivid purple bougainvillea flowers are so bright from the wash and dry cycle that one needs sunglasses to look at them; the fuchsia, relieved that the scorching sun of summer has finally gone is greening up and producing flowers in abundance; the oranges are rounder, bigger and plumper slowly reaching their luscious edible state as are the kumquats; the "hadass" (box hedging) are green and fragrant, the herbs flourishing and best of all the pomegranates are bursting with pride at their sheer fecundity offering succour to the tiny "tsufit", an iridescent black native bird rather like a humming bird in shape and habit, as their fruits explode to reveal the bright, red juicy treasure within. Imagine all of this with the beauty of Jerusalem in the background. How lucky are we?
I wish you and yours a wonderful weekend, a fine Shabbat, a beautiful Sabbath day of peace and warmth, love and kindness.
With love from a spectacularly beautiful Jerusalem, white stones gleaming and glistening after the cleansing rain.
Sheila
19th November 2009.
Shabbat Shalom
This week I was angry. Not the anger that one feels toward those whose hatred is overt but rather the anger one feels toward those who claim undying friendship yet fail to deal an even hand.
Let me describe the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Gilo for you. White stepped buildings typical of Jerusalem's hillsides roll down toward the Israeli Arab neighborhood of Beit Safafa; they have an incomparable view over Jerusalem to the Old City. The railway line which formed the pre-67 border with Jordan is just down in the valley and one sees clearly where the old border cut Beit Safafa in half, splitting families who are now united under the Jerusalem Municipality and consider themselves Israeli.
Gilo is home to nearly 50,000 people, good regular folk who just want to go about their lives. There are medical clinics, drug stores, local corner shops and stores, pizza parlours and a good shopping mall; there are parks and schools, old people's homes and normal, normal life. These are not extremists they are people just like you and me and the popular Jerusalem neighborhood needs more homes. To call a press conference stating that building in Gilo is the only stumbling block to peace is an insult to our intelligence and treachery in the first degree. The greatest stumbling block to peace is the fact that our neighbours are sworn to kill us! The greatest stumbling block to peace is that we are told to stop building on disputed (formerly Jordanian) totally empty land while the Palestinians build at a phenomenal rate with impunity.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat stated: "Israeli law does not discriminate between Jews, Muslims, and Christians or between eastern and western Jerusalem. The demand to halt construction by religion is not legal in the United States or in any other free place in the world. I do not presume that any government would demand to freeze construction in the United States based on race, religion or gender and the attempt to demand it from Jerusalem is a double standard and inconceivable."
So why was I so angry? Why was this day different from all other days? Because not one TV report mentioned the fact that simultaneously the Jerusalem Municipality is building housing in Arab neighborhoods too! The announcement came over the wires exactly as the others but only IMRA chose to pick it up. http://imra.org.il/story.php3?id=46452
All the major US Emissaries from Dennis Ross to Martin Indyk leave their positions and tell of the unyielding stance of the Palestinians yet, while "on duty" they refuse to speak up. No-one refers to the fact that the Two State Solution was executed in 1948!!!
Incidentally, Gilo is part of a contiguous city - part of Jerusalem - all the photos you saw which indicate that it is a settlement on the top of a hill were taken from the formerly Christian Palestinian village of Beit Jalla or the formerly Christian town of Bethlehem. You can see the protective wall which was built when the Palestinians were shooting at Gilo.
The Palestinian Authority intended unilaterally declaring statehood, or not - depending upon with whom one speaks. Terrific! It would cut our taxes by at least 10%; mean that we wouldn't have to give free water, gas, electricity and hundreds of trucks of aid each week if the Palestinian Authority became an independent state. Unfortunately I think they did their sums and decided that they prefer milking us all dry instead. Vast quantities of money have been sunk into the PA, money which should have relieved hunger in Africa and Asia, but has been squandered on the corrupt Palestinian leaders by countries who want to keep everyone's attention on this tiny area so that no-one will notice their own mismanagement at home. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2002/6/International%20Financial%20Aid%20to%20the%20Palestinian%20Aut . I know where my tax money goes since it is all published http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2009/Increased_humanitarian_aid_Gaza_after_IDF_operation_Jan_2009.htm but I am not sure that you do.
This week Zvi gave one of his entertaining and informative speeches before the marvelous and highly appreciative Buffalo Mission in the King David Hotel. The hotel was buzzing with the Saban Forum attended by President Clinton, Governor Schwarzenegger, Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham. They met with PM Netanyahu and many other Israelis but in essence they talked, travelled to Ramallah came back to the finery of the King David and went home. Good intentions have done nothing to bring peace but the attendees enjoyed Israeli hospitality at its finest.
One of the finer aspects of Israeli generosity to the PA is shown in medicine. Whether through the free passage of Palestinian patients to Israeli hospitals for treatment or the training of PA medical professionals at Haifa's Rambam Hospital this week for a seminar on the treatment of cancer http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1258489190455&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter
Israel's scientists are rated number four in the world in scientific activity and publications. Not bad for a little country eh? http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1128738.html
Just in case you had any doubts as to Israel's contribution to our world "Tikkun Olam" click on the link and watch this outstanding video and then send it to everyone you know. I believe it was inspired by the brilliant letter by Barry Shaw http://97.74.65.51/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=875 after attempts to boycott Israel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbIQto3KPUM&eurl
In Judaism we are told that we must leave the world a better place than that we found. This Israeli team has built a hospital in Equatorial New Guinea where they live with the nationals and serve them, teaching and nursing. This Youtube video shows you the side of Israel and the Israelis we want the world to know - the real one. Sorry it is in Spanish and Hebrew but the message is clear without words. http://www.youtube.com/v/JkI537wmYY0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1
Incidentally the Governors of Trondheim University in Norway halted another attempted boycott. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1127734.html
This amazing video, Mexican entry to the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is required viewing for Mr Ahmedinejad, David Irving, Jeremiah Wright and Mahmoud Abbas whose doctoral thesis was on the premise of Holocaust revisionism, indeed anyone heartless enough to claim there was no Holocaust. http://www.youtube.com/user/SFJewishFilmFestival#p/a
It rained again this week and my veranda is rewarding the Heavens with a sudden surge of growth and colour. The Jacaranda tree is losing its leaves, gathering strength to produce its long lavender flowers next spring; the vivid purple bougainvillea flowers are so bright from the wash and dry cycle that one needs sunglasses to look at them; the fuchsia, relieved that the scorching sun of summer has finally gone is greening up and producing flowers in abundance; the oranges are rounder, bigger and plumper slowly reaching their luscious edible state as are the kumquats; the "hadass" (box hedging) are green and fragrant, the herbs flourishing and best of all the pomegranates are bursting with pride at their sheer fecundity offering succour to the tiny "tsufit", an iridescent black native bird rather like a humming bird in shape and habit, as their fruits explode to reveal the bright, red juicy treasure within. Imagine all of this with the beauty of Jerusalem in the background. How lucky are we?
I wish you and yours a wonderful weekend, a fine Shabbat, a beautiful Sabbath day of peace and warmth, love and kindness.
With love from a spectacularly beautiful Jerusalem, white stones gleaming and glistening after the cleansing rain.
Sheila
Shabbat Shalom from Sheila
091119
19th November 2009.
Shabbat Shalom
This week I was angry. Not the anger that one feels toward those whose hatred is overt but rather the anger one feels toward those who claim undying friendship yet fail to deal an even hand.
Let me describe the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Gilo for you. White stepped buildings typical of Jerusalem's hillsides roll down toward the Israeli Arab neighborhood of Beit Safafa; they have an incomparable view over Jerusalem to the Old City. The railway line which formed the pre-67 border with Jordan is just down in the valley and one sees clearly where the old border cut Beit Safafa in half, splitting families who are now united under the Jerusalem Municipality and consider themselves Israeli.
Gilo is home to nearly 50,000 people, good regular folk who just want to go about their lives. There are medical clinics, drug stores, local corner shops and stores, pizza parlours and a good shopping mall; there are parks and schools, old people's homes and normal, normal life. These are not extremists they are people just like you and me and the popular Jerusalem neighborhood needs more homes. To call a press conference stating that building in Gilo is the only stumbling block to peace is an insult to our intelligence and treachery in the first degree. The greatest stumbling block to peace is the fact that our neighbours are sworn to kill us! The greatest stumbling block to peace is that we are told to stop building on disputed (formerly Jordanian) totally empty land while the Palestinians build at a phenomenal rate with impunity.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat stated: "Israeli law does not discriminate between Jews, Muslims, and Christians or between eastern and western Jerusalem. The demand to halt construction by religion is not legal in the United States or in any other free place in the world. I do not presume that any government would demand to freeze construction in the United States based on race, religion or gender and the attempt to demand it from Jerusalem is a double standard and inconceivable."
So why was I so angry? Why was this day different from all other days? Because not one TV report mentioned the fact that simultaneously the Jerusalem Municipality is building housing in Arab neighborhoods too! The announcement came over the wires exactly as the others but only IMRA chose to pick it up. http://imra.org.il/story.php3?id=46452
All the major US Emissaries from Dennis Ross to Martin Indyk leave their positions and tell of the unyielding stance of the Palestinians yet, while "on duty" they refuse to speak up. No-one refers to the fact that the Two State Solution was executed in 1948!!!
Incidentally, Gilo is part of a contiguous city - part of Jerusalem - all the photos you saw which indicate that it is a settlement on the top of a hill were taken from the formerly Christian Palestinian village of Beit Jalla or the formerly Christian town of Bethlehem. You can see the protective wall which was built when the Palestinians were shooting at Gilo.
The Palestinian Authority intended unilaterally declaring statehood, or not - depending upon with whom one speaks. Terrific! It would cut our taxes by at least 10%; mean that we wouldn't have to give free water, gas, electricity and hundreds of trucks of aid each week if the Palestinian Authority became an independent state. Unfortunately I think they did their sums and decided that they prefer milking us all dry instead. Vast quantities of money have been sunk into the PA, money which should have relieved hunger in Africa and Asia, but has been squandered on the corrupt Palestinian leaders by countries who want to keep everyone's attention on this tiny area so that no-one will notice their own mismanagement at home. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2002/6/International%20Financial%20Aid%20to%20the%20Palestinian%20Aut . I know where my tax money goes since it is all published http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2009/Increased_humanitarian_aid_Gaza_after_IDF_operation_Jan_2009.htm but I am not sure that you do.
This week Zvi gave one of his entertaining and informative speeches before the marvelous and highly appreciative Buffalo Mission in the King David Hotel. The hotel was buzzing with the Saban Forum attended by President Clinton, Governor Schwarzenegger, Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham. They met with PM Netanyahu and many other Israelis but in essence they talked, travelled to Ramallah came back to the finery of the King David and went home. Good intentions have done nothing to bring peace but the attendees enjoyed Israeli hospitality at its finest.
One of the finer aspects of Israeli generosity to the PA is shown in medicine. Whether through the free passage of Palestinian patients to Israeli hospitals for treatment or the training of PA medical professionals at Haifa's Rambam Hospital this week for a seminar on the treatment of cancer http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1258489190455&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter
Israel's scientists are rated number four in the world in scientific activity and publications. Not bad for a little country eh? http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1128738.html
Just in case you had any doubts as to Israel's contribution to our world "Tikkun Olam" click on the link and watch this outstanding video and then send it to everyone you know. I believe it was inspired by the brilliant letter by Barry Shaw http://97.74.65.51/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=875 after attempts to boycott Israel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbIQto3KPUM&eurl
In Judaism we are told that we must leave the world a better place than that we found. This Israeli team has built a hospital in Equatorial New Guinea where they live with the nationals and serve them, teaching and nursing. This Youtube video shows you the side of Israel and the Israelis we want the world to know - the real one. Sorry it is in Spanish and Hebrew but the message is clear without words. http://www.youtube.com/v/JkI537wmYY0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1
Incidentally the Governors of Trondheim University in Norway halted another attempted boycott. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1127734.html
This amazing video, Mexican entry to the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is required viewing for Mr Ahmedinejad, David Irving, Jeremiah Wright and Mahmoud Abbas whose doctoral thesis was on the premise of Holocaust revisionism, indeed anyone heartless enough to claim there was no Holocaust. http://www.youtube.com/user/SFJewishFilmFestival#p/a
It rained again this week and my veranda is rewarding the Heavens with a sudden surge of growth and colour. The Jacaranda tree is losing its leaves, gathering strength to produce its long lavender flowers next spring; the vivid purple bougainvillea flowers are so bright from the wash and dry cycle that one needs sunglasses to look at them; the fuchsia, relieved that the scorching sun of summer has finally gone is greening up and producing flowers in abundance; the oranges are rounder, bigger and plumper slowly reaching their luscious edible state as are the kumquats; the "hadass" (box hedging) are green and fragrant, the herbs flourishing and best of all the pomegranates are bursting with pride at their sheer fecundity offering succour to the tiny "tsufit", an iridescent black native bird rather like a humming bird in shape and habit, as their fruits explode to reveal the bright, red juicy treasure within. Imagine all of this with the beauty of Jerusalem in the background. How lucky are we?
I wish you and yours a wonderful weekend, a fine Shabbat, a beautiful Sabbath day of peace and warmth, love and kindness.
With love from a spectacularly beautiful Jerusalem, white stones gleaming and glistening after the cleansing rain.
Sheila
19th November 2009.
Shabbat Shalom
This week I was angry. Not the anger that one feels toward those whose hatred is overt but rather the anger one feels toward those who claim undying friendship yet fail to deal an even hand.
Let me describe the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Gilo for you. White stepped buildings typical of Jerusalem's hillsides roll down toward the Israeli Arab neighborhood of Beit Safafa; they have an incomparable view over Jerusalem to the Old City. The railway line which formed the pre-67 border with Jordan is just down in the valley and one sees clearly where the old border cut Beit Safafa in half, splitting families who are now united under the Jerusalem Municipality and consider themselves Israeli.
Gilo is home to nearly 50,000 people, good regular folk who just want to go about their lives. There are medical clinics, drug stores, local corner shops and stores, pizza parlours and a good shopping mall; there are parks and schools, old people's homes and normal, normal life. These are not extremists they are people just like you and me and the popular Jerusalem neighborhood needs more homes. To call a press conference stating that building in Gilo is the only stumbling block to peace is an insult to our intelligence and treachery in the first degree. The greatest stumbling block to peace is the fact that our neighbours are sworn to kill us! The greatest stumbling block to peace is that we are told to stop building on disputed (formerly Jordanian) totally empty land while the Palestinians build at a phenomenal rate with impunity.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat stated: "Israeli law does not discriminate between Jews, Muslims, and Christians or between eastern and western Jerusalem. The demand to halt construction by religion is not legal in the United States or in any other free place in the world. I do not presume that any government would demand to freeze construction in the United States based on race, religion or gender and the attempt to demand it from Jerusalem is a double standard and inconceivable."
So why was I so angry? Why was this day different from all other days? Because not one TV report mentioned the fact that simultaneously the Jerusalem Municipality is building housing in Arab neighborhoods too! The announcement came over the wires exactly as the others but only IMRA chose to pick it up. http://imra.org.il/story.php3?id=46452
All the major US Emissaries from Dennis Ross to Martin Indyk leave their positions and tell of the unyielding stance of the Palestinians yet, while "on duty" they refuse to speak up. No-one refers to the fact that the Two State Solution was executed in 1948!!!
Incidentally, Gilo is part of a contiguous city - part of Jerusalem - all the photos you saw which indicate that it is a settlement on the top of a hill were taken from the formerly Christian Palestinian village of Beit Jalla or the formerly Christian town of Bethlehem. You can see the protective wall which was built when the Palestinians were shooting at Gilo.
The Palestinian Authority intended unilaterally declaring statehood, or not - depending upon with whom one speaks. Terrific! It would cut our taxes by at least 10%; mean that we wouldn't have to give free water, gas, electricity and hundreds of trucks of aid each week if the Palestinian Authority became an independent state. Unfortunately I think they did their sums and decided that they prefer milking us all dry instead. Vast quantities of money have been sunk into the PA, money which should have relieved hunger in Africa and Asia, but has been squandered on the corrupt Palestinian leaders by countries who want to keep everyone's attention on this tiny area so that no-one will notice their own mismanagement at home. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2002/6/International%20Financial%20Aid%20to%20the%20Palestinian%20Aut . I know where my tax money goes since it is all published http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2009/Increased_humanitarian_aid_Gaza_after_IDF_operation_Jan_2009.htm but I am not sure that you do.
This week Zvi gave one of his entertaining and informative speeches before the marvelous and highly appreciative Buffalo Mission in the King David Hotel. The hotel was buzzing with the Saban Forum attended by President Clinton, Governor Schwarzenegger, Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham. They met with PM Netanyahu and many other Israelis but in essence they talked, travelled to Ramallah came back to the finery of the King David and went home. Good intentions have done nothing to bring peace but the attendees enjoyed Israeli hospitality at its finest.
One of the finer aspects of Israeli generosity to the PA is shown in medicine. Whether through the free passage of Palestinian patients to Israeli hospitals for treatment or the training of PA medical professionals at Haifa's Rambam Hospital this week for a seminar on the treatment of cancer http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1258489190455&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter
Israel's scientists are rated number four in the world in scientific activity and publications. Not bad for a little country eh? http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1128738.html
Just in case you had any doubts as to Israel's contribution to our world "Tikkun Olam" click on the link and watch this outstanding video and then send it to everyone you know. I believe it was inspired by the brilliant letter by Barry Shaw http://97.74.65.51/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=875 after attempts to boycott Israel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbIQto3KPUM&eurl
In Judaism we are told that we must leave the world a better place than that we found. This Israeli team has built a hospital in Equatorial New Guinea where they live with the nationals and serve them, teaching and nursing. This Youtube video shows you the side of Israel and the Israelis we want the world to know - the real one. Sorry it is in Spanish and Hebrew but the message is clear without words. http://www.youtube.com/v/JkI537wmYY0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1
Incidentally the Governors of Trondheim University in Norway halted another attempted boycott. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1127734.html
This amazing video, Mexican entry to the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival is required viewing for Mr Ahmedinejad, David Irving, Jeremiah Wright and Mahmoud Abbas whose doctoral thesis was on the premise of Holocaust revisionism, indeed anyone heartless enough to claim there was no Holocaust. http://www.youtube.com/user/SFJewishFilmFestival#p/a
It rained again this week and my veranda is rewarding the Heavens with a sudden surge of growth and colour. The Jacaranda tree is losing its leaves, gathering strength to produce its long lavender flowers next spring; the vivid purple bougainvillea flowers are so bright from the wash and dry cycle that one needs sunglasses to look at them; the fuchsia, relieved that the scorching sun of summer has finally gone is greening up and producing flowers in abundance; the oranges are rounder, bigger and plumper slowly reaching their luscious edible state as are the kumquats; the "hadass" (box hedging) are green and fragrant, the herbs flourishing and best of all the pomegranates are bursting with pride at their sheer fecundity offering succour to the tiny "tsufit", an iridescent black native bird rather like a humming bird in shape and habit, as their fruits explode to reveal the bright, red juicy treasure within. Imagine all of this with the beauty of Jerusalem in the background. How lucky are we?
I wish you and yours a wonderful weekend, a fine Shabbat, a beautiful Sabbath day of peace and warmth, love and kindness.
With love from a spectacularly beautiful Jerusalem, white stones gleaming and glistening after the cleansing rain.
Sheila
Friday 13 November 2009
Shabbat Shalom from Sheila
091113
Friday 13th November, 2009.
Shabbat Shalom! I hope you are well.
Just because we are paranoid doesn't mean no one hates us! Israelis, are the major cause of instability in the world and the annihilation of the "Palestinian People". President Shimon Peres' visit to South America has been cancelled due to security considerations and Brazilians have likened Peres to Hitler. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3804608,00.html Those who do so are ignorant of the past, gullible to the cant of the present and are using their hatred to change the future. Shimon Peres of all people. Born in Poland he came with his family to the nascent State in 1934, to become one of the most respected Statesmen in the world, highly educated, known for his unstinting, although sometimes contested, efforts toward peace in this arena. If there is anyone today to be compared to Hitler then choose an ignorant, vicious xenophobe like Ahmedinejad. They would do well to read the words of Ambassador Yoram Ettinger http://yoramettinger.newsnet.co.il/Front/NewsNet/reports.asp?reportId=220981
To see the Dore Gold – Richard Goldstone debate at Brandeis University last week please click on this link http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1257770030998
The murders at Fort Hood have raised many questions and fears. An educated man suddenly becomes a religious fanatic and kills 13 people, maiming many more while screaming "Allah U Aqbar".
Misinformation suggests that poverty begets terrorism but that is far from the truth. Most of the major terrorist leaders are not only wealthy but highly educated, a surprising number are medical doctors. In this arena wealthy leaders keep the ordinary people in poverty to maintain power over them. In Fort Hood, the United States of America, an educated psychiatrist who served his country in the military was inducted into a vile sector of a religion which is becoming more and more violent and killed in the name of that religion. The press and government reports chose to remove the word Jihad from their texts. Political correctness will be the death of us – literally. We are not new at the PC game as Daniel Pipes writes so well http://www.danielpipes.org/7737/sudden-jihad-inordinate-stress-ft-hood
Sadly we have our own, though very rare, insane terrorists. Yaakov Teitel came on Aliya from the United States. He kept up the appearance of a normal, kind man, father of 4 married to another English speaker. He was far from normal, he killed an Arab out for a walk, two border policemen and maimed the child of a Messianic Jew. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/man-of-hatred-shocks-the-land-he-calls-home-20091106-i25x.html At the risk of being extreme – I hope he rots in jail for going against everything that Judaism maintains.
Ban Ki Moon has finally urged the Lebanese Government to implement Security Council Resolution 1701 and disarm the Hezb-Allah. The Lebanese Government, however, is acting out of fear of retribution and chosen to ignore the call. How short our memories can be. Lebanon, "Pearl of the Middle East", Christian Democracy, has become a battleground which is in danger of a rout by the Moslem extremists – Hezb-Allah – Allahs Warriors. Another piece of misinformation is that the Middle East is a single fight between Moslems aka Arabs and Jews aka Israel, but this is far from the truth as the Christians of this area will tell you. Dr. George Habash, a Christian Arab from Lydda, did not understand the ever growing monster he gave birth to by aligning his FDLP with the PLO in the late '70's.
President Abbas is thinking of stepping down. His Presidency has no country and he and his would be his allies recognise that if he steps down, elections will be held and Hamas will win. It is essential to understand that Gaza and the West Bank have nothing in common. They came from different countries; they hold different views and West Bank Arabs spent a great deal of time in and with Israel learning that there is a better way. A contiguous Palestinian Authority would destroy even the minimal democracy which exists on the West Bank. For this reason, and maybe only this reason, Israel and the USA are hoping that Abbas will recant on his intentions.
Yesterday saw the dedication of the Keren Kayemet (JNF) Israeli Memorial to September 11th. We met beside Binyanei Ha Uma in Jerusalem for the short ride to the site, and inevitably leaving very late which gave me the opportunity to talk to the assembled folk and make new friends from New Jersey. We drove out of town, under the Calatrava Strings Bridge (inspired by Davids Harp and the 70 names of Jerusalem in the Tenach) toward Mevasseret Zion. At Mevasseret we turned sharply off the road and began a "Safari" through the Judean Hills arriving at the site, nestled in the hills, apparently solitary yet visible from the main Jerusalem Tel Aviv highway. The Memorial itself is a Bronze American Flag at half mast and buried underneath it in a glass box is a metal beam from te World Trade Centre. Representatives of the countries of victims of that terrible day were there and also the families of Israeli victims. Politicians spoke, poets recited and singers sang and all I could think of was of the day that America was raped of her innocence and this war was to be fought every day, at home, on her soil, not thousands of miles away.
I went to Mahane Yehuda this week! Zvi and I met our friend Rachael there for breakfast in the trendy coffee shop. Always a paradox we sat eating highly sophisticated food while the usual "tumult" of yelling costermongers, the "allo allo" of the push-carts bringing in fresh produce carried on around us as in the earlier days of this colourful market. After breakfast we went shopping. First stop was the cheese shop whose selection would satisfy any epicure. The colours are easy transmit http://images.google.co.il/images?q=mahane+yehuda+market+photos&oe=utf-8&rlz=1R1RNFA_en___IL340&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=YRv9Srn5D8igjAfdrKyLCw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQsAQwAA
But the aromas are something else – you have to be there. Have you ever smelled Hawaiij? Or fresh cinnamon sticks…not the usual neatly curled ones but the fiery broken twiggy ones which give ten times the flavour. Halva? Halva of thirty different varieties. Mangoes and passion fruit vie with papaya and guava, which in turn are overtaken as one passes the fish shop where the ladies shout out to David how they want their fish cleaned, cut and chopped and with what and in what proportions. Every time I go to Mahane Yehuda I promise myself that I will buy only what I need. I am so restrained in a supermarket but here…. every piece of fruit calls to me in its ultimate ripeness and picked-from-the-vine freshness.
The variety of people matches the variety of produce. Burkas beside men in long black garments and payot (earlocks), free spirited, miniskirted teenagers beside the "Taliban" Jewesses who cover themselves from head to toe and then put scarves over their capes so that not a single outline of their bodies is visible. Religious affiliation is expressed by style of head covering or lack of it! I pray for the day when I can freely shop in a market in Ramallah or Gaza City in the same way that the young Moslem women shop in Mahane Yehuda.
Tourism reached an all time October high for Israel. Keep coming – we want to see you all!!!!
I wish you Shabbat Shalom, Salaam and Peace from Jerusalem.
Love
Sheila
Friday 13th November, 2009.
Shabbat Shalom! I hope you are well.
Just because we are paranoid doesn't mean no one hates us! Israelis, are the major cause of instability in the world and the annihilation of the "Palestinian People". President Shimon Peres' visit to South America has been cancelled due to security considerations and Brazilians have likened Peres to Hitler. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3804608,00.html Those who do so are ignorant of the past, gullible to the cant of the present and are using their hatred to change the future. Shimon Peres of all people. Born in Poland he came with his family to the nascent State in 1934, to become one of the most respected Statesmen in the world, highly educated, known for his unstinting, although sometimes contested, efforts toward peace in this arena. If there is anyone today to be compared to Hitler then choose an ignorant, vicious xenophobe like Ahmedinejad. They would do well to read the words of Ambassador Yoram Ettinger http://yoramettinger.newsnet.co.il/Front/NewsNet/reports.asp?reportId=220981
To see the Dore Gold – Richard Goldstone debate at Brandeis University last week please click on this link http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1257770030998
The murders at Fort Hood have raised many questions and fears. An educated man suddenly becomes a religious fanatic and kills 13 people, maiming many more while screaming "Allah U Aqbar".
Misinformation suggests that poverty begets terrorism but that is far from the truth. Most of the major terrorist leaders are not only wealthy but highly educated, a surprising number are medical doctors. In this arena wealthy leaders keep the ordinary people in poverty to maintain power over them. In Fort Hood, the United States of America, an educated psychiatrist who served his country in the military was inducted into a vile sector of a religion which is becoming more and more violent and killed in the name of that religion. The press and government reports chose to remove the word Jihad from their texts. Political correctness will be the death of us – literally. We are not new at the PC game as Daniel Pipes writes so well http://www.danielpipes.org/7737/sudden-jihad-inordinate-stress-ft-hood
Sadly we have our own, though very rare, insane terrorists. Yaakov Teitel came on Aliya from the United States. He kept up the appearance of a normal, kind man, father of 4 married to another English speaker. He was far from normal, he killed an Arab out for a walk, two border policemen and maimed the child of a Messianic Jew. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/man-of-hatred-shocks-the-land-he-calls-home-20091106-i25x.html At the risk of being extreme – I hope he rots in jail for going against everything that Judaism maintains.
Ban Ki Moon has finally urged the Lebanese Government to implement Security Council Resolution 1701 and disarm the Hezb-Allah. The Lebanese Government, however, is acting out of fear of retribution and chosen to ignore the call. How short our memories can be. Lebanon, "Pearl of the Middle East", Christian Democracy, has become a battleground which is in danger of a rout by the Moslem extremists – Hezb-Allah – Allahs Warriors. Another piece of misinformation is that the Middle East is a single fight between Moslems aka Arabs and Jews aka Israel, but this is far from the truth as the Christians of this area will tell you. Dr. George Habash, a Christian Arab from Lydda, did not understand the ever growing monster he gave birth to by aligning his FDLP with the PLO in the late '70's.
President Abbas is thinking of stepping down. His Presidency has no country and he and his would be his allies recognise that if he steps down, elections will be held and Hamas will win. It is essential to understand that Gaza and the West Bank have nothing in common. They came from different countries; they hold different views and West Bank Arabs spent a great deal of time in and with Israel learning that there is a better way. A contiguous Palestinian Authority would destroy even the minimal democracy which exists on the West Bank. For this reason, and maybe only this reason, Israel and the USA are hoping that Abbas will recant on his intentions.
Yesterday saw the dedication of the Keren Kayemet (JNF) Israeli Memorial to September 11th. We met beside Binyanei Ha Uma in Jerusalem for the short ride to the site, and inevitably leaving very late which gave me the opportunity to talk to the assembled folk and make new friends from New Jersey. We drove out of town, under the Calatrava Strings Bridge (inspired by Davids Harp and the 70 names of Jerusalem in the Tenach) toward Mevasseret Zion. At Mevasseret we turned sharply off the road and began a "Safari" through the Judean Hills arriving at the site, nestled in the hills, apparently solitary yet visible from the main Jerusalem Tel Aviv highway. The Memorial itself is a Bronze American Flag at half mast and buried underneath it in a glass box is a metal beam from te World Trade Centre. Representatives of the countries of victims of that terrible day were there and also the families of Israeli victims. Politicians spoke, poets recited and singers sang and all I could think of was of the day that America was raped of her innocence and this war was to be fought every day, at home, on her soil, not thousands of miles away.
I went to Mahane Yehuda this week! Zvi and I met our friend Rachael there for breakfast in the trendy coffee shop. Always a paradox we sat eating highly sophisticated food while the usual "tumult" of yelling costermongers, the "allo allo" of the push-carts bringing in fresh produce carried on around us as in the earlier days of this colourful market. After breakfast we went shopping. First stop was the cheese shop whose selection would satisfy any epicure. The colours are easy transmit http://images.google.co.il/images?q=mahane+yehuda+market+photos&oe=utf-8&rlz=1R1RNFA_en___IL340&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=YRv9Srn5D8igjAfdrKyLCw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQsAQwAA
But the aromas are something else – you have to be there. Have you ever smelled Hawaiij? Or fresh cinnamon sticks…not the usual neatly curled ones but the fiery broken twiggy ones which give ten times the flavour. Halva? Halva of thirty different varieties. Mangoes and passion fruit vie with papaya and guava, which in turn are overtaken as one passes the fish shop where the ladies shout out to David how they want their fish cleaned, cut and chopped and with what and in what proportions. Every time I go to Mahane Yehuda I promise myself that I will buy only what I need. I am so restrained in a supermarket but here…. every piece of fruit calls to me in its ultimate ripeness and picked-from-the-vine freshness.
The variety of people matches the variety of produce. Burkas beside men in long black garments and payot (earlocks), free spirited, miniskirted teenagers beside the "Taliban" Jewesses who cover themselves from head to toe and then put scarves over their capes so that not a single outline of their bodies is visible. Religious affiliation is expressed by style of head covering or lack of it! I pray for the day when I can freely shop in a market in Ramallah or Gaza City in the same way that the young Moslem women shop in Mahane Yehuda.
Tourism reached an all time October high for Israel. Keep coming – we want to see you all!!!!
I wish you Shabbat Shalom, Salaam and Peace from Jerusalem.
Love
Sheila
Friday 6 November 2009
Shabbat Shalom from Sheila
091106
6th November 2009.
Shabbat Shalom Dear Friends.
On the 2nd of November 1917, Lord Balfour wrote a letter to Lord Rothschild. This letter was the Balfour Declaration, the basis for the creation of the State of Israel. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/The+Balfour+Declaration.htm
Lord Balfour can rest easy that his determination to care for the small number of non-Jewish residents in that part of the land designated for the Jewish People has been heeded. Palestine (Israel and Trans-Jordan) was indeed partitioned and made into the Jewish State of Israel as declared and the Arab State of Jordan to appease the Hashemites. In a further act of appeasement to the Arabs the Jewish State was then cut further to approximately 1/10th of its originally intended size, which was still not acceptable to the Arabs who attacked, and attacked and attacked and the ultimate size of Israel is still infinitely smaller than originally intended. When the media refers to the "occupied Territories" they refer to land that Lord Balfour designated as the Jewish half of the equation.
Incredibly it is 14 years since the devastating news that our Prime Minister, Yitzchak Rabin had been shot and killed while leaving a Peace Rally in Tel Aviv. This shy man's final act as Prime Minister was to sing "Shir ha Shalom" before an audience of thousands. There are those who loved him for trying a new path, there are those who hated that path but all will agree that on that fateful day Israel lost her innocence, as Jew assassinated Jew because he disagreed with his politics. I miss the man, the leader and the innocence. We are supposed to be different.
Israeli Secret Services and the wonderful men and women of the Israeli Naval Commandos (Shayetet) uncovered an enormous arms cache hidden aboard a German ship, the Francop. The ship had undergone customs inspection in Egypt but without specific knowledge they could not have known that hidden behind bags of agricultural polyethylene was a huge arsenal. Using state of the art equipment the Israelis were able to look behind the wall of innocent looking bags to see the hidden treasures. The IDF have been able to identify the source as Iran and the intended recipients as Hezb-Allah. Of course the Syrians deny all knowledge of the armaments; but then as all of a certain age and nationality will recognise "Well they would, wouldn't they?" http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/09/11/0505.htm
The Goldstone kerfuffle continues. In a non-binding resolution in the United Nations the vote to endorse the Report were 114 for, 18 opposed and 44 abstentions, not a surprising result. Endorsed in principal by those who have something to hide in their human rights record, it allows them to enjoy respite as long as Israel is on the chopping block. Our friend Laura Ross has been commissioned as part of the United States Mission to the United Nations – a very positive move on the part of the US Government and a well deserved position for Laura.
The United States Congress, exercising due democratic process voted overwhelmingly to condemn the findings of the Report. http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=hsJPK0PIJpH&b=689705&ct=7632761 See also the Brandeis debate between Gold and Goldstone http://blog.unwatch.org/?p=514
If Israel were not at the mercy of misrepresentation and politicking the United Nations would recognise that no-one is more critical of Israeli comportment in warfare than Israel. Major Kemp was right; the IDF is the most moral of armies. The internal investigation of Operation Cast Lead was underway before we withdrew and we do not need a defunct and corrupt organisation to tell us how to clean our own house. The preliminary results are public. We have nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Law/Legal+Issues+and+Rulings/Examination_allegations_by_IDF_Oct_2009.htm
The Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah is the most recent to hit the news. The Arab residents are angry because a Jewish family has moved into the neighborhood. If that happened in any other country, that someone was denied the right to live where he chose based on colour creed or faith it would be called racism. Where have our values gone wrong? Why is the perception so distorted? The right of Arabs to live in Jewish areas is protected by law. Why can't Jews live in Arab areas? Incidentally, if you heard about the disruptions on the Temple Mount over the last short period, I would like to explain the cause. Sheikh Raeed Salah and others are convincing young Moslems that the Jews are taking over the Temple Mount and want to invade their Mosque (Al Aqsa) which has been theirs since time immemorial. We just want to be able to go to visit our Holy sites (Jews and Christians) when it is not prayer time for the Moslems. We have to put things into proportion. This country, of which these people are citizens, ensures the right to prayer and faith of all peoples. That includes us!!!
Easyjet the British bargain airline carried out their advertising campaign with great panache. The not only built Mahane Yehuda in Spittlefields Market and Tel Aviv in Trafalgar Square last month http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/experience_tel_aviv.html , they chose the 2nd of November, Balfour Day to begin their service. Israelis are not thrilled that the leg room is limited and of course, that there is no food service on board. Israelis without food – perish the thought!
Israelis are brilliant at innovation I haven't decided if it Tikkun Olam or the innate belief that we always know better!!!! http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1311023934&play=1 You really must watch this amazing interview with Dan Senor on CNBC in which he explains how Israel has managed to become a leader in business innovation. One observation which caught my eye is that not only are our young people aware of their problem solving capabilities, honed by the National Service, but their bosses understand how to utilize their skills from their service records. Dan Senor and Saul Singer wrote the book 'Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle,' http://www.startupnationbook.com/
This morning I did something I loathe, I went to the shopping mall on a Friday! Every one of the six coffee shops and the huge food hall were packed. I told you Israelis eat!!! The place is filled with the full rainbow of society – Jews of all varieties, the Haredi men trying hard not to brush up against the scantily clad young women – Israeli Arabs in a similar variety of attire, from jeans and T-shirt to full burkas, and confused tourists who didn't know that Israelis rush everywhere….. determinedly!!!
And so to bed…. Jerusalem is now slowing down. Zvi and his friends are at the Angel's coffee shop, in the petrol station, noisily putting the world to rights the typical Friday lunchtime pastime for people of a certain age, men and women. The car park of the Mall is thinning out, the streets emptying and the citizens heading toward a light lunch and bed. Aah siesta – such a clever invention! As usual I still have a few last minute delicacies to prepare to surprise Zvi's wonderful 96 year old mother. She may not remember what she ate but she will enjoy it at the time.
We wish you Shabbat Shalom and much love from our beautiful City of Gold.
With much love
Sheila
6th November 2009.
Shabbat Shalom Dear Friends.
On the 2nd of November 1917, Lord Balfour wrote a letter to Lord Rothschild. This letter was the Balfour Declaration, the basis for the creation of the State of Israel. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/The+Balfour+Declaration.htm
Lord Balfour can rest easy that his determination to care for the small number of non-Jewish residents in that part of the land designated for the Jewish People has been heeded. Palestine (Israel and Trans-Jordan) was indeed partitioned and made into the Jewish State of Israel as declared and the Arab State of Jordan to appease the Hashemites. In a further act of appeasement to the Arabs the Jewish State was then cut further to approximately 1/10th of its originally intended size, which was still not acceptable to the Arabs who attacked, and attacked and attacked and the ultimate size of Israel is still infinitely smaller than originally intended. When the media refers to the "occupied Territories" they refer to land that Lord Balfour designated as the Jewish half of the equation.
Incredibly it is 14 years since the devastating news that our Prime Minister, Yitzchak Rabin had been shot and killed while leaving a Peace Rally in Tel Aviv. This shy man's final act as Prime Minister was to sing "Shir ha Shalom" before an audience of thousands. There are those who loved him for trying a new path, there are those who hated that path but all will agree that on that fateful day Israel lost her innocence, as Jew assassinated Jew because he disagreed with his politics. I miss the man, the leader and the innocence. We are supposed to be different.
Israeli Secret Services and the wonderful men and women of the Israeli Naval Commandos (Shayetet) uncovered an enormous arms cache hidden aboard a German ship, the Francop. The ship had undergone customs inspection in Egypt but without specific knowledge they could not have known that hidden behind bags of agricultural polyethylene was a huge arsenal. Using state of the art equipment the Israelis were able to look behind the wall of innocent looking bags to see the hidden treasures. The IDF have been able to identify the source as Iran and the intended recipients as Hezb-Allah. Of course the Syrians deny all knowledge of the armaments; but then as all of a certain age and nationality will recognise "Well they would, wouldn't they?" http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/09/11/0505.htm
The Goldstone kerfuffle continues. In a non-binding resolution in the United Nations the vote to endorse the Report were 114 for, 18 opposed and 44 abstentions, not a surprising result. Endorsed in principal by those who have something to hide in their human rights record, it allows them to enjoy respite as long as Israel is on the chopping block. Our friend Laura Ross has been commissioned as part of the United States Mission to the United Nations – a very positive move on the part of the US Government and a well deserved position for Laura.
The United States Congress, exercising due democratic process voted overwhelmingly to condemn the findings of the Report. http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=hsJPK0PIJpH&b=689705&ct=7632761 See also the Brandeis debate between Gold and Goldstone http://blog.unwatch.org/?p=514
If Israel were not at the mercy of misrepresentation and politicking the United Nations would recognise that no-one is more critical of Israeli comportment in warfare than Israel. Major Kemp was right; the IDF is the most moral of armies. The internal investigation of Operation Cast Lead was underway before we withdrew and we do not need a defunct and corrupt organisation to tell us how to clean our own house. The preliminary results are public. We have nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Law/Legal+Issues+and+Rulings/Examination_allegations_by_IDF_Oct_2009.htm
The Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah is the most recent to hit the news. The Arab residents are angry because a Jewish family has moved into the neighborhood. If that happened in any other country, that someone was denied the right to live where he chose based on colour creed or faith it would be called racism. Where have our values gone wrong? Why is the perception so distorted? The right of Arabs to live in Jewish areas is protected by law. Why can't Jews live in Arab areas? Incidentally, if you heard about the disruptions on the Temple Mount over the last short period, I would like to explain the cause. Sheikh Raeed Salah and others are convincing young Moslems that the Jews are taking over the Temple Mount and want to invade their Mosque (Al Aqsa) which has been theirs since time immemorial. We just want to be able to go to visit our Holy sites (Jews and Christians) when it is not prayer time for the Moslems. We have to put things into proportion. This country, of which these people are citizens, ensures the right to prayer and faith of all peoples. That includes us!!!
Easyjet the British bargain airline carried out their advertising campaign with great panache. The not only built Mahane Yehuda in Spittlefields Market and Tel Aviv in Trafalgar Square last month http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/experience_tel_aviv.html , they chose the 2nd of November, Balfour Day to begin their service. Israelis are not thrilled that the leg room is limited and of course, that there is no food service on board. Israelis without food – perish the thought!
Israelis are brilliant at innovation I haven't decided if it Tikkun Olam or the innate belief that we always know better!!!! http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1311023934&play=1 You really must watch this amazing interview with Dan Senor on CNBC in which he explains how Israel has managed to become a leader in business innovation. One observation which caught my eye is that not only are our young people aware of their problem solving capabilities, honed by the National Service, but their bosses understand how to utilize their skills from their service records. Dan Senor and Saul Singer wrote the book 'Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle,' http://www.startupnationbook.com/
This morning I did something I loathe, I went to the shopping mall on a Friday! Every one of the six coffee shops and the huge food hall were packed. I told you Israelis eat!!! The place is filled with the full rainbow of society – Jews of all varieties, the Haredi men trying hard not to brush up against the scantily clad young women – Israeli Arabs in a similar variety of attire, from jeans and T-shirt to full burkas, and confused tourists who didn't know that Israelis rush everywhere….. determinedly!!!
And so to bed…. Jerusalem is now slowing down. Zvi and his friends are at the Angel's coffee shop, in the petrol station, noisily putting the world to rights the typical Friday lunchtime pastime for people of a certain age, men and women. The car park of the Mall is thinning out, the streets emptying and the citizens heading toward a light lunch and bed. Aah siesta – such a clever invention! As usual I still have a few last minute delicacies to prepare to surprise Zvi's wonderful 96 year old mother. She may not remember what she ate but she will enjoy it at the time.
We wish you Shabbat Shalom and much love from our beautiful City of Gold.
With much love
Sheila
Thursday 5 November 2009
Sunday 1 November 2009
Soviet Jewry - 40 years after
091000
October 2009
40 years have passed since the first National Union of Israeli Students demonstrations organised by a few determined leaders at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, demonstrations which acted as a catalyst to challenge the Israeli Government and Jewish Agency to initiate the worldwide campaign for Soviet Jewry. As always, the heroes remain uncelebrated while others take the credit. "Success has many parents whereas failure is an orphan" and this is one of the greatest success stories of our time.
In May 1969, while both were students at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Yona Yahav, then National Chairman of the National Union of Israeli Students, approached Zvi Raviv asking him to form a committee to take on the concerns of the Jews in Russia who were being persecuted. Raviv was surprised and unaware of the problem so Yona Yahav arranged for them to meet a new Russian immigrant in Tel Aviv. Raviv agreed, on condition that they do not waste the entire night and made dates later in the evening. They went to Tel Aviv where they met Dov (Boris) Sperling. The stories that Sperling told of the situation for Jews in the Soviet Union held them spellbound, so much so that they forgot their dates. Dov told the young men tales of persecution and exile on long train journeys to freezing Siberia, stories which awoke their inherited memory of times not long past when Jews were persecuted then taken on train journeys to the gas chambers.
On their return to Jerusalem they reflected upon the tales of oppression and persecution and they seemed far fetched to the two young men and they spent the next several weeks researching and checking every detail, finding to their amazement that Dov Sperling had not exaggerated one detail. It was all true. What disturbed them even more was that the Government of the State of Israel, well aware of the terrible situation, was doing nothing overt to declare the situation, other than some minor covert activity and polite diplomatic moves.
Zvi and Yonah understood that the need to save the Jews of the Soviet Union was paramount. They began a movement among the students of the Hebrew University. They led the students in demonstrations, carrying huge banners proclaiming "Let My People Go" echoing Moses' biblical proclamation to free the Children of Israel. Their intention to halt studies for one hour by calling out the entire student body to demonstrate disturbed the Dean of the University who called Zvi to his rooms. He told him that they could not demonstrate on University land and disrupt the daily curriculum; the planned hour-long demonstration of tomorrow had to be cancelled. Faced by this force of authority, Raviv simply suggested that if the University banned the demonstration the student body would be called to strike for an entire day. The Dean decided that an hour-long demonstration was preferable.
The one hour student demonstration was broadcast live on the popular show "B'Chatzi ha Yom ( At noon) and the size and volume of the demonstration reached the Secret Services (Shabak) who contacted the three ringleaders telling them to cease and desist from their demonstrations. Undaunted, the three asked for a meeting with the PM. To their surprise the call came to come to the Prime Minister’s Office for a twenty minute meeting. They walked in, three strapping young men, Zvi Raviv, Yona Yahav and Avi Plaskow (z"l) faced by this tiny, but formidable woman. Mrs. Meir explained to them that the Government of Israel had chosen the quiet diplomatic route to help the Jews of the Soviet Union since it was unwise to make waves and endanger the Jews under the communist regime. She then politely dismissed them, believing her words to have hit their target. She was mistaken.
"Mrs Meir", said Raviv, "We will continue demonstrating and carrying posters and sending out postcards, because in twenty years time, when I will have children and they will ask me what I did to save the Jews of the Soviet Union, I want to have an answer, unlike my father’s generation who did nothing and so we lost six million Jews"
"You do not know your history, young man" responded Mrs Meir surprised at this insolence "We sent in paratroopers".
"Actually, Ma'am, I am a history major. We sent in 37 paratroopers most of whom did not manage to reach the ground safely", Raviv retorted.
"But then we didn't have a country" defended Mrs Meir.
"Now we do", said Raviv.
Raviv incredulously recognised the fear of standing out and standing up as a Jew, right here in the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel. 20 years after the Holocaust, Prime Minister Golda Meir had not yet absorbed the fact that there was a Jewish State and her Diaspora mentality was obsolete. His words had shocked her into acknowledgment.
Mrs. Meir invited them back into her office asking them a hundred questions as to strategy, feasibility, education, absorption of such a large number of possible immigrants. To each question Yona Yahav (currently Mayor of the City of Haifa) pulled out a file of calculations and suggestions. Instead of the 20 minutes allotted to them they stayed in the Prime Minister’s Office for nearly an hour and a half. As they left, feeling justified in their chutzpah, they understood the gravity with which Mrs. Meir took their words when they saw who she kept waiting. Outside her office were a very impatient Vice-Premier Yigal Alon and Head of the Mossad Zvi Zamir, somewhat surprised to see three students leave her office on such warm terms with the PM.
Three days later Mrs Meir’s private personal secretary, Adi Yafe, called Yona Yahav to inform the students’ organisation that a paper had been placed before the Cabinet in a special session and an extraordinary vote had been taken to "go public" in the State of Israel’s fight to save Soviet Jewry and bring them home.
The Prime Minister agreed to appear on the same stage as former Refuseniks and to openly advocate the immigration of Jews from the Soviet Union to Israel. The Government of Israel stood behind its words diplomatically, financially and emotionally
The campaign went world-wide and communities and organisations, including the 35's, began to pressurise the Soviet Government under the banner of "Let My People Go", silent vigils at Russian cultural events, sending post-cards to Russian Embassies demanding the freedom to leave and the wonderful SACSJ "Hands across the Embassies" in London. In 1977 while with Keren Hayesod Zvi organised the first "Yachdav" Mission of young leaders from different 30 countries. He met Avital Scharansky who told him of her husband Anatoly’s imprisonment and impending exile to Siberia. Zvi invited Avital to speak before Yachdav giving her her first platform before an international audience. Avital went on to speak to hundreds of audiences around the world and her determination to free Anatoly (Natan) Scharansky became symbolic of the struggle for all Soviet Jews.
During his time at Keren Hayesod, the fundraising arm of the Jewish Agency, Zvi spoke throughout the world to raise awareness of the plight of the Soviet Jews. He worked with communities in the four corners of the globe to raise funds to enable Jews to come home. The "Let my people go" posters led demonstrations all over the world. The lobbying of international diplomats encouraged Perestroyka and allowed the Jews to leave for home. The dream was fulfilled in 1990 when the trickle of Jews coming home from the FSU became a flood, culminating in over a million new Israeli citizens and over half a million free citizens in other countries of their choice.
In 1991 Zvi Raviv went to Moscow with a group of Keren Hayesod leaders from around the world. As they reached Red Square he took something out of his pocket and unraveled a huge Israeli Flag. The group of people stood to be photographed in Red Square, Moscow proudly flying an Israeli flag, next to the Kremlin, not knowing that the man who set the wheels in motion here in Israel was the one with the flag in his pocket.
Two American tourists passing by were heard to say "Now I have seen everything"!
There are many people throughout the world who worked with zeal and devotion to bring the plight of Soviet Jews to the public notice of their countries – too many to mention, but there was a genesis within Israel that deserves recognition. A genesis that enriched and enlarged our little country with fine scientists, doctors, artists and a whole new generation of Israelis. Israel is a richer country for that day in October 1969 when three students with a great deal of Chutzpah and a strong memory of the unthinkable disaster that befell the silent Jewish people just over 20 years previously, set the wheels of history in motion.
Ultimately the true heroes of this story are the hundreds of Jews within the FSU who spearheaded the fight because they were willing to stand up and speak out for all Soviet Jews and place themselves in unthinkable danger so that they could fulfill their dream to be recognised as Jews with the right to openly practice Judaism and above all, to emigrate to Israel, to come home.
October 2009
40 years have passed since the first National Union of Israeli Students demonstrations organised by a few determined leaders at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, demonstrations which acted as a catalyst to challenge the Israeli Government and Jewish Agency to initiate the worldwide campaign for Soviet Jewry. As always, the heroes remain uncelebrated while others take the credit. "Success has many parents whereas failure is an orphan" and this is one of the greatest success stories of our time.
In May 1969, while both were students at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Yona Yahav, then National Chairman of the National Union of Israeli Students, approached Zvi Raviv asking him to form a committee to take on the concerns of the Jews in Russia who were being persecuted. Raviv was surprised and unaware of the problem so Yona Yahav arranged for them to meet a new Russian immigrant in Tel Aviv. Raviv agreed, on condition that they do not waste the entire night and made dates later in the evening. They went to Tel Aviv where they met Dov (Boris) Sperling. The stories that Sperling told of the situation for Jews in the Soviet Union held them spellbound, so much so that they forgot their dates. Dov told the young men tales of persecution and exile on long train journeys to freezing Siberia, stories which awoke their inherited memory of times not long past when Jews were persecuted then taken on train journeys to the gas chambers.
On their return to Jerusalem they reflected upon the tales of oppression and persecution and they seemed far fetched to the two young men and they spent the next several weeks researching and checking every detail, finding to their amazement that Dov Sperling had not exaggerated one detail. It was all true. What disturbed them even more was that the Government of the State of Israel, well aware of the terrible situation, was doing nothing overt to declare the situation, other than some minor covert activity and polite diplomatic moves.
Zvi and Yonah understood that the need to save the Jews of the Soviet Union was paramount. They began a movement among the students of the Hebrew University. They led the students in demonstrations, carrying huge banners proclaiming "Let My People Go" echoing Moses' biblical proclamation to free the Children of Israel. Their intention to halt studies for one hour by calling out the entire student body to demonstrate disturbed the Dean of the University who called Zvi to his rooms. He told him that they could not demonstrate on University land and disrupt the daily curriculum; the planned hour-long demonstration of tomorrow had to be cancelled. Faced by this force of authority, Raviv simply suggested that if the University banned the demonstration the student body would be called to strike for an entire day. The Dean decided that an hour-long demonstration was preferable.
The one hour student demonstration was broadcast live on the popular show "B'Chatzi ha Yom ( At noon) and the size and volume of the demonstration reached the Secret Services (Shabak) who contacted the three ringleaders telling them to cease and desist from their demonstrations. Undaunted, the three asked for a meeting with the PM. To their surprise the call came to come to the Prime Minister’s Office for a twenty minute meeting. They walked in, three strapping young men, Zvi Raviv, Yona Yahav and Avi Plaskow (z"l) faced by this tiny, but formidable woman. Mrs. Meir explained to them that the Government of Israel had chosen the quiet diplomatic route to help the Jews of the Soviet Union since it was unwise to make waves and endanger the Jews under the communist regime. She then politely dismissed them, believing her words to have hit their target. She was mistaken.
"Mrs Meir", said Raviv, "We will continue demonstrating and carrying posters and sending out postcards, because in twenty years time, when I will have children and they will ask me what I did to save the Jews of the Soviet Union, I want to have an answer, unlike my father’s generation who did nothing and so we lost six million Jews"
"You do not know your history, young man" responded Mrs Meir surprised at this insolence "We sent in paratroopers".
"Actually, Ma'am, I am a history major. We sent in 37 paratroopers most of whom did not manage to reach the ground safely", Raviv retorted.
"But then we didn't have a country" defended Mrs Meir.
"Now we do", said Raviv.
Raviv incredulously recognised the fear of standing out and standing up as a Jew, right here in the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel. 20 years after the Holocaust, Prime Minister Golda Meir had not yet absorbed the fact that there was a Jewish State and her Diaspora mentality was obsolete. His words had shocked her into acknowledgment.
Mrs. Meir invited them back into her office asking them a hundred questions as to strategy, feasibility, education, absorption of such a large number of possible immigrants. To each question Yona Yahav (currently Mayor of the City of Haifa) pulled out a file of calculations and suggestions. Instead of the 20 minutes allotted to them they stayed in the Prime Minister’s Office for nearly an hour and a half. As they left, feeling justified in their chutzpah, they understood the gravity with which Mrs. Meir took their words when they saw who she kept waiting. Outside her office were a very impatient Vice-Premier Yigal Alon and Head of the Mossad Zvi Zamir, somewhat surprised to see three students leave her office on such warm terms with the PM.
Three days later Mrs Meir’s private personal secretary, Adi Yafe, called Yona Yahav to inform the students’ organisation that a paper had been placed before the Cabinet in a special session and an extraordinary vote had been taken to "go public" in the State of Israel’s fight to save Soviet Jewry and bring them home.
The Prime Minister agreed to appear on the same stage as former Refuseniks and to openly advocate the immigration of Jews from the Soviet Union to Israel. The Government of Israel stood behind its words diplomatically, financially and emotionally
The campaign went world-wide and communities and organisations, including the 35's, began to pressurise the Soviet Government under the banner of "Let My People Go", silent vigils at Russian cultural events, sending post-cards to Russian Embassies demanding the freedom to leave and the wonderful SACSJ "Hands across the Embassies" in London. In 1977 while with Keren Hayesod Zvi organised the first "Yachdav" Mission of young leaders from different 30 countries. He met Avital Scharansky who told him of her husband Anatoly’s imprisonment and impending exile to Siberia. Zvi invited Avital to speak before Yachdav giving her her first platform before an international audience. Avital went on to speak to hundreds of audiences around the world and her determination to free Anatoly (Natan) Scharansky became symbolic of the struggle for all Soviet Jews.
During his time at Keren Hayesod, the fundraising arm of the Jewish Agency, Zvi spoke throughout the world to raise awareness of the plight of the Soviet Jews. He worked with communities in the four corners of the globe to raise funds to enable Jews to come home. The "Let my people go" posters led demonstrations all over the world. The lobbying of international diplomats encouraged Perestroyka and allowed the Jews to leave for home. The dream was fulfilled in 1990 when the trickle of Jews coming home from the FSU became a flood, culminating in over a million new Israeli citizens and over half a million free citizens in other countries of their choice.
In 1991 Zvi Raviv went to Moscow with a group of Keren Hayesod leaders from around the world. As they reached Red Square he took something out of his pocket and unraveled a huge Israeli Flag. The group of people stood to be photographed in Red Square, Moscow proudly flying an Israeli flag, next to the Kremlin, not knowing that the man who set the wheels in motion here in Israel was the one with the flag in his pocket.
Two American tourists passing by were heard to say "Now I have seen everything"!
There are many people throughout the world who worked with zeal and devotion to bring the plight of Soviet Jews to the public notice of their countries – too many to mention, but there was a genesis within Israel that deserves recognition. A genesis that enriched and enlarged our little country with fine scientists, doctors, artists and a whole new generation of Israelis. Israel is a richer country for that day in October 1969 when three students with a great deal of Chutzpah and a strong memory of the unthinkable disaster that befell the silent Jewish people just over 20 years previously, set the wheels of history in motion.
Ultimately the true heroes of this story are the hundreds of Jews within the FSU who spearheaded the fight because they were willing to stand up and speak out for all Soviet Jews and place themselves in unthinkable danger so that they could fulfill their dream to be recognised as Jews with the right to openly practice Judaism and above all, to emigrate to Israel, to come home.
Monday 26 October 2009
Mid-week update - Bombing of St Georges
091026
26th October 2009.
Yesterday a huge bomb exploded outside Canon Andrew White's Church in Baghdad. Andrew reports that at least 132 people died and 600 were injured in this horrific blast. The damage to the church would have been far greater had a storm not blown down a huge tree at the entrance to the day before protecting the interior.
Thank G-d Andrew is safe and as far as he is able to ascertain, his staff is too.
We have become too inured to death in other parts of the world. We have become too inured to the fact that most of these horrific events are religion based. The world cannot continue as we know it if any religion, or sector of it, believes it must kill to prove it has the answer.
Life for the citizens of Baghdad became just a little bit more peaceful for a short period but now the terrorists believe they are about to win and their confidence has given them the freedom to kill.
We wish Andrew a peaceful day in which to bury those who lost their lives in this sectarian insanity and the strength to carry on.
www.frrme.org
26th October 2009.
Yesterday a huge bomb exploded outside Canon Andrew White's Church in Baghdad. Andrew reports that at least 132 people died and 600 were injured in this horrific blast. The damage to the church would have been far greater had a storm not blown down a huge tree at the entrance to the day before protecting the interior.
Thank G-d Andrew is safe and as far as he is able to ascertain, his staff is too.
We have become too inured to death in other parts of the world. We have become too inured to the fact that most of these horrific events are religion based. The world cannot continue as we know it if any religion, or sector of it, believes it must kill to prove it has the answer.
Life for the citizens of Baghdad became just a little bit more peaceful for a short period but now the terrorists believe they are about to win and their confidence has given them the freedom to kill.
We wish Andrew a peaceful day in which to bury those who lost their lives in this sectarian insanity and the strength to carry on.
www.frrme.org
Friday 23 October 2009
Shabbat Shalom from Sheila
091023
23rd October 2009.
Shabbat Shalom!
There are a few events in ones life which stand out above all others in their excellence and quality – the 2009 Presidents Conference on Tomorrow is one.
President Shimon Peres spoke from his heart http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2009/Pres_Peres_addresses_Israeli_Presidential_Conference_20-Oct-2009.htm as he gathered an array of brilliant minds to find solutions to today's problems for a better tomorrow. They came because President Peres is a most singular man, an exceptional diplomat, a great statesman and an impressive mind – some of you may disagree with his politics - but his magnetic ability to initiate and accept new opinions and thoughts into his wide comprehension makes him a unique being in a sphere which does not pay compliments with ease. Above all, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said, he is a determined and proud Zionist.
Prime Minister Netanyahu made two very important statements hidden in his welcoming speech. One that within 10 years solar energy will be a feasible energy resource which will replace our dependency upon fossil fuels and that he is immediately forming a think tank committee to ensure his prediction come to fruition. The second was a call to Abu Mazen to take up the challenge of telling his people the truth – everything on the table – and bring them to peace. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2009/Speech_PM_Netanyahu_President_Conference_20-Oct-2009.htm
Tony Blair brought rare humour to a serious Conference http://www.presidentconf.org.il/en/ (click on is picture under the main screen).
Professor Irwin Cotler, Efraim Halevy, Mort Zuckerman sat on a panel chaired by Dr. John Ruskay, to help us understand everything from why there is an international law against genocide of which the caring agencies of the world barely avail themselves, to the threat from Iran; The inimitable Dov Maimon, a deeply religious Jew encourages and embraces diversity of thought and belief; Zhang Qianhong a Chinese Jewish Studies professor who wrote the book "History of Israel"; Susan Rice, the US Ambassador to the United Nations gave a long but impressive speech, until she used the "O" word (occupation) and was surprised when her words thereafter were less acceptable! Young men who have already changed our future by creating Slide, Paypal, Wikipedia, Skype sat on a panel with moguls of advertising and media explaining how to utilize the web to reach our goals.
The educated opinion is that Iran is more scared of Israel than Israel of Iran (to say nothing of the USA) and the Tarzan-like chest beating of Ahmedinejad is to garner popularity inside Iran. Every time Iran hears from outside sources that Israel considers bombing their nuclear facilities it increases his sense of self-importance.
One of the most impressive panels was that of moderate Moslems who see the future so differently to their radical counterparts.
The world economy; the cyber-world; the increased importance of China and India in the world scene; security and the threat of international terror; Israel's place in this world and this world's place in Israel; a greener and kinder future and how to achieve all of the above. Great minds appeared on the platforms of Binyanei Ha Uma in Jerusalem and did so much more than discuss, they used their infinite abilities to find answers. Ambassadors and Ministers from many, many countries came to hear wisdom in the hope of taking thoughts back to their countries.
You may laugh, but my greatest moment came as I was walking upstairs to the Ladies!!!! Walking downstairs was Professor Ada Yonath! I almost fell as I leaned forward to shake her hand on her incredible achievement of winning a Nobel Prize for her undaunting work. She of course was more concerned that I remain upright than any compliment given. What a woman!!! I have other quieter heroes who do not go in for public speaking but support others in their determination to better the world. The marvelous Dan David without whom so many projects could not get off the ground and my old friend Lord Stone who quietly searched out others who want to find peaceful and green solutions. I cannot even begin to talk of the marvelous people I met in the corridors and halls, but it must be said that President Peres created a truly amazing Conference – as only he could.
My brain was hurting as the Conference drew to an end last night. I must step back to understand how the multitude of views expressed augur our future.
Leaving the Conference for a short while, Zvi spoke before and I met with wonderful people of the New York Federation who are working to find a new paradigm for the relationship between the Diaspora and Israel to entice the next generation of Jewish leadership on both sides of the Atlantic to present a strong future. Dr. John Ruskay spoke at both occasions and we were deeply impressed by his depth of knowledge and insight and ability to present his thoughts.
As you can imagine I did not have time to look at my beautiful Jerusalem outside although the Jerusalem in the Conference was no less impressive. The attendees spoke of our city with such love, Jews, Christians and Moslems alike. This isn't "just another city" this is Jerusalem, Yerushalyim, Ir Shalem, Shiloh, Ariel a city so important, beautiful, spiritual and meaningful that it has another 65 names in the Tenach.
Today is already Friday and we have guests for Friday night supper and the traditional – or less than traditional – meal must be prepared! I have not even opened the blinds to look at the veranda – thank heaven for yet another Israeli invention – drip irrigation- so my plants and flowers have survived!
Next week is the Jewish Agency Board of Governors Assembly and Zvi and I will miss the lovely Lester Rosenberg of Chicago and wish him a speedy and ongoing recovery – we need you Lester!
With much love from Jerusalem as she slows down and enters into the wondrous peace of Shabbat
Sheila
23rd October 2009.
Shabbat Shalom!
There are a few events in ones life which stand out above all others in their excellence and quality – the 2009 Presidents Conference on Tomorrow is one.
President Shimon Peres spoke from his heart http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2009/Pres_Peres_addresses_Israeli_Presidential_Conference_20-Oct-2009.htm as he gathered an array of brilliant minds to find solutions to today's problems for a better tomorrow. They came because President Peres is a most singular man, an exceptional diplomat, a great statesman and an impressive mind – some of you may disagree with his politics - but his magnetic ability to initiate and accept new opinions and thoughts into his wide comprehension makes him a unique being in a sphere which does not pay compliments with ease. Above all, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said, he is a determined and proud Zionist.
Prime Minister Netanyahu made two very important statements hidden in his welcoming speech. One that within 10 years solar energy will be a feasible energy resource which will replace our dependency upon fossil fuels and that he is immediately forming a think tank committee to ensure his prediction come to fruition. The second was a call to Abu Mazen to take up the challenge of telling his people the truth – everything on the table – and bring them to peace. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Speeches+by+Israeli+leaders/2009/Speech_PM_Netanyahu_President_Conference_20-Oct-2009.htm
Tony Blair brought rare humour to a serious Conference http://www.presidentconf.org.il/en/ (click on is picture under the main screen).
Professor Irwin Cotler, Efraim Halevy, Mort Zuckerman sat on a panel chaired by Dr. John Ruskay, to help us understand everything from why there is an international law against genocide of which the caring agencies of the world barely avail themselves, to the threat from Iran; The inimitable Dov Maimon, a deeply religious Jew encourages and embraces diversity of thought and belief; Zhang Qianhong a Chinese Jewish Studies professor who wrote the book "History of Israel"; Susan Rice, the US Ambassador to the United Nations gave a long but impressive speech, until she used the "O" word (occupation) and was surprised when her words thereafter were less acceptable! Young men who have already changed our future by creating Slide, Paypal, Wikipedia, Skype sat on a panel with moguls of advertising and media explaining how to utilize the web to reach our goals.
The educated opinion is that Iran is more scared of Israel than Israel of Iran (to say nothing of the USA) and the Tarzan-like chest beating of Ahmedinejad is to garner popularity inside Iran. Every time Iran hears from outside sources that Israel considers bombing their nuclear facilities it increases his sense of self-importance.
One of the most impressive panels was that of moderate Moslems who see the future so differently to their radical counterparts.
The world economy; the cyber-world; the increased importance of China and India in the world scene; security and the threat of international terror; Israel's place in this world and this world's place in Israel; a greener and kinder future and how to achieve all of the above. Great minds appeared on the platforms of Binyanei Ha Uma in Jerusalem and did so much more than discuss, they used their infinite abilities to find answers. Ambassadors and Ministers from many, many countries came to hear wisdom in the hope of taking thoughts back to their countries.
You may laugh, but my greatest moment came as I was walking upstairs to the Ladies!!!! Walking downstairs was Professor Ada Yonath! I almost fell as I leaned forward to shake her hand on her incredible achievement of winning a Nobel Prize for her undaunting work. She of course was more concerned that I remain upright than any compliment given. What a woman!!! I have other quieter heroes who do not go in for public speaking but support others in their determination to better the world. The marvelous Dan David without whom so many projects could not get off the ground and my old friend Lord Stone who quietly searched out others who want to find peaceful and green solutions. I cannot even begin to talk of the marvelous people I met in the corridors and halls, but it must be said that President Peres created a truly amazing Conference – as only he could.
My brain was hurting as the Conference drew to an end last night. I must step back to understand how the multitude of views expressed augur our future.
Leaving the Conference for a short while, Zvi spoke before and I met with wonderful people of the New York Federation who are working to find a new paradigm for the relationship between the Diaspora and Israel to entice the next generation of Jewish leadership on both sides of the Atlantic to present a strong future. Dr. John Ruskay spoke at both occasions and we were deeply impressed by his depth of knowledge and insight and ability to present his thoughts.
As you can imagine I did not have time to look at my beautiful Jerusalem outside although the Jerusalem in the Conference was no less impressive. The attendees spoke of our city with such love, Jews, Christians and Moslems alike. This isn't "just another city" this is Jerusalem, Yerushalyim, Ir Shalem, Shiloh, Ariel a city so important, beautiful, spiritual and meaningful that it has another 65 names in the Tenach.
Today is already Friday and we have guests for Friday night supper and the traditional – or less than traditional – meal must be prepared! I have not even opened the blinds to look at the veranda – thank heaven for yet another Israeli invention – drip irrigation- so my plants and flowers have survived!
Next week is the Jewish Agency Board of Governors Assembly and Zvi and I will miss the lovely Lester Rosenberg of Chicago and wish him a speedy and ongoing recovery – we need you Lester!
With much love from Jerusalem as she slows down and enters into the wondrous peace of Shabbat
Sheila
Friday 16 October 2009
Shabbat Shalom from Sheila
091015
15th October 2009
Shabbat Shalom to friends all over the world – Jew, Christian and Moslem. Peace, Paz, Shalom, Salaam.
Last week I alluded to meetings held between PM Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas during which Abbas encouraged Israel to go into Gaza and wipe out Hamas – at whatever human cost. I was unable to find proof, other than my husbands own eyes. Finally I found an English translation of the Ma'ariv article. Something has caused Abbas to do an about-turn on the Goldstone report, but here is the article. http://www.counterfire.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2107:fatah-urged-continuation-of-gaza-massacre&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=53
President Obama is upset that Fox News is unkind to him and stated in an interview that it is hard to hear bad reports all day long. George W. Bush withstood unprecedented criticism and ridicule for eight years. In 1949 President Harry S. Truman warned his staff not to concern themselves over criticism about their appointments: "I'll stand by you but if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen."
Some of you were surprised that I did not write to bemoan the decision to bestow the Nobel Peace Prize on President Obama. The prize is bestowed upon long-serving public figures who have given their lives to diplomacy and toiled endlessly to bring about peace, for “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people and pursuit of peace”, it is not a reward for being President of the United States! Ambassador Yoram Ettinger http://yoramettinger.newsnet.co.il explained that unlike the other Prizes this is at the behest of politicians not the Nobel committee! Thorbjorn Jagland, former Prime Minister of Norway and Ex-President James Carter pushed their last minute candidate upon a surprised committee and surprised recipient. http://yoramettinger.newsnet.co.il/Front/NewsNet/reports.asp?reportId=274007 Jimmy Carter wins again.
The United Kingdom became the first Western country with voting rights on the UN Human Rights Council to clearly state that it would not endorse the Goldstone Report or the draft resolution based on that report, which had been placed before the council's two-day special session that opened Thursday in Geneva. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1255547727737&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
Yet again Israel was the first country to send aid to disaster areas. The Philippines suffered another disaster from huge tidal waves which wiped out entire areas ncludng the capital Manila. Israel, under permanent threat from her neighbours and from the UN and Western "do-gooders" is always the first on the scene whatever the natural disaster. We are not insular; we are by nature an ebullient, generous country with experts trained by necessity who now reach out to help others. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1255450643472&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Im Tirtzu http://imti.org.il/show_art.php?id=18 is a student organization which describes itself as moderate neo-Zionist and is doing excellent work on Campus to confound Israel's detractors. They also have a wonderful line in T-shirts!!!! http://www.cafepress.com/imti
Some people talk about their dreams while others fulfill them. Andrew Rogers, of Melbourne Australia, fulfills his dreams in a spectacular manner. He travels the world building enormous creations, some 2 kilometres across. http://www.andrewrogers.org/ Andrew's works can be seen in Turkey and he expressed concern over the strained relations between Turkey and Israel. Diplomatically Turkey is moving closer to the rogue Moslem states and turning away from the West and the principles of Attaturk. Prime Minister Erdogan's attempts to demonise Israel were not filtering through to the Turkish people so he used the media to reach out. He commissioned a television series to appeal to the ordinary people, a series which has shocked Israel to the very core portraying the IDF in horrific scenes of carnage and oppression. The only thing missing from the video is a hook-nosed, bearded Jew drooling over the blood of children. This report includes two videos from the series. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1255547725070
Israelis are shocked because those self-same IDF soldiers who are depicted as cold-blooded killers are those IDF whose rescue teams rushed to the aid of Turkish civilians following the devastating earthquake of 1999.
Tel Aviv comes to London! Leicester (pronounced Lester) Square and was transformed into Bohemian Tel Aviv Spitalfields Market became Mahane Yehuda as easyjet, a bargain airline company, announced their new route from London to Tel Aviv. http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/experience_tel_aviv.html Israeli Ambassador to the Court of St. James Ron Prosor was happy to join the events, probably in search of falafel and a good coffee!!!
I went to Mahane Yehuda yesterday! When my friend Judith called me up and suggested going to the shouk I moved so quickly I didn't even hang up the phone!!! Gosh I love that place and now is the season that I love it most of all. The fruit and vegetables are at their prime- fresh, seasonal and local every bite fulfilling the promise of the flavour that nature intended. Judith and I have specific vendors for specific items, the courgettes from one, the fresh green herbs from another and the firm peppers, red, yellow, purple, orange and two shades of green, from the third. Fish can only come from "David Dagim" who has fresh fish from Europe as well as from the Red Sea. David knows how to mince exactly the right combinations for the various cultures – on condition you bring him one to taste after cooking!! I admit avoiding those fishmongers where the still live carp are liable to jump out of their boxes onto your feet! Most amazing are the fruits, piled high teasing ones senses with unbeatable sun ripened succulence as if freshly plucked from the tree or vine. A profusion of dried fruits beckon – their sticky sweet/sour smell heralding their appearance long before they appear. My favourite is the sun-dried pineapple, nothing added the flavour explodes in your mouth. Cheeses galore, spices in abundance, olives in wine, oil, spicy and plain, Judaica, a cornucopia of Jewish life each costermonger bellowing out his wares as the finest! We rested in the very fashionable coffee shop and I had the best sandwich I can ever remember!!! Freshly baked croissant filled with finely sliced Brie and pear……delicious – of course washed down with an incomparable Café Hafuch!
So dear friends, Zvi has just taken his little grand-daughter to explore and enjoy the Bloomfield Science Museum and I am finishing off the Shabbat preparations. Most of the treasures bought in the shouk are now transformed into our Shabbes meals. The white tablecloth is on the table and I am getting ready to sit out on our veranda with a good cup of coffee and watch Jerusalem slow down, grow more peaceful as the beautiful bride of the Sabbath brings a quiet serenity to the Golden City.
I wish you Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem.
With love
Sheila
15th October 2009
Shabbat Shalom to friends all over the world – Jew, Christian and Moslem. Peace, Paz, Shalom, Salaam.
Last week I alluded to meetings held between PM Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas during which Abbas encouraged Israel to go into Gaza and wipe out Hamas – at whatever human cost. I was unable to find proof, other than my husbands own eyes. Finally I found an English translation of the Ma'ariv article. Something has caused Abbas to do an about-turn on the Goldstone report, but here is the article. http://www.counterfire.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2107:fatah-urged-continuation-of-gaza-massacre&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=53
President Obama is upset that Fox News is unkind to him and stated in an interview that it is hard to hear bad reports all day long. George W. Bush withstood unprecedented criticism and ridicule for eight years. In 1949 President Harry S. Truman warned his staff not to concern themselves over criticism about their appointments: "I'll stand by you but if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen."
Some of you were surprised that I did not write to bemoan the decision to bestow the Nobel Peace Prize on President Obama. The prize is bestowed upon long-serving public figures who have given their lives to diplomacy and toiled endlessly to bring about peace, for “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people and pursuit of peace”, it is not a reward for being President of the United States! Ambassador Yoram Ettinger http://yoramettinger.newsnet.co.il explained that unlike the other Prizes this is at the behest of politicians not the Nobel committee! Thorbjorn Jagland, former Prime Minister of Norway and Ex-President James Carter pushed their last minute candidate upon a surprised committee and surprised recipient. http://yoramettinger.newsnet.co.il/Front/NewsNet/reports.asp?reportId=274007 Jimmy Carter wins again.
The United Kingdom became the first Western country with voting rights on the UN Human Rights Council to clearly state that it would not endorse the Goldstone Report or the draft resolution based on that report, which had been placed before the council's two-day special session that opened Thursday in Geneva. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1255547727737&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
Yet again Israel was the first country to send aid to disaster areas. The Philippines suffered another disaster from huge tidal waves which wiped out entire areas ncludng the capital Manila. Israel, under permanent threat from her neighbours and from the UN and Western "do-gooders" is always the first on the scene whatever the natural disaster. We are not insular; we are by nature an ebullient, generous country with experts trained by necessity who now reach out to help others. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1255450643472&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Im Tirtzu http://imti.org.il/show_art.php?id=18 is a student organization which describes itself as moderate neo-Zionist and is doing excellent work on Campus to confound Israel's detractors. They also have a wonderful line in T-shirts!!!! http://www.cafepress.com/imti
Some people talk about their dreams while others fulfill them. Andrew Rogers, of Melbourne Australia, fulfills his dreams in a spectacular manner. He travels the world building enormous creations, some 2 kilometres across. http://www.andrewrogers.org/ Andrew's works can be seen in Turkey and he expressed concern over the strained relations between Turkey and Israel. Diplomatically Turkey is moving closer to the rogue Moslem states and turning away from the West and the principles of Attaturk. Prime Minister Erdogan's attempts to demonise Israel were not filtering through to the Turkish people so he used the media to reach out. He commissioned a television series to appeal to the ordinary people, a series which has shocked Israel to the very core portraying the IDF in horrific scenes of carnage and oppression. The only thing missing from the video is a hook-nosed, bearded Jew drooling over the blood of children. This report includes two videos from the series. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1255547725070
Israelis are shocked because those self-same IDF soldiers who are depicted as cold-blooded killers are those IDF whose rescue teams rushed to the aid of Turkish civilians following the devastating earthquake of 1999.
Tel Aviv comes to London! Leicester (pronounced Lester) Square and was transformed into Bohemian Tel Aviv Spitalfields Market became Mahane Yehuda as easyjet, a bargain airline company, announced their new route from London to Tel Aviv. http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/experience_tel_aviv.html Israeli Ambassador to the Court of St. James Ron Prosor was happy to join the events, probably in search of falafel and a good coffee!!!
I went to Mahane Yehuda yesterday! When my friend Judith called me up and suggested going to the shouk I moved so quickly I didn't even hang up the phone!!! Gosh I love that place and now is the season that I love it most of all. The fruit and vegetables are at their prime- fresh, seasonal and local every bite fulfilling the promise of the flavour that nature intended. Judith and I have specific vendors for specific items, the courgettes from one, the fresh green herbs from another and the firm peppers, red, yellow, purple, orange and two shades of green, from the third. Fish can only come from "David Dagim" who has fresh fish from Europe as well as from the Red Sea. David knows how to mince exactly the right combinations for the various cultures – on condition you bring him one to taste after cooking!! I admit avoiding those fishmongers where the still live carp are liable to jump out of their boxes onto your feet! Most amazing are the fruits, piled high teasing ones senses with unbeatable sun ripened succulence as if freshly plucked from the tree or vine. A profusion of dried fruits beckon – their sticky sweet/sour smell heralding their appearance long before they appear. My favourite is the sun-dried pineapple, nothing added the flavour explodes in your mouth. Cheeses galore, spices in abundance, olives in wine, oil, spicy and plain, Judaica, a cornucopia of Jewish life each costermonger bellowing out his wares as the finest! We rested in the very fashionable coffee shop and I had the best sandwich I can ever remember!!! Freshly baked croissant filled with finely sliced Brie and pear……delicious – of course washed down with an incomparable Café Hafuch!
So dear friends, Zvi has just taken his little grand-daughter to explore and enjoy the Bloomfield Science Museum and I am finishing off the Shabbat preparations. Most of the treasures bought in the shouk are now transformed into our Shabbes meals. The white tablecloth is on the table and I am getting ready to sit out on our veranda with a good cup of coffee and watch Jerusalem slow down, grow more peaceful as the beautiful bride of the Sabbath brings a quiet serenity to the Golden City.
I wish you Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem.
With love
Sheila
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