170707
7th
July, 2017
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends
60
years ago I was a bridesmaid in a wonderfully frilly salmon pink dress. For
whom? For my big sister Eddie who was marrying her handsome soulmate Raymond.
Eddie and Ray were so lucky because they both had their parents at their
wedding and our maternal grandparents. The ceremony was held in the Cathedral
Road Synagogue in Cardiff. Today they live in faraway Toronto and I barely get
to see them but I just wanted you all to know that I love them and wish them joy
and togetherness with their children Paul and Ruth, their son and daughter-in-law
and the grandchildren. Happy Anniversary!!!
There
is so much news this week that it is hard to choose what is important to you
and what is irrelevant. One item is very close to my heart. A Facebook
"friend" wrote to me suggesting that the Middle Eastern problems,
especially the Israel/Palestinian issue, could all be settled if only we would
all stop acting like children and everybody would give a little. Hmmm. I told
him we gave a lot but to no avail. I added a somewhat confusing (for him)
statement. As an Israeli I would accept a Hutna, dream of Shalom and pray
for Sulcha. In Islam a Hutna is a cease-fire, a convenient truce which
one can break at will; Shalom is a temporary peace treaty such as we have with
Egypt and Jordan; Sulcha means all is forgiven and forgotten and we can all get
on with life. Not sure he will understand – what do you think?
I
tend to think of Australia as standing for justice – a belief that was somewhat
shattered when I saw this clip from the Australian 60 minutes. This guy makes
Hardtalks Stephen Sacker look positively tame but Deputy Minister Tsippi Hotoveli
holds her dignity beautifully!!! http://www.israelvideonetwork.
Carol
Gould, friend, journalist, commentator par excellence and member of BAFTA, wrote
about a preview of a documentary on the Syrian Civil War for National
Geographic. She was deeply into the movie when something disturbed her deeply –
the director made a comment about the consequences of war quoting Dresden and Hiroshima,
as if Britain and the Allies were guilty of war crimes. Carol tackled him citing
Coventry, Hull, London and the Blitz –
see http://currentviewpoint.com/cgibin/news.cgi?id=11&command=shownews&newsid=1337
Since
we are on the subject of things that bother me – UNESCO has outdone itself,
much to the chagrin of Ambassador Nikky Haley. Did you know that all the
formerly known as Jewish sites are actually Palestinian? What a ludicrous
institution the UN is. Not only did it give refugee status ad infinitum but it
apparently believes one can change both history and the Biblical truth in a
breath. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Haley-asks-UN-not-to-inscribe-Hebron-on-World-Heritage-List-498680
Yitzchak
"Boughi" Herzog has fallen to the whims of the Labour Party which
changes its leaders more than most. In the internal Party votes two other
candidates have reached the last round. I am sad because Herzog, a quiet
voiced, seasoned politician is one of the last genuine Labour Party followers
as the new Labour, or Zionist Coalition, takes over.
Indian
President Narendra Modi has just completed a disarming and delightful 3 day
visit to Israel. He paddled in the Mediterranean with Prime Minister Netanyahu,
I am tempted to say they frolicked!, as the two hugged and smiled their way
through the visit. Mr Netanyahu learned to say Namaste and Modi learned a bit
of Hebrew. It was the least tense diplomatic visit I have ever known. India and
Israel have so many logical ties even though India's economic ties with the
Arab world are strong – we are working on that too. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.799378
So
you want to know about determination and pride in being a soldier in the IDF?
Meet Ron and you will understand what a humanitarian army we Israelis have and
the incredible people who choose to serve. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrfDYQFKjUg
As a
final statement on the idiotic fiasco over conversion I love what Bobby Brown
wrote on Facebook – I am in awe of every Jew by choice, each of whose
dedication and belief has changed the world for the entire Jewish People. Bobby I second that.
And
so to the Maccabiah.
Zvi's link to the Maccabiah and of course Maccabi World Union is long and
fruitful, culminating in his position today as the MWU representative to the
World Zionist Organisation and the Jewish Agency Board of Governors. The various
world Presidents of MWU have been close friends and todays President, Leo-Dan
Bensky is a fine representative of his country, Finland, and as Ambassador to
and of the Jewish World. Proud of you Leo-Dan.
Last
night was the official opening ceremony, at the Malha Football Stadium in
Jerusalem, of the 20th Maccabiah Games with 7,000 athletes
from 80 countries and a simply stupendous show it was too. President Rivlin, PM
Netanyahu stood in the Presidential Box and excitedly waved a huge Israeli flag
as athletes paraded country by country. It was truly incredible. The parade
started with Australia and went through the alphabet, or more exactly through
the Aleph Bet, ending with home country Israel. It was magnificent. Thousands
of young Jewish athletes, strong, proud and independent was something my
generation is still amazed by and my parents' generation never thought
possible. I cannot begin to name all the wonderful people involved in the
preparations but Eyal Tiberger is where the buck stops and he can take
the worried frown off his face and accept that it was a total success. It was
Zvi who insisted that the opening ceremony come to Jerusalem during the
Intifada 3 Maccabiahs ago and it is a resounding success with a very different
style of pyrotechnics in Malha!!!!!
Prior
to the ceremony there was a cocktail where I was delighted to re-meet Col
Richard Kemp who came with his two daughters for the Maccabiah. We saw so
many friends that I kept losing Zvi and discovering him speaking a different
language every time I found him!!!!
There
were many highlights but perhaps the greatest was as we left the stadium with Niva
and Elihu Ben-Onn and Zvi stopped me beside a lovely young woman in a
wheelchair and introduced me. Moran Samuel, Israeli Paralympic athlete
and World Cup Gold Medallist for Rowing; if you read her Wikipedia site you are
instantly aware of the lack of self-pity and of her incredible love of life.
Moran was a basketball player who suffered a catastrophic spinal injury and is
paralysed from the waist down but refuses to hear the word "can't". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moran_Samuel
Indeed
as we walked to the car we were passed by "disabled" athletes from
every country and the description itself seemed ludicrous – they were a
determined and highly "able" group of people who made me proud.
Since
the Maccabiah is in Jerusalem I thought it appropriate that you understand the
history of this city https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mR2W43t6tI
I have
a very slow day today! Rachel is in London with my sons Gideon and
Daniel and their wives, Karen and Stephanie and all the children – Yosef, Sammy,
Talia, Olivia, Joshua, Ayala, Zachary and little Callie, not forgetting Maple
the dog. It is strange not getting in the car and going to Givat Zeev!!! I hope
they are having a whale of a time even though two days ago Joshua fell head
first and broke his arm in two places. Josh Posh – feel better beautiful boy.
Zvi has
gone to his parliament and then we will go to Amiad, Noga, Ella and Yonatan for
our Friday night meal. Zvi already bought the Challot in Mea Shearim (well Rachel
is in London isn't she) and decided I should have a total week off and bought a
chocolate cake for dessert – Amiad is making his wonderful Salmon and a veggie lasagna
so we need something light to finish off – perhaps this is the season of fruit
salads, the soft fruits are in season now and are really phenomenal. Our fruits
and vegetables are seasonal, meaning they are from tree to kitchen within a day
or so which vastly improves the flavour! We have a new fruit this year – red apricots
– obviously a hybrid but my goodness, are they delicious.
Jerusalem
– a wonderful Reggae song by Matisyahu. Bob Marley would have been proud!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIyp1eIJCgA
Adon
Olam – Lord of the Universe - a familiar
song with an Eastern Twist. The Revivo Project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgCrmxR_1to
As we
were leaving last night we bumped into Oudi Recanati who said that after such
an amazing celebration the only song that should end my newsletter is Hatikva.
Oudi, your wish is my command. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSFIgS-uCD0
Shabbat
Shalom first to my beautiful children and grandchildren – I am thrilled you are
together but spend my time trying to imagine where you are and what you are
doing. Happy birthday my Gids.
With
love from Jerusalem – beautiful city festooned with Maccabiah flags!
Sheila
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