171102
2nd
November 2017
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends. An eventful week indeed.
A man
who was given safe haven by the United States of America after suffering
oppression in his home country of Uzbekistan, an undoubtedly cruel dictatorship
and finds work, as an Uber driver, and a new life. This is surely a story with
a happy end, but no, it isn't. Saifullo Sayepov planned his attack, his
revenge on America, the West and all things non-Moslem, for over two months,
going over his intended path and finding a soft target without any concrete
bollards on the cycle path in the Lower West Side, overlooking the glorious
view of the Hudson River. He rented a pickup and drove onto the cycle path
mowing down those in his path, killing 8 and injuring at least 13. He intended
continuing to the Brooklyn Bridge but his speeding van rammed a school bus and stopped
in its tracks. He ran amok shouting Allahu Akhbar until he was shot in the
stomach by a policeman. I know you have all read most of the details above but,
but, I don't understand – this man was "interviewed" by the FBI some
2 years ago because he attended a questionable Mosque and then released. Why
was the Mosque not raided? If he was indeed radicalized while at prayer then
others have also been radicalized in that same Mosque by the same Imam. Why was
the Imam not arrested?
Our
hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives in such a cruel
manner and to Manhattan, the city we all love.
About 4
or 5 years ago, in Jerusalem, I met a delightful, warm and humble young man
called Kaz and spent a wonderful couple of hours listening to him and drinking
coffee and eating brioche. Kaz is his pet name, his real name is Kasim
Hafeez. He told me of his incredible revelation as he went from an angry,
anti-Jewish Moslem to an excellent outspoken proponent of the Jewish state.
Listen to his words and you will understand what drove Saifullo Sayepov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTcIapdMGow
Yesterday
Israel mourned
the loss of innocence of an entire nation when an extremist, nay fanatic, Jew
killed the Prime Minister of the Jewish State; we mourn the loss of hope
because Yitzchak Rabin z"l presented us with hope that the
impossible may just be achieved and our children would know peace. Yitzchak
Rabin was the Prime Minister of Israel and rare a human being who was loved by
all who really knew him, from humble cleaner to Presidents, Kings and Queens. I
know that you have heard my story many times, of the last time Zvi and I were
with him in Washington for the opening of the Jerusalem 3,000 celebrations and
I had my last hug. I tell the story not to show my own importance, quite the
opposite, it is to show the man Yitzchak Rabin was. We were in the Rotunda
together with most of the Senate and some Congressmen and a lot of very
important people. Yitzchak Rabin was not interested in them, he entered the
room with his head down, hands behind his back, and suddenly saw me – I was not
of any political importance, indeed not of any importance, apart from being
Zvi's wife, yet he saw me and made a bee line toward me, ignoring the
"important" people, deeply concerned that I had come out without my
neck brace, having undergone surgery. That is the man we lost. Incidentally
that was the day after we heard the vote in the Senate stating that the USA was
behind moving the United States Embassy to Jerusalem as the rightful Capital
City of the State of Israel. Another broken dream.
100
years ago a Jewish scientist, a chemist, beloved of the aristocrats of the
British political and social scene, succeeded in mass-producing artificial acetone,
an essential element in the bomb making industry. As with all things political
that fact, and his easy, suave personality, helped Chaim Weitzmann reach
the ears of both Lord Balfour and Prime Minister David Lloyd George.
His request? A letter, presented to Lord Rothschild, leader of the British
Jewish Community, stating that the British Government looked kindly upon the
formation of a Jewish Homeland in Palestine. That letter, written by Lord
Balfour, became the basis of the State of Israel. The words are adhered to,
giving absolute rights to those who live on the land already. It is a short
letter, not many words, that led to the realization of a 2,000 year dream.
There
are diverse opinions on the letter within both the Balfour and Lloyd George
families - http://www.wsj.com/video/israel-foundation-stone-a-century-of-controversy-for-the-balfour-declaration/94D9FD50-9AF5-4379-9DB2-A8573716EEB0.html
Perhaps
Professor Simon Schama's brilliant and emotional words speak to me more
than any other. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zclofLToaIo
On a
different subject with the same anniversary, we celebrate 100 years since the Third
Battle of Gaza on October 31st, 1917 – the Charge of the 4th
Light Horse Brigade, a huge military victory over the Ottoman Empire by the
ANZAC troops (considered the troops of the British Empire) in the Battle of
Beersheva. The battle is little known outside Australia and New Zealand,
even here in Israel although of recent years it is widely publicized. Here you
see the proud horsemen, descendants of the Aboriginal cavalry. For the full and
heroic story https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/the-charge-of-the-4th-light-horse-brigade-at-beersheba
This
week the Jewish Agency Board of Governors meetings took place in
Jerusalem. Zvi is deeply involved as the representative of Maccabi World Union
to the Board. I did not manage to take part this time and missed seeing my
lovely friends Helena Glaser, Ellen Hershkin and Nancy Falchuk and many more
brilliant and powerful women who fight hard to move the proceedings in the
right direction. I am not sure they succeeded, although they, Danny Lamm and my
Zvi tried very ,very hard. The most important subjects should be finding unification
in that which splits us apart - accepting the diversity of the Jewish community
worldwide. The second issue is taking the boredom out of the Board and bringing
in young people to continue the work and finally, to organise adequate,
effective PR for Israel.
One
special event took place this week – one that lifted my heart and healed my
troubles. 6 Cardiff women came from Jerusalem, Petah Tivka, Ra'anana, Herzliya
and Shoresh and travelled north to a place close to heaven – to Tsippori. Tsippori
is an ancient city, excavated to reveal exquisite mosaics, including the Jewish
Mona Lisa, but while amazed at the work that isn't why it was so incredible.
Our friend Rachelle Samuels Noymeir together with her husband Micha and
their 6 children turned the misfortune of a falling seed industry into the
fulfillment of a dream on their smallholding. They cold press olive oil from
their own olives, they make soaps and creams and their home, Rish-Lakish, is
open to groups from all over the world. They work hard, have little time for
play, yet their life is complete. I loved every second. You really ought to
visit Tsippori and when you do, pop in to say hello to Rachelle and tell her
Sheila sent you. You won't regret it!!! https://www.israel21c.org/rish-lakish-olive-oil-a-family-affair/
So,
tomorrow at the crack of dawn Zvi and I will climb aboard a bus (what in Wales
we called a charabanc ) and, together with members of the choir and their
spouses, head up north to Nazareth. We will visit the Circassian village
and Museum, A Druze village, a Bedouin town and finally to our
hotel in Nazareth where we will hold our Kabbalat Shabbat. I can already hear
Zvi's Kiddush and the surprised look on the faces of others in the hotel at his
mellifluous tones! On Saturday we will walk the town, see the historic and
Biblical sights and sites and sing. In fact we will sing on our journey to
Nazareth and on the way back as well as during our day there!!! We come home
after Shabbat filled with good memories.
For
your music this week I thought of Shir ha Maalot, the song of Ascents, Psalm
121. Here 8 year old Shelly Markolov steals our hearts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmpWVgK0Y1c
On the
anniversary of the assassination of Yitzchak Rabin it is only right to hear the
last song he sang in his wonderfully off key growl. How appropriate that it was
Shir Ha Shalom – the Song of Peace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr5wRdxBXgI
Time
for bed and dreams of peace. Who knows? As Theodore Hertzl said "If you
will it, it is no dream" and here we are, a thriving, fascinating rainbow
of people who come together in one nation under heaven.
Jerusalem
is exceptionally beautiful in autumn. The cooler temperatures give the flowers
a chance to bloom without the harsh rays of the sun burning them. Everything is
cleaner after the rain, sweeter for the gentler weather, softer and somehow
even more stunning. We just had a meeting here in the apartment and one of the
visitors wandered out on our veranda and caught her breath "How can so
much beauty be in one place" she asked. "Because God gave out 10 portions
of beauty to the world; nine he gave to Jerusalem and the remaining one to the
rest of the world" I said quoting the Babylonian Talmud. Gosh I love this
city and next week it will be even more exciting as my dear friend Arlene
Wittels, with Milt, Rona and Jack are coming. I know Arlene will cry when she
sees me but not because she doesn't love me, it's because we love each other so
much!!!
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends. Pray for an uneventful week. Pray for more Kasim Hafeez's
and less of those who believe the evil words of their leaders.
With
much love
Sheila
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