180216
16th
February 2018
I wish
you a good Shabbes, a peaceful Shabbat, a weekend without tragedy.
My
heart is breaking for the families of those children whose lives were taken by
a crazed gunman in Parkland, Florida. I cannot imagine what horrors the other
children saw, but they will be haunted by it for the rest of their lives. I am furious that a crazed criminal, known to
the FBI, the police and the local school authorities could walk into a store
and buy an assault rifle AND WALK INTO THE SCHOOL UNHINDERED. I am sick and
tired of being attacked personally because I find the gun culture abhorrent –
and equally tired of being told that crime in Britain is worse than the USA
when all the statistics that I carefully researched say that petty crime is
possibly higher but gun crime, murders etc is definitely not. It is irrelevant
to yesterday's horror but if you wish here it the proof. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/15/so-america-this-is-how-you-do-gun-control
20
years ago there was a mass shooting in a school in Dunblane, Scotland after
which the British Government introduced strict gun control laws and there have
been no further such incidents – 22 years ago, in Port Arthur, Tasmania
a gunman opened fire and killed 35 people, within 2 weeks Australia introduced
strict gun control, there have been no more mass shootings. If the issue is
freedom then give children the freedom to live. The amendment giving people the
right to carry arms is hundreds of years old – time to change.
As to violence
in schools – my family always called me Pollyanna because I try to find the
good in all people and all things, but I am a realistic optimist! As Zvi taught
me, there are no problems we just need to find solutions. I believe in Rabbi
David Geffen and his incredible programme to bring love to schoolchildren,
even in the most "difficult" schools. It works http://www.lovingclassroom.com/
The
Prime Minister of Israel is about to be indicted on corruption charges after an
interminable investigation and the country is in turmoil. The satirists are
having a field day and I am sick and tired of hearing of the antics of the
Prime Ministers household. I don't know if the Prime Minister is guilty of
bribery or of extreme hedonism and misuse of friendships to feed his desire for
rich friends, fine cigars and champagne, but we are at a terrifying crossroads
in a confused world and we need someone whose mind is utterly on the good of
the country. It was Benjamin Netanyahu who made a long speech telling Ehud
Olmert that he had to resign during that investigation because Prime Minister
Olmert could not concentrate on the job of Prime Minister – for charges that
dim compared with the current charges against the Netanyahu family. Netanyahu supporters have verbally attacked
the Chief of Police, the Attorney General but when the leader of the Likud
Party stood in the Knesset and called Yair Lapid a "nark" or
"grass" because he told the
truth when asked by the police to testify before the investigation I understood
that the Party had reached an all-time low. https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-flaw-in-netanyahus-articulate-public-defense/
I don't
know if you received my midweek update concerning the Syrian/Iranian/Israeli
cross border incident, please let me know if not. This is the potted history
that brought us to the incident
A
potted history since the first time I saw Lebanon
1.
Lebanon 1963 there was no real border
between Lebanon and Israel– a Jewish country and a Christian country, not
enemies. We stood and chatted with Lebanese soldiers the other side of a car
park like barrier and wandered in and out of both countries for a photo-op
2.
1970 – Arafat attempts a failed coup
in Jordan, causes deaths of at least 10,000 PLO supporters at the hands of King
Hussein and is flees Jordan. Syria refuses to accept him and he and his cohorts
are accepted by Lebanon – in a move of Christian sympathy.
3.
Since that date the advance of
destructive forces of Hezb-Allah have grown in Lebanon, destroying that once
Christian country from the "Pearl of the Middle East" (Beirut) into a
war zone.
4.
Hezb-Allah is supported by Iran.
5.
Iran takes advantage of and
encourages the dreadful war in Syria with the help of Hezb-Allah which until
the insertion of Iran in the equation was a failing organisation.
6.
Iran is delighted to take advantage
of the utter chaos and establish bases in Syria which gives them a strong
foothold in the region.
7.
Iran brings "volunteers"
from Pakistan etc to help them in the training of Syrian troops in advanced
warfare and establishes military bases in Syria.
8.
Syria shoots an advanced anti-aircraft
missile from an equally advanced drone at an Israeli aeroplane, successfully
downing the F16i on Israeli soil, the first time that an Israeli aeroplane has
been downed in very many years.
9.
Israel decides to retaliate
successfully targetting 12 Syrian and Iranian installations – whose sole aim,
apparently, is to destroy Israel – in the words of the Iranian leaders.
10.
There is a media message to the
world, cleverly worded, that Israel is the aggressor even if the reaction is
justified.
11.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has
telephone conference with President Putin who is also trying to prevent the
escalation.
12.
A world that stayed silent over the
murder of over 500,000 Syrians at the hands of a despot leader is suddenly
concerned about Israel responding to an attack on her soil.
Israel
does not take the possibility of war with Iran lightly but since they have
infiltrated virtually every one of our neighbouring countries (despite the best
efforts of Jordan and Egypt), and have a Government Ministry dedicated to the
annihilation of Israel I think we had the right to defend ourselves. I am happy
to say that both pilots who ejected are now safe. The badly injured pilot is in
a room beside a Syrian patient brought to Israel by the IDF for treatment. Just
another anomaly in the story of this region.
Incidentally,
the issue of Russian interference in the United States elections has risen yet
again. Understand two simple facts. Everyone, every country interferes
in every country's election!! It is a given!! Fact number two? Every country
spies on every other country. What? You seriously thought that all the Embassy
staff brought in are actually guards, clerks, attaches and secretaries?
This
was a quiet week – yes it happens on occasion! The heavens opened and the rain
came down, probably because I bragged about the glorious spring weather last
week! When I say a quiet week, it was a special week. Yuval came into the
world! Yuval is the newest baby to join the Raviv family, a beautiful little
girl, the fourth daughter for Zvi's son Leor and his wife Shiri. Of course the
family is very excited, especially Amit, Gili and Ori who chose the name Yuval
for their little sister. Mazal Tov to all concerned a fabulous start to the
week!!
I am
always fascinated by Israeli hospitals. This time it was in the Meir Medical
Centre in Kfar Saba. The patients and staff run the full gamut of Israeli
society, in fact there were far more Arab patients than Jewish – and that is
great! We all wish each other "Refuah Shlemah" a complete recovery
with nary a thought of religious leanings. I just wish all those who claim Israel is an
apartheid state would come and really visit Israel, especially the hospitals.
Perhaps they should compare it to what happens when Israelis find themselves in
a Palestinian town http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/IDF-soldiers-assailed-by-Palestinians-after-accidentally-entering-Jenin-542398
This is
a very special Shabbat for us. As soon as I finish writing I am going to the
airport to greet the El Al flight 008 from NYC carrying my eldest son Daniel,
his lovely wife Karen and my unbelievably incredible grandchildren Joshua and
Callie! On our way home we will stop in Givat Zeev so that Rachel, Igal, Yosef,
Talia and Ayala can get their hugs in and I can get my Challot and a load of
photos to send to the "Londoners". Tomorrow we will spend with Leor
and Amiad and their children, so that they can break the language barrier and
play together. I am beyond excited. The Shabbat table has been laid and ready
for two days and all their favourite foods cooked! Wow…………. This is exciting!!!
When
the world appears too filled with hate and division I listen to music. David
Broza "Yihyeh Tov" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtI7h5A9eEQ
Shiri
Maimon with Shir le Shalom – a song to peace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr5wRdxBXgI
Finally
the answer to it all, right David Geffen? All You Need is Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzOO75-WC50
I wish
us all a kinder world, one in which Yuval can grow up safely, surrounded by
love.
In this
weeks Parasha, G-d tells us how to put together a "tent" that He can
descend to be amongst us. Perhaps the elements of the tent are symbolic and the
true elements are love, compassion, empathy and humility.
With
all our love, from the Veranda, from our home and from Jerusalem.
Sheila
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