010121
1st
January 2021
Shabbat
Shalom lovely friends. Shabbat Shalom as the world is looking just a little
brighter every day.
The
first day of the first month of the new Gregorian year. Phew! 2020 is behind us.
This
Irish New Year blessing sums up what I wish for you
"May
your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May
good luck pursue you each morning and night.
May
you always be strong in your journey.
In
the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship and
never in want."
This
past year was challenging at best, frightening at worst, but in so many cases
it brought out the best in us, the fighting spirit that kept our heads above
water.
A
medical catastrophe
brought out the very best in medical science when it was discovered that an
existing vaccine could be adapted to inoculate against a horrific new strain of
virus that emanated from Hunan Province in China -Covid-19. Laboratories all
over the world worked at full pace and the results were nothing short of
miraculous!
There
are always silent heroes in these battles. Here a husband talks about his wife
who worked together with the CEO of Pfizer, Albert Bourla, a Jew from
Thessaloniki whose family was taken to Auschwitz and who swore that if the
opportunity ever presented itself to give thanks for the fact that his father
survived the Holocaust he would take it.
"Benita
Alkon Baitner (to be honest, my wife), the director of the Vaccination Unit
of the global Pfizer company in Israel, succeeded in performing this job with
modesty, discretion, seriousness and courtesy, connecting, mediating and promoting
both sides, with her dual loyalty. Because, on the one hand Benita is the
Pfizer representative in Israel and on the other hand she is an Israeli citizen
who wanted the vaccine to arrive in Israel as soon as possible ... She did all
this while completing two periods of quarantine and with her daughter with
verified Corona in the next room"
Israel
has now inoculated 10% of its population. Enormous thanks must go out to our
Health Funds. They managed to get organised in record time and utilize the
Pfizer vaccines that the government had bought in the most efficient manner.
The
Middle East
is heading toward a very different, kinder face as accords, treaties and
agreements are signed with Moslem countries. It began with the Abraham Accords
between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, a true agreement, one of two
friendly countries. The Abraham Accords were quickly followed by Bahrain,
Sudan, Morocco and even Saudi Arabia is reaching out to us. The incredible
"behind the scenes" workers of the Foreign Ministries involved, not
just the leaders, deserve accolades, they too are silent heroes.
The
greatest upside
and, by the same token, downside of the closures is that many parents, if they
are working, are working from home, spending real time with their children who
are home learning. Of course there is a serious downside, many families have
fallen into poverty and in countries that do not have socialized medicine they
cannot afford medication, let alone housing.
Here
in Israel
the very best in people has come to the fore with neighbours,
municipalities and even Facebook groups
organising food for the sick and elderly who could not leave their homes and
ensuring that nobody goes without.
Ask
Israelis
what they miss most they would almost inevitably say "a flight to anywhere"
in their top 5. Israelis have an inbuilt wanderlust and guided tours to
understand far flung places are number one. A side effect of the Abraham
Accords was the rush of some 50,000 Israelis who travelled to the Dubai, and
some brought back Covid! More importantly Emeratis who came to Israel were
amazed to find everyone so friendly, helpful and the freedom of prayer excited
them.
Political
change is on the cards here in Israel. The demonstrations were echoed within
the Knesset as dissatisfaction with the determined braggadocio of Prime
Minister Netanyahu and as a result we head to the fourth elections in less than
3 years. Israel does not have a Presidency like the United States, although our
titular President Reuven Rivlin has been the voice of reason during this
period, coaxing Members of Knesset to reach an agreement and prevent yet
another highly costly round of elections.
Our
athletes
have been winning Gold Medals all over the world! European Golds in
Windsurfing, Gymnastics both individual and team, Judo………. And more!
What
have Zvi and I been
doing during the past year? We have been preparing for our eventual move to the
new apartment although it is hard to know where to start! We have walls and
floors and even the bare-bones of the kitchen is in place, we met many of our future
neighbours, but the move is still on the distant horizon! Maybe for Passover
We
are both very involved in community and national organisations. We
successfully raised the funds for an apt memorial for my Daniel in "Dr.
Dan's Room" giving voice not only to the children who cannot speak for
themselves but to a joyous and beautiful organisation "Shalva". The
moment we can go to Shalva after this closure, we will give a full report.
Zvi
became Chairman of the Board of the Jerusalem Teacher's Training College
and a Member of the Board of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and I became
Chairman of the Board of Impact-se. Impact has had some exceptional
successes this year, both in the totally revised school curriculum for East
Jerusalem and cooperation with the UAE education authorities on their excellent
new curriculum which leads the way in Moslem countries. 2021 promises to open
many doors to teaching children tolerance instead of hate. It is a team effort
but Marcus Sheff leads the way and Nir Boms does everything behind the scenes!
I
got a new hip
which has changed my life! Nearly every day Zvi and I go for a walk of at least
2 kilometres. Sometimes we walk through the park opposite, nodding to
neighbours although it's difficult to recognise them with their masks;
sometimes we go to the "Park haMessilah" a beautiful 7 kilometre walk
from the neighbourhood of Baka along the old Ottoman tracks all the way to the
Biblical Zoo, I do about 3 kilometres! Another favourite of mine is the Deer
Park, just down the road. It is such a delightful, utterly unspoiled green lung
of Jerusalem and I love the feel of the countryside and if we are lucky we see
a tell-tale scut in the near distance indicating that a herd of deer is coming
out to feed. Zvi is convinced they hide from us since deer are shy creatures
indeed.
We have
spent as much time as the rules allow with our Israeli grandchildren who
discovered that a small birthday party with just close family members can be
just as exciting as a fancy big affair. Ayala's Bat Mitzva was a prime example
of just parents, siblings and grandparents attending and sticking to the rules.
Rachel made each party exciting by providing her amazing pinatas. @lalapinatas
on Instagram
You all
know that this year has been a year of tears as our entire family tries to come
to terms with the loss of Daniel, my beautiful eldest son. We all turned our
eyes toward Karen, Joshua and Callie in New York who faced their loss and Covid
with true fortitude and bravery. If only we could all be together but Covid
dictated that we be on 3 continents. We must look toward our future, to do his
memory justice by living life to the full as he did.
What
do I wish for the coming year? If I gave myself 10 wishes what would they
be?
1.
I wish for leaders who care for us
more than their comfortable and elevated seat
2.
I wish for tolerance, tolerance for
the beliefs of others, be it religious or political, tolerance which goes both
ways
3.
I wish for honest, civilised debate
rather than contentious verbal altercations from our leaders and our television
pundits.
4.
I wish for the return of good old
fashioned manners. The fact that someone opens a door for me doesn't demean me
it elevates me!
5.
If only we accepted each other's
manner of prayer as valid, as equal.
6.
I wish I was more computer literate
than our 6 year old grand-daughter Ella!
7.
I wish that all my family, siblings,
cousins, nieces and nephews would come and visit us here rather than us going
there!
8.
I wish I knew what to do with all the
books and paintings we have when we move to our new home!
9.
I wish that young people understood
that a lifetime's experience means that you have so much to give
10.
I wish that you would all write back
to me so that I know I am not whistling in the wind! Really, I'd love to hear
from you. I feel that you are my friends and care about you.
Finally,
we must ring in the new with song, but which songs?
For the
first part, herewith two full concerts and a message from Zvi
"As you may know, I have always been interested in music,
so I was happy when a year ago I was asked to be a member of the Board of
Management of the famed Jerusalem Academy of Music.
As its 2021 greetings for the New Year, the Academy sent its
friends a student concert that I thought you would enjoy!
So, let us all hope that 2021, will be the light that
awaits us after the darkness of 2020
May we all see our loved ones in person, instead of through
Zoom, and may we all be happy and HEALTHY!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqwpTk7olcg&feature=youtu.be
There
is just one song which sums up all our prayers for a kinder world – One Love,
sung by a Koolulam gathering of Jews, Moslems and Christians in the
Tower of David https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZzK29_V8jQ
Don't
Worry be Happy
was hardly the expression of 2020 but hey… this is 2021, we are allowed to be
happy!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWXUWepSak4
I wish
you a Shabbat Shalom, a time to begin looking forward not back, a time for hope
of a better, healthier, kinder year.
I send
you love from Jerusalem, from both of us thinking of all of you.
Sheila
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