210611
11th
June 2021
Shabbat
Shalom! Do you realise that it's already nearly half way through 2021? Where on
earth has the time gone?
When my
generation hears "Scorched Earth Policy" We think of Vietnam,
Cambodia and a dreadful guerrilla war. Now when I think of scorched earth I
think of the Hamas policy of burning swathes of farmland and parkland in the
South by launching party balloons with incendiary devices attached and now, now
they are burning swathes of forestation around Jerusalem. Tsur Hadassah twice, Kibbutz
Maaleh ha Hamisha, all right near us. The stench of burning trees is still in
the air, the smuts still falling on our veranda, which means that yet again the
arsonists are at work. The media keeps talking about "settlements"
but these fires are in a part of Israel that was ratified by the United Nations
in 1947, a part of Israel, not the "occupied territories" nor the
"disputed territories" and it makes me so angry. Israel is the only
country in the world that increases the number of trees planted in any given
year and those who want us gone, gone from Israel, gone from everywhere,
destroy, they never build, they just destroy.
The new
government is nearly in place and those who are used to power, power that has
caused terrible rifts in the Israeli society, are lashing out with inane claims.
Several Haredi leaders have demanded that Naftali Bennet remove his Kippa since
he does not represent Judaism; frankly even though his politics are right of
mine his Judaism is right on the mark! The extreme right and the Haredim no
longer have governmental representation, they no longer rule the roost and they
are very angry at the loss of control. This future government will indeed be
led by a right winger but all decision will be taken in consultation with the
entire cabinet, a cabinet which represents a wide ranging set of views,
conceivably the most democratic government anywhere in the world since it is
not a party based group, but rather a cross-section of Israeli society. I
cannot tell you how happy I am to see the round table discussions taking place
by the Bennet/Lapid/Gantz/Michaeli potential ministers. Instead of the familiar
and disturbing angry, raised voices they talk and even laugh and smile
together! Naftali Bennet can keep his
kippa, after all he is a Jew, a liberal minded observant Jew.
Talking
of Kippa (skullcap) Holland chose "kippa day" when everyone was asked
to wear a kippa, Jews, Moslems and Christians. Hate crimes, bullying, racism is
on the rise and they wisely decided that if everyone wears a kippa then nobody
is picked upon. Here in Israel we worry about you, really worry about the
horrific situation which a too complacent society, wherever you are, believes
that it will not get worse. It will unless some very strong measures are taken
against the "woke" crowd, the mouthpieces of hatred, those who
stupidly believe the Goebbels methods of Hamas/ISIS/Iran etc; they believe
because they are either self-hating Jews or anti-Semites.
Brenda
Katten
is an amazing lady, a natural leader, unafraid to speak her mind, always with
grace never with rancour. Please read her op-ed about the rise in anti-Semitism
in today's Jerusalem Post. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/in-the-wake-of-gazas-rockets-global-antisemitism-skyrockets-opinion-670589
Following the exposure of the long awaited EU report on Palestinian
textbooks earlier this week by German newspaper BILD, policymakers have called to make the report public. IMPACT-se
obtained a copy of the report, which found that Palestinian textbooks contain
antisemitism, incite children to hatred and violence and delegitimize the State
of Israel. Initially commissioned in 2019, the final report has been delayed
for two years and has still not been made public. The
implications are clear, the refusal to publish should be construed as
Anti-Israel and many senior people within the EU are demanding publication. To
understand the implications please read https://www.israelhayom.com/
Talking
of those who ignore the diabolic human rights infringements of others, even
bring them on to the Human Rights Council, look at these UN facts
Israel is 0.1% of the world's
population and 73.9% of the condemnations of the UN General Assembly last year. None of these nations have been condemned. Saudi
Arabia, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Pakistan, Turkey, Algeria, Hamas, Russia, China, Qatar
Yup, that's your money which funds our constant need to prove our right to
exist. Think about it.
The Jerusalem
Institute for Policy Research, presented to President Reuven Rivlin the 35th
“Jerusalem Facts and Trends for 2020 – A Glimpse”; an exhaustive and highly
detailed picture of the city in numbers and figures, depicting new and ongoing
trends in the life of the capital and its residents, with a look at the course
in the coming years. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/jerusalem-in-2021-by-the-numbers-667356
Anyone
who thinks that one cannot do anything to influence the media should take note
from the United Kingdom Lawyers for Israel who have succeeded in their demand
that the BBC remove several biased videos from their website. A small start but
an excellent one.
We had
an amazing weekend in Dimona! I never thought those words would leave my mouth!
On our way down South, all of us in private cars, we stopped at a Camel farm to
meet the camels and listen to a fascinating lecture on the efficacy of camel's
milk which can either be drunk or made into balms, creams and lotions. We learned
that a female camel or Naka in Hebrew, which interestingly enough may be the
root of the Hebrew word for breast-feeding, produces milk to order – that is if
the baby isn't nearby the milk is returned to the mammary glands. Camel's milk
is also the closest to human milk.
We then
set off for the Hotel called "Tslileh ha Midbar" or Sounds of the
Desert, a Moroccan designed hotel where every weekend they hold musical
gatherings. After a rest, shower etc we went down to the lobby where we held a
"Kabbalat Shabbat" with Kiddush (the blessing over wine" and
sang beautiful Shabbat songs then into the dining hall for a delightful meal.
Sated and satisfied we then sang the grace after meals and retired to the huge
atrium where large Moroccan cushions were set out on the tiers, perfect for
lounging! A musical director led the singing and we really had fun!
The
next day we set off for the Yerucham Lake; Mamshit, a Nabatean Village only
partially excavated but fascinating https://www.parks.org.il/en/reserve-park/mamshit-national-park/
; the "Big Crater" a geological erosion crater, created by wind and
water, rather than by volcanic activity….. and wound our weary way home.
Home is
a different home, a beautiful home. I love this place. Whenever possible I go
for my evening walk in our park with my friend Roni who moved here from Ra'anana
about the same time as we moved in, in fact everybody moved here about the same
time as we did give or take a month! I love the warmth of the neighbours; I
love hearing the sounds of Yael's group of flautists; the sound of children on
their way to school in the mornings; the little ones enjoying the two playgrounds
and the occasional concert in the beautiful big building. Stanley, one of our
new neighbours is a really experienced gardener and when I told him that I can
manage a big garden or a small veranda but this incredible 120 sq metre expanse
has me flummoxed he has offered to help. Next week I will buy the big,
beautiful planters to transfer my trees and of course lots of brightly coloured
flowers!
This
week's Torah reading gives us a wonderful look into how our priests and leaders
should be chosen…..well apart from the bit where the opposition is swallowed up
in an abyss of fire. Korach decided that he wanted to be the new leader of the
Children of Israel and gathered about 250 others to put forward his challenge
of Moses decision to make Aaron a priest. They came forward to the altar
offering incense as proof of their worthiness to become priests themselves,
however, Korach and his buddies met their death and Aaron's Priestly rod grew
into an almond tree. Fascinating.
After a
weekend singing along with the choir my head is full of the old songs, what we
used to call the "Sochnut" songs so I thought you'd enjoy a trip down
memory lane.
Land of
Milk and Honey is a traditional, if monotonic song about the beauty and
cornucopia of good things that this land gives forth. When Moses sent forth the
scouts to report on what was found in the Promised Land, 10 scouts, too lazy to
check their facts said it was filled with dreadful giants and horrors while
only two discovered the truth "Eretz Zavat Halav". Don't believe the
media, they don't check their facts this is a land of Milk and Honey, just when
we collect the honey we tend to get stung.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LWpTD1CVXE
Harry
Belafonte sings Hinei Ma Tov – about the good of living together as a tribe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCzUWap9rm0
Hardly
the traditional version but, hey, it Yaakov Shwekey!! Ma Tovu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twlR38_dx38
Tonight
David Efron is coming for supper. David is the Israeli Honorary Consul in
Puerto Rico and a dear friend. He will be thrilled to find Leor, Shiri and the
four girls will be here too!
I wish
you a good weekend, that the only thing that burns in this beautiful land is
the Shabbat Candles. I wish you health and the ability to enjoy every second of
this amazing life.
With
love from Jerusalem, as always in our hearts and our thoughts
Sheila
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