211112
12th
November 2021
Shabbat
Shalom! Did you notice today's date? Should I say that if you are not American,
did you notice today's date…. 12/11/21. Don't ask me why I like it, I love
numbers, dates and times which "rhyme", which is really strange for
someone who is as far from a mathematician as possible!
Today I
want to talk about life in Israel, or "only in Israel' situations - but
first a few updates.
So many
conferences on Global Warming and the environment – too many broken
promises from politicians, and nothing is effective. I asked myself why. Not
why is our earth warming up, I still believe that we go through cycles, like
the ice age etc, but rather why we are so pernickety about cleanliness in our
homes yet foul our seas and lands. We overbuy just about everything, our electrical
goods and cars have built in obsolescence and we throw our excess rather than finding
someone who needs it, we are wasteful.
Have
you noticed,
however, who are the main agitators against governmental inactivity on Global
Warming and waste? The most wasteful generation to date!! They demand air
conditioning in classrooms, the latest in clothes, gadgets and technology, drive
cars to school rather than taking buses, in fact they are probably the greatest
consumers of energy. Why do schools not ban cars on campus? The old phrase of
physician heal thyself comes to mind. We must be responsible, actually this,
for once is something that governments can legislate with ease – stop all
plastic packaging for produce and product. Have you ever thought about the fact
that tiny implements come in huge, impossible to open, plastic prisons? Apparently,
one London dairy has begun to deliver milk in reusable bottles. Ah the sound of
childhood, the clinking of the bottles as the electric, ecologically sound milk
float wends its way down the street.
"I, without qualification, apologise for the pain
and the hurt and the indignity and the damage that apartheid has done to Black,
Brown and Indians in South Africa," Brave words of Frederick William
De Klerk, the man who ended Apartheid and handed over to the African
National Council headed by Nelson Mandela; De Klerk passed away this week at
the age of 85. It took an infinitely brave leader who grew up in an Afrikaans
society – a white South African, to recognise the sins of the past and declare
that Apartheid was a cruel and oppressive regime. May God Bless his soul.
The
Bevis Marks Synagogue
is the oldest consistently used synagogue in the United Kingdom. Its home in
London was threatened with plans to build a 48 story high rise building right
next door and the City of London Corporation has vetoed the building saving the
synagogue. Bevis Marks has a truly rich history, do read about it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bevis_Marks_Synagogue
We
not only have a budget for 2021, we now have a budget for 2022! Miracle of
miracles, after nearly 3 years of prevarication. If such things interest you
here is a short explanation https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-much-of-a-revolution-13-key-plans-in-israels-new-state-budget/
In a raid that was the culmination of a year-long undercover operation, the Israeli police and
Secret Services confiscated 66 weapons including 25 M-16 rifles, 14 guns, an
anti-tank missile, a machine gun and explosives. Highly commendable,
but the prime target was not the arms cache but rather the gun runners behind
them. 65 criminals were arrested, a small start but hopefully the beginning of
a halt to the diabolical internal violence in the Arab communities.
What a weekend!!
Toured the phenomenal
Roman mosaics of Zippori; from Zippori we travelled to a Druze village called
Pki'i'n where we held our Shabbat dinner, with Zvi singing the Kiddush. Pk'i'in
where the Zohar was written, where on Yom Hazikaron – Remembrance Day, four
religions (Greek Orthodox, Druze, Catholic and Jews) stand together to mourn
those lost fighting for Israel. It is unthinkable that anyone, any man, not
serve in the IDF. We were guided by a former Druze officer in the IDF (of
course both his father and his son fought in the IDF); prayed in an ancient
synagogue, where IDF Cantor Shai Abramson filled the ancient walls with is
glorious voice, touched a piece of the 2nd Temple and the choir sang under a
300 year old strawberry tree. Citizens of all 4 faiths live, and pray there in
harmony. Druze who make up 70%. Our guide surprised the predominantly left wing
group by asking who they thought was their champion in the Knesset….Avigdor
Lieberman. After Shabbat and a climb up Mount Meron (which I avoided) we came
back to reality as our bus driver coped with the traffic jams of Saturday
evenings! Thank heaven for WAZE which took us a tortuous but effective route
avoiding the accident on Road 6!
As you know, I am the Chair of the Board of Impact-se (I
refuse to say Chairman of the Board it sounds so pompous) www.impact-se.org and the CEO, Marcus
Sheff, together with the Board, decided to name the library of 25 years of
research into tolerance in education, to be created in the Hebrew University,
after my eldest son Daniel, Dr. Daniel Cammerman z"l. I'm thrilled to tell
you that it will not be a white elephant; not only will the research be open to
students but in the tradition of Impact-se symposiums will be held on the newly
resurrected subject of tolerance in education and the effect of hate teaching
on the susceptible minds of children. As we near the second anniversary of the
dreadful day of the accident it warms my heart that Daniel's name continues
through projects that ensure the safety of children.
Nothing pleases me more than to hear from you, whether you agree with
what I write or find it annoying or worse still that I offend you with my words.
I happen to believe that loving those with whom one disagrees, those who differ
on almost every level, is healthy and one can learn so much from other cultures
and views. Rabbi Jeremy Rosen writes this week about the late Rabbi Nachum
Rabinowitz, a man of high principles and a mind open to the thoughts of
others. A fine scholar and a real mensch. http://jeremyrosen.com/2021/11/a-man-of-substance.html
OK, so I told you I
wanted to talk about life in Israel so let's begin with last night. A few of us
(about 15) met at Keren's home for a get to know you evening. Keren is my next
door neighbour and the evening was only for invited women – each get-together
will include different women. Of course the table was laden with goodies that
everyone brought and the warmth of the gathering kept out the chilly Jerusalem
evening became much colder! We talked about where we came from and how we chose
this project to live. I admit a sense of envy as each spoke about childhood friends
and family who live in the area, something I can never achieve no matter how
long I live here. Israelis keep friends. Friends from kindergarten, school-friends,
friends who served with them in the IDF, a long history of friendships that
with the best will in the world immigrants cannot reach.
Israelis, when they
first meet someone new ask several questions. Where do you work and what do you
earn; where do you live and what did you pay for your house (you should always
have paid less); where did you go to school, where did you serve in the IDF and
when you answer the inevitable "Do you know so-and-so, they live at number
23?" As one who fell in just about every worthy street in Jerusalem I can
tell you that if you have to tumble do it in Israel. Your only danger is being
suffocated by all the people who rush to your aid! It may sound a strange thing
to like about a nation, a people, but here funerals are a natural thing.
Hundreds come but not in fancy, elegant black dresses or suit and tie, people
come in whatever they were wearing when they heard – jeans and T-shirt is
totally acceptable – but they come to show their respect to family and the
departed. Finally, we are a curious people, not only in medicine, technology
and science but about other cultures and most of all about our own beautiful
country. I was thrilled to hear that they had to close the roads to the Hula
Valley last weekend due to overcrowding at the bird sanctuary! Yes I know it's
the emigrating season for the cranes, herons and white pelicans but I love that
parents take their children to understand nature.
What else? I love the
fact that just walking down the street, any street, people, perfect strangers,
wish each other peace. Shalom. Shalom Aleichem (peace be with you). Always
wishing peace. This argumentative, noisy, annoying people is the best. I
wouldn't live anywhere else.
Song number one is the
wonderful voice of Lt. Col. Shai Abramson, who we had the pleasure of
meeting last Shabbat, singing Halleluya together with soldiers and young people
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUEpW-9LSEs
One of my favourite
songs sung by some of my favourite people! The Shalva Band and the
children of Shalva with All You Need is Love…. It's true isn't it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvhhae73wnk
So few songs which
express how we all feel during this pandemic. The people we miss, the hugs we
can't give, the need to kiss family far away. Koolulam did it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_7jvxBObaw
I wish you a Shabbat
Shalom, a blessed Sabbath, a wonderful weekend and love, after all, that's all
we need.
With love from
Jerusalem
Sheila
