The 8th of July 2022
Shabbat
Shalom.
Today
is one of the three most important days of my life. It happened exactly 50
years ago, at a few minutes past midnight, in the Royal Berkshire Hospital,
Reading, Berkshire (pronounced redding barkshir) when the most beautiful baby
boy ever was born. A baby boy who laughed out loud at just a few weeks! Happy
birthday Gideon Saul! So proud of everything you are, what you have become and
your truly exceptional family.
Sadly
the world is not nearly as beautiful as my son and it is my responsibility to
write about it so let's get that part out of the way and I'll tell you about
some wonderful news.
Prime
Ministers seem to be dropping like flies! First Naftali Bennett stepped down
after the resignation of some Ministers threatened his government. It was done
with great elegance and the current Prime Minister Yair Lapid slipped into the
role he had been preparing for his whole life. Now Boris Johnson has resigned,
admittedly under a very large thunder cloud, rejected by his own party, the
Conservative Party, a misnomer if ever there was one! And Britain, the country
that so loves eccentricity, decided that there is eccentric and there is Boris!
Both PMs, for whatever reason resigned rather than create turmoil and political
unrest, and they did not fear losing their immunity from prosecution as with
our former Prime Minister.
Highland
Park is a beautiful suburb of Chicago with a high Jewish population. The
traditional 4th of July Parade was at its height when a shooter, a
killer opened fire changing the lives of all who saw it, all who heard it, all
who lost someone, the injured and the dead. The killer, whose name I choose not
to mention, had entered a Habad synagogue just weeks previously and after
acting very strangely the Rabbi threw him out. It wasn't reported to the
police. Yet again an insane racist had easy access to weapons! When will a
country that is the world leader of the 21st century stop believing
that it is still living in the Wild West? As Bob Dylan wrote "The answer
is blowin' in the wind" I send love and condolences to all my friends who
live in Highland Park, indeed to everyone in Highland Park.
Intolerance
abounds, no country, no people seem immune, perhaps as the late Rabbi Kopul
Rosen said, "Antisemitism (and racism) is like pornography. Everyone knows
it exists yet it is never mentioned in polite society". Rabbi Jeremy Rosen
searched and found a discussion on the BBC based around the Eichmann trial. The
language is stilted but the manner of civilized debate, as opposed to the
wrangling and lack of respect of today's arguments, is refreshing. One comment
sticks in my mind, when the presenter asked Rabbi Rosen if he thought that
Eichmann should hang he responded that no, he should not, for the fear that the
world would believe that the crimes of Hitler gone to trial and was over. Rabbi
Rosen was 47 years old at the time of the debate and he died just a year later
leaving a fantastic legacy of 3 Rabbis, his sons Jeremy, Mickey z"l and
David, whose purpose in life is to change our world for the better. Please, this
is one link that you really should open. https://jeremyrosen.com/2022/07/kopul-rosen-and-the-eichmann-trial.html
I
first met the wonderful Brenda Katten when I was working in Hillel House in
Euston, London. I was immediately struck by her elegant logic and her ability
to reach the crux of any matter without frills and prevarication. This week she
wrote in the Jerusalem Post "Who Cares About Us" writing about the
plight of the ordinary, centrist, traditionally Jewish Israelis who always seem
to get left behind in the decision making. "The
problem begins and ends with our electoral system. The minority dictates and
decides for the majority, often resulting in a government unable to complete
its four year term. " It is a problem here in Israel and in
different ways all over the world. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/
President Biden will
come to Israel and the PA starting on Wednesday, which to Jerusalemites means
that the entire city comes to a standstill except for official vehicles and
police! It is part of living here that when any American leader comes to visit
the King David is cleared of it guests, hopefully finding a room elsewhere, the
Presidential entourage moves in and the entire centre of the city, well you can
imagine! The visit is important, obviously not his first, as I told you I still
remember his enthusiasm for Zvi's recounting of Jerusalem history and
friendliness to all the other members of the group. I wonder if this visit will
bring back sweet memories, now that he is President and not bound by the
constrictions of a Vice-President. I heard voices of dissent that he is
visiting the PA too, but I see that as more important in so many ways, than his
delightful visit to Jerusalem. Here the American flags will fly together with
the Israeli flag on the entire route from the airport, into Jerusalem and
around the areas that the Presidential cavalcade will visit, it's a given that
he will be well received, but hopefully his talks with Abbas will be more
"tachlis" more to the point. I know that Impact-se has briefed his staff
on the lack of cooperation in removing hatred from his schoolbooks; they will
discuss the danger of new elections because Hamas will almost certainly win –
in the Middle East the devil you know is always preferable; they will most
certainly discuss the recent rise in terror attacks and hopefully will come to
a compromise. A compromise means the USA doling out more money, which of course
won't reach the people, but that's the way things work in the real world.
Hey Michael Poppers,
I'm about to use that word again SEGUE. After all I know that Segway is what the
more adventurous tourists ride around Jerusalem on!! Segue to what you may ask!
President Biden's next stop will be Saudi Arabia. Perhaps the most theocratic
society of all the countries in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is reaching out
to the West and has taken the huge step of changing their schoolbooks, with the
assistance of Impact-se. We kept it very quiet for some time but now it is out
in the open, the Saudis, along with Qatar, Bahrain, Morocco and of course the
Emirates (where little change was needed) are moving toward a more moderate
path and the historic visit of an American President to Saudi Arabia is a
direct result of two things – the Abraham Accords and a common fear of Iran.
Never underestimate the power of fear to draw countries together. "The
enemy of my enemy is my ally"
The only problem
with the timing of the Presidential visit is that the four days leading up to
his arrival have been declared Eid Al-Adkha
Mubarak, the Festival of the Victim, by the Palestinian Authority. All banks,
shops, schools and government offices in the PA are closed giving opportunity
to outbursts on the streets. Put that together with the public outcry over the
death of Shireen Abu Akhle and it may be difficult here. Undoubtedly all border
crossings will be closed. Just as a sidebar, 175 terror attacks were prevented
by the Israeli Police and Secret Service – in a large part in cooperation with
the PA police.
In direct contrast
to the venom of Erdogan, Israel and Turkey have made huge steps toward
bilateral cooperation, be it economic or the new Bilateral Aviation Agreement.
Political rhetoric often bears no resemblance to the facts on the ground.
We tend to forget
that politicians are just people, people whose differences don't necessarily
extend beyond the Knesset plenum. Merav Michaeli is left wing, secular in the
extreme leader of the Labour Party and Moshe Gafni is a particularly vociferous
Haredi Member of Knesset yet when Gafni's daughter got married, Michaeli danced
with clear joy despite the strict separation of women and men. The lesson is
clear. Just because your opinions differ, even diametrically opposed, does not
discount the possibility of friendship. We have this dreadful habit of verbal
diatribe against anyone who does not think as we do and it's time to stop. I
don't care if it comes from the left or right, secular or religious, Christian
or Jew – or Moslem – we can all learn from thoughts and ideas that are not in
sync with our own.
The week started
with Friday Night Dinner, at home of course. Our delightful visitors where
Barry and Cristine Slawsky with their beautiful son James (Haim Elimelech) and
their friends Paul and Melissa Passuto, their delight at the blessings over the
wine and challah were only superseded by our mutual religious curiosity and
their plans to see everything that it was possible to see and our making lists
of priorities! One thing was clear, apart from the fact that we have made new,
firm friends, they intend coming back soon and bringing a group of friends with
them!
The next paragraph
will be very hard to write, a mixture of grief and closure, the completion of
Dr. Dan's Room in Shalva. It was a simple ceremony, none of us wanted a
flamboyant, un-Daniel, ceremony and thanks to all the Shalva team we honoured
my beautiful son in the most appropriate way. As close friends and family came
in to the studio and raved about its beauty and practicality my heart filled
with their love. I was nervous, I write, I'm not a public speaker, but the
nerves dissipated the moment that four little girls, aged about 8, all with
Down's Syndrome, came shyly into the room holding on to the hands of their young
volunteers. The room went silent and to the screened background of a play put
on by other special needs children about the story of Abraham and Sarah, they
began to dance. At that moment I knew that the decision was the right one,
these little girls are exactly what the studio for the performing arts in
Shalva will give opportunities for confidence building through music, drama and
dance. We now need to encourage Miriam's dream of dance troupes, acting plays, wheelchair
dancing all made possible by Daniel's Room. The name of my son, our son,
brother, father, husband, friend, who cared so deeply for all young people, a
highly respected and loved paediatrician, lives on through these incredible
children and Malki and Kalman Samuels dream of inclusion that is Shalva. To see
and hear the ceremony please click on this link, fast forward to 22 minutes and
you can watch https://youtu.be/FSwJlg_l0uM
Our wonderful friend
Kim (Dr Kimball Taylor) arrives today to attend the JAFI (Jewish Agency)
meetings and of course to be with us! Tonight he will join the Raviv clan for
Friday night dinner on our veranda, happily singing the blessings along with
Zvi and all of us. What's odd about that I hear you ask, well Kim is a devout
Mormon, a senior member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and a wonderful
friend of Israel, indeed the only non-Jew invited to be part of the JAFI
meetings. I love the traditions of Friday night, the lighting of the candles
which not only welcome the bride of Shabbat but shed light on the world, the
glow of hope. The table, always laden with the goodies of our dispersion, from
gefilte fish to matbucha, from pickled cucumbers to spicy ratatouille and about
10 salads because once I get cooking I forget to stop! As everyone sits down,
we begin to sing a song of welcome to Shabbat, Shalom Aleinu, may peace be upon
us, the children singing with us, even the teenagers who do so with a sigh.
Then Zvi's wonderful Kiddush, the blessing over the wine and the children then
decide who makes the blessing over the bread, the challah. Once the ceremonies
are over the soup comes out, piping hot and I relax. I have a deal with Zvi's
boys, they and their wives work terribly hard so I don't want them to bring
food, I am happy to gradually prepare it all, but then they take over and serve
and clear up with wonderful efficiency. They all bring the dishes in from the
veranda, Leor stacks everything in the dishwasher, like soldiers exactly as I
do, and they leave the kitchen pristine. Of course I expect everyone to
compliment the flowers that surround the table.
Tomorrow we will
meet up with our friends Roselyn and Michael Freeman who are here with Rachel
Heisler and the Soroka Hospital mission. We met Roselyn, Michael and Rachel through
Martin and Helene Lindenfeld who are not coming this time but have given us the
opportunity to enjoy their friends and family!
This week it was my
big sister Eddie and her husband Ray's 65th wedding anniversary, I
was a bridesmaid and can still remember Eddie's glorious dress; Jennifer and
Brian Bell's 57th Anniversary (we decided that they will celebrate
their Diamond Wedding on our veranda PG) and yes I was at their wedding, and of
course my incredible, brilliant and loved son Gideon's 50th birthday
– no need to tell you I was there too. Mazal tov to all. Ad 120
This song, this
video expresses everything about Shabbat Traditions, the open house and welcome
to strangers to come and join the Shabbat table, the acceptance of every shade
of Jew and the sheer joy of Shabbat. Gad Elbaz and Shabbes https://youtu.be/3j-7Z74u9uM
Last night we were
at a wonderful concert by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, our affinity to
Shalva and the quest for a more peaceful world led to only one song, even
though I have played it before. The Shalva Band, Tariq Al Menhari and Arqam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbc7PL8VZ8
This song by Yaakov
Shwekey empitomises what we hope for in Dr. Dan's Room, what Daniel believed in
every child who came under his care. Each child is special, some with special
needs, but each and every one of them has the potential to be happy. I Can Be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3nF2KHmQ60
May this Shabbat be
special for you, when you pray, in whatever language or direction you face,
pray for greater understanding, for greater tolerance, kinder teaching,
inclusion and most of all remember to reach out your arms to all who need it.
With love from
beautiful Jerusalem, King David's City, so beautiful she received 9/10ths of
the worlds beauty.
Shabbat Shalom
Sheila
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