7th December 2023
Shabbat Shalom and Chanukah Sameach.
Tonight, we light the first candle of Chanukah, the commemoration
of the victory over the evil of those who desecrated the Temple. We fought back,
thanks to the bravery of a family who lived near Jerusalem and decided that
they did not have to sit back and take it, they fought back and we are here to
prove it. The symbol of one container of oil in the lamp that lasted for eight
days is just that a highly symbolic story but one that lights our lives. The
revolt against the Hellenists, the Greeks, who denied us all our traditions and
laws. They didn’t beat us they just banned circumcision, Shabbat, prayer,
kosher meat… in other words they stopped us being Jewish! Judah Maccabi was
born in a place now called Maccabim-Reut, a beautiful town still populated by
Jews because one man and his entire family fought for the right to be Jews.
Had anyone told me that the outcome of the horrific attacks of October 7th
would be a resurgence of anti-Semitism such as the world has not seen since
1936, I might not have believed you or I would have said that I wrote about it
years ago and was shouted down. However, here we are; elite universities in the
USA are not only allowing but encouraging anti-Semitic attacks both verbal and
physical. The melting pot has become a crucible of hate.
I have an ongoing discussion with a friend as to the difference between
free speech and freedom of speech; freedom of speech allows one to speak out
but within the limitations of both good behaviour and the law, free speech is a
free for all without any consideration of consequences. Here is one small
example of a Congressional debate on the current wave of hatred toward Jewish
students on the Elite campuses of MIT, Harvard and Penn. There were many more
instances during this session but I chose this one which shows the inanity of
the woke responses of those representing high academia https://youtu.be/pRRDr1Q4KfE?si=IK6FErcmdcSkblvG
I am furious that I am worrying about the safety of my
family and friends in the USA, indeed in most Western countries, instead of our
soldiers in the IDF who are defending Western society at this very moment and
the returning hostages whose stories give us sleepless nights. I don’t know if
you are aware of the atrocities of Hamas, under strict instructions from Sinwar
but let it be said that identification of the bodies of women and girls killed
on that day could not be carried out by family members because their faces were
disfigured by torture. I won’t go into further detail but please read this
article written with tears https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-776654
Lucy Aharish is an Israeli journalist and broadcaster,
probably the most representative Israeli possible. She grew up in Dimona, was
the only Moslem in school, dressed as Queen Esther on Purim and wore blue and
white on Yom HaAtzmaut. She is a proud Moslem who married a Jew and is a wonderful
proponent for the Jewish state. As a journalist she interviewed a Hamas leader
and accused him even then of atrocities. Her monologue, recorded in her home,
is well worth five minutes of your time. https://youtu.be/j2L-L1G6c04?si=N6v_1XoBszPcGQ-Z
Something rather wonderful happened to one little
Irish/Israeli 9 year old for whose release we all prayed for. Emily Hand,
whose father’s plea when he discovered that she was captured and not dead as
first reported and who incidentally still speaks in a whisper singe her abduction,
has always loved Beyonce. When Beyonce heard Emily’s story, she immediately
invited her to a concert “anywhere in the world that she chooses”. There are
still good people out there in the big wide world.
I won’t apologise for having given you so many links, something
that I usually avoid, but please, each and every one is essential so open them,
listen and learn. I did.
Last Friday I went down into the village to a friend’s
house. Tami had invited the wonderful women from my mind and movement group for
brunch, each of us contributing something to the feast. Each and every one of
us commented on how important being together has become since October the 7th
and this group of women of varied ages is exceptional. I haven’t decided if
it’s the movement class or the type of person who goes to the movement class
that made us all such good listeners.
On Friday evening we went to our friends Tsiona and Yorai for
Friday night Shabbat Dinner. Yorai made a lovely kiddush and we sat and talked
about the situation, the world and the importance, yet again, of friendship
over a delicious meal. On Shabbat we went to Amiad and Noga’s for lunch, always
a treat and we came home in time for me to light a memorial candle for my son
Daniel z”l who brought so much light into the world just by entering a room. On
Sunday morning, on a rainy day in London, a group of very close friends met for
the morning service in honour of the anniversary of Daniel’s passing. Gideon
and Stephanie, as is their wont, laid on a feast for after the prayers and my
children’s father, Philip, did the prayers. I can never get used to the fact
that Gideon has to say the Kaddish prayer, although Rachel and I said the
prayer alongside him here in Israel. Many thanks to Daniella and Barbara I was
able to take part through the wonders of modern technology.
On Monday Zvi and I were back to sandwich making in Habad with Nancy
Bloomfield who found it as enjoyable as we do, especially on the tuna
production line! Sadly, at the end of the morning the local Habad Rabbi called
us together to say special prayers for another fallen soldier from the
neighborhood. From Habad Nancy and I headed to Shalva where we met with the
wonderful Gaby who showed Nancy around. It’s so hard to describe Shalva to
those who have only ever known institutions for special needs children. Shalva
is a joyful, bright, sunny, happy place and Nancy was just blown away by the
work and play of Shalva. In sharp contrast to the sadness of the fallen soldier
Shalva was full of joy at the return from Gaza of Ofir Engel the son of the
Director of Sport at Shalva Yoav Engel. The young people of Shalva rushed to
tell us of the good news. One aspect of the returning hostages, young and old
alike, is their concern for those still in captivity. Last Shabbat, on our
visit to the Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, we were struck by the deep love shown
to the families of the hostages both by others and for each other, equally for
those still waiting anxiously for news and those whose loved ones are already
home.
Tonight, Zvi and the Jerusalem Symphony Choir are performing in the
Khan Theatre. The Khan was built on the ruins of an ancient inn from the
Crusader period. It served caravan travellers who arrived in
Jerusalem after nightfall when the gates of the Old City were locked. In later
years, the building housed a beer-cellar and a carpentry workshop.
Today it is a thriving theatre with its own troupe. First Zvi will light the
first candle of the Chanukiah in the beautiful courtyard. A Chanukiah is quite
different to the Menorah. The Menorah, the symbol of Israel, has 7 arms whereas
the Chanukiah has 9; 8 to represent the 8 days that the oil lasted and one for
the Shamash, or servant light. After the candle lighting and the inevitable
sufganiyot, or doughnuts, we will all go inside to the theatre for the
performance. Tonight’s performance is both for and in aid of the evacuees from
the north and south of Israel and members of the Khan. I’m very excited and as
you can imagine so is Zvi!
I thank heaven every day that our lives are so full, our days so
busy and our determination to give back unshakeable. Despite our concerns, our distress, our deep
worries for our boys and girls fighting a terrible enemy, we find time to sing
and even to dance, both of which soothe our soul and ease our pain .
You all remember Bohemian Rhapsody, well now we have Chanukian
Rhapsody!!! The story of Chanuka! https://youtu.be/9P30ckBf1wk?si=KJB6Lntj7YzMb_2s
Hanerot Hallalu, these lights, is the traditional song before
lighting the first candle and thereafter for eight days. It too tells an
important story of how the 8 candles represent the bravery and heroism of those
in each generation that ensure our survival. https://youtu.be/w7F4ynFgydQ?si=zdnNfD2-n1MwF2Pm
A repeat, I know, but so important. Koolulam and Bring Them Home
NOW! Koolulam brings us all together in song, irrespective of creed, colour or
place. We must be strong and let our
voices ring out. https://youtu.be/6y2laYXcBdU?si=Qb0zCS_meW082gyH
I wish you light, be it through our Shabbat Candles or our Chanukah
candles, a light that may just bring light to an ever darkening world. I wish
you the strength to stand up to bullies, the belief that good always wins over
evil and the love to bring us together as one.
Shabbat Shalom and much love from Jerusalem and our home.
Sheila
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