26th January, 2024
Shabbat Shalom dear friends
Perhaps Charles Dickens was a prophet when he wrote
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of
times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the
epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light,
it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of
despair.”
Surely the supreme evidence that our world is upside down is that the
International Court of Justice in the Hague, an outpost of the United Nations,
has chosen to pass judgement on the ludicrous South African genocide accusation
against Israel on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The ultimate irony
is that the International Court of Justice and the UN were created to replace
the League of Nations and the Permanent Court of International Justice which were
disbanded because they failed to address the Holocaust
The world was silent at the slaughter of Moslems in Syria, Yemen, Libya,
Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Moslems killed by Moslems, yet when Israel defended
herself after the horrendous attack of October 7th, the entire world,
led by Islamic activists, turned on us! Not the leaders, the people. Riots and
violent demonstrations against Israel throughout the West, were more contagious
than Covid and twice as deadly. The clouds of war are gathering and most of the
Western world, Western society, is complacent and silent not understanding the
words of their leaders. President Biden and Prime Minister Sunak took the
decision to fight the piracy of the Houthis in Yemen, the Iranian armed
terrorists, verbally backed by other countries, but just like the USA until
Pearl Harbour, they did not wish to enter the fray in our part of the world
until their ships were attacked. I know that you won’t like my last statement
but it is sadly true.
The 75th anniversary of the founding of the Knesset went without ceremony,
the Members of Knesset too bound up in this war that we did not want and the
Cabinet too busy ejecting the families of hostages from open meetings.
The most frequent accusation against Israel is that of apartheid, so, I thought I
would tell you about one or two of our heroes, of beloved soldiers who fell
this week. They were Filipino (Cydric Garin), Peruvian (Yuval Lopez), Ethiopian
(Daniel Zegeye), Jewish (Rabbi Elkana Vizel), Christian, Moslem, Druze and Bedouin
(Ahmad Abu Latif), each and every one a hero, each and every one a proud
fighter of the IDF, each and every one receiving the honour they deserved at
their military burial, each and every one mourned. In fact, I want to tell you
all about Cydric. Cydric Garin, age 23, came from San Mateo, just north of
Manila, the Capital city of the Philippines, and came to Israel with his mother
some 17 years ago. Cydric was a rebellious child but after enrolling in the IDF
Givati Unit, he found his niche, was immediately accepted and loved and earned
an outstanding soldier award by the Southern Command. The IDF is a true melting
pot of people whose love of Israel and understanding of our threats is what
binds them.
One of the most emotional ceremonies this week took place in Kibbutz Be’eri, to be exact,
in the Be’eri Forest, on Tu b’Shvat, the festival of the new trees. With the
help of KKL-JNF, the families of the 364 people killed at the Nova festival and
the 40 members of Kibbutz Be’eri who were taken captive, participated in a tree
planting ceremony, 404 trees to form a memorial forest. Giving new life, new
memories to the place where their loved ones lost their lives.
What is Tu b’Shvat? Tu b’Shvat is a Jewish holiday
occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. It is also called Rosh
HaShanah La'Ilanot, literally "New Year of the Trees". An Ilan is an Oak tree. In contemporary
Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day; trees are planted
in celebration and we all eat fruits and nuts each of which has a specific
blessing.
The Red Cross came to the Israel Government demanding to check on the conditions
of the Hamas prisoners in Israel. The senior members of the IDF said yes and
the government almost agreed, but Itamar Ben Gvir, with whom I have little agreement,
said no “Not until the Red Cross visits and reports on the condition of the
hostages in Gaza” For the first time ever I agree with him. The Red Cross not
only hasn’t demanded to visit the hostages, their new Director was the shamed
Director of UNWRA!!
Not all is
gloom and doom, thanks to
wonderful people along the way, they are beacons of light in a dark world. Imagine a senior officer in the middle of War choosing to
take time off and donate a kidney to a complete stranger. A
few days later he went to meet the recipient of the kidney. The epitome of the humanity
of the IDF, saving lives both in and out of uniform
Rachel Heisler Sheinfeld is the Executive Director of the American friends of
Soroka Hospital, a wonderful lady and dear friend. Rachel’s husband Joel is a renowned
Urologist at Sloan Kettering Hospital and they have both watched and cared for
the growth of Soroka Hospital, in Beer Sheva, watching it grow from a few huts to
a large and very important Medical Facility. In addition to the normal day to
day activities of a hospital, Soroka has borne the brunt of the injured since
October 7th, over 2,600 soldiers and civilians, performing miracles
along the way. Why am I telling you all this? Because on Monday Zvi and I
headed off down the main highway to Beer Sheva and Soroka Hospital for the
official opening of the Dr Joel Sheinfeld Urology Centre in Soroka Hospital.
The centre is state of the art, with treatment rooms equipped with the very
latest technology, a bright and hopeful centre. The obvious love extended to Rachel
by the senior staff of the hospital was tangible; the fact that they all came
to honour her and Joel when soldiers were being helicoptered in to the ICU
every few minutes is a sign of deep respect for Rachel’s untiring work.
Elon Musk was completely ignorant of the facts about the current conflagration and
about Israel in general. Being South African perhaps he believed the apartheid
accusations? Unlike others, Elon Musk came to Israel, visited Be’eri, talked to
survivors, went to Auschwitz and finally understood. In fact, his understanding
reached the point of “I’m Jewish by association” Let’s see if his words will be
translated into action on “X” and all the dire anti-Semitic posts removed.
Three short video clips of huge importance.
Ben Shapiro and Piers Morgan talk about “Gas the Jews” https://youtu.be/Ji9zcj9MdOY?si=eAJIxECiUDYk_VPi
Oded Rahav, a man of peace, speaks out “Humanity is at a crossroads” https://youtu.be/u6z87_e9jPM?si=Hdin3M765f-m1fMf
Member of Knesset Boaz Bizmuth had
prepared a speech to the European Parliament but instead spoke his mind. “You
should be ashamed” https://youtu.be/m4uOCqv8aeU?
January 24th
was World Education Day. It was hate education,
the inculcation of hatred from day one, that ultimately led to October 7th
as the PA and UNWRA refused to remove hatred from their schoolbooks. Impact-se
(https://www.impact-se.org/ could
change all that, is prepared and ready to teach the next and following generations
of Palestinians to respect the other; we just need the world to demand the way
they teach their children.
Zvi and I returned to two very important places this week. Hostage Square, right next
to the Tel Aviv Museum and the Israeli Opera, was almost empty on a Saturday
morning allowing us to really look at the installations, at the faces of those
at the long, long table set for those who have not returned, may not return
from captivity. On Wednesday we went back to the Chabad centre in Jerusalem
hoping to help with the sandwich-making again, but there was little for us to
do! The place had so many volunteers that all that was left for me to do was
slicing cucumbers! People from every walk of life, adults and children, special
needs and just folks who want to help. As with everything in Israel, there is a story
behind the simple act of making sandwiches. A child called Li’el asked his mother
for extra sandwiches each day at school, not for himself, for children who
couldn't afford. He grew up to be an officer in the IDF. He was close to his
soldiers and reminded them to smile because a smile lights the world. Li’el
fell in battle and this project is in his name. By day sandwiches, by night
barbecues for soldiers in the north and in the south https://www.jgive.com/.../usd/donation-targets/115193/about
I think I told you that as a result of the current situation people
in our neighborhood have organised all sorts of social events, one of my
favourites is “Yetsira” handicraft. One of the women heard me talk about the
sandwich-making and told me that the children at her school are among the
recipients, many with fathers away fighting in Gaza, and the delight on their
faces at they receive their mid-morning sandwich.
It’s raining, it’s pouring but my old man isn’t snoring! The rain
is so strong that for the first time in ages I didn’t sit out on the veranda to
eat my breakfast and read the paper before doing Wordle! I missed the fresh air
but there is a limit even to my resilience and British stoicism in the face of
bad weather! Mount Hermon is already covered in snow, wonderful skiing snow but
the usual crowds of curious visitors are kept away by the Hezb-Allah missiles.
Shame really, Israelis have taken to the piste with delight.
And so to songs.
Yaron Chitiz z”l from Ra’anana fell in Gaza. Zvi
went to the funeral which was attended by thousands. His father worked in Keren
Hayesod in South Africa before the family came on Aliya This song was written
in his honour. My thanks to Merle Friedman for sending it to me. Sim Shalom https://youtu.be/pxRb_BQ6MXs?si=S1Em_1aqTzvq6A7x
Yesh Bi Ahava by Arik Einstein, I have love within, is not a
new song but so appropriate. I have love within and it will win. https://youtu.be/I1Zro9rVJ-E?si=1tHXvGzljVCJ2YnK
Katan Aleinu – No Problem. Israeli singers, a beautiful
video, the story of our strength. We love, we hug, we help, we hold our heads
up high. Even this untenable situation is “Katan Aleinu”. We have been in worse
situations and we are still here. https://youtu.be/v10zZx3L9NQ?si=4W5Rry_hJOYDMMN3
Let’s all pray for Besorot Tovot, for good news. We must show the
world that we are strong, our heads are high, Israelis, indeed all logical people,
irrespective of provenance, must speak out without fear and this too will pass.
Don’t forget that the Israeli national anthem is called The Hope
With much love from Jerusalem.
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