1st March, 2024
October 144th
Shabbat Shalom, I wish you a peaceful weekend
I want you to imagine a beautiful sunny day, driving down road 232,
the verges covered in fabulous carpet of wild red anemones, so famous in the
south of Israel. We had driven down this road many times in the past to see the
“Red South” or Darom Adom, to walk through the fields of calaniot (anemones) as
far as the eye could see. On Monday, we didn’t wander through any fields and
the red flowers reminded me of Flander’s Fields, the killing fields of World
War One. As we drove along the road, between the Kibbutzim of Re’em and Be’eri,
the bus fell silent, in all our minds, the ghosts of running young people
seemed tangible, almost visible, as they ran from the barbaric savagery of
Hamas.
I wanted to go south to the killing fields of the Western Negev,
perhaps “wanted” is the wrong word, but somehow we hadn’t managed to go , which
became a blessing since being on an organised tour, hearing the explanations,
meeting Kibbutz members, meant that we saw and understood what one can never
understand when alone. The World Zionist Organisation, as part of their annual
meetings, had arranged buses to several Kibbutzim in the area and we chose Bus
number 2 which was supposed to go to Kfar Aza but due to an “incident” we went
to Kissufim instead. At first one is struck by the sheer beauty of the Kibbutz;
it’s not just a matter of agriculture, there are sculptures, gardens, each home
growing their own private patch of colour, or so it had been before October the
7th. All we could see now were burnt homes, each with a number on it
to show that the IDF, Zaka, forensic pathologists and archaeologists (yes
archaeologists) had been through to ensure the removal of all human remains and
evidence. In fact, Kissufim was terribly damaged, hostages taken but “just” one
family was murdered. Their elder son and daughter were not at home,
but the parents and little brother were. When they refused to leave the safe
room, the terrorists simply set their home on fire with obvious results. Itay,
Etti and 15 year old Sagi burned alive, hugging each other
We met their daughter Tomer, an amazing young soldier, just 26
years old, who took strength from her mother’s teachings to turn even the most
tragic of events into something positive. Tomer told us about her family, life
in Kissufim, in all but perfect English, her positivity magical, but I couldn’t
concentrate on her words, I was transfixed by the bright pink bicycle in its
stand next to what had been the front door. A bright pink bicycle belonging to
Ettie, untouched by the fire and destruction, as if waiting for her to come and
ride around the kibbutz.
Although I was with Zvi, with the group of eminent leaders, I felt strangely
alone. When we arrived at the memorial to both the slaughtered and the
kidnapped, I left the group and walked alone among the fields of red anemones,
sensing the terror, the utter confusion, of those running where I walked. They
came to Re’em for a weekend of love, just like in the ‘60’s, in my youth, but instead
of love it became hate of such proportions that it shook our world to its very
core. I felt their cries “Where is the IDF? Where are the Police? Who let this
happen?” I didn’t have an answer for them.
Eylon Levy, the excellent MFA Israel spokesman, wrote a Nova
Festival version of “In Flanders Fields”. It is only available on Facebook but
hope you can see it https://www.facebook.com/reel/2747294985419698
Every single day we learn of fallen soldiers, their names and
photographs on our television screens. It has been said that the faith of the
parents in our beautiful country can be compared to the story of Abraham and
Isaac. Each parent, spouse, child, is showing their
faith in the country they love by sending their loved ones into battle never
knowing if there will be a ram hiding in the bush that will save their child.
The Gazans are suffering horribly. No, not from
the IDF response to October 7th, although that is a dreadful
situation, but rather from the actions of Hamas. Hundreds of trucks brought
staple foodstuffs into Gaza yesterday, as they do every day, and as happens
every day, none of it goes to the people. As the trucks rolled in starving
Gazans rushed the trucks, too many getting trampled to death in the rush. Hamas
claimed (of course) that Israeli soldiers killed “hundreds” but the IDF drones
prove their lie. The IDF fired in the air to stop the frenzy, but it was the
stampede, the risk taken to feed their
families, that killed them.
The WZO (World Zionist Organisation) meetings
were held this week in Jerusalem. The closing plenum was very special for Zvi,
and for me. After decades of effective and important contributions to the
workings of the Jewish world, representing Maccabi World Union, Zvi retired
from his position. The WZO chose to give him a special award for his untiring
work and honourable representation. It is so well deserved, an honour and
recognition from the leaders of that venerable organisation. It’s a shame that not
one of the leaders of Maccabi was there to see it although the delightful young
woman who will take his place in the WZO was there with a big bouquet of
flowers that she bought herself.
I know it seems strange to you, but
simultaneously, we had a good week. On Shabbat, accompanied by our wonderful
friend Kim Taylor, we went for a glorious walk in the nature reserve opposite
our home. We were rewarded by a carpet of wild cyclamen, (rekafot), which came
out to greet the sun after weeks of rain. Of course they were joined by the
almond blossom (shkediot) and the sudden appearance of spots of red anemones.
Luck was on our side when we found a group of lovely Israeli tourists sitting on
our favourite bench, overlooking the reservoir below. The moved over to make
room for me and while Zvi and Kim continued on the path I spent a delightful
twenty minutes discovering where they were from, that they were here to visit
friends in Bet Zayit, and they promise dot come and visit us at home on their
next time.
On Monday, as I wrote, we left early for the
journey southward, ending our experience with a mind-blowing Israeli meal in
Ashkelon and a visit to the Absorption Centre for Ethiopian immigrants. The
Absorption Centre was an antidote to the sadness of the morning, beautiful little
girls dancing, a brilliant young man who initiated a Hi-Tech course for young Ethiopian
immigrants, families and a a wonderful man who blessed the special bread which
he gave to each of us.
On Tuesday we went to vote in the local
elections then collected Kim and went to the plenum of the WZO where Zvi
received his honour. I then came back home to prepare for a special meeting of my
“Mind and Movement” group. Since the hall where we normally meet was in use for
the elections, I offered our home and everyone brought food while I provided a
huge pot of soup. The 10 of us managed to dance, to music our leader, Gali, had
chosen specially for me, in other words, of the ‘60’s. It was so much fun!
Wednesday went by too quickly racing back and fore and in the evening Zvi took
our Kim to the airport for his interminable flight to LA and then home to
Marianne in Alberta. Yesterday was a highly pleasurable Creativity group in the
library and that brings us to today. March the 1st; St David’s Day;
the special day for all Welsh men and women wherever they may be in the world,
the Welsh Saint’s Day. I’m off to a St David’s Day gathering in Jerusalem where
I will see old friends from my childhood, some of whom are Welsh speakers, all
of whom have a warm place in their heart for Wales.
Before we sing together I want to give you two
videos that I feel are important. One is a young Israeli explaining why it’s
important to him that he’s a Jew. https://youtu.be/w-QEgAOJ3Ok?si=2r-ORxbZ1craO6-L The second is truly heartwarming as Assita
Kanko, Member of the European Parliament on UNWRA, speaks about anti-Semitism.
Assita grew up in Burkina Faso https://youtu.be/bkk7bytytYA?si=0L2s9reX5RG0L8M1
My first song takes us back to Woodstock in
1969, the exceptional Joe Cocker and the song that has taken me through my
hardest times, With a Little Help from My Friends. Without you, our friends, we’d
be lost https://youtu.be/5P5yXUZ-QCI?si=tKk95aUUsj1qIoXy
Avishai Cohen sings a Song of Hope. If ever we
needed it it is now. https://youtu.be/R84GNvcwh5w?si=dTa089GioIWAJJye
Finally, Hope, Tikvah, HaTikvah https://youtu.be/GQCu9kl68Tg?si=zvxL3C5-QZ_7GHpx
Shabbat Shalom dear friends. I send you love
from Jerusalem and wish you peace, security, a sense of self, a determination
that we will cope yet again.
Sheila
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