1st November, 2024
Shabbat Shalom. Hope that you had an interesting, even fun,
Halloween, or to call it by its real name, All Hallows Eve.
I am a fan of J K Rowling, indeed I have been a fan ever
since my eldest son Daniel z"l gave me the first book as a present many
years ago. I always felt that Rowling had a deep understanding of terror and
terrorists, the dark reality of Islamic terror, something that came out in her
terrifying characters, the Dementors.
"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this
earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and
despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. Get
too near to a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be
sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to
reduce you to something like itself... soulless and evil. You will be left with
nothing but the worst experiences of your life."
Many of the soldiers are religious, what is known as Modern
Orthodox. This week an exceptional teacher, Captain Rabbi Avraham Yosef
Goldberg z”l, died in action in Southern Lebanon after more than 220 days
of reserve duty. His family wrote of his wishes.
A statement from the Goldberg family on Monday said that it would
welcome “politicians from any party or camp,” to the Shiva (mourning period)
but only if they arrive in pairs — one from the coalition and one from the
opposition. The family’s statement echoes the spirit of Rabbi Goldberg and his
principles during his lifetime: bridging gaps and building bonds. His widow,
Rachel Goldberg spoke out saying that her husband appealed to yeshiva
students to join the IDF “they need to understand that the people of Israel
need them.”
Most of the Miluimnikim, the reservists, have left their families,
their businesses, their professions, for 200 even 300 days this year answering
to the call to defend our little country. Their young families have to manage
without them for months on end knowing that they are in very real danger every
moment. That is why we are angry at those who do not serve, not only Haredim,
but Israeli Arabs and the Israeli elite.
Some of each of the above groups do serve but not in realistic numbers that
could relieve those who do. So many of the volunteer reservists are religious,
and many of the fallen are too, although once on the battlefield religious and
political differences fade into oblivion with just one objective in sight.
Large families, beautiful children now fatherless, the only kisses that small
children can give their fathers are on photographs, so that they won’t forget
them or their bravery. Young families who became single parent families,
joining a club that nobody wants to belong to. Their faith, their love of
Israel, their prayers help them through. Obviously, there are many secular
families in the same rocky boat, but it never fails to amaze me how faith can
help through the mourning process.
101 hostages are still held in captivity under who knows
what conditions. 101 Hostages alive or dead we do not know, their families fearing
the knock on the door. Rachel Polin Goldberg opened the door before the
soldiers approached. “The dread of hearing the knock on the door with such bad
news was something that I didn’t think I could bear,” To understand the
conditions of both the hostages and the families please, watch this, hear this.
https://youtu.be/VhBlSucz4VM?si=0HA9R7wL4rOSh4VT
Lebanon is very different to Gaza. The
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, although a Sunni Moslem, wants to find a
compromise, does not support Iranian backed Hezb-Allah. The Druze and Christian
Lebanese want Hezb-Allah gone and again unlike Gaza, they have political and
actual power for change. In principle it now depends upon the United Nations
and of course UNIFIL in activating and abiding by Resolution 1701 which demands
a weapons free zone of 10 kilometres within the Lebanese border. The weapons
stores and tunnels are different too, large and the tunnels are relatively
luxurious. When you see vast explosions reported after Israeli bombing, it is
the weapons stores - the Iranian missiles and weaponized drones that are
killing Israelis by the day. Imagine
hundreds of attacks every day on your town, your country. I wonder how long it
would take before your government forgot that it helped arm terrorists and
fought back.
I can’t avoid the upcoming US elections, try as I may. I’m
really glad that I don’t have to vote, we have enough problems with our own
choices! Yesterday I had a meeting with the wonderful CEO of Impact-se, Marcus
Sheff, to update me on the huge advances we have made, and the subject came up,
inevitably this election determines who will lead the Western World against the
China, Iran, Russia triple threat. We spoke of the polls and of the reportage,
both are predominantly in CNN, NY Times and other supposedly intellectual media.
The ordinary people, those who vote as their parents and grandparents voted are
not considered because they are not influenced by the elitist media since they
are not interested! The average Joe, quite rightly, wants to know how this
election will affect his pocket, who will help him to feed his children not
what is happening in far distant lands. As to who will win, I have no idea but
I wish the United States of America a leader who will unite the people while realizing
the impact of what they say and do on the rest of the world. I wish they had
the eloquence of Bill Clinton who has never doubted who is right in our region.
Just listen to this short video. https://youtu.be/eBCBP9mwTG4?si=eGgtdUIOxjPPW5Zn
Talking of Impact-se and our CEO Marcus Sheff, one of
the purposes of our meeting was a progress report and I am happy to report that
the work of the team continues unimpaired by politics and wars because only by
teaching tolerance, unteaching hatred, can we begin to hope for any possibility
of stability and peace in this region and beyond. Our research is extending
beyond the Middle East, our influence upon education, on tolerance in education
still has daily successes as leaders in the Middle East begin to understand
that their countries can never progress, can never succeed if the children are
taught to hate, to learn insular, closed policies which do not accept “the
other”. Most countries have woken up, but there are still some who speak with
forked tongue, predominantly Qatar. The world is waiting for the Israeli
government to come up with a “Day After” plan, well just so that you know that Impact-se
has a programme ready for the re-education of the Palestinians, the
detoxification of young minds. www.impact-se.org
Did you know that the Israeli Government voted to ban UNWRA
activities in our region? Well, if you click on the Impact-se link above, you
will understand why. UNWRA in Gaza, and not only in Gaza, encouraged and even
took part in October 7th. Impact-se warned of the activities of
UNWRA four years ago when due to Covid, their curriculum was put online and one
of our incredible young researchers, Itam, found it and the research proved
that UNWRA schools were inciting to hatred and encouraging Jihad and UNWRA
teachers were also active members of Hamas. Instead of berating Israel’s
decision it should be lauded.
There’s so much more to tell you but I think that with the best
will in the world, we can only absorb so much tough news before needing some
light diversion, or as Monty Python used to say “And now for something entirely
different”
Jerusalem has several theatres, from the huge
multi hall Jerusalem Theatre, to the wonderful Khan theatre and many smaller halls,
all busy, all showing a huge variety of drama and music all sold out
performances. The same for Tel Aviv. One piece of news that really pleased me
is the opening of a new patisserie in Sderot! In fact, the reopening of an
excellent shwarma restaurant, felafel, Middle Eastern restaurant, fine dining
and sushi, all sorts of food options are feeding the returning residents and of
course the soldiers who are posted there. Delivery services are back for
take-away and although many residents are still unable to return to their burnt
out homes in the Western Negev, southern Israel, the area is slowly but surely
beginning to revive. Even under the current circumstances Israelis love to eat!
I know that you love hearing about our veranda, after all that is
the title of my newsletter, so here is today’s report. The oranges on the
little orange tree are ripening fast and yesterday I picked one and oh boy was
it sweet! The limes are changing colour too, their lighter skins belying the
wonderful green flesh inside. So different to the sharp, tart lemon, the lime
has a much gentler flavour. Looking at those little trees, barely as tall as I
am, spindly trunks, held tightly in their flower pots, yet producing bounteous
fruits and I thought how similar they are to this little land, bound by its
surrounding enemies, yet always thriving even during war, cruel war, that is
imposed upon us. As I await the ripening fruits on the Kumquat and mini-lemon
trees I remember that and it pleases me no end.
The clocks went back, or is it forward I find it so
confusing! I swear that I get jet lag each time! Shabbat will come in much
earlier tonight. Zvi will go to his parliament in the Botanical Gardens much
earlier because they need to finish earlier, which may or may not give them
enough time to put the world to rights. I wonder what the 10 or 12 highly
intelligent and opinionated men will talk about today. I’m absolutely certain
that their thoughts and decisions will be better than any government that we have
or will choose next week. I would love to be a fly on the wall, in fact have
been to a few sessions, but I think it more important to prepare for Shabbat! I
find that too much talk promotes dissent rather than action, but that’s just my
view and all of the men, right left and centre, enjoy the openness of their
conversations.
Tonight’s supper, just Zvi and I, is going to be
traditional. Chicken soup with kneidlach (delicious dumplings), roast chicken
with roast potatoes, broccoli (Zvi hates it so don’t tell him), a chopped
Israeli salad (my favourite) and I haven’t decided on dessert yet. I wish you
could join us, sit with us, feel the warm glow of the Shabbat candles, hear Zvi’s
beautiful blessing over the wine, enjoy our regular banter over the latest news
and just be here. I can’t wait for the 15th of November, because the
wonderful Kim Taylor will be sitting at our table, joining us in every sense of
the word. He’s coming for the Jewish Agency Meetings (yes this member of the
LDS Church is not just welcome but very effective on various committees) which
will be held in Tel Aviv (another thing I have to add. Why in Tel Aviv when Tel
Aviv has rockets and Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel) and Kim wants to
be with us so he’s arriving 2 days early so that he can spend Shabbat with us. Again,
I digress as usual, but….. did you know that the Brigham Young University holds
its prayers on a Saturday (Shabbat) on the Jerusalem Campus?
So, Simchat Torah and the anniversary of the October 7th
massacre has been and gone with many tears, ceremonies and not a small helping
of anger; you’ve had a tour of our veranda and its cornucopia of citrus, you know
what we are having for supper so it is probably time for some music.
Katan Aleinu! Loosely translated means We go this. Israeli
singers recorded this during Covid but it fits our current situation. We got
this, we will survive and so will you. We have met ignorance and misguided
young people before and came out the other side. https://youtu.be/lHVAWnCXBkU?si=25qJ11SpTHHKmZIm
Hanan Ben Ari sings Moledet, a love song to Israel pledging
loyalty and love for our homeland. Wonderful lyrics, words of true love https://youtu.be/9wYEWx1291g?si=kI9w9oSxAXuO9NsA
When I was working in London, with AJ6, a wonderful organisation for
school students in their last two years of high school, preparing them for
university and the anti-Semitism they may encounter on campus. The organisation
is no longer, a terrible oversight considering the current challenges the young
people face every day. But again, I digress, I drove everyone completely crazy
because day and night (yes sometimes the work meant staying late) I played one
song, one very important song, which eventually caught on and all the students
and counsellors were singing it too. It is my favourite Hebrew song. It is the
story of our little country. The Honey and the Sting – Al Kol Eleh – above it
all. https://youtu.be/Gbw2FTYHCTg?si=lygxjxQLJEjSLiiA
So nearly Shabbat. Zvi is getting ready to leave for his
parliament, I will set the table, put the candles in their candlesticks ready
for Shabbat and we will await to see what this weekend will bring.
I wish you peace, I wish you kindness, I wish you time to consider
what you want for tomorrow, for our children’s future. Remember that here in
Israel, we are fighting your fight too. Jew, Christian, Moslem, Buddhist,
Hindu, all that we really want is to be able to raise our children to a better
future without hate.
Shabbat Shalom from both of us. As I look over at the most
beautiful city in the world, glistening white on the horizon, I pray for peace,
real peace and understanding.
With love
Sheila
