5th of September 2025
Shabbat Shalom dear lovely friends.
700 days of watching the despicable become acceptable
700 days of unimaginable agony for the parents of those who were
and are in dire captivity
900 Israeli soldiers, of every race, men and women, fathers and
mothers, brothers and sisters, sons, lost in a war we didn’t want
To be Jewish, to be Israeli, is to walk with history as both burden
and blessing — exile and return, persecution and rebirth woven into our very
being. No one escapes pain, fear or suffering; our story has carried all three.
I found this beautiful quote which so perfectly expresses out situation “From
pain we draw wisdom, from fear we find courage, from suffering we shape
strength, the quiet alchemy of resilience”. We are a resilient people and out
of that resilience we have built not only homes and hopes but also world-class
hospitals, life-saving medical and scientific innovations, and sporting
achievements that far outstrip our size. It is the same thread of endurance
that turns ashes into seeds, loss into song and hardship into hope, binding us
across generations and urging us to keep creating, defending and dreaming under
every sky.
The current Chief of Staff of the IDF is Eyal Zamir. Eyal Zamir.
He previously served as the Director-General of
the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Deputy Chief of Staff
Commander of the Southern Command, Military Secretary to the Prime
Minister, commander of the 36th Division and commander of
the 7th Armored Brigade. In other words, a
well seasoned, experienced soldier and leader. Orit Strook is an extreme right
Member of Knesset and last week announced that when Eyal Zamir, a seasoned
soldier and General, announced his opposition to taking over Gaza, called him incompetent.
Sadly, most of this government has, in the words of today’s young “lost the plot”
and taken our policies so far right that we have to find a way back.
My intention was to veer away from the situation, both here and for
the communities abroad, so that’s what I intend doing! Instead I want to tell
you about our insane week starting with Sunday and the last finishing touches
to the wonderful extension to the apartment. Don’t worry, we haven’t lost even
one centimetre of the veranda, in fact we can see every flower, bush and tree
through the huge glass doors and windows which protect us from extremes of heat
and of course the winter gales and rain.
Here in Israel the unusual has long since become ordinary. When the
Houthis sent another missile our way and the siren wailed, even the Arab
workers who sometimes kneel to pray on our veranda hurried into the mamad
with us. In that little room, the world pauses; strangers become companions and
you can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.
When the all-clear came I stepped back through the dust and workmen
into my kitchen, because life goes on. I had a dinner to prepare — not just any
dinner, but the first in our new extension and a chance to welcome Impact-se’s
newest board member, Steve Bram, and his lovely Julie. Marcus and Inbal came
too, along with our friends Shauli and Rochele, David and Tsiona. Around the
table we introduced ourselves and slowly wove connections: entrepreneurs,
judges, philanthropists, all finding common ground while Marcus answered a
stream of questions about taking hate out of schoolbooks before flying off to
Washington and Europe. The paint was still drying, the curtains arriving, the
sliding doors being checked, yet our little house was full of voices and ideas.
Zvi, as ever, was off putting out organisational fires. Yesterday
was no quieter: a “Mind and Movement” class for me, a mad dash for last-minute
shopping, setting the table for sixteen for Shabbat and burning peppers, and
creating a cornucopia of salads. Ira, Sheli and Tomer dropped by, then Hannah
rang to insist we go to the opening of “The Big House”, once an exquisite
building that was a convalescent home now turned wellness centre. We walked the
fifty metres, caught up with neighbours, and of course Ika and Ilana ended up
back at ours to see the transformation
Zvi went to meet up with our friends David and Kathy Efron, from
Miami, at the Efron Building which houses Hora Jerusalem Dance Troupes. You’d
think that was the end of our day, but no, David and Kathy, together with Zvi,
phoned to say they were starving and wanted to eat before heading back to Tel
Aviv. I tried to get us into Naya, our favourite haunt, but every one of the
300 seats was full of happy diners and a long queue waited outside for
cancellations. So we ducked next door instead and had a passable, if
unremarkable, meal.
Tonight is Shabbat dinner and Amiad’s 49th birthday — sixteen of us
around the table. We’ve managed to keep the new extension a complete secret, so
I can’t wait to see their faces when they walk in!
Why am I telling you all this? Because it’s our quiet proof of
resilience. Hearts can break for a million reasons, and into a million pieces,
but life keeps going. We grieve, support and protest, marching to demand our
hostages back, visiting families in Hostage Square, writing against the lies of
foreign media and even our own leaders. And yet we still cook, meet friends, celebrate,
set the table, and keep our spirits alive.
Back to reality. I have been doing my own research having heard the
Sykes Picot Agreements bandied about a great deal lately. So, here goes, my thoughts.
A century ago, the Ottoman Empire’s collapse produced a map full of new nations.
France drew Syria and Lebanon, Britain carved out Iraq and Jordan, Ibn Saud
built Saudi Arabia and Turkey rose from Anatolia. Yet of all the states born
then, only Israel still has its very legitimacy questioned. Nobody doubts
Jordan’s or Pakistan’s right to exist; the double standard aimed solely at
Israel speaks less to history than to prejudice.
State
Comptroller Matanyahu Englman levied heavy criticism at Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and former
defense minister Yoav Gallant, marking them as responsible for civilian front
failures since the war broke out almost two years ago.
Establishing the mechanisms for such emergency situations is not
solely a wartime responsibility, but should be upheld even when active use of
it is not required, he wrote, adding that this had been tended to, notes the
report, the price that civilians have paid in the interim would have been far
lower. For a fuller report https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-866162
Doctors at Ichilov Medical Center have performed a medical first in
Israel, removing a rare skull base tumor through the eye socket without opening
the skull. The minimally invasive brain surgery took place on July 21 and is
being hailed as a breakthrough. The complex procedure brought together
specialists in neurosurgery, oculoplastics, and ENT. Thanks to their teamwork,
the young patient made a full recovery with minimal impact on vision or
appearance, marking a milestone in Israeli medicine.
Children are back in school, excited to see their friends. The
cutest of all is the greeting for “Kita Aleph”, first year little ones. At the
entrance to the school there is a big balloon arch with Welcome Kita Aleph, and
each child gets a brightly coloured label with their name on it. Those who need
it get a little hug from the teachers (yes hugs for worried children is still
an essential part of Israeli life) and off they go to a whole new way of life.
Millions, yes millions, of Brazilian Christians marched in the name
of Christ blessing and praying for Israel. A heartwarming and hopeful event.
Greta Thurnberg’s “Aid for Gaza” flotilla turned back to port due
to storm conditions. Storms in the Mediterranean at this time of year? Sounds a
bit suspicious to me
After Impact-se CEO Marcus Sheff apprised US Ambassador Mike
Huckabee of the incitement in the PA text books, the US State Department
announced that it has introduced new sanctions on Palestinian officials,
due to the ongoing incitement and glorification of violence replete in
Palestinian Authority. The US State Department has published its 2024 Human Rights Report, a nationally and internationally
recognized barometer of human rights in countries across the world. The 2024
update prominently cites IMPACT-se research. Our findings are referenced in
chapters on Egypt and Saudi Arabia and discussed in relation to antisemitism in the
Palestinian Authority and UNRWA, Iran, Jordan, Yemen, and Syria.
60 representatives of the Shalva Centre in Jerusalem flew all the
way to Sydney, Australia to take part in the Sydney Marathon. They and their
helpers were welcomed with open arms by the Sydney community; one of the
greatest moments took place in the lobby of the hotel where an official welcome
committee turned into a “love-in” and singsong.
Each week I learn so much from our Torah readings. The name of this
week’s Parshah or Torah reading is "Ki Teitzei," which means
"when you go out," is found in Deuteronomy 21:10. Seventy-four of the Torah’s 613 commandments (mitzvot) are in the Parshah of Ki Teitzei. These include the laws of inheritance
rights of the firstborn, the wayward and rebellious son, burial and
dignity of the dead, returning a lost object, not sending away the mother bird before taking
her young, the duty to erect a safety fence around the roof of one’s
home, and many laws of behaviour toward others. Interestingly, one of the laws
reminds us that we must not forget Amalek. It seems out of place amongst all
the social laws, but the purpose is that we remember the first attack on Jews
after they left Egypt. In other words, it tells us not to be complacent.
Time to go back to the preparations! Most of the food is already
prepared and Zvi has gone off to his Friday parliament in the Botanical
Gardens. Anything from 10 to 20 men sitting around discussing the ailments of
our sick world and how to solve all Israel’s problems. These are bright and
able people, journalists, former Ministers, knowledgeable one and all. Wouldn’t
it be wonderful if….. but it isn’t.
It isn’t easy to be Jewish or Christian right now. Perhaps part of
it is the whole “melting pot” idea when we thought that if we melded our identities’
life would take on a different perspective. It didn’t because what we needed to
learn is that our differences are what makes the world go round. We must all stand up and be proud of who we
are, of our history, our ancestors, our traditions and our beliefs, hiding our individuality
for fear of offending or being offended doesn’t make sense. Say your prayers
out loud, however you choose to do so. Perhaps tonight we could all light
candles, whatever your chosen religion. Let’s bring light and warmth to our
world by lighting two candles to welcome the bride of Shabbat.
Perhaps one of the most beloved of songs from West Side Story, a
musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein,
lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Somewhere sung by the Israel Opera. https://youtu.be/7JVXMWqTKYA?si=EprJDkMH8AMnUFWj
Hanan Ben Ari sings of his home, of his Israel in Moledet,
Homeland. https://youtu.be/9wYEWx1291g?si=BRnABIRwsf_38WnL
If I wanted to sum up what keeps us going, what we all feel deep in
our souls it would be with “Am Yisrael Chai” – the people of Israel is alive. I
love the words, the hope in this one. Singer Eyal Golan https://youtu.be/2p3rtnQ_7y4?si=_yVzuU_Q7Tr8-jCM
Sending you all our love. Don’t worry, our extension has a special
window to ensure the view over the Jerusalem Hills to Jerusalem. Everyone who
passes through our home gets to take a walk around the veranda to admire the plants
and look at the view, and if the weather is inclement, they can look through
the window before sitting down for a feast! Hopefully Rachel and Ayala will
come soon for a visit and to see the finished extension and look out the
special window before going outside for the open air version.
Shabbat Shalom dear friends, please pray for the hostages still
hanging on to life and for their families for whom every day is a nightmare,
the anguish of 700 days.
With love
Sheila
