15th of August 2025
21st day of the Hebrew month of Av in the year 5785
678th of October
Shabbat Shalom to one and all
“Give us back our 50 hostages. Some are alive and some are only alive in our souls. Let the innocent people who are in Gaza have a chance. We are tired. We are done. We are children of God. Stop playing with us and our lives.“ Rachel Goldberg-Polin
The words of Rachel Goldberg-Polin rang through my mind as I watched this tiny, incredibly strong woman and I can’t get her words out of my mind. Mothers, the mothers of those who are still in appalling captivity, the mothers of those, like Rachel, whose children have already left this world, they unite in their determination to free the hostages. The families, whether mothers, fathers or siblings, have amazed me by their eloquence, their intelligent fight to free those who are alive and the bodies of those who they just want to bury on Israeli soil. Their pleas are falling on deaf ears and the world, except for the sane few, covers their ears and eyes, having decided that we are to blame.
Surely one of the most inane decisions of the last two years, was that of the Toronto International Film Festival. What group of people in their right mind could possibly refuse to screen a documentary film about October 7th 2023 because, and I quote “ The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) cancelled the screening of a documentary about the October 7 massacres, claiming the filmmakers should have sought permission from Hamas to use clips of the slaughter filmed on terrorists’ body-worn cameras.” Hamas terrorists were proud of their vile acts, filmed it all on bodycams, put the footage online, yet Toronto, where there are daily pro-Hamas demonstrations chose its side. However, after public outcry they have reversed their decision to hold back the showing of the movie “he Road Between Us - The Ultimate Rescue. Well done to all the relevant protesters.
I have to admit that if speaking of the inane, the puerile, actions taken recently the prize must go to Yariv Levine, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice of Israel. Levine spearheads the campaign against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and despite a Supreme Court and Bar Association decision that he must desist all interference of her work; he instructed his driver to change the locks on her door of their shared office space in Tel Aviv. Hopefully the bar Association threat to indict him will succeed.
UN Security Council members have a rare chance to break the deceptive appearance of “peacekeeping” and create a model that actually helps keep the peace between Israel and Lebanon. UNIFIL, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, stood by as Hezb-Allah constantly broke the 1991 Resolution 701 demanding that Hezb-Allah retreat from and stay clear of Southern Lebanon, intended to provide security to the Lebanese Christians, Druze and a secure border between the Israel and Lebanon. It has not performed its mandated peacekeeping, far from it.
Surprisingly, the UN has made a decision to blacklist Hamas over Oct. 7, hostage sexual violence however, unsurprisingly, returning to their usual anti-Israel stance, they have warned Israel that we may be next on that blacklist!
Trump and Putin will meet in Alaska, ironically, the U.S. state purchased from Russia for a fraction of its value. While some criticise Trump for meeting with the leader behind the war in Ukraine, it is worth remembering: diplomacy often requires engaging with adversaries, not just allies.
Alister Heath is a British journalist, a rare specimen who is a truth teller supreme. Rather than reading my words I want you to read his. He wrote an article a short while ago called There's something about Israel that makes people uncomfortable and it's not what they say it is. “They'll point to politics, settlements, borders, and wars. But scratch beneath the outrage, and you'll find something deeper. A discomfort not with what Israel does, but with what Israel is. A nation this small should not be this strong. Period. Israel has no oil. No special natural resources. A population barely the size of a mid-sized American city. They are surrounded by enemies. Hated in the United Nations. Targeted by terror. Condemned by celebrities. Boycotted, slandered, and attacked. And still, they thrive like there's no tomorrow. They turn desert into farmland. They make water from air. They intercept rockets in mid-air. They rescue hostages under the nose of the world's worst regimes. They survive wars that were supposed to wipe them out, and win. The world watches this and can't make sense of it. So they do what people do when they witness strength they can't understand. They assume it must be cheating.
Maybe the Jews are not just a people… but a testimony. That's what
they can't stand. Because once you admit that Israel's survival isn't just
impressive, but divine, everything changes. Your moral compass has to reset.
Your assumptions about history, power, and justice collapse. You realise you're
not watching the end of an empire. You're witnessing the beginning of something
eternal. So they deny it. They smear it.
And rage against it. Because it's easier to call a miracle "cheating"
than to face the possibility that God keeps His promises. And He's keeping them
still.” https://jr.co.il/articles/something-about-israel.htm
As indicated in the article I have a great deal of good news. First and foremost, the heatwave (over 50 degrees in Eilat) seems to have broken.
Israeli scientists have created a digital twin that can predict diseases before symptoms appear. Researchers in the Weizmann Institute developed personalised AI model using vast health database to forecast illnesses and tailor treatments. Israeli scientists at Hadassah Medical Center are hopeful that they have discovered the first ever treatment for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The Hebrew University developed an electrical neurostimulator (battery-powered) implanted in the chest of Parkinson's patients, similar to a pacemaker. Emissions from this device block nerve signals responsible for tremors. Tel Aviv University is developing a nasal vaccine to protect people from Alzheimer's and strokes. The Technion (Haifa) has developed a simple blood test capable of detecting various types of cancer. I could go on and on, but you already know that we believe in Tikkun Olam (Leaving the world a better place then we found it)
This week Aviva and Keith Segal, who were both hostages in Hamas captivity, walked their daughter Shir down the aisle on her wedding day. A moment of joy after unimaginable darkness. Shir always said she would not marry until both parents could walk beside her. They did! Miracles do happen
Thousands marched from Lincoln’s Inn Fields to Downing Street on Sunday, many wearing yellow in support of the fight to free the hostages and carrying Israeli and British flags.
The highlight in the Gymnastics events at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, the Israeli team won Gold in the Men's Groups Final
At the European Fencing U-23 Championships in Tallinn (EST), the Israeli men’s Epee team defeated the reigning champions, Switzerland, in the final to earn the gold medal
Congratulations to Israeli Cyclist Omri Danon for winning the gold medal at the Mountain Bike Downhill European Championships in Spain.
Looking at all of the above, it is indeed a miracle that despite being surrounded by those whose clear intention is to eliminate us, we continue to create, to excel and to literally, save the world
Zvi is currently at a rehearsal, rare for a Friday morning. His choir has a big show coming up and their choirmaster insisted upon a 3 hour rehearsal this morning. The timing is ideal because he can go straight from the rehearsal to his Friday parliament in the Botanical Gardens. I’m not sure that they really look at the fabulous water lilies in the pond, or even enjoy the excellent menu, but rather they will stay in their special room (so they won’t bother the regular diners) and hold discussions about our situation.
I went for an eye test, essential for the renewal of my driver’s licence. I cannot believe that I am nearly 80 and require all sorts of information about my health from my GP, and from various specialists to continue driving. We went to a shopping mall in the industrial area in Talpiot, Jerusalem. It was so hot outside we decided to stay there for a while, go to the coffee shop and relax. Well, that was a mistake! The Aroma coffee shop was heaving! No table remained with its original chair as everyone joined tables to accommodate families, shlepped chairs back and forth in an effort to find a place to sit! On the table right next to us, the potential diner had placed his walking stick right across the table and on one chair to ensure his place! I finally found a free table with one chair, copied his clever ruse and dragged another chair while Zvi went to get the coffee! Israelis love to meet and natter, to enjoy ourselves. Restaurants, theatres and cinemas are full, nothing stops us. Perhaps that’s what Alister Heath is trying to tell the world.
Choosing songs last week was easy after the stupendous performance by Yehoram Gaon and I will try to retain the high standard so the search is on.
One song stands out, probably not the first time I’ve sent it to
you but it has such deep meaning for our situation today. "Guard the
world, my child—there are things you must never see.
If you do, you will cease to be a hero of the world, child.
Guard the world, my child—with an angel’s smile… because we no longer can.
Guard the world, my child—don’t overthink things. The more you know, the less
you’ll understand."
This poignant song, written by David D’Or in 1993, resonates as a lament
and a plea to his child to do a better job than we did. Here he sings with Anna
Zak https://youtu.be/MhJ45C2M0dI?si=v25AL3u8VSWvQFBa
The late Ofra Chaza sang this song many years ago and it is still relevant today. It is simply called Chai – Alive. Perhaps a strange choice on my part since she is no longer with us but her sweet voice and the words of the song are https://youtu.be/czhiHc1-qOc?si=o5xRpvMSM5IxNZ8c
Rak b’Yisrael – Only in Israel – is a fun song and utterly true!! Enjoy. https://youtu.be/i-7EvfJje88?si=T1_iAulm-sMsewIz
That’s it! I must go and prepare Shabbat, and check every plant on the veranda. My morning ritual requires a chat with every plant, then I eat breakfast outside and watch the tiny sunbirds come to drink nectar from the flowers, they love the hibiscus of every hue,(I have crimson, peach, orange, pinkish blue and a double primrose yellow) and then they flit back and fore and drink from the two feeders.
Tonight, it’s just Zvi and me, but the table will be set with our most beautiful dishes. The challah under the beautiful cover my sister Doreen and Melvyn z”l gave us as a wedding gift all those years ago. Zvi will sing the blessings over the wine and the challah, and then we will share our traditional meal. In the stillness, the week’s noise begins to fade, and we ready ourselves for Shabbat, a pause that renews the spirit. You don’t need to be Jewish to embrace its gift; everyone needs a gentle moment to set aside worldly worries and let both mind and heart find rest.
The world may be in turmoil, but change lies ahead. Jews, Christians, and Moslems of moderate thought will once again place the good of their countries above the pull of the crowd. Our voices will be heard.
Shabbat Shalom with love from Jerusalem, the most beautiful, spiritual city in the world
Sheila
Involvement http://www.impact-se.org/
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