8th
August 2025
671st
of October 2023
15th
of the month of Av 5785
“Falsehood
flies, and truth comes limping after it, so that when men come to be
undeceived, it is too late; the jest is over, and the tale hath had its effect.”
Jonathan
Swift
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends. I was looking for something entirely different when I came
across the quote above and it seemed so appropriate for our current situation
that I put it as a headline to today’s missive.
The
lies abound
but sadly the government, or rather Cabinet members, keep many lies alive by
their thoughtless statements. Actually, not thoughtless, dangerous. Calls to
reoccupy Gaza are not only misguided they’re dangerous and the majority of
Israelis are against it. Such a move would cost more soldiers’ lives, many of
them reservists who have already sacrificed deeply, leaving young families
behind for months. Israel’s army is stretched thin, partly because nearly
two-thirds of the eligible population, including most Haredim and Arabs, do not
serve.
Reentering
Gaza
would mean governing over two million people raised to hate us, a reality that
would only strengthen claims that Israel is a colonial occupier. Even
neighboring Arab countries refuse to take on the responsibility of ruling Gaza.
The rational solution is not reoccupation, but placing the Palestinian
Authority in charge, under close supervision from Egypt and a Western country. Crucially,
the hostages are believed to be held in Gaza City. Any large-scale incursion
would all but guarantee their deaths. We must not sacrifice them to make a
political point or score a hollow military victory. Last night the Security
Cabinet decided to deepen the fight but not to occupy Gaza.
This
debate has already claimed the position of former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi
Halevi, who, though new in his role, took responsibility for October 7 and
planned to step down after the war. He was replaced by Gen. Eyal Zamir, who
initially was perceived by the government to support intensified attacks on
Hamas, but now strongly opposes reentering or controlling Gaza. His stance has
faced a Knesset vote. Let us hope he holds firm; for the sake of our soldiers,
our sanity, and our future.
This
week we saw the horrifying, recently released videos of hostages Evyatar David and
Rom Braslavski; skeletal, desperate, Evyatar forced to dig his own grave
with his last ounce of strength, Rom, unable to stand, and we can only imagine
that the other 18 living hostages are in a similar near death state. I doubt if
there was even one among us who succeeded in holding back tears at the sight of
their plight. The anguish of their
mothers, and fathers, is unimaginable, hearts torn out and ripped apart. Anyone
who has a heart must feel it too. MK Simcha Rothman, who represents Smotrich’s
party, refused to watch the videos. He spoke calling them “Hamas propaganda”
intended to demoralise Israeli society. “It’s a grave mistake to watch or
broadcast these videos,” he said. “I won’t volunteer to let Hamas’s
psychological missile enter my eyes and heart.” No words.
As
Eilon Levy said, “In the video you see who is starving in Gaza, the hand
that passed a can of food to Evyatar was fat, well fed. Levy also stood before
vast supplies of staple foods on the Gaza side of the border, foods that have
not been distributed by the UN. Israel, incidentally, allocated $1 BILLION in
aid to Gaza!
One
cannot defeat Hamas,
not Israel, not the West, and certainly not with conventional thinking. The
fundamental mistake is in assuming Hamas behaves like a rational actor. They
are not swayed by money, they have enough; they do not seek international
affection or diplomatic legitimacy; they are unmoved by American threats or
Western incentives; Hamas is a movement of religious zealots, guided solely by
the teachings of their religious leaders and their interpretation of the
Qur’an. That is their only compass — and nothing else matters. When Yahya
Sinwar was imprisoned in Israel, no interrogation technique could break him. He
remained silent until the Mossad approached Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, his spiritual
authority. Only when Yassin gave the instruction did Sinwar begin to speak.
That account, which I believe fully, was told to Zvi by a former Mossad
operative whose name must remain confidential.
All
of this leads to one unavoidable conclusion: we should withdraw from Gaza, even
temporarily, even under the framework of a “hudna”, to bring home the hostages,
or what remains of them. To fail to do so risks fracturing Israeli society into
pieces and placing diaspora Jews in greater peril. Don’t take my word for it —
take the word of a group of esteemed former chiefs of Israel’s security
services, police, and the Mossad: https://youtu.be/DsuGv-5bzNM?si=B20Hki4DEO7rISPY
The
Security Cabinet of the Knesset just voted to go deeper into Gaza and take over
large areas. Surely a devastating decision, nationally and internationally
So
many countries are rushing to recognise a Palestinian state but few pause to ask whether it meets the
basic legal criteria according to the Montevideo Convention of 1933. A state
must have defined borders, a permanent population, a functioning government,
and the ability to conduct foreign relations. Palestine has none of these.
Still, I’ll admit something that might surprise you: under very strict and
realistic conditions, recognition might actually help. I don’t want to rule
over another people. I don’t want one shared state. And I certainly don’t want
to become a minority in the only Jewish homeland we have. Israel was created as
a refuge, a Jewish state on ancient lands, a country where all religions can
pray freely and safely. If a Palestinian state existed, it would be held
accountable under international law, for its leadership, its finances, and for
providing a future for its people. Refugee status would end. Dependency would
end. And maybe, just maybe, some of this endless cycle would end too. The world
is pouring more than $30 billion annually into maintaining the current
situation. Is that really helping anyone?
Last
Thursday, my heart broke. A group of 180 Israeli soldiers walked through the
gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau, not in protest, but in mourning. As part of the
“Witnesses in Uniform” programme of the IDF, they came to honour six million slaughtered
Jews and reclaim their heritage. But at the site of Jewish annihilation, Polish
police told them to lower their flags, the symbol of survival, nationhood, and
return.
If,
like me, you wonder what you can do to make things better in your communities
and towns but don’t know how, Jay Ruderman has made it easier through
his own vast experience. The book is called Find Your Fight https://www.amazon.com/Find-Your-Fight-Causes-Matter/dp/1637560478
and Jay encourages us to act with advice on how to do it.
However,
it’s not all bad! There are many places in this confused and gullible world
that are waking up from their nightmare.
One
of the most prestigious of Oxford University colleges, St Anne’s, has
for the first time ever launched a scholarship specifically for Jewish and
Israeli undergraduate students. Four scholarships will be open to Jewish
undergraduates or Israeli undergraduates of any or no faith, to be enrolled at
St Anne’s College.
A
proud moment for Israeli medicine! The Reducer, a groundbreaking heart
implant developed at Ihilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv, has just been approved
for use in Israel. Placed via simple catheterization, this tiny device improves
blood flow and eases severe chest pain. Over 75% of patients report major
improvements in quality of life. Innovation made in Israel. Now saving lives
Gal
Raviv
(no relation) scored an incredible 32 points in an Israeli win in the Women’s
Under 20 Basketball Championships, winning over the reigning champions France! Israel
beat France, the current champions, 81-74, securing a place in the
quarterfinals and confirming its spot in Division A for next year’s tournament.
Brava to all the team!!
Israel's
Leviathan natural gas field has signed the largest export agreement in the country's
history, worth up to $35 billion to supply gas to Egypt. The deal, announced by
Israel’s Yitzchak Tshuva, Director of the Delek Group, will ease a major
natural gas shortage in Egypt and secure deeper relations between the two
countries
After
a conversation with friends yesterday I felt the need to contact our old friend
Canon Andrew White! Andrew’s speech is very slurred but he was so
excited as we talked on Chat about our adventures. He said that the Ezekiel's
Tomb episode (which I wrote about last week) was a highlight in his life. Incredibly,
after 30 years of severe MS, he still gives sermons from his bed and dreams of
coming back to Jerusalem for gefilte fish in the King David Hotel.
After
another busy week with lots of events and last night, after a community event
in the park with an excellent jazz singer, we went to our local amphitheatre
where many famous Israelis perform before taking their act to major venues. Last
night was the inimitable Yehoram Gaon, still going strong, maybe even stronger
after all these years. 6,000 people, the front section filled with pilots,
soldiers and injured soldiers from the rehabilitation unit in Sheba Hospital,
all of whom were invited personally, and we all sang along with Yehoram Gaon and
he regaled us with stories about his father, a teacher of Hebrew and Hebrew
Grammar at the teacher’s training college in Jerusalem.
His
first song rang true with the entire audience. Shalom Lach Eretz Nehederet -
Peace To You, Wonderful Country
https://youtu.be/__oEmwpEmTc?si=P8OVbBp1EZDRHCVb
Hanan
Ben Ami
is coming to perform in our amphitheatre next week. This song, a song he wrote
just a year ago, expresses what so many of us feel “even in hellish times this
is still the Garden of Eden” The name of the Song is Moledet, Homeland. https://youtu.be/9wYEWx1291g?si=wM5GcCLphocOO_vm
Finally
the song written and sung by Moshe Ben Ami that expresses our prayers for peace
– for EVERYONE. Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu – Peace will come to us. The words need
no complicated translation, they repeat time and again, “Peace will come to us,
peace will come to us and to everyone. Peace for us and for the whole world.” https://youtu.be/L4Uzxn0lV6g?si=uy0fTOhPmD4UKlbh
You
see, I tried to shorten what I wrote so that Stanley wouldn’t complain, but so
many things happened and you’ll have to manage without everything I deleted!
Stanley, even without my description of the veranda and its view!
Perhaps
I should have put the song “Lo Nafsik l’Shir” – We won’t stop singing – as one
of the songs because this country will not stop singing. We sing when we are
happy, we sing when we are sad and even at funerals where many of the top
Israeli singers go to the funerals of soldiers and former hostages at the
family’s request, willingly giving of themselves
Tonight
is the eve of Tu b’Av, the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Av, the
Jewish day of love, just 7 days after Tisha b’Av, the 9th day of Av,
which is a day of fasting and deep mourning. (for those who wish to know more
about this festival please see below)
Shabbat
is a time for singing. We sing ancient songs, not just the blessings over wine
and bread. Some are just hummed, called niggunim, they are the most soulful,
bringing with them memories of the “shtetl” the Jewish enclaves in Eastern Europe.
We sing, we just sing.
So
I wish you Shabbat Shalom and want you to know that we miss you. We miss your
visits. So many go to countries where we are hated but fail to come here, to
the one place on earth where you are welcomed with open arms.
With
much love
Sheila
Celebrating
Tu B’Av: A Night of Love, Light, and New Beginnings
As
the full moon of Av rises, so too does the spirit of one of Judaism’s most
beautiful, lesser-known holidays — Tu B’Av (the 15th of Av), our own
Jewish festival of love.
Originally
rooted in moments of unity and renewal for the ancient Israelites, Tu B’Av has
evolved into a modern celebration of romance and joy. In biblical times, it
marked reconciliation, hope, and even the beginning of new love stories. Young
women of Jerusalem would dance in white dresses in the vineyards of Shiloh,
symbolizing equality, possibility, and new beginnings and the young single men
would follow hoping to find a bride.
Today,
Tu B’Av is celebrated across Israel and Jewish communities worldwide as
a time to cherish love, romantic and
communal. Flowers are gifted, music fills the streets, and couples often choose
this auspicious day for engagements and weddings.Let’s take this opportunity to
open our hearts, send a sweet message, or simply reflect on the beauty of love
in all its forms.
Wishing
you a Tu B’Av filled with warmth, connection, and new light. 🌕
No comments:
Post a Comment