1st of August 2025
7th of the month of Av, 5785
665th of October
Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Gosh you have no idea how important
you are to me. By writing to you I feel a closeness and it forces me to think
pragmatically in a world that has become insane.
Tomorrow night we enter the fast day of the 9th of Av,
Tisha b’Av. Tisha b’Av commemorates many tragedies in Jewish history, but
predominantly the destruction of both Temples. Those two tragedies were caused
by that destructive emotion, Sinat Hinam, baseless hatred. In a world that is
spinning out of control with hatred, violence and anger, reflected in the
meteorological situation, we seem to have learned nothing from history. I
really want to write about the wonders of Israel, and there are many, but, dear
friends, I have to be realistic too.
I just saw a headline in an article sent to me by Dale
Hoffman. It reads “How is it that a leadership that demonstrated
astonishing competence in the 12-day war with Iran has stumbled this badly to
explain and execute any coherent strategy in Gaza?” Is it that Israel wants to please everyone, especially
the USA? Well, that can’t be the answer, not with the wild statements of
members of the Cabinet which are reported as Israeli policy. So why?
As talks with Hamas fall apart, the painful
truth can no longer be ignored: Israel cannot achieve both of its goals, bringing
every hostage home and defeating Hamas. The hostages, 20 of whom are still
alive, are not just individuals. They are symbols, woven into the soul of
Israeli life. Their faces cover walls, bus stops, entryways and hearts. Leaving
even one behind is unimaginable. But reality is harsh. Hamas trades lives for
power. Every deal so far has come at a heavy cost, a pause in fighting, the
release of terrorists, and the grim message that abducting Jews brings rewards.
A quote from an Australian newspaper,
sent by our dear friend, Linda. “Israel’s conduct cannot and should not be
exempt from even searing criticism. But constantly repeated, the imbalance in
emphasis absolves Hamas of its responsibilities, encouraging a simplistic,
one-sided narrative in which Israel is the sole actor. One thing is certain:
they won’t hear about them on the ABC, which has consistently ignored the
rapidly deteriorating situation in Sudan. The figures are stark: a search
of material added to the ABC website in the last month does not find a single
hit for “Sudan” and just one for “Darfur”. But it does find 5750 hits for
“Gaza” and 3380 for “famine and Gaza”.
The New York Times refused to report on the Holocaust
despite knowing the facts because the then owner, Arthur Hays Sulzberger, a
Jew, didn’t want to newspaper to be “too Jewish”. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr.,
whose family has controlled the paper since 1896, is both the paper's publisher
and the company's current chairman. After this week’s report and photograph of
an emaciated child blaming Israeli starving of the Gazans, 55 million saw the
headline but just 88,000 saw the correction. Is that accountability? can it
change the fact that people have seen it and made that judgment?
Why then, despite claims that “all lives matter”, are some tragedies so
much worthier of our attention and compassion than others, whose sheer scale is
vastly greater? I have said all along that in actual fact, in world diplomacy
and journalism, black lives really don't matter, but Palestinians own the
rights to all sympathetic journalism. Why? Ask yourselves.
Perhaps part of the answer lies in this interview. I wish I knew
the name of the speaker who so eloquently explains how the KGB formed the PLO,
with Yassir Arafat, and their plan to involve the black American community by
suggesting the colonial apartheid lies about Israel. https://youtube.com/shorts/8S6zqe-pTZ4?si=2EnLITYo0nayyXWG
There is also a partial answer in this July 2025 report by the United
States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) https://www.uscirf.gov/ highlights Iran’s ongoing
violations of religious freedom both domestically and worldwide. The report
focuses on the Iranian government's intensified persecution of religious
minorities including Baha’is, Jews, Christians, Sunnis, and other non-Muslim groups
following a military escalation in June 2025. It documents systematic
discrimination, arbitrary arrests, and harassment aimed at suppressing
religious expression and identity across borders.
8.8 on the Richter Scale! Horrendous! Unimaginable! Like hatred the
shocks spread all over the world, through the Pacific and on to a multitude of
countries. Luckily, no subsequent damage was felt and the tsunami was minimal.
I wish a Shabbat Shalom to Steve Witkoff who should be back from a
visit to Gaza to check on the disinformation about the shortages.
Not everyone is bad. Not everyone is bent on world domination, most
of us just get on with life, loving our neighbour, helping those in distress,
growing our families to be tolerant, caring, good people. Perhaps it is worth
reminding you of the better side of humanity.
In a show of mutual support, proving it can be done with the
right leaders, Jewish and Moslem leaders in Greater Manchester, UK, have come
together to sign a joint declaration calling for peace and better understanding
between their communities. With tensions running high over the war in the
Middle East, and local relations described as the worst they’ve been in years,
this moment of unity couldn’t have come at a better time. The declaration was
signed on Tuesday at the University of Manchester, with local politicians and
community figures there to show their support and back this hopeful step
forward.
Twenty-seven years ago, during a violent uprising in
Ethiopia, Tadela was forced to make an unthinkable choice, to leave her newborn
daughter in the safe care of Jewish neighbours and fled for her life. Decades
later, that moment came full circle. When Tadela was reunited with her daughter
at Ben Gurion Airport, she fell to the ground in tears of gratitude. The baby
she once left behind had made Aliyah with the neighbours, grown up to be a
healthy, happy woman in Israel, and become a doctor. There are still many
beautiful stories here in Israel, whatever colour one’s skin may be.
I often talk about Impact-se (www.impact-se.org) (well as Chair of the Vaad what do
you expect?) and here is a video of our CEO Marcus Sheff talking about the
excellent tolerant schoolbooks of the UAE and our new report on Indonesia. Indonesia
a country, almost a sub-continent, made up of 100+ islands and about 100
different ethnic groups, and their levels of tolerance. Very important as the
largest Moslem country in the world. https://youtu.be/g3bQf-Ewr5o?si=A5Xy_PybKIxP-Z7i
Israeli rhythmic gymnast Meital Maayan Sumkin wowed
the crowd and the judges at the Challenge Cup in Cluj, Romania, winning gold in
hoop and bronze in ribbon. Her achievement highlights a strong showing by the
Israeli team, now preparing for next month’s World Championships in Rio. Kol
hakavod, Meital!
Ofer Caldron, who suffered the horrors of Hamas captivity,
dreaming of riding once again with his cycling buddies, rode a lap of honour on
the Champs Elysée. Another former hostage, Jimmy Pacheco from the
Philippines was working as a caregiver and his patient was slaughtered. Jimmy
was released in November 2023. This week, in a deeply moving tribute, he
welcomed the birth of his baby daughter, whom he has named Israela.
Finally, our week. As usual it was busy! Zvi had his usual choir
rehearsals and several meetings, including a Zoom in Spanish for his former
schoolmates in Mexico. My “Mind and Movement” group came to me for our end of
summer get together on Tuesday morning and we danced on the veranda then sat to
eat and chat about our concerns and joys. Tuesday evening was our Impact-se
Vaad meeting, on Zoom since we are on opposite sides of the world! As I said in
my opening words, each report that Marcus gives me I am simply flabbergasted by
the work of the team. It is work that gives me hope for the future.
On Wednesday I met with my old friend Sheila Zucker, who after 6
years has finally managed to return to Israel. We had a ball, laughing a great
deal, commenting on the fact that we both allowed our hair to go white and
enjoying a delicious meal in Naya restaurant. That night Ira, our lovely Ira
came to stay and yesterday we went to a Golden Wedding party of our friends Ido
and Sarita. It was so beautiful, held in their exquisite garden, on the patio
beside the pool. The band was stupendous, really great jazz, the food delicious,
and the company of our friends around the table lifted my spirits. Zvi has driven
to Tel Aviv for a memorial ceremony for a friend and then he will collect four
grandchildren who will come to stay overnight. Ori, Ella, Yonatan and Yuval.
Their choice of food will determine our menu tonight and tomorrow. It took a
bit of work to rearrange the furniture in the spare bedroom to accommodate the
extra two mattresses, but I know that they will all want to stay together.
And so to another week, exciting on the international level, on the
personal level and a little too exciting on the Israeli level. I say exciting
but one thing that few seem to understand it that despite the over-stating of
the media, we really live a safer and more normal life than most of you out
there in the world!
Remember, please, the story behind Tish b’Av; that we must avoid
internecine fighting, whether it is which branch of Christianity is “best”, or
whether one branch of Judaism is holier than the next or which form of Islam is
closer to Mohammed. We are all human beings and hatred just brings destruction
with it.
Perhaps Dr. Tom Lehrer, legend of the 60’s who passed away this
week, put it best in his iconic song “National Brotherhood Week” https://youtu.be/aIlJ8ZCs4jY?si=tpW309GiLJD9UsTq
Koolulam again! The Party is Over was written by Naomi Shemer, The
first words are “To rise tomorrow morning with a new song in my heart to start
over from the beginning” which tells you so much about the Israeli character.
Enjoy https://youtu.be/-P0Gnvk5Kmk?si=ahVfGO7amIKNb4jc
If I were to choose one song that expressed everything about Israel
it would have to be Al Kol Eleh, The Honey and the Sting. Listen carefully to
the words, to the voice of Shlomi Shabat and the 12 thousand singers of Koolulam.
I bet you can’t refrain from singing along!! https://youtu.be/oxzR9Z-kG6Q?si=6BPIYyIHO0lhDOg6
On that hopeful note I wish you all a Shabbat Shalom. At the
beginning I expressed my love for each of you and although it may sound
strange, since I don’t know most of you, but I really do. I don’t care in which
direction you pray, in which language, I care that you care enough to read my
words.
With all my love from our bountiful veranda with its view over
Jerusalem.
Sheila
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