12th December, 2025
22nd of Kislev, 5786
Shabbat Shalom! I’m back! I didn’t go as far or as long as I
intended but here I am, back in your living rooms! Our travel plans were
complicated but important, Zvi heading off to his family and old friends in
Mexico City; me to family and old friends in London and in Wales and then to
meet in New York for the 6th anniversary of my wonderful son Daniel’s
passing. Four insurance companies had other ideas and I could get medical
insurance so at the last minute we changed everything and I had an incredible
time with both family and friends and came straight home/ I arrived to a
wonderful warm welcome from Yosef, a steaming hot cup of tea and a huge hug.
From then on Sheli, our lovely “chosen” granddaughter, stayed with me accompanied
by her Mum Ira yesterday. Zvi’s plans changed completely and he flew for four
days to Cuba, taking clothing and medicines for the community there. He had a
contact in the community through Maccabi who was more than grateful for the
suitcase full and Zvi managed to hear, and experience, of the abject poverty
that Cuba is suffering. Zvi is now on a flight home and I have prepared all his
favourite salads and foods ready for Shabbat.
Incidentally, many may wonder why I put the Hebrew date at the head
of my writings. It’s simple. I want to remind everyone how long we have been
around for a very long time. The Hebrew (Jewish) calendar is 5786 years old. The
Jewish calendar system traditionally counts the years from the creation of the
world, which is calculated to have occurred in the autumn of 3761 BCE.
So, what’s been happening since we last met? If I tell the absolute
truth I avoided news broadcasts while away, relying on my son Gideon for
updates. To my amazement and delight, my grandson Zachary, Gideon and Stephanie’s
son) is a brilliant debater like his Dad and is really au fait with what is
happening in the world. Not bad for a 17 year old. OK that was a serious
digression from my intended path.
On the schoolbooks front, Greece has cleaned up its schoolbooks,
removing any indication toward antisemitism, indeed of intolerance, and Morocco
seems to be on board for the same. The Gulf States are welcoming change too, in
fact when Marcus Sheff, the CEO of Impact-se arrived in Abu Dhabi, straight
from the airport, he thought he was coming to a meeting, for the official
opening of our office there, only to be met by a ceremony with men in full
local dress dancing! The Emirates are an essential and willing partner for
Impact-se and our intention to make the world a better place. You can read all
about it, both short summaries and full reports on https://www.impact-se.org/
If you remember, it was a young researcher for Impact-se who first
found the UNWRA text books online and the world slowly woke up to the truth.
Well, this week the Israeli Police raided the Jerusalem offices of UNWRA,
closed them and raised the Israeli flag. Deputy Jerusalem Mayor Ariah King said
““People need to remember that UNRWA was involved in the terror attack and
massacres of October 7. UNRWA cars were used by Hamas, and UNRWA compounds,
schools, clinics, and kindergartens in the Gaza Strip were used by Hamas to
hide Israeli hostages and to bury Israeli bodies in the compounds. There’s no
difference between UNRWA in Gaza and UNRWA in Jerusalem,”
While in the UK I read Eli Sharabi’s book, Hostage, and took
several copies for special friends. What an incredible man. I know that we all
grieve in a different way, but he has brought a new level of dignity, has
restored the will to live life to the full after unbearable torture and loss.
It’s a quick read and well worth every word.
Amnesty International has finally released a report
directly accusing Hamas of crimes against humanity; murder, rape, torture and
extermination (their word, I would call it is intended genocide) for what happened on October 7th and for the
horrific abuse of the hostages. For many of us who have watched Amnesty
hesitate for years to call out Palestinian perpetrators so clearly, this kind
of unequivocal statement is nothing short of remarkable. It feels like a
long-overdue acknowledgement of the brutality Israelis have been trying to tell
an uncaring world about since that terrible day.
This article by Alony Elinel took my breath away. He was a Medical
Examiner after October 7th. I leave you to judge whether or not you
read it but it is very important and relevant to the above decision of Amnesty
International. https://eastwestliteraryforum.com/prose/aloni-elinel-shadow-in-the-protocol-of-silence/
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal made a statement that terrified me and
should distress anyone, not just Jews, in the USA. His words “Over half of
18-21 year-old Americans are active in Hamas resistance” We all know what “resistance”
means and while his numbers are clearly inflated, probably only include young
Islamists (not Muslims, I would never include all Muslims) it is terrifying. To
call out such dangerous anti-American behaviour is not racist, it is preserving
the moral code on which the United States is built. Before readers in other
countries smile smugly, it is no different where you live, be it Montreal,
Melbourne or London.
Having said that, I must tell you about two wonderful people thar I
met in London. When I finally spilled out of the sardine tin that was my flight
to Luton, near London, I was met by Imran, and within minutes we were chatting
like old friends; he told me about his grandfather, a bootmaker in the British
Army in Aden, and we quickly found ourselves talking about Israel and how often
it’s misunderstood. Two days later, my Uber driver, Arshad, a thoughtful,
modern Muslim with Pakistani roots and a deep love of Wales, continued the
unexpected warmth. We spoke about the dangers of the internet, the beauty of
Rhossili Beach in Wales, and when I mentioned I live in Israel, he lit up,
saying he knew perfectly well that a large part of Jerusalem is Muslim and that
many in the UK just don’t realise how free Muslims are here. By the time I
stepped out of the car, I understood what I always knew, that so many British
Muslims are open, curious, genuinely kind people — and many are just as afraid
of their own violent minority as we are.
I don’t expect all Jews to support Israel, just look at the ghastly
Miriam Margolyes, brilliant actress, awful person, but to my dismay at Paul Simon
joined the foul Hollywood woke crowd. I loved Simon and Garfunkle, adored his
music in Graceland, my children grew up with his music, I held him high and now
he has become a fallen idol. I don’t know how any Jew can accuse Israel of
crimes we know she didn’t commit unless he is currying to his supposed
audience.
On the other hand, British legend, actress, raconteur Maureen
Lipman (I love her, always have always will) wrote a wonderful Opinion piece. “Unfortunately,
we cannot all fit into Douglas Murray’s cellar” https://www.thejc.com/opinion/cannot-fit-douglas-murray-cellar-bnb1gfnc You will love her ability to amuse while
telling many home truths.
As Australia’s social-media ban for teens begins, something important
will happen: youngsters are remembering what it feels like to live without the endless
stream of hate propaganda, no social pressure shaping their thoughts before
they’ve even found their own. Israel is preparing to introduce a similar ban
for under-16s, and for many families it feels less like a restriction and more
like a rescue. After years of watching teenagers bruised by online cruelty,
this moment offers a small but powerful hope, that our children might finally
have the space to grow up gently, surrounded by real voices, real faces, and
their own unfiltered sense of who they are meant to be. Conversations,
discussions can be held person to person and literally face to face.
So 2025 is almost over and we are into the festive season, Chanukah
and the Christmas. Personally, I’m not a believer in Chanukah bushes or menorahs
on the Christmas tree. We both have such important religious and legendary
traditions and we should learn, enjoy and keep our ancestor’s traditions
separate. The story of Chanuka is about our survival (yes I know it’s only one
of the multitude of times our existence was threatened); There are those who
think it’s all about sufganiyot (doughnuts) and giving the children gifts for
eight nights; others think it is only about the last receptacle for oil that
lasted for eight nights; yes it is about that but the story is about preserving
Shabbat, Kosher food, Circumcision and all the important aspects of Jewish
life. Judah Maccabee was a Jewish freedom fighter who lived in Judea
during the 2nd century BCE. He was born in the village of Modi'in,
northwest of Jerusalem. Judea was caught between the Ptolemaic (Egyptian)
and Seleucid (Syrian) empires, eventually falling under Seleucid rule around
197 BCE. The Seleucid King Antiochus IV Epiphanes attempted to force the Jewish
people to adopt Greek customs, which sparked the Maccabean Revolt in 167 BCE.
After his father Mattathias's death, Judah assumed leadership of
the revolt and waged a successful guerrilla war in the Judean countryside. His
victories led to the recapture and rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in
164 BCE, an event commemorated annually by the festival of Hanukkah.
Christmas on the other hand celebrates the birth of a baby boy in a
humble stable, a baby who became so much more than a King, he became the son of
God. The traditions of the Christmas tree, the nativity scenes and plays for
children; going to church for Mass; Christmas dinner with all the trimmings,
family get-togethers and everything of great importance therein. Something
unexpected happened for the Christians of Bethlehem (who are now a minority,
only 20% or less of residents of that City); The Christmas trees in manger
Square will sit again this year high atop a hill next to the Church of the Nativity,
its lights glittering on a tree as tall as the church itself. For two years
Hamas cancelled all festivities that were not their own but this year thousands
came to watch the symbolic lighting of the Bethlehem Christmas tree
Melting pots are all very well but the success of that society
depends upon our individuality, retaining everything that was precious to our
ancestors and should be carried forward to our future generations, otherwise we
all blend into a grey mass or worse by far, our children search for an identity
and find it in a society far removed morally from everything we stand for.
I love Christmas Carols!! I love the music, the sheer joy of them. Perhaps
my favourite renditions of all time is this one with David Bowie and the
inimitable Bing Crosby. Little Drummer Boy and Peace on Earth https://youtu.be/lCpXMy5GalI?si=18gG8EmFmMDPn_Hn
Did you know that White Christmas, the iconic Christmas song, was
written by a Jew for the movie Holiday Inn? Irving Berlin, who at the time was
mourning the loss of his son, wrote this beautiful song. Interestingly, Bing
Crosby was performing for the troops in WW2 and didn’t want to sing this song
because he didn’t want to make the soldiers sad. https://youtu.be/GJ36gbGlm8Y?si=DG4gXjUlrobE_CiM
Chanukah, gosh so many options, wait and I’ll try to find the best
one. How about this, Shulem Lemmer sings several traditional songs, albeit with
a very Ashkenaz accent! His voice is so wonderful and he makes all the
traditional songs so happy that it makes me want to dance!! https://youtu.be/GIeeVZfE5i4?si=2vePnhkEYP65uswX
The first light of Chanukah will be on this coming Sunday and then
we have dates with family and friends for almost every night. Zvi’s return will
be celebrated with all his favourite foods, I have been busy!!!
Traditions, irrespective of which way you face to pray, every sing
one of those traditions honour our parents and grandparents and ensure that we
will not be swallowed up in the capitalist dream or the intent to change who
and what we are. In the meantime, Shabbat Shalom from very rainy Israel. The
people of our coastal plan find it hard to thank God for sweet rain when they
need boats to get to work!!
I pray that the Christmas blessing of “Peace on Earth and Goodwill
to all men” will be real, that mankind will learn to love, to replace hate with
tolerance in our everyday relationships and teach our children to love.
With love
Sheila
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