25th March 2026
901 days since the 7th of October Massacre
Midweek Update
Well, here I am once again making use of a quiet moment in the
mamad, rather than getting on with my Pesach (Passover) spring cleaning, as
Iranian missiles have a way of interrupting even the best laid plans of mice
and men. The cupboards remain only half sorted, the windows still waiting for
attention, and I find myself sitting, thinking, and writing to you instead. In
truth, I am feeling rather tired of it all. I am not an angry person by nature,
but there are moments, like right now, when I have to admit that I am angry. What
evil can make half of the world turn on us? People who have little or no idea
of what is actually happening here, or what daily life under sirens and
uncertainty really feels like.
A recent poll in March 2026, antisemitic incidents in the US during 2024–2025 were increasingly linked to
anti-Israel activism, with studies suggesting that in 2024, 68.4% of recorded
incidents were linked to far-left ideology. Apparently, liberalism is highly
illiberal.
I don’t know who burned the Hatzolah ambulances in London, although
the police have already caught 2, but incredibly, not only have the Brits given
replacements but Keren Hayesod has raised a million pounds for Hatzolah.
And yet, even in this frustration at the outside world especially
among those who couldn’t even find us on a map, life continues in small and
familiar ways. Pesach preparations will resume, the cupboards will be finished,
and the rhythms of home will carry on as they always do. Perhaps what we are
feeling is not only anger, but a deeply human longing for normality, for
understanding, and for a little more honesty and compassion in how the world
sees one another. Even in the mamad, with spring cleaning on hold, these quiet
moments remind us why resilience, patience, and hope remain so important.
Tel Aviv, Rishon le Zion, Arad, Dimona, so many places that have
suffered physical damage, the trauma of those saved by their mamad or miklat only
to leave and find themselves homeless, their home utterly destroyed, is
enormous, but at least the cost in human life is miraculously low.
That’s the down side, the very serious side of the last few days
but there is an up-side! When there is a hatra’a, a warning, Zvi and I go into
the mamad and I always turn to channel 13 news to see what where and when the
siren is about to go off and the Iranian missile is about to be intercepted and
very large pieces of fall to the ground. When the siren is in Tel Aviv the
reporters, obviously go into shelters or in this case into underground car
parks that serve as shelters. As the cameras roll you see people coming down
the escalators chatting, as if going to a party, no panic whatsoever, leaving
their restaurants and bars, still holding their wine glasses, enjoying a sip as
they toast each, smiling even under these circumstances, some even managing to
dance. Perhaps there is little more surreal than being in a very crowded supermarket,
when everyone's warning alerts, that loud tch tch tch sound, go off together,
we traipse slowly into the shelter, usually the store room, and then when we
get the all clear we just go back to our trolleys and keep right on shopping!
By the way, the Iranian demands before a ceasefire are limited,
limited but impossible to fulfil. Full control of the Straits of Harmuz
(without thought of Saudi Arabia and the Emirates), Reparations from the USA
and Israel, A complete cessation of all attacks on Iranian officials and allies
(Hamas and Hezb-Allah) by Israel and the U.S, including no repeat of war
against Iran. From their demands it is patently clear that they have no
intention of stopping the aggression.
So that’s it! I promise that I will write in greater detail on
Friday but in the meantime, I wanted to reassure you that we are alright. I
even had a visit from Rachel and Yosef this afternoon, which gave me a
wonderful break in my Pesach cleaning, better than stopping for a missile or
two!
To recognise the 900th day after October 7th
I ask you to remember Bar Cooperstein who was serving as a guard and paramedic
at the Nova Festival and was kidnapped to Gaza. Bar’s father had a severe brain
injury after an accident and I’m sure that you remember his determination to
speak a few words when he heard his son was coming home after 738 days of sheer
hell. This song, performed by Bar and his brother Elizur is both honest and
emotive.
https://youtu.be/UHrez87kcsQ?si=sXwwqPPlWMxkzD6o
Be strong wherever you are, don’t be worn down, we are stronger
than any inane, ignorant bully.
With love to you from both of us
Sheila
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