Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem

121220

20^th December 2012

Shabbat Shalom dear friends.

Christmas in nearly here and the world is singing of peace and goodwill unto all mankind. Sadly our world is not at peace and goodwill tends to be a one way street. Sad, so many Christian values are decried, so much goodwill extended and I am sorry to say, the spirit is being sucked out of me. I feel like Tevyeh the Milkman, “NO there is no other hand”..... I cannot keep turning the other cheek.

Some feel I exaggerate when I say that we are close to the despair of 1938 as the world turns ethics and moral turpitude upon itself in a strange race for political correctness toward all but the Jews and the Jewish State. I could only think of what Winston Churchill said upon Neville Chamberlains “Peace in our time” - "You were given the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour and you will have war." and 'An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile,hoping it will eat him last.'

Salaam Fayad, Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority is cross because Israel finally demanded payment for the electricity bill which his exchequer refused to pay. Israel simply refused to pay the taxes due to the PA and used the money to pay the multi-million dollar bill! Reactions below http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/3508/economic-intifada

“Stop building in the settlements” “Building in the “settlements” means Israel is not prepared for peace” Are the usual cries from the Eu and sadly from the USA as well of late. Well let's put it into perspective shall we? First of all the PLANNED housing is in or around Jerusalem including Arab neighborhoods such as Beit Tsafafa and the much vaunted Ramat Shlomo is situated between Ramot and French Hill – hardly out in the middle of Arab land eh? One is deafened by the lack of voices raised in anger at the Arab building on the same disputed territory. See for yourselves. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Ac2DDR6zlFA

The world is aghast and horrified at the slaughter of tiny innocents and their teachers in a sleepy American dormitory town called Newtown at the Sandy Hook School. So many questions rise out of that atrocity, not least of all how did a clearly unstable Mother and son acquire so many firearms and how on earth did he get into the school without a guard or someone stopping him? Violent insanity created in a sick man encouraged by his sick mother and the asinine ease with which one can buy firearms. My heart goes out to the families of the children who died and to the children who saw what happened and survived, never to be the same.

Amnon Lipkin Shachak was Chief of Staff of the IDF, an officer and a gentleman. Sadly he lost his battle with cancer two days ago and Israel is sad. We mourn the loss of a hero and a fine and genuine man.http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/amnon-lipkin-shahak-the-last-of-the-army-s-princes.premium-1.485921

According to the BBC's Mishal Hussein we shouldn't protect our citizens because that way not enough Israelis die to create sympathy. This interview is disgusting even beyond BBC standards
http://bbcwatch.org/2012/11/22/not-enough-israelis-killed-by-home-made-contraptions-for-bbcs-mishal-

husain/comment-page-1/#comment-1948

Good news for a change! Loudon County, Virginia School Board has refused to allow highly suspect Turkish group to be part of their school. Write and commend them lcsb@lcps.org. Frank Gaffney explainshttp://townhall.com/columnists/frankgaffney/2012/12/13/a-turkish-trojan-horse-for-loudoun-n1465972/page/full/

This week, for some reason, we were on the road back and fore to Tel Aviv. We began with a marvellous ceremony at the French Ambassadors home which displays exquisite balance between very modern art, fabulous Art Deco furniture and an old Moorish house in Jaffa. Ambassador Bigot (pronounced without the t and most certainly not apt) presented awards to two Israelis, one was to Dorit Beinisch, former President of the Supreme Court of Justice, and the other to our friend and a very special man called Jean Claude Niddam. Jean-Claude was born in Morocco of parents who imbued in him a sense of justice. Jean-Claude studied law in Morocco and his ability in Arabic and French have proven invaluable in his constant legal negotiations with the PA. Jean Claude is the Director of the Ministry of Justice and it has been my absolute delight to get to know him as the Chairperson of IMPACT-SE where his humility and brilliance are constantly apparent. A true mensch and a fine Jew. I felt great pride at his receipt of the French honour. http://www.ambafrance-il.org/Sans-titre,10514.html

We went fo rdinner at our friends the Gerstners and Ronit decided to make the evening “interesting”! Oh boy, politics were the topic of conversation but the central characters were three men, Zvi, Mayor and Rami who were the three wise monkeys...... they didn't hear each other, didn't see the others viewpoint and each of them claimed that they didn't have the chance to speak although they didn't stop. Three wise men who basically shared a love of country, a recognition of common problems yet..... boy were they loud!!! One woman kept tu tutting, and I knew she was far left wing and unable to recognise that we all wanted peace more than anything but some of us realise that we are not to blame for the lack of peace! She wanted us to behave in a way that appeased the harsh voices of Europe and the USA yet when I offered to show her where the new building would take place she declined.

I asked her if she had any Arab friends, of course not. I asked her if she had any Moslem friends, of course not. I asked her if she had ever been to Maaleh Adumim and she had not.............. I had the feeling that a very intelligent woman could not see beyond her own shame at being Jewish. Maybe I am wrong but that is what I felt. In the end the food was amazing and all three men hugged each other before we left to the usual question “Are you seriously going to drive back to Jerusalem at this hour?” 45 minutes later we were at home!!!!!

The very Tel Aviv attitude of some friends caused me to find this wonderful quote from the inimitable Winston Churchill in 1936 ‘They go on in some strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all-powerful to be impotent…Owing to past neglect, in the face of the plainest warnings, we have entered upon a period of danger. the era of procrastination, of half measures, of soothing and baffling expedience of delays, is coming to a close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences…We cannot avoid this period, we are now in it.’

As a special Jewish treat for all my Christian friends, I just couldn't resist this irreverent video of Chassidim wishing you a wonderful Christmas season - https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Wl98UNnQEfU

A message from Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav, "In Haifa we don't have co-existence but one existence. In Haifa we celebrate the Festival of Festivals with complete equality between all religions and that is my wish for Christians across the Middle East this Christmas." <http://haifahag.com/index.php?lang=en&sub=0&cat=1>

Shabbat shalom dear friends, Shabbat shalom. Stay safe and remember to tell those close to you how much you love them. I must go now to be in time to see may fabulous grandchildren in Givat Zeev.

I am thrilled to tell you that my beautiful daughter in law Stephanie is home safe and sound and deep in the loving atmosphere of the family. Love you darling.

Shabbat shalom, Chanuka Sameach and a Blessed Christmas

111223

23rd December 2011



Shabbat shalom dear friends. Shabbat shalom, Chag Urim Sameach and of course a truly blessed Christmas to all our Christian friends.

Isi Leibler is a religious Jew, a truly erudite religious Jew. Isi recognises that the issue of Ultra-Orthodox attempt at control in Israel has gone too far. Confront Unbridled Religious Zealotry Now by Isi Leibler http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=3821

After a Palestinian man in distress stopped beside an IDF camp his life was saved by two IDF medics using intensive CPR. “We make no distinction between patients and will treat anyone in need – Jewish or Palestinian, men or women. It’s one of our values both as doctors and as soldiers in the army.” http://idfspokesperson.com/2011/12/22/two-idf-soldiers-save-palestinian-mans-life/

Chanuka. A single cruse of oil lasted 8 days to light the Jewish people out of the darkness of the hedonisitic ruling Hellenist culture to reconsecrate the Temple. The Greeks did not necessarily want to kill us, they were much cleverer than that; they stripped us of our traditions, our language, our rites and our identity imposing total secularity. Without Brit Mila, Kosher food, Shabbat and of course our festivals we were under threat of simply disappearing, until one brave man and his family stood up and fought. Yehudah ha Maccabee – the Jewish Hammer, son of Matthatias, a priest from Modi'in, led the revolt against Hellenisation and King Antiochus' cruel tyranny – and won! He restored our faith, our rights and our identity. The power of one.

Yesterday I met with Anne Ayalon, wife of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Danny Ayalon. Anne is not just a silent partner she is determinedly and wholeheartedly working to bring Christians and Jews around the world together in an understanding of where we both started – right here in this wonderful land. Bright and eloquent she works tirelessly for Israel. Anne is deeply involved in a wonderful project called The Galilean to encourage all faiths to come to the Galilee to discover their roots here in Israel and learn about our wonderful country. http://www.thegalilean.org/home0.aspx We hope to work together in the future to keep YOU well informed and part of our mutual future. I am thrilled that she loved the idea of “Adopt a journalist” so please remember to do just that – right where you are. Take one home!!!
After our meeting we went together to the Christian Embassy in their exquisite home on Rachel Imenu Street, to celebrate the Festival of Lights honouring both Chanuka and Christmas and our mutual love of Israel. Director of the ICEJ, Jurgen Buhler welcomed us, talking of his pride as a Christian who loves Israel and honours Judaism and prayers that Christianity's black history of persecution of Jews is in the past. Shia Ben Yehuda from Yad Vashem spoke pointing to the modern miracle of Chanuka – a German Christian and an Israeli religious Jew representing a Holocaust Memorial standing together in Jerusalem to celebrate and honour each others festivals and their love of Israel. Finally Rev Goosan Aljanian, Director Liturgical Chanting at the Armenian Church stood and in a full operatic voice sang an Armenian Carol. Candle lighting, Maoz Tsur, A traditional carol and then this. The ICEJ truly brought us together.

From the Embassy we went to see a film at the Cinemateque produced by a friend – Avi Angel. The film took us on a journey, a truly incredible journey of two brothers, two year old Avner and three year old Itzchak, hidden from the Nazis of Cracow in a bunker by an Aunt, their parents taken to their death, the aunt throwing them on a Kastner Transport train saving their lives. Their journey took them through Poland, Bergen Belsen, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and finally Israel. These tiny children were adopted by a young woman along the way, their beloved Nomi , who like Moshe didn't see the Promised Land, until finally B'nei Akiva freed them from Atlit. Their Aunt survived the war thus they originally called the film “3 Mothers for 2 boys” but the final name is “Here I learned to Love” in honour of Nomi. From the story of Itzchak and Avner Weinberg it is both deeply emotional and uplifting- Izchak himself came and answered questions, he and his brother now 71 and 73 years old with thriving families and full lives. Standing near the Western Wall in Jerusalem Avner says: "This is the moment when I claim victory over the Nazis." http://www.ruthfilms.com/films/new-releases/here-i-learned-to-love.html

From there we took our now familiar route to Mevasseret, back to Sam and Frida to light the Chanuka candles with friends.

For our special celebrations I bring you two videos. One about a Dreidl or Sevivon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzCkKX-7EOQ&feature=related Did you know that your dreidl is different to mine? In Israel the four letters on the dreidl are Nun, Gimmel, Heh and Peh, representing Ness Gadol hayah Poh (A great miracle happened here) whereas in the Diaspora you have a different letter on your dreidl – Nun, Gimmel, Heh, Shin - Ness Gadol hayah Sham (A great miracle happened THERE)!!!
Growing up in Wales I had no idea that Chanuka means Sufganiot or Doughnuts. We had potato latkes but no doughnuts! Here in Israel there are so many varieties that I needed a video to explain it all!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6THYdoz7LIo

Chanuka this year came together with a very sad personal loss. My adored cousin Jean passed away. Jean and Stuart, Stuart and Jean, inseparable in name and in fact. Always part of my life since I was small they, and later their sons Ian and Bobby, were an integral part of my family. A totally positive couple, generous, sweet, loving, giving, they epitomise family. They always stood by me, my decisions and never let me down. They stood with me in lieu of my parents and siblings as our “unterfirers” or proxy parents, at my wedding to Zvi, proudly handing me over to Zvi with great love and unforgettable smiles. Family, more important than anything else in the world, family means “being there” for family celebrations and tragedies; family means never letting anyone feel left out; family means supporting one another - always forgiving.; family is being able to picture where your loved one is; family is knowing that whatever happens your family will be with you. I love my family and was especially moved by Jean's sister Shirley who, in her eulogy, spoke of their togetherness and the fact that they thought alike and never a day went by without them talking and checking on each other. Jean together with her beloved Stuart, left behind the greatest legacy of all – two sons and ten grandchildren all of whom are absolute family. I will always miss you dear Jean, thank you for being a fine example in my life and for loving me so much.

Christmas came to Jerusalem! Not only the many carol concerts or the festive lights, Chanukiot on the streetlights of Jerusalem giving way to stars and cedars on Hebron Road leading toward Bethlehem but in the vast numbers of visitors crowding the Old City, mixing and matching with the Chanuka celebrations. You don't have to be Jewish to go into Roladin to try out their exceptional flavours of sufganiot!!

I wish you blessed festive season, whatever your faith, wherever you are. We all pray for the same things, a healthy happy family; a stable economy; to stop famine and oppression and maybe we should add one that the media and our governments concentrate on the important rather than on the convenient – like knuckle rapping a tyrannical murderous regime in Syria while concluding that the idiotic and illegal decision of Haredim to make women sit at the back of the bus was an international incident! Allowing oppression of Christians in the PA to go by as if it isn't happening but building houses in Jerusalem is holding back world peace!!

So. Shabbat Shalom dear friends, Shabbat shalom and Chanuka Sameach.
Happy Happy birthday to my wonderful big sister Eddie – so far away in Toronto Canada. Eddie I love you and miss you more than you can imagine.

Love from Jerusalem

Shabbat Shalom letter from Jerusalem

091224



24th December 2009.



Shabbat Shalom, and a truly wonderful Festive Christmas Season of joy and love.



I don't intend depressing anyone this Festive week but have to address two subjects. This is the link to my "No Room at the Inn" letter concerning the plight of Christians in the Palestinian Authority http://shabbatshalom-theviewfrommyveranda.blogspot.com/ We can't continue to ignore the situation - we have to make the media and our leaders take this on.



The IDF recognises the situation and has given all Christian Palestinians unlimited access to Israel during the Festive Season http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=46771



The other subject on every Israelis heart is Gilad Schalit. It appears to be such a simple decision – give "them" what they want a get Noam and Aviva's son back home – but it isn't. Israel has already set a precedent of talking to terrorists unlike other allies because we cannot break our promise of bringing our soldiers-children home. It is so complex a decision that PM Netanyahu has had daily consultations with the most senior of military and diplomatic experts. It is a decision of Solomonic proportions; how many master terrorists can you release for one young lad? What are the risks? Where should the terrorists be deported on their release – knowing they fully intend fomenting hatred wherever they may be? How many Israelis will die as a result of their release? The simplistic approach does not work – the demand that they be released and the IDF, Mossad and Shabak be more alert is naïve, they do a brilliant job already but the risks change. On the other hand we all need to see Gilad at home with his family since that is what we stand for and who we are.



It is 70 years since the SS St Louis was turned away by the American, Canadian and Cuban governments who refused to accept the Jews. The tragic journey from Miami Beach to Antwerp is legend and the story is told in Resolution 111 of the United States Senate. http://thestlouisproject.com/?p=491 The story was brought to me by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, great friend of Israel and the proud recipient of an Award by the St. Louis Project. Zvi and I are proud to call Ileana friend.



One of the greatest paradoxes of all time is why the Jews are always (or almost always) the scapegoats when they are the biggest givers to our world. In this interview with George Gilder he addresses that question and hopefully answers it as he did in his book "The Israel Test" Why hate the Jews in what he deems the Golden Age of Palestine? Because they failed the Israel test! http://www.road90.com/watch.php?id=PeTgdgQZmH



We went to a concert on Tuesday night in the Henry Crown Hall of the Jerusalem Theatre. "Life and Peace" presented and supported by Italian cities and the President of Italy and given in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. An amazing evening of brilliant musicians and great music the crowing glory was the phenomenal musical and emotional interlude of "The Intercultural Journeys Ensemble" consisting of a young Arab-Israeli violinist, Hanna Khoury, in a wonderful, "loud" suit (black on black stripes so shiny I swear I could see my reflection!) and a very soberly dressed Jewish-Israeli cellist, Udi Bar-David with Puerto Rican percussionist Rolando Morales-Matos. They played n perfect unison melding Yiddish Shtetl, Israeli and Arab melodies in a stream of harmony and joy, smiling at each other exuding love. It brought tears to our eyes and a standing ovation from the audience. Most of the invitees were Christian representatives of all denominations including the Nuncio of the Vatican. An audience filled with kipot, dog-collars and cowls.



Jerusalem will not have a White Christmas but many of my readers on the East Coast of the US and in Europe are snowed in and snowed under, but we had a Wet Chanuka instead! The sun is shining and the weather crisp as Jerusalem goes about her regular business giving tribute to those for whom this is the Holiest of Seasons.



Let's make a New Year resolution for 2010. Although I would never demean the influence of wonderful organizations such as MEMRI, Honest Reporting, Media Watch and so many others who have a profound effect on all of us and on the media – let's do something different. I was taught that if you speak badly of others then their sins reflect back upon you so let's start sending out positive news, positive vibes about us, without referring to our neighbours or their errant ways. Instead of pointing the finger outward let's wave our hands to draw attention to our own achievements on the scientific and the diplomatic level, on human rights, one big celebration on all the good things and the good news that happens here. Let's stop whining about the way the world treats us and start reminding them of how we treat the world!!!



Finally I want to send a special greeting to a very special man. Canon Andrew White, the Bishop of Baghdad, a pragmatic yet hope-filled curator of good relations between the faiths, is actually going home for Christmas. Andrew called me from Amman on his way to the UK and I was so thrilled with the effectiveness of his latest MS treatment in Baghdad. His voice came over the wires loud and clear. "Hey Andrew, have you given up the booze, you sound amazing?" "Yup" he answered "gave it up for Christmas!" No slurring and his voice of reason can again ring out to the world. Bless you Andrew you are one of a kind.



May G-d Bless you and keep you safe from harm – Shabbat Shalom, a blessed Holy Day, happy birthday to my big sister Eddie in Toronto and a happy anniversary to me! Christmas Day will be 18 years since my official Aliyah to Israel. Chai, chai chai!!! Always did have a sense of history and humour since I actually arrived here on April Fool's Day!!!!



With love from the heart and soul of our peoples, Jerusalem the truly Eternal City of David, son of Jesse; psalmist, romantic poet whose poetry lives on in the language it was written, 3,000 years ago in this City of Gold.



Sheila