Singing through the pain

 

23^rd May 2025

 

Shabbat shalom to one and all

 

It happened again. Two young people were shot and killed for one reason only, because they were Jews. Don’t be fooled by the whole “Free Palestine” call of the killer, this entire diabolical situation is anti-Semitism raising its ugly head yet again in the guise of supporting the underdog. Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were leaving an event at the Jewish Museum in New York when the attacker shot them, a beautiful couple, deeply in love, Yaron intended proposing to Sarah when they were next in Israel. Such hatred, such unreasonable, unfounded hatred carefully stirred up with careful grooming by a twisted news service and constant disinformation. One must ask the question, how on earth was this man, known to be unstable, able to get a gun. My question is who gave it to him and who sent him on his mission of death. As to this beautiful young couple, it only leaves to say May their souls rest in peace.

 

Last Saturday night, Yuval Raphael took the Eurovision stage not just as a performer, but as a survivor. At 24, having lived through the horrors of the October 7 Nova festival attack, she stood in front of Europe and sang “New Day Will Rise”, a raw, aching prayer woven in English, French, and Hebrew. Her voice carried the weight of loss, the courage to keep going, and the hope of healing. It wasn’t just a performance; it was her heart speaking. And when the votes came in, placing her second, the message was clear: the world heard her and felt every word.  The people, as opposed to the judges, spoke!

Israel received 12 points (the top score) from audiences in Azerbaijan, France, Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden, Portugal, Britain, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Australia and rest-of-world votes. Additionally, Israel received 10 points from audiences in Ireland, Cyprus, Finland, San Marino, Norway and Czech Republic.Yuval Raphael is a star!!!

 

Nuseir Yassin is an Israeli Arab, Or as he wishes to be described, an Israeli Palestinian born in the town of Arraba. Nuseir created Nas Daily which has become a huge information machine, and a positive machine on the net. I want you to see this video in which he explains his Israel/Palestine. A different point of view.  https://youtu.be/oNW2p0nTEto?si=lZR4cYCtIIcLl2dY  

 

I had a go at writing about our current situation by asking ChatGTP how to describe it.

From Israel's perspective, the nation faces an agonizing dilemma: the imperative to rescue hostages held by Hamas versus the goal of dismantling the militant group to ensure long-term security. The trauma of the October 7, 2023, attacks, which resulted in over 1,100 deaths and the abduction of approximately 250 individuals, remains a deep wound in the Israeli collective consciousness. The ongoing captivity of hostages, many of whom are believed to be held in underground tunnels, starved and beaten, continues to haunt families and the broader public. While military operations aim to pressure Hamas and secure the hostages' release, these actions have led to significant international condemnation due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The United Nations and various countries have criticized Israel's tactics, citing the dire conditions faced by Palestinian civilians. Domestically, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure from both international allies advocating for a ceasefire and right-wing coalition partners opposing concessions. This internal and external pressure places Israel in a precarious position, striving to balance the moral obligation to protect its citizens and hostages with the strategic necessity of neutralizing threats, all while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics

 

I have yet to summarise President Trump’s visit to the Gulf States. His policy of America First is undoubtedly part of it, after all he is the American President not the Israeli President, but since he is definitely an “out of the box” thinker, time will tell us the results.

 

President Joseph Biden has been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. President Biden was possibly the most important American president in his love of Israel equal to Ronald Reagan.  A fine man, a true Zionist (yes, I know many love to paint him otherwise) and a highly intelligent leader. I was horrified at the suggestions he suffered from dementia and worse. Demonising the man who leads the politics you don’t embrace should not be a reason for derision and distasteful language, it is a reason for working to support someone who does embrace your views. I wish him better; I wish kindness to a man who gave himself to his country and now needs support to heal his cancer.

 

Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) is celebrated on the 28th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar. This year, 5785, it falls on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Who can forget that day, during the Six Day War, when the IDF Paratroopers finally reached the Western Wall and General Motta Gur uttered the words “The Temple Mount is in our hands”? Today most of the world has forgotten that the Eastern part of Jerusalem, in fact most of the areas around Jerusalem and land claimed to be Palestinian, were in Jordanian hands since 1948. Jews were thrown out, Jewish sites were destroyed, the cemetery on the Mount of Olives demolished and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre left to fall apart (when I was in Israel, in Jerusalem, on Rosh Hashanah 1967 I saw that with my own eyes) Jerusalem Day celebrates the unification of this great city, finally Jews could visit the holy sites, could pray on the Temple Mount, touch the Western Wall, could walk the very stones that King David walked when he wrote his psalms. We will celebrate although the truth is now somewhat different and our dreams of praying on the Temple Mount are no longer viable.

 

Today was not only the liberation of Jerusalem, it is the birthday of Bob Dylan (Robert Zimmerman; The day when Eli Cohen, a Mossad Agent, was hanged in Damascus; Operation Solomon, the covert mission  to bring Ethiopian Jews home took place on May 25  1991. One aeroplane. A 747, carried over a thousand people; As a sidebar, or in other words I digress, Zvi and I had the honour of being invited to the Diplomat Hotel to meet the most dignified group of people I have ever met. Knowing that they had no luggage (allowed just one and a half kilos on the packed aeroplanes) with only the clothes they stood up in, we went first to Mahane Yehuda and bought bags upon bags of underwear. Upon arrival we saw hundreds of people in their Shabbat clothing, white robes, and one man who stood above and out from all the others, the Kes, or Rabbi. I can never forget the beauty of the people, the calm dignity of people who had never seen a car let alone an aeroplane, standing quietly. We had been given a rose, a single rose when we arrived and as the late Uri Gordon came into the hall, each of these beautiful people held their rose out to him. No yelling, no whooping, just a silent appreciation of the man who led the mission. I am so proud to see that the children of those who arrived from Operation Moses in 1984 and further missions, have become an integral part of Israeli society

 

Zvi and have visited Jordan many times, six times to the Royal palace where we and the entire group, were treated “royally”, even provided with tours and kosher food. Imagine my distress when an Impact-se report describes October 7^th as Palestinian resistance. The report was heartbreaking, especially when you consider that if the Hashemite Royal Family were not protected by Israel they would no longer exist. Please read the report. https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/Review-of-Jordanian-Textbooks.pdf

 

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem celebrates 100 years since its founding. From a few buildings on French Hill it has grown into an internationally renowned place of learning and innovation. Probably 40% of its students are Israeli Moslems, studying every subject under the sun, scullcaps beside shayla and hijab, multicoloured headscarves beside traditional black costume; the Hebrew University has become a symbol of diversity. Zvi and I went to a wonderful celebratory concert at the Jerusalem Theatre, featuring the Jerusalem Symphony orchestra and a number of brilliant singers. They sang Shabchei yerushalyim, 

Lakum mahar b’boker, Avinu malkanu and Shir hamaalot and the orchestra played the song of the Hebrew Slaves from Verdi’s Nabucco. It was a spectacular evening.

 

Australian Jews are going through a difficult time at the moment, actually I cannot think of a Jewish community that is not going through a difficult time, but I am in awe of their resilience and determination to come to Israel during this time of war. I told you about the excellent group brought by Keren Hayesod a couple of weeks ago, and this week we had lunch in Tel Aviv with Keith and Deidre Beville from Melbourne. This week we will visit the new Museum of the Jewish Soldier in Latrun and of course they will come to us for Friday night dinner. Reaching the fine age of 90 has not stopped Keith from coming to Israel and neither age nor war will stop him from coming. As I have told you all time and again, even in wartime this is still the safest place imaginable.

 

The words of our first song praise Jerusalem but so much more

Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem;
Praise your God, O Zion. Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem;
Praise your God, O Zion.
For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your children within you.
Praise your God, O Zion.

Shebachi Yerushalyim https://youtu.be/K3dX1elMLy4?si=b6XbdjWHgR6oXqW-

 

In 1979 Israel won the Eurovision Song Contest with a wonderful song of hope in the days when it was all about the song and not politics. Halleluya! https://youtu.be/jKbvuYRR35E?si=TZaW_vg2E4Q7xbYS

 

The Party is Over is a song better known as “To Rise Tomorrow with a New Song” I loved this rendition by a choir of wonderful children! In many ways it is the story of Israel, of the Jewish people. We fall and rise, always rise even as our enemies disappear from history. We should all rise each morning with a new song in our heart, to start again from bereshit! https://youtu.be/q-U5yTtJu38?si=Mg0nlIVFNim3-1we

 

It is nearly Shabbat after a crazy week! Lunches, concerts, lectures on Gaugin, visiting friends, friends visiting us, actually I want to tell you about an impromptu visit by some friends who live on our estate. Five women each with a fascinating story of family history including one neighbour, actually a neighbour whose apartment overlooks our veranda, her name is Hinda, and she told of her family’s history beginning in Lodz, in Poland, through Russia, and several European countries to arrive in Israel at the age of 10. Hinda worked for many years in the Jewish Agency and knew many people that Zvi also knew. As is my habit when someone new comes to our apartment, I took her to our study, where Zvi was busy writing. She was impressed by our “wall of fame” but her expression when she saw the poster of the very first demonstration ever held, in the world, to free Soviet Jewry with the headline “Let My People Go”. Her amazement grew when she learned that Zvi, together with Yona Yahav, started the entire struggle for Soviet Jewry, beginning on that day when they were both students at the Hebrew University. “It’s thanks to you that I am here today”. Such emotion and joy that Hinda was in our house, is my friend, enjoys a wonderful life with her husband Itzik, because two cheeky students refused to take no for an answer  from Golda Meir when they knew that Jews were suffering in far off Soviet Union, longing to come home.

 

So our world is not becoming any kinder, but we can hold our hope and prayer and rise tomorrow morning with a new song in our heart. I am travelling to Tel Aviv this lunchtime, to the home of Lea Ressler, to meet with friends. Zvi is going to his parliament in the Botanical Gardens and then we will meet up for our Shabbat Dinner in the peace and quiet of our own home. Of course I will wander out to our veranda where the little apple tree is weighed down with the burden of dozens of ripening fruits. Actually, that little apple tree is yet another example of hope. So many people told me that an apple tree cannot thrive in a pot and here it is. Proof positive that one should never listen to the doubters!!

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends, I pray that your Shabbat will be peaceful.

 

With love from Jerusalem, the centre of the world.

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lag b'Omer, Good News Bad News

 

16^th May 2025

Lag b’Omer 5785

 

Shabbat Shalom! Today is the 33^rd day of the counting of the Omer, the days between Passover and Pentecost (Pesach and Shevuot) and a day of bonfires, barbecues and a halt in the restrictions of the Omer, similar to the restrictions of Lent.

 

My cousin Debbie sent me this quote and I felt it fits so many of the released hostages especially Eli Sharabi. ”Ernest Hemingway once said, “The most beautiful people we encounter in life are often those who have walked through fire.” They’ve faced defeat, endured pain, struggled with hardship, and experienced loss in ways that most of us can scarcely comprehend. Yet, through these trials, their true beauty emerges—not the kind that can be seen on the surface, but the kind that radiates from deep within.”

 

Today we are trying a new format. I decided to avoid depression and create a good news, bad news, good news format, starting with an informative paragraph. Does that make sense? Are you happy with the mixing of good and not so good? It sort of describes our seesaw life. I actually looked up “seesaw” on the thesaurus synonyms and one description stood out above all others – “to perform a nontranslational motion”. If anything described our world today that has to be it!!

 

So after my traditional digression, back to Lag b’Omer. As I wrote above, it all begins with the counting of the Omer and as a celebration of the end of the plague that killed most of Rabbi Akiva’s students, it is said to be a plague sent by the Almighty because they failed to treat each other with respect, we celebrate that day, the 33^rd day of the 49 days of the counting. Today celebrations such as weddings are allowed and we light bonfires because….. actually I’m not 100% sure where that came from. If anyone can give me a logical explanation rather than a philosophical one, I’d be grateful especially since we are in the middle of a Hamsin (heatwave) with strong winds and the danger of a repeat of the forest fires is looming.

 

The traditional flame that is lit on Mount Meron to honour Rabbi Simeon bar Yohai who initiated the ideal that students of the Torah forsake all other activities, devoting their lives to the study of the Torah. Thus devout Jews (mostly men) go up to Mount Meron where he is buried on this day. Sadly in 2021 far too many were allowed into the site and a tragedy occurred when a grandstand collapsed and, in the rush to flee 45 people died. This year the number is thankfully limited.

 

Yuval Raphael is a beautiful young woman with a wonderful voice and she is representing Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland. As if it not enough that she survived the Nova festival Hamas attack on October 7^th she has to deal with the pro-Palestinian yobbos who are demonstrating against Israel. Her story, her description of the hours spent in the bomb shelter while young people were murdered, raped and mutilated around her is beyond belief. She hid under the dead bodies in that shelter for eight hours, acting dead after a desperate phone call to her father who begged her to play dead. She says she retained her sanity by singing and now she is representing Israel in a competition where Israel-hate has been obvious and even encouraged. This year Palestinian flags are allowed in the main hall but I promise you there will be more Israeli flags and very vocal ovations! She is a warrior on a musical battlefield for sure.  She is now into the final after a phenomenal performance last night. There were some jeers at the beginning of the performance, but Israel's Yuval Raphael was a superstar and the cheers at the end were epic! What a survivor, what a phenomenal woman, what a true heroine.

 

Tzeela Gez z”l was a mother of three tiny children and on her way to the hospital to deliver her fourth baby. She was travelling with her husband to hospital for a caesarian section when a terrorist shot and killed her. He didn’t know that she was a good, kind woman who helped those suffering from traumatic events. He didn’t know that her three children have lost their mother. He didn’t know that her husband had to bury his wife yesterday or that their baby is fighting for his life in hospital. He didn’t know because he didn’t care. He was so deeply inculcated with hatred by those the politicians who benefit from death and destruction that he felt deep satisfaction that he had killed.

 

I’m so happy that Edan Alexander came home. I am thrilled that he is reunited with his family; I was happy that his mother spoke her heart and thanked President Trump; I wish all the Israelis who don’t have dual citizenship were brought home by the Israeli government; I wish that no more soldiers would die in a war against an unseen enemy which hides in tunnels and keeps our hostages in vile conditions; I wish many things and yes, I am thrilled that Edan is home and looks in relatively good condition, but wish that he had come home because our government fought for him not the USA government. I’m sure that you all love the exultation of hostages as they come home, but the truth is that after those first moments they enter an emotional abyss from which it is almost impossible to return.

Talking of hostages who manage to celebrate their release, Emily Damari is a Tottenham Hotspur fan, a very serious Spurs fan! This week she went to a match and was greeted by a sea of yellow balloons, placards with her symbolic hand and cheers from the crowd. What a wonderful welcome!

 

Like it or not, the Trump visit to the region has been a great success for the United States. I am not surprised by the warm reception from Saudi Arabia, Israel and Saudi Arabia have been on good terms since the days when Ehud Olmert was Prime Minister and the ground was laid for closer relations with the USA. I am surprised at the apparent closeness with Qatar but then as I have always said, one doesn’t need to negotiate or discuss with one’s friends, one must, however, negotiate and discuss with one’s potential enemies. President Trump moves in mysterious ways, he is undoubtedly unpredictable, but I believe that his ultimate aim is to bring some semblance of peace to the area. I wish him luck if he is serious about a US presence in Gaza. Neither Israel nor Egypt succeeded in creating a workable society there and since Netanyahu is against any intervention by the PA (Mahmoud Abbas wanted to take Gaza back from Hamas) perhaps this is the answer – an outside, international force that can control the hate teaching and its horrific outcome.

 

Yesterday we went to se a play at the Khan Theatre! Totally spontaneous decision since the play was on at 5 in the evening. It was wonderful! It’s the story of four Saftas (grandmothers) in  assisted living and their habits, stories and distress when sons and grandsons either don’t visit or let them down at the last moment when they have already cooked their favourite foods. It is funny, sad and brilliant. Upon leaving the theatre one sees large posters with each actor talking about his own “Safta” from whom they took their characters. Brilliant. We left the theatre and rove home past the President’s house. On our side of the road were a number of families of hostages with the all too familiar posters of their loved ones and one very active lady handing out yellow ribbons for cars. Of course we stopped with a word of encouragement from Zvi and the lady tied the yellow ribbon to our door handle. Zvi thanked her and she told us that she had been there, opposite the president’s house, with the families every single day since October 10^th 2023. The very salt of the earth that makes up the vast majority of Israelis.

 

On October 11^th 2016, UNESCO had a preliminary vote on a declaration that Israel, the occupying power, cease and desist all archaeological excavations in the Old City. The declaration erased all Jewish connection to the Western Wall (al Buraq Plaza) and the Temple Mount (Haram el Sharif) on October 12 the declaration was passed, a stain on the once august organisation which has gone the way of all UN organisations. What prompted their declaration? Archaeological finds in David’s City that proved undeniably the ancient Jewish presence.

 

I honestly do not know how Alon Nimrodi is able to get up in the morning. His son Tamir has been in Hamas captivity for 587 days. Tamir, an Israeli soldier captured in uniform, undoubtedly suffers horribly, as do all the captives, and Alon has not heard anything from Tamir, no “ot haim” sign of life, over all that period. The government has announced that one of the hostages is no longer alive but not once during those 587 days has anyone from the government, not one official phone call, not a message, not even a WhatsApp, nothing to ease the pain of this father, this family. I am angry and ashamed.

 

Zvi and I have spent more time than usual beside our computers. No we didn’t do it for pleasure, our office is in the “mamad” or safe room. We are among the lucky ones because we have a mamad at home, in fact we have a mamad. Many have to cower in their stairwells or make a run for the communal bomb shelter until ten minutes have passed since the siren warning us that yet another Houthi missile is overhead. Who are these dreadful people, pirates of the high seas, killers, funded by Iran, given supersonic and hypersonic missiles instead of food and education? They are not Yemen, although that country is like a broken vessel, shards of what was a society breaking it apart form the inside. Apart from one last week, the one that landed near the airport, we get each one. The ten minute wait is to avoid damaged from pieces of the destroyed missile.

 

This has been a great week in many ways. I returned to all my courses, in fact managed to move in my movement class and create in my craft class! It is so rewarding, so refreshing and a real boost to my confidence. I am basically back in the saddle. It feels wonderful.

 

Today we will go up to the graves of Zvi’s parents, the beautiful Kalman and Alla Raviv, to a very special area in the Givat Shaul cemetery reserved for people who have received the high honour of becoming “Yakirei Yerushalyim”. Since nobody receives the key to the City of Jerusalem this honour is the closest equivalent and those who receive it have the honour of being buried overlooking the city in a quiet and almost pastoral area set aside for their families to visit the graves. Among those buried there are Naftali Herz Imber, the Galician Jew who wrote the words that we hold so dear. Zvi will recite the blessings, using the initials of each letter of the names Kalman and Alla, and then will sing the prayer “El Rachemim”. A simple tradition but it is important that grandchildren understand the purpose in life of their grandparents that we do not lose their brave history in the formation of this amazing country.

 

Almost Shabbat and high time for some music. Shabbat in Jerusalem is so special. There is nothing like it in the whole wide world. The peace that surrounds us no matter what the outside world is doing.

 

I wrote about Yuval Raphael but now you can see and hear her incredible voice as she since her heart out for us, for Israel, for all of us, in three languages. A New Day Will Rise. Just listen to the resounding applause at the end!!  https://youtu.be/R1J7nJXLKAg?si=NSaMkfmhVauEiQpo

 

"No More” Idan Amedi, is an Israel singer and actor, a very special, humble, human being, left his many concert appointments on October 7th and volunteered to do his miluim in the war in Gaza. He was badly injured, lost two of his soldiers in his platoon. He was greeted as a hero by his fans, indeed by Israelis everywhere, but refused the titled insisting he was just one of many. His humility created this song. https://youtu.be/qQepsm0Rc0U?si=iuHujpAsW5QYtCqW

 

We are all the same. It is irrelevant from whence we came, all that matters is that we came home. Today we talk about the Houthis forgetting that they have taken over yemen, forgetting that Yemen was home to many Jews who fled “On Eagles Wings” coming home. This is a Yemeni family celebrating Shabbat. The music is different but the prayers are the same words that we, as a people have sung for 5785 years.

https://youtu.be/pfVZilLTKz8?si=OjHleFUKU0C5uP8G

 

I wish you a Shabbat shalom. A peaceful weekend from Jerusalem the golden city of our dreams and prayers.

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turn, Turn, Turn

 

9^th May 2025

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends.

 

Yesterday was a very important day, a new Pope was elected after just 2 days of conclave. A new Pope, an American who grew up in Chicago and spent much of his adult life in Peru, Pope Leo XIV, has the ability and opportunity to influence the world to take a better path.

 

On May the 13^th 1939 a ship set sail from Hamburg for Cuba. This was no cruise however, the ship, the St Louis, sister ship to the Milwaukee, carried 937 Jewish passengers escaping the impending horror of Nazi Germany. The refugees first tried to disembark in Cuba but were denied permission to land. After Cuba, the captain, Gustav Schröder, went to the United States and Canada, trying to find a nation to take the Jews in, but both nations refused. He finally returned the ship to Europe, where various countries, including the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands and France, accepted some refugees. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain agreed to take 288 but those who went to countries later overtaken by the Reich were killed.

 

Victory in Europe Day, VE Day is a major event in the United Kingdom. May the 8^th 1945 represents the end of World War 2 in Europe, after 6 long years of fighting, of many major cities being reduced to rubble by the German War Machine. Food rationing from 1939 yet the morale of Brits went far beyond the British stoicism, the natural sang froid, Britain had a great leader in Winston Churchill, who not only fought the Germans but led the people sustaining their morale. Even the wartime songs that people sang while in the London Underground which served as bomb shelters ranged from Vera Lynn to very rude, humorous lampoons.  Today, as we face a world that has no clear direction, that has lost its moral compass, the dignity with which this day is honoured brings back a time long gone, a time when victory in Europe meant just that, the victory over a cruel, racist, killing machine. A midday Big Ben tolled and a 2 minute silence was held before a service at Westminster Abbey. Traditions and gratitude we must never lose.

 

Five days ago a Houthi missile hit the slip road of Ben Gurion Airport. Now please remember that the Houthis are guilty of murder and piracy on the high seas and are no friend to the West, but I was fascinated to see how the even was reported in the West. Reuters – Missile fired by Yemen’s non-aligned Houthis lands near Tel Aviv’s airport. CNN – Israel fails to intercept a Houthi missile.. BBC - Netanyahu vows response……. All reporting the same event but the bias is clear. It was very disturbing but the purpose is barely reported. The purpose is to destroy Israel’s economy. One of our major sources of income is tourism and the natural response to a hypersonic missile (that’s why we didn’t stop it) hitting close to the airport is for all the foreign airlines to cease flying to Israel!

 

In fact one of my lovely readers from Melbourne, the delightful Helen (Helsie) Brustman worried about the PR concerning our government when I may criticise our leaders. However I feel that if I didn’t tell you the whole truth then I would be letting you down. This is an incredible country with fabulous people of all faiths; a country where 300% of those asked to defend us (miluimniks) came forward to fight after the 7th of October; this is a country of volunteers, all in all a deeply caring society for all our noise. But the sad fact is that we are also a rudderless society at the moment. Our hearts ache for the hostages that remain in diabolical conditions; our hearts ache for the families of those hostages and for those who came home after hundreds of days; for the families of soldiers who volunteer to go back time and again when we are uncertain as to the value of risking even more young lives, and so the list goes on. What is incredible is that Israeli determination that life must go on. Restaurants, cinemas, theatres, beaches, hotels are all full of Israelis!!! We understand that we must express ourselves by demonstrating, be it in Hostage Square to show our loyalty to the families or by acting as if all is normal even when we know it isn’t.

 

Perhaps the most divisive aspect of this government is that they are not forcing all members of Israeli society to defend Israel leaving the burden of fighting force weighing heavily on men and women who leave their families, businesses and studies for months on end. The honour of living in a democracy, a true democracy means that rights demand responsibility, taking responsibility for everyone not just ones own particular sector; all sectors, not just Haredi, not just Moslem, all sectors. One member of the Likud party that has stood firm on this is Yuli Edelstein, chair of the Knesset foreign affairs and defence committee, who insists that a real conscription law is one that applies to every community. When rockets fall they don't distinguish between Christian, Jew, Druze, Arab. It's irrelevant what your head covering, hijab, or shtreimel, or what colour your kippa, and our defence must apply the same.

 

The first and foremost Jewish law is Pikuach nefesh, the Jewish law that says that to save one soul is to save a world. 

 

I am not going to comment just to state a fact. President Biden demanded recognition of Israel as a condition of agreeing to nuclear Saudi Arabia. President Trump just agreed to a nuclear Saudi Arabia without rationalization of relations with Israel.

 

Abdul Rauf Azhar, the Pakistani Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist who beheaded American Jewish journalist Daniel Pearl on camera in 2002, has been killed by Indian forces. 23 years after his killing, Daniel Pearl has finally been avenged! ”My name is Daniel Pearl. I'm a Jewish-American from Encino, California, USA/ My father's Jewish, my mother's Jewish, I'm Jewish. My family follows Judaism.” 

This is Israel and there is always good news. After winning many medals in the European acrobatic gymnastics we proved that our brains are just as agile. Six Israeli high school students represented Israel at the Baltic Olympiad in Informatics in Poland, a computer science competition for high school students. Every single member of the Israeli team won a medal: 4 gold medal winners - including Daniel Zwebner who won the overall gold for the entire competition.

 

I am often asked why I came to live in Israel. For me it is a given, but for some others, including some Israelis, it is a logical question. Actually I am asked that particular question less and less as our world become more and more hostile, but I digress. Why did I choose to live here? Well, it all started on a Jewish Agency trip in July-August 1963. We toured, learned, worked on Kibbutz, saw Israel for the first time. I had heard all about Israel from my parents and watched my Father’s 16mm film of their trip in 1953; I had listened avidly to my Habonim leaders (madrichim) both Norman Berg z”l and Andrew Stone (aka Lord Stone of Blackheath) in my home city of Cardiff in South Wales and then when my parents decided to send me on my first “tour” I grabbed at the chance. Somehow, I fell in love with a very different Israel, a much simpler Israel, an unsophisticated Israel, but full of warm, welcoming people. For many years my love affair with this gorgeous country was limited to twice yearly visits with three children, time spent almost exclusively with my then husband’s family, but that special place in my heart never left me.

 

Life was good in the UK, both volunteering and then working with organisations that related to Israel, but that special yearning, that sense of coming home never left me. So I did it! I came home and that is the answer to all of the questions. I came home. This is a complex society, a warm, welcoming society, a noisy and argumentative society, a deeply curious society that is brilliant at solving practical situations, opinionated to a fault like one big very annoying family. We do not have a simple life, our neighbouring countries have only one aim, to throw us off our ancient land; to deny the bible or biblical rights. I seriously wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Obviously there are many more personal reasons that I do not need to talk about but here I am!

 

Zvi is sitting in the Botanical Gardens with his parliament, his group of friends who discuss and try to solve the problems of our world, which is a bit easier than the problems in Israel! When he gets home I’ll take him out onto the veranda, I love to inspect every plant daily and I need to show him the apples on the ridiculously small apple tree. There must be 20! They are Anna, my favourite variety since I can’t get Cox’s Orange Pippins they became a close second best. We will bring in Shabbat and Zvi will recite the blessing over the wine in his beautiful bass baritone and we will relax, it’s Shabbat.

 

Tomorrow we will celebrate Yonatan’s 11^th birthday and then, when dusk falls we will start another week. Everyone we meet with say Shevua Tov, have a good week, hopefully an uneventful week

 

And so to music.

 

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach was famous for his gentle religious songs but even more for the niggun (song without words. Here he combines the two. Shabbat Shalom and blessed. https://youtu.be/9QIOy6UQAuk?si=Ci4Q0aVVSwZPGC3T

 

Yaacov Shwekey and IDF soldier Shlomo Lipman

If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill!
Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you,

if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy! 

https://youtu.be/fAFWMQnrU9E?si=T0JQEcW8fX1CuVff

 

Biblical quotes are so often proven true for today. Turn Turn Turn, https://youtu.be/eiprqeaydik?si=l25ZYOYu8eCuMwKH

 

And so to Shabbat. Almost here. We will look over to the view of Jerusalem in the distance, slowly turning pink, orange and red as the setting sun changes the glistening white buildings to Jerusalem of Gold. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, irrespective of the direction of your prayers, you pray to Jerusalem.

 

Be safe, be well, be strong, together we can face up to any threat.

 

With love

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

Fire, Beacons and Song

 

1^st of May, 2025

 

Shabbat Shalom

 

As the sun sets on the horizon, Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, is drawing to a close. 77 years and we have built, planted, grown, brought in, helped, fed, initiated, innovated, tended and been a light unto nations despite still fighting our war of independence; we really are an example of how to build a fine, democratic nation, despite the multiple wolves at the door. What the 78^th year holds we can only pray that it will be better than the last year.

 

As we left Yom HaShoah behind us, mourned our losses on Yom haZikaron (Remembrance Day) and entered Independence Day with so much hope, but no, we had to cancel all the celebrations because the first responders, fire brigade and police were tied up fighting bush fires all over the country, although centered in the areas on the way to Jerusalem. Bush fires that all started simultaneously.  Simultaneous spontaneous combustion? Sadly, we are not that naive and it is a situation that repeats itself time and again, always when there is a heatwave and high winds. At least 26 arson suspects have been arrested.

 

The celebrations that took place had a sombre side, an inner sadness that was hard to hide while 59 hostages, alive and not, remain in Hamas hands. The beacon lighters both celebrated freedom while echoing the plea for the return of their friends, the only people who can possibly understand what they went through. Something about the need to celebrate brought me to Anne Frank. This quote feels so relevant to everything that has happened.

 

“We’re surrounded by darkness and danger, and in our desperate search for a way out we keep bumping into each other. We look at the fighting down below and the peace and beauty up above. In the meantime, we’ve been cut off by the dark mass of clouds, so that we can go neither up nor down. It looms before us like an impenetrable wall, trying to crush us, but not yet able to. I can only cry out and implore, “Oh, ring, ring, open wide and let us out!”

 

Although the actual ceremony on Mount Herzl didn’t take place, for the reasons outlined above, the dress rehearsal had been filmed two nights previously so after all we got to see Zvi and the choir perform! Sadly we didn’t go to our usual party, a truly magnificent bash at the Lotan’s, partly because I’m not quite ready and partly because most of the roads were closed due to the fires. However, we went to a close friend’s party right here on our estate. It was meant to be most of the choir although many just couldn’t get here or were waiting to know if they need to be evacuated. We kept the television on for the ceremony, so that we wouldn’t miss Zvi, also to enjoy the delicious food laid out on the table, then we sat around and sang beautiful Israeli songs and ended up with “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”, “When the Saints” and Peter Paul and Mary!! There is something special about being with close friends when things look so black.

 

Ronen Bar is an Israeli intelligence officer and the director of the Israeli Security Agency since 13 October 2021. Two days ago he stood before the Israeli people and apologised, took responsibility for everything that happened on October 7^th and the 573 days that followed. His measured words and dignified stance did not hide the pain of knowing that there was failure under his watch.

 

The BBC is the unlikely source of this news item. The most prominent Islamic scholar in Gaza has issued a rare, powerful fatwa condemning Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, which triggered the devastating war in the Palestinian territory. Professor Dr Salman al-Dayah, a former dean of the Faculty of Sharia and Law at the Hamas-affiliated Islamic University of Gaza, is one of the region’s most respected religious authorities, so his legal opinion carries significant weight among Gaza’s two million population, which is predominantly Sunni Muslim.

 

600 Syrian Druze clerics came to Israel to celebrate the festival of Ziyara at the tomb of Nabi Shuaib in the Lower Galilee. The Druze community in Israel welcomed them with open arms. Sadly life for them in Syria, in the land supposedly freed of the despots, is not easy and this week at least five Druze were killed.

 

On Friday night we went to the David’s Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem to meet with a truly amazing group of people from the UIA, the Australian Keren Hayesod. Our hostess, definitely with the mostest, was Michelle Gandel and as we sat at her table we were yet again impressed by the love and understanding of those present with Israel’s situation. We found ourselves deep in conversations, answering such relevant questions that it was a pleasure to be with them. About half way through the evening a young man got up to speak, his name is Levi Simon and he came on Aliya some 9 years ago, served in the IDF and then on October the 8^th immediately volunteered, became a miluimnik, his thriving tourism business fell because he wasn’t there, he was in the field of battle. I promised him that I would put his very impressive website up, he is a tour guide and if he is half as good as a tour guide as he was as a speaker you will be in for a treat. https://www.levisimon.com/  Levi made a very important observation that he learned during his Miluim, we are in a war where one’s enemy has no concept of the Geneva Convention but is an enemy that uses brilliant psychological warfare in the guise of guerrilla warfare. Many of the leaders of Hamas have psychology degrees from Western Universities. 

 

We were delighted to see Anita Simons there too, in fact several lovely old friends. At Michelles encouragement Zvi told the story of his involvement in the struggle for Soviet Jewry way back in 1969 and his famous meeting with Golda. Actually I must admit that my favourite part of the whole experience was the fact that Sheli came with us and obviously, everyone fell in love with her!!!

 

Our distress at the fires, at the cancelled celebrations was apparent, yet this morning, the smell of fire in the air, a tiny Tsufit (sunbird) greeted me, darting to and fro, the morning sun glistening on its iridescent feathers. As I watched him, fascinated by his movements from flower to flower, lemon blossom to orange blossom I chose to think of him as the harbinger of better news and so it was.

 

I received excellent news from our CEO Marcus Sheff….. Impact-se ( www.impact-se.org) has opened an office in Abu Dhabi! Yes you heard me! The office will allow us to work more efficiently with UAE government ministries and partners such as the Mohammed bin Zayed University of the Humanities.

More broadly, the office will make it easier to work with interlocutors in the Arab and Muslim world. Our representative in the office will be Alaa Alshimmari

 

So another eventful week and so to Shabbat, to sadness and celebration, tomorrow the one year anniversary of the sudden passing of our beloved Valeri. We will go to the cemetery and pay our deep respects, hug Ira, Tomer and Sheli and talk about the lovely man that he was and he left us far to soon. So many sweet memories together. Then to change our mood completely, that evening we are with Zvi’s family to celebrate Gili’s 16^th birthday. How strange that life always shows the honey and the sting are inseparable.

And so, inevitably, to music

 

Turn Turn Turn is actually a quote from Ecclesiastes and it is so fitting for our crazy world right now. I love it. Judy Collins and Pete Seeger with a simplicity and naivete of the ‘60s https://youtu.be/n0xzyhoeu1Y?si=9fkuL1ckSB19Vlr_

 

Mishhu, “Someone” is a beautiful song of hope https://youtu.be/YHx9xDAHOIE?si=lpJPTrHJWXQgnoRX

 

Yuval Raphael is a beautiful young woman who was saved on October 7^th because she feigned death while hiding in a shelter, this month she will represent Israel in the Eurovision song Contest with the biggest audience in the world. Good luck Yuval!!! https://youtu.be/Q3BELu4z6-U?si=XcEzsL6V3g54TNw5

 

I wish you a Shabbat Shalom, a weekend of peace and contemplation, a week of good news, we all need it. Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem, that incredible, spiritual, beautiful, fascinating city that is the centre of our world.

 

With love

Sheila

 

PS I loved hearing from you all last week!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Shoah, Remembrance and Independence

 

24^th of April, 2025

Yom HaShoah

565 days since the 7^th of October 2023

 

Today Israel commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day. The eerie sound of the two minute siren as Israel came to a standstill. This year commemorating the 80^th year since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenhau, a Nazi concentration camp and extermination camp in occupied Poland where more than 1 million people were murdered as part of the Nazis' of which 1.2 million were Jews. The "Final Solution" to the Jewish question. The camp was liberated by the Soviet Red Army. The secret held by the Western leaders could no longer be kept, the horrors of that camp was to be repeated in the liberation of Bergen Belsen by the British troops, and so on throughout the Reich.

 

President Herzog gave a moving and important speech at the Yad Vashem ceremony last night. “I call upon you from the bottom of my heart: Let us unite together, the entire House of Israel. Let us turn these days – the Ten Holy Days – from now until Independence Day, into a moment of National responsibility. Let us lower the flames. Let us mend our hearts. While nothing compares to the scale and systematic killing of the Holocaust, it’s impossible to be unmoved by the terrifying testimonies from the heart of the horror on October 7^th and not be shocked by the echoes of that historical catastrophe. Nonetheless, their stories can also be viewed as part of a larger victory for the Jewish people, returned to their land.”

 

Hamas captivity survivor Eli Sharabi, whose wife and two daughters were murdered during the October 7th Hamas massacre, and whose brother was killed in captivity, shares powerful words from Auschwitz on Holocaust Memorial Day.  https://youtu.be/yXQkdOybraA?si=5EWGqkvO8xlaJlbJ

 

We heard the incredible stories of bravery and survival from those who suffered first hand, evidence that is fast disappearing, and from members of the Knesset who stood and told the stories of their families. This is a tragedy that was not only European, North African countries were overcome by the Reich and their Jews inevitably suffered. The Libyan Jews, the Tunisian Jews and more. The bravery of those survivors, their pride in our incredible country, Israel where they rebuilt their lives and repopulated their families, Survivors with grandchildren and great-grandchildren serving in the IDF in this insane war against a barbaric enemy. But wait, think about what I just wrote. Survivors of the Holocaust, the clear intention to wipe Jews off the face of the earth, serving in the Israeli army! The sheer miracle of those few words should bring tears of joy to each and every one of us. As one feisty 95 year old survivor declared ”Let them come at us! We’ve survived worse and look at where we are! We are here in our homeland, standing proud and knowing that our lives are being protected by Jews. (She can be excused for not mentioning the other faiths) Here we are in our HOMELAND!” What a woman, what incredible people they are, those raggedy, hungry, beaten folk who came to Israel and built a new life, a new country, and new generations.

 

The true miracle was seen in the 32^nd European Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships. Try this for starters.

Gold  Ella Ben Zvi and Nurit Luria

Gold Israel Men’s Group

Gold Israel Women’s Group

Gold Ran Aviv and Jonathan Markovich, Juniors

 

Then the DOBRO World Cup, OSIJEK world championship

Gold for Artium Dolgopiat in the ground exercise at the World Cup. Artium, the most decorated Israeli athlete of all time, gave his Olympic Gold to the fund for the Hostages

Gold Polina Grossman kickboxing

Gold Ron Pyatov parallel bars

 

What was the expression “Jews can’t run”? Ha!

 

Volunteering for NGO LeMa’anam (For their Sake), Israeli Arab Doctors, Christian Yosif Boulos and Muslim Fadi Badarna, provide home visits for the now elderly Holocaust Survivors in the wake of October 7^th. “Meeting these people, hearing their stories, and being able to help — even in a small way — is a great privilege. Medicine for me is not just a profession but a way to express solidarity, humanity and hope for a better future for all of us.”

 

Pope Francis, passed away this week after a long illness. Originally from Argentina, he was the first Catholic pontiff from the Americas, and began his career as a Jesuit priest in Argentina and later served as archbishop of Buenos Aires and a cardinal. He knew the Jewish community in Buenos Aires and was present at the Memorial service at the AMIA Jewish Centre after the catastrophic bombing of that place. He also placed a memorial plaque in the Cathedral for Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish Diplomat who saved many Jews. In his last days he changed direction and expressed dismay at the war in Gaza, but will be remembered as a man of the people.

 

I have a question. Did you notice that I didn’t write last week? By the way, I really love to hear from you, although it’s lovely to hear your delight at receiving my missives when we meet, I’d love to receive your thoughts. Anyway, I was in hospital (for a change), this time in Cardiology, some think because I had never been in that department before!! After a couple of disturbing episodes I went to Shaare Zedek Hospital where they were phenomenal. The ER cubicle was so up to date I thought it would take off! Up in Cardiology they did the final few tests, and immediately took me into surgery to install a pacemaker. Zvi and Sheli were as incredible as always, ensuring my confidence, this time Rachel was poorly with a virus but when she came to the hospital she asked one of the nurses who did the surgery “Oh he is the head of department” How’s that for good luck. Anyway, I’m obviously on my way to recovery with  my new machine, Zvi, Rachel and Sheli are still watching over me and friends visit.

 

Zvi has been rehearsing like crazy because his choir is appearing in the Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day) celebrations on Mount Herzl next week. Apparently they held rehearsals, recordings, dress rehearsals and more rehearsals. Exhausting but I’m sure he will be the star he always is. He also had a performance for the Eve of Holocaust Memorial Day involving more rehearsals. Of course with Zvi busy Rachel, Sheli and I could enjoy some very girly movies!

 

Tuesday night a one minute siren will herald the beginning of Remembrance Day, conceivably the most solemn day in the Israeli calendar. The families of the fallen visit the graves of their loved ones and at 11:00 a two minute siren will sound, not the vibrato of the terrifying warning of Houthi missiles, but one long and painful tone, echoing throughout the country. Cars, buses, trains, everyone stops where they stand to honour those who died so that we could be free. It is a day of great solemnity, of remembrance, of the all too recent pain the families of all those who died fighting Hamas, again and Hezb-Allah, the dead of all our many wars, wars we never wanted, wars we couldn’t avoid.

 

The sudden change from deep sadness to great joy takes but a few moments after the changing of the guard on the hill named after Theodore Herzl. Suddenly, the music changes from minor to major key, the lights go on and the dancers come out to celebrate Independence!  Israel is a fine and beautiful lady celebrating her 77^th birthday! It will surely be televised all over the world, try i24 news! Don’t forget, get your binoculars out so that you can pick out Zvi on the centre stage with the choir.

 

And so to music.

 

Bo’I Ima (come Mother) is a Russian folk song adapted to Hebrew the lyrics tell of the deep longing of a child for its mother. It ends with the words, “sit with me until I grow up.” Performed by Holocaust survivor Shoshana Trister & Ivri Lider. In Hebrew and Yiddish https://youtu.be/qetzeHGADes?si=1RFajCCD3F-NsGFm

 

Daniel Weiss’ parents were slaughtered by Hamas barbarians on October 7^th, but he is able to sing, he must sing to prove that he is alive. In this song he goes to his home. I’ll let him speak for himself. https://youtu.be/mcq3dqK0n18?si=-k-c0vxvliDHUr1w

 

The incredible André Rieu & The Platin Tenors performing Exodus Song live in Maastricht.  https://youtu.be/RDkYUfJPjE0?si=Hwbp_ta8jlhfnrFL

Just see the words of the song written by Ernest gold with lyrics by Pat Boone for the movie

 

This land is mine God gave this land to me

This brave and ancient land to me

And when the morning sun Reveals her hills and plains

Then I see a land Where children can run free

So take my hand And walk this land with me

And walk this lovely land with me Though I am just a man

When you are by my side With the help of God I know I can be strong

Though I am just a man

When you are by my side With the help of God I know I can be strong

To make this land our home If I must fight,

I'll fight To make this land our own Until I die, this land is mine

 

With all my love to each and every one of you. Don’t forget to say hello, just a note, I’d love to hear from you.

Shabbat Shalom from our veranda with Jerusalem glistening in the distance

Sheila