469

 

17^th January 2025

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Shabbat Shalom to you, your families and all your loved ones.

 

469 days and I cannot celebrate the impending release of the hostages without a deep sense of dread, dread for them, dread for their families and dread because I know what the expression “blood on their hands” means when referring to the barbarians who will be released from Israeli prisons in any exchange. The release will not be of all the hostages, they will be released little by little, the families riding a roller coaster of hope and despair and their loved ones are not being released on that day. A roller coaster of hope and despair because they know that their loved ones are a mere shell of their former selves and no amount of love and devotion can bring back the lives they lost.

 

Nonetheless, we are all prepared to play the political game if it will save even one life, ease just one pain, maybe even bring us all together from the fractured society we became. Perhaps now we can begin to heal as a society and concentrate on rebuilding the true Israeli spirit because our younger generation have really shown us what it means to be loyal, to answer the call to defend our beautiful country without a second thought. If anyone thought that the pioneer spirit was lost, it may have been lost in our complacent age group but not our youngsters, they have been phenomenal. At 18 years old they were already adults, at 25 years old they were ready to leave their studies and serve, at 35 years old they left their young families, their pregnant wives, their jobs, all to defend without question what we took for granted. Too many, nearly 900 soldier’s lives lost in a war we didn’t want but had to fight. Each and every one has a name and a photograph shown on the evening news, each and every one has thousands at their funerals and each and every funeral is televised. We can never ever express our gratitude to their families.

 

Perhaps the most ludicrous aspect to come out of this war and this period is that a man who was denied entry into the IDF because of his extreme (and illegal) views, became the Minister for Internal Security and the vociferous exponent of police violence against any noncompliant voice, and now, now that we are on the brink of signing some form of treaty, some form of cease fire, he is threatening to leave the government if it goes ahead. I can only pray that he does so. Netanyahu will then have to choose between Ben Gvir and his band of thugs, and the newly elected President Trump. No matter who voted for whom, the sane choice is clear, the choice is for a continued and thriving State of Israel or further internal strife and external suicide.

 

The truthteller strikes again! I know that you always love me to be the Pollyanna in the room, but it would be an insult to your intelligence if I pretended everything was honey, when you know full well that the sting can be fatal.

 

Please God the hostages come home and the dead are brought home for burial; to give the families closure, two things must happen to heal our society, to prevent it imploding. Haredi serving in the IDF is a trickle and frankly that doesn’t bother me as much as those thugs who demonstrate against it and dare to call our policemen and women Nazis – however – both Haredi and Arab young men must serve in some form, not necessarily as soldiers, but certainly to give a year or two years of their lives to community service. Of course, it is preferable that they do so in the wider community but I accept that it would be much more acceptable in their own environment.  I think it could create a much more caring society and they could follow the example of the incredible young women of the orthodox community who choose to serve in hospitals and, for instance in Shalva where they are phenomenal with the children.

 

Talking of Shalva, I was there this week with my lovely cousins Joanna and Judith. We didn’t have a great deal of time and the ever busy and helpful Yuval took time out to show us around and take us up to Dr. Dan’s Room. Both cousins were so impressed and Jo, Joanna, was deeply moved, giving me a warm hug of understanding, because all those years ago in Reading she developed a deep connection to Daniel for whom she babysat. We calmed ourselves down in the Shalva Restaurant. Dr. Dan’s Room is in constant use, giving huge pleasure to the children and is always in need of new equipment. https://give.shalva.org/daniel

 

While I was in Shalva Zvi went to meet our friend Shimon Pepper in Modi’in. As Zvi says, Shimon lives in the States but his heart is right here in Israel.

 

The potential arrest of any Israeli soldier or for that matter any Israeli politician who sets foot in various countries has been (potentially) thwarted - The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to sanction the International Criminal Court in protest at its arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over Israel's campaign in Gaza. The vote was 243 to 140 in favor of the "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act," which would sanction any foreigner who investigates, arrests, detains or prosecutes U.S. citizens or those of an allied country, including Israel, who are not members of the court. Actually, when you think about it the ICC is an illegitimate court because it has no real power to enact its “laws”

 

The only way to counter hatred is to teach tolerance and that is the aim of Impact-se. We had our international Board Meeting this week. My part as Chairperson is to introduce the meeting, greet the participants and the major work is done by our incredible CEO, Marcus Sheff. Our work, the work of the team, is every widening and although the news about changes in education in our region is positive and hopeful, the schoolbooks in Europe and elsewhere in the so-called Western societies is somewhat less so. I’ll tell you more when the next report comes out.

 

The horrific wildfires continue in California. The power of the flames has left even the super-rich and famous homeless. One can only pray that it will end soon and no more danger to life and limb.

 

Zvi and I have been studying in a course about AI. I admit I was not overly enthusiastic, I like to write my own pieces, draw my own drawings and come to my own conclusions but, much as I hate to admit it, it is fascinating. I gave it the minimum of information and this is what it came up with

 

The View from My Veranda: Jerusalem
By Sheila Raviv

As I sit on my veranda in Jerusalem, the views before me are both breathtaking and burdened with history. To the west, the sun is dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows over the city’s ancient walls. To the east, the hills rise up, with their subtle echoes of both triumph and tension. Jerusalem is a city that has always been, and will always be, marked by its contradictions—its beauty, its pain, its holiness, and its political complexity.

From here, the city appears peaceful, almost serene. The sounds of children playing in the streets, the hum of traffic winding through narrow alleys, the calls to prayer drifting over the rooftops—it all seems to flow together in a strange harmony. Yet beneath this calm surface, the political currents of this city run deep and fast.

Every time I look out at the view, I am reminded of the struggles that shape this place. The political climate here is as layered and varied as the city's many faiths, cultures, and histories. The ongoing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, the shifting balance of power in the Knesset, the impact of global politics on the local community—all of it intertwines with daily life in ways that often feel invisible, yet are always present.

Just last week, I overheard a conversation at the local café—a place where neighbors meet for morning coffee, where the politics of the day inevitably creep into even the most casual exchanges. One man spoke passionately about the new government policies, which he felt were tilting the city further towards division, while the woman next to him shook her head and argued that peace was only possible through understanding and compromise. The conversation turned into a heated debate, as it often does here, where every opinion feels personal and deeply tied to the future of the land.

As I sip my tea, I wonder about the future of Jerusalem—the future of its people, its politics, and its very identity. Is it possible for a city so entrenched in its own history to find peace? Or will the view from my veranda continue to be marked by the tensions of old, the weight of unresolved conflict that no one can ignore?

It’s a question I don’t have an answer to. But here, in the stillness of the evening, as the lights of the city twinkle below, I cling to a quiet hope—that maybe one day, the view from my veranda will offer more than just a glimpse of the past and present. Maybe it will be a window into a future where peace and coexistence are more than just ideals, but a reality.

Until next time,
Sheila

 

UNREAL!!! That was created by AI with only a few words, a few hints. I hope I won’t be obsolete soon!!

 

Anyway, back to me instead of AI and I want you to know that I had the best birthday ever! I have had 3 days of spoiling as never before! Firstly, I was spoiled by my girlfriends, then by my neighbours, then by the women in my course and this morning in my mind and movement class. It was so special that not only did I get to choose the music at the end but before we left, each of the women in the class gently put their hand on my shoulder and gave me a blessing, a wish for the next year. It was so beautiful.

The one song that had us all singing, my choice but everyone agreed is Simon and Garfunkle’s Bridge over Troubled Waters, surely that is what we all need in this crazy world. It really touched me when they all realised the my name was Silver – listen carefully to the lyrics     https://youtu.be/WrcwRt6J32o?si=IZzvcfkNRHzyqIH5

 

Daniel Weiss and Valerie Hamarty simply must be the representatives of Israel in the Eurovision Music Competition. Daniel lost both his parents on October 7^th and Valerie is a Christian Arab and they both sing with such purity and emotion that it must happen. Their rendition of Hurricane with the original words https://youtu.be/K17yan6Ttl0?si=e0NNifNGFb1j_Uyv

 

What could be more appropriate as our final song than my favourite “Al Kol Eleh” also known as the honey and the sting. The Israel Philharmonic, the IDF Orchestra and singers singing the song which tells it all. https://youtu.be/tLjucRUyd4Y?si=HnH9s4RAvjuUVSFz

 

Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you, my hairdresser, Yaniv, decided to give me a birthday gift of a streak of purple in the front of my hair. I absolutely love it! I’ve had compliments everywhere I go and it is really fun! I promise it is nothing like the blue rinsed matrons of old, this is really cool!

 

Shabbat is almost here. Netanyahu’s office confirmed that an agreement has been finalised, but said that the government won’t meet to approve it until Saturday night, which will delay the return of the first few hostages from Sunday to Monday. They will arrive in a trickle, but the tsunami of emotion will be tangible, spread of days maybe weeks. The hospitals are ready with special units and maybe, just maybe Jon and Rachel Polin Goldberg can, in her words, use the numbered tape they have stuck to their chests for 469 days will be used to close packages instead.

 

I wish you peace of mind and acceptance,

Shabbat Shalom

Sheila

 

If this newsletter doesn’t arrive at any point please go to either

My Website http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/

Facebook      Sheila Silver Raviv

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Honey and the Sting

 

10^th January, 2025

10^th of Tevet 5785

462 days of captivity for those hostages that may just be alive

 

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. This week has been both wonderful and incredibly sad, a true representation of the honey and the sting. It’s strange, someone asked me why I left the green green grass of Wales for the arid deserts and multicultural society of Israel. My answer is twofold. Life here has deep meaning, each and every citizen is important and has a purpose in the big picture, and of course, I came home. Wales will always be in my heart as the country that gave safe haven to my parents and many others Jews who fled the pogroms and Shoah and the community that gave me my sense of Israel and Judaism, but here it is home and even if the missiles fly, or maybe because of the purpose of those missiles, I, we, aren’t going anywhere.

 

I hope and pray that our friends and family in California are safe. The earthquakes and bush fires are terrifying, indeed I often think of the natural disasters, the power of fire and water, the uncontrollable danger to life and limb that living in such places presents (and the hurricanes of Miami and large tracts of land in the USA), and now hundreds of people died in Tibet and Nepal from a violent hurricane and quite honestly I feel safer with missiles flying!! Please look after yourselves wherever you are. Stay safe.

 

The question of judicial reform has raised its head yet again. The surprise factor is that Gidon Saar and Yariv Levine, after an impasse of two years had no choice but to accept a compromise suggested by two people who lost their children on October 7^th; one a former Minister and the other a former Chief of Israeli Fire Fighters. Finally, one less fight for the people of Israel. The change will come into effect in the next Knesset sitting. Apparently those of us who criticised Saar for joining a government that he clearly and vocally disliked were wrong.

 

The PM underwent surgery this week, a simple masculine operation, and, incredibly against medical advice, two days later released himself to come to the Knesset for a vote (ashen and weak) apparently Ben Gvir called the vote and demanded that both the PM and Boaz Bismuth (who was sitting Shiva for his father) attend the vote. The PM immediately went back into hospital. Apart from stupidity there is nothing special about that, however, the PM cancelled his court appearance in which he was to give evidence, for medical reasons!

 

Each day of this war brings tragedy. Soldiers, young and reservists, are dying. Yesterday three more, each of them has a family, our news tells us all about them and we watch their funerals, each and every one. Yesterday we discovered that two of the remaining hostages had been killed, we don’t know how but they survived until recently, and the probability is that father and son were together. Youssef al Ziyadne and his son Hamza, Israeli Bedouins from Rahat, whose family suffered the horror of uncertainty for 461 of the 462 days since October 7^th when they were kidnapped from Kibbutz Holit. Youssef’s children, Aisha and Bilal, were released in a hostage exchange after 40 days of captivity.  The eulogy was given by Youssef’s close friend Farhan al-Qadi who blamed the government’s inaction on the hostage release for Youssef’s death. It is believed that they were together throughout their captivity. Those kidnapped and held in dire conditions, in dark, dank tunnels, starved and tortured will not be released until this war is over, and even then, they may well be killed before we get to them. The list that was given is a cruel game played by someone, not real.

 

Australia is suffering too many anti-Semitic attacks in the guise of anti-Israel activity. Unlike the USA and Canada, however, there is one excellent media source, unless I am much mistaken, owned by Rupert Murdoch, which is honest in its reportage of this war, this arena, both the Australian and Israeli scene concerning Israel. Dave Sharma was the Australian Ambassador to Israel. His children went to Israeli schools and he was very open (still is) about his love for this country. Dave is a Member of the Australian Parliament. I want you to listen to this interview on Sky News Australia you will see why I want Dave Sharma for Prime Minister!!!  https://youtu.be/b6bCaS1uw_Q?si=ALk_aoh-L7BcdI8K

 

Talking about Australia, two Australians were among the recipients of the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour this week. The auspicious list of recipients is Frank Lowy and Mark Leibler of Australia, Trevor Chinn from the UK, Ronald Lauder and Julie Platt from the USA, Maurice Levy from France and of course Malcolm Hoenlein who belongs everywhere. President Herzog presented the awards on Thursday but the night beforehand we were invited to a dinner at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem to honour their new President, Dr Malcolm Hoenlein. It’s very difficult to quantify his work and who he is and how, despite leading the Jewish world, everybody loves him! Try looking him up on Wikipedia and you may see a tiny portion of what he has done for the world but for me, he is the provider of great adventures, fascinating information and a friendship that does not require constant contact, just the knowledge that they care deeply. So let me tell you about the dinner.

 

First of all, we met, congratulated and hugged Malcolm, then, as we found table number 6, we discovered that another couple were already seated next to us. Of course, we struck up a conversation with Rikki and Abe from Melbourne, Australia and so enjoyed our first meeting that we exchanged business cards and decided to meet again. Abe was born in Jaffa, grew up in Austria and ended up in Australia where he met the lovely Rikki. When I joked that he lived in Vienna like Herzl he commented “Yes but I lived to see his dream come true right here in Israel” After a beautiful cantorial rendition of the prayers for the State of Israel and the soldiers of the IDF, a very few people stood up to speak, including our friend Prof Yonatan Halevi, President of Shaare Zedek Hospital, so appropriate since Malcolm’s late mother had been a nurse in Shaare Zedek in Germany. All spoke of Malcolm’s untiring efforts and ability to reach political and diplomatic heights unknown to others. Such was the speech of former Attorney General and Deputy Supreme Court President Eliyakim Rubenstein, with one heartwarming addition when he spoke of the hostages and the war, urging the government to increase their endeavour to bring the hostages home since their efforts until today have been insufficient. I’m not sure that the room appreciated his stating his disappointment but he did receive applause. Malcolm, ever humble, spoke beautifully of his belief in a higher power that led him to do what he has done since a student, genuine Tikkun Olam, making the world a better place for our children, grandchildren and all the generations to follow.  He emphasised that we cannot hide behind a cloak of ignorance, we must look to the past to change the future.  As we were leaving, I saw another exceptional man and friend, Marc Belzberg across the room, we hugged and spoke of Kinneret Chaya which is how we met. Marc, together with his beautiful, dynamo (yes dynamo not dynamic which is too weak a description) wife Chantal created “One Family” the organisation which takes care of the injured, whether as a result of terror attacks or soldiers, and their families. Meeting exceptional people is uplifting and enriches one's life in ways that are difficult to quantify. Hearing good people has a ripple effect of wisdom, of learning, that can rarely be matched. 

 

After the dinner Zvi and I crept away to the surprise birthday party of a dear friend Dina (Shiro) Sofer held in a tiny theatre in the grounds of the Bell Park, right next to the model of the Liberty Bell. The performance was not of some stranger singing to Shiro, she sang herself in her amazing pure voice, singing out Israeli songs with great passion. The perfect end to a perfect day. As we walked back to the car, humming along the way, a group of young Israeli Arabs were playing basketball in court along the path, clearly having fun. Just another aspect of Israeli life.

 

After that minor digression, well it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t digress and anyway, who wants politics all the time, we all need a break to speak of good people along the way.  I want to talk about Syria. Now is the time, the very short opportunity, to influence the new powers in Syria. We must be firm, no supplicatory approaches, as a strong leader in the region offering a better alternative to constant upheaval and war. It could well be a game changer in the region.

 

Talking of game changing in the region, we held the Annual Board Meeting for Impact-se this week. Our 31 page report was staggering! How could such a small team, in an even smaller office space in Ramat Gan, possibly fill 31 pages of successes! The research reports and the ever growing phenomenon of countries in our region and further afield, that want to change the way they teach their children and turn to Impact-se to take hatred out and introduce tolerance for the other, is encouraging and the amount of work put in by the small team led, of course, by Marcus Sheff and Arik Agassi, Marcus taking on the international aspects and Arik the team, makes me prouder than I can possibly express. We prove yet again that one doesn’t need a large, bombastic, costly team and accommodation to be successful! Just check out the website and see why I am so proud to be the Board Chair. www.impact-se.org

 

On the 10^th of Tevet (today) 586 BCE the Babylonian leader Nebuchadnezzar began the siege of Jerusalem, the walls were breached and on the 9^th of the Hebrew month of Av the Temple was destroyed and the Jewish people exiled (taken hostage) to Babylon. Hence the fast day on the 9^th of Av. Another January milestone, albeit more recently, on the 13^th of January, 1898, Emile Zola wrote the famous open letter entitled “J’Acuse” forcing the revision of the trial of Alfred Dreyfus. Another important event took place the next day on January 14^th 1946. I was born!!

 

If there is something we have to do to make this world livable, it is to close the Pandora’s Box of hatred. It is possible, it will take great effort, it demands unity where right now there is discord and dissent, coming together in rational and unified effort to take our world back to the moral code and simple intelligent thought of our childhood. As you know, I love to quote Winston Churchill, partly because he was so clever, nay brilliant, and partly because he managed to express the wisdom of great leaders with incredible wit. One that probably sums up our current situation is “The malice of the wicked was reinforced by the weakness of the virtuous.” Or possibly “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” And finally, to our incredible IDF ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’

 

We had a very normal week, busy, busy because that’s what we like. I went to my craft session and yesterday to my movement class and Zvi went to his Mevasseret, Tel Aviv and now Jerusalem parliaments. Last night was a very Jerusalem night. We went to a lecture about AI and the human brain then an exceptional concert of the Jerusalem Symphony together with Dan Biran’s Band, the concert in honour of Dan Biran. The musicians and programme were outstanding and to my own surprise I stayed wide awake and enjoyed every moment. Afterwards we met so many old friends including Gideon Selinger who reads and comments on my newsletter every week!

 

Gosh, I had so much to write about this week, but on the other hand the week is coming to an end, tonight we will celebrate the arrival of the Bride of Shabbat. As always, Zvi will sing the Kiddush (the blessing of the wine) it’s crazy but after 33 years I still get teary when he sings; the children will say the blessing over the Challah and then we will eat, and eat, and eat…….. well it is Shabbat!!

 

Our first song is really a Chanukah song but fits our life every day. It’s all about the light shining forth from the simple act of candle lighting. Enjoy https://youtu.be/xfDoGqDkP50?si=qQAMhoJXBqAfch7I

 

Hanan Ben Ari sings about being a father, a parent. I just discovered this song and love it! https://youtu.be/gkmUhUw30Yg?si=8mvFn7PZO_JfiCbY

 

Finally, to honour Peter Yarrow z”l of Peter, Paul and Mary. Peter Yarrow passed away this week. He always expressed his love of Israel, indeed Zvi met him here, always supportive. If I Had a Hammer, written by Pete Seeger in the ‘60’s but oh so relevant today https://youtu.be/XxWTDcP9Y5E?si=-4J6n7168lc-7c1N

 

I wish you a Shabbat Shalom, a truly peaceful and contemplative weekend, whether it is Shabbat or the Sabbath day, whichever direction you pray, pray for peace and the return on the remaining 98 hostages before the number goes down.

 

With much love from our beautiful veranda overlooking Jerusalem,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024-2025 and North Face

 

3^rd January 2025

 

This one is going to be a short missive! Our sleep was disturbed by a Houthi missile, yes one of those big ones that travelled a vast distance. It was shot down somewhere near Modi’in but the entire area was woken up at 04:45 which is later than the usual sirens and included our Jerusalem area. The problem with 04:45 is that when you leave the safe room it’s hard to decide whether to go back to sleep or to start your day early! We chose to tuck up and grab a couple of hours, but of course we overslept and instead of my usual writing time of 06:30 it’s now after 9 and I have a meeting at 11. | hadn’t intended bothering you with my morning diary but, never mind. Here goes with the missive!!

 

Shabbat Shalom and a peaceful 10^th day of Christmas, The Twelve Days are 25 December to 5 January, counting first and last. The Octave, or Eighth Day, is New Year's Day and the Feast of the Circumcision, the day Jesus was circumcised according to the Jewish faith. The evening of the last day is Twelfth Night or Epiphany Eve, the next morning being Epiphany. I hope that I got all that right, but whatever happens I wish you a peaceful, blessed day.

 

Naomi Goldstein Yalin posted this excellent breakdown of War Summary, Day 454*

 

100 still held captive in Gaza.

37 hostages confirmed murdered, bodies held in Gaza.

117 living hostages rescued.

38 hostage bodies rescued.

1,794 Israelis killed.

397 fallen soldiers and police in the battle in Gaza.

87 fallen soldiers in Northern Israel.

14 fallen soldiers and police in Judea & Samaria.

30,675 estimated projectiles fired at Israel.

88,000 Israelis displaced from their homes.

1 Jewish nation united in prayer, charity, and good deeds.

 

The last statement, arguably the most important one, is what I intended writing about today, to give understanding of our life during this war.

 

For starters, after yet another missile attack from the far-off Houthis, using an advanced Iranian missile in an attempt to disrupt our lives, everyone went back to their daily routine this morning!

 

Israelis, or the vast majority of Israelis, are volunteers, be it IDF, picking crops in the South, crops that would that otherwise rot on the trees since the growers are either on Miluim or their workers are non-existent; cooking barbecues for soldiers when they come out of the war zone exhausted and traumatised or ensuring that they are warm and protected in very cold and wet conditions.

 

Starting 2025 with a wonderful act of kindness and care is very special. 

My grandson Yosef, went up north several times to visit friends who are in an active unit of the IDF, raising their morale and bringing them felafel. They were high up on the Golan heights in freezing cold conditions and even though their uniform was supposed to be sufficient, the unusually cold weather meant that they were really freezing. These young soldiers had to keep going in the damp, made worse by heavy rain and freezing temperatures.  On his return Yosef immediately spoke to his mother, my daughter Rachel, and they went about finding suitable jackets that could fit under the official uniform coats. 

 

Thanks to the kindness of many friends, we went and bought 25 of the 32 coats promised. The shopkeeper of the North Face store in the Mamilla Mall gave us a 30% discount and as soon as Rafael's "pluga" comes out for a break, Yosef and Rachel will travel to wherever they are to give the coats to them.

We can only pray that this kindness, this way of showing gratitude, will keep them safe and they can bring the hostages home.

 

While we were counting out the various sizes of the coats, a gentleman next to us, an American tourist, was buying a warm coat for himself. “What are you going to do with all those jackets” he asked. “They are for soldiers to keep them warm,” said Rachel. Then cheekily, after all she is my daughter, Rachel said “Do you want to buy one?” The gentleman jumped at the chance and immediately did so! We were so moved and forgot to get his name! If you hear that story from a delightful gentleman who was visiting Israel, please let us know because we want to thank him! Now we have to wait until Rafael, Yosef’s friend and his plugah come out for a break so that Rachel and Yosef can travel to give them their warm North Face coats.

 

I just heard from Harold and Rebecca Finger from Sydney who are here in Israel, volunteering in whatever way they are needed. Today they have been making food for a very special unit and then travelling down to the Gaza border so that the young soldiers have good food for Shabbat. This is Israel. This is Israel for the last 454 days.

 

There are some people who are more effective than others and then there are exceptional people who save the Jewish people, sometimes from themselves. One of those people, the exceptional ones, is Dr. Malcolm Hoenlein. On the 7^th of January, Malcolm will receive the Presidential Medal of Honour, never has there been one more worthy. Some of my best adventures over the last twenty five years were with Malcolm who gave me the honour of including me in some of his exceptional groups. We went to places no-one is allowed to go, including Jenin – meeting the then PM of the PA; we went down into the place with the tightest security in Israel, called “the bor”, the underground warren of Israeli intelligence, and many other places that he knew I wouldn’t ever tell you! I remember the groups brought to Israel, knowing full well that this was just the public face of a man who worked behind the scenes, often in the White House, the King of the American Jews with his heart in Israel. Thank you, Malcolm, we look forward to the ceremony.

 

It is my need to keep up with the news from media sources that one could reasonably call enemy reports. Al Jazeera, CNN, BBC, Sky, CBC and so many more report the devastation of Gaza but none talk about the reason, the killing and October the 7^th which started this whole ghastly war. Of curse Gaza is devastated, the tunnels built by Hamas are absolutely everywhere and incidentally, the hospital that was attacked this week, when the soldiers got in there many of the patients and most of the doctors were Hamas operatives because the ordinary people had escaped as per the warnings of the IDF. Lebanon was an entirely different situation, we stopped the Hezb-Allah’s clearly laid out plans to perform an October 7^th like massacre and take over northern Israel, Metulla and Kiriat Shmona. Lebanon is a different matter because a majority of the population is against Hezb-Allah, Iran and want to get back to a normal life, or be part of Israel. Gaza is different. The PM offered the Gazans $5 million for each hostage given up to Israel and nobody took the bait!! Gaza is guerilla war. Yes there is devastation but Hamas is still active and most of all the hostages, whoever is still alive, are still in horrific captivity. Until the hostages come home we cannot be whole again

 

The war is not only Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and of course the puppet masters in Iran, threats come from all over this crazy region. Soldiers of a special unit just found a colossal underground, Iranian arms factory in Syria which, thank heaven, they planted explosives, came out and blew the entire factory up. As you can imagine, the explosion was huge!

 

I said it would be a short missive and here I am going on much longer than I intended. Today was a quiet day and If I don’t hurry I won’t get to see Rachel and the children. Yosef was 20 two days ago! Zvi went to Shalva where he watched a basketball match then to his parliament and I have to get my voice in good tune so that I can sing Happy Birthday to my lovely daughter in law Stephanie in London. So I had better get on with songs!!

 

Exodus, not only the first part of our story, our exodus from Egypt, far more than that wonderful movie, but the theme song of that movie, written by Pat Boone, has the lyrics that say it all. Andre Rieu, genius maestro and huge supporter of Israel, in concert in Maastricht https://youtu.be/RDkYUfJPjE0?si=Ktd_XhA0yPeCb9Sr

 

Hanan Ben Ari is a highly popular Israeli singer, here he sings about his country, the country he will never abandon, he sings about Israel https://youtu.be/9wYEWx1291g?si=qQ1pQcjBxCzDBWuW

 

For the last song I decided to be selfish! This is my favourite song, a love song to Israel. Lalechet Shevi Achariech. When I first went to Ulpan (Hebrew language school) in Israel, in Ramat Poleg by the sea when it was just a few lone houses, whereas today it is a whole town, as part of our learning process we sang in Hebrew. I was in the choir and this was my solo. It really says it all. https://youtu.be/FQLU1a-rnGA?si=PgJnFw0Ajr1xdFrI

  

Shabbat Shalom to all of you, a peaceful Sabbath.

With much love from our veranda and the view of Jerusalem

Sheila

 

 

Santa, Shabbat and Seleucids

 

Friday the 27^th of December 2024

 

 

This year, with all its fears and tragedies has flown by and I think that there is no-one amongst us that will not heave a sigh of relief at its passing. Too many tears in a world that is changing beyond recognition, yet is all too familiar. I promise to get into the festive mood, although it would dishonour those lost and those who suffer if I do not mention the chaos, the lawless pandemonium that has taken to our streets and our homes.

 

So let me start with wishing you Shabbat Shalom, a blessed third day of Chanuka and a holy third day of the twelve days of Christmas. Above all I wish you a peaceful fourth day and every day that follows.

 

I’m sure that your news media hasn’t mentioned it but the residents of the Tel Aviv region have been woken, every night this week, at 02:30, 02:45, 03:00, woken from their sleep by the siren that tells them that yet another hyper-sonic ballistic missile is on its way from the Yemen. Of course both the USA and British armies are fighting the horrific Houthis based in Yemen, both from air and sea, but although they managed to prevent most piracy, the missiles keep coming ensuring that nights are disturbed and children terrified, in other words a typical “Milchemet Atasha” War of Attrition. Yesterday Israel fought back.

 

So far the IDF have identified and confiscated, in addition to those  destroyed over 85,000 arms, from rifles to huge missile stores, in addition to those destroyed in Lebanon. We also found detailed plans to cut of the north eastern corner of Israel, Metulla and Kiriat Shmona, home to tens of thousands of people of all races, and massacre them in the same manner as October 7^th.  Our soldiers, youngsters in the IDF, are fighting in the freezing cold of the Golan, of Lebanon and Syria, fighting terror cells, preventing further attacks from that once Christian country. Incredibly both the Christian and Druze communities in Lebanon  are asking Israel to take them in.

 

Yet again a Christmas market, epitome of joy and spirit, was attacked. This time in Magdeburg by a Saudi psychiatrist who hates Islam and apparently Christianity too. What a cruel and insane world we live in.

 

You have probably never heard of Hannah Katzir. Hannah was taken hostage on October 7^th, rescued but as a result of her 7 weeks of captivity she returned a sick woman. On her return she was told that Hamas had murdered her husband and her son had been taken into captivity. She never returned to her former self and this week Hannah, at the age of 78, died of a broken heart, she lost the will to live.

 

This week was the 85^th anniversary of the Kindertransport, the saving of thousands of children who were taken in by several countries but predominantly Britain. There are many stories, probably thousands but one such story is about the older boys and their experience in a school, hurriedly set up near the glorious Lake Windermere, in the Lake District. The harrowing and ultimately life-affirming story of Holocaust children who were relocated and rehabilitated in the UK after World War II. It began with uncertainty and fear in the new land, however it eventually led to the triumph of hope and goodwill and life-long friendship and happiness that they all cherish. A brilliant movie was made to tell their story. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_windermere_children

 

There were many heroes during the Holocaust, both Jews and diplomats who put their lives on the line to save children. One such hero was Nicholas Winton, who didn’t even tell his wife of his heroism, he felt it was the duty of a moral man. His story and the story of those he saved was recorded and broadcast by Esther Rantzen who succeeded in surprising Nicholas Winton at the end of the programme with a studio full of those he saved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqqbM1B-mPY&t=2s

 

Chanuka is a story of heroes, of those who refused to accept oppression and fought back against a huge empire, the Seleucid Empire. The Seleucid army was vast with a determination to overtake Jerusalem and for that matter, Judaism. Under Seleucid King Antiochus IV internal strife and external force culminated in an attempt to suspend the Torah and to convert Jerusalem into a Hellenistic polis (renamed "Antioch in Judaea"). This led to the first religious persecutions in recorded history. Although they killed Jews, their prime aim was to take away our religious rites, to deny Brit Mila, Shabbat, Torah, the dietary laws, in fact to stop us being Jews and adopt the Greek, Hellenistic way of life (does that sound familiar?).

One family that lived near Jerusalem gathered strength and fought. The Maccabees, led by the son Yehuda (Judah Maccabee), gathered a tiny army and fought the Hellenists and ultimately succeeded in saving Judaism! So if you thought that Chanukah is just about the miracle of oil lasting eight days and sufganiyot (doughnuts) think again. Chanukah is about the battle for the right to be a Jew.

 

It reminds me of those who think that Christmas is all about twinkling lights and decorated pine trees, and both festivals are all about spending much more than you can afford on gifts for children who really don’t need them. Neither festival is about presents it is about presence, about understanding who you are and the values that both festivals encompass. When a Roman (in the first century BCE) taunted Rabbi Hillel “Teach me Judaism while standing on one foot.” Rabbi Hillel responded, “No problem” and went on to say these words “That which is hateful unto you, do not do unto your friend, the rest is commentary, go forth and learn.”

 

If you thought that the story of the Moslem Santa in Jerusalem that I told you last week, was funny, think about this one, Rick Rosenthal, a traditional Jew is a Santa in Chicago!! https://youtu.be/wG8oIPp771c?si=T6-ntwnT5KVxzZuB

 

This week was the 5^th anniversary of my son Daniel’s accident. My decision to honour the day by taking five of the most important friends who are in Israel, to visit Shalva, to eat a fabulous meal in the Shalva Restaurant ( by the way, the Food Truck on the lawn outside the building is not only highly successful but has the best pastries (made on site) and delicious coffee well worth a visit). Linda, Rachel, Abby, Poodle, my Rachel and I had a wonderful time reminiscing about their time in Carmel College with Daniel, doing exactly what he would have wanted, laughing and giggling about the antics and how the amazing Alex achieved the name Poodle! After lunch we were met by the lovely Sarah, daughter of Kalman and Malki Samuels and sister of Yossi (among others) who took us to see the video of the founding and purpose of Shalva and then we went to Dr. Dan’s Room, the studio for the performing arts that, with the help of a multitude of fabulous friends, we created for the children to have fun. After Sarah left us there we all become very emotional and the stories were very much Daniel based. Tears were shed, arms were opened to hug, and we all felt that not only was this room a suitable tribute to Daniel, that he would have loved it and that deep and lasting friendship was the balm for grief.

 

As we were leaving Shalva, after buying Kalman’s book of the journey to Shalva, we saw Kalman with two men. One, Yoav Engel who is the director of sport in Shalva, and Jon Goldberg Polin. Yoav whose son Ofir was taken hostage and rescued, now tours the world telling his story, and Jon, husband of Rachel, whose son Hersh was taken hostage and held in cruel conditions for a whole year and then executed in captivity. What can one say to a man who has been through hell with such dignity? Linda found the words, telling him that she had met Rachel, his wife and they had hugged. Unbearable tragedy.

 

Last night we went to a wedding in the most glorious wedding hall I have seen in a long time. The décor was breathtaking, the view over the whole of Jerusalem phenomenal, the food delicious (no boiled chicken in sight) and best of all, the bride and groom and their wedding service under the canopy was superb. It was elegant, very Jewish, simply perfect – and the dancing was insane as it should be with all the youngsters on the dance floor! I admit to doing my best to join in, although on the sidelines. Zvi, of course was right in the middle having fun!

 

Today the sun is shining, there is a nip in the air, but it is just the weather for a walk. Admittedly I am not going far, but just walking around our project (I am not sure what the right word to describe our wonderful group of homes is in English), through the walking paths, beside the children’s play areas, the outdoor gym and the large flower beds. What a privilege to live in such a beautiful place surrounded by trees with the village hall and the village library just a couple of hundred metres along the path. I love the hellos and hugs I receive along the way, enjoying the interruptions of my determined if slow exercise. When I finish writing I will set my mind to Shabbat Dinner. Tonight the candle-lighting will be preceded by lighting the Chanuka candles. We have a collection of Chanukiot (A Menorah is just seven arms whereas a Chanukiah has nine) and I love choosing which one we use tonight. By the time I finish lighting the Chanukah Candles and then the Shabbat candles I feel that the world is lighter, that the light of the candles lights the world and if we all lit candles, gosh, we may just bring some light into this confused world.

 

Tomorrow, we celebrate the 80^th birthday of our in-law, Mechutan, Yossi Shiloach, a scientist who after his retirement established a herb farm in Sinai. Yossi, who lives on the Golan where he established a second organic herb farm, drives to Sinai to tend his farm and visit his agricultural partners, come war and Covid. An exceptional man indeed

 

The choice of songs was not easy, but choose I did. I think I gave you this one last year but it is worth repeating. Tom Jones, reading Dylan Thomas with the world famous Treorchy Male Voice Choir and a Children’s Christmas in Wales. https://youtu.be/tfDnCYN015c?si=yDeVFTm-CYiFuNOu  

 

When an Orthodox Christian Arab and a Kibbutznik orphan of October 7^th get together to sing a song in their bid to sing for Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, magic happens. Two glorious voices, two beautiful young people as Valerie Hamaty and Daniel Weiss join magical forces to sing the original words of Hurricane. I cannot listen without tears running down my face. https://youtu.be/tfDnCYN015c?si=yDeVFTm-CYiFuNOu

 

When we light the Chanuka candles, adding one each of the eight days of Chanukah, we say special prayers. The blessing over candle lighting, a blessing thanking the Almighty for helping us to defeat our enemies all those years ago and then we sing Maoz Tzur, a traditional song telling the story of Chanuka. I particularly like this rendition, simple, no frills, a man and his guitar sitting in a field next to the town of Maccabim, right where Judah and his family lived. https://youtu.be/GbpCV5MttH4?si=46zYXhF7BrTTvM9m

 

Whatever your festival I wish you blessings and joy. It is up to us to fight hatred, each in their own way. Judah Maccabee chose physical fighting but we can do it differently (we have the IDF to fight our enemies on the ground). We can stand proud, refuse to give up our traditions, speak out and most of all do not fear a cruel enemy, stand up to him with whatever you have.

 

Me? I choose teaching love, taking hatred out of the menu of possibilities in children’s schooling, but you already know of the amazing work of the Impact-se team.

 

May God bless you and keep you safe from harm.

With love from Jerusalem

Sheila