Kippurim

 

10^th October, 2024

 

 

This week I wish you a good year, Shabbat Shalom, kind thoughts and a Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) of contemplation and accepting responsibility for our own mistakes.

 

When my children were small, I was a Cheder (Sunday school) teacher in the beautiful Reading Synagogue. Reading, Berkshire that is. It wasn’t an easy class, partly because I knew all the children and their parents and partly because they were from homes of a diverse level of beliefs, but I loved them all, knowing that at 10 and 11 years old, their minds were open to learning as at no other time. I think I managed to get most of my thoughts across to them.  I wanted them to learn and then choose for themselves, to make an educated choice.

 

When it came close to Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, I changed my tack, doing my best to explain to them that although one can atone for virtually every sin in the book, along with a solemn promise to change and do better, there is one sin that the Almighty will not forgive and that is if you publicly embarrass another person. That is the sin that one must ask forgiveness from the person you have insulted, embarrassed or shamed publicly, from idle chit-chat to malicious gossip. It is so clever! In fact it is even cleverer than simply asking for forgiveness because if you ask for forgiveness three times and the other party says no, does not accept your plea, the sin reverts to them.

 

Could, or should this be applied to countries as well as individuals? The lies told about Israel every single day, nay, every single hour, are heinous crimes inducing dire results. Those very lies have changed the lives of each and every one of us and become more ludicrous and dangerous by the minute. The news media, bought to a large extent by Qatari money, has exacerbated the situation, perpetrated half truths which is absorbed by a thoughtless public. Perhaps the greatest sin is the twisted memory of the media who lap up the stories of destruction yet forget how it started, with the slaughter, rape, dismembering, torture and kidnap of good folk, irrespective of their race, creed or colour. It was lies taught every single day that turned men into savages capable of what they saw as revenge.

 

It is those lies that have turned every synagogue into a fortress and caused Jews throughout the world to take their mezuzot from their doorposts and the skullcaps off their heads. It is those lies, carefully orchestrated that have instilled existential fear into the hearts of Jews everywhere.

 

Nominations brought before the Nobel Prize Committee are presented by former recipients and one of those has nominated UNWRA for the Nobel Peace Prize! Surely the ultimate insult, taking that austere organisation to its lowest level ever – well almost the worst - Adolf Hitler and Stalin (twice) were nominated and Yassir Arafat actually received one! The lies told every day in the United Nations, which is the mouthpiece for calumny of the most vicious nature, most definitely fit the criteria for atonement.

 

This new year, the days after Rosh Hashana, should have been days of quiet contemplation and prayer, but it is a quagmire of killing, missiles, rockets, terror attacks and hatred. Hezb-Allah (not Lebanon), Hamas, Yemen, Iran, Syria and endless others have fired rockets and launched missiles at this tiny piece of land. Soldiers have died in a war we don’t want and never wanted, children have become orphans; wives widows and husbands widowers; parents mourn their children and the number of severely injured is enormous. Missiles hitting towns like Maalot, Rosh Hanikra, Nahariya, Carmiel, Haifa, and yesterday a deadly terrorist attack in Hadera. After many years the farms and towns along the south of Israel is much quieter whereas the north has become the target. This is a hard war but a just one.

 

All of the above is true, but Israel has some staunch allies; not only the Moslem countries of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain who have banned any public support for Hamas, but a world wide expression of support from our greatest allies, the Christian Community. Their unwavering support for Israel, a support which comes from a sense of right and wrong, helps us to breathe, makes us feel that there is hope. I don’t need to thank you because it is logical that those with similar moral beliefs will stand together. I should not forget our steadfast Moslem friends too, those who stand up and speak out at great risk to their lives from their own people.

 

Since the internet has proven its ability to divide, to induce hate, let’s turn it into a tool for unity. If millions are convinced of lies they can be taught truth! Use their inability to think for themselves, to be convinced by cant, to our advantage. Not to lecture the truth but to learn how to talk their talk. It is not logical that we are so fearful of teenage TikTok-ers etc that we don’t fight back with simple truth in a manner that they connect to.

 

This past year the people of Israel have shone almost everyone taking on a role of helping others. Some in a dramatic role some of us just by talking to those who need support. From the first ghastly moments Moslem and Jew showed their true mettle, many going back into the line of fire to save young people at the Nova Music Festival. Several of them were honoured in a ceremony this week. People like Oz Davidian who left his family in their safe room and went back 15 times to save people running on the road. Noam Bonfeld, left his young family, sped south and with just a small hand-gun fought off dozens of terrorists calling his unit into action too. Rabbi Betzalel Heller, reported to his unit on October 7th, and minus a few short breaks, has been away from home fighting in the north and in Gaza for the 11 months since. Youssef Ziadna, A Moslem Bedouin, received a call for help from a young client, Amit, took his van to find her and soon found himself dodging bullets from all directions but it didn’t stop him. Youssef located Amit, and filled his 14-seater with 26 people, before driving them off-road to safety in Kibbutz Tze’elim. The list of heroes is long, includes every soldier, every young wife left behind caring for their family for months on end never knowing if their husband, father, will come home. We owe them huge debt of gratitude.

 

Strangely enough, as I have told you before, in the Jerusalem area, physically, life goes on although psychologically we are deeply aware of our situation. Watching Israeli television is somewhat surreal in that one can be watching a comedy programme but on the right of the screen there may well be a long list of villages, towns and cities which are under “Code Red”, incoming missiles, rockets or drones. We go to the supermarket and the theatre, the cinema and restaurants, but always with safety at the back of our minds. I have a special app on my phone which will give the “Red Alert” should we need to know. In truth I have only heard it on one occasion, last weeks Iranian onslaught of ballistic missiles.

 

Enough! Back to the reason I wrote to you today, atonement. I received a large number of greetings, wishing us well over the fast and that we should be enscribed in the book of life. Beautiful messages although, in my opinion, it isn’t really the book of life, it is the “good” book, that the Almighty recognises that we are deserving of praise for the past year. It is a complicated day, Yom Kippur. Complicated and yet so simple. It’s a day over which we have complete control, either be good, be a mensch, live a good life caring for others, or don’t. There are those who fast without praying and those who pray without fasting, and it really doesn’t matter. The streets of Israel become silent, no cars, only the shouts of glee of children who whoop down hills on their bicycles, taking advantage of the freedom of empty highways. Unfortunately that also means that the ambulance service is extra busy caring for broken bones! The silence is special, not an eerie silence but a warm, all encompassing silence. We tend to go to the synagogue nearby, in Mevasseret, something of a climb but it feels good to hear familiar prayers and after the Kol Nidre service which takes place on the eve of Yom Kippur, we join the hundreds of people “shpatzeering” walking, chatting, greeting and meeting along the main road as we walk home down the famous twists and turns of the Seven Sisters road, the old road to Jerusalem.

 

And now for my words, my atonement, from my heart.

 

To those I have wronged, I ask forgiveness

To those I may have helped I wish I had done more

To those I have neglected to help I ask understanding

To those I who helped me I give sincere thanks

 

Tamir Grinberg is an Israeli singer who sings of the prayer on all our hearts to bring the hostages home, to finally know that some have survived and that the families can bury those who were killed. Bring You Home https://youtu.be/wOVTFlTkwDs?si=a_Ur4tngkcnMd_I1

 

Carrine Bassilli is a young Lebanese singer, openly, and widely criticised, for her support of Israel. She chose to sing the Israeli Eurovision song “Hurricane” in Arabic and in the near future intends working closely with Eden Golan who bravely sang the song in Sweden. These are not the changed words that the Eurovision committee demanded these are the original, heart-rending words of the song.  Read the comments below, they are as important as the song.    https://youtu.be/lJlX8kwnAHU?si=t0uOCsr1hGJxK9mX

 

The Eve of the Day of Atonement (Erev Yom haKippurim) begins with a prayer, orison, plea to the Almighty to give us new beginnings. The beautiful, emotive rendition by Rabbi Azi Schwartz was probably not recorded on Yom Kippur, when we are not allowed to do so, but I loved his voice  https://youtu.be/5tJ_O1g9zNM?si=Xld8fzM9PePLXsSi

 

Another year, another war, another challenge but we have survived worse. We have to stand proud, proud of who and what we are. It is irrelevant if we are Christian, Jew, Moslem, Hindi, we are people who cherish our freedom, gosh what a misused word, and must unite. 

 

I wish you peace, I wish you freedom, I wish you the ability to show the world how good people behave.

 

Shabbat Shalom, Chag Sameach and of course G’mar Chatima Tova – May you be enscribed in the Good Book and know only kindness.

 

Pray for our hostages, those who came home but still suffer horrific nightmares, for those still in captivity, the bodies of those already slaughtered and of course for our soldiers, each and every one a hero. Bring them home.

 

With love

Sheila

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blitzkrieg

 

2^nd October 2024

 

I wish you a Shana Tova, a good year, but first let me tell you about last night.

 

It was, without doubt, a blitzkrieg. Blitzkrieg, a swift and violent military offensive with intensive aerial bombardment and this time it didn’t come from Lebanon, Gaza, Syria or Yemen, it came directly from Teheran.

 

It is a miracle that there were no deaths (not in the blitzkrieg anyway) and the reason is the inventor of the Iron Dome, Brigadier General, (Ret), Dr Danny Gold. When he came up with the idea of a defence system against even ballistic missiles, the powers that be in the IDF  and government, thought he was crazy. Nonetheless, the development continued and the Iron Dome saved thousands of lives yesterday and for the last years of constant bombardment. Danny thank you for saving my life and the lives of my loved ones. You are a true hero.

 

Interestingly, although there were no deaths in Israel, there was one Palestinian killed in Jericho and 5 Iranian Revolutionary Guards who died when their missile backfired.

 

Just before the constant sirens and explosions began, two terrorists shot and killed 7 people, injuring many more, at a light rail station in Jaffa. Such tragedy. Nobody, not one of those killed or injured, meant harm to anyone, they just wanted to go home. Such hatred. Such hatred inculcated through education for decades. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-822839

 

Iron dome and the accessibility of either safe rooms or bomb shelters is how we, as a country, spend our money. Not on terror tunnels and not on planning attacks, we spend our money on saving lives and on defence. So let me explain what happened yesterday.

 

Two men from our neighborhood came for a meeting and one of them, Itzik, told me that he lives in the next building and enjoys overlooking our veranda and noticed how hard I work to keep it beautiful, normal conversation; then our incredible friend Hannah, a magical reflexologist, popped in to help ease the terrible pain Zvi had in his neck. No sooner did Hannah walk in the door when the first warning came over the television and my phone warned us to go into the safe room. I have an app that ensures that we hear the siren and any warnings in our immediate area. We immediately went into our safe room, securely closing the strong metal door and ensuring that the metal cover was in place over the window, that the air filtration unit and the A/C were working and the emergency light was switched to on. Our safe room doubles as our office, indeed that’s where I am sitting now. The internet remained the main source of information and we were able to watch the television news on our computers. I have a supply of food, drinks and medicines, not a huge amount but enough should we need it (plenty of Coke Zero for Zvi), and reading matter on the shelves! There was no panic, despite the constant sirens and booms, mainly because we were confident that the booms were caused by Iron Dome shooting down the ballistic missiles. We stayed until the all clear was given and came out to continue our evening. Zvi received his treatment and I made supper………. Such is life in the fast lane! We didn’t lose phone, internet or cell phone contact for one minute, talking to and writing to family both here and abroad. The WhatsApps from our local council were constant, checking that we were all abiding by the rules and if anyone needed help….

 

Both USA and UK forces played a part in “downing” the missiles which gives us heart in a world that seems to have turned on its head against us. Both have ships, aircraft carriers, in the vicinity should we need them.

 

Please, please can I get back to our hopes and prayers for Rosh Hashanah and forget about Haman, aka Khomeini, Khamenei and all the others – and think about our prayers and thoughts for a better future for our children and grandchildren.

 

I woke up this morning to another glorious sunrise. The view from our veranda is spectacular, over the Jerusalem Hills to Jerusalem, sparkling in the morning sun. As I do every morning, I sat at the table to eat my breakfast, read the papers and absorb my surroundings, enjoying the flowers and trees that indicate our future, the fruits ripening, the flowers blooming, life around us continuing as if yesterday didn’t happen, but it did.   The view from our veranda gives me hope, makes me confident that we are here to stay. Our greatest danger is not Iran, our greatest danger is internecine fighting. So, in this short missive I have only one prayer for the coming year. We must learn to live together, to accept our differences, to support this amazing country and to be prepared to pay our huge debt to this exceptional society, by defending Israel in whatever way we need. Nobody, but nobody can stand by and watch Jerusalem burn.

 

So many of you wrote and called us last night, simple phone calls and messages, that warmed our hearts. That’s why I wrote now, to let you know what is happening and that thank heaven we are safe and sane.

 

Only one song today, one song that tells our story above all others. Am Yisrael Chai!! https://youtu.be/2p3rtnQ_7y4?si=ZcovUWh_M0a-i_zs

 

Shana Tova, stay strong, stay united and never ever despair. We are strong together.

Sheila

 

356

 27^th of September 2024

 

Shabbat shalom to everyone, each and every one of you. Perhaps the greeting Shalom has deeper meaning now than almost any time in our history.

 

I thought about writing a tirade about the farce playing out in the current session of the United Nations, but it has become boring, not worth the time it would take to describe the lack of credibility, the inanity of the speeches and the voices that are given a microphone to express their lies and calumny toward this tiny, really tiny, stretch of land. Josep Borell is a disgrace and when the Palestinian Authority Chairman/President Mahmoud Abbas, the representative of a non-existent country, stands before the plenum and declares that Israel should be stripped of her membership, I believe that the UN reached the end of its useful life.

 

Time and again we hear that our war is with Lebanon, but that is not true. I have been reading about the Hezb-Allah take over of that once beautiful, free, Christian country. It makes fascinating reading. Not only the assassination of Prime Minister Hariri but the gradual insertion of the extremists into the Lebanese government. The agreement was to split the Premiership, that is Prime Minister and Presidency, between the Christian sector and the Hezb-Allah and Shia Moslem sector to make for even handed governance. Nasrallah has been the leader of Hezb-Allah since 1992 and it is their growing presence in southern Lebanon that has time and again created conflict. Why? Hezb-Allah is Shia Moslem and has the unwavering support of Iran, inn fact, their policy and arsenal come directly from Iran. We do not, I repeat, do not have a war with the people of Lebanon, unlike Gaza, there is a firm and strong opposition to Iran and her proxies within the country as both the Christian (who want their country back) and Lebanese Druze are against the conflict. Because this is the Middle East, it is complicated but I hope it has helped you a little bit.

 

I’m sure you have heard that Hezb-Allah has a huge arsenal provided by Iran, nothing new in that but this week we found out, predominantly through the Israeli media and the IDF, that they built huge homes, luxurious home with pools and hot tubs in the manicured gardens, installed families in those homes, but with a twist. Each family that moved into that home had a large space on the top floor in which, wait for it, there was a cruise missile! Seriously, families with children living in specially built launch pads for cruise missiles aimed at Israeli towns and villages, capable of reaching Tel Aviv and the South. Unbelievable.

 

The pinpoint killing of Hezb-Allah leaders shows the accuracy of our Air Force as one sees a specific apartment in a large building is the only one damaged. Among those targetted this week, Ibrahim Awil who was responsible for the 1983 bombing of US embassy in Beirut in which 63 people died including 17 Americans. If you thought that we, Israel is the only target for these killers, you are wrong. We are the excuse, you are the target.

 

Did you know that the Mossad, that much maligned Israeli security service whose name translates as the “organisation”, succeeded in preventing no less than 50 major incidents worldwide, attacks on Jews and Jewish communities? Well, they did!

 

Hannah Arendt was one of the most influential political commentators of the 20^th century. I quote

This constant lying is not aimed at making the people believe a lie, but at ensuring that no one believes anything anymore. A people that can no longer distinguish between truth and lies cannot distinguish between right and wrong. And such a people, deprived of the power to think and judge, is, without knowing and willing it, completely subjected to the rule of lies. With such a people, you can do whatever you want." 

 

It is almost a year since the tragedy, the massacre at the Nova Festival and the farming communities of the South of Israel by drug and religion crazed Hamas terrorists who laughed and sneered as they committed unbearable savagery. The National Library of Israel has created a visual exhibit of each and every one of those killed to make sure that each has a name and a face. https://www.nli.org.il/website/VIDEO4K_3840X2160_SIFIRIA_MEMORIAL%20SLIDSHOW_23_9_EN.mp4 

 

356 days. Almost one year, and there are still hostages in dire conditions, barely surviving if at all. 356 days since they have seen the light of day. Why were 1,200+ terrorists freed for one soldier, which resulted in October 7^th, but none for 101 human beings?

 

Rabbi Jeremy Rosen so often expresses my/our thoughts in his posts. This is just one thought that has been going through the minds of even the most pious of Jews over the last year

“There is a well-known story of The Court Assembled to Judge God in Auschwitz. A story attributed to several different sources and locations and maybe myths, but powerful, nevertheless. It was assembled to judge God for what was happening around them at that moment of humanity’s utter shame. They found God guilty for what was happening to the Jewish people. But having done that, they all got up and went to pray the afternoon prayer. “ https://jeremyrosen.com/2024/09/should-god-atone-too.html  

 

I’m sure it’s an age thing but I had never heard of Montana Tucker, but now that I have I will follow her. Here she stands together with Loay Alshareef carrying signs calling for peace and understanding. Sounds like all the others. Just watch this and I promise you will be surprised. Both Montana and Loay are polite and thoughtful. https://youtu.be/ZuxesbLMkvY?si=vZ2sMBU9zXGMuGK2

 

Today Zvi went to his granddaughter Ella’s school to tell her class about the invention of his father, the exceptional Kalman Raviv. Kalman was a sports teacher in Jerusalem and he used to take the children for a run in the mornings but was concerned about the traffic, even in 1950! He had the idea to place the older children at all the crossroads on their route, with sticks in their hands to stop the passing traffic and let the children pass by. So it was and it became the “Mishmeret ha Zahav” all over the country, 3 years before the legendary Lollipop Ladies of Britain and 4 years before crossing policemen in the States. Apparently the usually somewhat verbal class sat in rapt attention at the story and even requested a photograph with Zvi at the end!!! It’s a fascinating story and I am happy to send it to those who request.

 

I had so many thoughts I wanted to express today. How I sit on our veranda and life in our area continues in its natural pastoral manner while our friends in Haifa, Timrat, Khawaldi, Daliyat al Carmel, are being bombed in a constant terrifying manner, but something happened today that changed my thoughts and direction. My dear, dear friend, Saville Martin Myers, aka my children’s Uncle Mart, passed away in the night. I am grateful that I got to see him while I was in London and we talked about being family, our children more like siblings than friends and his wonderful wife Valerie, Val, was my closest friend, and always will be. Ever hopeful, ever kind, Martin z”l was the epitome of friendship, always ready with a smile and a kind word, which made me think about what that word, friendship, means. I am unbearably sad, finding it hard to write about him in the past tense but grateful that my memories, every memory, is sweet. My heart goes out to my amazing friend Valerie, to their boys Gary and Julian and families, and the wish I could be there to hug them all, although that would hardly take away their pain.

 

Friendship means support without judgement, standing up for your friends when they are attacked, either verbally or physically, in fact just being there whenever you are needed. Friendship is a smile; friendship is listening; friendship is caring; friendship whether for a person or for a people, is caring enough to find out what they need and fight against bullying, lies and calumny. Friendship goes both ways, something many forget.

 

Valerie, Martin and our family spent our High Holidays together. In fact we saw each other virtually every day and cooked together for every festival, bar mitzva and synagogue event. So when I think about Rosh Hashanah, which begins on Wednesday night, I think of the joy of being our family.

 

I must concentrate on what I wish you, what I wish our upside down world, this Head of the Year, this time of contemplation, contrition, repentance and absolution. What does it really mean in our everyday lives? When we say the Selichot (forgiveness) prayers do we suddenly become a forgiving, generous person or do we have to work at it?  As we reach the Day or Atonement (Yom Kippur) is it like entering the confessional and a priest giving us a task to clear our souls of sin? Actually no, we are only forgiven our sins if we truly repent and change. It’s a bit like a promise that we make without thinking about its consequences and then choose to forget to fulfil. While Rosh Hashanah is joyous, we are constantly reminded, in the service, of our duty to be a better person. So here goes, my wish for you.

 

I wish you patience with those who are less quick, less able

I wish you kindness, to those who differ and those who disagree

I wish you a world where listening is equal to speaking

I wish you the ability to dispense love, because it is far more effective than any drugs

I wish our world a greater understanding of what is important; for our youth to realise that Tik Tok isn’t real life; that just because someone is popular it doesn’t make them right.

That dissent be replaced by unity, especially between the different sectors within our own faiths

That we learn to be brave and ensure that the world knows that we are proud of who we are and where we come from.

Indeed, I wish you peace of mind and leaders who will bind us, unite us, teach us how to behave and not cause greater divisions which embolden our enemies.

If you want to add some good thoughts please do, I am always ready to receive your thoughts.

 

Leonard Cohen was a proud Jew and his love of Israel was apparent. He wrote lyrics for Rosh Hashanah to the music of the Sound of Silence https://youtu.be/5u_0EvgQYp4?si=bTPCnDaX_T0Q41YF

 

B’Shana ha Baah, In the coming year. Hopeful, upbeat, something we need so much. The Maccabeats with one of my favourite songs https://youtu.be/5WsWouCsbaQ?si=LJ3galwBFYZmy-Ap

 

Harel Ska’at sang this song in the Israeli song contest. It isn’t new, it is a love song to our beautiful land, our Israel. Hineini kan, I am here. https://youtu.be/RtisIZhaiag?si=ap25H2vlsZGa8V7H

 

Shabbat shalom dear wonderful friends. Shabbat Shalom in the true sense of the words, Shalom Aleichem, Alsalam Alaykum, la paz sea contigo, la paix soit avec vous,  may peace be with you.

 

With love from Jerusalem, the centre of our world.

 

Sheila and of course Zvi who returned from Mexico where he met all his family and old friends 

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If the media does not inform us we must inform the media

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

Facebook      Sheila Silver Raviv
Involvement   http://www.impact-se.org/ 

Back to Jerusalem

 

6^th of September 2024

 

Shabbat Shalom to one and all

 

I’m back and want to thank all of you who wrote asking where I was last week.

 

I had a truly wonderful trip to the UK, managing to spend time with loved ones, both family and friends, to catch up on both good and bad news and of course to answer the myriad of questions about Israel.

 

Last week I understood you. Last week I felt what you feel being so far away when tragedy hits. As the news spread about the 6 hostages who were murdered just moment before the IDF reached the tunnel in which they were held, I felt that all I wanted was to get on the first plane home. There is a sense of needing to be together, even though everyone around me had the same sense of dismay and deep sadness, somehow being here in Israel one is surrounded by others who understand, have been to the demonstrations, walked in Hostage Square, spoken to the families, probably a sense of family. Don’t get me wrong, my family and friends in the UK are totally involved and aware, read up on every word in the news, feel deeply about the last year (yes nearly a year) but even so, being here is different.

 

One experience that stands out in my mind took place on a Great Western Railway train to Cardiff. I was very happy to find that my booked seat was right near the gate, at the rear of the train, and plonked myself down next to my fellow passenger. Looking to my left I saw a young man, tattooed from head to toe, as his short trousers attested, a nose ring completed the picture. As we arrived in Bath most of the passengers disembarked and I moved to an empty seat opposite. I can’t remember why we started talking, but we did, and what a surprise. He told me that he lived outside Cardiff, my home town and the destination of the said train, and asked where I lived. I told him and he immediately perked up and asked so many relevant questions, basically saying how he had never believed the one-sided BBC version of the news! It was an eye opener on every level, particularly “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”. I was to find that attitude from virtually everyone I met, including Moslems. I fact the El Al ground staff at Luton airport wore Hijabs! But I digress!!

 

If I may, I want to go back to the murdered hostages, the most recent of too many. Perhaps because his mother, the incredible Rachel Goldberg-Polin, spoke so clearly in English, was able to take the international stage, we were all familiar with her son Hersh z”l. Hersh became symbolic for anyone with a heart as his face came up on newscasts all over the world and then, moments before freedom, obviously bruised and battered, pale from almost a year of captivity in a dark tunnel he was, no, they were cruelly murdered.  Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat, and Almog Sarusi  (you can find out about each one by clicking on their names)  The Israeli response was clear in the subsequent demonstration in Kaplan Square in Tel Aviv as an estimated 600,000+ poured into the area, carrying Israeli flags and photographs of the hostages.

 

Rachel and Jon Goldberg Polin spoke at Hersh’s funeral. As one who lost a son, my beautiful Daniel, I felt every single word that she uttered with the same level of strength that she has shown for the 330 days of hope https://youtu.be/YoSxbKzvIxA?si=FZXFcAYIcEWo8lUK  

 

The sympathy from the news media is short lived, as it was following the horrors of October 7^th, and it set me thinking why. They know only too well that Hamas/Hezb-Allah/ISIS/Islamic Jihad are bad people, really bad people, in fact theocratic villains, yet still continue to tell half truths making Israel the bad guy. My thought process took me to the story of David and Goliath. There's David, little shepherd boy, who rises to the challenge from a big huge bully. They chose the site for the meet and Goliath, confident of his brawn and stature, struts onto the field while David, shepherd boy and poet, takes the time to find the perfect round stones for his little catapult. They meet and David, the young underdog, swings the catapult around his head aiming carefully, and the stone finds its mark on Goliath's temple; the huge man crumpled and fell to his death. The shepherd boy went on to be a great king, lover and poet whose writings would be ready every day until now, by Jews and Christians around the world. The comparison, the moral of the story is clear but David is not the hero any more, for some reason, Goliath is the hero of the story. The enormity of the extreme Islamic countries (predominantly Iran) and the duel between the giant and the shepherd boy is the story of Israel.

 

As you know I try not to be too political, democracy has its faults, but it must be said nonetheless. The leaders of all branches of the IDF have said, time and again, that while the Philadelphi Corridor is of utmost importance, it can wait. It can wait for the eyes of the world to be on another war, another mass slaughter. We have missed so many chances to retrieve our hostages but this government is stuck in the determination to win. Nobody wins wars, everyone suffers in war, both the aggressor and the defender, in all wars. Let’s face it even in WW2, more than 500,000 people died in the British bombing of Dresden and other German cities. When asked why he attacked cities rather than military instillations, Churchill responded with one word “Coventry” which was the worst hit, nay destroyed, by the Luftwaffe. Again I digress, the point being that this government has made too many tactical mistakes, has not paid heed to the military leaders has never taken blame and has lost its moral compass. We do not have a Churchill and I fear that the Churchill brilliance is lost, he has no equal in today’s world, no leader brave enough to risk his political career by taking the high road, building the moral of his people as they spent long days in shelters and the underground as the Germans bombed many British towns To win a war, one must not only have definite strategic plans but must make your own people believe that you are capable of keeping them safe. Enough said.

 

335 days, 335 emotionally exhausting, confused and helpless days. We have a strong democracy, fantastic people who have risen to the call for volunteers, both in the IDF and in everyday life, given of themselves where the government has failed, but 335 days of deep emotional stress is too long, too much and proven that democracy doesn’t always work. Back to Winston Spencer Churchill who said “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others” Democracy has nothing to do with elections, it has to do with the personal freedom and security. The Ayatollahs and Hitler were elected!!!

 

Qanta Ahmed, a British/American physician, a Moslem, writes a blog, this one in the Times of Israel, a blog that expresses so much of what we feel. https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/islamisms-assault-on-israel-is-a-crime-against-all-of-humanity/

 

Of course I loved being with family and friends, too many to mention, and the walks around the Cyncoed Reservoir with my beautiful big sister Doreen who can walk faster than anyone I know and was thrilled when I kept up! Of course it was so wonderful to enjoy the glorious weather, the green green grass of home (yeah Tom Jones); the hugs, stories and the reminiscing of old times; loving my grandchildren from NYC and London; having Olivia do my fingernails and hearing about her and Zackary’s first day back at school; watching four of them (Olivia, Joshua, Zachary and Callie)racing around playing sardines or splashing each other in “Olivia’s Folly” a big put-you-up pool and just being family.

 

Announcing that I love El Al elicited disdain from many but I do! I love being greeted by “Shalom, brucha ha baah” Shalom and welcome, as I step onto the plane, I love knowing that El Al will keep flying even in the most extreme circumstances for Israel and………. Wait, let me explain. Rachel and I flew to the UK the afternoon after the huge Hezb-Allah barrage on the north of Israel and our response. Would we fly? Yes. Were we scared? No. On our arrival in the UK we found that that night Rachel’s daughter Ayala went to a huge open air concert in the Sultan’s Pool in Jerusalem that very night! While the world was running away from us, we knew that our IDF was taking care of things! I suppose that day was the epitome of Israeli life – existential danger in the early hours of the morning and young people dancing on the stones of Jerusalem in the night!!!

 

Many of you have asked how you can help, which organisations support the survivors, the injured and their families and the families of those murdered through terror and although there are many, there is one which was founded by a Canadian/Israeli couple, https://onefamilyfundus.org/  Marc and Chantal Belzberg. One Family has been supporting and helping all of the above since the second Intifada and their warmth and love extended to those families is unmatched.

 

I’m home and very happy to be home, but one foot is still in the UK with the family and dear friends. So I will quit while I’m ahead and go for music!

A song of hope, an Israeli song of hope with Jews and Moslems singing together about what binds us https://youtu.be/5d_i2F2LlF8?si=liKMi35nnexYkgAb

 

Yavo Shalom Aleinu – This video has no translation but the meaning is simple, “Peace will come to us, to all of us. Shalom to us and to the whole world” Moshe ben Ari wrote it and sings for us https://youtu.be/L4Uzxn0lV6g?si=cu2n0Yf94hd9bYmo

 

David Broza is one of my favourite singer-songwriters. Yihyeh Tov is also one of my favourite  songs. So here it is Yihye Tov, it Will Be Good, form his mouth to God’s ears. https://youtu.be/qtI7h5A9eEQ?si=axPoFbBC4zMx-sFM

 

Zvi is in Mexico City with my grandson Yosef, Rachel’s son, and I am here! It’s really strange! Tonight I will spend Friday night with Rachel and the girls, with a very different kiddush. Last week Gideon sang kiddush (the blessing over the wine) with a very familiar tune and very Ashkenazi pronunciation, this week it will be kiddush with a very Middle Eastern Jewish pronunciation! After all diversity is the name of the game.

 

I wish you a good Shabbes, a Shabbat Shalom, a good weekend, from the every beautiful, breathtaking city of Jerusalem, gleaming in the distance as I look at the View from Our Veranda. Jerusalem, City of David, Ir Shalem, Ariel, Shilo, Zion, City of David, indeed the city with 70 names in the Bible. https://israelforever.org/programs/israelinmyart/70_names_of_jerusalem_resource.pdf

 

With much love

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Einstein, Katzrin and Truths

 

23^rd of August 2024

371^st of October, more than 10 months of anguish and heartbreak

 

Shabbat Shalom! I wish you a peaceful Shabbat.

 

A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend upon the labours of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I received and am still receiving."

Albert Einstein

 

This quote by Albert Einstein, the man who felt he was not worthy of becoming the First President of Israel, reminds me of our dependence upon the soldiers, officers, volunteers, warriors and pioneers without whom none of us could survive, indeed we would not be here in this wonderful, resilient country. Of late we need reminding that Israel is the country she is because of the people, the ordinary people who despite the government have continued giving and giving and giving back.

 

The recent recruitment statistics to the IDF reflect the true patriotism, the good type, of young Israelis who have surpassed the recruitment expectations to the IDF combat units. Young Israelis are motivated and we’re proud that they will form the next generation of leaders.

 

It was a difficult week for so many reasons. Imagine a beautiful, peaceful, rural town on the slopes of the Golan Heights. Hardly a modern town, Katzrin is an ancient Talmudic town with the remains of synagogues built in the 4^th and 6^th centuries. Formerly Syria, taken in a famous battle at the end of the 6 Day War after Syria attacked Israel. This week, Katzrin suffered a barrage of 50 missiles in one day and homes were destroyed. Hezb-Allah again. It is constant. In just one day over 180 missiles fell on this area.

 

The IDF found 6 bodies in a tunnel, no, not 6 bodies, 6 Israelis who were kidnapped, held in dark tunnels, tortured and then after months of suffering, shot and left where they were. It is small consolation that their families were able to hold funerals. The bodies of hostages Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtab, Yoram Metzger, Haim Peri, Alexander Dancyg and Avraham Munder most of who were what we call peaceniks who used to help bring Gazans to Israel for medical treatment and ensured that Gazans found work here too. The reward for their kindness and trust in the power of love was a death one would not wish on anyone. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-815465

 

Talking of misplaced anger against Israel – can you imagine any other country that ensures that 90% of its enemies’ citizens are immunised against polio? Yes, 90% of Gazans were immunised by Israel in the first quarter of 2024 hopefully preventing a catastrophic outbreak. 

 

I am not sure if you remember but Lebanon was intended as a Christian country, a Christian haven among the Islamic countries that surround them, abutting the proposed Jewish State. Beirut was known as the Pearl of the Middle East and life was good until two things happened. In order to make the two states contiguous, the two borders were joined with a Moslem area in between, then, Yassir Arafat arrived on the scene and the Christian dream was lost. In a cynical speech a Lebanese pro Hezb-Allah journalist wrote the following https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-815412

I still remember, during my first visit to Israel in 1963, visiting the border which was nothing more than a car park type barrier and we all had photos taken with the Lebanese border guards! The equilibrium of the entire area changed as borders were changed and created after the Sykes-Picot agreements.

 

Talking of changing borders and creating countries, look at Europe! Right up until the end of the 19^th century, indeed after 1945, countries switched and changed borders, fought and stayed. Apparently, their self-righteous attitude to Israel’s borders is not based on self-reflection.

 

History has a tendency to repeat itself if the warnings are not read and acted upon. Tomorrow, Shabbat, the 24^th of August, is the anniversary of the Hebron Massacre. Hebron was still a predominantly Jewish city, indeed the original home of King David before he chose to live in Jerusalem. It was still the time of the British Mandate, the year 1929 and the local Moslems massacred over 60 Jews, destroyed synagogues and burned homes. Pogroms were not only in Europe, they happened time and again in the Middle East

 

Since I always try to be honest with you there are three facts that many people don't understand and distress normative Israelis. The situation and the government have not only given birth to but encouraged Jewish bullies who take the law into their own hands and have terrorised Palestinians. I believe that they should be arrested, tried and serve a prison sentence just like any terrorist.

 

After the conscription of haredi young men was brought into action, young men of the Jerusalem Wing rioted in the streets outside the Recruitment offices in Jerusalem. Their demonstration became violent and despite their small numbers they managed to wreak havoc with workings of the entire city. More and more young Israelis are turning away from religion thinking that these hooligans are representative of Judaism while they are burying their friends who fight to save our country.

 

The third admission is much harder. War is cruel and people die, innocent people die. The claim that everyone who died in Gaza is a terrorist, a member of Hamas, cannot be justified. We do everything in our power to prevent the killing of innocents, to keep the number of civilian casualties as low as possible but when the enemy uses children as human shields, it isn’t possible. We do not celebrate the deaths of Gazans, we mourn their suffering too. Eytan Chitayat explains “Tactical Civilian Sacrifice” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUmEA-yG70g

 

One of the sad aspects of this war is that none, not one of the Moslem countries, indeed any country, despite their verbal or political sympathies, has taken in any refugees from Gaza! Oh except for Canada.

 

John and Rachel Goldberg have campaigned ceaselessly, as have all the parents of the hostages, for  the return of the hostages and for their son Hersh to come home. Standing proud, Rachel has spoken to Presidents, Prime Ministers and Kings to free their son from the cruel captivity of Hamas. They stood before the Democratic Convention this week, fearing that they would not receive a warm reception but the entire stadium, Convention Hall, burst into “Bring Them Home” leaving Rachel bent and sobbing in emotion. https://youtu.be/timEH-JIslI?si=PkiZoAt9-KdpZvBw Their reception was warm and sympathetic, but will the future Democratic leader be as kind and sympathetic to Israel?

 

As I have observed in the past, aside from an obsession with the news, life has taken on a surreal quality of “life as usual”. We had dinner with our neighbours in the second round of our local “Come Dine With Me”, a delicious dinner with our new friends. We went to the Jerusalem Theatre to see a wonderful play by a local playwright, where we met with old friends. We saw friends, went to the pool, indeed led a normal life, but a life on the edge of concern, distress and anger. If you came to visit you probably wouldn’t notice any difference in our attitude, unless you delved deeper. Carmel Sarano, my kind-of niece/cousin, travels back and forth from the UK, spending her time visiting soldiers to see what they need and Sheba Hospital Rehabilitation Unit, sitting and talking to the recovering soldiers. I suppose that life as usual has built us into the most resilient people.

 

I visit Rachel during the week too, whenever we both have time. Givat Zeev is, in the words of the usual BBC or CNN line, a settler town, but in fact it is just a couple of kilometres from Jerusalem and a fine example of cooperative living. At the entrance of Givat Zeev sits a petrol station and a parade of shops. The businesses there, the plant nursery and the huge car wash, are owned by Palestinians from “over the green line” their cars with Palestinian number plates and all. The guards at the entrance are Druze and most of the residents Jews, it can work!

 

As I drive back from Givat Zeev toward home, I pass two cities on the road, to my left is Ramallah and on my right is Jerusalem. Ramallah is growing at an incredible rate, skyscrapers, spanking new buildings everywhere and on the right Jerusalem. Never a word is said about the growth of Ramallah, now right up to the border, yet every building in Jerusalem is criticised and analysed. It brings double standards to a new level.

 

Anyway, I was thinking about that view of Jerusalem, from the vista point next to Samuel’s Tomb. The view is breathtaking, the white Lego-like buildings stretch as far as the eye can see, a complex mosaic of human activity, trees everywhere. Before houses or buildings are completed, trees are planted along the new roads, giving a warmth to the scenery and a sense of beauty to the residents. Beauty, sculptures, parks, playgrounds with multicoloured slides and swings are an essential part of new neighbourhoods.

 

The first thing many Israelis create, sometimes before they furnish their homes, is a garden, even if their balcony is just one square metre! We are so proud of our greenery! In fact, the friends we ate with this week have a tiny balcony which was jam packed with greenery and they managed to grow the tomatoes and runner beans that we ate with our dinner! Our veranda (a larger version of a balcony) is doing very nicely thank you. The little lime tree is bending under the weight of the 20 or so fruits that I found yesterday and there’s even a simultaneous second blossoming. The orange tree, no bigger than the lime tree, has about 12 fruits and the apple tree is in full bloom; the fruits of the kumquat and little lemons are too small to count but they will be on their way by the time I get back. Get back? Oh didn’t I tell you? I’m flying with Rachel to see my British and NYC family! I’m so excited and very happy that we booked El Al because the other airlines are somewhat erratic in their flights to Israel!

 

Yahoram Gaon is an icon of Israeli song. Here he sings about his beloved country. Shalom Lach Eretz Nehederet which means Shalom to you wonderful country. https://youtu.be/__oEmwpEmTc?si=OLXpOmW6bKxJWlkJ

 

If there is a song that epitomises the people of Israel, Jew, Bedouin, Druze, men, women everyone, it’s this song. Hopefully you will be able to see the subtitles. It’s all about how everyone, from bus drive to teacher, from students to CEOs, from farmers to barmen, all change into volunteers in the IDF. https://youtu.be/aYGd4HOend4?si=BHjN1BXwd6iSuoDO

 

Satchmo, Louis Armstrong, just to hear his name brings a smile to the lips of even the toughest human being. He reminds us that despite it all, this is a wonderful world. https://youtu.be/CaCSuzR4DwM?si=AtvJypQ2nEdmY5l4

 

Shabbat Dinner tonight will be just the two of us. I will have Zvi’s harmonious Kiddush (blessing over the wine) all to myself. Next week I will hear Gideon’s baritone sing the Kiddush in their home in London, my grandchildren, now really grown up, smiling at the idea of being together and wishing that Yosef, Talia and Ayala were with us too. Me? I’ll be smiling, perhaps a tear or two, but proud of the way that each and every one has turned out. Sammy, definitely the most beautiful of all. Sammy who cannot express his feelings in words but manages to let us all know exactly how he feels toward us, Sammy who taught us what unconditional love means, will just look sideways at his Daddy, happy with the familiarity of the prayer. Tradition. Tevye the Milkman understood that our survival relies upon traditions that are handed from generation to generation, the simple things. May your home be filled with tradition that you learned at your parents table and will proudly pass down to future generations.

 

Shabbat shalom from Jerusalem which shone like the star she is, under this week’s huge full moon.

Sheila