The Good, the Bad and the Really Ugly

 

5^th June 2026

19 of Sivan, 5786

 

Shabbat Shalom everyone! Just for a change, let’s begin with the good people, the good news, the very good news, and the utterly thoroughly distressing news.

 

After New York Mayor Mamdani refused to walk in the Celebrate Israel Day Parade, former mayors Eric Adams and Michael Bloomberg headed the celebration and Anila Ali, a Pakistani-born civil rights advocate and founder of the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council, together with dozens of Muslim supporters, including an imam and several children, marched alongside Israeli supporters. “We were a little worried after received calls telling us to wear bulletproof vests, but we’re fighting to take back our country, and it’s a fight that every American should join.”

 

MP Kemi Badenoch is the leader of the Conservative Party in the UK and a huge supporter of the British Jewish Community and very outspoken about the spate of racist attacks recently. Her clear statement, as a black woman, if the level of hatred and racist attacks had been against black people the outcome would have been the declaration of a State of Emergency. For me this is not a political statement, she goes well beyond that.  https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZHfKTOidHK/

 

Barrie Davey, one of the two Jewish Chelsea Pensioners still alive, served in the Royal Air Force, Merchant Navy, and Royal Army Veterinary Corps finally celebrated his bar mitzvah on Thursday, at the age of 86. The ceremony took place in the stunning grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the iconic retirement home for British Army veterans. Barrie’s mother fled Europe and denied her Jewish identity; he only found out that he is Jewish 2 years ago!

 

Chantal and Marc Belzberg started a small organisation, a haven for the families of people harmed both physically and psychologically during the 2^nd Intifada. One Family has grown and grown and cares for tens of thousands. This week they were honoured at the Jerusalem Post Conference in New York City.

 

Professor Eugene Kandel is a close friend and an exceptional man. Here is a precis of an article he wrote this week to honour the Screenwriters Guild of the past and the part they played in his family’s freedom. “I always feel a little emotional when I land in Los Angeles and see the Hollywood sign. Few people realise that, in a very real sense, my family's freedom owes something to Hollywood. As Soviet Jews and refuseniks in the 1970s, we were denied permission to leave for Israel, and after my father's activism on behalf of Soviet Jewry, I was brutally beaten as a warning to our family. What helped secure our release was an extraordinary act of solidarity: members of the Writers Guild threatened to boycott the 1978 Moscow Film Festival unless our family was allowed to leave. The pressure worked, and shortly afterwards we received our exit visas and came home to Israel. Whenever I think of Hollywood, I remember that there was once a time when people there spoke out clearly and courageously for Jews in danger. My children and grandchildren exist because of that moral clarity, and for that I will always be grateful”. https://jewishjournal.com/commentary/opinion/388910/in-debt-to-hollywood/

 

Sadly, that is about where my list of admirable people ends. Media reports this week alleged that President Trump spoke to Israel’s Prime Minister in terms that no leader of a sovereign nation should ever have to hear. Whether one supports Netanyahu or opposes him is beside the point. This is not about politics; it is about respect between allies and between nations. No leader should be spoken to as though he were a naughty child, and no country should be told that its existence depends solely upon the favour of another. Mr. President, the Jewish story in this land is more than 5,000 years old; the United States is approaching its 250th birthday. During those millennia we have endured exile, persecution, expulsions, pogroms and repeated attempts to erase us from history. We have had wise leaders and dreadful ones, somehow, we have survived and even thrived. Allies are precious and friendship matters enormously, but Israel's story did not begin with any American president, and it will not end with one either.

 

So much for the ceasefire President Trump announced. While the EU pledges a further €100 million to help the Lebanese Army curb Hezbollah, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards accuse Israel of occupying Lebanon, and yet another armed drone is launched at northern Israel. This time it struck near the small town of Shlomi, where a father sheltering in his safe room with his daughters described the explosions as “very loud and very close”. For families in the north, ceasefires are not measured by diplomatic announcements but by whether the sirens remain silent.

 

There is no polite way to describe what happened at the home of Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg. An extreme Haredi mob protesting the arrest of draft dodgers smashed windows, destroyed property, shattered his car windscreen, and terrorised the family sitting inside their own home. Mrs Sohlberg, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, was left in tears, comparing the scene to memories she thought belonged to another era, to Kristallnacht. The two police officers on guard stood no chance against the crowd, but reinforcements arrived and the mob were stopped from getting back on their bus and arrested. If this is what they call defending Torah values, then they have forgotten the most basic Jewish value of all: respect for fellow human beings and the rule of law.

 

I confess that few things infuriate me more than journalism that appears to abandon its responsibility to the truth. The New York Times has faced criticism before over its reporting on Jewish issues, including its coverage during the Second World War, and many feel it is repeating old mistakes. This week, protesters gathered outside the newspaper's headquarters demanding the dismissal of columnist Nicholas Kristof and the retraction of an article alleging systematic sexual abuse of Palestinians in Israeli prisons. Carrying signs proclaiming "The New York Times Lies" and "When You Lie, Jews Die", they expressed a frustration shared by many who believe that serious allegations should be subjected to the same rigorous scrutiny as any other story. One need not agree with every protester to understand the underlying concern: when reporting abandons balance and accuracy, the consequences can extend far beyond the printed page.

 

My week began at my Moadon, our wonderful club, with chair exercises; if you think it’s a pleasant sit-down and a gentle stretch, think again. The chair does very little while the rest of us work remarkably hard. Afterwards we celebrated Rami's 90th birthday. He is one of our oldest members and somewhat infirm, but he loves being involved and is always the first to help anyone who needs it, always with a smile. The look on his face when we Hannah came out with a big chocolate cake and we all sang Happy Birthday was worth seeing.

 

This week was all about family and friends. On Tuesday, my granddaughter Ayala celebrated finishing her final baccalaureate exam by requesting nothing more complicated than an afternoon with Safta at the hairdresser. We spent hours chatting about absolutely everything and nothing, while our friend Rachael Risby Raz popped in for a visit. The following day, Ayala's big sister Talia claimed me for herself, filling me in on her six months in South America, her new "bestie" Sally in Panama City, and the Chabad houses that welcomed her along the way. We ended up painting ceramics and, in true Talia fashion, she spent four hours carefully painting two turtles onto a bowl before we rewarded ourselves with supper.

 

Last night I finally met some of the women from my old water aerobics group in our coffee shop. Half the village seemed to have had the same idea before a performance in the auditorium, and my friends were highly amused as what felt like half the audience stopped by our table for a hug. That's one of the joys of village life: wherever you go, you meet people you know and care about.

 

Today, four grandchildren aged between eight and fourteen arrive for the weekend while their parents enjoy a well-earned break. Saba Zvi will collect them from various corners of the country before delivering them to the pool to burn off some energy. Then comes Shabbat dinner, games, probably Rummikub, and whatever adventures Saba devises for the weekend. It will be noisy, chaotic, exhausting and absolutely wonderful. Best of all, for a few precious days we won't be thinking about politics, diplomats, wars or worries, just enjoying the company of the next generation.

 

Time for music. Zvi always laughs at me because it takes me more time to choose the music than it does to write the newsletter. Of course he says it in fun but it isn’t far from the truth. Maybe about New York? Maybe about Hollywood’s Jewish past? Maybe about grandchildren, friends…..let’s see.

 

This song expresses a paradoxical message: profound attachment and love for one's homeland alongside a refusal to ignore its flaws.  Ein Li Eretz Aheret written by Ehud Manor– which means I have no other land. For better or for worse except without the option of divorce. A home for the Children of Israel. https://youtu.be/4n7DA3sZk2Y?si=k1iwwPrapP4ipU5J

 

This song began as Nomi Shemer's attempt to create a Hebrew adaptation of the Beatles' Let It Be. The title Lu Yehi is a direct Hebrew equivalent of “Let It Be,” but as the Yom Kippur War erupted, the project evolved into an original work reflecting the mood of the country. It became a national expression of hope, prayer, longing, and resilience during a period of uncertainty and loss. https://youtu.be/xJoZ9R4i-N0?si=FA2blZXDkwC2KksV

 

My last choice needs no explanation but you’ve never heard it quite like this. The 2021 A Star is Born Israel and this duet of A Little Help from My Friends blew the judges away – me too! That’s all we need, each of us and more importantly our beautiful, crazy, essential, noisy, innovative, spiritual and fun country called Israel. We need you; we need your friendship and then we can survive anything. https://youtu.be/hyRwhXAzaGY?si=-xEWc6Ik52bSVqW5

 

As Bugs Bunny ended his cartoons, That’s All Folks! We look forward to an exciting Shabbat, one full of love and children. Yesterday I spoke to some of the women in the coffee shop to see who else had grandchildren staying and ours should have a ball, meeting new friends.

 

I can’t wait to see their faces shining as we light the Shabbat Candles, as Saba Zvi recites the blessing over the wine in his glorious Bass-Baritone, then invites the children to bless the Challah, always an honour since whoever blesses gets the first piece! That’s really what it is all about, passing on traditions to the next generation so that they understand why this beautiful country is of ultimate importance, so much so that it is worth fighting for, be it verbally or militarily.

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Shabbat Shalom whether your prayers are in Temple, Synagogue, Shul, Tabernacle, Church or Mosque, I wish you a peaceful, contemplative Shabbat.

 

With love from our veranda which overlooks Jerusalem glistening white on the horizon.

 

Special love to my big sister Doreen who has her birthday on Monday. Still as beautiful, busy, slender and loving as ever she will be 88. Happy birthday Dordi!

 

Sheila

 

 

 

 

Surprises, Shabbat and Song

 

29^th May, 2026

13^th Sivan, 5786

 

Shabbat Shalom, a holy Eid Al-Adha, a Blessed Armenian and Orthodox Pentecost. A peaceful weekend to all whether you celebrate all of the above or not.

 

When I planned today’s letter, missive, I was worried that I wouldn’t manage to be my usual optimistic self, then I sat down at the computer, realised that Zvi had pushed back the protective iron cover to the window and lo and behold, in the meantime the little almond tree had not only grown, but was laden with green, fluffy almonds. The promise of a fine crop; added to that, the little Sunbirds came to visit their sweet water feeder, the male tweeting happily to call his friends to come and drink; my new raised herb garden with a few herbs moved to their new home and I bought basil, dill and sage. I now have a full English folk song in Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme! My mood has lifted despite the situation.

 

Another aspect of my life that has lifted my mood is our relationship with the Emirates. When I say “our” I mean Impact-se. Not only have the Princes opened an office for us in Abu Dhabi, but it includes a researcher and have contributed enormously to our successes in changing the attitudes of the moderate Muslim countries by taking hate out of their school books. If only we could take hate out of the minds of most Western countries.

 

Temu and AliExpress sell everything on the cheap, which is fine, indeed I use their services from time to time, including my raised herb garden, but I really didn’t expect Hezb-Allah to buy their drones, intended as toys, and convert them into explosive elements of war to terrorise the Israelis in the North of our country. Don’t think they harm and terrorise just Jews the Muslim, Christian, Druze, Circassian, Bedouin Israelis are just as scared, suffer just as much from sleepless nights disturbed by sirens and worse still, from drones that fly so low and are so small that there are no warning sirens.

 

The United Nations has reached new lows. Not that the Iranian regime has been accepted on their Committee for Women’s Rights, but they now declared Israel as a sexual abuser in wartime, along with Hamas! Can there be anything more ludicrous, can there be anything more damaging?

 

Mayor Mamdani has managed to reach yet another low by refusing to attend New York’s Israel Day Parade. Previous mayors understood that attending, often even leading the parade, was about far more than politics; it was a statement that New York stood proudly with one of its largest and most vibrant communities. This refusal feels sadly symbolic of the atmosphere now creeping across a city once celebrated for embracing every faith, nationality, and background imaginable. What troubles me most is not only his decision, but the fact that none of his views were hidden. He made his hostility towards Israel perfectly clear long before the election, and yet many Jews, still chose to support him. I confess I struggle to understand that. One does not have to agree with every Israeli government policy to recognise when rhetoric crosses into something far more troubling. Perhaps that is the real sadness here: watching a city with such a rich Jewish history become increasingly comfortable with attitudes that would once have been unthinkable.

 

Sometimes it may appear that one has overcome all hurdles and formed an alliance with unexpected countries, even when they agree to take hate out of their schoolbooks, then they apparently turn, take a hairpin bend decision to ally themselves with your sworn enemies.

 

One of the quieter but deeply important aspects of the current regional situation concerns the Kurds, who so often seem to end up the tragic losers in Middle Eastern politics. Israel reportedly favoured greater Kurdish involvement inside Iran, seeing them as a counterbalance to regimes and movements committed to war against Israel, but Erdoğan, terrified of encouraging Kurdish nationalism within Turkey, strongly opposed the idea. With Trump maintaining close ties to Erdoğan, threatened with the closing of American bases in Turkey, the plan he initially approved, was dropped. The result has unsettled Gulf states such as the Emirates and Saudi Arabia, who increasingly wonder whether America would truly stand beside them in a major conflict. Meanwhile Erdoğan appears to be steadily positioning himself as leader of a broader Sunni alliance, with unmistakable dreams of renewed Ottoman influence. In this particular struggle, Turkey may well feel it has emerged the quiet winner, while Israel and the Kurds once again pay the price.

 

There was something almost absurd about watching Gaza flotilla activists loudly proclaim a humanitarian mission, only to admit that the voyage was never really about aid at all, but about provoking Israeli soldiers and creating headlines. Even more remarkable was seeing some of them arrested in Libya before ever reaching Israel, while those so eager to condemn Israeli “cruelty” suddenly became rather quiet. Spain warmly praised the activists as victims, yet seemed far less vocal when Spanish police themselves used force against demonstrators at home. It is precisely this double standard that so many Israelis find so exhausting. At the same time, we must have the honesty to condemn disgusting behaviour within our own society. The recent Ben Gvir incident, with its ugly atmosphere of provocation and hatred, shamed Israel and handed ammunition to those already determined to vilify us. Loving Israel surely means being able to defend her against lies from outside while refusing to excuse behaviour from within that betrays the values we claim to uphold.

 

Talking of upholding values, Judeo-Christian values, and of the extraordinary country we created. I find myself once again troubled by many in the Haredi leadership. Not all the Haredi community by any means, because many live lives of kindness, faith, and quiet dignity, but by the dangerous idea now being encouraged by some leaders that Torah study alone absolves one of responsibility for the defence of the nation. I believe deeply in prayer. I believe it has sustained the Jewish people throughout centuries of exile, persecution, and survival. But our history and our Bible are filled with our heroes and heroines who prayed and fought when necessary. Today our soldiers, our reservists, our exhausted IDF are carrying an almost impossible burden through a desperate shortage of manpower. Surely it is time to understand that one can pray, study Torah, and still serve the nation in countless ways that protect lives without abandoning faith. Judaism was never meant to separate us from our people, but to bind us to their fate.

 

An interesting dilemma for the international legal community but a dilemma that creates a whole different question. Antiquities that are found in the disputed territories which of course are Yehuda and Shomron, or belong to the Palestinian Authority. There are two questions here one the archaeologists are all Israeli and have Jewish content the other question arises that in the past Jewish proof of thousands of years of being in this area have been destroyed

 

OK now that I have thoroughly depressed every one of you lets learn something most don’t know. A young man threw a dart in the world map and got on a plane to the darts chosen destination. What he found there amazed him and his Instagram followers. He came to Tel Aviv/Jaffa. What he found was a community of every faith, every creed and a great deal of fun, food and excitement. https://www.instagram.com/reels/DY41AJUM7L7/

 

If you don’t know Eitan Chitayat you really should watch all of his videos and clips. He is not aggressive in his love of Judaism, Israel and Freedom, he explains and proves. A rare and special man. Here he created a video explaining to Jewish children what is happening in this confusing and confused world that the hatred they may experience right now we have survived many worse situations, survived and thrived. Hate burns itself out. Please listen to his amazing sense and show it to your children and grandchildren. This too will pass. https://youtu.be/NKVpq3OGn9Q?si=lzJ_9qQVntCMZgxm

 

Perhaps the most important aspect of this disturbing world where it feels like the inmates are running the show, is that we, the sane and optimistic people of all faiths should stick together, should support one another because united we stand. Bill Withers wrote this song more than 50 years ago and it has never held more meaning than today. Lean On Me. https://youtu.be/dtC1W-6hwIU?si=AEz8hkI7U0PGDZqJ

 

Our Father who is in heaven, Protector and Redeemer of Israel, bless the State of Israel, the dawn of our deliverance. Shield it beneath the wings of Your love; spread over it Your canopy of peace; send Your light and Your truth to its leaders, officers, and counselors, and direct them with Your good counsel. Strengthen the defenders of our Holy Land; grant them, our God, salvation and crown them with victory. Establish peace in the land, and everlasting joy for its inhabitants. Remember our brethren, the whole house of Israel, in all the lands of their dispersion. Speedily bring them to Zion, Your city, to Jerusalem Your dwelling-place, as it is written in the Torah of Your servant Moses: Avinu Shebashamayim the ultimate prayer for Israel sung by Cantors Azi Schwartz, Netanel Hershtik and Yaakov Lemmer . I guarantee to bring a tear to your eyes. https://youtu.be/vFFcLjbc-1E?si=9dhe6ZX_zRK-2Pmd

 

Idan Amedi is from a huge Jerusalem family, an entire tribe, but he stands out, not only because he is a brilliant singer songwriter but also because when the call came two and a half years ago he responded and was seriously hurt in Gaza. It took him time to return to performing recently, after a period when his PTSD kept him out of the highlight. He stayed out of the highlight refusing to accept the title of hero and chose, instead, to sing at the funerals of each of the slain hostages and many of the slain soldiers; preferring to give solace rather than receive applause. Last night he performed in our local amphitheatre. Here he tells an important story. https://youtu.be/qQepsm0Rc0U?si=7QzX9aLnIEn1aHJt

 

This has been a very special week. On Shabbat Zvi and I went for a glorious walk in the Nature Reserve opposite. The path is very uneven, literally as nature intended it, the rocks and stones worn away by thousands of footsteps, the verges filled with indigenous trees and flowers, olive trees that seeded and created new trees hundreds of years ago and air to fill one’s lungs and renew energy. People passed us with their dogs “Shabbat Shalom” or “Yom Tov lechem” some were surprised that two people of a certain age were capable of walking the difficult path and congratulated us, I’m not sure if I enjoyed their labelling us as Old Timers, but we walked on, holding hands, until we reached our destination. The one weather-worn bench under an ancient pine tree giving us the view across the whole valley. In winter it is a reservoir overflowing into the Beit Zayit Dam but in summer the rich fertile land left behind becomes green and the vineyard extends for miles. I returned to our Moadon, our club for people of a certain age where we do a really tough chair workout for an hour and are then rewarded with breakfast together. I go twice a week and thoroughly enjoy the company and stories of the older members, especially Violetta, an incredible 95 year old lady, born in Bulgaria, who vividly remembers the war, WW2, and always arrives in beautiful clothes, colourful dresses, lipstick and a smile. A feisty lady with incredible warmth. The Moadon is organised by our local Council and is great fun.

 

I met my lovely friend Susan the other day. It was wonderful being with her although our choice of coffee shop was unsuccessful. Next time I will take her to Motzeleh which has the best breakfasts ever, made on the spot with a huge choice.  Other than that , I went to my Movement class and met our lovely group of friends and that’s me this week. Zvi of course went to his two choirs for rehearsals, meetings of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and today is on a tour of Kibbutz Ramat Rachel with his parliament.

 

I am about to leave to see Rachel and family the aroma of her incredible challot reaching me long before I actually arrive. First of all, I must go toward Abu Ghosh and on to Kiriat Anavim to my favourite petrol station to fill petrol and then on the road over Nebe Samuel, Samuel’s Tomb, the highest point in our area with its incredible panoramic view all the way to Tel Aviv, Rishon LeZion and, of course, Jerusalem, it’s ever changing skyline with more and more high rises, as modern Jerusalem grows and thrives.  

 

As we light our Shabbat Candles, an act of faith whatever your faith, I feel that light enters my little circle, my little world. As the warmth of the flames lights my face, so I believe that for every candle lit we can light our entire world with kindness.

 

Be strong, this too will pass. It always does.

Sheila

 

Shevuot and Ben Gvir

 

21^st of May 2026

5^th Sivan, 5786

 

Good morning, Shabbat Shalom and Chag Shevuot Sameach and a Blessed Ascencion Day

 

The difficulties of peace are better than the agony of war.”

— Menachem Begin

 

Shevuot celebrates our receiving of the Torah — not only faith and ritual, but the moral foundations of how we live, how we treat one another, how we behave as human beings. The Torah contains 613 commandments, and while none of us manages to fulfil them perfectly, surely the most important among them are those that demand decency, compassion, justice, and respect for others.

 

That is why the behaviour we witnessed this week from Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and those around him felt so profoundly shaming. Cruelty, provocation, and hatred are not expressions of Jewish strength; they are a betrayal of the very values we celebrate on Shevuot. The violent extremists once romantically described as “Hilltop Youth” are not settlers safeguarding Israel’s future, but lawless individuals whose actions damage innocent people, deepen division, and stain the moral fabric of this country we love so deeply. Criticism of such behaviour is not anti-Israel; on the contrary, it comes from caring enough about Israel to expect better from those who claim to represent it.

 

It is also important to remember that the very framework of the Oslo Accords recognised that both Jews and Palestinians would continue living in Judea and Samaria while final status arrangements were negotiated. The existence of Jewish communities there is therefore not, in itself, the issue. One may support or oppose settlements politically, but there is a profound difference between lawful communities — families building homes, schools, farms, and lives — and violent extremism carried out in their name. Far too often the distinction is deliberately blurred, unfairly tarring entire populations because of the actions of a dangerous minority. Most Israelis, including many settlers themselves, want nothing more radical than safety, stability, and the possibility of living alongside their neighbours without fear.

 

I love Shevuot! The supermarket shelves suddenly become a sea of cheesecakes, cream cheeses, yoghurts and enough dairy products to keep the entire country happily overfed for days. Homes are filled with the smell of baking blintzes and cheesecakes, with every family utterly convinced, quite rightly, of course, that theirs is the best. Meanwhile, on the kibbutzim, harvest festivals are in full swing, children leap about in the hay, tractors are decorated, and otherwise perfectly respectable adults appear in alarming “Farmer Joe” outfits which would not look out of place in an old village fête. Babies born on the Kibbutz or moshav since last Shevuot are celebrated, their names often read out for all to hear.

 

And somehow this lovely festival, marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, also weaves together one of the gentlest and most touching stories in the Bible: Ruth, who chose loyalty and love over comfort and familiarity, following her mother-in-law Naomi with the immortal words, “Where you go, I will go.” It is during the harvest that Ruth meets Boaz in the fields, a story of kindness, dignity, belonging, acceptance and ultimately renewal. So Shevuot becomes a perfect mixture of spirituality, harvest festival, family gathering and national cheesecake competition — which feels very Jewish indeed.

 

In easier times, on a Shavuot weekend like this, we would simply head north; to the breathtaking beauty of the Galilee, to tiny towns, kibbutzim and villages bursting with flowers and greenery. We would stop in Druze villages where extraordinary women prepared wonderful kosher meals for visitors from Israel and abroad, and the greatest concern of the day was whether one had packed a hat and enough water for the walk.

 

Now the reality feels painfully different. Even during what is supposedly called a ceasefire, Hezbollah continues its explosive drones, and little children celebrating Shavuot in their kindergarten are taught not songs and dances alone, but how to run for cover or lie flat on the ground protecting their heads. And yet so often the world hears only one side of the story, while the fear and disruption endured by Israeli families in the north barely merit a mention. It leaves one longing not for anything grand or political, but simply for the ordinary peace of those earlier days.

 

I know that we are living through an extraordinarily unpredictable time, our lives seemingly balanced between the decisions of two powerful men and an extremist theocracy openly committed to our destruction. One moment we are wondering whether we will spend Shabbat sitting in the mamad listening for sirens, and the next whether we might simply go for a peaceful walk in the Jerusalem hills. That uncertainty is exhausting.

 

Perhaps that is why I felt such anger this week when an American President casually remarked that Israel’s Prime Minister would “do as he is told.” Seventy-eight years after Israel fought for and achieved independence, those words jar painfully. Whatever one thinks of Netanyahu, and Israelis certainly think many different things, this country is not a protectorate, nor are Israelis a people who wait for others to determine our fate. We are proud, stubborn, argumentative, independent, resilient people who built a nation against impossible odds. And yes, there is confusion, frustration, and fear at the moment, but beneath all of it remains something unshakable: this is our home, our responsibility, and ultimately our future to decide.

 

On a much lighter note, we had rather mixed feelings watching this year’s Eurovision, seeing the Israeli song “Michelle”, with its extraordinary stage performance, come first with the viewers yet only second with the judges. It somehow summed up the strange atmosphere surrounding Israel these days; ordinary people responding with their hearts while official panels tie themselves into knots trying to appear balanced and terribly sophisticated. In truth, hosting next year’s Eurovision would probably have been rather complicated for us at the moment, but it would still have been lovely to win. Through it all, Noam Bettan conducted himself with warmth, dignity, and intelligence. No anger, no theatrics, just quiet confidence and pride in representing Israel at a time when doing so takes no small amount of courage. Sometimes simple decency speaks far louder than politics. I love that he ended his performance, as the cameras closed in for a close-up, he mouthed “Am Yisrael Chai”

 

Last Friday night we had an impromptu Shabbat Dinner here with our cousins Rachel and Yossi Ribak and Zehava and Ami Sever. As you can imagine, the conversation went from our current political, diplomatic situation and the emotional see-saw of both our leadership and Iran. The interesting Israel question of “Who will you vote for” was also clear in intent and uncertain in fact. It all depends up whether or not our current opposition cares enough to get together and form a majority to oust this Kakistocracy. I pray that it will happen and happen soon. I pray that we will return to a united, caring society without the splintering of the last nearly 20 years. I pray that we will retain our rightful place among the democratic nations. I pray that we will regain respect, both external and self respect. In other words, I pray that we will be everything we prayed for before May 14^th 1948.

 

So, the first song is an obvious choice. Michelle, the incredible performance of Noam Bettan and the dancers at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. https://youtu.be/E2aL4xRzNXI?si=lVymECDvT8lJ4uU0

 

Naomi Shemer wrote many of the most beautiful Israeli songs and this one doesn’t disappoint. SHIRAT HA´ASAVIM  Sung by Shuli Rand it is a song to the plants and trees, surely the epitome of Shevuot. https://youtu.be/GDw_2sHhxXQ?si=tzyrvKSLqThgc5Xd

 

Shevet Achim v’Achiot – a Tribe of Brothers and Sisters. What we are and what we will be. It’s our dream, it’s our fact. Here it’s home, Here it’s heart, Here our ancestors are the roots and we are the flowers, it’s our Israel we will never leave. Israeli artistes sing our greatest prayer. https://youtu.be/KLx6qOdA4OE?si=2FxwQl0F86HXMhIR

 

I wish you a peaceful celebration of both Shevuot and Pentecost. I wish you a harvest of love and joy, of understanding and acceptance of the other.

 

Shabbat Shalom to one and all and may God bless you with the ability to find the best in every situation.

With love from our veranda which is filled with the colour and scents from the blossoming trees and the newly emerged flowers and, of course, the view from our veranda, over the Jerusalem Hills, the view of Jerusalem, David’s city which is has no less than 70 names in the Bible including Ir Shalem, Ariel, Yerushalyim, Shalm, Moriah, Zion, yes Zion hence the word Zionist…..

 

Sheila

 

The Eve of Jerusalem Day

 

14^th May 2026

27^th Iyar, 5786

Jerusalem Day

 

Of course, I wish you Shabbat Shalom but most of all I wish Jerusalem to hold celebrations of Jerusalem Day filled with joy, fellowship, good will and safety

 

Today is the eve of Jerusalem Day, celebrating the day Jerusalem became one again; Old City and New, heart and soul. The day in 1967, on the fourth day of the war Motta Gur uttered the words “Har HaBayit b’yadeinu” “The Temple Mount is in our hands” and the sight of Yitzchak Rabin, the Chief of Staff, driving his jeep  through the Lions Gate, sent tears, disbelief, and overwhelming joy not only through Israel, but throughout the Jewish world. Jerusalem Day was never only an Israeli moment; it was emotional for Jews everywhere who suddenly felt history, longing, and return collide in a single sentence. A tiny country, fighting simply to survive against those who wished to destroy it, suddenly reunited with the heart of its history. 6 incredible days when Israel survived a simultaneous attack from all her neighbours near and far.

 

I woke this morning to that unmistakable scent of an early Israeli summer; pine trees warming in the sun, citrus blossom drifting on the air, and the dry sweetness of the hills around Jerusalem. We live beside the old Seven Sisters road, with its seven winding bends climbing towards the city, the very road that first carried me to Jerusalem as a wide-eyed seventeen-year-old on my first visit to Israel, its hairpin bends striking fear in our hearts as the ancient bus struggled its way up and up, the Aliya to Jerusalem, the driver manipulating the heavy wheel around each bend. This week, Gerald Fraser, an old friend from Cardiff and his wife Rhea, came to see us, Surprisingly Gerald forgot that we had been on that bus, in that group, in 1963, together and when I reminded him we spent our time reminiscing on that magical summer when a group of teenagers fell hopelessly in love with this country and quietly decided that, one day, this would be home. More than half a century later, through wars, terror, two Intifadas, sirens, heartbreak and joy, it still is. Jerusalem, whether Jew, Christian, Muslim, agnostic or even atheist, just the name is capable of warming the heart.

 

I may be a dreamer, even an optimist, and I recognise that things have changed, emotions that ran deep in love may have turned to hatred, but still if you go to the Old City markets, to the centre of the city, to Mamilla and of course the that most Yerushalmi of places, Machane Yehuda market, the Shouk, you still see everyone together enjoying life! Most evenings, after the bastot (market stalls) have closed, leaving only the aromas of fresh fruit and vegetables, knaffe, sweet halva and the echoes of the costermongers in the air, the metal blinds come down, revealing wonderful graffiti depictions of famous Israelis – and Einstein, and the chairs and tables come out, the musicians warm up, the beer kegs are in place and young  people of all ages and creeds come to celebrate being alive. The years of fear of explosions in that wonderful place are a memory, hopefully never to return.

 

This morning I walked to my Mind and Movement class and our beautiful leader, teacher, guide, Gali, suggested we each talk about our memories of childhood in Jerusalem, our thoughts of the present and our hopes for the future. Of course I was not born in Jerusalem, one born in the USA, one in Haifa, one in Algeria and myself in Wales, just Tami spoke of her childhood in Rahavia and the little roads that haven’t changed, walking to school and going to the little sweet shop, each of us spoke of our connection to that city, from near and far, and our emotional attachment, be it through prayer or through our parent’s dreams. I walked back together with Galia, who was born in Algeria but came to Israel as a young woman together with her family. As we walked through the village of Motza, in itself with historic ties to Jerusalem and Teordor Herzl (yes I meant to write Teodor because that is how he called himself) we spoke of what Jerusalem gave to us when we were children in far countries. We spoke of our love of that city, that moving to Motza was not leaving Jerusalem because we feel part of Jerusalem, simply a rural suburb.

 

Jerusalem has undoubtedly become more religious over the years, though in truth that applies to all three monotheistic faiths that hold the city so dear. To digress, (what would you do if I wrote without digressions) there are no less than 52 Christian denominations, 8 Muslim denominations and about 600,000 Jewish denominations!!! There is, however, an interesting phenomenon among some people who leave Jerusalem for the freer, more energetic rhythm of Tel Aviv life. Quite often, they seem to remember only the frustrations and changes, focusing on the crowded entrance to the city, the towering new buildings, or the tensions of modern Jerusalem, rather than its extraordinary heart and soul.

And yet cities evolve; they always have. Jerusalem is no exception. Alongside its ancient stones and timeless beauty are hi-tech companies, start-ups, cafés, galleries, and the creative pulse of a modern capital. In fact, many of Israel’s beloved coffee chains began there. It seems a pity to see only one side of the city’s character, because no great city in the world remains frozen in time. If we judged every beautiful city only by its traffic, cranes, or changing skyline, we would probably never travel anywhere at all. The city centre is filled with students during the day and many stay to enjoy the cool Jerusalem evenings instead of the sticky humidity of anywhere closer to the sea.

 

There is an old saying that nine-tenths of the world’s beauty was given to Jerusalem, and on certain days it is tangible. One of the loveliest buildings in the newer part of the city, after the YMCA, which can hardly still be called new, is the Supreme Court. Whatever one’s politics, the architecture is breathtaking. Funded, like the Knesset, through the generosity of the Rothschild family, the Court carries with it a remarkable story. Dorothy de Rothschild had one request: that the Supreme Court should stand on higher ground than the Knesset, to symbolize the supremacy of the rule of law and justice over the political legislative branch and that a pathway should connect the two buildings, and that the Court should always remain accessible to all. After her death, that vision became reality.

 

The building itself feels both modern and timeless. Vast arched spaces filled entirely with natural Jerusalem light, Jerusalem stone flowing seamlessly from outside to inside, and courtrooms designed to reflect different parts of the Old City. Even the smallest details carry meaning. Above each section are stones representing those in the Choshen Mishpat, the High Priest’s breastplate of judgement, once used to seek wisdom and guidance for the people of Israel. It is very Jerusalem somehow — history, symbolism, beauty, and modern life all layered quietly together in one extraordinary place.

 

I hope that I have done justice to the city that I love so much. Of course it has changed as the demographics dictate, but despite the 120 members of the Knesset it is still the spiritual heart of Christianity and Judaism and has become, in recent years, equally important to Islam.

 

Since the class this morning was called Movement after our musings, we then danced to several utterly Yerushalmi songs. The Banai family was born in the Shouk, Mahane Yehuda; The renowned Israeli artistic dynasty originated from Persian Jewish roots, settled in Jerusalem's Mahaneh Yehuda neighborhood; Rahamim Banai (then Bana) arrived in the Land of Israel from Shiraz, Persia, in the early 1880s. They have produced generations of celebrated musicians, actors, and entertainers, unquestionably the "first family" of Israeli entertainment.

 

Interestingly enough the late Meir Banai’s most famous song is called Shaar HaRahamim, the Mercy Gate. Although this video, for some reason, shows the Kotel, in fact the Mercy Gate is opposite the Mount of Olives on the other side of the Old City. The Messiah (we never argue if its his return or his rising) will arrive through the Mercy Gate followed by all those buried on the Mount. The Jewish cemetery is on the hillside, the Christian on the lower slopes and, sorry I get a bit political here, The Mercy Gate (Golden Gate) was sealed in 1541 by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, who also initiated the placement of a Muslim cemetery in front of it. While the gate had been closed previously, this 16th-century action was part of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls, with tradition stating it was done to prevent the entry of the Jewish Messiah. 

Here’s the beautiful song  https://youtu.be/zexmsOcywnQ?si=OkvoWBeNcSAiymQq

 

"Shabchi Yerushalayim" is based on Psalm 147 here sung by Avihu Medina. The lyrics praise God for protecting and strengthening Jerusalem. “O Jerusalem​, praise the LORD; praise your God, O Zion. For He has strengthe​ned the bars of your gates, and blessed your children in your midst.” https://youtu.be/ByWfUx0QnyE?si=tMvsReGk1eaCRJC3

 

I had never heard Jerusalem of Gold, a very different Jerusalem of Gold and I have no idea who sings but it is truly magnificent, telling the story of the return to Jerusalem, to the Old City, to the Holy sites. I apologise for the advert in the middle. https://youtu.be/zRVnjucnWtg?si=AJonxsbi20BqepIt

As I write about Jerusalem, about Jerusalem Day, the news came in that a Hezb-Allah drone with an explosive warhead hit Rosh Hanikra, in the north of Israel, one of the towns that has suffered horribly from Hezb-Allah attacks for many years, and two people were seriously injured and one moderately and rushed to the Galilee Hospital. I wish them a speedy recovery; indeed, I wish the north of Israel a speedy recovery. After elections, assuming there will be a new government, the rebuilding of the broken north and south of Israel and return of those who were sent to safety and had no home to return to, we cannot lose two thirds of our country to our enemies.

 

So another week has passed and I have tried to keep our attention on Jerusalem, because she deserves this day of unity, unification, flag waving and generosity of spirit. I hope and pray that the Jerusalem march will be one of celebration and not one of triumph.

 

Undoubtedly, the most important day in our history was May 14, 1948, when Ben Gurion declared the State and named her Israel after the ancient tribe that once lived here.

 

Actually May 12^th was a momentous day too! Rachel announced that she really needed to see me and was already on her way. I had a class but told them I’d come late, worried that something was wrong. She walked in with my fabulous granddaughter Talia who had finally returned from 6 months in South America! Tears, hugs and a million emotions! The best surprise anyone could possibly have! Thank you Sally, thank you for giving her a home away from home and being her new BFF.

 

In fact, yesterday was wonderful too, starting with a quick visit from our friends Ronit and Yossi Dagan and then meeting the incomparable, amazing, Poodle (her real name is Alex but …..she’s Poodle because it reflects her hairstyle when she was in school with Daniel) and Rachel in Derech haGefen in Bet Zayit for a delicious lunch.

 

It may not seem directly concerning Jerusalem, but everything we, Impact-se, do is intended to make our lives safer, wherever we may be, and to stop the child abuse of hate education; a research institute that began in the hallowed halls of the Hebrew University now influences beyond comparison. An explanation for everyone who asks about our work, but especially for Sylvia Liwerant and all her friends who asked to understand what and who Impact-se is ….. here goes. The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) is a transformational research and policy institute that delivers strategic outcomes for the Jewish world. Operating from Ramat Gan, Dubai, London and Washington DC, IMPACT-se is helping to shape the way millions of schoolchildren perceive Jews and Israel in their daily school education. Our mission is clear: to counter radicalism, and hate education through world-class, proprietary research and top-level policy engagement, IMPACT-se is contributing to changing the textbooks of millions of students. Take a look. https://www.impact-se.org/

 

Sending you all love from Jerusalem, the city that still lives up to her nine-tenths of beauty. So from our home in the Jerusalem Hills, Shabbat Shalom and Happy Jerusalem Day.

Sheila

 

The Power of One

 ​THE POWER OF ONE

8^th of May 2026

20^th of Iyar 5786

 

Shabbat Shalom everyone! So good to talk to you today.

 

Before I sit to write to you, I read the Israeli paper to see if there is anything that catches my eye so that I can tell you about it. I always read what Brenda Katten writes because she so often echoes my thoughts and fears. When in London recently Brenda went to see a play at the Young Vic Theatre, “Broken Glass” the Arthur Miller play which took its title and theme from The Night of the Broken Glass; Kristallnacht.

 

Arthur Miller’s Broken Glass holds today’s fears and deep emotional concern because it no longer refers only to the past. Sylvia’s paralysis becomes a deeply human reflection of what happens when people grow numb in the face of hatred and frightening world events. In the play, ordinary Jewish families ask what Nazi persecution has to do with them, even as Kristallnacht looms in the background, and there’s something quietly frightening in their distance and disbelief. Perhaps that is why the play feels so relevant. In a world of endless headlines and constant cacophony, our current threats can too easily become just another story. Broken Glass reminds us how dangerous it is when people stop seeing each other’s fear and humanity, and how important it remains to care enough, aware enough, not to look away.

 

I have said it before; I will say it again until my voice is heard too. We are currently living in 1936, but this time it isn’t just Nazi Germany it is worldwide. The carefully crafted assault on our daily lives, not just anti-Israel; not just anti-Semitism; not just attacking churches; it is an attack on our very beliefs and way of life.

 

I write here about the UK, because that’s what I know, but in truth this could apply almost anywhere;  north, south, east, or west. This week the British Ambassador, Simon Walters, felt it important enough to hold a press briefing about the growing wave of antisemitism and the response to it. He spoke not only about hateful language, but about something much wider and more troubling: the overlap between extremism, intimidation, vandalism, and the steady rise of fear within Jewish communities. Over the past year we have seen terrible incidents not only in Britain, but in Australia, America, and elsewhere, and for many Jews there is a growing sense of unease in places where they once felt entirely at home. What struck me most was not the politics of it, but the sadness that such conversations are necessary at all. No Jew should feel anxious about wearing a kippah, entering a synagogue, or simply being visibly Jewish in the country they call home. And yet, here we are, having these conversations once again, hoping that the wider world understands that antisemitism is never just a Jewish problem — it is a warning sign for society as a whole.

 

Just for you to know, Belgium has declared Brit Milah illegal when not performed by a doctor. They clearly know nothing about the British Royal family who, when the Royal Princes are circumcised the Queen asked Rabbi Snoman, a Mohel, to perform the surgery

 

The conversation in Jewish families everywhere is, “Who among our friends would save us?” We are in an undeniable crisis of antisemitism, and many are asking whether they need to leave their current home countries. Many have already done so, or are planning to. Two of the people in the UK who have been publicly outspoken, one is Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Opposition, and Trevor Phillips who has a Sunday Morning programme on Sky News, both people of colour. Trevor Phillips’ monologue sums up the situation in the UK but it could be anywhere.  https://www.instagram.com/reels/DX46v6MM0ln/

 

The outside world is cross about the cost of petrol and the subsequent rise in the cost of living, we complain too, but never forget that for us, it isn’t only about the cost of living; it is about an existential threat from Iran and Qatar and their proxies who intend, after disposing of us, ultimately changing your way of life. This war is not about whether or not you like the leaders, it’s about survival.

 

Did you know that children living in the north of Israel haven’t been to school on a regular basis for 3 years? Did you know that half of the homes in the north of Israel have been destroyed or damaged? Do you know the Hezb-Allah name for their current campaign against Israel? “The Campaign to Occupy the Galil” It’s so clever to convince the world that the accuser is the occupier!

 

As I wrote last week, the strange thing is that in sport, where there is plenty of antisemitism and unsportsmanlike shunning of Israeli sportsmen and women, we are doing very nicely thank you!!

This week the Israeli national team won gold in Rhythmic Gymnastics at the 2026 European Cup in Baku in the five-ball final and Daniela Munits won gold in the clubs title and another gold in the Cross Battle event.  In Ice Hockey, Israel's men's team won against Taiwan 6-1, remaining undefeated at the IIHF World Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria. Finally, Congratulations to Israeli judoka Melissa Safronsky for winning two gold medals at the Budapest Cup and she is only 12 years old.

 

We are undefeatable because we are indefatigable!

 

Talk about indefatigable, that is IMPACT-se. After years of painstaking research exposing incitement and extremism within UNRWA schools, the organisation has helped drive a dramatic shift in international attitudes. In 2025 alone, UNRWA funding fell by more than $500 million, with major donors, including Arab States, withdrawing or significantly reducing support. Time and again, IMPACT-se presented governments with compelling evidence that children were being educated not for peace, but for hatred, a reality the world could no longer ignore. Don’t even get me started on the leadership of António Guterres, the Secretary General of the UN.

 

Do you follow Nas Daily, aka Nuseir Yassin? if so you must see this one where he talks about the Indians of Uganda and their incredible success after being given 90 days to get out. As he says, pain is not a choice but how you deal with it is, to be a victim or not. https://www.instagram.com/reels/DKwwQAxM2aH/

 

This week started with our big car deciding that it had had enough and refused to move. Luckily it was in our outdoor car park when it died. We tried everything and after consultation with Osama we called the tow truck. He was really sweet but when he mentioned what he thought was wrong with the car, I really didn’t understand. I grew up with cars and know my “bits” but this one was strange to me. He said that he thought it was the blugs. He repeated it 3 times but still no luck until I remembered that Arabic speakers cannot pronounce the letter “P” and he was describing a problem with the PLUGS. I find it strange that a people that cannot says the letter P calls itself Palestinian. Anyway, we took the car to the workshop and thanks to Osama it came out like new.

 

On Tuesday we drove to Ra’anana to the most wonderful event. My childhood friend Jen, Jenny, Jennifer held her birthday party! It was an early lunch but although the food was good, the restaurant had a lovely country feel, the best part was that Jen had invited only close friends. For me, my to Zvi’s concern, we were placed at a table of Ex-Cardiffians and I had a ball! It was probably difficult for our partners who had no idea of whom we spoke and about what we got excited!! Most of all my beautiful friend Jen, who I have loved from the age of 7, and her incredible husband Brian (they met at my birthday party) simply glowed! Their children Robert and Rachel insisted I have one of the family Tshirts which declared “I’, not really 80, I’m 18 with 62 years’ experience”!!  I loved it so much I even wore it to my Mind and Movement group!!

 

After the party we drove to Kfar Saba ha Yeruka to visit Rachel and Yossi, Zvi’s cousins that I absolutely adore and then on to our grandson Yonatan’s Basketball game in Tel Aviv. I became very excited, cheering both his team and the opposing team!! Yonatan is 11 by the way, but will be 12 on Sunday. Tomorrow we are going to be with the family for his party at Amiad and Noga’s.

 

On Wednesday my friend Gila brought her sister Margo to visit. Margo and I were friends of Facebook without realising she was Gila’s sister. By the way I’ve been thrown off Facebook! Can’t find out why but I have a good idea how. Their propensity to hatred of Israel is undoubtedly the cause. Anyway our meeting was delightful and since Margo Dudkevitch is a journalist of renown, we had loads to talk about. On Thursday Zvi performed with David De’Or at the Jerusalem theatre. Well to be exact, Zvi sang with the Zamir choir under the baton of Ronit Banit and the performance was stupendous. Yesterday Sheli and her friend Elior came to visit and obviously I made lunch and today we have the Azkara, the visit to the cemetery to say the prayers in memory of Alla and Kalman, Zvi’s incredible parents about who I have often written. Tomorrow Yonatan’s birthday and that ends this week! I’m exhausted jut reading my own words!

 

Music, and this song is about as far from my usual picks as one can get but it is number one on the Israeli charts. Iranian Rapper and anti IRGC,  021KID with Lion Sun  https://youtu.be/l5cyUblMrFo?si=pYpLI2fr1x_wPz48

 

David De’Or, world famous Israeli counter-tenor, has chosen to perform only Israeli songs this year, in fact at the concert he also told wonderful stories about his various gigs around the world. A long time ago he wrote the song “Shmor Al Ha’Olam Yeled” a song about a parent talking to his son and asking him to take care of the world because we did a lousy job of it. https://youtu.be/e7EV4IWgR2A?si=f30PWK7KfAhPI7nH

 

Noam Bettan is singing this year’s entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. As usual there is a great deal of hatred from many of the countries but we are there and this song is a strong contender, Michelle in three languages, Hebrew, French and English. https://youtu.be/xWCnWSoG8nI?si=AihWx7b6kw1fTDS5 I want you to vote! Please do! You can cast your vote by phone, SMS or at www.esc.vote, depending on where you are in the world, and you can vote up to 10 times. It is so important to prove to the haters that we stand tall and support Israel.

 

And so we come to Shabbat again. The aroma of delicious epicurean concoctions of so many countries and traditions waft in the air. Food is such a central and essential part of Jewish life. It may be Chicken soup with matzo balls or kubeh soup; it may be gefilte fish or chraime, as David De’Or said on the stage this Wednesday, his songs are not defined by being Ashkenazi or Sefardi or Misrachi, in the same way as he believes that people should not be defined in that manner, we are all Jewish, we shouldn’t split we should unite. So it is in life, to unite against evil, to unite against any enemy that would teach hatred. This is our one attempt at creating a better world for our children and grandchildren. Unity, such a short word for such an important decision. Unity, tolerance, acceptance, they work only when it is  reciprocal, but if we are persistent, if we accept that with The Power of One we can change the world for the better.

 

I wish you a peaceful weekend, a beautiful Shabbat, the chance to go out there and breathe in the beauty of nature. Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem, the View from Our Veranda and its spring display.

Sheila

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

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