Impact, Obama and Good News

 

23^rd October 2026

12^th Heshvan 5787

 

 

Shabbat Shalom lovely friends

 

 

This may be a strange decision to make but I am going to try and write a positive newsletter to you today, even though it may seem that our world is falling apart.

 

Yesterday evening I opened up my WhatsApp to find no less than 30 messages from Marcus Sheff, the CEO of Impact-se. Since this is a very rare occurrence, tired as I was, I decided to take a look and found articles from the world media which published Impact-se’s reports on the Syrian textbooks. The work has only just begun on creating even more changes in textbooks, introducing tolerance to people who have only been taught hatred, in this region and beyond.

 

On Monday, Marcus and I met with Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, to give him a report of our enormous successes. He was amazed! He knows all the countries in which we have changed the textbooks and believes that what we have done is nothing short of miraculous

 

Not a bad start eh? I would be naïve if I thought that the news is only good so I have to mention Barak Obama, who finally showed us his true colours. I am one who long tried to rationalise the presidency of Barack Obama and criticise those who criticised him. However, this week when he claimed that the Jews had apparently stolen their own Homeland while he was speaking in Belfast on October the 13^th. His words succeeded in continuing the misrepresentation of the Jewish people's return to the land of Israel into a story of persecuted European Jews who sought refuge and then took Palestinian land and provoked the violent response on ourselves.

 

If you are over 70 but you don’t have to be Welsh to remember the Aberfan disaster when an entire slag heap (residue from coal mining), illegally built over a stream, slid down the hillside and killed an entire school of children. It happened 60 years ago and Wales still mourns.

 

The elections near, the slanging match continues, and the current government refuses to condemn the actions of the Jewish lunatic fringe who use God’s name in vain. Settlers, a word with disturbing connotations, but think about it, like everything in life it has many meanings. The ordinary folk who live in Maaleh Adumim, Ariel, Efrat (incidentally, Gush Etzion was always within the boundaries of Israel) or the Jerusalem neighborhoods of French Hill, Ramot or Gilo who CNN and BBC, Guardian and NYT give the misnomer of "settlements " indeed derogatory connotations

 

Oh boy, I said that today my musings would be positive and here I am doing the opposite. Back to the beautiful side of life which is being overshadowed but not erased by our elections and the US mid-terms or by-elections.

 

So after our highly successful visit to Ehud Olmert, we went for dinner to Nattie and Yolli Zonszein in order to meet up with the lovely Perla Jinich. Perla was a classmate of Zvi in the Yiddische School in Mexico and of course Yolli is Mexican too. It was delightful (Nattie is a great cook) and conversation was, as always, lively.

 

Our amazing, wonderful friend Kim aka Dr Kimball Taylor, arrived on Wednesday. It is always such a joy when he comes to stay, taking a few days before he goes to the Jewish Agency meetings. This time he decided to join me, despite coming off about 26 hours of flights from Western Canada, and meet my granddaughter, Talia, to buy her all sorts of things for her student apartment to make it livable. Talia is incredible and we tried to get through her list of needs while she darted from place to place. We succeeded and Kim even helped her carry everything to her fourth floor walk up flat!!!!

 

Thursday was one of those truly special days — joyful, moving and full of unexpected moments. Kim and I met Keith and Deidre Beville from Australia at Shalva. They always make a point of including Israel in their travels, and it was lovely to see them again.Another small group was just beginning a tour at 11.30, led by our own Yuval and Lewis. There was a couple from Baltimore and a gentleman from London, all of whom had made Aliyah, so we decided to join forces. After a short introduction, we headed up to Dr Dan’s Room, where Yuval and I shared the explanations. From there, we visited the basketball court and swimming pool. Yoav Engel came into the lift and came straight to hug me! His son, Ofir, had been kidnapped to Gaza by Hamas on that fateful day, 7 October 2023, a date etched into all our souls. Thank heaven, Ofir has been brought home to his loving family and is slowly recovering. When we reached the synagogue, we had the rare honour of meeting Kalman Samuels, the founder of Shalva, who came to talk to us. And there was another lovely surprise: Barbie and I discovered that we shared mutual friends, the Kaufthal family. After the tour, we all sat down to lunch in Shalva’s fabulous restaurant, where Barbie and I chatted and laughed our way through the meal. It was a truly wonderful day.

 

Back to reality. Michigan Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayad came out of the anti-Israel closet. As I tell everyone here in our elections and even more so in the US Mid-terms, get out and vote.

 

I am ashamed and angry that Jewish thugs brutally attacked Heidi Levine, photographer for the Washington Post. There can be no justification for such violence, and if we care about the values Israel stands for, our government must condemn it and demand that those responsible face justice.

 

I keep thinking back to the riots in France in 1968 and 1969 which happened simultaneously with the student riots in the USA. Anger about the cost of living, housing and the future is real, and people have the right to protest. But when demonstrations turn into organised violence, intimidation and the looting of shops such as Louis Vuitton, I find myself wondering whether something much deeper is at work. We cannot assume that every rioter has the same motive but since of late the extreme left and the immigrants (predominantly from Muslim countries) join forces to disrupt the current rule. What worries me is how quickly threats and slogans can become a justification for violence, and how often people seem more eager to explain it away than to say plainly that it is unacceptable. The response is the rise of the extreme right.

 

Back to heartwarming events! Tonight we have dinner that will include Australians, a Panamanian, a Canadian, a former Romanian, a former Welshwoman (me) and of course Zvi who was born a Palestinian!! When we got home from Shalva, I had the house to myself. Zvi went to a rehearsal and Kim went to visit friends in the Old City. After a quiet cup of coffee I set about making the salads for tonight. I never decide beforehand, I just find what’s in the fridge and get cooking. Actually I began with the pumpkin soup, remembering to put a nice chunk of ginger into the pot! That should open everyone’s sinuses! I went on to make Zvi’s courgette salad, cucumber salad, zucchini and mushroom salad and a beetroot salad. Today just the guacamole to start and when I finish writing I’ll take the salmon out of the freezer. I think we will have fruit salad for dessert, with Ice-cream of course.

 

Tomorrow we will have lunch with Bryan Isaacs, a dear friend from Cardiff. Bryan and friends have done a fantastic job of buying ambulances for Magen David Adom, quite apart from being a lovely man.

 

Deciding what to write is not always easy. I don’t want you to think that life here is tough. We have tough moments but we live very well, Israelis enjoy life. We enjoy our parks, wildlife, treks and of course that so very typical pastimes of eating and shopping. The cost of living is high but hopefully we will deal with that after the elections!!

 

One very important part of life here is music. Music of every kind, Eastern, Western, Chassidic and Jazz………. So let’s get started.

 

I love this song, the words are so hopeful. Ye sit’s with soldiers but it shows us that they are just ordinary people. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/M8Nz-wBEf7o?si=L9ozzV2FECXc-_vp

 

A song that should be sung at every wedding (especially  my grandson Yosef to Tsofia) It is so beautiful. https://youtu.be/OGugR9Ey6gU?si=b3JK3r4rhKa6q7wr

 

Mi haish, Who is the man, who desires life, loves​​ days,
in order to see good? Keep your tongue from speaking​ evil
and your lips from deceitful​ speech
Turn away from evil and do good.
Seek peace and pursue it.  https://youtu.be/-N-uzKNW7rY?si=lC4xHCCAtfSS9yv8

 

I wish you a beautiful Shabbat filled with family, joy and good thoughts. It felt good to intersperse the usual news with the things that make me happy

Shabbat Shalom from our veranda and the glorious view of Jerusalem

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You and Me can change the world

 

16^th October 2026

6^th Cheshvan 5787

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. I hope this missive finds you well.

 

This week it’s Parashat Noach, the story of Noah and the Ark. What a week Noah must have had! Imagine building an enormous ark, rounding up two of every animal and keeping the whole lot fed and watered for forty days and nights. I wonder how many times Noah wished he’d booked a cruise instead!

Eventually, the rain stopped and God gave us the rainbow as a promise never to destroy the earth with another flood. Sadly, the flood may have washed away the old world, but it clearly didn’t wash away human folly. Thousands of years later, we are still struggling with hatred, violence and the simple business of learning to live alongside one another. The rainbow was not just a symbol of hope; it was a reminder of our responsibility to one another. And if Noah could manage an ark full of animals without losing the plot, surely we humans can do rather better at sharing the planet!

 

Our lovely friend Dr Kimball Taylor sent me an article suggesting that we are losing the social media battle because we don’t strategise, we defend rather than initiate. The medieval accusations of the blood libels against Jews have taken different forms, but the underlying danger is all too familiar: Israel, and Jews everywhere, are portrayed as uniquely evil and we know that lies can travel around the world before the truth has even put on its shoes, especially when backed by prejudice and clever dissemination of falsehoods gives them such fertile ground. Social media has made it possible for these claims to spread at extraordinary speed, often stripped of context and nuance. What troubles me most is how easily accusations can become accepted as truth, and how quickly hostility towards Jews can be presented as a moral virtue. The echoes of medieval Europe are deeply disturbing. We have not done well in combatting the lies so far, now it is a case of recognise and STRATEGISE.

 

Just a word about the ignorance of the demonstrators. The black-and-white keffiyeh that they all wear proudly in demonstrations against Israel’s actions against Hamas is actually the Keffiyeh of Fatah (PLO), yet in Gaza in 2007, Hamas slaughtered any and all Fatah members when it seized power.

 

The lines of confrontation in the Middle East have become increasingly confused, with Iran-backed Houthis attacking Saudi Arabia and threatening shipping in the Red Sea. Yet there is an important and unexpected positive reaction to Iran’s aggression; it is pushing countries towards greater cooperation rather than driving them apart. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are standing together against the Houthi threat, while plans for a permanent UAE Embassy in Herzliya have just received approval, on the 13th October. Six years after the Abraham Accords, that is a significant step forward. The dangers are very real, but so is the possibility that shared threats may bring Israel and its Arab neighbours closer and perhaps lay the foundations for a more stable region.

 

Talking of Embassies, yet another has opened and the Ambassador of Colombia presented his credentials to President Herzog and the Embassy has opened in Jerusalem.

 

I have to admit that I am not a big fan of the pre-election period! I want it clean, I want to know the what, how, where and when, presented in a clear and understandable manner, as I always say, a manifesto. I don’t want to hear the accusations of misconduct, mismanagement and corruption (however accurate), I want to know what they will do to bring about change. Currently our education system has gone from 3^rd in the world to 30^th, even allowing for the war it is bad. I want to know how it is possible that despite our vibrant hi-Tech and military exports, we are still in financial trouble and most of all, I want an answer, a clear and determined solution, not an empty promise, of how to bring two thirds of our population into serving the country in some shape or form. I want a government that will remind us that we are one, wonderful, productive, crazy country that must pull together. I want a Noah, a leader who is capable of building a huge vessel, bringing in the animals, ensuring they don’t eat each other and finding a safe landing place.

 

Of course, there are those who are devoted to the current PM and then there are those of us who yearn for change. Even worse there are those who say that if Netanyahu is returned to office, they will leave the country, alternatively, if he is not, then there are many Israelis, who now live abroad who want to return home. The constant angst of the charges and court appearances, the questions about whether the PM was warned of the impending disaster of October 7^th, exacerbated by the current accusations as a result of the libel case brought by former Head of the Secret Services (Shabak) Ronen Bar alleging that the Prime Minister knowingly published false accusations about his (Bar) conduct before the October 7^th attack to shift responsibility from himself. Until there is a National Inquiry, a full investigation into how on earth the slaughter of so many Israelis, young and old, took ANYONE by surprise, we cannot heal.

 

Walter Bingham, the world’s oldest working journalist and incredible human being, celebrated his 102^nd birthday by sky-diving! Born in Germany, Shoah survivor who found refuge in Britain then made Aliya to Jerusalem, is one of the brightest, most fascinating people I have ever met. Happy Birthday Walter.

 

Through hard earned excellence, Israel and Magen David Adom’s first responders, both doctors and paramedics are now spreading their expertise. Doctors and paramedics from the USA are here learning how to deal with major disasters, and small ones. I’m sad that the Israelis gained their knowledge through events that should never have happened, but glad that their expertise is being spread to help others.

 

Baroness Deech is one of Israel’s greatest proponents in the UK. She sits in the House of Lords and is highly respected by all. Thanks to my childhood friend Monica Black who sent me this truly magnificent, concise speech by the Baroness. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DebopKkAUau/?obrf=MTQxZWx2MGhhdnE0ZQ==

 

Zvi and I are hooked on the series “The Tudors”. It isn’t new but is brilliantly written and the acting is superb. Anyway, apart from that, we are now on Series 2, Episode 2 and the build up to the religious war between Henry the Eighth and the Catholic Church is at its height. The similarities to what is happening now in Israel is stunning! Worth watching the series just to see how this battle progresses. It bears a frightening resemblance to Jezebel (follower of Baal) and Ahab who allowed his Queen to dictate the worship in the Holy Land. Sounds familiar?

 

Zvi has many rehearsals in preparation for the visit to Berlin’s Lewandowsky Music Festival in December. It may seem a long way away but it’s a really large choir and the liturgical pieces are quite complex. Anyway, he had a rehearsal on Monday, then went to the photographic exhibition of our friend Meishi (Moshe) Schreiber at the Jerusalem Theatre where he met up with Australian Jyl Bell and her friend Shosh. They came back to us for an early supper and a wonderful chat.  In the meantime, I spent a real mother daughter day with Rachel, looking for clothes in Tel Aviv for my grandson Yosef and Tsofia’s wedding next month and got back just in time to put together surprise supper!

 

Talking about Australians, on Wednesday, my lovely friend and neighbour Gila, took me to visit her sister Margot and her husband Benny Dudkevitch in Moshav Ramat Raziel, a glorious village in the Jerusalem Corridor.  Both of them were very serious journalists, Benny in radio and Margot a military correspondent for the Jerusalem Post including the period during the 2^nd Intifada.  Thanks to Benny’s gardening, raising fascinating and rare plants and the incredible peace and quiet of the village, especially since their retirement, he has produced a place to rest one’s soul. Certainly, during Margot’s time as military correspondent, just sitting and listening to the birds must have provided her with a haven of peace. Loved every second especially Benny’s enthusiasm for each plant. I came home with cuttings and instructions! Gila and Margot came to Israel many years ago and have never regretted it.

 

Before I leave to Rachel’s she just this minute sent me an fascinating video of the release of fish to feed the White Pelicans in the Hula Valley to give them strength for their long winter migration. It really is a fantastic sight and shows yet another aspect of Israel and our care for the environment. I love listening to the child’s excitement, even if we don’t understand her words.  https://www.instagram.com/reels/Deh2EG9AFJ4/

 

 

Our home really is a confluence of nations! Tonight our friend Sammy Bettsak, from Panama and Atlanta, is coming for Shabbat Dinner; Monday and we go to Tel Aviv where I will meet with our Impact-se team  (a wonderful mixture of origins) and continue to meet up with Perla Jinich and daughter (Mexico) at the home of Nattie and Yolli Zonszein (Mexico and Israel) on Wednesday Kim Taylor (Canada) is arriving to stay with us before joining the Jewish Agency meetings; then on Friday night Keith and Deidre Beville are coming for Friday night dinner; Shabbat we will have lunch with Bryan Isaacs (Wales) and take Kim to Tel Aviv for his meetings. I’m not even going into next week!!!

 

So the excitement is growing for Yosef and Tsofia’s wedding next month, it’s amazing to have a “simcha” a happy event, to look forward to. Sheli and Amit went dress shopping together, and today I’ll hear many more stories when I get to Rachel. I haven’t even thought of what to make for supper but I’m not worried, it will come together. Shabbat always comes together no matter how many people turn up.

 

Our next song was written and set to music by David Deor many years ago but is so appropriate to today. Shmor al HaOlam Yeled. Take care of this world child because we didn’t manage. Ask for subtitles. https://youtu.be/2_zgDjMv1UA?si=r5x5Ci_2zr6xOhOa

 

Next, one of my favourites. It opens with Don Quixote and Pancho Sancha riding into the sunset and the song is Arik Einstein’s Ani v’Atah -You and Me. You and Me can change the world https://youtu.be/iOv9wSI8Qe4?si=8VNtAPOEjV8ab4rE  

 

Finally an uplifting song that you can sing along with! Hallelujah as you have never heard it before. Shulem Lemmer in concert in Jerusalem. He is everything I want to see in a Haredi man quite apart from his incredible voice. https://youtu.be/-orFQA3fCyA?si=Dh87vywKItgJo788   

 

I have always been a fan of Don Quixote whose fight was not against windmills but rather against ignorance and stubborn determination against change. David Deor and Arik Einstein really “got it” and as I have been saying for 26 years “The Power of One”, that’s you and me, is the only way to save our confused world.

 

I wish you a beautiful weekend, a beautiful Shabbat and remember You and Me Can Save the World.

With love from Jerusalem and our amazing veranda.

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever Onward like a Bar-Tailed Godwit

 

9th October 2026

Two days after 1,096 days

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends, Shabbat Shalom from our home to yours.

 

There were many memorial gatherings for the 7th of October, including the peoples memorial in Tel Aviv’s Park haYarkon and another right here in Motza, but we were honoured to be invited by Dr Mike Evans to an exceptional gathering in Davidson Plaza, beneath the walls of the Temple Mount, with Al-Aqsa above us, surrounded by the love of more than 1,000 Christian leaders from over 170 countries. It was an extraordinary experience. Among those honoured by the Friends of Zion Foundation, led by the indomitable Dr Mike Evans, were Yaniv, who received a bravery award for saving the Flydubai flight from Dr Evans, and one of the FOZ staff members who had been on that plane, as well as former hostages, each one a miracle in their own right.

 

I have no doubt you remember Itamar Shapira and the horrific videos of his skeletal body, digging his own grave 100 feet underground. There he stood before us: handsome, physically healthy, and full of determination. “I will take pain and turn it to purpose.” Words of strength, words of an Israeli. Agam Berger, still unsmiling, played her violin. Bar Kuperstein stood with his grandfather, a Shoah Survivor and his father, Tal, sat in the audience in his wheelchair. If you remember Tal was severely injured in an accident but vowed to stand to greet Bar when he came home. Each of them had a story of almost superhuman resilience. And then there was Sagui Dekel-Chen. During his captivity, Sagui had written songs, scratching them onto the wall of his tunnel. But on this occasion, he chose to sing a different song, one that had helped him survive. He sat at the piano, cleared his throat and began, in a broken voice, to sing the Beatles’ In My Life. My tears fell without stopping. In front of me, I saw Pamela Claman wiping away her tears as did our friend Pastor Mike Atkins, and then I realised that everyone around us was feeling his pain. It was as though, for those few minutes, his cracked voice helped us to understand just a little of what he had endured.

 

Throughout the ceremony, Dr Mike stood beside these brave survivors, offering his support. Sylvan Adams, the Canadian philanthropist and proud Jew, spoke about the work of FOZ and the Jewish fight against hatred. Then Bishop Robert Stearns, founder of Eagles’ Wings and a staunch advocate for Israel, stood to sing Hatikva. In all my years of attending events, I have never heard our anthem sung with such clarity, such strength and such conviction.

 

This song, part of which I sent you on Wednesday, was a poem written by Dr Mike and transformed into a beautiful song. https://youtu.be/Az9n4X5w72o?si=t7uAt-BNk6Pgtulk

 

Yet another year of painful memories, yet another year in which we don’t understand what and how it happened and until there is a national inquiry we never will. Oh, and I forgot to tell you that, as I had predicted, the Muezzin above us put the loudspeakers on full volume several times during the ceremony but every time he tried to drown out the ceremony Dr Mike got everyone to cheer very loudly, and I mean

VERY LOUDLY, and the interference stopped!!!

 

Before writing to you, I always read the newspapers and add to my list of things I want to share. This morning, I read that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have launched inquiries into how a man reportedly known for extremist views became a Flydubai co-pilot despite previous concerns. Serious questions must also be asked of our own Transport Minister, Miri Regev. Warnings about aviation security shortcomings had been raised, yet responsibility was transferred to her ministry without, reportedly, authority needed to carry it out properly. Regev says intelligence checks on foreign crews belong to the Mossad, not her ministry despite receiving funding for that purpose. So, who was responsible for ensuring these safeguards were in place? After October 7, we know only too well the terrible price of ignored warnings. We must establish exactly what went wrong and who must answer for it.

 

There are many places and people who give succour to soldiers and their families who suffer trauma from this ghastly war, not just the 7th of October. One way is surfing! Surfing not only connects to nature and freedom; it requires concentration and an escape from the reality of life. One does not need all one’s limbs to surf, one doesn’t need an adonis body, one just has to want to feel the freedom of the sea, the air and the escape. Surfing for Sanity.

 

Listening to the news on the radio, I heard that South African jurist Navi Pillay has won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Pillay chaired the UN Commission of Inquiry that concluded Israel had committed genocide in Gaza — a charge Israel vehemently rejects. War is horrific, and civilian suffering is real, but genocide is a grave legal accusation, not a word to be bandied around lightly. I am so tired of this relentless misrepresentation, so tired of those who seem to forget, or choose to ignore, what Hamas did on October 7th or the bombardment of Israel from Iran. Do they really believe that history began the day Israel responded?

 

Our wonderful Ira, mother of Sheli, is one of only eleven women, all volunteers, chosen to fly to Westchester County to speak before various groups. I proudly contacted my friend Sari, because knowing the Bedford community as I do, I was sure that Ira would not only be appearing there but would be well cared for. Of course, Sari immediately made enquiries around her friends and the wonderful Temple Sha’areh Tikva community and, wait for it, of course one of Ira’s hostesses is Sari’s best friend! If you live in the vicinity of Bedford, check to see where they are speaking and give Ira a hug from me.

 

Yesterday two girlfriends, Merav and Ora, came to have coffee in our coffee shop in “Bet Halutzei ha Or” which translates as House of the Pioneers of Light, right here next to our building. Of course, I introduced them to Yisrael, Haya and Tzila, of whom I have written many times, then, after a delicious lunch, we did a quick tour of the beautiful building which served, for many years of the Convalescent Home for the Histadrut, the Union which took care of the workers of Israel. I was so happy to see that most of rooms, each more beautiful than the previous, were full with sessions for people with PTSD including men, which is a huge advance since they find it hard to reach out for help. Usually it is the wives of, or women soldiers, rather than the male soldiers or first responders themselves.

 

This week the weather was much kinder, softer. The searing heat of the summer sun is quietly abating and the beginnings of autumn are apparent. Waking early one catches the brilliant sunrise reflecting scarlet on the clouds above the horizon, turning Jerusalem a fabulous golden colour in the distance. I love to sit and watch the crimson turn to a soft pink as the sun suddenly climbs over the horizon, radiating light. The birds begin to sing and the tiny sunbirds remember that they have a sweet drink waiting in our feeders. The gentler heat allows the double hibiscus opposite my chair, to give an incredible peach coloured display and maybe this weather will stay long enough to give my second crop of apples a chance to ripen before winter. Both Ora and Merav decided that we live in “Gan Eden” the Garden of Eden, it is so peaceful. I agree

 

Our Friday routine is underway. Zvi is at his parliament, a group of men of differing political views who are convinced that they are solving all the problems of Israel and the world. I often think that if only governments around the world, especially but not only ours could sit around a table, enjoy each other’s company, allow everyone to state his views, what a different world it would be.

 

I went to see Rachel and the girls, Yosef is staying over Shabbat at his fiancée’s parent’s home but I got to hug the girls and heard a brilliant speech about what education should be and how teachers should consider each child’s potential and troubles. I would choose her for Minister of Education any day. Of course it meant that I drove past my favourite view of the amazing patchwork, mosaic that is Jerusalem.

 

I’m now musing over the last week and trying to think of music that reflects the emotions that deeply affected me.

 

Uzi Hitman didn’t write complex, over emotional songs, he wrote straight from the heart simple tunes that had more power, more truth in them than any other. This one is called I was Born for Peace. I love it. https://youtu.be/192t-KvtK2M?si=0iJQ1-u7F0jTNfP4

 

Arik Einstein wrote a beautiful song all about our fears for our children when they leave our nests to fly in the big wide world. I rather like this very simple family rendition. Oof Gozal, Fly my Chick. https://youtu.be/CwMB1NhPRLE?si=NxDowAmFn9FDSmSN  I want to dedicate this to my incredible, beautiful grandson Yosef who will marry very soon. He doesn’t call me Safta, He calls me “My Safta”

 

I think you may have guessed the final song. It isn’t in Hebrew and it isn’t new, but for me it will always represent the resilience and beauty of Sagui Dekel Chen. In My Life by the Beatles. https://youtu.be/8zV6etKD3Ps?si=iSuyAy-xDPVqobAE

 

I wish you a Shabbat Shalom. Shalom is hello, goodbye, au revoir, bonjour, adieu, but above all it means peace. Peace, peace of mind. As I learned that chilly evening by the Southern Wall of the Temple Mount, we, the Jews, the Israelis, we are not alone. As Dr Mike proclaimed true Christians are with us, beside us, holding us. Helping us to be proud of what we are, stand up straight and never make excuses for your birthright.

 

Sending you all my love from our veranda

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,096 Days

 

1,096 days since the 7th of October 2023

 

I don’t know what to write to you. Where do I begin? How do I write about something so utterly diabolical without asking, again and again, how on earth did this actually happen? How do I find the rational, calm voice that is usually my signature when I am boiling inside?

Who will ease the pain of ten-year-old Daria, alone in her home with the body of her father after he was slaughtered by Hamas, while she spoke to her mother on the telephone and her mother desperately tried to understand what her little girl was describing? How does a child ever recover from something like that? And how can any of us begin to comprehend the sheer scale of what happened — the deliberate slaughter of people from the age of 87 to a ten-month-old baby?

There are moments when words simply fail. This is one of them. All I can feel is grief, horror and a fury that refuses to go away.

 

Imagine the pastoral beauty of Kibbutz Be’eri. Life was quiet, crops were planted, animals tended, children grew up, and many of the kibbutz members devoted themselves to helping sick children and adults, including bringing patients from Gaza to Israel for medical treatment. Imagine an ordinary October morning — people making breakfast, sitting outside with their coffee, getting ready to begin another day. Then 400 terrorists descended on the kibbutz with murder and destruction in their minds. What followed is impossible to comprehend.

 

The horror of Be’eri was repeated in kibbutzim all along the border, while at the Nova festival young people were only just beginning their morning when the killing began. Many had nowhere to run. In total, 1,195 people were slaughtered, including 364 at Nova, and 251 civilians and soldiers were taken hostage. The cruelty was beyond anything I can put into words: rape, burning people alive, parents murdered in front of their children and children in front of their parents. And then comes the part that makes my blood run cold: some of the terrorists had worked in these kibbutzim. They had been trusted to enter people’s homes, knew where the safe rooms were, and had drawn maps of the houses. They knew exactly where to find the people they came to murder. This was not spontaneous hatred. It was planned, studied and carried out with a level of cruelty that I still struggle to comprehend.

 

And then comes the part that makes the whole thing even harder to bear: the warnings were there. The young women serving as IDF observers along the Gaza border saw the changes, watched Hamas training and preparations, and repeatedly tried to sound the alarm — but their warnings were dismissed. Egypt warned Israel several times that something was about to happen, and the UAE also raised the alarm directly with Netanyahu. Yet the warnings were not acted upon.

 

And all the while, Israel was pursuing a policy of keeping Hamas quiet through money. For years, Netanyahu's governments approved the transfer of Qatari cash into Gaza, including some $30 million a month, believing that economic stability and the flow of money would help contain Hamas. In September 2023, just weeks before the massacre, Israeli officials even sought an increase in Qatari funding. The idea was that Hamas could be managed, contained and bought off.

 

How catastrophically wrong that judgement turned out to be. The warnings were ignored, the enemy was underestimated, and a policy intended to keep Hamas quiet helped sustain the very regime that was preparing for war. And so, on that terrible morning, the slaughter began — and the war that followed has dragged on, costing far too many young Israeli lives and leaving us all asking the same unbearable question: how could so many people have seen the danger, and yet so few have acted?

 

Pastor Dr. Mike Evans wanted to create an event to commemorate those we lost on that fateful day. He wrote a poem and knew it had to be turned into a song. He turned to Zvi for help and together with Zvi’s musical director Ronit Banit, they not only created a beautiful song but managed to put together people from many countries to sing it. Mike’s own story is one of sadness and belief, perhaps this song personifies his connection to Israel over the last 50 years.  Tonight, we will join 2,000 Christians from all over the world at the plaza of the Southern Wall in a memorial service when the song will be sung.  https://youtu.be/Az9n4X5w72o?si=IqwLYuZkXZ0hODsz

 

Since that day, that terrible day, Israel has changed. We are a nation in pain and the number of soldiers and their families, the Nova survivors and the people of the Gaza Envelope, the Southern Negev, need you, we all need each other to confront the hatred that is too familiar.

 

I send you love, because by loving each other, by standing together we can overcome those who wish us gone.

 

Sheila

 

 

The Plumber, The Pilot and the 7th

 

2^nd of October, 2026

20^th Tishrei 5787

 

Shabbat Shalom, Chag Succot Sameach, Blessed Feast of Tabernacles and Simchat Torah

 

There’s a new saying going around:

If you want to fly safely, take four Israelis with you, especially a plumber!

 

I warn you that this will not be a short missive, so much has happened, so make yourself comfortable and I’ll begin.

 

The drama of the Flydubai flight to Ben Gurion began with almost certain tragedy and ended with an enormous sense of pride in the courage and resourcefulness of its Israeli passengers. A little girl, in the toilet near the cockpit, heard a terrible commotion and told her mother, who alerted the cabin. What followed was almost unimaginable. Captain Smit Machchhar had been stabbed by his Omani co-pilot but, despite his injuries, somehow managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to get inside and overpower the attacker who intended Jihad, killing all the passengers on the flight.

 

Four Israelis then sprang into action. Yaniv Hayun barged into the cockpit, saw that the copilot was destroying the controls and he pulled him out of his chair, the other Israelis controlled him and Yaniv pulled back on the controls as the aircraft plunged 15,000 feet. Asaf Rajwan and Tzvika Mans helped restrain and tie up the attacker using a headphone cord, while Dr Shota Musayev, a dentist, treated the badly wounded captain and stopped the bleeding and administered CPR. When Yaniv,( a plumber by trade) was later asked how he knew what to do, how to stop the plane plummeting to the ground, his answer was wonderfully Israeli: “Because I watch Mayday (aka Airport Security) doesn’t everyone?”

 

Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot, sent a squawk 7700 indicating Mayday then 7500 for hijacking, before losing consciousness and once things were under control one pilot of the spare crew took to the controls, turned the plane around and headed towards Saudi Arabia, giving essential time to bring the situation under control. Captain Smit is now recovering in hospital in Tabuk and, frankly, deserves a medal. Despite extensive damage to the plane they landed safely in Saudi Arabia amid fears that there might be an explosive device on board. The passengers were understandably terrified, but were reportedly treated with great kindness by the Saudi ground staff, who provided food, drinks and medical assistance. Eventually they made their way home on another Flydubai flight since the Saudi authorities did not want to set a precedent of allowing El Al to send a rescue plane. An extraordinary story, four very brave Israelis, and a remarkable captain who refused to give up when 182 lives depended on him. What an incredible story and one with a miraculous ending, something we certainly need these days.

 

President Herzog has recommended the Presidential Medal of Civilian Valour for the four Israelis who helped save the Flydubai flight

 

Another extraordinary story, this time a much happier one, took place in Jerusalem on Sunday night. The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem held its annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration, with 1,500 people from 70 countries. The ICEJ family now stretches across 170 nations, many of whom pray regularly for Israel.

 

The Fijian Ambassador, Jesoni Vitusagavulu, gave a lovely speech before the Fijian Christian Choir filled the hall with that wonderful South Pacific harmony. I loved watching the Ambassador, he simply couldn’t take his eyes off his choir! He told us that Papua New Guinea and Fiji have established embassies in Jerusalem, with Samoa joining them soon. It brought back memories of the days when Israel’s seven-a-side rugby team seemed to consist largely of Fijian UNIFIL soldiers!

 

The ICEJ has been part of our lives for many years. Tim King was one of its founders, and we have watched his daughter Anna grow from a gorgeous flame-haired baby, photographic model, IDF officer who received honorary citizenship for her service, into a wonderful mother of three. Dr. Juergen Buhler, the heart and soul of the ICEJ today, came to Israel to study chemistry at the Technion 30 years ago and never left! These are Christians who support Israel because of their faith, not missionaries, as some mistakenly believe, and their friendship means a great deal. On the night of the Festival, they committed to $2million for the rehabilitation of Kibbutz Nir Oz, destroyed by the Hamas marauders.

 

On the 7th of October 2026, Dr Mike Evans and the Jerusalem Prayer Team, together with the Friends of Zion Heritage Centre, will hold a 24-hour Global Prayer Event from the Southern Wall of the Old City, Jerusalem, with Christians from around the world gathering to remember those murdered, pray for the grieving families and hostages, and stand against antisemitism.

 

On Wednesday, 3 years since the day that changed us all, the independent National Memorial Ceremony, organised by the families and the grassroots movement Kumu which means Arise, will take place in Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv. Simultaneously the Nova survivors and families hold a ceremony at Re’im the site of the Nova Festival. It matters to me that these are ceremonies organised by the people, by families, survivors and friends, not by the government. We will remember those who were slaughtered, the hostages and the heroes of that terrible day, and we will grieve for lives stolen and families shattered. But Kumu - Arise says something much more, we are still here. We grieve, we remember, we honour, and we survive. We still have nightmares remembering the cruel videos of hostages, beaten, held underground, humiliated, but rise again we must like the Phoenix that Israel is.

 

88-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz, a former hostage whose husband was murdered in Hamas captivity spoke out this week. Her anger is palpable. In an interview she rejected the claim that Netanyahu brought the hostages home, calling it “one big lie”: “Miriam Adelson bought us with the $100 million she gave Trump and told him to bring the hostages back”. Whether one agrees with her or not, after what this extraordinary woman endured, her words deserve to be heard.

 

I still don’t know how to measure the effect that the 7^th of October has had on all of us as Israelis. 3 years have passed since that Simchat Torah when joy turned into unimaginable pain, the slaughter of more than 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages, Jews, Arabs and Christians. What makes my anger even harder to bear is the knowledge that those whose job was to protect us failed so catastrophically. Our army, intelligence services and political leadership left us with “choser onim” helplessness, and, even worse, the knowledge that so many had been so arrogant, and certain they were right that they didn’t heed the warnings. How could they have been so blind? How could they have failed us so completely? The war that followed has only deepened the pain.

 

We have lost too many young lives, lost trust in those who lead us and, heartbreakingly, seen the worst of human behaviour emerge among our own people. The Hilltop Youth who attack Palestinians make me furious. Judaism taught me better than that. Violence does not become righteous because the person committing it wears a kippah, and terrorism does not become acceptable simply because it comes from our own side.

 

So, we mourn but arise, something we see in everyday life. We love to go to restaurants; we travel; in a determined effort to catch the last days of summer the announcement that the public parks and nature hikes are full seems a daily event; whatever you think, and beyond all logic, this is a country of joy and hope. Perhaps the clearest indicator of our personality is that when there is a new building project, by law they have to plant trees along the new roadsides! Flowering trees, jacarandas in all they glory are popular but within a couple of years they provide shade and greenery.

 

Did I say restaurants? So this week we went to Kfar Saba to see Yossi and Rachel then to Nattie and Yolli and finally our Argentinian friend Julio Jarak who we brought back to our place. He came to the ICEJ event with us and afterwards we realised that it was 22:00 and we hadn’t eaten since an early lunch. Where does one take someone who has been to Israel dozens of times? To Sima the most Jerusalem restaurant in the world. We couldn’t find parking on the road because everything was teeming, as happens within the vicinity of Mahane Yehuda!!! Finally, parked and wending our way through the throng of people enjoying an evening out and young people heading for the bars and music of Mahane Yehuda at night, we arrived at Sima, on Agrippas Street. Of course, within 30 seconds our lovely waitress, Haya, was our friend and advised us what to eat “Ma’orav Yerushalmi for the boys and pargiot for me” What’s Ma’orav Yerushalmi I hear you ask. Well, that’s a story in itself but I’ll make it short. The original owner of Sima used to serve his food but at the end of the day he was left with the giblets, innards and onions, so rather than waste it, he cut it up and grilled it with lots of oriental spices and put it in a pita! Over the years it has become the signature dish of Mahane Yehuda and Jerusalem!!

 

On Wednesday we went to a lunchtime concert at the home of our friends the Friedmans. When I say concert it actually meant lots of songs from way back when and jokes from the same period. Brothers Haim and Uzi Essner are infinitely talented, musically wonderful and really funny, interacting with their audience of a certain age. We are old friends since Haim played at our wedding 30 years ago! We then went for lunch at Motzeleh and Zvi tried Lachoch (Yemenite bread) for the first time. It took a Welsh Israeli to introduce him to Yemenite food!!

 

Tonight we have the family for both of Zvi’s boy’s birthdays, it’s only 14 of us but that’s fine. For a change I ordered a huge platter of sushi to add to the soup and “gevetch” or ratatouille, minted potatoes and salmon skewers, I am not capable of just ordering in!!

 

On Sunday we are back in Mahane Yehuda for a tour followed by dinner with Zvi’s choir. I know several people who will be jealous of that one!

 

Today, Zvi is off to his parliament and I hope to go to Rachel, perhaps the children will be there! We are getting very close to Yosef and Tsofia’s wedding, it’s becoming very exciting! We are all so thrilled that friends are calling to say that they are coming from far and wide, so special on every level.

 

And so to music, I hope you are still with me!!

 

Daniel Wais lost both his parents on that ghastly day, killed in cold blood by Hamas. He decided to enter the Israeli competition to choose the Eurovision singer and this is the song he chose – his father’s favourite. Ani Gitara – I am a guitar. I am happy to tell you that although he didn’t represent us, he has gone on to a sparkling career.  https://youtu.be/Kz249YwQTV4?si=3vFGtPb2RGmTB39q  

 

I know you love Koolulam and I have never given you this one before!  Researchers at the University of Buffalo conducted research into Koolulam and collective effervescence and human flourishing. People of all faiths from all over the USA came together to sing “Let’s Get Loud”    https://youtu.be/pxd_u4J6ZqI?si=CPzTiKpOK1k-yJXI

 

I love Omer Adam, probably the most popular Israeli singer at the moment. He got married just a few weeks ago and we all wished him and his bride well. This song “Yom Shishi” or Friday, is so Israeli! He sings about his plans (or not) for each day of the week but Friday, Friday leads him to Shabbat. It’s bounce, it’s fun and I have no doubt that you, like me, will dance about and clap your hands at the refrain. https://youtu.be/yI73P4c6vlQ?si=kukKYN5tnSE9ymzh

 

Dear friends, wherever you are, we are finding it difficult to understand the world right now but remember, we can control and enjoy OUR world, the one of so much love and human kindness. We can create an island of warmth, of family and friends that can overcome the cruel world outside. As I light the candles this evening, watching Jerusalem turning gold in the sunset in the distance, I will think of you as I say the prayer "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat."

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. I’d love to hear from you, I know you always mean to do so but this time, do it, I love it when you do.

With love

Sheila