Friday 15 March 2024

Scared, Sacred or Scarred

 

15th March 2024

161st day of October

 

Scarred and Scared

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. For a change I want to begin with a letter from a friend. It fascinated me and helped me understand many aspects of what it means to be both here in Israel and in the country of one’s residence, the USA, during this particularly worry time.

 

“I arrived in Israel three days before the war started. On Shabbat morning I wake up to the news of what Hamas had done and that the war had started. I was staying with my brother and sister in law in Natanya. Of course, it was a shock to the system, to say the least. After the first few moments, I felt grateful that I was in Israel with my close family. I would have gone crazy had I heard the news in Los Angeles, were I live. Of course, I started to receive phone calls from my children and grandchildren to come back to the US. By then, I had relaxed and my mind was made up. It took a few days and phone calls, back and forth, to make them understand that I was not afraid. That I knew the IDF would take care of all of us and, most of all, I could not abandon my family in Israel. That I would have felt like a coward! That my life was NOT more valuable than theirs! Most of all, that I would never be able to forgive myself nor live with myself! Finally, they all understood. I assured them that I would fly back the day and time I was scheduled to return, which I did three weeks later.

I must admit that my fear is much greater being in Los Angeles than it was while I was in Israel. I never thought that there would be such antisemitism! In Israel, we all thought that, finally, after such an horrific attack by Hamas, the world would get it! That did not quite happen. Most of all, what is of extreme concern to me, are the acts of terrorism that, I believe, will take place. I must admit, unlike while in Israel, and I have been to Israel many times, now I am terrorized! I have never felt this way before! I worry about my family here, my friends and the Jewish community.” 

 

There has been uproar here since the Sefardi Chief Rabbi, Yitzchak Yosef warned of a mass exodus of ultra-Orthodox Jews from Israel if the government were to revoke their exemption from conscription to military service. Sadly, just as young Haredi men are beginning to understand the need to join the IDF, this has created yet another rift in our society. It is all too close to “sinat Hinam”

 

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly made an incredible claim while on an official visit to our area. She has devoted $1 investigating sexual harassment of Palestinian women! Not a word about October 7th, not a word about the continued situation of the hostages. Yes, Canada. We remember Canada’s response to the Jewish refuges during WW2. Apparently, nothing has changed. I know who one of your advisors is but I can only say, “Look out Canada’s Jews”

 

Do you remember the Yazidi women? In 2019 thousands and thousands of Yazidi women and children were captured by Islamic State in Syria and Iraq and sold into slavery, raped, beaten and their husbands killed. Not a word from the world, except for the wonderful Canon Andrew White, silence, nobody cared. Islamic State is a brother group to ISIS, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Israeli women and children were taken into captivity, raped, murdered and what happens? The world turns against us.

 

Hillel Fuld made some exceptional points about the hypocrisy of current world reactions to the War in Gaza. My lovely friend Stanley Roth brought my attention to this. Well worth reading. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/385215

 

UNWRA was at the top of the agenda for the Over 20 parliamentarians from various countries actively promoting pro-Israel legislation through Christian faith-based diplomacy were invited to discussions at the Jerusalem Chairman's Conference, organized by the Israel Allies Foundation. The conference heard Members of Knesset and visited the South. They also learned the fact that 1,468 UNWRA employees are active members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad while 50% of UNWRA employees have a first-degree relative who is a member of one of the terror organisations. I am so proud of Impact-se (www.impact-se.org ) as the organisation which warned the world about UNWRA through their violently anti-infidel, anti-Israel schoolbooks.

 

Israel Katz in UN. https://youtu.be/WofBFUYEKQ4?si=ANZfB9NqV1heSvvz Thanks to USA, France and UK and to Japan. For arranging this meeting. Forget his accent, listen carefully to his message “Close your eyes and imagine that the Nova Field was your field”

 

Not everything is bad news. In the Israeli Bedouin settlement Bir al-Maksor, which means Broken Well, Ramadan began with a parade with the Israeli flag held high. The settlement is near the Jezreeel Valley. I must say that it warmed the hearts of many an Israeli Jew.

 

Sarah Idan, the former Miss Iran who stood up to the theocratic dictatorship of the Ayatollas, stood beside Mia Schem at Sir Elton John’s Oscar party in Hollywood. Sara made a powerful fashion statement wearing a dress she designed. The dress included the names of 19 Israeli women still held hostage in Gaza. Thank you Sarah Idan for standing with the hostages! Sarah designed her own dress, with broad yellow sashes declaring “Bring Them Home” and Mia Schem, looking beautiful and proud, her arm still in a cast, showing the world that despite the untold horror of captivity as a hostage with Hamas, she is living and thriving. Israeli women will not be cowed by the dire brutality of Hamas.

 

World famous boxer Floyd Mayweather, not only sent supplies including bullet proof vests and so much more in his private plane immediately after October 7th, he came again to Israel to visit the South and to declare his absolute support for Israel.

 

Mike Freer is a Member of the Tory Party and a Minister in the UK. He is Gay and, like his PM Rishi Sunak, really understands what is happening. Here he speaks out about the inanity of LGBTQ support for Gazans i.e. Hamas https://youtu.be/_yOVH8crRv8?si=qMlAdlZ0kiKEnj1T

 

Purim, the story of a brave woman, a cheating husband, a clever man and the usual, same-old same-old story of a cruel, but powerful man, leading his King astray, telling such far fetched lies that he convinced him that he must kill all the Jews in his Kingdom.  Purim is so much more than getting cross at Haman, the cruel man, and eating triangular cookies!  However, since we are on the good news section of this week’s missive, let’s talk about those cookies. Patisseries and bakeries are festooned with every kind of filling that a small triangular pastry case can possibly contain! The traditional poppy see or Pereg, chocolate, that wonderful dried fruit paste called mincemeat, hundreds and thousands and some very sophisticated ones that our grandparents would never have recognised!   I grew up calling them Hamantschen or Haman’s hats or tricornes. Zvi grew up calling them Oznay Haman or Haman’s Ears and today the joke is that they should be called Oznay Sinwar, since Sinwar is as cruel as Haman, is the leader of Hamas and has big ears! Yes, Israelis have a black sense of humour, we’ve been given no choice. By the way, don’t forget that Haman got his comeuppance and suffered the same fate as he ordered for Mordechai.

 

What is the relevance of Purim today. My dear friend Rabbi Jeremy Rosen always seems to come up with the explanation I search for and always at the right time. Purim is not for another week or so but our current situation begs this analysis. https://jeremyrosen.com/2024/03/why-purim-matters.html   I quote from the first paragraph. Purim matters so much this year. It tells a never-ending story. We were threatened with destruction. We responded by finding ways to combat the threat.  We did not capitulate. We called out evil as it was. We celebrated our survival by emphasizing charity, friendship, and gratitude, strengthening our communities, all positive qualities, building not destroying. We did not rejoice in needless pain or seeing others suffer. Purim makes another point. That one reaction to evil is to laugh at it. Not to exclude fighting it of course. But to show that evil however horrific, can also be laughed at. There are many other ways of fighting evil.  Just think of Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator, and Mel Brooks’ The Producers. Often as effective as serious analysis. 

 

Many of you heard about the One Family Organisation started during the 2nd Intifada by Chantal and Marc Belzberg. Since that time One Family has grown into the number one support for Israelis of every age, faith no matter where they live, Israelis who have been injured or family members killed in terror attacks. Kinneret Chaya was horribly injured in that first wave of terror and their support for the Boosany family was superb which is when I fell in love with both the Belzberg family and One Family. Thousands upon thousands have been given love and assistance by One Family and now at long last they have been officially recognised. One Family is the recipient of the Genesis Prize. Mazal Tov to the Belzberg Family. Never has a prize been more deserved. https://onefamilytogether.org/about-us/

 

Eden Golan is a fabulous representative of Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest singing Hurricane. It’s just a few weeks since she won the “Star is Born” competition to be the Israeli representative and what struck everyone, panel and public alike, is her professionalism and confidence, especially in one so young. At the demand of the powers that be in the contest they insisted the words of the song be changed since there was a slight suggestion that the original words mentioned her pain after October 7th. Do listen. She has a fabulous voice. https://youtu.be/lJYn09tuPw4?si=APKyb0O8pXgiIjcu

 

Shulem Lemmer breaks all the preconceived ideas we have of a Haredi man, and he has the voice of an angel. Life is tough for all of us at the moment and here, together with Dovid Hill, he sings a beautiful song of dreams of a better world. https://youtu.be/ajpRIBwFYjU?si=HdXFE5i-8Rs-QFw0

 

Am Yisrael Chai is so much more than a call, it is a statement, it is a call of hope, a call to remember that we have suffered worse than this but if we will just unite we are strong. This too will pass. Eyal Golan with Am Yisrael Chai https://youtu.be/2p3rtnQ_7y4?si=QowBALhkCp1mBO4P

 

This weekend, this Shabbat, this Sabbath, it’s hard to be calm, to believe everything will be alright, especially for Jews and Christians in an ever confusing world, but I hope and pray that you will find your quiet place, your calm zone, your place of belief that we are stronger than any disinformed public. Find the beauty in spring flowers, in kindnesses, in smiles, don’t fall into the abyss of disbelief. We ae strong, we have an inherited memory that good always wins over evil.

 

I wish you Shabbat Shalom, a peaceful Shabbat, with all the love in the world from Jerusalem OUR beautiful city, the fulcrum around which the world revolves.

 

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 8 March 2024

Avoidable

 

8th March 2024

153rd of October

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Shabbat Shalom today, International Women’s Day.

 

I thought that the slogan “Me Too except for Jew” was exaggerated, but as time went on and not one women’s organisation condemned the vile attacks of Hamas, the demonic instances of necrophilia, sadism, paedophilia, genital mutilation of women (and men) and so much more was totally ignored in a frenzy of Jew hatred. Finally, after 5 months a United Nations report has stated clearly all of the above. Finally, out of the hundreds of women’s organisations, the least likely of all has chosen, under immense pressure, to admit the truth. Hamas is a Mephtistophelean military dictatorship that like Mephisto, sold its soul to the devil. May God help those still in captivity.

 

Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN (SRSG) Pramila Patten came to Israel at the request of the Israeli Government, to perform a complete investigation of the events of October 7th. They produced a damning but incomplete report, partly because so much evidence was tainted by the first responders who unknowingly removed evidence and partly because of Jewish tradition to bury the dead immediately. Of course, she visited, and I quote from the report “the Occupied Territories”, I believe in the hope of finding evidence of Israeli sexual mistreatment of prisoners in Israeli jails which clearly did not exist. Nonetheless, and despite very “fluffy” language, the report could not deny the demonic actions of Hamas. https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/press-release/israel-west-bank-mission/

 

Most women in Israel are feisty, clever, strong and women are at the forefront of the battle against Hamas, Hezb-Allah. It was a tank with 4 young women that fought off Hamas terrorists on October 7th, eliminating over a hundred; It was a grandmother, Rachel Edri, a Safta, who, for over 20 hours of being held at gunpoint and an unpinned grenade, convinced terrorists that if they just left them alone, they would be rewarded with canned pineapple, tea and her home-made cookies; it was young women IDF spotters who warned of the impending Hamas attack, reporting highly suspicious movement on the border. Their warnings were ignored by an officer who did not pass the information higher, many of the spotters were killed, but that is another story. Women also created a secret and unique weapon for the arsenal against terror, a precise guided missile called Iron Sting. Here those amazing, clever women explain. https://youtu.be/GZGp1PDVokE?si=lV1MyzfQ_pSvID3h

 

The ever generous United States has made air-drops of food into Gaza. Don’t be fooled, it isn’t because aid has not been arriving into that awful place, it’s because the United States and President Biden are fully aware of the fact that Hamas grabs all aid that comes into Gaza on the hundreds of lorries that cross the border every day. The aid that is parachuted in has a greater chance of reaching the people because the landing sites are unknown in advance. In the meantime, Israeli aid to Gaza has increased. Yes. That’s what I said, Israeli aid to Gaza has increased. Have you ever, but ever, heard of a country at war against a diabolical enemy whose only aim is to wipe one off the face of the earth, sending humanitarian aid?

 

In order to facilitate aid the US government is building a pier off Gaza City. Since the violent piracy of the Houthis access is very limited and since the US troops will be delivering the aid will also oversee delivery it is another way to ensure that the aid goes to the people

 

Many years ago, on a mission headed by Malcolm Hoenlein, I met with the then Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayaad. Fayaad had a plan, based on the plans of the leaders of the nascent State of Israel. Just as Jews were encouraged to join the British Army, Mandate Police, serve as clerks in the offices of Mandate administration, thus learning how to run a country, an army, a police force etc, he wanted the Palestinians to do the same but in the Israeli equivalents. His vision was for an organised Palestinian State. Sadly, his vision was not to the taste of the leaders and he soon found himself out of office, out of politics and back in the business world. A rare rational voice in the PA he was interviewed for the Jerusalem Post. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-790376

 

I really do my best to be apolitical, a far as is humanly possible, but our current situation is beyond politics. Our current kakistocracy has caused untold damage internationally, internally and ultimately brought us to war and death. The Mount Meron disaster, the deaths of pilgrims to the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was avoidable. Yes, avoidable. The official report of the disaster points clearly to the top, to Benjamin Netanyahu who ignored the warnings, ignored the demand of the officials responsible for the Mount Meron site to close as too dangerous to hold the vast number of pilgrims to see the lighting of the flame on Lag b”Omer, the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer. One official said that after his warnings, directly to the PM, Mr Netanyahu stood in Mount Meron with the Haredi leaders, expounding the importance of the site and inviting the thousands to come and “celebrate”. 45 people died on the steps of Mount Meron. Equally, Netanyahu continued what he blindly called “negotiations” with Hamas right until days before October 7th, insisting he had the situation under control. Cabinet Members Smotridge and Ben Gvir are sadly quoted as it they are the consensus in Israel, causing untold damage in the foreign media without any redress. On the other hand, General and Former Chief of Staff Benny Gantz took a major decision very much against the wishes of the Prime Minister, and as a member of the War Cabinet, met with senior members of the United States administration, continuing to London and a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. I must be said that Rishi Sunak has not only risked his political career in his absolute support of Israel, he is risking his life and that of his family by taking such a firm stand against Hamas. Back to Benny Gantz, He didn’t demand any special treatment or private planes, no entourage or security, he just went to do what he felt was right since nobody was willing to meet with Netanyahu. Someone had to be the adult in the room and explain our position.

 

Wow, I hope you had the patience to read what I wrote, every word is carefully chosen to ensure that you have the verbal ammunition to face those who choose to believe the “River to the Sea” brigade. One way to respond to their inanity is to say “It’s not Hamas, it’s not Hezb-Allah, it’s not the Houthis, IT’S IRAN STUPID” While the eyes of the world are on Israel and Hamas, Iran has almost certainly completed their nuclear programme!!!

 

I usually keep music to the end but there is one song, one special song, a blast from the past, which embodies International Women’s Day. Helen Reddy wrote a song about one woman’s struggle for recognition as a strong, independent, capable human being. I Am Woman is about women all over the world.  https://youtu.be/ZrVLL7soS1U?si=LlQ7sTNYN3JWtXYF I dedicate it to the phenomenal Israeli women soldiers in the IDF with a depth of gratitude that is hard to express. They are not Amazons, they are mothers, grandmothers, wives, leaders in business, nurses, doctors, teachers all of whom chose to put on the IDF uniform and serve our beautiful country

 

On Sunday Zvi and I headed off to the Khan Theatre, that beautiful old building that housed pilgrims, travellers and their animals in the early Ottoman period. The play, the premiere, was about am amateur troupe in a play, about a play in 1931 Poland. The subject of said drama was Dreyfuss, and the members of the troupe, both imaginary and actual, talked about the situation that brought about the Dreyfuss Trial. I love the Khan actors, really brilliant and more often than not they write their own original material. If you can imagine a play about a play about Dreyfuss which was funny, clever and left you thinking, that’s Dreyfuss!

 

Monday was a relatively quiet day, and Tuesday was a complete surprise! When Merle and Frank Friedman suggested that I go with them to a lecture about Anna Karenina I have to admit that I wasn’t really looking forward to it. I couldn’t have been more wrong! I sat in rapt attention as the speaker, the lecturer, explained the scenes and how the story unfolds. Although I read the book many years ago and found is interesting if long, there were so many hidden messages of love, betrayal and sheer snobbery that I had not realised. Loved every minute than went for lunch in Kibbutz Kiriat Anavim, to the Pop-up coffee shop and its wonderful chef. That evening, our Mind and Movement session was very special. Again, a sense of empowerment for women. Yesterday, Nattie and Yolli Zonshein popped in for coffee on their way through to Jerusalem, that wonderful popping in as only good friends can, and then I met a friend in the local Mall, more for the chat then the coffee and in the evening I  went to my “Creativity” group while Zvi went to a rehearsal of the Jerusalem Symphony Choir who are loth to let him go!!

 

Why do I tell you about my week?  Probably because I want you to know that while traumatised, we are not cowed. We go about our busy lives, spending more time with friends but basically supporting each other in a very positive manner. Indeed, we have a way of thanking the Almighty for “Little Gifts” Matanot Ktanot. https://youtu.be/GvvXB2f3lFw?si=XjANIzxgzI9XXCCi

 

Probably the most terrifying aspect of October the 7th is the response of the world. We are castigated, blamed, threatened, in a manner that took Jews all over the world by storm. From Melbourne to Montreal, from Minnesota to Manchester, Mexico City, Madrid, Miami everywhere, Jews are attacked. “From the River to the Sea” is yelled by people who just hate, no other reason because they don’t even know what river and what sea!  Many years ago, Bob Dylan understood the situation. His song “Neighborhood Bully” in 1983, but like so many of his songs it is prophetic, sadly appropriate to today. Listen carefully to the words, I wouldn’t call them lyrics because it is a determined scream to the world for understanding just who is the aggressor in these parts and it isn’t us. https://youtu.be/-ETdLfXI6r8?si=qvizQw2l-LERvFOS

Since Dylan had a way of slurring his words, such deeply important words so here they are. https://www.bobdylan.com/songs/neighborhood-bully/

 

At this moment, indeed as we are chatting, my amazing 15 year old grand-daughter Ayala is running in the Jerusalem Marathon! Not the whole distance, but 10 kilometres is pretty good! Her proud Mum is there to ensure that the event is recorded in photographs and on her way through the 40,000 thousand participants and even more spectators, she snapped the Shalva team as they ran too. Soon I will get myself ready to go to Rachel’s and hear all about it! This evening we will spend our Shabbat Dinner with Amiad and Noga and family and tomorrow, tomorrow, rain permitting, we will go for our walk above the reservoir. I cannot get enough of that view and there are always new people to chat with.

 

Our veranda is exquisite! All the spring flowers are starting to emerge, mostly still in bud form but I know that in a couple of days the iris, ranunculus, daffodils, grape hyacinth, freesia will all burst into a blaze of colour. Actually, perfect timing since our upstairs neighbour’s son is marrying and I want her overseas guests to see how beautiful her surroundings are. Most of all, or best of all, the tiny apple tree is in blossom! I am so excited!  Incredibly scented, pink and white, exquisitely formed blossom that gives promise for a fruitful summer.

 

I wish you a peaceful weekend, a Shabbat Shalom. May your prayers come true, your family be well and your faces turned toward Jerusalem, our beautiful Capital City which today is the site of great festivity as runners of all races, colours, creeds, shapes and sizes run through her streets, in pride instead of fear.

 

With love

Sheila

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 1 March 2024

In Nova's Fields

 


1st March, 2024

October 144th

 

Shabbat Shalom, I wish you a peaceful weekend

 

I want you to imagine a beautiful sunny day, driving down road 232, the verges covered in fabulous carpet of wild red anemones, so famous in the south of Israel. We had driven down this road many times in the past to see the “Red South” or Darom Adom, to walk through the fields of calaniot (anemones) as far as the eye could see. On Monday, we didn’t wander through any fields and the red flowers reminded me of Flander’s Fields, the killing fields of World War One. As we drove along the road, between the Kibbutzim of Re’em and Be’eri, the bus fell silent, in all our minds, the ghosts of running young people seemed tangible, almost visible, as they ran from the barbaric savagery of Hamas.

 

I wanted to go south to the killing fields of the Western Negev, perhaps “wanted” is the wrong word, but somehow we hadn’t managed to go , which became a blessing since being on an organised tour, hearing the explanations, meeting Kibbutz members, meant that we saw and understood what one can never understand when alone. The World Zionist Organisation, as part of their annual meetings, had arranged buses to several Kibbutzim in the area and we chose Bus number 2 which was supposed to go to Kfar Aza but due to an “incident” we went to Kissufim instead. At first one is struck by the sheer beauty of the Kibbutz; it’s not just a matter of agriculture, there are sculptures, gardens, each home growing their own private patch of colour, or so it had been before October the 7th. All we could see now were burnt homes, each with a number on it to show that the IDF, Zaka, forensic pathologists and archaeologists (yes archaeologists) had been through to ensure the removal of all human remains and evidence. In fact, Kissufim was terribly damaged, hostages taken but “just” one family was murdered.   Their elder son and daughter were not at home, but the parents and little brother were. When they refused to leave the safe room, the terrorists simply set their home on fire with obvious results. Itay, Etti and 15 year old Sagi burned alive, hugging each other

 

We met their daughter Tomer, an amazing young soldier, just 26 years old, who took strength from her mother’s teachings to turn even the most tragic of events into something positive. Tomer told us about her family, life in Kissufim, in all but perfect English, her positivity magical, but I couldn’t concentrate on her words, I was transfixed by the bright pink bicycle in its stand next to what had been the front door. A bright pink bicycle belonging to Ettie, untouched by the fire and destruction, as if waiting for her to come and ride around the kibbutz.

 

Although I was with Zvi, with the group of eminent leaders, I felt strangely alone. When we arrived at the memorial to both the slaughtered and the kidnapped, I left the group and walked alone among the fields of red anemones, sensing the terror, the utter confusion, of those running where I walked. They came to Re’em for a weekend of love, just like in the ‘60’s, in my youth, but instead of love it became hate of such proportions that it shook our world to its very core. I felt their cries “Where is the IDF? Where are the Police? Who let this happen?” I didn’t have an answer for them.

 

Eylon Levy, the excellent MFA Israel spokesman, wrote a Nova Festival version of “In Flanders Fields”. It is only available on Facebook but hope you can see it https://www.facebook.com/reel/2747294985419698

 

Every single day we learn of fallen soldiers, their names and photographs on our television screens. It has been said that the faith of the parents in our beautiful country can be compared to the story of Abraham and Isaac. Each parent, spouse, child, is showing their faith in the country they love by sending their loved ones into battle never knowing if there will be a ram hiding in the bush that will save their child.

 

The Gazans are suffering horribly. No, not from the IDF response to October 7th, although that is a dreadful situation, but rather from the actions of Hamas. Hundreds of trucks brought staple foodstuffs into Gaza yesterday, as they do every day, and as happens every day, none of it goes to the people. As the trucks rolled in starving Gazans rushed the trucks, too many getting trampled to death in the rush. Hamas claimed (of course) that Israeli soldiers killed “hundreds” but the IDF drones prove their lie. The IDF fired in the air to stop the frenzy, but it was the stampede,  the risk taken to feed their families, that killed them.

 

The WZO (World Zionist Organisation) meetings were held this week in Jerusalem. The closing plenum was very special for Zvi, and for me. After decades of effective and important contributions to the workings of the Jewish world, representing Maccabi World Union, Zvi retired from his position. The WZO chose to give him a special award for his untiring work and honourable representation. It is so well deserved, an honour and recognition from the leaders of that venerable organisation. It’s a shame that not one of the leaders of Maccabi was there to see it although the delightful young woman who will take his place in the WZO was there with a big bouquet of flowers that she bought herself.

 

I know it seems strange to you, but simultaneously, we had a good week. On Shabbat, accompanied by our wonderful friend Kim Taylor, we went for a glorious walk in the nature reserve opposite our home. We were rewarded by a carpet of wild cyclamen, (rekafot), which came out to greet the sun after weeks of rain. Of course they were joined by the almond blossom (shkediot) and the sudden appearance of spots of red anemones. Luck was on our side when we found a group of lovely Israeli tourists sitting on our favourite bench, overlooking the reservoir below. The moved over to make room for me and while Zvi and Kim continued on the path I spent a delightful twenty minutes discovering where they were from, that they were here to visit friends in Bet Zayit, and they promise dot come and visit us at home on their next time.

 

On Monday, as I wrote, we left early for the journey southward, ending our experience with a mind-blowing Israeli meal in Ashkelon and a visit to the Absorption Centre for Ethiopian immigrants. The Absorption Centre was an antidote to the sadness of the morning, beautiful little girls dancing, a brilliant young man who initiated a Hi-Tech course for young Ethiopian immigrants, families and a a wonderful man who blessed the special bread which he gave to each of us.

 

On Tuesday we went to vote in the local elections then collected Kim and went to the plenum of the WZO where Zvi received his honour. I then came back home to prepare for a special meeting of my “Mind and Movement” group. Since the hall where we normally meet was in use for the elections, I offered our home and everyone brought food while I provided a huge pot of soup. The 10 of us managed to dance, to music our leader, Gali, had chosen specially for me, in other words, of the ‘60’s. It was so much fun! Wednesday went by too quickly racing back and fore and in the evening Zvi took our Kim to the airport for his interminable flight to LA and then home to Marianne in Alberta. Yesterday was a highly pleasurable Creativity group in the library and that brings us to today. March the 1st; St David’s Day; the special day for all Welsh men and women wherever they may be in the world, the Welsh Saint’s Day. I’m off to a St David’s Day gathering in Jerusalem where I will see old friends from my childhood, some of whom are Welsh speakers, all of whom have a warm place in their heart for Wales.

 

Before we sing together I want to give you two videos that I feel are important. One is a young Israeli explaining why it’s important to him that he’s a Jew. https://youtu.be/w-QEgAOJ3Ok?si=2r-ORxbZ1craO6-L  The second is truly heartwarming as Assita Kanko, Member of the European Parliament on UNWRA, speaks about anti-Semitism. Assita grew up in Burkina Faso https://youtu.be/bkk7bytytYA?si=0L2s9reX5RG0L8M1   

 

My first song takes us back to Woodstock in 1969, the exceptional Joe Cocker and the song that has taken me through my hardest times, With a Little Help from My Friends. Without you, our friends, we’d be lost https://youtu.be/5P5yXUZ-QCI?si=tKk95aUUsj1qIoXy

 

Avishai Cohen sings a Song of Hope. If ever we needed it it is now. https://youtu.be/R84GNvcwh5w?si=dTa089GioIWAJJye

 

Finally, Hope, Tikvah, HaTikvah https://youtu.be/GQCu9kl68Tg?si=zvxL3C5-QZ_7GHpx

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. I send you love from Jerusalem and wish you peace, security, a sense of self, a determination that we will cope yet again.

Sheila

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Friday 23 February 2024

Adar, Terror and Hope

 

23rd February 2024

 

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. A peaceful, kind weekend to one and all irrespective of how you pray, to whom you pray and in which direction. I wish you well.

 

Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of the Moslem faith. It is celebrated on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and entails a month of daytime fasting and after sunset, holding family feasts. It is a month of fasting, praying and celebration of Mohammed’s revelation. It should be a month of contemplation and prayer, but it has changed its face in the Middle East, no that’s not true, it has changed its face in this tiny part of the world. It has become and excuse for violence, terror, killing, maiming and death. A religious festival became an explosion of terrifying anger that has spread its ugly wings to too many corners of our world, destroying lives.

 

Yesterday, ordinary people sat complaining and moaning about the usual morning traffic jam bringing ordinary working folk into southern Jerusalem. It happens every morning, just like traffic jams everywhere in the world, and this one is exacerbated by the need for a border control, because the town of Maaleh Adumim, just a few kilometres from French Hill, on the way to the Dead Sea, is surrounded by Arab villages, of which most of the residents work in Jerusalem. Traffic Jams are annoying, but we can’t do anything about it, we don’t have cars on high wheels like Dick Dasardly!  However, yesterday a traffic jam became a death trap with nowhere to escape the three terrorists who intentionally caused an accident, jumped out of their hire car and ran shooting wildly at drivers and passengers, determined to kill everyone. A young man who was released from miluim just days ago still had his personal weapon, got out of his car and together with a policeman who was on his way to work, successfully shot the perpetrators, but not before one young man died, 8 were injured and many were traumatised. Can you imagine hiring a car, driving from Hebron with the sole intention of killing as many Israelis as possible?

 

Itamar Ben Gvir used the opportunity for a rant encouraging ordinary citizens to carry guns. His childish, racist rants are now all too familiar. Here in Israel, in order to achieve a gun licence, one must pass psychological tests, learn to shoot at an official range, and renew your licence on a regular basis. You cannot shoot someone just because you are suspicious, otherwise you will be arrested as someone we know who shot at a burglar in his house. Our gun rules are very strict and woe betide the soldier who doesn’t keep his personal weapon beside him at all times, even if he is at home.

 

Yehuda and Shomron, the Biblical Judea and Samaria, was occupied by Jordan, from 1948 until 1967 and the 6 Day War. Yes, it was Jordanian for just 19 years! The Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Samaria. In fact, in 1947, the Biblical terminology was used by the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine with the statement: "the boundary of the hill country of Samaria and Judea starts on the Jordan River at the Wadi Malih south-east of Beisan and runs due west to meet the Beisan-Jericho road and then follows the western side of that road in a north-westerly direction to the junction of the boundaries of the Sub-Districts of Beisan, Nablus, and Jenin”. No mention of “to the Sea”! From about 1977, it has accumulated various eponyms – West Bank, Occupied Territories, Occupied Palestinian Land, East Jerusalem (even though it isn’t in the East), basically it is land that was fought over and occupied by many ancient peoples but nobody ever doubted that it was Biblical, recognised in the Old Testament, the Tenach. More than 3,000 years from the time of that famous poet, King David and well before. So folks, from now on, no West Bank, no occupied land, when talking to journalists or even to each other, it is Judea and Samaria or we can revert to our origins and call it Yehuda v’ Shomron.

 

Udi Levy - who was head of economic warfare in the Mossad, Israel's famous spy agency, until 2016 - says he told Mr Netanyahu many times that Israel had the means to crush Hamas, which controls Gaza, "by using only financial tools". We could have stopped Hamas using just financial warfare, their investments of $422 million in 2018.Levy says he never got a response to his proposal from Mr Netanyahu. I have the full list of Hamas’s multi-million dollar investment portfolio. If you want to see it just let me know.

 

I want you to meet Hamid Abu Arar, father of 9. Hamid grew up in Gaza but lived in the village of Aroer in the Negev. He and his wife Fatima were on their way to work on October 7th when Hamas attacked. Fatima, who was pregnant, was driving and was killed instantly, Hamid was injured but grabbed their baby and found somewhere to hide for hours on end. While he hid, he called the emergency services to no avail. He overheard the terrorists talking of their plans so when he finally heard Hebrew being spoken and understood that the IDF was there, he took his clothes off, held his 7 month old baby, to show that he had no weapons, and told the soldiers of the overheard Hamas attack, saving many lives. Interior Minister Moshe Arbel chose to reward Hamid for his bravery and presented him with permanent resident status in a ceremony. Arbel declared that the true Children of Abraham must fight evil.

 

A farce was avoided in one of the most exquisite buildings in London. A Ramallah based, supposed Palestinian Human Rights Group, Al Haq launched a case urging the suspension of UK arms sales to Israel. The legal challenge against the UK Department for Business and Trade was launched in December and summarily dismissed by the Court  

 

The Jews are today’s litmus test, the canary in the coal mine of Western society. If you are an observer of changes in society you will note that in many places, places near you, the object of hatred is swerving, nay veering from Israel to the Jews. When hatred is projected on to the Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben and is at the corner of Parliament, it may have been a step too far. The House of Commons held speech after speech condemning the anti-Israel, anti-Semitic rallies particularly after the Sottish National Party called for sanctions against Israel. I hate to think what will happen next but I worry for you.

 

That’s it! Gloom and doom don’t fit my current mood or the Hebrew month of Adar. I just got back from one of the most positive events in a long time. Let me introduce you to Shauli Yosipon, a wonderful man who lives in the village of Motza with his wife Rachel and four daughters. Shauli became a mosaic artist later in life and has created mosaics for many local sites. This morning was Shauli’s birthday, a good day for a delightful event. Let me go back 4 months and the outbreak of war, the national trauma of October 7th and the need to be together. Shauli had already planned a mosaic to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the “Yishuv” literally meaning settlement, just 8 miles from Jerusalem where pilgrims walking to the Temple would stop to rest on their way to honour the “foot festivals” of Pesach, Shevuot and Succot. I say 8 miles because the chosen site of the large mosaic is where the original pilgrim’s milestone once stood. Going even further back, as I have explained, Motza and our neighborhood of Arza, are on the ancient road to Jerusalem, the so-called 7 Sisters, or Sheva Achiot, and it was here that the first  modern settlement outside Jerusalem was built. Motza is also the site of an ancient Neolithic settlement many thousands of years old. The Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds, and Rashi discuss the meaning of the name and Motza’s residents were exempt from taxation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motza

 

OK, back to Shauli and his mosaic! This morning was the ceremony to reveal the finished mosaic! What a glorious humble ceremony. Shauli’s mother was there as the initiator of the idea, and the amazing lady who placed the very first stone in the mosaic. We sat in the spring sunshine, and Shauli’s work brought a much needed smile. Shauli thanked Mohammed, Ibraham and Akram for their help in bringing the project to fruition, and of course Shalom Goldstein, the local council head, for his unwavering support.  As always, at any ceremony today, we blessed the soldiers who protect us, wished the wounded a speedy return to health and consoled the families of those who were lost. Thank you Shauli, you made my day.

 

Interestingly, when Zvi used to take dignitaries to the 6th floor of the Municipality he would always describe multicultural Jerusalem as a human mosaic.

 

Lucy Aharish breaks barriers! She grew up in the only Moslem family in a Jewish town, she’s a woman from the periphery, married to a Jew and is one of the most successful journalists in Israel. Lucy has no fear of speaking out about October 7th, the rapes, the broken bones, the savagery of burning babies, of killing mothers in front of children and children in front of mothers, and the silence of the Women’s Groups all over the world about it all. Here she talks about being and Israeli Moslem married to a Jewish actor/soldier in an interview with Bari Weiss. Fascination and enlightening https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LIcd7wHlCE  

 

This has been a week with many positive happenings. On Sunday a group of girlfriends came for brunch and a catch-up. It really was delightful. On Monday we went to see a movie with the Dagans, on Tuesday I went to my “Mind and Movement” session which always lifts my spirits, on Thursday, that’s yesterday, more girlfriends came for lunch, but not just for lunch, first we went for my favourite walk over the reservoir. Since some came from Raanana and Herzliya the glorious sunshine, the open vista with the softly undulating hills of the Jerusalem forests, the Beit Zayit dam and the rain filled reservoir and vineyards. Life was made even better since everyone brought something to eat so I didn’t need to cook! Zvi, yet again proved that he is not a misogynist by joining us in our “Picnic on the veranda”. The only thing that is missing in our nature trail is a picnic table. This afternoon our incredible friend Dr Kimball Taylor (aka Kim) is making the long journey from a small town in Alberta, Canada, to take his place at the WZO meetings in Jerusalem. I love it when Kim comes to stay, he lights up our lives with his joy at returning “home”.

 

I’m off to my Rachel when I finish talking to you. I definitely need to finish off my week with hugs from the huggiest family in the world, to say nothing of the cup of tea and freshly made bread roll with her famous egg salad that will await me. Zvi has gone to his parliament in the Botanical Garden then he will go to the airport to bring Kim home. Tonight’s Shabbat dinner will not be big but it will be delightful as Amiad returns from Miami and he, Noga, Ella and Yonatan are coming to join Zvi, Kim and I for dinner.

 

We all need music to lighten our load and this week is no different.

 

The people of the towns and villages of the South (and North) have been refugees in their own country. What they miss most of all is the companionship of small societies, their friends, to help them heal. Be’eri,  lost so many and so much really needed to get back together somehow and Koolulam came up with the  how and where and Idan Reichel with the song. It says it all “Everything that was here will change tomorrow” Listen to the words, the hope in their song and their eyes.  https://youtu.be/hptZdP_hulY?si=0MGcjIB_YCZHqKTs

 

Arik Einstein is an Israeli legend. Lyricist, playwright, singer, comic actor, serious actor and wonderful representative of Israel. Here he sings of how we, you and I, can change the world https://youtu.be/UUgCUgDUBmA?si=9ctiOY8reaty0kZG

 

Idan Amedi is a true Israeli hero although he would be angry if he knew that I said that. He could have just carried on with his music and acting careers, but instead, on October 7th he donned his IDF uniform and headed for Gaza. Idan was very seriously injured in the explosion that killed 7 of his fellows, but he was determined to display a rare strength in his humility and his recovery has been nothing short of miraculous. He goes each day to the rehabilitation centre of Sheba hospital, determined to fight back. Of course you know him as Sagi Tzur, the elite fighter commander in Fauda, a role very close his real life. Here he sings the theme song of Fauda. https://youtu.be/WqmtMDlo7Y0?si=6noD3nkkilm8V-6p

 

So, another weekend, another Shabbat, 140 days that the hostages left in Gaza are missing from their family Shabbat table. We must never give up, we have to bring them home.

 

I wish you a peaceful weekend, a true Shabbat Shalom. I send you love from the most beautiful city in the world, Jerusalem.

Sheila