letters@dailymail.co.uk
news@dailymail.co.uk.
March 24th 2010.
Israel and Passports
The current brouhaha concerning British passports and Israeli diplomats reminded me of another instance of unwanted diplomats.
Alistair Crooke was a known Arabist who worked in the British Foreign Office. Crooke was sent to Israel, as part of the British consular delegation in Jerusalem; ostensibly to oversee Israeli Palestinian relations on behalf of the British Government.
Mr. Crooke had relationships with some highly questionable people in and around Jerusalem, people who were not connected to his diplomatic work. I shared my concerns with the then British Ambassador Sherrard Cowper-Coles. The Ambassador was very sympathetic to my story and asked me to write a full report of my suspicions, outlining proof of misconduct, in writing by email. Within 10 minutes of sending said email I received a highly threatening email telling me to butt out – someone was hacking the Ambassadors personal computer! Concerned for my own safety I reported my suspicions to our authorities.
Mr. Alistair Crooke was investigated and within a short time was on his way home. It was later revealed that he was a member of MI6 and had been training Hamas! A British diplomat was training Hamas terrorists, yet Israel did not turn it into a media frenzy. His expulsion was carried out quietly, out of respect to our British allies.
The current disproportionate reaction of the British Government against Israeli is not only ill intentioned but may put British people in danger of further terrorist attacks. Did Mr. Miliband, or the British Government take this fact into consideration before choosing to "make an example" of Israel over a few passports?
As your paper revealed over 10,000 forged passports are issued each year so what is the big deal since Mr. Milliband himself said it was not because of any suspicion that Israel may have disposed of an arch terrorist in Dubai?
Maybe petrochemicals oil the wheels of power?
Saturday, 27 March 2010
Friday, 26 March 2010
Shabbat Shalom letter from Jerusalem
100326
26th March 2010.
Shabbat Shalom
While lying to the Israeli Prime Minister, claiming to be Israel's best friend, The Secretary of State spoke to the Russian counterpart, in the name of the American Government and said that Israel must move back to the 1967 borders, while aware of upcoming war plans by Israel's enemies and of Russian involvement in that war which was omitted in conversations with Israel – his proclaimed best friend because it was not convenient.
The American Secretary of State sold Israel down the line for political and diplomatic gain. IT IS ALL RECORDED AND WE ARE NOT TALKING OF OBAMA OR HILLARY BUT OF HENRY KISSINGER AND NIXON! Nothing is new under heaven – it happened between JFK and Ben Gurion, Eisenhower, Nixon indeed almost all American Presidents and their closest ally "the democratic State of Israel". Qura'esh works for politicians irrespective of creed - make a promise break a promise as convenient.
The Soviets had 15,000 top troops in Egypt in order to protect poor little Egypt from "the Israeli Aggressors". In the Yom Kippur War the IDF faced "blue eyed Egyptian Troops" as the Russian military advisors fought on the side of Egypt. During the 6 Day War the Soviet's also had many planes in situ so that they could attack the Dimona Nuclear facility – Kissinger knew everything from his talks with the Russians but decided it was better for the USA not to tell us!!
http://www.mideastweb.org/log/archives/00000609.htm
http://hnn.us/articles/41409.html
Gideon Remez and Isabella Ginor's book "Foxbats over Dimona" from which the above facts were learned and at a lecture at the Truman Institute, Hebrew University this week
Obamas newest demands are utterly without balance – no demands have been made upon the terrorists only on the terrorized. It is time YOU, as voters, tell him so. We know will have to make "painful concessions" we always knew that, but those concessions must not endanger Israel even more or disenfranchise Jews or Christians or Jewish holy sites. Demands must also be made upon our neighbours. Israelis want to be free of terror, free of fear, free to pray and visit our holy sites as we allow others the freedom to visit theirs; it is our holy sites that are being stolen and overtaken not anyone else's; we have proven we are willing to pay the price but not the entire bill – it is a shared account.
Nile Gardiner http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100031523/barack-obama%E2%80%99s-humiliation-of-israel-is-a-disgrace/
Bret Stephens http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704117304575137523820378964.html
It is almost Passover, a time when we celebrate our release from slavery to freedom. We cannot accept this kind of extortion from anyone let alone our friends. With friends like this who needs enemies? We were sold up the Nile for a barrel of oil. President Obama – NO YOU CAN'T
Mr. Obama, no you can't send our Prime Minister packing in the middle of a top-level meeting because Michelle told you to come to table!!
Mr.Obama, no you can't bully us; Israel has been bullied by bigger and better men than you and we still produce more brilliant thought per capita toward a better world than any other nation.
Mr. Obama, no you can't let down many of your contributors who believed you when you said you will stand by Israel.
Mr. Obama, your team is the Chicago Bulls not the Chicago Bullies!
Brits and diplomatic expulsions! When a British diplomat at the British Consulate in Jerusalem was found training Hamas for the EU as an MI6 operative, Israel threw him out but kept it quiet rather than embarrass a close ally. http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=171611
Israel stands accused but many nations wanted master terrorist Mabhouh dead. The Daily Mail newspaper revealed that 10,000 fake British passports are issued each year, their response is disproportionate especially considering the enemy within. Please listen to this British Sheikh talking of his intentions toward a future Islamic Britain – with Buckingham Palace as a huge mosque when they depose Royalty http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2388.htm Don't feel smug that this is happening in Britain – you have the same extremists in YOUR country!
Israel is a courageous country with medicine and education for all irrespective of creed or colour a haven of democracy in a swamp of tryanny. Our leaders, left, right and centre, must choose what is best for us, for Israel. We will continue to give more than is proportionately possible to our world; we will continue to be creative and not smoulder in our own destructive anger as do our neighbours.
In the meantime Israelis carry on with our Passover preparations; we have survived far worse and will rise to the top of any situation – despite unsympathetic friends.
It began as a gentle rumble and grew to an earth shaking, grinding, scratching noise - the sound of moving furniture rises and falls as dust mites quake in their tiny shoes all over Israel! It is already over a month since I began to talk about the cleaning process but now it has come to its zenith. Judy Lash Balint counted 20 steps to Passover – I feel as if there are 200!!!
A friend noticed that Israel's weather and flowers both fit the lunar calendar of Judaism. The pomegranate tree barely shows its first light green leaves yet the large scarlet flower buds are already peeping out between the nearly bare branches. A carelessly thrown tomato seed, left over from a barbeque no doubt, has produced what can only be described as a Triffid which hopefully will give us many tiny cherry tomatoes. The view of Jerusalem has been misty lately, not because of Obama but rather the haze of dust which still lingers. Today it is supposed to rain heavily and the dust will be washed away to reveal Jerusalem's whiteness, our city will sparkle anew, ready for Passover.
A great big Mazal Tov to Steve and Shula Daren and their son Sagi and wife Ditty for bringing a beloved new member to our family just in time for Pesach!!!
I wish you a good Shabbat and wonderful Pesach and a hopeful future.
With love from Jerusalem, the city to which we pray each and every day of our lives.
Sheila
26th March 2010.
Shabbat Shalom
While lying to the Israeli Prime Minister, claiming to be Israel's best friend, The Secretary of State spoke to the Russian counterpart, in the name of the American Government and said that Israel must move back to the 1967 borders, while aware of upcoming war plans by Israel's enemies and of Russian involvement in that war which was omitted in conversations with Israel – his proclaimed best friend because it was not convenient.
The American Secretary of State sold Israel down the line for political and diplomatic gain. IT IS ALL RECORDED AND WE ARE NOT TALKING OF OBAMA OR HILLARY BUT OF HENRY KISSINGER AND NIXON! Nothing is new under heaven – it happened between JFK and Ben Gurion, Eisenhower, Nixon indeed almost all American Presidents and their closest ally "the democratic State of Israel". Qura'esh works for politicians irrespective of creed - make a promise break a promise as convenient.
The Soviets had 15,000 top troops in Egypt in order to protect poor little Egypt from "the Israeli Aggressors". In the Yom Kippur War the IDF faced "blue eyed Egyptian Troops" as the Russian military advisors fought on the side of Egypt. During the 6 Day War the Soviet's also had many planes in situ so that they could attack the Dimona Nuclear facility – Kissinger knew everything from his talks with the Russians but decided it was better for the USA not to tell us!!
http://www.mideastweb.org/log/archives/00000609.htm
http://hnn.us/articles/41409.html
Gideon Remez and Isabella Ginor's book "Foxbats over Dimona" from which the above facts were learned and at a lecture at the Truman Institute, Hebrew University this week
Obamas newest demands are utterly without balance – no demands have been made upon the terrorists only on the terrorized. It is time YOU, as voters, tell him so. We know will have to make "painful concessions" we always knew that, but those concessions must not endanger Israel even more or disenfranchise Jews or Christians or Jewish holy sites. Demands must also be made upon our neighbours. Israelis want to be free of terror, free of fear, free to pray and visit our holy sites as we allow others the freedom to visit theirs; it is our holy sites that are being stolen and overtaken not anyone else's; we have proven we are willing to pay the price but not the entire bill – it is a shared account.
Nile Gardiner http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100031523/barack-obama%E2%80%99s-humiliation-of-israel-is-a-disgrace/
Bret Stephens http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704117304575137523820378964.html
It is almost Passover, a time when we celebrate our release from slavery to freedom. We cannot accept this kind of extortion from anyone let alone our friends. With friends like this who needs enemies? We were sold up the Nile for a barrel of oil. President Obama – NO YOU CAN'T
Mr. Obama, no you can't send our Prime Minister packing in the middle of a top-level meeting because Michelle told you to come to table!!
Mr.Obama, no you can't bully us; Israel has been bullied by bigger and better men than you and we still produce more brilliant thought per capita toward a better world than any other nation.
Mr. Obama, no you can't let down many of your contributors who believed you when you said you will stand by Israel.
Mr. Obama, your team is the Chicago Bulls not the Chicago Bullies!
Brits and diplomatic expulsions! When a British diplomat at the British Consulate in Jerusalem was found training Hamas for the EU as an MI6 operative, Israel threw him out but kept it quiet rather than embarrass a close ally. http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=171611
Israel stands accused but many nations wanted master terrorist Mabhouh dead. The Daily Mail newspaper revealed that 10,000 fake British passports are issued each year, their response is disproportionate especially considering the enemy within. Please listen to this British Sheikh talking of his intentions toward a future Islamic Britain – with Buckingham Palace as a huge mosque when they depose Royalty http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2388.htm Don't feel smug that this is happening in Britain – you have the same extremists in YOUR country!
Israel is a courageous country with medicine and education for all irrespective of creed or colour a haven of democracy in a swamp of tryanny. Our leaders, left, right and centre, must choose what is best for us, for Israel. We will continue to give more than is proportionately possible to our world; we will continue to be creative and not smoulder in our own destructive anger as do our neighbours.
In the meantime Israelis carry on with our Passover preparations; we have survived far worse and will rise to the top of any situation – despite unsympathetic friends.
It began as a gentle rumble and grew to an earth shaking, grinding, scratching noise - the sound of moving furniture rises and falls as dust mites quake in their tiny shoes all over Israel! It is already over a month since I began to talk about the cleaning process but now it has come to its zenith. Judy Lash Balint counted 20 steps to Passover – I feel as if there are 200!!!
A friend noticed that Israel's weather and flowers both fit the lunar calendar of Judaism. The pomegranate tree barely shows its first light green leaves yet the large scarlet flower buds are already peeping out between the nearly bare branches. A carelessly thrown tomato seed, left over from a barbeque no doubt, has produced what can only be described as a Triffid which hopefully will give us many tiny cherry tomatoes. The view of Jerusalem has been misty lately, not because of Obama but rather the haze of dust which still lingers. Today it is supposed to rain heavily and the dust will be washed away to reveal Jerusalem's whiteness, our city will sparkle anew, ready for Passover.
A great big Mazal Tov to Steve and Shula Daren and their son Sagi and wife Ditty for bringing a beloved new member to our family just in time for Pesach!!!
I wish you a good Shabbat and wonderful Pesach and a hopeful future.
With love from Jerusalem, the city to which we pray each and every day of our lives.
Sheila
Friday, 19 March 2010
Sheila's Shabbat Shalom Letter
100319
Today is the 19th of March, 2010 my wonderful husband's 65th birthday.
Shabbat Shalom to you all and Happy Birthday my darling Zvi - not forgetting his "bruvver" Yitzik, and my daughter Rachel and her husband Igal on their 6th anniversary!
Moslems are killing hundreds of Christians daily in Nigeria and the media is silent; over 300 rockets have been shot at Southern Israel since Operation Cast Lead and yesterday a man was killed by one of them - silence; Hamas tried to incite the 3rd Intifada by telling young hotheads that Israel is trying to overtake the Al Aqsa Mosque - silence; Israel announces plans to build in her capital city and the media is having a field day of condemnation. Maybe we should commission Judge Goldstone report on their disproportionate response? To make things even more interesting IMRA reports that Ramat Shlomo, the area in dispute, is in "no man's land" not Jordan, according to maps signed by representatives of Israel and Jordan in 1994.
Tom Carew writes about Ruth R Wisse's article "How about an Arab "Settlement" Freeze? Ruth's estimate of 100,000 square miles of Jewish-owned land in the Arab world lost from 1947 is TWICE the size of England, and about Syria and Jordan combined, or 25% of Egypt. Nearly 1m Jews fled the Arab world and Iran, but 711,000 Arabs fled Israel – most staying WITHIN Palestine. Who lost most? And who still complains most? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704743404575127542291520202.html
A quick run down of the latest news items
This article on Ynet puts things into perspective; the foreign press receives daily reports of aid going into Gaza from Israel but it is never reported. Amid ‘siege’ claims, Gaza is enjoying more aid than quake-ravaged Haiti http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3864592,00.html
Marwan Barghouti, vaunted as a potential leader of the Palestinians, is supposedly "festering" in an Israeli jail (5 consecutive life sentences for murder). In fact he is enjoying civil rights accorded to all prisoners in Israeli jails and just achieved his Ph.D. in Political Science! Ah that Gilad Schalit could just see his parents or receive mail or a visit from the Red Cross, or that someone demand it; but then he is just an Israeli.
Fahmi Shabaneh, former head of the Palestinian anti-corruption unit who blew the lid on corruption within the PA was not only ignored by the foreign media but they didn't even notice that his home was confiscated as a result of his bravery. http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=170916
We do not forget. After 7 years of thorough work we arrested the perpetrator of the Café Hillel bombing which killed Prof. Appelbaum and his daughter on the eve of her wedding, and 70 others, victims and survivors of his vast terror rampage. Due punishment will ensue. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136493
To disprove my theory that all the media is biased we received support from an unlikely source – the Christian Science Monitor - in this article revealing the motives behind Israel Apartheid Week http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0317/Israeli-Apartheid-Week-a-ritual-of-discrimination-and-incitement-against-Israel
Public statements bear no resemblance to reality. Brazilian President da Silva refused to visit Herzl's Tomb yet went to Ramallah where he was draped with a Kaffiah. That is the public image. The reality? Brazil and Israel intend to swell bilateral trade to more than 3 billion US dollars within five years. Mercosur/Israel free trade agreement becomes effective April
Prime Minister Netanyahu's younger son, Avner, is keeping up Sara's family tradition by winning the Israel Bible Quiz and will go on to represent Israel in the International Bible Quiz. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3863878,00.html
Last Friday evening we were invited to Shabbat Dinner at the historic King David Hotel by Ruvi Herzog of Melbourne, Australia. Ruvi is a truly amazing young man; religious, open, kind, staunchly Zionist and a thoroughly proud Australian. Among the guests were Paul Israel (bravo on the organization), Vivian and Paul Zimmet, Ehud and Dagmar Ya'ari, the Wismans from the Bahai community in Jerusalem, the Stanleys from the Anglicans, a young Yeshiva student and two Israelis married to Aussie wives. The special guest was the new Australian Ambassadrix , Andrea Faulkner, who despite the fact that she landed in her new posting just a week previously, impressed us all with her composure and warmth. The evening was a delightful mixture of religion, tradition, humour and of course politics. When one Arab expert (Ehud Ya'ari) and a number of Israelis who are expert on everything else, get together with the opportunity to pour out our hearts to the new Ambassador we tend to take it! The Ambassador was delighted that everyone spoke honestly rather than in diplomatic double-speak and we found a real friend in her. She was especially thrilled by the Jewish aspect of Shabbat dinner as Ruvi explained the Kiddush, the Challah and the Grace after meals to us all. Each and every one of us left a wonderful evening with a sense of pride.
Israelis have always been good at laughing at ourselves. This advertisement is the last word on the "Dubai Affair" as the cameras follow people around the supermarket finding "metziyas". You don't need to speak Hebrew to follow!! http://www.flix.co.il/tapuz/showVideo.asp?hot=1&m=3562221
Preparations for Pesach are in full swing as we race up to the last furlong in a flurry of feather dusters and carpet beaters! The Saharan dust storms have subsided, the rains washed away the residue and the sun is out. The traditional terrazzo tiled floors are gleaming as new and "trissim" or window blinds are shining white again. The supermarkets have specials on every type of Passover food as Ashkenazis search out the "no kitniot" labels. Sefardi and Mizrachi Jews are allowed to use "kitniot" or pulses at Passover whereas Ashkenazi Jews are not allowed to use anything resembling grain which can be made into flour.
This time next week Zvi will go to Mea Shearim, to buy my gefilte fish, I cannot possibly make enough for 34 people and survive, anyway, in truth, Zvi doesn't like my gefilte fish. Israelis are used to carp which is bought still kicking from the shouk and I find carp meat too "fishy" so I make it from whitefish; too light, too white and too sweet for my husbands taste! Our Mea Shearim compromise suits me down to the ground and Zvi loves the insane rush of people, sidelocks flying in their haste, preparing for Shabbat and the subsequent Seder night. My charoset meets everyone's approval, though very different to the traditional Israeli one which is ground dates and nuts, mine is my beloved Zeidy's recipe. After he had been exiled to the garden to grate the hot as an inferno horseradish for the Bitter Herbs he would come back into the kitchen to guide Mummy in the art of Charoset. Ground almonds, grated apples (ah Cox's Orange Pippins I miss you!), cinnamon, very finely shredded lettuce (for the combining) and a splash of either sweet wine of Tirosh (grape juice) – leave overnight to blend together and… unbelievable!
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/1845/jewish/The-Complete-Story.htm Passover is not only to celebrate and tell the story of our freedom from Egyptian slavery; we must study and learn from every aspect of what we read. Our situation today is not an easy one, and do not think that it is only Israel that is under attack. We are not slaves but if we are not careful we will also not be free men. The greatest lesson, if you carefully look between the lines of the Haggadah and the multiple courses of the food, is that we must create our own freedom. We must educate our children, let them know what a proud history and fine tradition we have and teach them to stand tall in the face of derision and lies. They can only fight back from knowledge. Nothing in Judaism is about the food – although that side of festivals is never forgotten!
Shabbat Shalom to you all and especially to my Zvi, who has honoured Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam and made it his life's work. Zvi's motto is "We don't have problems, we have solutions". If the problem is greater the solution is tougher but it exists.
As you sing "Le Shana ha Ba'ah be Yerushalyim ha B'nuya" end with the words Did you hear Mr. President?
With love from Jerusalem
Sheila
Today is the 19th of March, 2010 my wonderful husband's 65th birthday.
Shabbat Shalom to you all and Happy Birthday my darling Zvi - not forgetting his "bruvver" Yitzik, and my daughter Rachel and her husband Igal on their 6th anniversary!
Moslems are killing hundreds of Christians daily in Nigeria and the media is silent; over 300 rockets have been shot at Southern Israel since Operation Cast Lead and yesterday a man was killed by one of them - silence; Hamas tried to incite the 3rd Intifada by telling young hotheads that Israel is trying to overtake the Al Aqsa Mosque - silence; Israel announces plans to build in her capital city and the media is having a field day of condemnation. Maybe we should commission Judge Goldstone report on their disproportionate response? To make things even more interesting IMRA reports that Ramat Shlomo, the area in dispute, is in "no man's land" not Jordan, according to maps signed by representatives of Israel and Jordan in 1994.
Tom Carew writes about Ruth R Wisse's article "How about an Arab "Settlement" Freeze? Ruth's estimate of 100,000 square miles of Jewish-owned land in the Arab world lost from 1947 is TWICE the size of England, and about Syria and Jordan combined, or 25% of Egypt. Nearly 1m Jews fled the Arab world and Iran, but 711,000 Arabs fled Israel – most staying WITHIN Palestine. Who lost most? And who still complains most? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704743404575127542291520202.html
A quick run down of the latest news items
This article on Ynet puts things into perspective; the foreign press receives daily reports of aid going into Gaza from Israel but it is never reported. Amid ‘siege’ claims, Gaza is enjoying more aid than quake-ravaged Haiti http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3864592,00.html
Marwan Barghouti, vaunted as a potential leader of the Palestinians, is supposedly "festering" in an Israeli jail (5 consecutive life sentences for murder). In fact he is enjoying civil rights accorded to all prisoners in Israeli jails and just achieved his Ph.D. in Political Science! Ah that Gilad Schalit could just see his parents or receive mail or a visit from the Red Cross, or that someone demand it; but then he is just an Israeli.
Fahmi Shabaneh, former head of the Palestinian anti-corruption unit who blew the lid on corruption within the PA was not only ignored by the foreign media but they didn't even notice that his home was confiscated as a result of his bravery. http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=170916
We do not forget. After 7 years of thorough work we arrested the perpetrator of the Café Hillel bombing which killed Prof. Appelbaum and his daughter on the eve of her wedding, and 70 others, victims and survivors of his vast terror rampage. Due punishment will ensue. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136493
To disprove my theory that all the media is biased we received support from an unlikely source – the Christian Science Monitor - in this article revealing the motives behind Israel Apartheid Week http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0317/Israeli-Apartheid-Week-a-ritual-of-discrimination-and-incitement-against-Israel
Public statements bear no resemblance to reality. Brazilian President da Silva refused to visit Herzl's Tomb yet went to Ramallah where he was draped with a Kaffiah. That is the public image. The reality? Brazil and Israel intend to swell bilateral trade to more than 3 billion US dollars within five years. Mercosur/Israel free trade agreement becomes effective April
Prime Minister Netanyahu's younger son, Avner, is keeping up Sara's family tradition by winning the Israel Bible Quiz and will go on to represent Israel in the International Bible Quiz. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3863878,00.html
Last Friday evening we were invited to Shabbat Dinner at the historic King David Hotel by Ruvi Herzog of Melbourne, Australia. Ruvi is a truly amazing young man; religious, open, kind, staunchly Zionist and a thoroughly proud Australian. Among the guests were Paul Israel (bravo on the organization), Vivian and Paul Zimmet, Ehud and Dagmar Ya'ari, the Wismans from the Bahai community in Jerusalem, the Stanleys from the Anglicans, a young Yeshiva student and two Israelis married to Aussie wives. The special guest was the new Australian Ambassadrix , Andrea Faulkner, who despite the fact that she landed in her new posting just a week previously, impressed us all with her composure and warmth. The evening was a delightful mixture of religion, tradition, humour and of course politics. When one Arab expert (Ehud Ya'ari) and a number of Israelis who are expert on everything else, get together with the opportunity to pour out our hearts to the new Ambassador we tend to take it! The Ambassador was delighted that everyone spoke honestly rather than in diplomatic double-speak and we found a real friend in her. She was especially thrilled by the Jewish aspect of Shabbat dinner as Ruvi explained the Kiddush, the Challah and the Grace after meals to us all. Each and every one of us left a wonderful evening with a sense of pride.
Israelis have always been good at laughing at ourselves. This advertisement is the last word on the "Dubai Affair" as the cameras follow people around the supermarket finding "metziyas". You don't need to speak Hebrew to follow!! http://www.flix.co.il/tapuz/showVideo.asp?hot=1&m=3562221
Preparations for Pesach are in full swing as we race up to the last furlong in a flurry of feather dusters and carpet beaters! The Saharan dust storms have subsided, the rains washed away the residue and the sun is out. The traditional terrazzo tiled floors are gleaming as new and "trissim" or window blinds are shining white again. The supermarkets have specials on every type of Passover food as Ashkenazis search out the "no kitniot" labels. Sefardi and Mizrachi Jews are allowed to use "kitniot" or pulses at Passover whereas Ashkenazi Jews are not allowed to use anything resembling grain which can be made into flour.
This time next week Zvi will go to Mea Shearim, to buy my gefilte fish, I cannot possibly make enough for 34 people and survive, anyway, in truth, Zvi doesn't like my gefilte fish. Israelis are used to carp which is bought still kicking from the shouk and I find carp meat too "fishy" so I make it from whitefish; too light, too white and too sweet for my husbands taste! Our Mea Shearim compromise suits me down to the ground and Zvi loves the insane rush of people, sidelocks flying in their haste, preparing for Shabbat and the subsequent Seder night. My charoset meets everyone's approval, though very different to the traditional Israeli one which is ground dates and nuts, mine is my beloved Zeidy's recipe. After he had been exiled to the garden to grate the hot as an inferno horseradish for the Bitter Herbs he would come back into the kitchen to guide Mummy in the art of Charoset. Ground almonds, grated apples (ah Cox's Orange Pippins I miss you!), cinnamon, very finely shredded lettuce (for the combining) and a splash of either sweet wine of Tirosh (grape juice) – leave overnight to blend together and… unbelievable!
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/1845/jewish/The-Complete-Story.htm Passover is not only to celebrate and tell the story of our freedom from Egyptian slavery; we must study and learn from every aspect of what we read. Our situation today is not an easy one, and do not think that it is only Israel that is under attack. We are not slaves but if we are not careful we will also not be free men. The greatest lesson, if you carefully look between the lines of the Haggadah and the multiple courses of the food, is that we must create our own freedom. We must educate our children, let them know what a proud history and fine tradition we have and teach them to stand tall in the face of derision and lies. They can only fight back from knowledge. Nothing in Judaism is about the food – although that side of festivals is never forgotten!
Shabbat Shalom to you all and especially to my Zvi, who has honoured Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam and made it his life's work. Zvi's motto is "We don't have problems, we have solutions". If the problem is greater the solution is tougher but it exists.
As you sing "Le Shana ha Ba'ah be Yerushalyim ha B'nuya" end with the words Did you hear Mr. President?
With love from Jerusalem
Sheila
Sunday, 14 March 2010
The Hurva Synagogue
100314
14th March 2010. Midweek Update
Yassir Arafat stated that the Jews were not earnest in their desire to hold on to Jerusalem because we did not rebuild the Hurva Synagogue in the Old Jewish Quarter. As I write thousands of people have accompanied the first Sefer Torah from the Kotel to the fully and lovingly rebuilt synagogue.
This Seder night when we repeat the words of our 2,000 year prayer "Le Shana haba'ah b'Yerushalyim" (Next Year in Jerusalem) everyone will know that we mean it. Not only do we mean it today but we mean it this year, next year and all the years to come!
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=659926
14th March 2010. Midweek Update
Yassir Arafat stated that the Jews were not earnest in their desire to hold on to Jerusalem because we did not rebuild the Hurva Synagogue in the Old Jewish Quarter. As I write thousands of people have accompanied the first Sefer Torah from the Kotel to the fully and lovingly rebuilt synagogue.
This Seder night when we repeat the words of our 2,000 year prayer "Le Shana haba'ah b'Yerushalyim" (Next Year in Jerusalem) everyone will know that we mean it. Not only do we mean it today but we mean it this year, next year and all the years to come!
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=659926
Friday, 12 March 2010
Sheila's Shabbat Shalom Letter
100312
12th March 2010.
Shabbat Shalom!
Vice-President Joseph Biden is one of Israel's greatest allies in the United States Government. He is an always has been – a trait absorbed through his mother's teaching. His visit to Israel was to recognize the strong alliance between Israel and the USA and to show support for the re-opening of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. VP Biden emphasised his determination that negotiations begin without preconditions.
As VP and Dr. Biden were on their way for a private dinner with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife Sarah at the Prime Ministers home in Rehavia, Jerusalem, the Vice President was given the untimely news that Minister Eli Yishai had announced the building of thousands of new houses in the disputed territory of East Jerusalem. Admittedly the housing was in an area between French Hill and Ramot although the media suggested it was in "the refugee camp of Shoefat. The VP's reaction was correct, he immediately called the White House and asked for guidance. As a result of that call he denounced the announcement. Please understand the underlying elements of this affair. Everyone knows that we build, everyone knows that Jerusalem desperately needs housing but the timing and noise of Yishai's announcement was inflammatory and caused inexcusable embarrassment to our strongest ally. If I use a slightly crude analogy…. everybody knows that people urinate in the swimming pool but to do so from the high diving board is inflammatory and the lifeguard must censure you!
In case you didn't understand the meaning of "proximity talks" it just means that Mahmoud Abbas will sit in Ramallah and Benjamin Netanyahu will sit in Jerusalem and they will conduct their talks without meeting. A necessary precaution for Abbas since he promised he would not sit at the table with Netanyahu as long as building continues in disputed territory. Newspeak probably but if it works it works!
Israel Apartheid Week scared us all since it was the young who organized it in Universities worldwide. Inherited memories of brownshirts flooded through my generations thoughts. Apartheid was the heinous enforced separation and oppression of blacks in South Africa, the antithesis of Israel. Israel is a mixed society whose citizen enjoy freedom of prayer and expression, with full representation for all citizens in the Knesset and local government irrespective of creed. However…….. Jews are prevented from living or building in ARAB neighborhoods based on their religion. THAT is tantamount to racism though I am careful not to misuse the word apartheid.
The Hurva Synagogue was originally built from secondary usage stones which came from the Northern wall of the Temple Mount. The synagogues arch – what remained of the dome containing the Holy Ark – was a symbol of Jerusalem. http://www.jewish-quarter.org.il/atar-hurva.asp However, Yasser Arafat claimed that the unrestored Hurva synagogue is the sign of Israel's indifference to Jerusalem. The project to restore the Hurva has now come to fruition. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136397 Hopefully Mr. Arafat is turning in his grave at the realisation that we are here to stay.
We went to a wonderful performance of "The Magic Flute" with soon to be graduates of the Academy of Music in Jerusalem. The performance was phenomenal, the young voices superb and we were very proud. The performance was part of the Jerusalem Arts Festival which has been taking place all week. On Tuesday we saw a wonderful performance of the Hora Dance Troupe of Jerusalem http://www.horajerusalem.org/english , both children and adults in a tribute to their late choreographer and driving force, the late Bracha Duda'I z"l. Hora is conceivable the most representative of groups with dance from traditional "Sochnut" dances through to inventive modern pieces. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2smb59I5G0&feature=related
Yesterday our hearts were in Sydney Australia where Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence led the ceremony of "Hachnasat Torah" in the Great Synagogue. One of the Sefer Torahs was in memory of our dear friend Col Goldstein – brought into the synagogue by his lovely widow Gloria.
I love the pre-Passover expectancy in the air which breaks through the extreme heat wave that washed over us this week and the heavy dust of Libya that accompanied it! The supermarket shelves are filling with Kosher for Passover goods – and the hunt is on for which foods have pulses (kitnyot) – for Sefardi Jews and which ones do not for Ashkenazi Jews. Most stores have sales of crockery and cutlery, of white goods and of linens as the determination to make everything Pesachdik takes over our lives. The biggest sellers in the supermarkets are cleaning materials – indeed the largest manufacturer actually produces a special brochure of their products for Passover!!! The air is redolent with the scent of bleach and beeswax and the dust of beaten carpets! Actually I shouldn’t blame the carpets since we have had the worst dust hanging over us which blew in from the Libyan Desert – the northern and eastern corners of the Sahara. It is definitely a case of Murphy's Law when one just finishes the toughest cleaning and the dust blows in!! I was surprised to find that in the religious neighbourhood next to us, Bayit ve Gan – the huge vats of boiling water with stones in them are all ready for the "koshering" of dishes for Passover. Yeshiva students tend to take on the duty of standing beside the huge vats with blow-torches to ensure the constant boiling heat of the water as people stand in line with their dishes for dipping.
Every day of my life I say thanks for the joy of living here in my own land where we can perform the most peculiar of traditions in total confidence!
Zvi is now with his buddies at his Parliament in Angel's Petrol Station coffee shop, putting the world to rights and raising the roof in argument which has given me the opportunity to finish off my cooking and preparations for Shabbat. Our dear friends Paul and Vivian Zimmet are about to leave Tel Aviv to spend a few hours with us before we go together to a small Shabbat dinner for the new Australian Ambassadrix which will be hosted by Ruvy Herzog. I can't wait to see them!
Be well, Shabbat Shalom and much love from Jerusalem.
Sheila
12th March 2010.
Shabbat Shalom!
Vice-President Joseph Biden is one of Israel's greatest allies in the United States Government. He is an always has been – a trait absorbed through his mother's teaching. His visit to Israel was to recognize the strong alliance between Israel and the USA and to show support for the re-opening of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. VP Biden emphasised his determination that negotiations begin without preconditions.
As VP and Dr. Biden were on their way for a private dinner with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife Sarah at the Prime Ministers home in Rehavia, Jerusalem, the Vice President was given the untimely news that Minister Eli Yishai had announced the building of thousands of new houses in the disputed territory of East Jerusalem. Admittedly the housing was in an area between French Hill and Ramot although the media suggested it was in "the refugee camp of Shoefat. The VP's reaction was correct, he immediately called the White House and asked for guidance. As a result of that call he denounced the announcement. Please understand the underlying elements of this affair. Everyone knows that we build, everyone knows that Jerusalem desperately needs housing but the timing and noise of Yishai's announcement was inflammatory and caused inexcusable embarrassment to our strongest ally. If I use a slightly crude analogy…. everybody knows that people urinate in the swimming pool but to do so from the high diving board is inflammatory and the lifeguard must censure you!
In case you didn't understand the meaning of "proximity talks" it just means that Mahmoud Abbas will sit in Ramallah and Benjamin Netanyahu will sit in Jerusalem and they will conduct their talks without meeting. A necessary precaution for Abbas since he promised he would not sit at the table with Netanyahu as long as building continues in disputed territory. Newspeak probably but if it works it works!
Israel Apartheid Week scared us all since it was the young who organized it in Universities worldwide. Inherited memories of brownshirts flooded through my generations thoughts. Apartheid was the heinous enforced separation and oppression of blacks in South Africa, the antithesis of Israel. Israel is a mixed society whose citizen enjoy freedom of prayer and expression, with full representation for all citizens in the Knesset and local government irrespective of creed. However…….. Jews are prevented from living or building in ARAB neighborhoods based on their religion. THAT is tantamount to racism though I am careful not to misuse the word apartheid.
The Hurva Synagogue was originally built from secondary usage stones which came from the Northern wall of the Temple Mount. The synagogues arch – what remained of the dome containing the Holy Ark – was a symbol of Jerusalem. http://www.jewish-quarter.org.il/atar-hurva.asp However, Yasser Arafat claimed that the unrestored Hurva synagogue is the sign of Israel's indifference to Jerusalem. The project to restore the Hurva has now come to fruition. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136397 Hopefully Mr. Arafat is turning in his grave at the realisation that we are here to stay.
We went to a wonderful performance of "The Magic Flute" with soon to be graduates of the Academy of Music in Jerusalem. The performance was phenomenal, the young voices superb and we were very proud. The performance was part of the Jerusalem Arts Festival which has been taking place all week. On Tuesday we saw a wonderful performance of the Hora Dance Troupe of Jerusalem http://www.horajerusalem.org/english , both children and adults in a tribute to their late choreographer and driving force, the late Bracha Duda'I z"l. Hora is conceivable the most representative of groups with dance from traditional "Sochnut" dances through to inventive modern pieces. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2smb59I5G0&feature=related
Yesterday our hearts were in Sydney Australia where Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence led the ceremony of "Hachnasat Torah" in the Great Synagogue. One of the Sefer Torahs was in memory of our dear friend Col Goldstein – brought into the synagogue by his lovely widow Gloria.
I love the pre-Passover expectancy in the air which breaks through the extreme heat wave that washed over us this week and the heavy dust of Libya that accompanied it! The supermarket shelves are filling with Kosher for Passover goods – and the hunt is on for which foods have pulses (kitnyot) – for Sefardi Jews and which ones do not for Ashkenazi Jews. Most stores have sales of crockery and cutlery, of white goods and of linens as the determination to make everything Pesachdik takes over our lives. The biggest sellers in the supermarkets are cleaning materials – indeed the largest manufacturer actually produces a special brochure of their products for Passover!!! The air is redolent with the scent of bleach and beeswax and the dust of beaten carpets! Actually I shouldn’t blame the carpets since we have had the worst dust hanging over us which blew in from the Libyan Desert – the northern and eastern corners of the Sahara. It is definitely a case of Murphy's Law when one just finishes the toughest cleaning and the dust blows in!! I was surprised to find that in the religious neighbourhood next to us, Bayit ve Gan – the huge vats of boiling water with stones in them are all ready for the "koshering" of dishes for Passover. Yeshiva students tend to take on the duty of standing beside the huge vats with blow-torches to ensure the constant boiling heat of the water as people stand in line with their dishes for dipping.
Every day of my life I say thanks for the joy of living here in my own land where we can perform the most peculiar of traditions in total confidence!
Zvi is now with his buddies at his Parliament in Angel's Petrol Station coffee shop, putting the world to rights and raising the roof in argument which has given me the opportunity to finish off my cooking and preparations for Shabbat. Our dear friends Paul and Vivian Zimmet are about to leave Tel Aviv to spend a few hours with us before we go together to a small Shabbat dinner for the new Australian Ambassadrix which will be hosted by Ruvy Herzog. I can't wait to see them!
Be well, Shabbat Shalom and much love from Jerusalem.
Sheila
Sheila's Shabbat Shalom Letter
100312
12th March 2010.
Shabbat Shalom!
Vice-President Joseph Biden is one of Israel's greatest allies in the United States Government. He is an always has been – a trait absorbed through his mother's teaching. His visit to Israel was to recognize the strong alliance between Israel and the USA and to show support for the re-opening of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. VP Biden emphasised his determination that negotiations begin without preconditions.
As VP and Dr. Biden were on their way for a private dinner with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife Sarah at the Prime Ministers home in Rehavia, Jerusalem, the Vice President was given the untimely news that Minister Eli Yishai had announced the building of thousands of new houses in the disputed territory of East Jerusalem. Admittedly the housing was in an area between French Hill and Ramot although the media suggested it was in "the refugee camp of Shoefat. The VP's reaction was correct, he immediately called the White House and asked for guidance. As a result of that call he denounced the announcement. Please understand the underlying elements of this affair. Everyone knows that we build, everyone knows that Jerusalem desperately needs housing but the timing and noise of Yishai's announcement was inflammatory and caused inexcusable embarrassment to our strongest ally. If I use a slightly crude analogy…. everybody knows that people urinate in the swimming pool but to do so from the high diving board is inflammatory and the lifeguard must censure you!
In case you didn't understand the meaning of "proximity talks" it just means that Mahmoud Abbas will sit in Ramallah and Benjamin Netanyahu will sit in Jerusalem and they will conduct their talks without meeting. A necessary precaution for Abbas since he promised he would not sit at the table with Netanyahu as long as building continues in disputed territory. Newspeak probably but if it works it works!
Israel Apartheid Week scared us all since it was the young who organized it in Universities worldwide. Inherited memories of brownshirts flooded through my generations thoughts. Apartheid was the heinous enforced separation and oppression of blacks in South Africa, the antithesis of Israel. Israel is a mixed society whose citizen enjoy freedom of prayer and expression, with full representation for all citizens in the Knesset and local government irrespective of creed. However…….. Jews are prevented from living or building in ARAB neighborhoods based on their religion. THAT is tantamount to racism though I am careful not to misuse the word apartheid.
The Hurva Synagogue was originally built from secondary usage stones which came from the Northern wall of the Temple Mount. The synagogues arch – what remained of the dome containing the Holy Ark – was a symbol of Jerusalem. http://www.jewish-quarter.org.il/atar-hurva.asp However, Yasser Arafat claimed that the unrestored Hurva synagogue is the sign of Israel's indifference to Jerusalem. The project to restore the Hurva has now come to fruition. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136397 Hopefully Mr. Arafat is turning in his grave at the realisation that we are here to stay.
We went to a wonderful performance of "The Magic Flute" with soon to be graduates of the Academy of Music in Jerusalem. The performance was phenomenal, the young voices superb and we were very proud. The performance was part of the Jerusalem Arts Festival which has been taking place all week. On Tuesday we saw a wonderful performance of the Hora Dance Troupe of Jerusalem http://www.horajerusalem.org/english , both children and adults in a tribute to their late choreographer and driving force, the late Bracha Duda'I z"l. Hora is conceivable the most representative of groups with dance from traditional "Sochnut" dances through to inventive modern pieces. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2smb59I5G0&feature=related
Yesterday our hearts were in Sydney Australia where Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence led the ceremony of "Hachnasat Torah" in the Great Synagogue. One of the Sefer Torahs was in memory of our dear friend Col Goldstein – brought into the synagogue by his lovely widow Gloria.
I love the pre-Passover expectancy in the air which breaks through the extreme heat wave that washed over us this week and the heavy dust of Libya that accompanied it! The supermarket shelves are filling with Kosher for Passover goods – and the hunt is on for which foods have pulses (kitnyot) – for Sefardi Jews and which ones do not for Ashkenazi Jews. Most stores have sales of crockery and cutlery, of white goods and of linens as the determination to make everything Pesachdik takes over our lives. The biggest sellers in the supermarkets are cleaning materials – indeed the largest manufacturer actually produces a special brochure of their products for Passover!!! The air is redolent with the scent of bleach and beeswax and the dust of beaten carpets! Actually I shouldn’t blame the carpets since we have had the worst dust hanging over us which blew in from the Libyan Desert – the northern and eastern corners of the Sahara. It is definitely a case of Murphy's Law when one just finishes the toughest cleaning and the dust blows in!! I was surprised to find that in the religious neighbourhood next to us, Bayit ve Gan – the huge vats of boiling water with stones in them are all ready for the "koshering" of dishes for Passover. Yeshiva students tend to take on the duty of standing beside the huge vats with blow-torches to ensure the constant boiling heat of the water as people stand in line with their dishes for dipping.
Every day of my life I say thanks for the joy of living here in my own land where we can perform the most peculiar of traditions in total confidence!
Zvi is now with his buddies at his Parliament in Angel's Petrol Station coffee shop, putting the world to rights and raising the roof in argument which has given me the opportunity to finish off my cooking and preparations for Shabbat. Our dear friends Paul and Vivian Zimmet are about to leave Tel Aviv to spend a few hours with us before we go together to a small Shabbat dinner for the new Australian Ambassadrix which will be hosted by Ruvy Herzog. I can't wait to see them!
Be well, Shabbat Shalom and much love from Jerusalem.
Sheila
12th March 2010.
Shabbat Shalom!
Vice-President Joseph Biden is one of Israel's greatest allies in the United States Government. He is an always has been – a trait absorbed through his mother's teaching. His visit to Israel was to recognize the strong alliance between Israel and the USA and to show support for the re-opening of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. VP Biden emphasised his determination that negotiations begin without preconditions.
As VP and Dr. Biden were on their way for a private dinner with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife Sarah at the Prime Ministers home in Rehavia, Jerusalem, the Vice President was given the untimely news that Minister Eli Yishai had announced the building of thousands of new houses in the disputed territory of East Jerusalem. Admittedly the housing was in an area between French Hill and Ramot although the media suggested it was in "the refugee camp of Shoefat. The VP's reaction was correct, he immediately called the White House and asked for guidance. As a result of that call he denounced the announcement. Please understand the underlying elements of this affair. Everyone knows that we build, everyone knows that Jerusalem desperately needs housing but the timing and noise of Yishai's announcement was inflammatory and caused inexcusable embarrassment to our strongest ally. If I use a slightly crude analogy…. everybody knows that people urinate in the swimming pool but to do so from the high diving board is inflammatory and the lifeguard must censure you!
In case you didn't understand the meaning of "proximity talks" it just means that Mahmoud Abbas will sit in Ramallah and Benjamin Netanyahu will sit in Jerusalem and they will conduct their talks without meeting. A necessary precaution for Abbas since he promised he would not sit at the table with Netanyahu as long as building continues in disputed territory. Newspeak probably but if it works it works!
Israel Apartheid Week scared us all since it was the young who organized it in Universities worldwide. Inherited memories of brownshirts flooded through my generations thoughts. Apartheid was the heinous enforced separation and oppression of blacks in South Africa, the antithesis of Israel. Israel is a mixed society whose citizen enjoy freedom of prayer and expression, with full representation for all citizens in the Knesset and local government irrespective of creed. However…….. Jews are prevented from living or building in ARAB neighborhoods based on their religion. THAT is tantamount to racism though I am careful not to misuse the word apartheid.
The Hurva Synagogue was originally built from secondary usage stones which came from the Northern wall of the Temple Mount. The synagogues arch – what remained of the dome containing the Holy Ark – was a symbol of Jerusalem. http://www.jewish-quarter.org.il/atar-hurva.asp However, Yasser Arafat claimed that the unrestored Hurva synagogue is the sign of Israel's indifference to Jerusalem. The project to restore the Hurva has now come to fruition. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/136397 Hopefully Mr. Arafat is turning in his grave at the realisation that we are here to stay.
We went to a wonderful performance of "The Magic Flute" with soon to be graduates of the Academy of Music in Jerusalem. The performance was phenomenal, the young voices superb and we were very proud. The performance was part of the Jerusalem Arts Festival which has been taking place all week. On Tuesday we saw a wonderful performance of the Hora Dance Troupe of Jerusalem http://www.horajerusalem.org/english , both children and adults in a tribute to their late choreographer and driving force, the late Bracha Duda'I z"l. Hora is conceivable the most representative of groups with dance from traditional "Sochnut" dances through to inventive modern pieces. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2smb59I5G0&feature=related
Yesterday our hearts were in Sydney Australia where Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence led the ceremony of "Hachnasat Torah" in the Great Synagogue. One of the Sefer Torahs was in memory of our dear friend Col Goldstein – brought into the synagogue by his lovely widow Gloria.
I love the pre-Passover expectancy in the air which breaks through the extreme heat wave that washed over us this week and the heavy dust of Libya that accompanied it! The supermarket shelves are filling with Kosher for Passover goods – and the hunt is on for which foods have pulses (kitnyot) – for Sefardi Jews and which ones do not for Ashkenazi Jews. Most stores have sales of crockery and cutlery, of white goods and of linens as the determination to make everything Pesachdik takes over our lives. The biggest sellers in the supermarkets are cleaning materials – indeed the largest manufacturer actually produces a special brochure of their products for Passover!!! The air is redolent with the scent of bleach and beeswax and the dust of beaten carpets! Actually I shouldn’t blame the carpets since we have had the worst dust hanging over us which blew in from the Libyan Desert – the northern and eastern corners of the Sahara. It is definitely a case of Murphy's Law when one just finishes the toughest cleaning and the dust blows in!! I was surprised to find that in the religious neighbourhood next to us, Bayit ve Gan – the huge vats of boiling water with stones in them are all ready for the "koshering" of dishes for Passover. Yeshiva students tend to take on the duty of standing beside the huge vats with blow-torches to ensure the constant boiling heat of the water as people stand in line with their dishes for dipping.
Every day of my life I say thanks for the joy of living here in my own land where we can perform the most peculiar of traditions in total confidence!
Zvi is now with his buddies at his Parliament in Angel's Petrol Station coffee shop, putting the world to rights and raising the roof in argument which has given me the opportunity to finish off my cooking and preparations for Shabbat. Our dear friends Paul and Vivian Zimmet are about to leave Tel Aviv to spend a few hours with us before we go together to a small Shabbat dinner for the new Australian Ambassadrix which will be hosted by Ruvy Herzog. I can't wait to see them!
Be well, Shabbat Shalom and much love from Jerusalem.
Sheila
Friday, 5 March 2010
Sheila's Shabbat Shalom Letter
100304
March 4th 2010.
Shabbat Shalom!
History often repeats itself but similar situations take on dissimilar perspectives as facts are slewed and reinvented over time. Two historic areas under British rule, India and Palestine, claimed their independence receiving initial promises in 1919 to complete their partition in 1947. Both India and Israel decided to accept a two state solution; for India Moslem to the north and Hindu to the South as per Lord Mountbatten's plan. Few in this world question the Indian partition although India has been battling violent insurgents ever since. In the double standards which are the scourge of our world today no face is turned to India claiming occupation. "A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance." -Jawarhalal Nehru http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Part.html
New legislation giving refugee status to Jews who fled persecution in Arab lands not only accords them their rightful status it ensures that in future negotiations not only Palestinians will demand compensation. Over 800,000 Jews fled persecution but never received refugee status, nor a penny in aid, because finding refuge in Israel is considered coming home. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=169434
British journalist Andrew Gilligan produced a documentary called Britain's Islamic Republic which investigates a fundamentalist Islamic group headquartered in Britain, which claims to have placed 'brothers' in positions of political power. Using undercover recordings, Gilligan reveals the group's ambitions to create a worldwide "Islamic social and political order"; the concerns of a mainstream party being 'infiltrated'; he also talks to mainstream British Moslems who want it to stop. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/episode-guide/series-54/episode-1
I am saddened by the changing face of Britain – the land which gave my parents safe haven when no-one else accepted Jews fleeing Eastern Europe. The British Bulldog is a poodle in the face of new and insidious internal influences hung by her own petard of freedom and democracy. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/7333420/Islamic-radicals-infiltrate-the-Labour-Party.html
The USA should not lay back on its democratic laurels and gloat as Steve Emerson points to a similar phenomenon across the Atlantic in this linked article http://www.investigativeproject.org/1826/the-uk-and-the-future-of-islamist-subversion
Khaled Abu Toameh warns us that the Palestinian Authority is once again trying to divert attention from its deep internal problems by escalating tension with Israel - the Palestinian Authority’s policy since its inception after signing the Oslo Peace Accords in 1993. http://www.hudsonny.org/2010/03/palestinian-authority-direct-the-heat-toward-israel.php
Christiane Amanpour conducted an interview with Mosab Hassan Yousef the son of the founder of Hamas. His father, Sheikh Hassan Yousef, is currently serving in an Israeli prison. For 10 years Yousef worked with the Shin Bet "because he came to believe that Hamas was practicing "exceptional cruelty" against its members and "killed people for no reason". Yousef fled to the US and became a Christian. Please watch both the interview and the Analysis http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/02/hamas.spy/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2010/03/03/amanpour.yousef.analysis.cnn.
And now for something completely different (you have to be a Monty Python fan to understand that one!)
Esti Ginsburg is an international model and unlike many of her successful young compatriots she has taken on her duty and right as an 18 year old Israeli and enlisted in the IDF "Not all Israeli celebrities take their duties seriously but I grew up in this country and owe a debt of loyalty" Kol Hakavod! http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=xDY3O2bExxo&feature=related
Since coming to Israel one experience touched my heart above all others. The morning after the Jewish Agency's Operation Solomon brought thousands of Jews from Ethiopia, May 24th 1991; Israelis poured forth their hearts and emptied their closets to clothe a people who arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Zvi and I chose to take new underwear and on our way to the hotel we shopped and loaded the car with socks, underpants and knickers for adults and children.
Rather than the expected traumatised newcomers we found a fine dignified people dressed in draped white Shabbat garb. A Kes, or leader stood proudly observing his people, a head and shoulders above the others, and then, across the room I saw her, a tiny beautiful woman standing on a table smiling in wonder at her new Jerusalem home. I was drawn to her and as I got closer I realised that even on her tabletop perch she was barely taller than I. We had no common language but there was a magical connection. I held out my rose to her and she took it, tears of joy running down her face.
Silence fell as Ambassador Uri Lubrani, the man who brought Operation Solomon to fruition, entered the hall. There was no whooping, no shouting or clapping as 3,000 white clad, dignified people silently raised their arms and pointed a rose to honour their hero. Uri Lubrani had brought them out of 2,000 years of exile as Falashasha (Outsiders); they were home in the Jerusalem of their songs, dreams and prayers.
Through ignorance, not ill-will, we have not always done right by the Ethiopian immigrants but we are doing better. Shlomo Molla is a Member of Knesset http://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=810 , Danny Adeno Abebe is an influential journalist; we have doctors, nurses and social workers and above of all fine soldiers. The community has its own website to tell their story. http://www.iaej.co.il/pages/our_projects.htm http://www.hagshama.org.il/en/resources/view.asp?id=1030
Our dear friend Herman Schotanus from Holland is in Jerusalem with experts to lovingly restore the windmill in Yemin Moshe as a gift to the people of Jerusalem. The windmill, built by Moses Montefiore was a working mill for a mere 17 years before running into disrepair. It will once again become a working mill and provide not only flour but a source for memories of Jerusalem's rich modern history as well as her Biblical one. http://www.jerusalem.muni.il/jer_sys/picture/atarim/site_form_atar_eng.asp?site_id=2298&pic_cat=4&icon_cat=6&york_cat=9&type_id=197
Tuesday evening saw me on the fast road from Jerusalem to Netanya for the annual St. David's Day Party for ex-Pat Welsh organized by Gerald and Mimi Rapport and Les and Viv Greenbaum. In a seaside hotel in central Israel, amid shouts of "Good grief is that really you? I haven't seen you in forty years!", Gerald Rapport entered the proceedings wearing a Welsh dragon sweatshirt and welcomed us in fluent Welsh. It was only later that we found his poetic rendition in the ancient Gaelic language was actually a traffic violation or some such!! We sang "Myfanwy" "Calon Llan" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akmjOZ6-3Xg&feature=related and other Welsh classics including the Welsh National Anthem "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" (Land of my fathers) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMI5wpwXTCY&feature=related; it didn't sound like the breathtaking chorus at the Cardiff Millennium Stadium but it wasn't bad!! One of the evening's highlights was when my friend Madeleine's Israeli daughter Orly suddenly pulled out a big Welsh hat and proudly placed it on her head!!! As the party came to a close we got to our feet to sing Hatikva and while fondly remembering the country which nurtured us, every single person in the room knew that he had come home to the real Land of Our Fathers.
So the sun shone and then it rained and then it shone and then it rained…. every drop is precious and fills our beautiful Lake Kinneret. The changeable weather is turning our veranda into a jungle! Purim is over, and the Passover cleaning has begun. Carpets hang over railings to receive the beating of their lives and men and women share the preparation of homes for the big change to make this night different to all other nights. We are lucky to have a big Seder this year, a house filled with family and friends, although I always feel a sense of desolation that none of my family will be with me. This evening I was so lucky that there was a break in the gathering clouds as the moon began to rise as a huge translucent orb on the horizon creating a perfect silhouette of Jerusalem before it.
Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem, city of my forefathers and yours.
Sheila
March 4th 2010.
Shabbat Shalom!
History often repeats itself but similar situations take on dissimilar perspectives as facts are slewed and reinvented over time. Two historic areas under British rule, India and Palestine, claimed their independence receiving initial promises in 1919 to complete their partition in 1947. Both India and Israel decided to accept a two state solution; for India Moslem to the north and Hindu to the South as per Lord Mountbatten's plan. Few in this world question the Indian partition although India has been battling violent insurgents ever since. In the double standards which are the scourge of our world today no face is turned to India claiming occupation. "A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance." -Jawarhalal Nehru http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Part.html
New legislation giving refugee status to Jews who fled persecution in Arab lands not only accords them their rightful status it ensures that in future negotiations not only Palestinians will demand compensation. Over 800,000 Jews fled persecution but never received refugee status, nor a penny in aid, because finding refuge in Israel is considered coming home. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=169434
British journalist Andrew Gilligan produced a documentary called Britain's Islamic Republic which investigates a fundamentalist Islamic group headquartered in Britain, which claims to have placed 'brothers' in positions of political power. Using undercover recordings, Gilligan reveals the group's ambitions to create a worldwide "Islamic social and political order"; the concerns of a mainstream party being 'infiltrated'; he also talks to mainstream British Moslems who want it to stop. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/episode-guide/series-54/episode-1
I am saddened by the changing face of Britain – the land which gave my parents safe haven when no-one else accepted Jews fleeing Eastern Europe. The British Bulldog is a poodle in the face of new and insidious internal influences hung by her own petard of freedom and democracy. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/7333420/Islamic-radicals-infiltrate-the-Labour-Party.html
The USA should not lay back on its democratic laurels and gloat as Steve Emerson points to a similar phenomenon across the Atlantic in this linked article http://www.investigativeproject.org/1826/the-uk-and-the-future-of-islamist-subversion
Khaled Abu Toameh warns us that the Palestinian Authority is once again trying to divert attention from its deep internal problems by escalating tension with Israel - the Palestinian Authority’s policy since its inception after signing the Oslo Peace Accords in 1993. http://www.hudsonny.org/2010/03/palestinian-authority-direct-the-heat-toward-israel.php
Christiane Amanpour conducted an interview with Mosab Hassan Yousef the son of the founder of Hamas. His father, Sheikh Hassan Yousef, is currently serving in an Israeli prison. For 10 years Yousef worked with the Shin Bet "because he came to believe that Hamas was practicing "exceptional cruelty" against its members and "killed people for no reason". Yousef fled to the US and became a Christian. Please watch both the interview and the Analysis http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/02/hamas.spy/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2010/03/03/amanpour.yousef.analysis.cnn.
And now for something completely different (you have to be a Monty Python fan to understand that one!)
Esti Ginsburg is an international model and unlike many of her successful young compatriots she has taken on her duty and right as an 18 year old Israeli and enlisted in the IDF "Not all Israeli celebrities take their duties seriously but I grew up in this country and owe a debt of loyalty" Kol Hakavod! http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=xDY3O2bExxo&feature=related
Since coming to Israel one experience touched my heart above all others. The morning after the Jewish Agency's Operation Solomon brought thousands of Jews from Ethiopia, May 24th 1991; Israelis poured forth their hearts and emptied their closets to clothe a people who arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Zvi and I chose to take new underwear and on our way to the hotel we shopped and loaded the car with socks, underpants and knickers for adults and children.
Rather than the expected traumatised newcomers we found a fine dignified people dressed in draped white Shabbat garb. A Kes, or leader stood proudly observing his people, a head and shoulders above the others, and then, across the room I saw her, a tiny beautiful woman standing on a table smiling in wonder at her new Jerusalem home. I was drawn to her and as I got closer I realised that even on her tabletop perch she was barely taller than I. We had no common language but there was a magical connection. I held out my rose to her and she took it, tears of joy running down her face.
Silence fell as Ambassador Uri Lubrani, the man who brought Operation Solomon to fruition, entered the hall. There was no whooping, no shouting or clapping as 3,000 white clad, dignified people silently raised their arms and pointed a rose to honour their hero. Uri Lubrani had brought them out of 2,000 years of exile as Falashasha (Outsiders); they were home in the Jerusalem of their songs, dreams and prayers.
Through ignorance, not ill-will, we have not always done right by the Ethiopian immigrants but we are doing better. Shlomo Molla is a Member of Knesset http://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=810 , Danny Adeno Abebe is an influential journalist; we have doctors, nurses and social workers and above of all fine soldiers. The community has its own website to tell their story. http://www.iaej.co.il/pages/our_projects.htm http://www.hagshama.org.il/en/resources/view.asp?id=1030
Our dear friend Herman Schotanus from Holland is in Jerusalem with experts to lovingly restore the windmill in Yemin Moshe as a gift to the people of Jerusalem. The windmill, built by Moses Montefiore was a working mill for a mere 17 years before running into disrepair. It will once again become a working mill and provide not only flour but a source for memories of Jerusalem's rich modern history as well as her Biblical one. http://www.jerusalem.muni.il/jer_sys/picture/atarim/site_form_atar_eng.asp?site_id=2298&pic_cat=4&icon_cat=6&york_cat=9&type_id=197
Tuesday evening saw me on the fast road from Jerusalem to Netanya for the annual St. David's Day Party for ex-Pat Welsh organized by Gerald and Mimi Rapport and Les and Viv Greenbaum. In a seaside hotel in central Israel, amid shouts of "Good grief is that really you? I haven't seen you in forty years!", Gerald Rapport entered the proceedings wearing a Welsh dragon sweatshirt and welcomed us in fluent Welsh. It was only later that we found his poetic rendition in the ancient Gaelic language was actually a traffic violation or some such!! We sang "Myfanwy" "Calon Llan" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akmjOZ6-3Xg&feature=related and other Welsh classics including the Welsh National Anthem "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" (Land of my fathers) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMI5wpwXTCY&feature=related; it didn't sound like the breathtaking chorus at the Cardiff Millennium Stadium but it wasn't bad!! One of the evening's highlights was when my friend Madeleine's Israeli daughter Orly suddenly pulled out a big Welsh hat and proudly placed it on her head!!! As the party came to a close we got to our feet to sing Hatikva and while fondly remembering the country which nurtured us, every single person in the room knew that he had come home to the real Land of Our Fathers.
So the sun shone and then it rained and then it shone and then it rained…. every drop is precious and fills our beautiful Lake Kinneret. The changeable weather is turning our veranda into a jungle! Purim is over, and the Passover cleaning has begun. Carpets hang over railings to receive the beating of their lives and men and women share the preparation of homes for the big change to make this night different to all other nights. We are lucky to have a big Seder this year, a house filled with family and friends, although I always feel a sense of desolation that none of my family will be with me. This evening I was so lucky that there was a break in the gathering clouds as the moon began to rise as a huge translucent orb on the horizon creating a perfect silhouette of Jerusalem before it.
Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem, city of my forefathers and yours.
Sheila
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