20th July, 2012
Shabbat Shalom dear friends. A sad Shabbat indeed.
Wednesday was the 18th anniversary of the horrific bombing of the AMIA Jewish Centre in Buenos Aires. That explosion killed 85 people.
On Wednesday evening a holiday flight from Israel landed in the vacation town of Borgas, on the Black Sea Coast of Bulgaria, of late a favourite for families and youngsters alike. A small airport passengers walked down the stairs from the aeroplane and rode to the terminal on buses. As they arrived at the terminal there was a horrific explosion as the bus exploded and chaos reigned as those who were able climbed out of windows and saved their dear ones. Hezb-Allah had found another lunatic to kill himself in the name of Allah taking as many Jews as he could with him. The name of the bomber is Mehdi Ghezalihttp://www.timesofisrael.com/
Mehdi Gazali was held in Guantanamo and when released the suggestion was that he be released to another country for continued detainment. He was released to Sweden where he was not arrested and roamed freely. His Wikipedia page tells it all http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
The Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor succeeded in his demand that the UN officially express their condemnation of the terror attack. The spokesperson even said the word “Terrorist” and their sorrow and condolences at the Israeli deaths.
The names of the victims are:-
Itzik Colangi
Kochava Shriki
Maor Harush
Elior Price
Amir Menashe
May their souls rest in peace, their families know no more sorrow and may the injured recover quickly.
This is an excellent essay on the subject of Jewish deaths http://blogs.timesofisrael.
In Syria, the entire security personnel of the Syrian Government died in a horrific bombing – all the more horrific since it is now believed that their deaths were at the command of Assad.http://www.jpost.com/
The BBC, who I thought could never reach deeper moral lows has exceeded even its own expectations - their Olympic list claims Jerusalem is the Capital of Palestine whereas Israel has no capital city!!! Mark Regev, media advisor to two Prime Ministers wrote an outstanding letter of complaint http://www.jpost.com/
Now that one persecution, um I mean prosecution of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ended we move swiftly on to the next, the so-called “Holyland” Affair. The Holyland Affair concerns the building of a luxurious housing project in Jerusalem during the tenure of Ehud Olmert as Mayor and Uri Lupoliansky as Deputy Mayor responsible for building projects. The State Prosecutor has gone beyond the bounds of reason by bribing the States witness, who was proven to have lied on various previous occasions, by giving 30 million shekels and a pension for life in exchange for his testimony. Enough persecution – time to give Israel a rest from the vengeance of a dubious State prosecutor's Office which cost the country many, many millions of shekels in time wasted, legal costs and irresponsible distress of the entire country. Make laws clearer and do not prosecute on laws which did not exist at the time of the alleged crime!
This week the short-lived coalition seems to have failed as Kadima became dissatisfied with changes in the Tal Law, the law which will make either military service or community service compulsory for all Israeli citizens – Secular, Religious, Haredi; Moslem, Druze and Bedouin; women and men alike. All must learn to give back to society in some way to learn that rights demand obligations. http://www.bicom.org.uk/news-
Barry Shaw, Ex-Pat Brit and absolute Israeli, was not satisfied with the feeble response of the government and Jewish organisations to the lack of respect from the IOC for the slain Israeli Athletes at the Munich Olympics. Barry decided that they deserve recognition – Israel deserves recognition of her loss. Barry began a campaign for recognition and if the IOC wishes to ignore our loss then Jews around the world will not. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth wrote a special prayer which all Rabbis around the world should read next weekend – Shabbat 28th July. http://www.chiefrabbi.org/
Zvi was not here when I returned to Israel! Zvi and his choir (haKol Yechassi) were on tour in Slovenia and Croatia where they were received to great applause and love. Apparently both countries are exquisitely beautiful.
Not to be beaten by Zvi's choir, Guns 'n Roses are coming to Israel!!
This week David Efron came to visit his daughter Lauren (Liba who just celebrated her one year anniversary as an Israeli – Mazal Tov mazal Tov) together with Liba's sister Jenny and her husband Aubrey; it was Aubrey's first trip to Israel but not his last!!!! First we ate dinner in Jerusalem at the incredible rooftop Mamilla Restaurant where I introduced Aubrey to great Israeli wine. The view from that rooftop is indescribable...... right near the Jaffa Gate overlooking the Walls of the Old City. On Wednesday evening we met in Tel Aviv for supper on the sea shore before Jenny and Aubrey flew back to the USA and to Aubrey's Mother the lovely Kathy. Zvi and I returned to Jerusalem through the back roads since the funeral for the legendary and wise Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv was held at about midnight. Hundreds of thousands of Haredim went to the funeral and as Zvi and I reached Jerusalem cars were abandoned on the highway and Haredi men walking in the middle of the highway!
I know I often speak of Professor Gabby Barka'i and when we took our guests to the site of his sifting of the dirt taken from beneath the Temple Mount they were fascinated by his explanations and now YOU get to hear him yourselves http://www.youtube.com/watch?
So much is happening in this world and it is up to us to take care of our small part and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves - hoping that our caring will spread to others............ because above all this, take care of me my G-d, on the honey and the sting, ….............http://www.
Remember - never forget the Hope.
Shabbat Shalom to you all, with love from Jerusalem heart of our heart.
Sheila
The Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks has composed the following prayer in memory of the 40th anniversary of the massacre of eleven Israeli athletes who were participating in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Please click here to download a PDF copy of the prayer, together with Hebrew memorial prayer including the names of the eleven Israeli athletes.
Almighty God:
We, the members of this holy congregation,
Together with members of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth,
Join our prayers to the prayers of others throughout the world,
In remembrance of the eleven Israeli athletes
Brutally murdered in an act of terrorism,
At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich,
Because they were Israelis,
Because they were Jews.
At this time in the Jewish year,
When we remember the destructions of our holy Temples,
And the many tragedies that have befallen our people throughout history,
We mourn their loss
And continue to protest against those who hate our people.
We pray to You, O God:
Comfort the families and friends of the Israeli athletes who continue to grieve
And grant eternal life to those so cruelly robbed of life on earth.
Just as we are united in grief,
Help us stay united in hope.
As we comfort one another under the shadow of death,
Help us strengthen one another in honouring life.
The Olympic message is one of peace, of harmony and of unity,
Teach us, Almighty God, to bring reconciliation and respect between faiths,
As we pray for the peace of Israel,
And for the peace of the world.
May this be Your will and let us say: Amen
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