140411 Kerry Poof, Ed Milliband, Cow eat kosher, Pesach.

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140411

11th April 2014

Shabbat Shalom Everyone!

The Shabbat before Pesach I 

can 

understand John Kerry's disappointment that all his efforts were apparently in vain. If it is any consolation Henry Kissinger,  John Mitchell, Denis Ross and Ambassadors Kurtzer and Dan Shapiro  can sympathise with him. I was equally disappointed by his "Poof"! 
What the United States ​ administration​ does not understand is that while Israel is willing to accept peace at ALMOST any price the Palestinians are not. They have too much to gain by being dependent and ​the "​injured ​" party​ because the moment they actually achieve statehood they have to be responsible​, build an economy​ and earn credibility instead of relying on fictitious rhetoric to  ensure their survival. The talks went poof over two issues. Israeli reticence to release two dozen terrible murderers and the Palestinian threat to go to the UN - again! 

Why does the USA keep trying? It  is the only conflict that allows them control, respect and media time. Israel is the only country in the Middle East that cares, even remotely,  what the USA thinks  since the others get US money irrespective of killing ambassadors, blowing up embassies and burning Old Glory

!

Wayne Shur sent me this extremely outspoken article which although not the most tactful I have ever read, explains the situation beautifully! http://nypost.com/2014/04/09/contemptible-john-kerry-blames-israel-for-his-own-mess/

 

Two American politicians saw first hand the idiocy of our reverse discrimination. They
 were shocked at the treatment they received from the Muslim Waqf guards, who followed the group throughout the tour of the Temple Mount to ensure that nobody uttered a non-Moslem prayer. Senator Bill Johnson and Congressman David McKinley felt the reality for non-Muslims on the Temple Mount. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177773#.U0aqGfmSw0E

I said it before and am prepared to repeat it ad infinitum. Jews who touch our soldiers or IDF bases are terrorists just like our enemies, indeed they are our enemies. Defence Minister Yaalon  condemned the attack in no uncertain terms. The perpetrators have been arrested.

  http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Yaalon-condemns-extremist-settlers-who-attacked-soldiers-police-in-West-Bank-347870

Bayit Yehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett demanded Prime Minister Netanyahu exercise Israeli sovereignty on major settlement blocs in the West Bank in response to recent unilateral moves by the Palestinians. In a letter to Netanyahu, Bennett requested “to have a session as soon as possible on an alternative plan (Plan B) to begin the process of applying Israeli sovereignty on areas in Judea and Samaria that are under Israeli control.” http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4508759,00.html

British opposition leader Ed Milliband is visiting Israel

. His interviews have been emotional and his recognition of his Jewish roots surprising. His 

parents were Holocaust survivors and his 

mother was very far left and somewhat anti-religion but he appears to be 

open, visiting his family in Israel as well as his official visit and

  despite criticism from his party. http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/10/israel-grandmother-sanctuary-holocaust-ed-miliband

Friend on Facebook Bobby Brown said  "I am always confused when European countries allow late term abortions as a G-d given freedom, yet want to bar circumcision as barbaric."

 Good point!!!

No it isn't April Fools -

Israeli Dairy cows eat kosher le Pesach!!! http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-Features/Why-Israeli-dairy-cows-eat-kosher-for-Passover-347709

Billionaire  Roman Abromovich is not worried about cooking for Pesach  - he rented an entire hotel of 111 rooms for himself and his family. Not just any hotel but

 the luxurious  Beereshit in Mitzpeh Ramon. Wow!!!  http://www.timesofisrael.com/abramovich-books-entire-hotel-for-passover/

Thanks to Tom Gross for  reminding  me just how old I really am!   This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the only time any band or artist has occupied all five top positions in America's Billboard charts. It was, of course, The Beatles. The Fab Four's Fab five on April 4-11, 1964 was: 1. Can't Buy Me Love 2. Twist and Shout  3. She Loves You 4. I Want to Hold Your Hand  5. Please Please Me. Ah good times eh?

This week in Jerusalem the children are entertained by willing grandparents and excellent shows, designed to relieve their boredom at the cleaning activities around them! Yesterday Zvi took two of the grandchildren, Gili and Amit, to the Bloomfield Science Museum in the morning, fed them there and then to a human circus show later in the afternoon. They were absolutely thrilled. We then took them to a reception at Mayor Nir Barkats home. As the two little girls put on their best clothes and asked me to do their hair Amit said "Safta, we have to look good to show the Mayor our respect. He is the Mayor of our Capital City and that is important" Both the girls became incredibly shy as Nir stood beside them for a photograph - in fact their faces are buried in my sweater unless I am much mistaken!

The Mayor of Jerusalem has no fancy and expensive official Mansion, he lives in his own home, with his family. Indeed I know for a fact that two of the three recent Mayors took one shekel a year salary! Mayor Barkat told us of the improvement in relations with the Jerusalem Arab population to the extent that they hold official demonstrations in the Municipality Square rather than angry ones in the streets. Cultural events have increased beyond belief and the number of students in regular schools has increased enormously too and tourism is through the roof. As to crime, in a recent visit to the USA Nir Barkat spoke to an audience in NYC and told them that unnatural deaths in NYC are ten times those of Jerusalem per capita. Best of all, a recent poll shows that Jerusalem residents are the happiest and most content with their city of all cities in Israel!

Uri Geller was in Jerusalem. We were supposed to meet him in the magical wonderland that is Mosaic artist Roslan Sergeev's workshop. A wonderland of huge magical creatures which double as slides and interactive playgrounds, Roslans creations stretch the imaginations of children and many are specially designed for children of special needs. Uri Geller had already left but who cares? We got to spend special time with Roslan, his best friend Igor Sarni and the magical menagerie!!!  http://www.ruslan-sergeev.com/#!gallery/c1han

Han Kim, 17, plays Shalom Aleichem, Rov Feidman by Bela Kovacs for Clarinet and Orchestra arranged by Sun Kim with Changwon philharmonic orchestra conducted by Prof. Chi-yong Jeong. Phenomenal how he captured the very Jewish emotions of the music.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjHEu6aovFw&feature=player_detailpage

​Zvis choir - or to be more precise HaKol Yechassi and the Hora dance troupes put on a phenomenal show as the closing performance of the Jerusalem Festival of the Arts. It was truly amazing and both singers and dancers really showed their mettle.​

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​This Shabbat is called Shabbat haGadol - or the Great Sabbath. Why it is so named covers many opinions but I believe that it is because the Jews began to fight back against the edicts of Pharaoh and distinguished themselves as Jews. Pharaoh still refused to let my people go - a fact that angered the first born Egyptians who then killed many of Pharaohs men. It is the Shabbat before the Exodus, the Shabbat before Hashems decision to lead us to freedom in our own land. A Shabbat Gadol indeed. The Parasha, or Torah reading is from Malachi Chapter 3 http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16221/jewish/Chapter-3.htm#v=23

Jerusalem is so beautiful. She looks as if the spring cleaning (aka Pesach) has brightened the white buildings allowing the slight pinkish tinge of the natural Jerusalem stone to shine through. The warm sun of April has brought forth the flowers and the first orange blossom is visible on the tiny orange tree and even one bright red flower on the pomegranate. The leaves are still pale green and new but the trees are strong and flourishing. The day-lillies are about to burst forth and most importantly, our new pergola is absolutely wonderful!!!! It is enough to make me happy the snow destroyed our old one!

Friday, soon to be Shabbat. Shabbat ha Gadol and then Pesach. Zvi made the weary trips back and forth to our store room, 3 floors down without a lift, to lug up the Pesach dishes. It was like greeting old friends whose face one couldn't quite remember as I opened box  after box discovering anew old dishes and pots.  Pesach, like so many of our festivals, celebrates our determination to be a free people in our own land. Today's slavery is a different slavery. It is a slavery to things and success rather than building pyramids by the lash and starvation. Things, success, money, communication by text not face to face- all tie us down just as the slavery of old. We need to take time, relive our history and be proud of who we are not what we have. 

I have to think fast now because I have painted myself into a corner in terms of my need to be ready ahead of time. I will go and buy something to eat for Shabbat - I already stored all my Chametz pots and pans!!!!!

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On Pesach we sing Vehi Sheamda and I found you this incredible rendition by Yaakov Shwekey and Yonatan Razel.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGwoVn1Pjf8

"Vehi She’amda, La’avotainu Velanu Shelo Echad Bilvad, Amad AleinuLechaloteinu Ela Sheb’chol Dor VaDor Omdim Aleinu Lechaloteinu V’HaKadosh Baruch Hu Matzilenu Miyadam. "

"And this is what kept our fathers and what ensures our survival. For, not just one arose and tried to destroy us,but in every generation they try to destroy us, and Hashem saves us from their hands"

​Shabbat Shalom to you all. Thank you for helping me put my emotional and Zionist house in order each week. Your participation makes me think more clearly and be more pragmatic. You are my leveller. When I write I think of every single one of you and what you may or may not feel about my words and it is like a salve to my wounds that you care.

With love from our Jerusalem. Whatever may be said surely we have paid our dues to be accepted internationally and have our ancient capital city in our hands as ALL her residents desire.

Sheila​