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Friday, 17th July, 2015, Jerusalem
Shabbat Shalom dear friends. I know we are all sick and tired of hearing about Iran so I may just decide to tell you about Persia instead.
Persia isn't Arab, just in case you were under the illusion perpetrated by the media. Persia was the home of the original Aryans, it was the Greeks who decided to change the name and call it Pers, just like the Greeks called Yehuda and Shomron Palaestina. The Persians, not always kind, were not only not Arabs but always suffered attacks because they didn't belong. The last Shah, the second and last monarch of the House of Pahlavi of the Iranian monarchy. Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi Pahlavi changed the name back from Persia to Iran (Aryan). Iranians are still not accepted by the Arab world and their politicans led the country to isolation and hatred in their attempts to find favour with the Arab Moslem world. By expressing hatred for the West (USA in particular) they hoped to curry favour with their former enemies but it simply led to greater isolation.
What about the nuclear threat, I hear you say? Oh that is imminent and obvious, in media speak "clear and present danger", no question but you have heard the politicians, diplomats and media flog that horse to death, maybe with good reason, but the problem is that we reach the point of not hearing the truth for the sheer quantity of information. Today, while listening to the radio, I learned that the people of Iran, those who are not extreme Moslems, love Israeli music, Rita in particular (she just made an album in Farsi) and crave fashion and fads from the West.
The stories were told by, I think his name is Ran Arani, who when he was a child in school in Teheran, got into one too many fights with his Moslem classmates so his mother managed to find an illegal broker who got him out of the country through Afghanistan and ultimately to Israel. I am certain his assessment is right - not the hate-filled pictures we see. No, I am not naive, I am sure the hate and the nuclear facilities exist, and threaten the West in general and Israel in particular, but maybe our view is a little coloured by what we hear? David Horovitz puts everything into perspective in this article http://www.timesofisrael.com/16-reasons-nuke-deal-is-an-iranian-victory-and-a-western-catastrophe/
Greece came to an agreement with the EU! They agreed to pay back at least a portion of the monies lent to them by irresponsible banks and funds, of course they don't have a snowballs hope in hell to return it but an agreement has been reached. Some 350 billion Euro debt when ones Annual GNP is about 200 billion Euro is simply unachievable.It may well be the Fall of the European Economic Empire. De Gaulle was right with his Non, Maggie right keeping pound sterling.
The Mengisto Family, on the advice of the Secret Services, wanted to keep the disappearance of their son quiet. They knew that he had wandered into Gaza, they knew that he was mentally unstable, they knew that the Government was doing what they felt was right - which meant doing things quietly - after all we paid a horrifically high price for Gilad Shalit It was not racist, although it has been claimed that it was, it was a hard earned lesson. Now the price on their sons head has risen dramatically - we don't know yet what they want, but it will cost lives. Sometimes good deeds are not helpful.
What happens when money and numbers decide justice rather than the word of the law? The Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court, for the first time in its history, has ordered the ICC Prosecutor to pursue an investigation she has decided to close. The Chamber ruled that the Prosecutor was wrong to close the preliminary investigation into war crimes charges against Israel for crimes allegedly committed in boarding the Mavi Marmara and other vessels during the flotilla incident of 2010. The case was closed after the Judge saw the videos of the foul attacks UPON THE IDF by those aboard the Marmara. My thanks to Jack Winnet for this article http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-icc-declares-war-on-israel/
To put things into perspective, the whole "Siege of Gaza"excuse is pure rhetoric and lies. Egypt is banning all trade and aid to Gaza but Israel is providing all staple needs. See this http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Volume-of-goods-entering-Gaza-to-double-this-year-409137 and Bassem Eid's assessment of the situation
Rabbi Jeremy Rosen's letter this week studies the dichotomy of freedom, such as given by Napoleon to the Jewish people, and the theologists who claim religious freedom caused the downfall of Judaism. Enlightening as always! http://jeremyrosen.blogspot.co.il/
I wish I could have been a fly on the wall at the meeting between British Foreign Minister Hammond and Prime Minister Netanyahu as they discuss the agreement reached with Iran. Hammond represents a country that was undecided whether or not to sign - but did. http://www.bicom.org.uk/news-article/26199/
Rabbi Capers Funnye has been named leader, or Chief Rabbi, of the Black Hebrew Israelites of America. Nothing odd in that? Well, it would be just another news story except for one simple fact - he is Michelle Obamas cousin!! http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/198062#.VajUifmqqko
We had a relatively quiet week (as opposed to the weekend to come), but met up with our dear friends the Nankins of Mexico and San Diego. They are here for the bat-mitzvas of their grand-daughters and despite a very heavy schedule we grabbed the chance to meet with them at the First Station in Jerusalem. Gosh it was buzzing!!! Luckily we found a table for 10 on the platform, having walked down the boardwalk tracks to get there. It was fun to see the hive of activity around us. Every Wednesday there is a big screen showing of old Israeli movies; children rent electric cars and go off on the bicycle tracks nearby; families enjoy browsing the craft stalls and buying delicious ice creams.
For Pablo Nankin it was a different kind of treat, he wanted information - answers to questions that had been burning since last time we met! Iran, Netanyahu, economy, politics, diplomacy, BDS indeed everything that Zvi and I could answer to the best of our ability!
Tonight we have friends coming for Shabbat dinner - just 10 of us tonight. I decided that since the weather is steaming we would go for a Milk meal - refreshing. Of course we begin with an array of Israeli salads - aubergine, courgette, tsatsiki, green and chopped salads, followed by soup, then Spinach and feta strudle, cauliflower quiche and salmon teriyaki with farfelle pasta and green beans. To finish - Danby and Marvin are bringing a fruit salad to accompany the chocolate cake, lemon cake, Eddies Peach Pud and chocolate chip cookies - my oven has been working overtime but then the children and some friends are coming tomorrow - another 16 people!!!
I wish I could say that our veranda was ding well, but I can't. The fact that the computer of the drip irrigation system failed me when we were in Greece - and the weather in Israel was exceptionally hot - meant that I lost most of my plants. Stanley, don't worry, the lemon, orange and kumquat trees survived, as did most of the herbs, but I lost all of the wonderfully scented myrtle bushes have gone, dry and brown. It is sad but as Zvi said - it is an opportunity to refresh the veranda and buy new pots and bushes. At least my Valerie fuchsia and the hibiscus survived.
Now I am going downstairs to our store-room to find the paddling pool and fill it ready for the children tomorrow - they will be happy for hours!!!
Must set the table, get out the best china, glassware and cutlery because the bride of Shabbat deserves nothing but the best.
Be well, please remember to pray for the well-being of Ezra Dov ben Iska and Moshe ben Rachel - we love them.
Shabbat Shalom dear friends
Shabbat Shalom
Sheila
If the media does not inform us we must inform the media
Sheila's blog http://shabbatshalom-theviewfrommyveranda.blogspot.com/
Facebook Sheila Silver RavivInvolvement http://www.impact-se.org/ http://www.yurishtern.org.il/eng/content.php?id=17
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