160115
15th
January 2016
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends. This is your 70 year old Israeli correspondent giving you
the lowdown on what really happens here in the Middle East and what we think
happens in your neck of the woods. Yup, yesterday was my birthday and I am very
thrilled to have reached another benchmark. It was made even more special
because dear friends come to celebrate with me – even if I didn't tell them it
was my birthday – but more of that later.
First
and foremost – Former President Shimon Peres had a minor heart attack
two days ago but after angioplasty is raring to go home. I am confident this
will not slow him down. He already eats healthily so hopefully he will continue
until 120.
It
has been a crazy week wherever you live. 10 American sailors were "found"
in Iranian waters due to a navigational error. The 10 sailors on 2 small
Riverine craft were stopped and held by Iranian forces as they strayed into
Iranian territorial waters in the Persian Gulf. Once the Iranians realized it
was by error the sailors were released. I have to admit that if the video is
the whole truth the sailors were treated very well. http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/13/politics/iran-us-sailors/
ISIS
claimed responsibility for the terror attacks in Istanbul and Jakarta.
Istanbul, fascinating and beautiful city, has lost credibility and tourism
thanks to the Turkish leader Erdogan, but now it has also lost the safety
factor for the many Germans who used to fill her streets. The Turks are now
trying to wheedle their way back into Israeli favour, but it will take time and
a lot of proof. The loss of life in so many unstable and warring countries is
horrifying. I know it has always been, but now we have the power to change and
our leaders do not use it.
Germany
is leasing
several Israeli produced drones, preferring the IAI Heron to the USA produced
Predator. It is an enormous step forward for the IAI. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Germany-to-lease-Israeli-drones-instead-of-buying-US-Predators-441264
It
is a year since
the terror attack on the offices of outrageous French magazine Charlie Hebdo.
I remember the argument I had with my French cousin when I said it was
religiously based – even though it was so close in time to the Hyper Cacher
Supermarket attack he ferociously defended France saying it couldn't be – just a
year ago. This week the Charlie Hebdo cartoonist Laurent Sourisseau, who was in
the offices during the horrific attack, responded with the most controversial
of cartoons. When little Aylan Kurdi died it raised awareness and sympathy for
the Syrian refugees, but Sourisseau depicts him as a future child molester and
rapist…………. following the revelations of rape and sexual harassment in European
countries that welcomed refugees.
The
Jerusalem offices of B'Tselem, the left wing organization, were burned
down. Immediately Meretz leader Zahava Galon began a tirade against the right
wing claiming arson, but according to both the Fire Service and B'Tselem, it
was an electrical fault! We are still waiting for Ms Galon's apology.
Arieh
Deri
is a brilliant man. He has served in many positions, including Interior
Minister, in various governments of Israel, and done so with great ability.
However, Arieh Deri served a prison term for fraud. Two days ago the Knesset
agreed to his return to the Interior Ministry. I am in two minds as to the
logic. The first proposal put forward by the new Minister is to revoke
citizenship of Israelis who join ISIS/Da'esh……… I cannot disagree! I hope he
will prove himself as rehabilitated and will use his undoubted intelligence to
the good of the country. http://www.timesofisrael.com/deri-floats-annulling-israeli-is-fighters-citizenship/
Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas is close to retiring. The PA will fall into anarchy as
the only person strong enough to hold the various groups together leaves the
scene. Why do the Palestinians attract
such sympathy? Why do they receive 15 times more aid than Ethiopia which has
far greater needs and is a Western ally? Why is their PR falling on such willing ears? http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/15845#.VpjU-BV97WI
Of course the only aspect for the Swedish Foreign Minister is to accuse Israel
of summarily executing terrorists without trial. How stupidly blind can you get?
What? She wants us to read them their rights as they are stabbing civilians
with machetes??? This video explains
what the breakdown of so many Middle Eastern countries means to Israel, with
the brilliant Richard Kemp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxx9JZL9tx8&feature=youtu.be
On Sunday
I received a lovely phone call from Helsie (Helen) Burstman to say that
she had arrived in Israel the night before and had a message for me from John
and Pauline Gandel. Of course we immediately got in the car and met her at
the King David. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with her and found we had many
Australian friends in common and she gave me the kiss that John and Pauline
sent (and my birthday present!)
On
Monday I received a lovely surprise. Ron Myerson sent me a glorious
Calendar filled with some of his very best nature photographs – it's on my wall
Ron!!! Tuesday and I met my friend Judith Hallside for lunch in the Baka
neighborhood of Jerusalem – it was so much fun and I love the architecture of
Baka. On Wednesday out lovely friend Dr Kim Taylor http://children-of-israel.org/ came
to us having taken part in a fascinating international conference on medical
management of emergency and terror situations – a field Israel has become
expert in. This visit is a milestone one for Kim – it is his 50th
Israel visit…… quite a feat. From the moment we met him all those years
ago, in the Absorption Centre for Ethiopian Immigrants, I knew we met an
exceptional man and a very special friend.
That
brings us to yesterday. Ah Yesterday, my actual birthday. Yesterday I became 70
years young. I find it very hard to believe, my mind is still 45, but I am so
thrilled at this milestone, I want to shout it from the rooftops!!!!
We
didn't tell our guests that it was an important day because I wanted them to
come, just to visit the veranda! It was a very Sydney, Australian lunch. Originally
it was to be Harold and Rebecca Finger, then I discovered that Michael and
Dorothy Goldstein were going to be in Jerusalem and they brought their friends
Sue and Gary and of course Kim was here. It was fun – there is always enough
food to go around! I loved watching Harold walk around the veranda, checking
that I really described the truth, and he found that I did! He promised me to
report to Stanley and Charmaine once he got back to Sydney. Stanley still
hasn't seen the veranda but loves my horticultural reports! Each and every one
commented on the spectacular view – but then you knew that already!
Last
night Kim decided that he had seen enough of me in the kitchen, so he took Zvi
and I to Sima restaurant, right near Shouk Mahane Yehuda. The food was
excellent and Kim's company is always great. Afterwards, trying to move a
little after eating too much, we walked up the short hill from Sima to Mahane
Yehuda market. I always love going there to shop, love the sounds, aromas,
sounds and hurry-scurry, but nothing prepared me for what awaited us when we
got there. Almost all the stalls were closed up and there was a flurry of
activity as table and chairs were hurried changed from their flat-stored
position to filling the lanes between the stalls – Mahane Yehuda turns into a
big, sprawling night club at night!!!!
Young people were streaming into the clubs and
music poured from every coffee shop as it sprawled into the alleyways. Greek,
Arabic, Eastern, Pop, Hip-hop – every type of music was represented!!! So now
you know what to do in your evenings -Mahane Yehuda at night!
Is the
world better or worse than when I was born in the first weeks of 1946? In
Britain there was strict food and fuel rationing, had been since 1939, but I
must admit our family didn't suffer as others because we had a large field
behind our home with 40 chickens, a horse, geese and goats, so we had plenty of
eggs and swapped eggs for butter and milk and cream – rare commodities during
the 15 years of rationing. Sweets and candy were highly limited, indeed didn't
come off rationing until 1954, which meant we had good teeth and weren't fat.
We found our fun climbing trees and running races, because there was no real
TV, certainly not colour, no sitting hunched before a computer and losing
muscle for us. On the other hand there were no inoculations and TB, polio, smallpox,
measles, chicken pox and whooping cough were prevalent – and I had the last
three. 6 years of a terrible war had taken its toll and there were many widows
and evil in the world even then but we were better at identifying it. For Jews,
there was no Israel, that is, there was Eretz Yisrael but no State, it was
still but a prayer and a dream. I don't remember it but I can only tell you
that my world changed when Israel was declared a nation. I grew up with a
confidence that even my very confident parents never had. I became part of
something so big that I started writing about it, MEDINAT YISRAEL………. And still
do!!!!
I loved
this CNN video of the last 68 presidents – a video lasting just 68 seconds! If
you check it out you will see that left, right and centre – they all use the
same rhetoric!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?
And so
to music!
Yaffa
Yarkoni, Shoshana Dimari were the singers of the 40's, 50's and 60's in Israel
so I thought you would like to hear the old style singers! See how many songs
you recognize!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aohOfoeFniY
Since
it is my birthday I want to give you a gift – the Shabbat candle lighting scene
from Fiddler on the Roof – still makes me cry!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnaZqHy2ZHE
Finally,
as Jews around the world welcome Shabbat, even as theya re told not to wear
"Jewish" garb or kippot in the street for fear of beatings, there is
one thing that holds us firm, that keeps us together, that ensures our heads
are held high and gives us hope……….. TRADITION!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWSoYCetG6A
Shabbat
is nearing, Jerusalem is moving to a gentler mode of life, families gather,
foods are placed on gleaming white tablecloths and the family silver is
displayed because after all – a bride must be dressed in her finery to greet
Shabbat.
With
much love to you from Jerusalem, Jerusalem the Golden.
Shabbat
Shalom
Sheila
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