161216
16th
December 2016
Shalom
Shalom! Shabbat Shalom from sunny, cold and crisp Jerusalem.
President
Elect Trump
has chosen his future United States Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman. Friedman
was a senior Advisor to the President Elect during his campaign and is an open
and clear lover of Israel. His appointment has created an eddy of opinions from
"Trumps Ambassador is a pro-settlement bankruptcy lawyer" – this of
course from the Guardian immediately suggesting that there is something sleazy
about the man – to the delight of most Israeli news media. My feelings are
mixed. Delight at the thought of the American Embassy finally being moved to
its rightful home in Jerusalem; elation that all the other countries that
waited for this opportunity will follow suit; concerned that the Ambassador
will have problems in the Consulate which has no Israelis working there, only
Palestinians (not Israeli Arabs); fear that the repercussions will be extreme.
In the final analysis, by moving the Embassy (Embassies) to Jerusalem the
statement that Jerusalem is the Capital City of the Jewish State is absolute.
It is a brave move with cause for concern because those who would deny Jews the
right to even a tiny corner of this land will rebel – not against us, against
any country that moves its Embassy creating a fait accompli. In other words –
terror will reign. http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy-defense/132744-161216-trump-names-adviser-david-friedman-for-ambassador-to-israel
On
Tuesday I went to the Israel National Library on the Givat Ram Campus of the
Hebrew University together with a group from the Jerusalem Press Club. The Library
has metamorphosed from a small building in the centre of Jerusalem, to the
Hebrew University Campus on Mount Scopus, from whence the books were brought in
a clandestine operation to Terra Santa after the Jordanians took the
surrounding land allowing a small enclave of students to remain. The scientific
books have predominantly been returned to the Mount Scopus site with all the
Humanities on Givat Ram. National Library sounds boring but this Library is so
much more than books. Quite apart from concerts, lectures, manuscripts (Isaac
Newton, Einstein, Maimonedes and much more) and exhibitions the building houses
the most incredible collection of Jewish writings – both by and about – maps
and Islamic and Christian works relative to Judaism. We were there to see a new
exhibit, although not open to the average public everything will change when
the new, accessible and people friendly Library will open next to the Knesset. http://web.nli.org.il/sites/nli/English/library/Pages/default.aspx
The
Middle East is in turmoil with the deaths of innocents growing daily. Aleppo, or
Chaleb – was a beautiful, thriving city and as with so many beautiful cities in
the Middle East it is a shell, its citizens dying by the thousands due to the
corruption and tyranny of its leaders and the negligence of ours
The Israeli news showed the argument between
the United Nations representatives for the USA and Russia concerning the
current horrors in Aleppo.
I paraphrase
USA: Are you incapable of shame?
Russia: Don't claim to be Mother Theresa, you didn't do anything to stop the killing
Both are right!
I paraphrase
USA: Are you incapable of shame?
Russia: Don't claim to be Mother Theresa, you didn't do anything to stop the killing
Both are right!
The
other culprit of negligence is the UN who after half a million dead have final made
a statement. http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-aleppo-warcrimes-idUKKBN14324M
Israel
has a major internal problem at the moment – over and above our usual
ones. One concerns Amona, an illegal settlement (aka village) which the
government decided should be removed and the villagers rehoused. They would
mostly move a short distance away in accepted village, still in Judea and
Samaria. The villagers and a large number of young zealots, have chosen to
stand and fight to stay. They have taken Amona as their Massada, and some of
their leaders have suggested they fight the young soldiers who come to move
them. This is a disgrace – it is wrong on so many levels. How dare they suggest
fighting with the youngsters for whom the last place they want to be is in
Amona; it looks awful in the foreign media who love to portray us as zealots;
it ruins our chances of keeping the accepted areas and presents the government and
the Supreme Court with a Catch 22 situation. Shame on these few who make life
difficult for the many. I believe in my heart that Judea and Samaria are Jewish
from the days of the Bible but one must also recognize that sometimes one must
accept the small sacrifices to attain the far larger goals.
Going
back to Syria,
35 years ago, Hafez Al-Assad,
the father of the current Assad, said he would not make peace with Israel even
in 100 years.
Prime Minister Menachem Begin had recently signed an agreement with Egypt, accepting that for peace he had no choice but to agree to rehouse the residents of the town of Yamit and all Jews on Egyptian land.
Assad's statement made Begin realise there would never be even a cold peace with Syria and decided to go against American advice and officially annex the Golan Heights.
From his decision to the passing of the law took just one day. http://www.danielpipes.org/8196/israel-stood-up-to-washington
Prime Minister Menachem Begin had recently signed an agreement with Egypt, accepting that for peace he had no choice but to agree to rehouse the residents of the town of Yamit and all Jews on Egyptian land.
Assad's statement made Begin realise there would never be even a cold peace with Syria and decided to go against American advice and officially annex the Golan Heights.
From his decision to the passing of the law took just one day. http://www.danielpipes.org/8196/israel-stood-up-to-washington
By
coincidence, on the 35th anniversary of that historic decision,
Menachem Begins son, Prof. Benny Begin, came to speak to us at the Jerusalem
Press Club. Prof Begin is a geologist, so much more than just another
politician, and he spoke with great eloquence and knowledge. He spoke of the
Balfour Letter, of the changes made in the final Declaration, of the
understanding of both David Lloyd George and Lord Balfour, as devout
Christians, of the Holy Land and its connection to Jews and of Chaim Weitzman's
disappointment at the changes made. Iranian leader, Ali Khameine'I stated very
clearly "Israel has no right to exist. This is not based on European
Anti-Semitism but on well-established Islamic principles." As he said, we have done so incredibly well
under the worst of conditions so let us simply carry on, fight the battles that
face us and continue being the best we can be. As to annexing Judea and Samaria
he responded "How can you annex something that is rightfully yours? You
simply extend your jurisdiction" You can hear the whole talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv07j8Ld-oQ
News
in short
Turkey's
new Ambassador
came to Jerusalem, to the Presidents House to be sworn in and made reference to
the renewed relationship.
New
F-35 super fighter jets were due to arrive in Israel with great pomp and large
crowds – but unfortunately it was delayed by fog (what?????) and the crowds
went home disappointed and the planes landed in darkness without a single soul
to cheer!
Prime
Minister Theresa May
has decided to adopt a specific definition of anti-Semitism according to the
Holocaust Remembrance Day outlines.
I think
it is time to talk about rain! Amazing life giving rain fell this week and
cleared the air, unfortunately flooding large areas of the north and along the
shore but being lucky enough to live in Jerusalem with all our hills, we just
enjoyed getting wet!!! At one point I looked out of our back window to see the
most perfect rainbow, a fabulous arc against the black skies promising a great
deal more rain!
Chanuka
is imminent, Christmas is around the corner and everyone is shopping!!! The
incredible array of sufganiot (doughnuts) is ever more varied and the Christmas
lights have gone up on the road to Bethlehem and all over the Old City
Christian Quarter. This wonderful video from last year shows the Chanuka display
next to the Jaffa Gate of the Old City https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIZiABjjicg
The
display of chanukiot (menorah branched candles) has taken on new proportions
but the traditional Jerusalem chanukiot are definitely my favourites – glass boxes
with oil lamps within kept outside the homes so that all can see the miracle of
that essential battle expressed through eight days of light.
Perhaps
the most Jerusalem of all songs is Jerusalem of Gold. The words express
our longing, yearning, and of our return. Truly magnificent it brings tears to
my eyes no matter how many times I hear it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH8gtdDA5x0
I sang lullabies
to all my children, in Welsh, Yiddish, English indeed any language that helped
them go to sleep. My younger son Gideon loved three songs "You are my sunshine"
"Calon Lan" and
"Tumbalaika" so for Gideon and his Stephanie, who celebrate their
anniversary tomorrow, here is Tumbalalaika in Yiddish with the real words not
my made up ones!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYs6NlgcrVU
No
cooking this weekend! Tonight just Zvi and I so we will eat well but whatever
is in the fridge and tomorrow we are with Zvi's son Leor with Shiri and the
girls because it is Amit's 10th birthday. My contribution is already
made – Delia Smiths grilled peppers except that I do it with wonderful Israeli
mozzarella!
With
much love from Jerusalem, wherever you may be remember that Jerusalem is in
your heart and in your prayers – you can't help it – King David made sure of
that!!!! Shabbat Shalom
Sheila
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