161209
9th
December 2016
Shabbat
Shalom from Jerusalem. Shabbat Shalom dear friends.
About 4
years ago I met a wonderful young man called Kasim Hafeez – aka Kaz. Kaz was
born in the UK, grew up a Moslem, thought Jews were the evil enemy of mankind
and then read "The Case for Israel" by Alan Dershowitz and realised
he had been brainwashed. Kaz went through a really tough emotional period, his
family basically disowning him, and I met him in a Jerusalem café near the Standwithus
offices where he told me he felt more at home in Jerusalem than in his home
town. The story is long but Kaz worked with Standwithus, moved to Canada,
became a fan of all sport Canadian and made a fantastic video for Prager
University. https://www.prageru.com/courses/political-science/born-hate-jews THE VIDEO HAS BEEN BANNED ON YOUTUBE!!!! This
gentle, sweet man has been banned for saying he loves Israel whereas hate
videos and pornography is allowed. Unreal.
Israel
is in turmoil about the proposed removal of an outpost, Amona, presumably
illegal, on disputed land. It is an outpost of perhaps 20 families and the
government proposed moving them to new housing in a legal village, but the far
right are up in arms at the mere thought of moving Jews from Biblical lands. In
principal I think they are right, you know I don't believe that anywhere should
be Judenrein, but life isn't about right and wrong, it is about practicality
(the soldiers who have to guard them) and international acceptability. Those 20
families make Israel look as if we don't want peace, and makes Prime Minister
Netanyahus job even harder than it already is.
Since I
last wrote Jill and I visited the BibleLands museum excellent exhibit of David
and Goliath. It shows the archaeological digs to find if this was a true story
or a moral fable; it gives and exceptional overview of the site, which we
visited with the Parliament just about a year ago. I strongly recommend a visit
to the BibleLands – a quiet walk through history. http://www.blmj.org/en/
We had
delicious dinner in the Botanical Gardens, walked through the Gazelle Park, met
old friends for a chat and of course paid a visit to Shouk Ramle! Indeed Jill
and Zvi are in Mahane Yehuda right now buying last minute fruit and veg for
tonights Shabbat Dinner Party and Jill wants to buy her special treat –
oriental flavourings for rice dishes! Indeed it was a busy week and I decided
that I wouldn't write about politics and diplomacy (or lack of both) but rather
about our amazing day yesterday.
Yesterday
Zvi's Parliament went on another incredible tour, arranged by Eitan Carmon and
Avraham Kalman, to the North of Israel, to the Valley of the Springs. Shahar
Hermelin is the sole member of the incoming visitor department of JNF/USA, and
he is brilliant at his job. Indeed JNF/USA is a wonderful organisation, just 5
or 6 people running the offices in Israel instead of the top-heavy,
administration loaded organisations we are used to. For those of you who think
that the JNF is just about trees, think again. Ecological projects, housing
loans, water and irrigation projects indeed anything that enhances Israeli
life. After the horrific fires in the North they provided the Israeli fire
service with 8 new fire engines and much needed equipment.
We
travelled north on Israel's excellent roads toward the Valley of the Springs a
major project of JNF/USA. http://www.maianot.co.il/en/tourism/
. We climbed up and up to the top of the world with the most spectacular view over
the springs in the valley below. Fish ponds and clean water ponds have been
created to serve the area and new villages pop up beside the old ones,
encouraging young families and clean industry to the area. As we descended to
the ponds or springs we saw exquisite park areas with wonderful walks and hikes
for all ages.
We went
to Gan haShlosha, Nir David and Kfar Ruppin http://www.birdwatching.org.il/welcom2111.asp
where we had a fascinating talk on the
birds which flock to Israel on their path to and from Africa/Europe. Israel is
the only country in the world which actually grows fish to feed the pelicans
which spend four to five months a year here alongside hundreds of thousands of
cranes, white pelicans,
For
lunch we went to a Kurdish village, founded and maintained by a wonderful group
of people who not only built a museum to their ancestors but cook up a storm,
and a kosher storm!!!! We started with a short explanation by Yuval and then
the food arrived, and arrived, and arrived!!! Wonderful salads, kubeh soup,
special rice dishes, chicken, tiny delicious meatballs and all served by the
family. Gosh I highly recommend a visit http://www.i-travelisrael.com/BusinessPage.aspx?BusinessID=8207&CategoriesID=5
The
special ending was when I found a photograph of my son in laws 116 year old
great-great-uncle on the wall!
Our last
stop was Kibbutz Gesher and Naharayim. Gesher literally means bridge and the
kibbutz is right on the river Jordan with a fascinating history spanning Roman,
Ottoman and British history in building the viaduct for the railway to Damascus.
Gesher was also the site for the first Jordanian Israeli collaboration on the
huge power station built by Mr Rutenberg. Yet another amazing place to visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesher,_Israel
Zvi and
I just came back from the Memorial Service for our beautiful friend Shmuel,
Sammy Benalal who was cruelly killed in a Mali terror attack a year ago. One is
used to hearing superlatives and complimentary speeches when someone has
passed, all their sins forgiven, but Shmulik was a simply exceptional man.
Tall, handsome and impressive his qualities went so much deeper than his
pleasant exterior. In Hebrew one says he was "naim halichot" pleasant
in his ways, but it means so much more than that. Shmulik was a brilliant man,
ready to help everyone but not his way, in a way that they could accept, in a
way that did not leave one beholden, he gave one the confidence to make ones
own decision based on his advice. An incredible father and husband, an amazing
friend and beautiful person taken by vile terrorism when he was in Mali,
helping the government set up a rational, non-Sharia, education system. Miss
you dear Sammy but know the family is surrounded by love.
Tonight
we have our Tel Aviv friends coming for dinner. I am excited because not all of
them have heard my Zvi's Kiddush. The table is set, the candles ready to light,
the wine and Challot in place and the
food all cooked and prepared
The choir
sang "Har Hatsofim" at the ceremony for Shmulik. Adi, the musical
director managed to separate Shmuliks voice and everyone sang along. Now you
can hear https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orcifB_ytzg
Welcoming
the bride of Shabbat takes place in the Synagogue as well as at home. This song
Lecha Dodi, typifies our love of this special day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWmcQpzUMHY
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends
With
love from Jerusalem
Sheila
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