170303
3rd
March, 2017
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends. I hope this missive
finds you well.
The
Hebrew month of Adar has arrived. A month of joy and pleasure, of Purim and the
celebration of the survival of the Jews over yet another enemy. A time when
children, and adults dress up in fancy dress and to ensure we are not a people
who wreaks vengeance on our enemies, we are encouraged to become tipsy; I
reiterate, TIPSY. The tradition is that one becomes sufficiently tipsy that one
cannot distinguish between Haman (the enemy) and Mordechai (the hero) rather
than so blotto that you cannot distinguish between your children and the broom-cupboard!
Adar, the month of glorious spring flowers and fruit blossom, and remembering
to differentiate between joy and pleasure.
http://jeremyrosen.blogspot.co.il/
I
listened to most of President Trumps maiden speech before Congress and found
little to complain about. While his level of eloquence may not please the
subject matter was extensive and covered many aspects of concern for the
American public and for both sides of the House. It taught me the eloquence can
be empty while straight talk is clearer and the populace understands exactly
what is being said. http://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/03/01/donald-trump-congress-address-full-speech.cnn/video/playlists/president-trumps-address-to-congress/
Did you
know there is a pan-Arab version of American Idol called Arab Idol? This year a
truly amazing thing happened. A young Palestinian entered the competition and
won, but that is not out of the ordinary; what is exceptional is that Yacoub
Shahin is a Christian; indeed not only is he a Christian from Bethlehem but he
is a Syrian Aramaic Christian and the competition finals were held in the once
Christian Beirut. Mazal Tov to our dear friend Hano Ishaq who is so proud of
his Aramaic history and a fine upstanding Israeli citizen.
Talking
of first prizes, did you see the Oscars? Poor Warren Beatty was handed the
wrong envelope and when he showed Faye Dunaway she read out the wrong movie.
"And the winner is La La Land"………… oh no it isn't! The winner was
Moonlight! Actually I was very disappointed; I wanted Hidden Figures to win,
for the storyline, for the brilliant acting and for the moral message.
Please
can I annoy just about everyone? The Sessions Enquiry. Now I know the furore is because the new
Attorney General spoke to the Russians when they were accused of interfering in
the US election process, but I do not understand why that is a reason to
impeach and Attorney General when the US President tried to change the Brexit
vote and did everything he could to undermine the Israeli Prime Minister, but
still wanted diplomatic relations with both! Sauce for the goose and sauce for
the gander springs to mind. See I told you you would be angry!!
Incidentally,
from what I understand, again not from personal knowledge but rather from
reading between the lines of the media, President Trump has not barred all the
major media outlets (CNN, BBC, NYT, LAT) from all the White House briefings but
rather decided to give a briefing to the smaller media and press. If that is so
then there is no permanent ban. Please let me know which it is.
Zvi
went to Tel Aviv for the Jewish Agency Board of Directors meetings and I
thought I could rest. I should have known better. I got "the call" from my wonderful
husband and we sat through a number of meetings some of which excited me and
some depressed me. My depression comes from the fact that I don't believe that
the work of the Jewish Agency outside Aliya is understood. Apparently the youth
work is vast, although not really aimed toward the Israelis or Israeli youth. I
repeat, this is just my opinion and my husband is very vocal about changes that
need to be made and will follow through. On the second day my spirits were
lifted and my hopes renewed as we heard two young TED talks
Erez
Perlmuter
Co-Founder & Chairman, Kol-Zchut (All Rights) an organisation which puts
all ones medical and social rights online in a simple and straightforward
manner. Erez began the website when his own daughter was diagnosed with Type 1
Diabetes aged 8 and he found it almost impossible to navigate the multitude of
bureaucratic traps www.kolzchut.org.il
Zaki
Djemal,
Entrepreneur & Writer, noticed that when people play "Shech-besh"
or backgammon Jews and Arabs look the same, get excited about the same moves,
enjoy their coffee with the game and so he began an incredible initiative to
brings Jerusalem Arabs and Jews together to play shesh-besh. It may sound banal
but it has worked wonders! One wonder is that Luke Baker, Reuters bureau chief
and known Israel critic, wrote a positive article! http://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-backgammon-idUSKBN1671XR
I raced
back from Tel Aviv because the very next day was St David's Day and the annual
Welsh get together was to be held in Jerusalem after many years of hard work by
Les and Viv Greenbaum and Mimi and Gerald Rapport in Netanya. When Les
approached me to take over the task I did so willingly but admitted that it
really had to be in Jerusalem because of logistics. Since I was off to Florida
(and the unexpected trip to London for GCQC) Angela Ben Gur and Adele Landau
Roffman joined the efforts and took over once the site and menu had been
decided and the list basically prepared. I finished off the last minute
shopping and the printing of programmes etc and raced to Caffit in the
Botanical Gardens to prepare the room with Adele and Angela. The evening was a
huge success from every aspect. Adeles marvellous quiz; Angela (all dressed up
in Welsh national dress) prepared the singsong and acted as MC; Brenda read Dylan
Thomas Under Milk Wood; Judy sang beautifully having learned Welsh
pronunciation. We met old friends and enjoyed new ones and the evening was a
rousing success with delicious food. We ended with both the Welsh National
Anthem and Hatikva. The real Wales https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GwcvhZOwXM&t=134s
Yesterday,
oh my yesterday!
At the
invitation of the Jerusalem Press Club a small group of journalists went on a
special Magen David Adom minibus to the South, to see the work done by MDA with
the Bedouin communities and tribes in the South of Israel. After a fantastic
lecture and slide show in the town of Kuseifa, when the Chief Regional Officer
Ziv explained the incredible work done in educating the young people of the
various Bedouin tribes in the area. Teaching 16-18 year olds first aid, CPR,
First response saves lives in the more remote villages and gives the young
people a thirst for knowledge. Boys and Girls alike study, within the limits of
tradition, and then many serve as volunteers on ambulances and medical centres.
After the lecture we went to visit the Abu Djuda tribe, Anon village. What a
phenomenal treat! They hosted us beautifully with home made delicacies; the
Father of the family, wearing a special white head-dress as a Haji (someone who
made pilgrimage to Mecca) watching carefully over the presentation given by his
eldest son who is about to move from volunteer to a member of staff at MDA. The
son has two hard earned degrees but chose to stay in the apparently primitive
surroundings of his family with his wife and 3 children. I asked him why.
"Family and tradition. Here I am safe"
Then a truly wonderful thing happened. I was
watching the children happily playing in their muddy yard – no need for toys when
the women of the family called me over. "Do you want to see out
home?" they asked in Hebrew. Did I ever!!!! There were three main rooms
(the reception room we sat in was more of a tent and outside the family home)
stark, tiled floors with about 12 mattresses stacked neatly against the back
wall, ready to bring down to sleep at night. There was an inside kitchen –
basicall a large room with kitchen cabinets against the back wall and the
outside kitchen, stark but filled with activity. A small two burner gas stove,
a special cooker like an upturned wok was heated from a fire and everything was
sparkling clean. They hugged me and we took photos together and their warmth
made me happy. I had the pleasure of sitting next to a delightful young Chinese
journalist who has only recently arrived in Israel. Leo absorbed everything I
said and derived the same joy as I from the wonderful work of MDA and the
incredible Bedouins who chose to learn.
I got
back from the South at 4 and raced home to prepare some food for today because
at 8 we were sitting in the front row of Standwithus auditorium to hear Col.
Richard Kemp. A witty, fascinating man who has never shied away from a fight he
has studied the IDF from every angle and found it to be the most humane army in
the world –"even more than the best army in the world which is of course
the British"!!!Incidentally, Harold, he explained that the West Bank is
Israeli, legally, and the illegal settlements aren't illegal!!! Hopefully by
next week I will give you the video. One of my absolute heroes was at the
lecture Kay Wilson, who survived a horrific machete attack which killed her
friend and still smiles through the intense pain. I want to take this chance to
tell Michael Dickson that this work for Israel is unmatched. www.standwithus.com
Music
music music!!
Did you
know that Over the Rainbow was written about the dream of Israel – of a dream
for a home for the Jewish people? Yipsel Harburg wrote the words and the film
was released 75 years ago. The film was released just days after Kristalnacht
and are still relevant as we strive for acceptance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HRa4X07jdE
A touch
of a Yiddischeh Shabbes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ffmH8ND5ck
The
miracle of Purim https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgJInVvJSZg
Shabbat
Shalom everyone. Chag Purim Sameach don't get so drunk you don't see the
children eating all their Purim goodies in one go!!!
With
love from Jerusalem, my favourite place in the world
Sheila
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