171201
The
first of December 2017
Shabbat
Shalom dear friends.
I have
to start with the ridiculous storm in a teacup after Israeli Minister Tsippi
Hotovely said that American parents cannot understand what it means to have
a child in the IDF. She's right!!! I have two step-sons, Zvi's boys, who served
in the IDF in dangerous situations and with all the love that I have for them,
I am not their parent and I cannot understand what it means to rear a child to
serve in a constant war situation. I am here in Israel, I have friends who lost
their children to war and if I cannot comprehend fully, how on earth can anyone
thousands of miles away understand the parents here. It wasn't an insult!! It
was a fact. The Minister never claimed that Americans don't support Israel or
that no Americans have ever served in the IDF – far from it. There are those
who are trying hard to build a wall between the United States Jewish community
and Israel and this is just another attempt. Please, don't be fooled, the
connection we have is of ultimate and deep importance for both of us because as
the seemingly banal saying goes "United we stand divided we fall" or
as Sir Winston Churchill said "When there is no enemy within then
the enemies without cannot hurt you". There are so many enemies without,
racist enemies, that we must stop our infighting and find the common
denominator rather than emphasising our differences.
This
has been a week of extreme rhetoric and a threatening ballistic missile launch.
The insanity of Chairman Kim has nothing to do with whatever the American
President says – it is innate, inborn, psychopathic megalomania. So determined
is he to appear the mightiest leader of the world that he brought the strange
television reporter out of retirement to report every move in her staccato,
bellowing urgency to emphasise his actions. https://www.timesofisrael.com/
We live
in a time of extremes, of instant decisions rather than of labored and careful
leadership. Everything is instant and encapsulated in a Tweet. Everything is in
the words of headlines and people do not read in depth reports – it saddens me.
It especially saddens me when the leader of the Western World is ridiculed
daily on Western media. He isn't my cup of tea at all but he is the leader and
every item denigrating him gives succour to our enemies – they laugh all the
way to their growing arsenals. Rabbi
Jeremy Rosen http://jeremyrosen.com/2017/11/obsession.html
I am
inundated with information from many and varied sources but this week I
received a video, I believe from the lovely Roy Solomon, of a US Representative
Jim Jordan speaking on the subject of the American Embassy and Jerusalem.
It held me in rapt attention. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
A man I
have admired for many years, Dr. Malcolm Hoenlein, is the most respected
of men. His quiet diplomacy and his behind the scenes work is exceptional. He
is currently in direct contact with the Qatari government to obtain the release
of Israeli prisoners, both living and bodies, held in Gaza. http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/With-Israeli-knowledge-top-US-Jewish-leader-holds-talks-with-Qatar-over-MIAs-in-Gaza-515306
On
29th November 1947 the United Nations voted to create two
states, a Jewish State and an Arab State in the Middle East. Resolution 181 was
very clear, the vote was legal and the newly formed Jewish State accepted 181
with both hands. The Arabs refused to accept it deciding that it was tantamount
to causus belli. The result? A thriving, blossoming, cultivated society in
Israel and poverty and unassuageable anger on the other. http://www.bicom.org.uk/analysis/1947-un-partition-plan/
With
all the terrifying news around the world it is always special to hear good news
from friends and even better when that good news involves a young Israeli doing
well in sport. Or Nassi, the grandson of our friends Carmen and Yisrael,
won Gold in the Junior European Championship in Judiko at the Championships in
Rome including Gi and No Gi! Bravo Or, you have brought honour to us all.
I am a very lucky person. I have many
incredible people in my life from whom I learn every day.
On Wednesday I learned what love can do.
I went with my dear friend Gloria Goldstein to meet Lena Shtern at Shaare Zedek Hospital Oncology Unit, to see and understand the work of the Yuri Shtern Holistic Centre. We met patients who receive the loving care of the specialized holistic therapists, therapists who give of their love and knowledge freely as volunteers for the Centre. Patients told of the life changing effects of these therapies, how lying in the therapy room they suddenly feel like human beings not pincushions for medication. They spoke of the psychological relief as well as the reduction in nausea and the inevitable side effects of chemotherapy - I don't have words to describe the outpouring of love from both patients and therapists.
Perhaps the most emotional of all, if such a thing is possible, was meeting Dani. Dani is a therapist in the children's ward, most of his therapies are for palliative care patients and their parents. Dani is an angel.
Each and every therapist has undergone very intensive training on top of their regular holistic training to understand and learn how to treat cancer patients and their families, a very different approach to treatment.... and now a new course on how to treat children, including courses in both the psychology of treatment and parenting to understand how to pass this knowledge on to parents of dying children.
Angels - each and every one.
On Wednesday I learned what love can do.
I went with my dear friend Gloria Goldstein to meet Lena Shtern at Shaare Zedek Hospital Oncology Unit, to see and understand the work of the Yuri Shtern Holistic Centre. We met patients who receive the loving care of the specialized holistic therapists, therapists who give of their love and knowledge freely as volunteers for the Centre. Patients told of the life changing effects of these therapies, how lying in the therapy room they suddenly feel like human beings not pincushions for medication. They spoke of the psychological relief as well as the reduction in nausea and the inevitable side effects of chemotherapy - I don't have words to describe the outpouring of love from both patients and therapists.
Perhaps the most emotional of all, if such a thing is possible, was meeting Dani. Dani is a therapist in the children's ward, most of his therapies are for palliative care patients and their parents. Dani is an angel.
Each and every therapist has undergone very intensive training on top of their regular holistic training to understand and learn how to treat cancer patients and their families, a very different approach to treatment.... and now a new course on how to treat children, including courses in both the psychology of treatment and parenting to understand how to pass this knowledge on to parents of dying children.
Angels - each and every one.
Shaare
Zedek medical staff has welcomed the treatments with open arms, recognizing that
it really helps their patients overcome the most traumatic of times. http://www.diplomacy.co.il/diplomatic-magazine/science-a-tecnology/3565-150-holistic-therapists-volunteer-treat-cancer-patients-in-hospital-s-oncology-department-and-in-yuri-shtern-holistic-care-center
Just
in case you are
among those who think that all Israeli women are flag waving settlers who sit
on a hill top and shoot Arabs or that all Arab women have a bomb under their
hijab or teach their children to hate - watch this wonderful video and learn
that everyone responds to love. Thanks to Diane Steinfink for sending this to
me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyFM-pWdqrY
Talking
of love, David Geffen just left our home after updating us on the incredible
work of his organisation "Loving Classroom". Loving Classroom reaches
out to children and teachers alike teaching children love and self-esteem and ……….
Wait, I am not explaining it correctly, what is a truly practical route to
tikkun olam sounds flippant in my words so I will let David's words explain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7QHrbpezyw
Almost
Shabbat and Zvi
and I are alone this week! We have both been stricken, along with half the
world's population, with a rotten cold so even though we have generous natures
we don't want to give our germs away!!!!
Jerusalem
is spectacular today.
The sun is shining, the air crisp and as I sat on the veranda with David and
Zvi, all wrapped up in a warm coat, I was again taken aback by our luck to live
in such an exquisite place, overlooking the city we love. This city with it's widely
diverse population, its troubles and beauty; its fun and intensity; its joy and
deep sadness; its trendy bars and restaurants and its religious tensions – and of
course its spirituality, perhaps most of all its spirituality. I believe that
spirituality has no religion, it has no bounds, it doesn't know hatred and it
has no demands. Spirituality is in the very stones, the paths that inspired King
David to write the most beautiful poetry, still read today in his original
language, Hebrew. Zvi always describes Jerusalem as a city from Wall to Mall –
and he is right!
Back to
the veranda………. The geraniums are stunning, their bright scarlet flowers
prolific through the lush green foliage.
The little lemon tree is thrilled with the change in the weather and her fruits
are slowly turning colour, absorbing sweetness from the gentle sunshine, the
kumquats are bright orange and the pomegranates, too bitter to eat, are opening
their bounty for the multitude of birds which come to feast on them. I was
amazed this week to discover that the bird which sings the beautiful but
unexpected song amongst the trees is the local parakeet – a bright lime green
and simply stunning.
Zvi is
downstairs now, renewing the mezuza of our building – just one of the tasks the
Chairman of the Building Committee undertakes! I love that we have a building
mezuza as well as each home……………..
As I
said – almost Shabbat which means it is time for music
Shir
l'Maalot this time with a Spanish translation - so beautiful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiIJzxNuEM4
A song
most of you will recognise May the Skies be Joyous – Yismachu ha Shamayim sung
by the Effi Netzer singers – because we bumped into Effi Netzer last week!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRbdB3jNDzQ
So
that's it! I wish you a good shabbes – a beautiful day – a loving weekend and
the opportunity to meet wise people to learn from.
With
love to one and all from us, here in Jerusalem
Sheila
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