Shabbat Shalom from Royal Jerusalem

180629

June the 29^th 2018

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. Where do I begin?

A Prince called Wales came to Israel to see the people while a Princess went to Wales to see her family!!!

I know that a newsletter should start with the news so let's begin with the incredible Royal visit to Israel. Prince William arrived in Israel to great excitement and he most certainly did not disappoint. He visited the Prime Ministers home and the Presidential home where he nodded in agreement when President Rivlin asked him to convey a message of peace to Mahmoud Abbas; he visited Yad Vashem where he laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame in the Hall of Remembrance; the Western Wall, where he prayed and put a note into the cracks of the ancient stones; he paid tribute at the grave of his paternal great-grandmother on the Mount of Olives – Princess Alice of Greece was a Righteous Gentile; he laughed with Netta Barzilai, walked on the beach in Tel Aviv where he learned about beach ball and Matcott; he shook hands and smiled, and smiled and smiled clearly enjoying every moment. Perhaps most importantly he made a beautiful speech at the British Embassy event in Tel Aviv. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN-6WyS8G6Y

The Jewish Agency is an essential part of Israel and Diaspora society working in areas that encourage Jewish communities, teaches about Israel and provides education and emissaries all over the world, ensuring the continuity of threatened communities and bringing communities under threat for being Jewish to Israel. The extent of the work done by the Jewish Agency and its subsidiaries is enormous but too few know about it. A new and excellent leader for the Jewish Agency was chosen this week. Isaac "Bougie" Herzog understands the Diaspora, is not obsessed with self-promotion and truly cares for the future of the Jewish people and Israel. Do not be fooled by his quiet manner, he is a mover and shaker! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Herzog

Each and every day at least 20 fields are burned, up to a distance of 40 kilometres from the Gaza border. Why? Because destruction has become the way of life for young Gazans who have been taught to hate not to live. This is a war of attrition, a determined attempt to wear down those farmers who live near the Gazan border. The strange part is that the "Salad Belt" a particularly fertile and productive stretch of land along the Gazan border, was offered to Yasser Arafat to provide more land for the Palestinians in Gaza. His "people" went ot investigate and told him the land was unworkable and he became very angry that Israel was cheating him. He clearly refused the offer. Today the best salad vegetables of Israel are grown there. "Tseva Adom", the eerie sirens announcing incoming missiles has broken many and nights sleep on the kibbutzim. Attrition – wearing down, disintegration, erosion, grinding down, a cruel and inhuman determination to break us. What they do not understand is that they caused a broken society with no money to feed their own people or provide a secure future. Hatred has broken them.

Several items of news concerning the IDF!  

The first female tank commanders had their passing out yesterday. Strong and beautiful young women who have taken on the most difficult of tasks to defend our country. Women fighter pilots are not new here and at the passing out in the Hatzorim Air Base three more came through this week. While Saudi women have gained the right to drive – with the written permission of a male relative – Israeli women have always played an essential role. https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/178204-180628-success-of-all-female-tank-unit-supports-integration-for-idf-armored-corps

Former Chief of Staff Benny Gatz, a fine man and future politician, has put forward a proposition to encourage, perhaps to enforce, enlistment of both Haredi and Arab Israelis into the IDF. The par in our society is glaring and must be closed, from both points of view. Polarisation in both societies is negative to both their future prosperity and a society of equal rights and equal contribution. If they don't serve in the IDF they will not be chosen for prime jobs and will be resented by those who served and lost dear ones. We must change the essential parts of David Ben Gurion's declaration that have allowed sectors to avoid responsibility.

Charles Krauthammer passed away this week. A man of integrity and acute intelligence who didn't just fight his physical disabilities he ignored them. Whether he was in a television debate, always polite to his adversaries, or writing deeply thoughtful articles each Friday, he was strong and able, never complaining. His example to a world that gives up at the smallest curveball was immeasurable. His wisdom will be sorely missed.  http://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/394185-charles-krauthammer-a-mentor-for-the-ages

And so to my incredible visit to the UK. I had two good reasons for going, actually three, or four……. Okay many!!! The original reasons were the wedding of my lovely nephew Adam to the love of his life, Joanne. The wedding took place in the glorious setting of St. Donats Castle http://www.castlewales.com/donats.html and the 80th birthday bash of my sister Doreen held in the equally beautiful Guyers House http://www.guyershouse.com/home.php

I began with my lovely London family, my son Gideon, daughter-in-law Stephanie and of course Sammy, Olivia and Zachary. Shabbat dinner with them is always special and not frequent enough. I am so proud when I hear Gideon sing Kiddush in his strong baritone with everyone joining in. Steph makes me so welcome and I cuddle the children as often as they let me, especially Sammy. I got to see their latest projects and do lots of catch up. Gideon Stephanie and I then drove down to Wales and to the wedding where, quite apart from the celebrations, a rare and wonderful occurrence, all four Silver siblings together. Eddie and Ray from Canada, me from Jerusalem, Doreen, Ronnie and Sandie from Cardiff plus the extra joy of seeing Adam's sisters Sophie and Rhys and Deborah and our cousin Lynne and her husband Mike. Very emotional. The wedding was terrific, the scenery amazing the couple happy and the celebrations exciting - and then I went back to Cardiff, to Claire and Steve's home for a week of sightseeing with all the family – Penarth, St Fagans Castle and Museum, the Cardiff Bay Complex, seeing old friends like Martin Greene and Truda Bell and loads and loads of family time, especially with Alice and Seb, Claire and Steve's grandchildren. I have to mention Claires incredible desserts. She works full time, cares for Seb and Alice most of the time and still managed to produce an amazing Friday night dinner and the dessert was to die for –  a chocolate bombe, meringue filled with vanilla ice cream, strawberry slices all set out beautifully on a slate for the delectation of eye and appetite.

The week flew by until the next big event. I cannot believe that my slim, beautiful and lithe big sister is 80! 4 children, 9 grandchildren and one great-grandson. We all set off for Guyers House where the screams and shouts of delight greeted all of Doreen's children and grandchildren who came for the dinner and overnight. Games on the lawns and photos, exploring the grounds and photos, sitting and enjoying each other and even more photos and meeting the new members of the family was, hmmmmm what was it? Family!!! It was amazing.

Back to London with Gideon and Stephanie for an overnight then off to Luton airport and home!! I managed to arrive before the hullabaloo of Prince Williams arrival and was thrilled to see my beautiful husband waiting to take me home. He didn't even mention that I was away for our 22^nd wedding anniversary!!!!

So that was my fortnight and now you know why I didn't want to sit at the computer and break the joyful family time.

Music music music.

Joy Wolfe sent me a wonderful video of Japanese tourists in a Jerusalem opticians shop singing Jerusalem of Gold. Amazing. http://www.israellycool.com/2018/06/25/watch-jerusalem-of-gold-as-sung-by-japanese-tourists/

If you don't mind I want you to hear a Welsh song. I used to sing this one to my children when they were babies because I loved its melody and meaning. The translation of the Welsh is

I do not ask a life that’s easy,
Gold and pearls so little mean,
Rather seek a heart that’s joyful,
Heart that’s honest, heart that’s clean.

From Britains Got Talent – Boys Aloud

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG7UkFbw-ps  Wales, the Land of Song.

Finally, for Shabbat, The Revivo Project and a Shabbat Medley starting with Adon Olam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgCrmxR_1to

In an hour we will travel to Tel Aviv to meet up with another family, a wonderful famioy, the Gandels from Melbourne. We will visit the Tel Aviv Museum together, eat lunch and exchange news and then Zvi and I will climb back to Jerusalem, that emotive Aliyah to the City of Gold, for Shabbat at home.

Shabbat Shalom dear friends, Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem. Winding our way back to Jerusalem gave me the same thrill as it did on my first visit in 1963, Jerusalem closer every metre. As I walked in the door from my UK sojourn, I opened the blinds and saw Jerusalem before me in all her glory. Tears welled in my eyes at her beauty. The View from Our Veranda is and always will be my joy.

With love from us to you

Sheila

180608 Oh What a Messi

180608

8^th June 2018

Shabbat Shalom everyone. I hope you are well.

To most of the world when one says football one refers to the game where one only kicks the ball with one's foot – hence the name! Well this week a friendly football match between Argentina and Israel became a foul and disgusting trick by a bunch of thugs. BDS

We are all very good at playing the blame game. Usually, if not always, the wrong person is blamed. Lionel Messi is not to blame, indeed he has been to Israel on several private visits; Minister of Sport Miri Regev is not to blame either, the fact that she wanted the game to be held in the Malha Stadium is valid, that's her job; the sport is definitely not to blame but there is much more than the BDS movement behind this. In Barcelona, where Messi plays, groups of thugs, very well organised thugs, waved Messi football Tshirts, with red paint spattered on his face, in front of him. These thugs threatened his wife and family and Messi himself. These thugs threatened the lives of the Argentinian players and you may well ask who was behind it all? Jibril Rajoub, the Palestinian Minister for Sport who is a criminal who was sent to prison for attempted murder and a pathological liar. Jibril Rajoub who has a vast fortune, his ill gotten gains from a corrupt society, stashed away in Israel, in an account in Bank Hapoalim under his pseudonym Gil Regev.

If you want to blame anyone, blame the man who organised the demonstrations and threats to Messi in Barcelona. Mario Firmenich was an ultra-left Peronista activist (violent) in Argentina, imprisoned for his crimes. His son, following in his fathers ugly footsteps, is the one who initiated and ran the vile demonstrations in Barcelona

The Independent newspaper wrote that the stadium on the site of a formerly Palestinian village – well it isn't!! The stadium is at least a kilometer from the once Arab village of Malha which was built on the ruins of the Biblical village of Manahat!!! How do I know? I live in Manahat!! I need you to write to the Managing Editor, politely, and point out his diabolical errors. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/argentina-lionel-messi-israel-palestinian-protest-friendly-world-cup-a8381801.html

In the meantime, guess which country was the first to send aid and assistance to Guatemala?, well I can promise you it wasn't the Palestinians! http://nocamels.com/2018/06/israel-aid-guatemala-volcano/

I am tired. I am so sad that so many countries are fooled by the narrative that Israel is the bête noir! I am sick and tired of Jews who just don't get it or are not willing to stand up and fight back – with words not actions. The more we do, the greater the outreach, the aid to third world countries and yet they still hate us!

Our fields are burned, vast quantities of crops lost and wild animals burned to death in violent arson attacks and somehow, we are blamed!!! Goerring is alive and well and living in Ramallah. I say that, yet, in order for the lies to stick one has to have willing ears. I wouldn't be surprised if none of you have heard that Erdogan, the Turkish megalomaniac, has seized churches and is making life for Turkish Christians unbearable. https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/663089/Islamist-Turkey-Erdogan-seize-Christian-churches-Diyarbakir-persecution-state-property

Friends – our world is upside down! Good is bad and evil is praised!

Just 51 years ago a wonderful Israeli General, the Chief of Staff, made his way through the Lion's Gate to the Western Wall and we all heard the words "The Temple Mount is in our hands" – well it isn't! The sheer joy of that moment – the knowledge that after 19 years of Jordanian occupation; 25 years of the British Mandate, during which they tried to appease both sides and all the others too; 400 years of Ottoman occupation; we were back in King David's beloved city. We were so full of hope and the world was with us 100% well, the Western World anyway!  Ephraim Kishon presaged our predicament when he wrote the brilliant satirical book "So Sorry we Won"

Despite my depression at the world outside Israel we had a truly magnificent week. It began on Monday when Avi and I took two of my favourite people to meet with our friend Ehud Olmert in Tel Aviv. Kathleen and Earl Cox are true friends of Israel, which comes from the goodness of their hearts. The meeting was arranged by the ever loyal Rachael Risby-Raz who is another exceptionally loyal friend. I was so thrilled to see the former Prime Minister looking trim, happy and well and I finally got my hug. He wrote a beautiful dedication in Zvi's copy of his best-selling book, a dedication which moved me to tears. It is wonderful to know that one's friendship is appreciated. After a short but sweet visit Zvi and I left Earl and Kathleen to interview the former Prime Minister, and to recognise what a gracious man he is. We went off to the Interdisciplinary Center – commonly known as the IDC Campus to meet with Jonathan Davis, Director of the International School. Since it is a private University the IDC is known not only for its academic excellence, gorgeous campus, but for its insistence on Zionist/Jewish principles. Young people from all over the world, and Israel, study the varied and fascinating curriculum, but it is an Israeli school through and through.

The purpose of our meeting was to introduce Jonathan to Robi Croiterescou and to Gabriel ben Tasgal – and "Ha Tsad ha Sheni" the Spanish speaking information tool www.hatzadhasheni.com , in the hope that they can work with the incredible young people of the IDC who reach the young Tweeters and FB'ers at their own level. Truthtellers of Israel.

Tuesday was Goldman Day! We collected our Australian/Maccabi friends Tommy and Di Goldman from their hotel and went off on an adventure! We walked through Mea Shearim, getting very angry at the pro-Palestinian and openly anti-Israel posters on the walls yet sensing the warmth and comfort of old traditions. We really loved being with them although I had to cut my part of the visit short for two good reasons. One reason was that I wanted to be available to help Rachel (why is in the next paragraph) and because we couldn't have fitted the Pozniaks in the car!!! Zvi continued his incomparable tour then came home to change before heading off to Ramat Gan for a concert with his choir.

Now for the best part of all. Talia, Rachel's beautiful daughter, is Bat Mitzva and Rachel made her the most magnificent party in her in-laws garden, when I say magnificent I am not exaggerating. My daughter not only prepared almost all the food, created unbelievable decorations, a fabulous ball gown piñata and an awful lot of little girls danced the night away to a DJ!!!Actually all the Mums had a ball too including me! Mazal Tov Talia Beautiful.

Yesterday I met my Cardiff friends in Modiin, always a very special time. We grew up together and our parents knew each other and most of all we love and protect each other. Special. From Modiin my friend Madeleine took me to her home where I waited for Zvi because we raced to a wedding in the evening!!! Our neighbours stunningly beautiful daughter married the love of her life. Neta was a Scout leader, then after her army service in the border guard she chose to stay and work in that proud branch of the army as an officer in personnel. Wonderful.

Now I am talking to you and telling you about our very normal day, I went to pick Talia up from school and take her home, kissed all the children and my Rachel and came home to prepare Shabbat. Tonight we have guests, surprise surprise, very welcome guests. Faye and Sheldon Pozniak from Australia, Ruth and Josef Dudzuik-Justitz soon to be from Jerusalem and Irit and Itzik Lev who are coming all the way from Tel Aviv with Itziks famous chopped salad!!! We have Orange soup, Fresh salmon, fish balls in spicy chraime sauce, about 7 salads and roast potatoes and for dessert we are having home made cakes and cinnamon spiced poached peaches and apricots. Hopefully we can sit out on the veranda, contemplate the view and drink freshly picked herb teas and talk about anything but politics!  Tomorrow – tomorrow is a day of rest!!!

Today is a very special day. My beautiful, incredible, gentle and clever sister Doreen, aka Dordi, is 80 years old. My sister is a freak of nature in the best possible way. She is slim, despite 4 children, beautiful, agile and kind – and I love her!!!

This is not only the anniversary of our return to the Old City of Jerusalem, this is also the week of the Torah reading Shelach. Shelach speaks of the spies that Moses sent to scout out the land of Canaan. He sent 12 spies and 10 came back saying that although the fruits and crops were abundant the people were giants and we couldn't fight them. Only Caleb and Joshua were brave enough to lead the Children of Israel home as G-d had commanded. The people began to weep that they would prefer to return to Egypt than keep going – and were condemned to 40 years of wandering in the desert for doubting G-d's word. Why? Because the Diaspora mind-set meant they couldn't overcome the challenges set for them so a generation of brave warriors who understood their own strength, could emerge.

So what music should we play?  

This song, by Arik Einstein, which is traditionally sung when our children go off to the IDF, to watch over us, but leave us behind to worry – yet it could be in almost every situation. "Fly freely but remember that there are eagles in the sky" https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=AUONA77zGYU

The next clip isn't a song but it is Arik Einstein and is brilliant! It is called "The Lul" and basically is the story of each Aliya https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBNWHTipwEA&t=35s

How could I not give you the ultimate Jerusalem song, the celebration of our return to the Old City. Ofra Haza z"l and Yerushalyim Shel Zahav https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnPInqMUSJ8

We have been through worse, we have always survived, but we must stand up to lies and calumny. If we just allow it to happen around us, if we are not willing to risk opening our minds and hearts and defending our right to exist we are lost.

Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Shabbat Shalom dear friends, Shabbat Shalom

Sheila

180601 Gaza, goldy, Maccabiah and Protea

180601

1^st June, 2018

Shabbat Shalom everyone. Hope you are well. Lots of good news this week and a short report on a day that hit the world headlines despite the large number of real wars going on in our region and further.

I woke this morning to a familiar yet rather unique sound. Do you remember the old "Rag and Bone" men who took their horse and cart to collect old clothes and housewares? Well in Israel it is different – firstly they use small trucks, secondly they are mostly Israeli Arabs and thirdly- they call out in Yiddish "Alte Zaken" – which means old things!!! It is so incongruous yet so very Israeli. It is one of my favourite of many incongruities in this fabulous country!

So, you want to know all about what happened in the South of Israel this week, and I will try to explain. First and foremost, understand that there is not a wall on the border with Gaza, it is a fence and not a very strong one at that; Gaza is a stone's throw (literally) from the towns and villages of Southern Israel; Despite the rhetoric of "occupation" – yet the disengagement from Gaza was 13 years ago, leaving them the agricultural infrastructure which they promptly burned, since when they have constantly instigated terrorist activity against us.  That's just a reminder of the historical background. Now for the recent conflagration – Iran understood that its power struggle in Syria was not going well and that the United States was not giving in to their demands thus decided to use their proxies to attack Israel and steal the limelight or take the attention of the world in a different direction. Who is the obvious target? Israel! Who are the proxies? Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Who are the targets? The farmers, villages, towns and kibbutzim in the border. Over 120 rockets and mortars were launched at Israel which involved at least 25 "Red Alerts" sending the civilians racing for cover. One landed in a kindergarten playground just before the children arrived and the calm reaction of a headmistress? "Kindergartens are the safest place for the children because they are all made of bomb-proof material" Of course she is right but it is so sad that little children need a bomb proof building! 24 hours of non-stop attacks and Hamas called a halt, which of course means that they were in control. Why call a halt? Because had it gone on any longer Israel would have garnered sympathy from the media whereas this way Hamas got its publicity without damaging its sympathy base. Now do you understand? No, neither do I!

Roseanne Barr – where do I begin? I find her crass and I always hated her programme and her Tweet was in terrible taste, I have no intention of repeating it now, but the reaction was so over the top that I am suspicious of the motives. Jimmy Kimmel, the Baldwins, Joy Behar, Kathy Griffin, Whoopi Goldberg, Bill Maher – all are still working even after Kathy Griffin showed a beheaded American President in a supposed satirical skit!!! Why Roseanne? I leave that to your own judgement. Actually, after the Starbucks scandal in which Howard Shultz, a great philanthropist and supporter of the Democratic Party was vilified in the media Rabbi Jeremy Rosen wrote this wonderful piece on the misinterpretation of racism and its consequences http://jeremyrosen.com/2018/05/starbucks-and-racism-why-woke-is-not.html

What do you know about Israel? Well although this was admittedly created for Israel's 68^th birthday I love this youtube of Israel's many qualities https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3wmT2wH690

Faith Goldy is Canadian. I know very little about her except that my friend Jean Evans sent me a clip of hers and I was both surprised and pleased at the result. This clip is about breaking the myths about Israel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlHu5nbKEC0

OK – another question. How much do you know about Maccabi World Union? Everyone knows that they hold the Jewish Olympics every four years but what else do you know? Did you know that Maccabi Youth is conceivably the largest Jewish Youth Movement in the world? Maccabi is inclusive rather than exclusive.  For me, every time we go to Kfar Maccabiah, in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv, I get to meet old friends from all over the world, incidentally Eva Bensky you were missed, next time please come with Leo-Dan. For Zvi it is much more serious as he takes part in the policy and planning meetings. Friday night with Rabbi Carlos Tapiero and a wonderful group of young singers got everyone singing along and doing folk dancing after an excellent Shabbat meal and the interactions of people from diverse cultures in this social setting familiar to everyone is very special. At the huge party there on Monday night Einat Saruf was the star performer, she has a special knack of singing all the familiar songs and getting everyone to join in. As usual she recognised Zvi from previous events and got him to take a mike and sing with her! It was extra special because we all knew that within a few days we would all meet up again at the wedding of Maccabi CEO Eyal Tiberger and Ettie's daughter Orit. Until you have been to an Israeli wedding you haven't lived! Not only incredible food before the food (really I am not joking) with time to enjoy meeting old friends, but the sheer joy of the ceremony then the ebullient dancing of first Israeli songs with everyone jumping to "Moshiach" and "Ani Ma'amin" graduating into popular music and time for the youngsters to have fun with all kinds of funny noses, hats and sparkly things. As one would expect the food inside was also amazing! We drove back to Jerusalem happy but tired arriving on the dot of midnight. What never fails to amaze me is that the roads are almost as busy at midnight as they are during the day!!!

Also on Monday I went to my friend Susan's and at the invitation of Joy Goldman I spoke to the most adorable and fascinating group of people I have met in a long time. The talk was in a special community, purported to be for what in Israel is called "ha gil ha shlishi" the third age, in other words for retired people who still have a great deal of life left in them. If you wish there are courses in just about everything all day long!! Anyway I was not nervous, strange for me, and the moment I saw the crowd I understood why. Firstly I saw my lovely friend Sylvia Wallis who moved to Protea Hills recently and then after a short introduction by Joy, with Susan sitting next to me for confidence, I started to explain why the talk was called "The Power of One". Who I was and how I got started on my writing path. As the questions began another co-hasbarist, Stuart Palmer, joined me at the microphone to reinforce what I said. Everything went swimmingly and I was really having fun, then it happened! I had asked everyone how long they were in Israel and why they came here when Sylvia Dombey spoke up. Sylvia is a wonderful lady of 90+, bright as a button, who made Aliya a short few years ago, as she said "My house needed painting and I couldn't be bothered, so I decided to come and live in Israel"! I was so delighted by her story and her sheer joy at being in Israel that it really made my day!!!

We meet many people, every day ordinary folk and those who think themselves at a higher level - I am so impressed by the humility of Kathleen and Earl Cox. Their intentions are pure, on the edge of altruistic, and they have never let us down either as friends or in their love of Israel. They remember who helped them get started and have remained steadfast for the last 15 years or more despite great success. In fact I told Earl the true story of the day I took him to interview Ehud Olmert about the upcoming disengagement from Gaza……… I went in to Ehud first and told him to use the phrase Pikuach nefesh when talking about the disengagement. Pikuach nefesh means to save a soul – in Judaism one is allowed to break any rules, even Shabbat, to save another human being. Ehud did and Earl had a story!! Earl and Kathleen have gone on to great broadcasting success and I am very proud of them.

On Thursday Rachie and I met up with Daniella and Justin Selig and their children for a delightful lunch. That was when we heard about their daughter Mimi's incredible feat of raising 3,000 pounds for Zichron Menachem, a beautiful organisation which makes wigs for children with cancer and takes them on holidays and trips. Not only that but she grew her hair so that she could come to Jerusalem and donate it. Mimi – your grandparents would be so proud of you! What an amazing 10 year old.

I have a feeling that my beautiful grandson Zachary in London, an avid Chelsea supporter, will be coming to Israel more often since the owner of Chelsea, Roman Abramovitz, made Aliya this week. Britain's loss is our gain!!! https://m.jpost.com/Israel-News/Days-after-Aliya-Chelsea-owner-Abramovich-withdraws-UK-visa-request-558840

Zvi is in the middle of a meeting in the other room and then of course he will go out to Kiriat Anavim for his parliament, (they no longer meet at the petrol station), and I must go and get Talia and Ayala from school so that I can simultaneously take them home and see Rachel, Yosef and Igal too. Everyone is in the final throes of preparations for Talia's Bat Mitzva……… secrets about dresses and surprises abound and Rachel has made the most incredible Piñata I have ever seen. It is a ball gown piñata!!!

I know that you know about the panorama of Jerusalem on the way home but I rarely talk about the view from the girls school. It is a view of the ever growing Ramallah, creeping, or racing, closer and closer to the fence. Beautiful houses, one can see the huge, modern shopping mall and Ramallah is spreading in all directions. If we are supposedly committing genocide, exactly who is living in these newly built houses?

My salads are made, the table set, the candles ready for lighting…………..So let's think about music.

So often we take what we have in this world for granted. We forget from whence we came and how we got here. Yonatan Raza'el is a classical musician who writes beautiful music to Biblical texts. This is definitely one of my favourites. Katonti  - I am humbled https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQZCAMznc3U

As a child I would say this prayer every morning as Mummy woke me from my sleep. Modeh Ani – I Give Thanks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lPK6V3Y6YQ

Finally, also a song of thanks Matanot Ktanot – Small Gifts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwanFyGQtLQ

I wish each and every one of you a sweet Shabbat, time to be quiet with oneself, a time of calm and contemplation and of giving thanks for the wonders of every day.

Shabbat Shalom with love from Jerusalem

Sheila