191129 Ishmael, Danny, Corbyn and other stuff

29^th November, 2019

Shabbat Shalom! How was your Thanksgiving? Did you remember just how many things we have to be thankful for?

November 29^th, Kaf Tet b'November, the 333^rd day of the Gregorian Calendar, 72 years ago the United Nations General Assembly voted to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab States joined by economic unity. The partition map proposed by UNSCOP allotted the Jewish state only a small part of Western Palestine. Despite this fact, the Zionist Organization and the institutions of the Jewish community in Eretz Yisrael agreed to accept the plan, since it recognized the right of the Jewish people to a state and not only a "national home" as stated in the 1917 Balfour Declaration and the 1922 Mandate for Palestine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB0M-6UdBRQ

Sometimes the surrounding buzz makes us forget how lucky we are, even how lucky we are to have annoying, disruptive politicians in our lives. Believe me it is infinitely better to live with mendacious politicians than to live in a cruel dictatorship or theocracy, ruled by tyranny.

The confusion and enormous responsibility of living in a free society can sometimes reach breaking point, especially when one's leader ignores the mores of acceptable leadership as is happening here or the possibility of an anti-Semitic, mendacious politician changing the entire social structure of one's free and open society. In Britain the only good thing that can be said about Jeremy Corbyn is that he has consolidated the determination of Chief Rabbi Efraim Mervis, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Reform Senior Rabbi Laura Janner and a former Director of MI5, all of whom express their fear of the danger that is Jeremy Corbyn.  Andrew Neil is a veteran, brilliant journalist and his interview of Jeremy Corbyn is bordering on the genius. This interview is like watching a walrus toying with and then catching a slippery eel.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EySXP15S8k

So, ladies and gentlemen, we are not going to talk about politics, either local or international, we are going to talk about the wonderful things that happen in Israel. However before we get to the good stuff, if you don't mind, I want you to understand what it means for children who are in the line of fire from Gaza and then tell me who is oppressing whom. A mother in Ashkelon decided to film her children during a Red Alert, the child, after danger is passed, wants to stay in the safe room, terrified to go home. https://13news.co.il/item/news/politics/security/kids-afraid-in-ashkelon-947117/

Some good news for a change!!

1.     A brave and beautiful Moslem woman on London Tube tackled someone bullying a Jewish man and his children. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7717907/Muslim-woman-wins-praise-stopping-man-unleashing-abuse-Jewish-family-tube.html?fbclid=IwAR3XnE1D81mz9Tnk0unZGgt6DklMgFol12s7GjDeb-eFBY3OMc6lDa1aXrg

2.     A Lebanese man bought Hitler mementos so they wouldn't fall into the wrong hands https://www.timesofisrael.com/lebanese-magnate-buys-up-hitler-items-at-auction-donates-to-israeli-group/?fbclid=IwAR2aXLB-UOAt9V9ojaJikyspGgzNy6N0Hz5hi4Wjhj1l7q9gT7_9t3z_WKQ

3.     25 Palestinians from Hebron went hiking in Wadi Celt on Friday night. They had no food or drink and the night drew in, it was cold and they were lost. Men from nerby Jewish settlements formed a search party, despite Shabbat, and rescued the terrified hikers.

Danny Adeno Abebe is an Israeli journalist and now author.  His book "The Journey Isn't Over" or in Hebrew "המסע לא טם" begins with his family's journey home from Ethiopia; the horrors of the Transit Camp in the Sudan which Danny describes as a "little Shoah"; to their arrival in Israel. We were so honoured to be considered among Danny's friends and received an invite to the book launch. After all the politicians had their say Danny described the first meeting with a fridge and made the audience laugh, "In Ethiopia everything we ate was fresh, we went and picked it for yourself. We thought the fridge was a cupboard and put our clothes in it! Only later we found that food came from the supermarket and went into the fridge – after it was plugged in" Today Danny is very much a sophisticated Israeli, educated, well-travelled father of four glorious children. His story takes us from Ethiopia to Israel and his journey into acceptance and ultimately his shlichut to the South African Jewish community. Why the title? What is unfinished in his journey? Too many young, educated Ethiopian Israelis have not been accepted and sometimes graduates find work as security guards. It certainly cannot be said of Danny. Politicians from the extreme left (Nitzan Horowitz of Meretz) to the extreme right (Rafi Perez – Minister of Education) and everything in between expressed love, friendship and admiration for Danny. Even Minister of Culture and Bibi Groupie Miri Regev took time out of the Pro-Netanyahu demonstration to come and hug Danny. Danny also has an interesting perspective on the remaining "Falash Mura" https://www.jta.org/2008/08/07/opinion/falash-mura-masquerading-as-jews

Another exceptional Israeli is Ishmael Khaldi who has also written a book about his experiences called " A Shepherd's Journey: the story of Israel's first Bedouin diplomat" Ish was born in the Bedouin Village of Khawaled, near Haifa; an exceptionally bright young man he went on to study at Tel Aviv University and also took young Jewish Israelis on hiking tours of the Bedouin villages. It was these tours that piqued his interest in foreign relations and his ultimate entry into the Israeli Foreign Service. Ish was an advisor on minorities to the IDF . During his second posting in London the community loved him! He visited almost every community big and small and spoke openly and lovingly about Israel. Ish recently arrived in Miami as the Israeli Consul and is still finding his feet. I trust all our friends in the vicinity to welcome him to Florida https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmael_Khaldi

Last Saturday a free bus service began in the Tel Aviv area. It is not a regular service but for those who have no other form of transport – be it low income, carless Israelis, Christian and Moslem Israelis or tourists – it is a huge change. The service is free because by Israeli law one cannot have a normal bus service, but I see it spreading allover Israel. Many people are simply stuck at home, unable to go anywhere, on their one day of leisure in the week and this releases them. Not everyone is religiously observant.

Sacha Baron Cohen is best known for his highly irreverent, honestly coarse movies such as Borat, but little is generally known about the proudly Jewish, eloquent, Cambridge Graduate Londoner. Baron Cohen gave a brilliant speech to the ADL https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=ymaWq5yZIYM&feature=emb_logo 

I know that I am jumping from subject to subject today but I would be horribly remiss if I didn't tell you about a phenomenal Jewish woman by the name of Dona Grazia. We celebrate her 450^th anniversary this week. Born in Portugal, the daughter of a wealthy family she married a major banker, lived in Antwerp then fled to Venice and on to Turkey where she believed she could live freely as a Jew. In 1552, Dona Grazia settled in Kushta, the capital of the Turkish Empire, where she devoted her life to fostering Jewish culture, poets wrote in praise of her many achievements as a patron and helper of Jewry in those dark days. She built synagogues, established Yeshivot (centres for Jewish study), libraries, supported Torah scholars and Rabbis and resettled hundreds of Marranos enabling their return to Judaism. Donna Grazia decided to establish a refuge for Jews in the Land of Israel, in Tiberias, the city on the Sea of Galilee, where it was written that “from Tiberias, Israel will be redeemed and it will be the spiritual centre of all Jewish communities of the Diaspora”. 1558 Donna Grazia leased Tiberias, in Palestine, from Sultan Suleiman, for a yearly fee of 1000 ducats and, in 1561, Joseph Nasi obtained ruling authority over Tiberias and Safed, developing major new centres of Jewish and religious settlement which thrive until today. It came to pass that Donna Grazia succeeded in being the Visionary of the State of Israel, with the support of the Turkish Empire, 300 years before Theodore Herzl recognised the fate of the Jewish people at the trial of Dreyfus in France. A true example of the role of a woman in Judaism.

Talking of an amazing women, Shelly Silver is the daughter of Ira and Valerie Silver of whom I have spoken many times. This week Shelly graduated with honour after her entry course to the IDF in a ceremony. Unfortunately I couldn't go to cheer her on but I wanted to wish her a great big MAZAL TOV and tell her that I love her!

Songs. What music should I choose this week?

One expression of gratitude that is oft forgotten is to the soldiers in WW2. This beautiful accolade requires at least one box of Kleenex as the D-Day Darlings sing Vera Lynn's "There'll be Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=_vDFKba_WDE&feature=emb_logo

I love the Revivo Project and their wonderful renditions of traditional songs with a Mizrachi (Eastern Jewish) twist. "Mi ha Ish" Psalm 34 13-15 carries a message for all of us. "Who is the man that desireth life, and loveth days, that he may see good therein? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depar​t from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMI150jql14

The IDF choir sings "Because of the Spirit" – Whatever comes I will change because our world is changing all the time and we must rise up to face the future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPY7TwkwimM

The rain still hasn't come to dampen our parched earth, but it will. It seems that half the earth is praying for rain and the other half is praying for a break in the rainfall. The veranda is a glorious splash of colour as the evenings draw in and get cooler. The Hibiscus particularly thrives on the cooler weather giving forth a glorious show in gratitude. Bright red, orange and peach coloured it is spectacular. The herbs are dying back, except for the mint and lemon balm and the kumquats are slowly turning orange. The sunsets are becoming redder and redder, as if announcing the imminent winter.

It's time for soups again! Tonight it is just Zvi and I then tomorrow Amiad and Noga are bringing Ella and Yonatan so that Saba Zvi can take them around the corner to the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. It really is a spectacular zoo with every animal imaginable set out in continents. I love the place.

I wish you a Shabbat Shalom. Put the calumny and spitefulness of politics aside for 25 hours and rejoice in what we have.

With much love from our home to yours

Sheila

191108 Thoughts on a Friday Morning

8^th, November 2019

Good Shabbes, Shabbat Shalom! Hope this missive finds you well and not too disturbed by the state of our word.

I don't normally discuss the politics of other countries, unless it directly affects Israel, but an article in the long established British community newspaper "The Jewish Chronicle" caught my eye. The Jewish Chronicle is very moderate, sometimes too much so, but the concern about Jeremy Corbyn and today's Labour Party has forced even the JC to reach out to Jews and non-Jews in the UK to think very carefully before voting – especially since the former ethos of the British Labour Party attracted the votes of many centrist voters. Attached, an important article addressing those who still consider voting Labour, an article applicable to other countries too. https://www.thejc.com/comment/leaders/to-all-our-fellow-british-citizens-1.491812

US president Franklin Roosevelt was perfunctory to say the least about rescuing Jews from the Nazis, he obstructed rescue opportunities presented by Sir Winston Churchill, that would have cost him little or nothing and spurred by his eugenist policies also interned some 120,000 Japanese Americans as potential spies in WW2. FDR’s role in preventing the rescue of European Jewry is detailed in a new book called, “The Jews Should Keep Quiet: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, and the Holocaust.” FDR was assisted in his eugenist policies by one sycophantic Jewish leader, one Rabbi Stephen Wise, who sold his soul for invites to the White House. Essential reading and a sharp reminder that a leader choosing to ignore the fate of others is far more dangerous than making mistakes.

Blaming Israel, or more precisely the Jews, for everything that happens is not a new occurrence; it didn't begin with Shakespeare nor end with Arafat.  So it has been throughout history and so it is today, just look at the accusations of Jewish control, both fiscal and political of both the Democrats in the USA and the Labour Party in the UK. Conor Cruise O'Brien was a diplomat, politician, editor and historian and very Irish. In his book https://www.amazon.com/Siege-Saga-Israel-Zionism/dp/0671633104 he outlines day by day, year by year, the history of this region.

Brazil is football mad! By football I mean the game that involves kicking the ball with your foot – hence foot-ball! In memory of Kristallnacht the players of Corinthians Football Club wore a small yellow star on their football kit and every seat in the stadium had a Yellow Star on it. In London, Chelsea Football Club initiated a Holocaust Education Programme for their fans with great effect. Sport is the ideal way to send a message which reaches a wide audience.

Yes, I know, you want to know what is happening about forming a government in Israel. I'm doing my best to avoid the subject! I put a question up on Facebook, "Who do you feel is responsible for the lack of government" and the responses were wide-based but fell clearly on the shoulders of Benjamin Netanyahu. His determination to hold on to power while rendering the government powerless is a major element because Blue and White have clearly stated that if he will step down or take the second rotation as PM (until his legal issues are solved either way) they will form a broad unity government tomorrow. My prayer is that Blue and White will succeed without including the extremist parties. I believe that all sectors of Israeli society should be included in a broad based government and have a minorities representative in the wide Cabinet if not the Security Cabinet. If an agreement is not reached in the next few days then it is back to the polling booth!!!

In the meantime the Prime Minister's "Air Force One" equivalent has taken its maiden flight, amongst much debate as to the wisdom of spending a huge amount on Prime Ministerial comfort when hospitals are desperate for funding.

The Shin Bet, Israel's internal Secret Service, has thwarted no less than 450 terror attacks in the last year (check your own country's list, it is happening everywhere). Despite the obvious horror of the attack on 17 year old Rina Shnerb, the leader of the terror cell responsible, who was injured after his capture, was treated in Hadassah Hospital and a full military inquiry took place as to why he was injured during his interrogation. This is a country of clear moral standards and we do not under any circumstances accept violence from our soldiers.

Iran claims that a United Nations inspector "went to the toilet" and put explosive nitrates on himself so that he could accuse Iran of nuclear research activity. Of course it had nothing to do with the fact that it has been proven that Iran has reestablished nuclear testing in Fordo. Really! You couldn't make this up if you tried! To understand the complexities https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50300952

Twitter has banned Hezb-Allah and Hamas from their site. Finally a website with a conscience!

We tend to whine and moan about our politics and how they affect our daily lives but think about the politics in Mexico, Venezuela, Uruguay and take your pick of African and Middle Eastern countries and we really are lucky! Moaning about the weather? Remember there is a terrifying waterspout over Genoa, Tornadoes in Spain; Bush fires in Australia and forest fires in California; Volcanic eruption in the Tongan archipelago; heavy floods in North of England to say nothing of Japan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Colombia where thousands lost their lives, and an earthquake in the Philippines. It's all about perspective. The only real thing we can do, as individuals, to reverse some of the disasters is to plant trees. Trees =rain and rain prevents wildfires….. or limits them anyway. One of Israel's greatest achievments has been the work of KKL or JNF in planting trees – Israel is the only country in the world to have increased her tree population consistently. Former Prime  Stephen Harper is in Israel to open the new state of the art visitors centre in the Hula Valley Game Reserve yet another major ecological project which has welcomed over 60,000 cranes and white pelicans each year as they migrate from cold to warm waters.

It is common practice among secular Jews, to complain about the Haredi community but I believe that there are situations where secularity is more damaging. I am with a foot in both sectors as a Masorti (traditional) Jew, but here in Israel the pseudo feminists cause major disruptions of society on various levels. HaRav Firer has created a world wide organisation to help people who need medical care that is either unavailable, too expensive or they do not know how to reach the right doctors. Most of the medical care he requests is given gratis. It was haRav Firer that helped Kinneret Chaya and my daughter Rachel. A true Hassid. Since his organisation depends upon donations his admirers decided to create a gala evening and Israeli stars of a very high calibre donated their performances. In deference to the Rav's religiosity it was decided that the performers would be male although the audience was mixed. Feminist groups forced the performance and the gala to be cancelled because there were no women performers and I am furious! The Rav gives help to everyone irrespective of social or religious leanings or indeed religion, why do these women feel justified in causing such pain?

Josh Aronson is the seventh of fourteen children of Rabbi Aronson of Manchester. Nobody could work out why Josh wasn't doing well in school and clearly had some major learning and social difficulties, but nobody knew how to address them and being the seventh of fourteen did not afford him the attention he needed. At 16 he was sent to Israel to a special course to find out what was wrong. Despite lack of clear diagnosis he began to flourish, only later did his "problems" have a name, Josh has Asperger's Syndrome. Proving that determination plays a huge part in success, Josh is a journalist for Maariv and the Jerusalem Post and gives lectures wherever he is invited! Zvi and I had the joy of meeting Josh through the auspices of our mutual friend, the wonderful Rachael Risby-Raz at the Biblical Zoo although we were so fascinated by his story that we didn't really notice the flora and fauna around us! Josh was on his way to the airport to fly to Budapest on a family search with his cousin, the owner of Katzy's restaurant in Sydney, who is unquestionably Josh's best friend. Josh's story of success over all odds proved yet again that we cannot put people into "boxes" and declare them "disabled" because given half a chance they can blossom and become important members of our society.

I changed the order of events today – for a very good reason. Today is my amazing daughter Rachel's birthday, so I collected Talia from school and we went to choose a huge colourful bouquet of flowers for her Mum for Shabbat. The aromas emitted from their home on Friday are stupendous! When Rachel and her brothers were children they loved the aroma of freshly baked Challot as they returned from school and now it is a reversal of roles as I climb the steps to Rachel's apartment and collect my Challot for Shabbat!!! She had seared red peppers and aubergines all ready to make scrummy salads; the roast potatoes were all set to go onto the "platter" the Shabbat hot plate; her veggie chicken soup and kneidlach and the big pot of thinly sliced, long stewed beef made a visit to her kitchen a special treat.

The children were listening to Eastern music and Yosef was singing along, karaoke style, oblivious to the fact I recorded him! I popped into the little shopping centre at the entrance to Givat Ze'ev and once again was delighted by the mixture of both shop owners and shoppers – quite the opposite of what you read about "settlements".  I then drove back home over the hill and the fabulous panorama atop Samuel's Tomb to our own panorama, the View from our Veranda!!

And so to music.

Yes, I know I've played this song for you several times, but I loved the fact it is translated into Chinese! Wonderful explanations on each verse. Shalom Aleichem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szSb2abAaWU&list=PLpQVRY8CUKvJ4Jsvr2k7B5lFzEq4inUeZ&index=3

Lecha Dodi is sung in the Synagogue on a Friday evening service to welcome the bride of Shabbat. Here are 3 distinct versions. First Mizrachi (Eastern Jews) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5WMPx1o2uM then American https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWmcQpzUMHY and Ashkenaz traditional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNhUv0UpSVE  then there's Shlomo Carlebach! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC19kaPCMYM  and the one I grew up with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5U9NoYKiJU

So that's it! Zvi is at his parliament in Kiriat Anavim and he will come home soon so that we can go to spend Shabbat with his grandchildren in Tel Aviv. So in the meantime I wish you a beautiful Shabbat filled with family and love.

Shabbat Shalom and love from Jerusalem, the most fascinating city in the world.

Sheila

We just received the news that Greg Masel has retired as the Chair of Keren Hayesod. I wish him well on whatever path he has chosen.

191122 Indictment, Iran and Irony

22nd November 2019

Shabbat Shalom dear friends. I wish I could tell you that this has been an easy week but I would be lying and I never lie to you.

Yesterday was a very sad day for Israel. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblitt announced to the nation that after exhaustive investigations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been indicted for fraud, breach of public trust, receipt of illegal gifts and bribery. After so long, so many denials, so many threats to States witnesses, one has a strange mixture of relief that it is finally over, deep sadness that it was all real and anger at the brass of the man to stand before us and take the nation through yet another round of elections because he wouldn't step down – so great is his sense of misplaced self-righteousness. I am also inordinately proud of the Israeli legal process and the man at the head of it, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblitt who has suffered constant insults and demonstrations beside his home by Netanyahu supporters, he is an honourable man.

After the announcement Netanyahu stood before the media and berated the legal system, the police and the media claiming it was not a genuine investigation but a plot of the left wing against him and his family in an attempt to depose him. He spoke for 17 minutes, his face ashen, and I felt that he finally lost the last semblance of honour. A brilliant man, a fine representative of Israel with so much potential to become an historic leader, brought down by greed and a love of power almost bordering on megalomania.

Now to the other "plonter", the political one – we are still without a working government, have operated under an interim, powerless government for almost a year and yesterday Benny Gantz had to hand his mandate to form a government back to President Rivlin because they did not reach a centrist government majority. Blue and White made it very clear that they wouldn't form a coalition with Likud as long as Netanyahu was at its helm and under threat of indictment. In other words they refused to join forces with a corrupt PM, but would have instantly joined with Likud if they agreed to dump Bibi. Avigdor "Yvette" Lieberman refused to join either Likud due to their coalition with the Haredim or with Blue and White and their possible coalition with the Arab List. So, according to Israeli Law, before going to the people, every Member of Knesset has the right to gather as many other Members around them until a majority is formed (61 seats) which of course won't happen. Please don't ask me how that works because it seems impossible to me. https://en.idi.org.il/articles/28659

The one person who has remained above the nastiness of the last year and behaved with supreme grace is President Ruvi Rivlin who has taken a strong part in trying to bring the people together and the political nastiness out.

With great fanfare and amid a festive atmosphere, the Grand Rabbi of the Satmar Hassidic Dynasty, Rebbe Zalman Teitelbaum, the virulently anti-Zionist Rabbi distributed some $5 million on Wednesday night to approximately 150 institutions in Israel that do not receive funding from the state. The monies were described as "Pure Shekels" since they do not touch the much despised State of Israel. The rabbi was lauded by hundreds of his Hassidic sect as he entered the celebration hall to the sounds of rapturous music. Personally I would have denied him entry to Israel rather than stopping the traffic to allow him free passage. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Satmar-grand-rabbi-distributes-5-million-to-institutions-refusing-state-money-608539

Just to make life perfect, after the rockets from Gaza, to which we responded as responsibly as possible, suddenly four rockets were launched from Iranian held Syria! We responded firmly but only against Iranian military sites in Syria.

Hezb-Allah and Islamic Jihad are Shia Moslems under Iranian funding whereas Hamas is Sunni, hence the rivalry between those terror organisations, don't be fooled by their common determination to wipe out Israel. Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq have all fallen under Iranian control, thus now Shia. Most of the Islamic Arab countries are Sunni and although Iran is not Arab it is firmly set upon reaffirming the Persian Empire. Iran's new BFF is Turkey which in turn wants to return to the Ottoman Empire under Erdogan. The fascinating aspect is that both Turkey and Iran were relatively free countries with excellent relations with Israel until their current regimes.

After President Trump's announcement over the legality of Israeli settlements I thought I would check the legality of Israel's rights https://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/294359/israels-rights-in-the-west-bank-under-international-law  and then I became curious as to how many countries have territorial disputes. The answer? Over 200!! The fact that the world concentrates on just one is quite phenomenal – I am not sure it is a compliment though. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_territorial_disputes

I was going to write about antisemitism in the Democratic and of course the Labour Party, but the fabulous Maureen Lipman has done it for me. I love Maureen Lipman, so clever and funny and so Jewish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fttknbIFiR4&app=desktop

Gosh I need a breath of fresh air! I hate being negative and I know everything will be fine, but I need something really positive – so here's something to cheer us all up. Kelly Craft. We aren't used to the name yet but I have a feeling we are going to hear an awful lot about this incredible lady. Kelly Craft is the new US Ambassador to the United Nations. She had very impressive shoes to fill and it would appear she is just as tenacious as Nikky Haley. Here is her Maiden Speech https://youtu.be/lPjp6ZpMM4k Judge for yourselves.

The media and political obsession with Israel is bordering on the insane. When one considers that over 12,000,000 people have been displaced through wars in this region, at least half of whom are children, it becomes obvious that as opposed to the idiotic BDS, something must be done to educate the children, the next generation, differently. I received a Tweet from Impact-se about a new project which they have promoted, from Sesame Street. Yes really a Sesame Street in Arabic which unlike the copy-cat Sesame Street of Hamas and co, encouraging beheading etc, this is the real thing and encourages tolerance and openness. https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/20/world/sesame-workshop-syrian-refugees-trnd/index.html

After giving you the link to my website – please click to see the pictures therein http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/indictment-iran-and-irony/ I want to stop talking politics and the diplomatic treachery against Israel, so I'm going to tell you about our lovely week and the people we met.

As I told you we spent last Shabbat in Tel Aviv. Ronit Dotan's birthday party was gorgeous! Held in a beachfront hotel, women only we had a ball! A comedienne who had us giggling and a wonderful singer from the Yiddishspiel theatre, the party was beautifully organised down to the last detail as only Ronit knows. Shabbat evening was spent with Nattie and Yolli Zonszein who have fulfilled their mutual dream and made Aliya. After a restful sleep at Amiad and Noga's we went round the corner to Laura and Uri Neiger who not only cooked up a storm but brought along delightful friends. We got home after Shabbes just in time to pack for the next day!!!

Sunday morning at 11 o'clock precisely we stood beside the coach taking us to the Dead Sea, herded on board by Ronit Dagan, the charismatic and funny director of our Community Centre. The driver was a Bedouin and he entertained us with totally inaccurate "facts" of the landscape we passed. What a fascinating geological area – moonscapes of lost water, mountains of folded rock, sink holes, singular fauna which has learned to grow on arid, salty land – like the Negev Acacia, capers and reeds. We relaxed, dipped in the hot, healing waters and had great fun meeting new people.

Every little boy's dream came true this week when Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini landed in Israel, the great Messi. Despite many threats on all the players the Uruguay and Argentina teams came for a friendly match held in Tel Aviv. It was a brilliant game of football and the 2-2 result completed the joy of the fans. A wonderful philanthropist called Sylvan Adams covered the costs and brought phenomenal publicity for Israel as the teams snapped their Instagrams of the wonderful life in Israel and sent them around the world.

On Wednesday evening we found ourselves on the road to Tel Aviv yet again. I was happy to drive because at the other end of the journey Zvi not only got to play football in the park with Amiad, Ella and Yonatan but we went on to have supper with delightful Mexicans, Perla and Carlos Jinich. Such lovely people who spend at least two months a year in Israel.

Although it has nothing to do with Israel I just want to take a few moments to express our distress and give our love to all our friends in Sydney, Australia who have been suffering horribly from raging bush fires which have left the incredibly beautiful city under a cloud of smoke and ashes which will take a long time to dissipate.

That's it! It's Friday again and another Shabbat. In a short while I will go to Givat Ze'ev to see Rachel and the children then tonight we will spend our Shabbat dinner with Leor and Shiri for two of their 4 daughters birthdays. Tomorrow we will rest!!

The weather has been unbelievably dry and windy bringing rather a lot of sandy dust onto our veranda but the view remains breathtaking.  The geraniums haven't lost their crimson beauty and the Hibiscus and my "Valerie" Fuschia are enjoying the cooler weather. The leaves of the pomegranate tree have blown away exposing the big juicy fruits of the pomegranate behind them.

Hopefully next week I will have time and space to send you recipes and talk about the incredible fun one can have in Jerusalem. The plethora of museums, many of them new, and the glorious parks. I fact it is a while since I have been to the Botanical Gardens, hmmmm, I need to rectify that and share a huge Caffit Oregnato salad. I thought you may want to see what I am talking about so https://caffit.co.il/en/menu/orgenato/#orgenato-2

Today is the 56^th Anniversary of the assassination of an American President and the 56^th anniversary of my beautiful Mother's passing. She used to sing this beautiful Yiddish lullaby to me when I was a child. She sang with so much love that I still feel it today. Roshinkes mit Mandlen – Almonds and Raisins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDZJq6Hc9QI

This has been such a tough week but maybe this scene from "The Life of Brian" will put things into perspective. It really isn't heretical, it is just reminds us to "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJUhlRoBL8M

"A Tribe of Brothers and Sisters Together" Shevet Achim v Achayot Beyachad – is a song performed by about 30 Israeli Singers for Yom Ha'Atzma'ut. President Ruvi Rivlin speaks the words at the end.

If you click on the 5^th icon from the right you will get a translation in subtitles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=22&v=xWx3R7WaAQY&feature=emb_logo

I wish you a good shabbes – a day to forget about politics and war, just one day to recharge our emotional and spiritual batteries, to say a prayer, to kiss your family

"And on the 7^th Day G-d rested and looked at his work and it was good".

With much love from Jerusalem and our View from the Veranda

Sheila

190111 Syria, Turkey, BOG and wonderful guests

31^st October, 2019

Happy Halloween, Shabbat Shalom – strange that the two wishes stand so well beside each other! The meaning of Halloween or All Hallows Eve, is pretty much lost today but Shabbat, yes Shabbat is still going strong.

All our guests have gone, the sheets washed and the beds remade for the next visitors. It was a crazy time but now to relax. The Jewish Agency meetings are over, as are the WZO and the Herzl Seminar. I admit that I didn't go to most of the meetings but Zvi has been working hard to put forward new ideas and solutions to problems. The new World Chairman of the Jewish Agency is Isaac Boughie Herzog who after the last leader is like a breath of fresh air. It isn't just his boyish appearance and pleasant manner, he is a mensch. Actually as he met new people he told everyone that Zvi gave him his first public appearances when he was just 24 years old. Seeing the potential in the young man, the son of the Israeli President, Zvi sent him on a lecture tour of the UK and Boughie has never forgotten who set him on his path. Very important, Boughie has known Zvi for ever and knows how crucial Zvi and Yonah Yahav were in starting the world struggle for Soviet Jewry, so he has decided to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of their incredible initiative. Finally a politician who keeps his promises and doesn't try to hijack a brilliant initiative. I will tell you more about that and the meetings I managed to attend later but I have to get to the news items first.

In a well-planned attack, ISIS leader Al Baghdadi was eliminated. His compound was bombed and he ran into a cave/tunnel with two of his children and blew himself up, apparently chased by a military canine. It became very popular to berate the President's description of his death as dying like a dog, whimpering. What was not understood is that the description was not for Western ears and sensibilities, it was meant for Middle Eastern fanatical ears. Understand that one of the worst insults for an Arab is to be called a dog and to be described thus and die being chased by a dog strikes horror in the hearts of his followers. Al Baghdadi was a vile terrorist, a rapist and a murderer. As to the victory speech; Trump is not eloquent, he is coarse and gauche, but he did the job. Actually, neither Trump nor Obama "did the job" it was the bravery of the men and women of the Special Forces and their canine division. https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Baghdadi-rapist-led-genocidal-caliphate-died-in-tunnel-606053

Turkey is dominating the area more and more. The slaughter of the Turkish Armenians led to Turkish leader Mutafa Kemel Ataturk's revolution of Turkish laws, taking religion out of the equation and establishing an open society. Ataturk must be spinning in his grave at the backward slide of his beloved country into fanaticism and slaughter. The Turkish and now the Kurds are oppressed under Erdogan's posturing and megalomania which he hopes will lead to the re-establishment of the Ottoman Empire.

Mahmoud Abbas is denying Palestinians the right to come to Israel for treatment despite bewailing the fact that he doesn't have the wherewithal to treat them in the PA. First question is if he doesn't have the wherewithal for medical treatment, what has he done with all that international funding? In contrast Syrian Kurd children are being treated in Israel and are welcomed with open arms at the Sheba Medical Centre. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Kurdish-children-being-treated-at-Israeli-hospital-605599

The very welcome peace treaty with Jordan is now 25 years old. Despite hiccups the peace is working. Remember that Jordan now has over 50% Palestinian citizens and King Abdullah may just be losing his hold. I find it sad because on the several occasions that Zvi and I met him we found him a reasonable man who recognised the strong ties with Israel.

British PM Boris Johnson's Brexit plans have gone awry, very much so. The Europeans are proving an even tougher nut to crack than he thought. Elections loom and here again we have a "however" choice between a bad hairdo and a bad man.

The wonderful Brenda Katten wrote about our electoral system and possible leaders from our point of view in a manner far better than I. So do click and read https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/The-2019-election-merry-go-round-606454

Now, to the Jewish Agency meetings to which an impressive group of attendees represented their communities. I only went to the final plenaries, yet as soon as I went into the Orient Hotel I felt the change in atmosphere from previous years, under the new leadership of Boughie Herzog and the World Chair Steven Lowy give a sense of working together that I hadn't felt for years.

One of the first people I met, actually one of the first people I sought out, was the wonderful Marlene Post, mentor and former President of Hadassah. I was so honoured that she chose to sit with me for lunch and just talk about our families and life in general, while watching my other Hadassah friends on the next table; outgoing President Ellen Hershkin who I love and the incoming President Rhoda Smolow who we all wish great success.

Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz was the first speaker and spoke extremely well; to the surprise of the audience who all took their translator packs, he spoke in clear English! Much like Yitzchak Rabin, he isn't slick like the Netanyahu who lived and studied in the US for years, but he got his message across with rare sincerity and received a standing ovation. He told us that Boughie's father, as a British soldier liberated Bergen Belsen freed Benny Gantz' mother, 16 years old and weighing just 28 kilo, together with Yair Lapid's father who was also a child in Bergen Belsen. "Look at us now, Israel won not Germany". Going forward we must unite and he wants a government that represents ALL sectors of Israeli society equally.

I love the Australian community! They are active, involved, staunch Zionists and send their children for a year of Academy in Israel. I was so proud to see Rebecca and Harold Finger at their first BOG as representatives of Australia, the lovely Jack Smorgon and Danny Lamm, a long serving member of the BOG and Zvi's beloved cohort in change and last but not least, the new JABOG World Chairman Steven Lowy. Steven gave the introductory speech for Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, and what an amazing speech it was. Steven spoke about the 3 million Jewish Diaspora outside the USA, of the fact that Australia has been a true ally to both the USA and Israel through all their wars, indeed Australia was the first to declare and support the State of Israel; of the fact that Australia as a nation has never shrunk from speaking out for Israel in every forum especially the UN – and then he introduced John Howard.

I have an admission to make, I actually met them before they went into the plenum! I went outside to have a quick cuppa during the boring budget discussions and a small, powerful man with a big smile walked up to me and introduced himself "I'm John Howard, who are you"? and shook my hand. He was accompanied by a younger man who also introduced himself "My name is Steven Lowy" Instead of shaking his hand I responded that I was Zvi Raviv's wife. Steven was so pleased he hugged me and spoke of his admiration for Zvi! What a mensch!

Then came John Howard's speech. I knew he was a huge supporter of Israel, before, after and while in office, but didn't realise the scope of his work for Israel. He spoke with enormous humour, deep understanding and love of this country that came from his heart. It was Australian soldiers who liberated Jerusalem 100 years ago and the relationship has remained strong and bipartisan, Australian politics do not include berating Israel unlike most other countries. He admires Israel understanding that she can only rely on herself with the lurking existential threat and remains an inspiration to the world. He visited Hadassah Hospital and was in awe of the fact that we treat Palestinians with such loving care despite the fact that Abbas tries to stop them coming.

That evening the delightful Paul Israel of the Israel-Australia Chamber of Commerce invited us to a reception for the Australian Bipartisan political visit led by John Howard. Again it was a time to enjoy dear friends, those above mentioned and Rachael Risby Raz and Arsen Ostrovsky both of whom have been incredibly active since making Aliya.

The next morning, while Kim and Zvi went to the WZO meetings I met with one of my very favourite people, Simon Klarfeld, a Londoner who as a very young man organised student demonstrations and the first "Hands Across the Embassies" from the Israeli to the Russian Embassy in London. When I told Simon about my delightful day at the Jewish Agency, waxing lyrical about Marlene Post, I saw a huge grin cross his face and knew that yet again Simon and I had the same taste in people! That's when I discovered that Simon is the CEO of Young Judea, the youth offspring of the Hadassah Ladies.

This has been a crazy couple of weeks and through Billy and Ruth we discovered many new museums in Jerusalem! This is a fascinating city, although one could easily do a "people watching" tour, a culinary tour, a Judaica tour or a market tour…….. the vast number of museums of such diverse interest is fascinating.

The weather has changed. It begins with the cooler evenings and progresses to gentler, balmy autumn days. The trees are beginning to drop their leaves, the green kumquats are starting to change to their bright orange colour and the pomegranates are bursting, filled with luscious, healthy red seeds; the air is redolent with the scent of rosemary, the favoured plant for hedgerows and the aromas rising from our neighbours kitchens as they prepare the  Shabbat cooking changes from salads to warming soups and cholent – aka hamin. Another herald of autumn is the migration of cranes and white pelicans who stop to feed at the Hula Valley Reserve. No less than 56,000 cranes have been counted thus far!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehW53bGbt1M

Tonight I am not cooking, we are going to spend Friday night with Zvi's boys and their families and they decided to give me a week off! I admit it sounds wonderful and will give me more time to spend with Rachel and her family.

To honour the "Let My People Go" demonstration of 2^nd December 1969, here is Israeli tenor Yevgeni Shopavalov singing Shir HaMaalot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAxTTq_1cRY

Arkady Duchin made Aliya from Russia as a child and he still remembers being teased for his accent, today he is one of Israel's most prolific songwriters "Who loves you more than I" is my favourite, sung by Shlomi Shabbat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uvj1aDXVNI

The epitome of our survival and enormous success, the Phoenix of Israel, is the thriving city of Jerusalem. Nomi Shemer understood and when she wrote the song Yerushalyim Shel Zahav for the 1967 Jerusalem Song Contest, and won, little did she know that her words were prophetic and within a short time she would write a final stanza to the song, a stanza describing our return to the Holy sites and the road to the Dead Sea through Jericho. Sung here by the late Ofra Haza https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH8gtdDA5x0

Time to say goodbye. I sincerely hope that you will receive this missive because gmail is being difficult and I must use a server to send future newsletters out. I really miss you! Don't foget that you can always read my words and catch up on past newsletters on my website http://www.theviewfrommyveranda.info/blog/

With much love from Jerusalem, the most incredible city in the world, or as Zvi describes it "A city from wall to mall"

Sheila

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